July 1, 2025 – Tuesday
We just spent five wet and windswept days in Ketchikan, where the rain held court for all but five brief hours. I suppose that’s to be expected in a city often crowned the rainiest in America. Still, despite the near-constant drizzle, one of my favorite parts of our stay was the daily performance by the local bald eagles. Each morning, their spirited conversations filled the air, echoing across the harbor like wild applause from the treetops.
But this morning—they truly outdid themselves. Around 3:15 a.m., their chorus rose to an excited crescendo, loud enough to pull me from my sleep. By 3:30, with their chatter still in full swing, curiosity won out and I got up to peek outside. What I saw felt like something between a celebration and a congress: over 25 eagles had gathered in the marina, perched in every possible place—on trees, pilings, rooftops, and their favorite vantage point of all, the swaying masts of sailing boats. They all seemed to be speaking at once, their cries sharp and wild in the quiet dawn.
Perhaps they, like us, were celebrating a rare pause in the rain. As you’ll see in the pictures, a few were looking a bit bedraggled, their feathers thick with days of damp weather. Still, they held their dignity—watchful and proud, even when waterlogged. It’s worth noting that bald eagles are fiercely territorial, yet here they were, assembled in community, unbothered by one another’s nearness. Moments like these feel like reminders that even nature—regal and untamed—recognizes joy in reprieve.
Our journey onward from Ketchikan to Meyers Chuck was equally soul-lifting. To borrow a landlubber’s phrase, it felt downright wonderful to be “back on the road again.” I hope the pictures capture a fraction of the awe we felt.
Eagles at North Harbor Marina
Today, July 1, marks a lively chapter in Ketchikan’s summer rhythm, as the salmon fishing season hits its stride. Local waters are now open for King (Chinook), Sockeye, and the early arrivals of Coho (Silver)
Salmon Fishing
Scenic Views from Ketchikan to Meyers Chuck
