Morning is breaking

Downtown Sitka awakens across the channel from Japonski Island as Arrowhead looms in the background.

Any port at sea

ANB Harbor shelters many of Sitka's commercial fishing boats. It is located downtown, right across from the Pioneer Bar, where many of the captains and crew school up around their beer to complain about low prices or not enough fish, and especially the growth of the charter fishing fleet. Tourists are also known to gather there to see what commercial fishermen look like.

From the North

Here's the view coming to Sitka from the northwest. Alaska Airlines provides twice-daily jet service to Juneau and Anchorage, and the same to Seattle. During the summer, the flights increase to three each way.

http://www.alaskaair.com/

Rescuers of the lost

A U. S. Coast Guard helicopter flies over St. Michael's Orthodox Church during the Fourth of July parade this year.

(Remember, if you would like to see a larger image of any of these photos, just click on the image, and when finished viewing, click on the "back" button to return to the blog.)

Governor Palin on Alaska Day

Governor (now former Governor) Sarah Palin attended the Alaska Day flag-raising ceremony at Castle Hill in 2007, as have most governors since Statehood.

Last year, she was busy out of state, and was unable to attend.

http://alaskadayfestival.org/

Sail away

The cruise ship Carnaval Spirit heads down Chatham Straits towards Juneau. Many of the ships won't be returning to Southeast Alaska next year due in part to a depressed economy, but also to the cruise lines indignance over a $50 head tax per visitor passed by a voter referendum to raise money to fund cruise related harbor projects.

For now, bargains abound as ships that leave port with empty cabins get 100% of nothing.