NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW HAMPSHIRE - The Granite State, September 25

This morning we headed north into Massachusetts and our next rendezvous point with the Elks from New Hampshire.  We were greeted in Marlborough, Massachusetts by New Hampshire State Sponsor PGER Amos McCallum and Barbara and SDGER Bob and Sandy Jones.

Our first stop was lunch at Franklin Elks Lodge #1280 in Franklin, New Hampshire.  As we came into town, we were greeted with a motorcycle escort that included a Harley Road King and a CanAm Spyder.  It was quite a treat to see the bikes and we made a close-up inspection of them both when we arrived at the Lodge.  Our next surprise came as we went to get our lunch and the staff asked Tom if he would like a chicken salad sandwich or a lobster sandwich.  Tom smiled and said that since he was pretty sure he could get chicken in California, he believed he would have lobster!  That, combined with a hearty seafood chowder made for an absolutely fabulous lunch.

Franklin Lodge had celebrated their 100th Anniversary earlier this year, but since their plaque did not arrive until recently, Tom had the privilege of making the presentation to the ER and District Deputy. The mayor of Franklin was also in attendance and presented Tom with a proclamation declaring today Thomas S. Brazier Day in Franklin.  We then had a chance to sign cards and hand out pins to those in attendance.

After lunch, we drove through the mountains of New Hampshire and along beautiful scenic backroads.  More than once we commented on the beautiful colors of the foliage and the lakes and streams along what are perfect roads for motorcycles.  Upon arriving in Lebanon, we checked into our hotel and after a short break proceeded to the Lebanon Elks Lodge #2099 for the evening's festivities.  One of the unique features of this lodge is that it used to be a working dairy barn.  It was fascinating to tour the facility and see how they converted both levels of the barn into their current working lodge.

After a wonderful dinner, various Lodges and individuals lined up to present Tom with donations for ENF totaling $15,800.  They also donated $262 to the Disaster Relief Fund for card signing and pins.    At the conclusion of the evening, the New Hampshire Elks presented us with a beautiful crystal decanter and 14 wine glasses, each engraved with the name and number of one of their lodges.  The Lebanon Lodge gave each of us a fleece-lined jacket showing their beautiful " barn" lodge on the back.  Tom also received a congratulatory letter from Raymond S. Burton, Executive Councilor from District One for the State of New Hampshire who was in attendance at the dinner as well as a proclamation from John Lynch, Governor for the State of New Hampshire.

Many thanks to all of the wonderful New Hampshire Elks who made our visit so memorable.  Although this visit was short and sweet, you can be assured that we will be back to spend more time exploring your beautiful state.

RHODE ISLAND

RHODE  ISLAND - 400 Miles of Coastline, September 24

This morning we were driven to Mystic, Connecticut by the gracious Elks of Connecticut where we were delivered into the safe keeping of the Rhode Island Elks.  Our greeting party included SDGER Walter Kettelle and Judy, State President Jeanne Clancy, Grand Lodge Committeeman Leo Blanchette and Nancy and our drive, "Mo".  Did you all know that Rhode Island is only about 60 miles long and 40 miles wide, but boasts the longest coastline of any state in the United States?  Neither did we!  They are not called the Ocean State for nothing.

We were whisked up the road to Jeanne's lodge, Woonsocket #850 where we were treated to a fabulous seafood lunch that included "Little Neck Clams" (raw, of course) and an "experimental" combination of shrimp and lobster, laced with Sambuca.  We were given a tour of their lodge, including their lodge room that had stained glass medallions above each station as well as the "Star of Fidelity".  Jeanne and Venita discovered that they had been ERs the same year and had both been ritual champions.  It was noted that the Woonsocket and the Santa Cruz Lodge were both instituted the same year, 1903.

