I felt like it was another one of those announcements that is phrased as helpful but totally trashes your plans. Like the Pennsylvania Turnpikes “improvements for your safety and connivence” follow by the “no guard rails” sign. In this case NCL gleefully informed us we would be docking at the new WONDERFUL terminal. It is only 7 miles out of town. And, the courtesy bus is free. Right O. Add in riding on a crowded bus, possibly losing 20 minutes each way, what is not to like? Right?
Part of it is because I have no clue how many of the 800 people on this ship are going to want to take the shuttle bus. We are in town for only about five hours. I am hoping that most folks are either on tour or staying on ship. I also haven’t a clue how the shuttle bus handles scooters, chairs, and walkers. And there are a lot of individuals on this ship with mobility assisting devices.
Now, in case you are wondering why I am grumpy, there is a perfectly fine dock right in the center of the old town which lets us off about 100 meters from a great coffee shop. There is a quilt shop down the street, bookstore two streets over and…. Never mind, you get the whine. And if I didn’t want to look for some quilt fabric featuring sea otters for a friend, I probably wouldn’t be bothering to head to town at all.
——->-8———–
Well, made it to town. Found fudge, found magnets still on sale for a couple of the crew. Quilt store was open – but found only one panel of fabric that had anything that looked like an otter on it. Picked up two spools of thread I like. As it turns out made in Canada means that it is not easy to find in the US.
Stopped at the bookstore, then headed back to the ship. As it turns out, the bus ride was fine both ways. The drivers were entertaining (and long standing Ketchikan residents). The drive was interesting in terms of seeing something outside the tourist portion of town. And no one is happy about Walmart moving in and putting a number of mom&pop stores out of business. Interesting perspectives about living somewhere that salmon is a cheap food….
off to relax – tomorrow is a sea day and we dock in Vancouver on Monday. No internet till then…
My husband and I do not do fast food. And yet one day in Anchorage in a hurry, we did. I got the fish sandwich. It was a large, thick slab of freshly caught fish cooked to perfection and I was absolutely stunned.
Then as I thought about it, the idea of catching it in Alaska, sending it off to be processed, sending it back–nah, just do it here and get the best.
It was very surprising and quite delightful.
Right now I would, even at the risk of being seasick (and it doesn’t take much for me), be happy to join you – nice to sit quietly knitting and staring out at that stunning scenery!
Failing that – can I come visit you this Nov?