The Alaska Marine Highway

Getting to Petersburg was one of the easiest/most convenient moves/commutes I have ever had. After a few days of packing and dealing with AML, all we had to do was drive onto a ferry in Bellingham, and two days and four hours later we arrived in Petersburg.

Our ferry was the Malaspina, a dark blue ferry bearing the Alaska flag on its mast. The Malaspina was supposed to have been decommissioned in 1997, but was still in use over 13 years later!!!. Despite this fact, it was in pretty decent shape and we had a very enjoyable voyage. One person we met said they really enjoyed the "forced relaxation."








(Some people choose to camp on the deck instead of pay for a stateroom. There was only one brave soul on the Malaspina)

While I was on the ferry, I wrote a few blog entries...

Friday February 26, 2010
So I’m here laying in my bunk the first evening, trying to visualize what Petersburg is going to be like, the opportunities that await Erin and I, and all I can say is “I’m excited.” Definitely a little nervous, but excited.

Oh and I haven’t written a single thing in the past 6 months, so I figured I might get out the laptop and dust off the keyboard.

I also feel a little nauseas, not sure if it is from food I ate, or the slow rocking of the boat. I have been known to get seasick, if I get seasick on this ride I know commercial fishing or crabbing is not my calling.

We started today with more packing and shuffling of our stuff — left behind our TV AND microwave due to room constraints in the Honda… how will we survive?

Finished packing around 12:30, food and beer were the last items into the car, and I need to throw out another THANK YOU to my mom for picking out some tasty treats for the ride. (Especially after seeing the prices for dinner on the ferry) Not only did she get us snacks, she also got us a new comforter, mattress cover and blanket, I am a pretty lucky kid to say the least.

After stopping at Wal-Mart (last time we are going to be there for a bit) to pick up a case of beer (present for Broch and Katie for all the help) we arrived at the Bellingham ferry terminal at 3:04 — not too bad for my fashionably late self.

Waited in line among an eclectic group of cars, some of which had some especially creative tarp jobs, and plenty of stuff strapped to roofs. All the cars were packed to the brim (we weren’t too different).

Unknown to us we were going to sit in line for almost 2 hours with excitement creeping up, along the need to pee, but I was unwilling to risk setting out for a bathroom and miss loading!

We finally loaded onto the Malaspina, a ferry that has been in commission since 1963 servicing the inside passage. One document I read said that the Malaspina was set for decommission in 1997! I hope we make it.

Stateroom 147 is cozy and comfortable, two bunks, sink, toilet, shower and closet. No window, but I don’t plan on spending too much time here anyways.






(Got a little bored in the stateroom)

After a quick tour, sandwich, and a beer, Erin and I decided a nap was in order, as we were up until almost 3 AM the previous night (morning) packing the car.

Day two: February 27, 2010

Rather uneventful as we were on the ferry all day.
Woke up an had no way of checking the time, as both Erin and I use cell phones as clocks, and with no service comes no clock… After searching the boat for a clock, found one in the cafeteria (8:30) and grabbed some coffee.

Just a few minutes after sipping the piping hot and much needed cup of joe, the captain got on the loud speaker to warn that we would be encountering our first of three “open ocean areas” and warned those that need to take motion sickness drugs to pop some pills. After a little worrying and reassurance from Erin (who has never been on the open ocean, but was extremely calm) I decided against pills, and after the hour of extra rolling, found that I had no troubles at all.



We watched This Is It, read books, played cribbage, watched the scenery slip by and took pictures. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL AREA.









Although I have seen this area in the past, this time is special. The extreme change visible from ocean level to snow level on some mountains is incredible. Add to this the beautiful weather and sun, along with calm water and you have a pretty great concoction of awe-inspiring beauty.

I had a fun time trying to figure out exactly where we are on the detailed map outside the observation deck, I had it down for awhile as we made two 90 degree turns before our second “open ocean area” a 40 minute session of 8-10 foot rolling waves that made it a little difficult to walk in a straight line.

Went into the stateroom for a snack and beer and managed to miss sunset on this beautiful day… oh well, hopefully we will have many a beautiful sunset in Petersburg.



No special wildlife spotted yet, just seagulls and ducks… Did see some pretty extreme chunks of wood floating in the water, and some spectacular waterfalls. Oh and one log that I thought was a bear from a ways out. Although it is pretty early in the year for bear sightings.

(Side note: We later heard from some other passengers that there was a school of dolphins that day that we somehow missed!!!)

Had our one meal from the cafeteria tonight… fish and chips… I’m stuffed and off to bed. Tomorrow is Ketchikan in the morning, so we have to figure out some method of an alarm.

(Alaska cribbage count… Keith 2, Erin 1)



The next day was extremely windy and rainy, at least 10 foot white caps and waves crashing over the boat. An extreme change from the calm sunny day that precluded it.



We walked around Ketchikan, although not much was open on a Sunday. We found a coffee shop with internet, and walked around the touristy areas (didn't have to spend a dime!!). Also found a nice interpretive center that was open before a quick jaunt back to the boat.









We took tons of photos, here are a few more of my favorites.







Erin and I made it into Petersburg at about 11 p.m. Sunday night. No seasickness to report, although we both felt swaying like we were on a boat for the next 2-3 days.

Here is our first view of Petersburg.



Next blog post: First week in Petersburg