After lunch, we were taken to our hotel in Warwick for some rest prior to the evening banquet.  That evening, we had a chance to meet many of the Rhode Island Elks at dinner and were privileged to spend time talking to them about their association.  After dinner, Tom shared his thoughts on the future of Elkdom and how to better represent our Order in our communities.  Judy Kettelle, Hope Kirkconnell and Marie Caranci presented Venita with a quilt block for Rhode Island to be included as part of the memory quilt she will be completing at the end of our year of travels.  Creative credit was also given to Marie's granddaughter, Tabitha.  We were then asked to come to the front of the dais where State President Jeanne presented us with a spectacular silver punch bowl, tray and cups.  We were speechless and it took both of us a moment to regain our composure.  It is an amazing gift and we are truly grateful to the Rhode Island Elks.  We also receive donations to the ENF totaling $1,125.  As the evening wound down, we spent time signing cards and sharing our pins with these great Elks.  When all was said and done, we had raised $337 for the Elks Disaster Relief Fund, all due to the generosity of the Rhode Island Elks.  This was a wonderful day among a terrific group of Elks, one we will not forget.

CONNECTICUT

CONNECTICUT - Whirlwind Visit, September 23

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.  Today was our first major transportation snafu.  We arrived at the airport in plenty of time for our 10:00 flight to Connecticut.  Just as we were about to board, they notified us that there was an issue with one of the tires and they would let us know the status in a few minutes.  We all looked at each other, knowing that we only had an hour connection time in Washington, D.C. for our flight to Hartford.  A few minutes later, they cancelled our flight due to a flat tire.  After speaking with the passenger agent, we found out that we could not possibly get to Hartford that day.  We then decided to go ahead and drive from Buffalo to Hartford  So we grabbed PGER David Carr, our luggage, our rental car and headed across upstate New York.  The funniest part of the entire adventure was Tom had thought about doing this very thing the day before.  So he got his wish!

We arrived at the Hartford Airport around 5:00 p.m., three hours past what would have been our original arrival time via plane.  We were met by SDGER Robert Hansen and Patti, State President Terry Ford and Terri and Grand Lodge Committeeman Gene Sabio and Linda.

We were then escorted to Willimantic Lodge #1311.  This is a beautiful old Victorian building originally built in the 1920s.  The members have recently done a great deal of work to renovate the facility and it is absolutely spectacular.  As we got out of the cars, we were greeted by the Connecticut Past State Presidents and their ladies lining the curving stairway up to the lodge.  We were then treated to a wonderful dinner which they had been gracious enough to delay for over an hour.  Everyone was thrilled we were there, even if for just a short time.

After Tom's speech, the State Association presented Tom with $1,000 donation to ENF in his name.  Venita received a bag containing a number of items manufactured in Connecticut, including a PEZ dispenser for the University of Connecticut Huskies, a wiffle ball, beautiful sterling silver earrings from Tiffany's, a quilt block from Connecticut for her memory quilt, and a charm for her bracelet.  After dinner we signed cards and handed out pins.  Many of the lodges presented us with donations to ENF in our name.  Tom received a Stetson cowboy hat from the Danbury Lodge #120.  At the close of the evening, we were given a tour of the lodge, including their beautiful lodge room.

The next morning we had breakfast with our group, and then headed for Mystic to meet the Rhode Island Elks.  We must say that although our visit was short, we had a fabulous time and will definitely be back for some motorcycle riding on the beautiful backroads of Connecticut.

NEW YORK

NEW YORK - The Empire State, September 21-22

We arrived in Buffalo, New York Thursday evening and were met by the New York Elks, including PGER David Carr and State President Larry Contratti.  Upon arriving at the hotel on Grand Island, the largest fresh water island in the world, we were greeted by PGER Peter Affatato and Irene and PGER Dr. Leonard Bristol and Ginny.  We joined the three area sponsors and the State President for a very pleasant dinner before we ended our travel day.

Friday morning we met the same group for breakfast, after which Tom went off with Larry to be introduced to the Advisory Committee.  He then visited a number of the special interest workshops that make up the training portion of the New York Convention.  Tom was very interested to see what information was being shared and complimented the state on their progressive format and hard work.

