July 4 - Sitka

July 4 – Sitka

We spent the day walking around town, shopping but not buying (no need for furs).  One can buy a sea otter bikini here if you have a need for one.  Nat and Linda bought a sea otter pillow case last week.  It is pretty, soft, etc… but I’m thinking that one would not fit with our decor.     I chatted with the owner of a fur shop, who I had seen and talked to in Park City a year ago.  I asked him about the difference in the fur business in Park City vs Alaska.  He said that he has 4 stores in Alaska and he makes more in 4 weeks in the Ski areas than he does in 4 months in Alaska.  In contrast the Jewelry folks told me that they make more in Alaska in 4 months than they make in the Caribbean in that season.    

We also went to the 4^th of July Parade.  What a chuckle that was.  It looked like every person in town was there watching or in the parade.  Everything from church groups to schools to the forest service, park rangers, city fire dept, airport fire dept, Russian History group, Alaskan History group, work out groups (on stationary bikes on the back of a flatbed truck – pedaling to keep their boom box going, Abe Lincoln (one very very tall guy), some current Politian’s running for office, Guys in Civil War uniforms who shot black powder rifles into the air; and as if just on que a kid on a rooftop threw out a rubber chicken after each shot.  The Navy had a group marching, as did the Coast Guard.  Not to be out done the Coast Guard had a Helicopter cruising overhead above them.  Before the parade there was a group of fair food and game booths up in the school yard.   We did not stay around to watch but apparently the Coast Guard did some kind of display after the parade.   And after that the Air Port Fire Dept and the City Fire Dept had some kind of ‘shot out’ with water and foam.   

The Nelsea crew was out fishing today and got several nice sized Silver Salmon, and some black cod.

 

We have not seen them yet but reports are that Pete and Linda were spotted in town near the parade route.

We came back to the boat and rested.  Hey going to a parade is very tiring.