Slow Boat South

On my return trip from Alaska, I opted to take the ferry South through the Inside Passage, and skip the drive back through Canada. The Cassiar Highway, which is less interior and more mountainous than the ALCAN (which is the road I came up on), definitely intrigued me, but I’ll leave that long drive for the next big Alaska adventure – preferably to be done with a passenger.

The ferry ride takes roughly 4 days aboard the MV The Columbia, The Alaskan Marine Highway System’s largest vessel. It can carry more than 120 cars, with a handful of them being large RV’s and truck trailers. It’s definitely more of a ship  at 420' than what I consider a ferry to be. The first day or so we went through incredibly narrow straights where you were literally a stones throw from land on either side of the ship, stopping at a handful of the ‘coastal’ towns along Alaska's Inside Passage. Though we had some snow, rain and lots of fog, it was a beautiful cruise South. By the second day we were in much wider and at times rougher (read more fun) water.

They call it the poor mans cruise, but with the cost of loading Silvia, it didn’t feel so inexpensive. For an additional fee you can get a stateroom, which is essentially a bunk room, but for no cost you are allowed to sleep out in any of the public areas, such as the theater, viewing decks and solarium – it’s not too busy overall, but in the evenings there are bodies sleeping everywhere. In addition, you are allowed to pitch a tent in two specific areas on the boat, which is the approach I went with. My little tent is home for four nights as we weave our way South to Canada, past Vancouver, eventually arriving (1,800 miles later) in Bellingham, Friday morning.

While I’m not roughing it in any way, it’s kind of cool to have the throwback to how people used to travel, where it took days not hours, and there are no cell phones or internet to occupy your time. Much of the day is spent just looking out at the passing water and landscape.

The MV Columbia on its way to port in Haines

Looks more like a cruise ship than a ferry to me

Silvia deep down the line ready for the 1,800 mile ferry ride

Home, sweet home on the back deck of the MV Columbia

Treated to a beautiful sunset as we head out of port

Final views of the town, Haines

Very calm and narrow waters on our first morning aboard the ship

Light precip as we enter some narrows

Lunch with concealed contraband beer

Passing boats in the northern straights

Rolling hills, small islands, and open ocean out Salisbury Sound

Quick 5 hour stop in Ketchikan – former red light distract 

Dramatic scenery on the final evening on the ship

Movie night in my little chateau

Not a bad view to wake up to on morning #4

Rain finally quits as we wind down the travel South passing Vancouver Island