Meanwhile, Venita, Irene, Ginny and a number of the Past State Presidents' wives were taken on a luncheon cruise up the Niagara River on a ship appropriately called the "Grand Lady."  It was a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing way to see some of the beautiful mansions that line the river as we sailed toward the city of Buffalo.

That evening, we had dinner with the Advisory Committee and their wives followed by a visit to some of the hospitality suites for the 17 New York Districts.  It was a lively evening and we handed out pins and signed cards while visiting with the hard working Elks of New York.

Saturday morning we woke up to rain showers.  Not to be deterred, we headed for Niagara Falls after breakfast.  Since neither one of us had been there, we were tickled to be able to check this destination off our "bucket list."  And it truly was an amazing sight.  Niagara Falls State Park is America's oldest state park, established in 1885.  The falls are made up of two sections, the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls.  Of course, nothing would do but that we saw the falls up close and personal, so we donned these lovely blue cleaning bag ponchos and boarded the "Maid of the Mist" for a quick trip to the base of the Horseshoe Falls.  The power of the falls and the roar of the water was an experience that we will not soon forget.

That evening, we attended the Fall Conference Banquet.  Since the New York Association is so large, it felt very much like a California-Hawaii banquet with a ballroom full to overflowing.  The New York Association presented us with a beautiful knife set in a butcher block holder, in keeping with David Carr's love of cooking.  Since we both enjoy cooking as well, we know that this lovely gift will be put to good use . . . when we get a chance to find our kitchen again!  Late that evening, we visited the other hospitality suites, signing cards and giving out pins.  When they requested that Tom give the Eleven O'Clock Toast, he chose the Jolly Corks version which was received with a round of applause at the end.

Our sincere thanks to the New York State Elks Association, State President Larry Contratti and sponsors, PGER Dr. Leonard and Ginny Bristol, PGER Peter Affatato and Irene and PGER David Carr for all of their gracious hospitality during our stay in New York.  We had such a wonderful time with everyone and can't wait to come back on our own.

WISCONSIN

WISCONSIN - Greenbay Packers and Cheeseheads,

                           September 13-16

Our plane arrive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin a little early and as we headed down the escalator to baggage claim, our wonderful welcoming party from the Wisconsin Elks were all heading up the escalator.  We knew them right away by their famous red jackets.  After hanging a u-turn we all met up for the hour ride to Janesville in nothing less than a Ford Expedition 20 passenger stretch limo.  How luxurious!

After settling into our hotel, we joined other conference attendees at the Janesville Elks Lodge #254 for a casual dinner.  The food was excellent, made even better for the Wisconsin Elks by the fact that the Green Bay Packers were playing one of their arch rivals, the Chicago Bears that evening.  Of course, nothing would do but that we put in a minority cheer (minority equaling just the two of us) for the San Francisco 49'ers!

Friday morning, Tom went off with our escort, PSP John Bennett and current State President Dave Nitze, Sr. for meetings with the Trustees and Advisory Committee.  Venita was escorted by John's wife, Karen to morning coffee hosted by First Lady Pat and other wives of the state officers followed by a wonderful lunch at the Janesville Country Club.

After lunch, Venita was taken on a tour of the Milton House, a mid-1800's Inn in Milton, WI that also served as the site for one of the stops on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.  We learned that Joseph Milton and his family were staunch abolitionists, as was the state of Wisconsin in general. Our tour guide took us on a detailed tour of the Inn, explaining how guests were accommodated and what life would have been like during that time.  At the end of the tour, we were taken through the reconstructed tunnel leading to the cabin that served as the entry and exit point for the slaves who were escaping the bounty hunters.  Everyone found the experience sobering as we had a glimpse into this dark period of our history.

Friday evening, we joined the Past State Presidents for dinner which was also held at the Janesville Country Club.  We enjoyed the company and, as had been the case at the ladies luncheon, the food was superb.

