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.

Washington has treated us well but it has been cold and wet.  Lots of flowers and new leaves dipping with moisture.  We’ve passed ahead of many of the migrating birds, but Marsh Wrens and Common Yellowthroats have started singing along the water.  Already Bald Eagles are everyday sights.  Many of the geese are ahead of us, but huge flocks of ducks are assembled along the coast and moving north between meals.  We’ll see many of them from the ferry. 

The bays to the west are lovely and the islands seem towers.  The vegetation suggests Maine, but the trees are larger as the climate is less brutal.  The deserts we visited on this expedition are now almost forgotten though there is a different sort of desert not too far to the east across the high mountains that look so formidable and remain mostly hidden in clouds. 

There is talk of clearing tomorrow.  That might give us a view of the high peaks from the deck of the M/V Malaspina.  We went shopping yesterday and this morning to stock up for southeast Alaska and the Yukon Territory.  We also need food for the three-day ferry ride.  Don’t want to take all our meals at the cafeteria. 

We are well and walking on most days with or without ponchos.  Our old camper is serving us well.  Looks like it will get us to the boat after a long cruise here by way of San Diego.  We enjoy the small space.

Washingtonions are chomping at the bit to get out of their houses.  They are complaining loudly of the cold.  We, going to Alaska, chuckle about that.  We're ready.