Woke up to a rainy wet morning but beautiful non the less. Lindsay and I had a nice hot breakfast of oatmeal and soon set off to see the Mendenhall glacier. We walked for a very long time throwing out our thumbs trying to get a lift. I wouldn't have wanted to pick us up, we were soaking wet from the constant rain. A lady pulled over early on however we were going out of her way so we continued walking as she sped off disappearing into the distance. Latter a man pulled up in a in a jacked up Chevie to offer us a ride. We had seen this noisy truck rolled by multiple times as we were walking as if he was trying to decided if he should pull over. We accepted his offer and in no time at all were at the park entrance.
A real glacier right in front of my eyes, amazing. The salmon were spawning here in the rivers as well, the bright red salmon the Chinook. These fish were the most beautiful salmon I have ever seen. I felt like I was at the salmon run with Kenai, Koda and the gang. The Juneau visitors center had a neat underwater camera for visitors to view the Spawning Salmon. Adults and a few young fries swam across the cameras view.
-Me and Mendenhall.
-The Chinook.
We watched a video about the glacier at the center and had a unique chat with one of the park rangers about her illegal rehab using squirrels. We made the very important purchase of our ponchos here to help keep the rain off our camera's. Lindsay and I walked out to the glacier look point and under the protection of our ponchos snapped a few shots of the Mendenhall. After gazing for many minuets we made our way back to the visitors center and we allowed to eat lunch in the dry facility.
-View from the lookout point.
-Visitor's Center.
-Lindsay sporting her new poncho.
-Lindsay and I inside the center.
Me made the long journey back to the campsite without any luck hitchhiking. I can't say we tried very hard to get a ride though, a town cop repeatedly drove past us throughout our journey back. Arriving at the campgrounds we packed up our things and cough a buss back into town. What a cheap and unique way of getting a tour around Juneau. About an hour passed before we hopped off the buss into the downtown area. We were both hungry and sought out a restaurant recommended by Richard called Pelmenis, which literally means dumplings in Russian. They serve one dish Russian dumplings, meat or no meat. There is no menu and I was a bit humored as I observed two people from the cruise ship walk in look around confused then walk out the door. The guy behind the front desk made no effort to help them. Everyone in Pelmenis reminded me of Richard, no wonder he love the place. The food was unique but good, little bit two spicy for me however.
-Mount Roberts Tram.
-My pack looked huge covered in that big black garbage bag! I received quite a few looks.
-Downtown Juneau. The backdrop was incredible.
We walked around the town a bit and made our way to the hostel. Here we threw off our packs and left once again for a drink at the Red Dog Saloon. I was still hungry so I ordered a burger along with a hot chocolate with a hit of Peppermint Schnapps. I was surprised to see that my drink coast a dollar less than my meal. Good God. After our meals we headed back to the hostel and crashed for the night in a dorm room with six other girls from Taiwan. They had been working at the fish cannery in Sitka that summer and have now made there way to Juneau for whatever reason. It was cute when I first walked into the room after Lindsay had been chatting with them. One of the girls smiles and asked if I was Anna. I said, “yes” and she was delighted and joyously exclaiming that her name was also Anna.
The hostel was a very nice place for $10.00 a night. Can't say I have slept in the top of a bunk be in awhile. We turned in fairly early because tomorrow was going to be a big day.
-Red Dog Saloon.
-Inside the saloon.
