Alaska Marine Highway to Ketchikan

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This afternoon we drove our car and camper onto the M/V Columbia (Alaskan Marine Highway System). Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the US combined, and more than half of its coastal cities are unreachable by road. In 1960 (just one year after statehood), Alaska voters passed a bond issue to initiate a state-owned Marine Highway System that would connect these communities. The ship can carry 931 passengers and lots of vehicles. Amenities include a dining room, a snack bar, coctail longe, theater, and a small gift shop. Many pitched a tent using duck tape on the bridge and cabin decks. Some slept on the floor or on reclining chairs. Since the journey from Bellingham, WA to Ketchican takes 38 hours, we decided to pay extra for a private two-berth cabin complete with toilet, sink and shower. The scenery along the way was magnificent.

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Photos

Low Cloud Cover
Low cloud cover was normal along the entire route.