Saturday morning, Tom went to the state meetings for the Wisconsin major project, Camp Respite, a cooperative camp with the Easter Seals for exceptional children. They have been helping maintain some buildings at the camp and making donations to operate the camp.  They have an annual budget of $125,000 in support of their efforts. The Wisconsin Elks are also very active in support of ENF with an aggressive state scholarship program. Elk Jim Meyers has the state "hospitality"  trailer which is used to take their entire Wisconsin hospitality suite to various events, including Grand Lodge! Unfortunately, the other trailer which contained their Major Project Booth was broken into by vandals on their way back from Grand Lodge in Austin, the booth was destroyed and everything of value in the trailer was stolen. They now have an ongoing fundraising effort to replace their booth and we designated that all the money received for signatures this weekend would be donated to that fund.

While Tom was at the meetings, Venita joined the ladies for coffee and lunch.  Since the weather was so beautiful in the afternoon, several of the ladies went to the Rotary Botanical Gardens to walk around.  The gardens became the dream of a local doctor when he saw a 20-acre parcel of land lying fallow and neglected.  Through local donations, grants and other fundraising efforts, not to mention thousands of volunteer hours, they converted the land to a beautiful series of international gardens.  Karen, Beth and Venita had a wonderful afternoon in the sun.

Saturday evening, the Wisconsin Elks met for their banquet at the Janesville Elks Lodge.  One of the highlights was when Tom revealed that State President Dave had lost his badge earlier and Tom just happened to have bought it for him.  However, Tom did feel that some type of recompense should be had for rescuing his badge.  As a result, Dave was required to wear the cheesehead hat that the Association had presented to Tom and Tom, in honor of the San Francisco 49'ers defeat of the Green Bay Packers the week before, wore his 49'ers hat.  The two of them then proceeded to sing a duet of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," much to the delight of all in attendance.

Sunday morning, PSP Dave and Katie DeRosier drove us back to Milwaukee, where we had several hours to explore the Harley-Davidson Museum.  It was a real experience to see a motorcycle from every year that Harley has been manufacturing, along with several racing motorcycles and some lavish custom rides.  After lunch, we headed for our flight with many thanks to the Wisconsin Elks, State Sponsor Lou and Beth Sulsberger, PGER Bob Sabin and Marge, State President Dave Nitze and Pat and our escorts, PSP John and Karen Bennett for their gracious hospitality and for making us feel so welcome. 

 

COLORADO

COLORADO – Homecoming, September 5-9

For those of you who might not know, Venita grew up in Denver.  So when the Colorado Elks asked us to come in one day early, her eyes lit up.  A chance to show Tom her old stomping grounds, let’s go!

We arrived on Wednesday morning and were greeted by State President and Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary John Amen and Marcia, SDGER Ray Ross and Amy and State Sponsor PGER Dwayne Rumney and Sandy.  Our first stop was lunch in downtown Denver at the historic Brown Palace Hotel.  Built in 1892, the Brown Palace has been in continuous operation ever since and has been visited by presidents and kings alike. 

After lunch, we headed out for some site seeing.  What Venita did not know is that Marcia Amen had arranged for a private tour of her alma mater, East Denver High School by one of her former teachers and current historian, Mr. Nelson.  When we arrived to “take a couple of pictures,” Venita was thrilled when we went inside and were met for our tour.  As a former “Angel” she was welcomed warmly and had a wonderful time showing off her history.

Wednesday evening, we went up to the foothills to see a natural amphitheater, Red Rocks.  Many famous entertainers have performed here and it is renowned for its excellent acoustics.  After exploring the museum, we headed for dinner at a restaurant called “The Fort.”  Specializing in wild game dishes, The Fort features buffalo, rattlesnake and other interesting options for dining and drinking, including a whiskey that contains gun powder.  We opted for some more traditional fare as we watched the lights of Denver begin to glow as the sun went down.

