Mom and I and our cool bikes!
Now it is gray, but not raining and foggy like last night. My group of 11 (plus me and Mary Lou) met for a sit down lunch. Then a few of us went to a towel folding demonstration. This may sound boring, but it was to see how t make towels into animals. I bought the book they made because I thought it would be a great thing for Phil to do at the hospital if he was treating a little kid. Now I am enjoying tea in my cabin on this last afternoon on board...
After our Elderhostel tour, I walked all through Totem Park (Sitka National Historic Park)
, visited some favor its shops and then met up with Sue at the Native tribal hall. We walked to her new house (which I love) and had a lovely time catching up. How great to see her. She is her beautiful, welcoming same self. We went to the university and saw Denise and Dave (Sue's husband). Then we went to visit Sarah and her daughter Emma (who was born after I moved away). I miss them all, Sue especially. I don't really have women friends here in Seward and I had such a sisterhood in Sitka. It was sad to leave--I want to bring Phil back to this place that was so many firsts in my adult life.
reach twice and play around. we saw many more whales, plus eagles, sea lions and the glaciers.
We were up early and on shore for a quick walk to the Southeast Discovery Center and a talk by Gloria Burns. Gloria is a former student of mine from when I taught at the University of Alaska Southeast in Sitka. Gloria is a Haida and very active in her culture. She spoke about her family and what is means to be native Alaskan, now and in her ancestor's time. I was very moved y her presentation. Although I heard her speak two years ago, I learned so much this time and feel she has really grown in to her role as the leader of her family.
I walked along Creek Street, 
past Dolly's House (which use to be a house of ill repute and brought about the saying that Creek Street was were both salmon and men come to spawn) and went to the rock shop I always visit--this time buying a lovely piece of amethyst. I also went to Ray Troll's shop (famous Ketchikan artist) and a little Asian store (Mai's Imports) I always stop at (but it wasn't the same anymore).
My stateroom. There were different towel animals on the bed every night. I can make the elephant now!
In the afternoon we had another EH program--Mary Lou's inspirational land lottery presentation. Then I had to go dress for formal dinner. We were joined at our table by Nathan, an officer/captain in training from Northern Ireland. He had been in the British Navy prior to this. He said that earlier in the year he had actually toured Phil's carrier, the Midway, which is now a museum in San Diego. I definitely ate too much for dinner. It is hard when you start with three choices for appetizers, then go on to three choices of soups/salads, four or five choices of entrees and then half a dozen dessert possibilities. Combined with the fact that having an officer at our table meant we were treated to wine with our courses and it was easy to over do it. Don't worry, though, I ditched the fancy dress and walked another two more miles on the deck (which is much more enjoyable than walking here on the treadmill). Afterwards I had some tea back in my cabin and off to bed @ 10:00.
I flew to Vancouver direct from Anchorage last night. I stayed at the Days Inn Downtown so I could walk around. This morning I got up at 9:00 a.m. and left around 10 a.m. to walk down Pender Street, ~thirteen blocks, to China Town. What a lovely day! There were lots of people out and about. I loved all the little shops--first the touristy ones and then the shops the Chinese actually shopped at themselves. I liked listening to them talk. I got a adzuki bean paste moon cake(like ones I had in Japan) from a bakery for breakfast. 
I visited the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Park formal gardens, which were so peaceful and cool compared to the surrounding city air. I liked watching the big koi in the pond.
