Catch Me in Ketchikan!

Dear Friends…


My day ended with a BIG party on the ship…but wait, I need to start at the beginning of the day! It was a bit gray and drizzly as we docked in Ketchikan, in Southeast Alaska, but that did not stop us from getting off the ship.


Ketchikan is known for its abundance of totem poles. The totem poles were carved from tall trees by the indigenous people to illustrate the stories of their families, or clans. Just like an artist would illustrate a book with colorful pictures, so the totem poles carvers would create richly carved animals that told a story. Each one is different and interesting as you learn about its background.


We walked and walked around Ketchikan, which is a perfect way to meet other travelers and to meet the people (and animals!) who live here. Many people have never met a Traveling Bear, and they stop to ask about me. I am only too eager to fill them in about my life as a curious traveling learner in the world. People want to take my picture; of course I oblige them, and remind them to keep eyes and ears tuned to the beauty and wonder of God’s world.

One fellow I met was PRETTY tall! He was a polar bear, who was invited to permanently live in one of the shops here. Can you see how small I am in comparison to him!

The Husky or Malamute is the guard dog in the same shop, and he was so curious about me…he wanted to chew my ears and paws…but in a very friendly way. I liked him, but I also like my ears and paws!!

In a little park, I had a chance to see three birds that live here. The bald eagle had been shot, and now she is being cared for and is recovering. She DID NOT want me to get near her, because she did not know me. But the hawk and the owl thought I was ok.

Red Tailed Hawk

Screech Owl

I thought it would be fun to take home one of the little Russian dolls that nest inside each other. The tiniest doll fits inside a larger doll and she fits inside the next larger one, and so on until you have just the largest doll! The Russian people have a history here, and so you can see Russian churches and shops with many brightly colored items from Russia.

Along our shopping route, we came to a shop called Ketchi-Candies. It was another opportunity to find a present, and to meet the girls who help make all those hand-dipped chocolates.

Our tour led us to another wonderful place to find out more about Alaska, The Discovery Place. Each section had informative displays of wildlife and how the first peoples lived in this vast land. Do you see the salmon strips drying on the racks? They dried the salmon so they could keep it over the winter for food.


I keep learning each day, but sometimes I just stop and have a good time laughing or singing. That’s what I did at the end of the day. The ship’s entertainers had a REALLY big show with costumes, music, singing and dancing. What fun!

Tomorrow will be my last day at sea and soon I’ll be back in the Aubrey Area Library, eager to see familiar people. In the meantime, I’m relaxing with a few books about Alaska.


See Y’all Soon,


L.L.Bear


Don't Forget to Catch the Reading Express

...this summer at the Aubrey Area Library! Get onboard for fun programs and great books with our Summer Reading Program!

Tuesdays @ 11 am....June 8 thru July 20

June 8 - Catch the Reading Express with Maggie and Puppets
June 15 - Dan Gibson, Stories and Banjo Music
June 22 - Texas Tom, Teller of Tall Tales
June 29 - The Mad Scientist Returns
July 6 - Creature Teacher and Animals
July 13 - Brett Roberts, the Magic Reading Railroad
July 20 - Tom McDermott, Music and Stories
July 27 - Ice Cream Party for Readers...Ticket Event