Our ferry MV COLUMBIA at the end of our 3 night voyage up the Inside Passage from Bellingham to Skagway. Columbia is the flagship of the Alaska Ferry fleet. Built in 1974 she has comfortable and inexpensive Stateroom accomodation, along with good value and tasty meals, friendly crew and a mixture of fellow passengers looking for a Cruise Ship alternative.
Our spacious stateroom on Columbia. Ice is available from 25c slot machines. Tightarses like me can still have cold beer at $6 a six pack rather than $6 a beer at the Cocktail Lounge
Toilet and shower are roomy and work well
Columbia was the only ferry of the 5 we used on the AK ferry system having a Navigation Screen. User controls comprised of zoom in/out only, but a very interesting and accurate way of following our trip up the Inside Passage.
Numerous picturesque navigation stations dot the Inside Passage. This is BOAT BLUFF LIGHTSTATION marking the entry to Tolmie Channel at the southern end of Sarah Island.
Barges are extensively used on the Inside Passage to transport freight, replacing trucks due to the lack of roads in most areas.
Columbia had spotted a bear fishing for salmon at this waterfall at sundown on her previous trip north. We slowed and stopped for a while - but unfortunately no bear
Nonstop floatplane activity as we approach our 1st stop at Ketchikan, Alaska
The floatplanes cater for the hordes off the cruise ships who wish to go sightseeing over nearby attractions such as Misty Fjords National Monument
Ketchikan is a busy port not only as a cruise ship stop. The ferry terminal is quite a way out of town. We were lucky enough to score a quick tour and dropoff downtown by a local lady in a minibus for $10 each return
Creek Street, Ketchikan. One of its most photographed locations
Fishermen catching salmon at the end of Creek Street
I think these are Pink Salmon
I'm not sure of the significance of the Mooning Eagle which is dwarfed by a docked cruise ship
Next port of call Wrangell
Wrangell is not a cruise ship port and the ferry docks close to town. There is just enough time to get off the ferry and stretch your legs by doing a quick lap around town
The next leg to Petersburgh goes through the spectacular Wrangell Narrows
The Captain of Columbia has litte room for error here
When you come to Alaska, don't forget your sunnies
Petersburgh also doesn't have a cruise ship port
It is a fishing town with very much a Norwegian flavour
Columbia was running late so the stop at Petersburgh was very brief. Just enough time to get off and take a few snaps. We made up for this later when we called in on the Matanuska, and had over an hour ashore
Columbia at Petersburgh
An early morning stop at the Juneau Ferry Terminal at Auke Bay, which is quite a distance from downtown Juneau
Columbia at Auke Bay
Magnificent scenery in magnificent weather up the Lynn Canal from Juneau to Haines
The first glimpse of a glacier from the Lynn Canal
Close up of the same glacier. Note the sheer face and the waterfall from the meltwater
The Malaspina going the opposite direction along the Lynn Canal on the Skagway - Haines - Juneau run. We later went on the Malaspina on this run.
Passing Haines on the Columbia.
The ferry terminal at Haines is 5 miles or so from town - but still in a spectacular setting looking up the Chilkoot Valley
The final leg up the Lynn Canal to our destination Skagway
