Icy Strait Point - Brrrrr!

Pulled in near ISP at 7 AM. We went up for a buffet breakfast (the usual) and then Gerry wanted to nap, so I went to the whirlpool and hydra pool. It was warm and felt so good. After an hour (which included about 5 minutes in the sauna) I came downstairs and waited for Gerry to wake up. We dressed warmly and went down to get the tender into ISP. It was cool but Gerry was very, very cold. The tender took a few minutes which wasn’t bad. The (unused) cannery was not heated and there were only stores and a museum there, so Gerry wanted to come back to the ship. He bought a ISP t-shirt and hat and then we did come back to the ship. I got an umbrella and returned to ISP on the tender. I walked around the shops. There were only about 10 stores inside the cannery building. All of the stores are owned and operated by the residents of the town. There are NO diamond or jewelry stores - yea! That gets to be a bit boring (especially since I am not into buying expensive jewelry). I bought Gerry a warm hat and bought myself some Skookem Ointment. It is made by the owner of the shop. She is a Tlinget Native. Skookem Ointment is made from skunk cabbage olive oil palm kernel, shea butter and deer tallow. It is used “to help restore damaged muscles, broken bones, relieve severe pain from arthritis, neuropathy and other degenerative conditions.” I bought a very small bottle for I have had a pain in my right thumb for some time. For $10 it’s worth a shot!
It was raining a lot but I had an umbrella so I plodded on. I walked to the Cedar Fire… a fire that is tended to by a Tlingit gentleman.
It is a tradition that the started a few years ago. When a tourist comes (from the cruise ships) they give him a cedar chip to throw into the fire… “Your cedar chip is a symbol of all that defines this wondrous place; the sea, the wilderness, our history and culture. In keeping with tradition of all those who visit Icy Strait Point, contribute your cedar ship and sustain the light of the wood chip and sustain the light of the wood chip fire, sharing in the legacy of all who set foot on these shores.” You make a wish as you throw in your chip. I made a wish for myself with my chip and one for Gerry (with his chip). I decided that I wanted to see the actual town where the residents lived (all 875 of them) so for$5.00 I got a ticket on the shuttle for the mile ride into town (and back). As we rode in I saw that it looked like a bungelow colony (like Keansburg, NJ about 40 years ago. It was so cold and rainy that I didn’t even get off the bus, but rode it back to the dock where I got the next tender and came back to the ship. It has since cleared up outside but its still overcast and damp. I am in sweatshirt and flannel bottoms….cold! But Jorge came by with “afternoon tea” and I indulged myself (AGAIN) with a brownie and a fruit tart, and of course, tea. Oh - Jorge came back with canapés….mmmm! Boy, I am REALLY going to have to work at losing a but when we get home.

Gerry isn’t feeling great. He isn’t saying much but I watch and can see it. He is having pain in his abdomen, breathing a bit heavier (and he’s a little congested, stuffy nose), and is taking a little more pain meds. I really hope that he feels well enough to enjoy the land tour starting Friday. The good thing is that we set sail from ISP around 5 tonight. We will either eat in our room or at the buffet and maybe go to the casino for a little while. Tomorrow we are at sea all day, heading for the Hubbard Glacier, and Friday we disembark for good.