 

Thursday morning we went to Laradon, the major project for the Colorado Elks.  Laradon is a school where children and adults with developmental disabilities are offered support, guidance and training. It was founded in 1948 by Joe and Elizabeth Calabrese when their two sons, Larry and Don were denied education due to their mental disabilities.  We had breakfast with the Executive Director, Dr. Frank Lucero and then were given a detailed tour of the entire campus.  We were not only impressed by what is being done at this center, but touched to our hearts at the caring of the staff for the students.  Because of this school and the Colorado Elks, over 600 individuals are receiving help annually to achieve their full potential and maximize their self-sufficiency.

After leaving Laradon, we stopped at the Forney Museum of Transportation which contains over 500 exhibits of transportation history ranging from motorcycles to trains.  Several pieces of note included Amelia Earhart’s 1923 Kissell Goldbug and the world’s largest steam locomotive, “Big Boy.”  After finishing at Forney Museum, we had some lunch and then visited Denver Elks Lodge #17.  Of special note in the Denver Lodge are many, many stained glass windows made of Tiffany glass.  It was an amazing site and we very much appreciated our tour of the facility.

After the opening session on Thursday evening, the Colorado Elks began their business sessions which Tom attended throughout the day.  Tom noted that Colorado is very active in ENF, having already achieved a per capita of $2.76 with donations of over $65,000 so far this year.  Last year they had a per capita of $7.60 and placed 18^th in the nation for donations.  He commended them on all of their hard work and told them that the ENF grants are the keys to keeping us visible in the community.

While Tom was in the business meetings, Venita attended a ladies luncheon and that evening we all headed over to the Lakewood Elks Lodge #1777 for a BBQ dinner. The weather was beautiful, the food delicious and we certainly enjoyed dining out on the bocce courts!

Saturday, the business sessions continued and then all attended the Memorial Service.  That evening was the closing banquet where we were presented with a beautiful St. Nicholas that had been personally decorated for us with motorcycles and Disney characters.  It was breathtaking and will more than likely stay on display in our home year round.

Many thanks go to John, Marcia, Ray, Amy, Dwayne, Sandy and all of the Colorado Elks for making our visit so special.  Your generous hospitality made us truly feel at home.  As the song goes, “Rocky Mountain high, Colorado!”

ALASKA - SITKA

ALASKA – Fast Ferry and Sitka, August 31-September 1

 
Early Friday morning we boarded what is known as the "Fast Ferry" to Sitka.  After our hectic schedule of the week, we now had four and a half hours to just relax and watch the beauty of southeast Alaska slide by.  We also had the rare privilege of being invited to the bridge by the Captain for a tour.  Having a chance to see the equipment and talk to them about their jobs was fascinating, not to mention the view from one deck higher.

Upon our arrival in Sitka, we headed for lunch, followed by a walking tour of downtown.  One of the highlights is the Russian Orthodox Church that sits in the center of town.  The architecture is an interesting combination of the traditional onion-shaped dome plus the usual church spire.  We continued exploring downtown until time to return for dinner at the Channel Club, a lovely restaurant that overlooks one of the waterways of Sitka.

Our last day in Alaska began with a tour of the Sitka Raptor Center.  This is a truly amazing facility dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of birds of prey. We had a tour of the Center and were then treated to an "up close and personal" session with Haley, a rescued bald eagle who is now a permanent resident of the Center. Her handler Steve spent about 15 minutes with us talking about what they do to rehabilitate these beautiful birds with the goal of returning them to the wild whenever it is possible.

Our tour also made a stop at the Sitka National Historic Park where we were able to view the Haida and Tlingit Totem Pole display.  We learned that totem poles have great symbolism and and read from top to bottom.  They are only painted once and there are special ceremonies when a pole is both erected and when it is taken down.  Mark, Tom and Venita posed in front of the Centennial Totem Pole, trying to make a totem pole of their own.  We don't think it will be made part of the permanent exhibit.

