![\"A](\"http:\/\/nordicquest.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/CI62-84-17180-DC.jpg\")
<\/a>A conversation with Jack, a longtime Ketchikan resident<\/p><\/div>“You know you are trespassing.”<\/p>\n
The comment caught me by surprise. I was threading my way along an apparently abandoned section of docks noting a possible photo opportunity involving some harbor seals.<\/p>\n
Turning, I was met by a fellow stepping out of an old white van that looked to have been parked in place for the entire summer.<\/p>\n
“Sorry.” I replied. “I can leave.”<\/p>\n
The fellow was not really threatening me. Indeed, he seemed quite friendly. He explained he was just doing his job as watchman on the property. The conversation rolled from there, I expect he was pretty bored and someone to talk with was a welcome break.<\/p>\n
He was also a bit of a story teller, and I had obviously not heard any of his stories before. Jack had made a living in Ketchikan and SE Alaska for many years. Living in this rough country leaves one with a store of tales to tell and we both had nothing to do at the moment but pass the time.<\/p>\n
Jack pulled up a folding chair, I took a seat on an old boat trailer. The cool Ketchikan evening was quite pleasant despite the threat of renewed rain.<\/p>\n
At first I think he took me for a cruise ship tourist, the expensive camera with a big white lens certainly would give that impression. On the other hand I was dressed more like a local, in a Carhartt jacket and old wool sweater. I probably confused him a bit, trying to figure me out.<\/p>\n
I have never lived in Ketchikan, but I have been here a fair number of times. My connections are through my father. He grew up here while my grandfather commanded a US Coast Guard buoy tender<\/a> and later commanded the Ketchikan Coast Guard station.<\/p>\n A vehicle rolling up prompted Jack take note… “If you want better stories ask this guy, he is my boss. And let him know I warned you about the trespassing” He said with a wink.<\/p>\n Some harbor seals lounge on an abandoned bit of dock in the Ketchikan harbor.<\/p><\/div>Another set of stories just add to the conversation. Jack’s boss had bounced around, for a while a teacher, another while as a bush pilot. We swapped tales under the low drooping clouds while eagles cackled on the old pilings around us.<\/p>\n If you are open to it, life often offers up these moments. A personal moment, very different lives meeting in passing, swapping stories and reliving old memories.<\/p>\n After another hour or so I begged off, wanting to check on my wife in the room. But first I let them know I would be trespassing a bit longer to get that photo of the seals. They laughed and waved me off.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Leaving Deb to take a nap in the hotel room I grabbed a camera. The shopping was done, nothing to do until we loaded up baggage and groceries for a quick flight to Craig the next morning. I wondered if … Continue reading <\/a>