We’re situate in a lovely NFS campground ten miles from Juneau Alaska.  Arrived by ferry at 4:45 a.m. this morning.  Our literature said the campground opened today, but we found the gate locked.  We called the office to remind them of the opening.  A ranger knocked on our door at Noon to tell us it was open.  He remarked on our A.T. sticker and said he had through-hiked the trail in 1984.

I report on our three day day sea voyage from Bellingham WA to Juneau AK.  It is called inland but we crossed two open water areas.  The first was merely rough.  During the second the ship climbed great swells and dropped its bow with a groan.  The next wave crashed against the bow and sent sheets of spray across the bow and over the windows of the observation deck.  At least one wave must have drenched the windows of the bridge above. 

The rain has stopped and it is 54 degrees in northeastern Washington.  Lately it has been warmer in Alaska.  Good thing we depart by ferry for Juneau tomorrow evening.  Will arrive May 1st.  Hard to believe the time has come.  We called to find that the snow is gone from the coast.  That was great news.  Ten years ago we arrived to find it reaching the shore.

Raining this afternoon and rather cool.  We’ve become hardened for Alaska.  Still we had one fabulously clear day traveling from near Mt. Hood to here at the foot of Mt. Rainier.  At first had the one snowball in our rear view mirror and later faced the somewhat ominous Rainier looming in front of us.

We are camped in the Pacific Northwest.  The natives complain that spring refuses to come.  Weather continues cold and rainy despite the cherry and tulip blossoms.  The rivers are flush and the ground soggy.  After a few days of gray fog I became depressed.  Then, arriving here after leaving Ashland OR the sun emerged and cheer returned.

Rain and more rain.  What gives with this California.  I should not complain.  It has been a week since the last rain-out day in Half Moon Bay.  Unfortunately the forecast is for wind and more rain tomorrow. 

April 9

In some ways similar to San Diego.  Lovely land, turbulent sea, splendid weather, and crazy traffic.  Enjoyed four nights in San Francisco proper with Alex.  Visited Golden Gate Park and the West End and admired Alamo Square from above.  The park remains closed but the sods we saw planted last fall are firmly established after a winter of rain.  The other hills, Bernal and Corona and those outside town are also brilliant green with hints of other color from the multitude of flowers.  The orange green and scarlet Allen’s Hummingbirds are zipping among the

Arrived last evening after a week in San Diego and a short two-day drive here.  Spent one night in Lost Hills in the Central Valley.  Watched a glorious sun rise at Kern National Wildlife Refuge near there yesterday and found our first American Bittern of the year making like a stick in the middle of a levee road. 

Hard to find much to complain about here.  San Diego is almost as different a place as is Pheonix to an easterner.  The traffic is awful, there are many quirks, and the desert is near at hand, but the weather along the coast is very pleasant, except when it is foggy or smoggy. 

We camp for a few days on wildlife management agency land.  No fee and splendid isolation.  Perhaps too quiet.  We worry a bit about security and would hate to return and find the rig trashed.  On the other hand there is silence as the sun sets across the lake and blackbirds come to roost.