After lunch at the golf course, we made our second stop of the day – The Fortress of the Bears.  This facility was an old pulp mill which has been turned into a rescue center for orphaned brown bear cubs.  The Executive Director, Les Kinnear met with us and talked to us about how they work with the cubs to ensure that they recover from the loss of their mother to facilitate a safe transition to zoos throughout the world.  They still have five adult bears as permanent residents of the Fortress.  It was obvious that the bears are all very fond of Les and recognized his voice immediately.  We were very intrested to discover that The Fortress of the Bear is the largest private recycler in Sitka, utilizing outdated produce, dairy and bakery products from all the local markets. This allows the animals to be well fed with the waste then utilized in the compost, saving the city and private businesses more than $10,000 yearly in waste disposal. This facility is truly a labor of love by the community.

Our last evening in Alaska was spent at the Sitka Elks Lodge #1662 sharing the hospitality of ER Denise Hodnett and the Sitka Elks.  We were told that dinner was halibut and prime rib.  That sounded reasonable until they put Tom’s plate in front of him.  The prime rib “roast” pretty much covered all of his plate!  Everything else was just wedged in around the edge.  Venita quickly said, “I’ll have halibut, please.”  Later, we had a chance to meet the “Big Boys” cooking crew and everything became crystal clear.  At the conclusion of dinner, First Lady Kerry presented Venita with a stunning gold nugget necklace depicting a cabin in the woods with the Northern Lights in the background. 

Our sincere thanks to State President Mark Daum and First Lady Kerry Tomlinson, SDGER and Grand Trustee Mike Luhr and Barbara and State Sponsor PGER Roger True and Marilyn for every moment of this marvelous journey through Southeast Alaska.  It is truly an experience that will live with us forever.  Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the all of the Alaska Elks who made this trip so special.  Great job, folks!

ALASKA - SKAGWAY, JUNEAU

ALASKA - Skagway and Juneau, August 29-30

 

The next morning, we caught our same northbound jet northbound from Wrangell, heading for a plane change in Juneau. On our way, the plane made a stop in Petersburg which resulted in the shortest plane flight we’ve ever experienced - 10 minutes! After arriving in Juneau, we walked over to have lunch at a wonderful Mexican restaurant, Mi Casa. From there, the guys headed over to view the construction on the Juneau Lodge and the ladies stopped at the art studio of Alaska artist, Ria Munoz. We received a personal tour and had a chance to support the local economy.

Mid-afternoon, we all boarded a small plane, the “Caravan,” and had the rare treat of flying to Skagway over the ice fields and glaciers instead of up the waterway. There were absolutely magnificent views in every direction. When we arrived in Skagway, we were taken to our accommodations for the night, a beautiful Bed & Breakfast called “The Whitehouse.” We walked over to dinner at the lodge with cook your own steaks/salmon on indoor grill.  Skagway is a very active lodge with young, enthusiastic officers.  ER Andrew Cremata took us on a tour of the lodge and we spent time visiting with the members and guests. At dinner that evening, we received a thank you card from two of the girls in their Girl Scout Troup.  We discovered that the Skagway Lodge had used an ENF grant to buy them camping equipment and had taken them on a camping trip.  High fives for the Elks!

The next morning we packed up and boarded the White Pass - Yukon Route Narrow Gauge Train for a journey up the mountains to the border town of Fraser, Yukon, Canada.  The journey was stunning with waterfalls, forest lands and the beautiful Skagway River.  After returning, we had lunch at a waterfront cafe and then had some time to wander downtown Skagway.  Our final stop was a personal tour of the Red Onion Brothel.  Our guide was very funny, but we learned a great deal about life during the gold rush era of Alaska.

Our return flight back to Juneau gave us another breathtaking view of the ice fields which we understand was very unusual.  Apparently the weather is rarely that cooperative.  The approach to the Juneau airport was directly over the Mendenhall Glacier and afforded us an “up close and personal” view of this wonder of nature. 

