We started off in Ketchikan, jumping on the fishing boat early in the morning. The boat jetted away from the town, passing through industrial docks and fishing spots before entering the forest. Untamed wilderness sprawled in every direction. We tossed the hooks in the water and, in 30 minutes, we hit our limit for salmon.

While the salmon sat on ice waiting to ship to our house, we returned to the dock. We walked through Ketchikan, ate some seafood, and prepared for the next stop.

Juneau provided unparalleled views and still possessed the vibes of an old mining town. We got on the boat and cruised through a few channels, stopping at a lighthouse before moving toward our purpose: summer whale feeding grounds. We watched in awe as entire pods of whales dove deep into the water, creating a ring of bubbles around a school of fish. Then, the whales dove deeper, emerging with open mouths as they gobbled the schools of fish.

As they repeated this pattern, flocks of birds hovered over the whales, waiting for scraps.

We followed the whales slowly from a distance for a while until the sun began to dip. And so, we moved through the channels and returned to town.

Moving farther up a channel, we moved into Skagway, where we hung out withs ome sled dogs before wandering through the town. We found some old taverns and welcome houses, along with some food with old mining recipes still in use.

As we moved away from Skagway, I couldn't help but appreciate the water's contrast with the dense forest, a juxtaposition that seemed so primeval. Old growth pine trees and frozen tundra and salt water and firey wildflowers created an intense color palette.

Making our way back to the contiguous United States, we stopped in Victoria, Canada for a bit. We walked around the harbor, appreciating the flowers and the architecture and the houseboats. But we also roamed through Chinatown and some average neighborhoods, exploring the seemingly average areas that brought a certain charm and personality to the city.

We ended our journey in Seattle, a city that I'd explored dozens of times. But this time, it felt more comforting somehow. The Space Needle rose above the horizon. And so did the outline of Mount Rainier.

Our journey was over. We'd be home soon.