I really feel like sardines on toast.

That’s what I was thinking as we kayaked through the waters of Clover Pass, located in Tonga’s National Forest, the largest national forest in the USA. What a beautiful setting it was, even if we didn’t see all that was promised, as the Californian woman kept complaining loudly about on the way back in the bus. Which broke down.

What we did see was beautiful forest, bright purple and orange star fish, a seal pup who kept popping up in front of us and an eagles nest. Apparently there were 4 eagles inhabiting the nest but they were obviously all out shopping.

What we felt, even though there were motor boats near us, was beautiful calm, peace and serenity.

Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s “First City” because it’s the first major community travelers come to as they journey north. Located on an island, Ketchikan began life as an Indian fishing camp. The name Ketchikan comes from a Tlingit phrase that means “eagle with spread-out wings,” a reference to a waterfall near town.

In the early 1900s, when gold was Alaska’s claim to fame, fishing and timber industries were established in Ketchikan. The growth of these industries helped make this Inside Passage Port, Alaska’s fourth-largest city.

Ketchikan has a rich Native heritage, including the world’s oldest collection of totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center. We didn’t go there.  Ketchikan, also has an abundance of salmon, with four different types – Pink, King, Silver and Sockeye. The adult salmon come into the waters to spawn, once hatched the young un’s go out to the sea for 3-4 years and then instinctively come back to where they were born to spawn. Then they die. The cycle of life. And a fisherman’s paradise.

It was a nice distraction from what was going on across the world with my Squad. Today was the day our friend Mark was put to rest. Our hearts were heavy with sadness for Mark’s beautiful family and our family and friends.

Mark’s family had requested that one of my boys read out my previous blog. I was priveleged and humbled. My middle son took on this great honour, not an easy task, but I received a number of messages to say how proud I should be of him, how he did it such justice and how proud I should be of all of my three sons. I am.

It’s an alcohol free day today, yes, strange but true, I do try and behave every so often. So once we had kayaked around those beautiful waters and returned to the ship, I consoled myself at the Pig Trough. Unfortunately the Pig Trough is only one floor up.

You can always tell who the foreigners are by which side of the passage they walk on. I am fitting right in, walking on the right and travelling up those stairs at least four times to partake in the ‘all you can eat in one sitting’ buffet.  MOD hadn’t seen this side of me, although my girlfriends had. I did go up a couple of times on the guise of getting him something. And there may have been much less by the time I got back to the cabin.

Eating 4 or maybe 6 cookies was a good distraction.

Haines tomorrow.