Alaska, Day 6, Sitka

22JUL09 Our voyage thus far had been smooth sailing so to speak, but during the night we left the calm waters of the inland passage, entered the Gulf of Alaska and proceeded south toward Sitka. Several times during the night we were awakened as our bodies swayed with the movement of the vessel, but upon recognizing where we were returned to that state of slumber.

By early morning we had entered Sitka Sound where the waters remained choppy but not as robust as through the night.








The southern part of Alaska and its coastline is home of native American people, and Sitka, a beautiful seaside community of approximately 8900 people, is the homeland of the Tlingit Indian nation. This community is on the western edge of Baranof Island, the island being 100 miles long and up to 25 miles wide, and was named for Russian American Governor Alexander Baranov, who established Sitka in 1799.

Unlike our previous stops where we walked off the ship and directly onto shore, we would be tendered today as were the other cruise ships.

A look back at the range and Mt. Edgecumbe which helps shelter Sitka

It was our turn to be tendered, and we loaded aboard. Interesting is the number of people one of these hold... near 100. Look, there's our room overhead, at the edge of the dining room overhang.

Fascinating was the skein of smaller forested islands just off Sitka's coastline and harbor.

Along the shoreline and atop a spruce, a welcoming committee of one

We stepped off to another misting morning and the smiling face of our friend Cindy awaiting our arrival. Sitka continued...