Moose Poop & Other Brilliant Moments

“Half the work that is done in this world is to make things appear what they are not.” —E.R. Beadle

September 30, 2021 

Ketchikan is our last port of call. I can't believe how quickly this trip has flown. It's raining off and on and in the 40’s. People seem surprised and frustrated that it rains so often in the largest temperate rain forest in the world. Life is filled with rain, but it’s not all bad. It nourishes the earth. It washes the air clean. I wish I could bottle the air around here. It’s so brisk and clean smelling, filled with exhalations of millions of trees.  

Norwegian has had to invest quite a bit in another dock located across the bay from the one we've arrived at before. Again, the size of this ship has a lot to do with that. We didn't have an excursion planned for today, so we hopped on the shuttle with #2 Daughter and Nephew. It took us around the bay and into the heart of this bustling little tourist trap...ahem! I mean charming town. 

It's actually interesting to see the less glitzy parts of the village, the homely places where people buy their groceries and fill their cars with gas. Like many towns located on the water, Ketchikan is pretty vertical in spots.  

And it's home to some great bargains. In years past, we snagged some excellent winter parkas for around $20. We usually plan on this stop being our shopping port for trinkets and baubles.

And boy, did we find some doozies this year. 

The stand-out had to be this little display of gilded Christmas ornaments at a unique little shop featuring local artists. Most of the offerings were spectacular--scrimshaw work on walrus tusks and original paintings. Then there were these curiosities...

Yes, my friends, these gaudily enameled little droplets are...moose poop. 

The shop owner says he can't keep them in stock. People buy them as Christmas gag gifts for friends and family (in lieu of a lump of coal?). He says it's a very earth-friendly product. Totally renewable raw materials, he claimed. 

I think it's evidence that PT Barnum was right.

And it proves people will buy anything if it's marketed correctly.  

#1 Daughter and D-I-L took a wonderful small boat tour ostensibly to see lighthouses and totem poles. Instead, they ended up seeing eagles, humpbacks, sea lions and sea otters. The tour operator had the theme from Jurassic Park playing as they cruised along and in time with a crescendo in the music, a humpback breached right in front of them. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen," the guide intoned as if he'd arranged it just for them, "Welcome to Alaska!"

Photo by D-I-L

The DH and I had a hot stone couples' massage in the afternoon. I had expected it to be very relaxing, but my masseuse went after the knots in my muscles like she was killing snakes. She actually left bruises on my arms and legs. It occurred to me that I never asked about what sort of training the people in the spa have. Don't think I'll be doing that again. 

The Choir of Man, a show I was really looking forward to, was canceled and a quartet called The Company Men was subbed in. They had a very good blend, excellent showmanship, and were quite entertaining.  But again, the sound system in the theater was cranked up so that everything was painfully loud. The canned accompaniment often overwhelmed the vocals, which was sad because they were good singers.

My Mom and Dad continue to be recognized every where they go on the ship and generally treated like celebrities. People want to talk to them and even give them hugs. With 67 years of a happy marriage under their belts, they definitely offer something to aspire to. 

I’m so thrilled that everyone is having a wonderful time on the Norwegian Encore!