FRIDAY, JUNE 21

FRIDAY, JUNE 21:

     Woke to total overcast sky.  But when we arrived in town, was clearing and beautiful blue skies appeared.  Tried to find out shrimp fisherman again, but no luck.

     We rode our recumbents on the perimeter of town.  For this bike trip, we began by the elementary school in town and rode over to the street nearest the water (named Nordic Street – got to get the Norwegian plug in!).  Went up a good sized hill.  We did fine – no problem for the bikes.  Then we coasted by the Narrows.

 

Soon come to Hungry Point, where the Wrangell Narrows and Frederick Sound converge (we went out this way on our excursion to LeConte Bay).  Since it was a clear morning, we had beautiful views.  Saw a few fishing boats go by, as well as one ferry (the Taku, the one we’ll be taking next to Sitka).  Didn’t look very big!

 

 

 

 

     After a couple of miles, came to Sandy Point Beach, which had picnic shelters and benches across from the water.  Was warming up now, and again, the water was so pretty we just lingered there a while.

     Then a short ride around the tiny airport (Alaska Air flies small jets out of here – we’ve seen two of them fly over our heads!) and back into town.  We rode to the main drag in town and to Coastal Cold Storage, a local fish packing place to pick up some salmon for dinner, and impulsively decided to buy lunch there (they have a tiny take-out restaurant adjacent to the packing facility).  I think it was the couple of tables outside and the lure of lunch al fresco that did it.  I got the shrimp basket; Bill got a combo basket.  While eating, we saw the whole range of Petersburg locals walk by – fishermen (easily identifiable by their rain boots and other wet weather attire), kids on bikes,  teenagers in clusters, a few fish processing plant summer workers, retired guys just hanging out, other locals doing shopping & errands,  a few tourists like us. Definitely the urban center!   Julie and Jack (who started on our LeConte tour with us) strolled by and said hi. 
 

     As we finished up and got in the truck, it was starting to cloud up again, and by the time we got home, was raining.  We’re getting good at just grabbing slices of beautiful weather when we can!  And when it rains while we’re inside the RV, it just feels nice and cozy and elemental.  It has a real North Woods feel to it.   

 

 

     Fixed the salmon we bought for dinner inside, since was too wet outside to grill it.  Just seared it on top of the stove several times to allow the inside to get done – it was about 1” thick.  Delicious!   
 
         Oh yes, today is the Summer Solstice, so the locals down in this area were having a party to celebrate.  Down the road.  We were tempted to go just to see, but the rain kept us in.