To Hoonah

So I spent a few days in Juneau, but then it was time to continue on to my destination. On Monday morning I went to the ferry terminal. I was really nervous, partly because I was finally on my way to Hoonah, but mostly because I am afraid of big ships. I walked on the boat and found a place to sit down.

The view from my seat. 

I sat down next to this really nice lady. We began to talk and to my luck I found out that she is also a Physical Education teacher. She teaches Physical Education at UAS (the university in Juneau). She was so nice and helpful. She and her friend took me on a tour of the ferry and bought me breakfast. She gave me her email address and helped me to know what I needed to be teaching to meet the Alaska standards.

Unfortunately it was pouring rain the entire 3 1/2 hour trip. I saw one whale but couldn't see it very well because it was raining so hard. I met one of my future students, and a guy named Rickey D that works for the ferry system. He introduced me to the women that work at the ferry terminal. I was blessed again. The lady that worked at the ferry terminal also happened to be my landlord. She drove me straight over to my apartment and gave me a short tour of Hoonah. Everyone in Alaska is so nice.

 view from the deck

Coming up on Icy Strait Point in Hoonah. 

Obviously I took this from inside the ferry because it was raining so hard. 

 A cruise ship was in town. 

The ferry terminal.

 My friend Rickey D from the ferry. 

Oops, a rain drop on my camera lens.

This is my very first view of Hoonah as I got off the ferry. 

Hoonah, my new home!

North

It was a quiet Thursday morning in May. I received a phone call and totally unlike me, I answered it. It was the principal at Hoonah City School. He was calling about a teaching position at their school. (A position I never even applied for.) He interviewed me that same day, and 10 min after he offered me the job. Next thing I knew I was headed to Alaska.

I tried to plan for my trip but I had a few little gaps in my plans. For example: I had no idea how I was going to find my hotel. Once I located my hotel I had no idea how I was going to get to that hotel. As the plane landed I looked out my window. (well... actually some guy took the window seat I had reserved, but that didn't stop me from awkwardly peering over his shoulder as the plane landed.) Anyway as I we landed I saw my hotel out the window. To my wonderful surprise my hotel was directly across the street from the airport. I picked up my 3 suitcases and started walking down the street.

The next day was a beautiful, hot, sunny, day. I decided to go and see the Mendenhall Glacier. The hotel guy told me that if I just walked down this street and I would find a bus stop that would take me right to the glacier. I started walking. Somehow I missed the bus stop. Later I found out I actually missed a couple bus stops. (They really should spend some of that oil money on some new bus stop signs.) Anyway, I ended up walking about 3.5 miles. Then, I found a bus stop. I waited 15 mins and got on the bus excited to not be walking. The bus took me about 200 yards. The bus driver told me that that was the last stop and that the glacier was only about a 2 mile walk up the road. So I started walking again. As I was walking I saw a a tiny little stream on the side of the road. It was full of salmon. 

It was totally cool! I could have reached right down and caught them with my hands. I walked back to the road and about 5 feet away from where I was standing I saw this sign. 

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

 After a very LONG walk. I finally made it to the glacier.  The glacier was really cool. It was totally worth every step.

While I was there some glacier floated up to me and I got to touch it. 

After a while I had to start my LONG walk back to my hotel. I shouldn't complain though, Tongass National Forest is a really beautiful place.