That evening, we took the Mt. Roberts Tram to the top for dinner with superb views of Juneau and the surrounding islands everywhere we looked.  What a great day in Alaska.  Tomorrow, a boat!

ALASKA - WRANGELL

ALASKA - Wrangell, August 28

 

Early Tuesday morning, we packed up again and took a short 30-minute flight from Ketchikan to Wrangell. We were met at the airport by the Wrangell Elks and transported to the Sourdough Lodge, well-known accommodations for folks who are here for fishing vacations. We were given a beautiful suite with a bathroom big enough for a high school dance, not to mention a heated tile floor.  (I think that might be important in Alaska.)  As we looked out our windows, we were treated to a view of the beautifully landscaped grounds in full bloom.  

 

After we literally dropped our bags, we boarded a boat for an hour and a half ride to the AnAn Bear Observatory. As we approached the cove during high tide, we saw harbor seals and so many bald eagles that it appeared someone had exploded a bag of popcorn in the trees.

Since a mama grizzly and her triplet cubs were blocking the walkway bridge that we would have normally taken to the observation area, the boat dropped us off partway along the boardwalk path.

Noting that our guides were both carrying bear rifles, we paid close attention to their warnings and instructions regarding our outing.  When we arrived at the observation platform, we were treated to over a dozen bears fishing the river. We saw not only the grizzlies, but several of the smaller black bears as well.  One opportunistic black bear simply waited for his compatriot to catch a salmon and then calmly walked over and stole it. It was a fascinating glimpse into nature which we were talking about for days.

 
That evening, we went to the Wrangell Lodge for dinner. Exalted Ruler Chris Stewart gave us a tour of the Lodge, including their two-lane bowling alley!  Apparently they have quite a few active bowlers among their membership and the lanes are well used. Among the members at dinner that evening was Alaska State Senator, Bert Stedman. We enjoyed talking with him on what was actually Election Day in Alaska.  After a wonderful dinner with the members, we were presented with a framed watercolor done on a navigation chart as a remembrance of our time in Wrangell.  This was certainly a stop we will not soon forget.

ALASKA - KETCHIKAN

ALASKA - Ketchikan

Early this morning our group flew to Ketchikan from Seattle. We were met at the airport by David Blick, DDGER and Mike Luhr, SDGER as well as many other wonderful Elks from the Ketchikan Elks Lodge.  After checking into our hotel, we started a walking tour of downtown.

Our first stop was a funky, corner coffee shop where we had our first taste of Alaska coffee.  It was excellent and carried us forward for the rest of the day.  We then visited a locally owned souvenir shop where Tom bought an "ulu," a traditional curved Eskimo knife with a elk antler handle.  Our tour continued to the Ketchikan History Museum where we had a chance to see displays of the Eskimo heritage in the area.

Upon leaving the history museum, we followed the river down to Creek Street which was the "red light" district during Ketchikan's early days. Several of the ladies toured Dolly's House, one of the most famous brothels of the time and we even picked up a replica of their "employment application."

 

When it began to drizzle a little (in typical southeast Alaska style), we decided our timing was perfect since we had just arrived at Annabelle's Chowder House for lunch. After a great meal at Annabelle's, we boarded a private tour bus for a driving tour of the area with our guide, Forest, a PER from the Ketchikan Lodge. Our first stop was a beautiful waterfall, where Tom took a small tumble on the trail.  It was the opinion of the group that he had been attacked by a "flash" bear - a rare species that is so fast they cannot be seen but wreck havoc wherever they go!  After leaving the park, we had the privilege of touring the Saxman totem park and were educated on the purpose and construction of the distinctive Alaskan totem poles.
 

 Dinner Monday evening was held at the Ketchikan Lodge. The members have recently completed this new facility and are justifiably proud of their work. Their membership is growing and they have a vibrant a healthy lodge. For dinner, we were served the rare and special dish of white king salmon. We enjoyed our evening with the Ketchikan Elks very much and appreciated their gracious hospitality.