Kodiak
Arrived Kodiak at 07:00am after our 6 days crossing the north Pacific. A bright, dry start to the day with temperature at 2C rising to around 6C in the afternoon. Some snow still on the tops of the mountains. Kodiak is the main city and one of seven communities on Kodiak Island, Alaska. All commercial transportation between the island’s communities and the outside world goes through this city via ferryboat or airline. Population is around 5,500 and it is the tenth largest city in Alaska. Inhabited by Alutiiq Natives for more than 7,000 years, Kodiak was settled in 1792 by subjects of the Russian Crown. Kodiak has the largest Coast Guard base in the US. The Port of Kodiak is where 770 commercial fishing vessels make their home port. Kodiak is the state of Alaska’s largest fishing port, as well as home to the largest fleet of trawlers, longline, crab and salmon vessels. At 9:30am set out with 30 others for our tour to Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park nature walk. Our transport was a yellow school bus with Sherrie as our driver. A 15 minute drive through town brought us to the park where we were given a map for our self-guided walking tour. Meeting the bus again 2 hours later at 11:45am. Fort Abercrombie is 182 acres of land at the end of Miller Point, located on the eastern shore of Kodiak Island northeast of the city of Kodiak. The park, established in 1969, is noted for its historical World War II fortifications and its scenery, which includes bluffs overlooking the ocean, spruce forests, and meadows. In the park we headed down to Lake Gertrude and followed the path round the shore. This is a temperate rain forest, so everything is covered in layers of moss. As we proceeded a light rain was falling for a period of time. Near the end of the lake we turned and climbed a steep path and came out on the top of Miller Point. Here there is a military history museum run by volunteers as well as a couple of the old 8” guns. The weather now cleared and the views out over the ocean from here were the highlight. A walk back down the central road brought us to the parking lot where we eventually embarked our bus back to the dock. Wildlife observed throughout the day included sea otters and bald eagles. No sign of any kodiak bears which are the worlds largest bear!
