Day 85, Tuesday, November 1, Kennicot
8:00 got a few hours of sleep on a bench near the cafeteria. Later discovered signs all over the place prohibiting sleeping there as well as at most of places where there are comfortable chairs. Just another one of many reasons why the Alaska Ferry is not on my "must do again" list. I take it because there is no other option except to drive and you don't want to do that this time of year.
10:00 car deck open. I tried to walk Donner but it was pure chaos on the deck with about 20 dogs walking every which way. I'd turn down one path, only to be met by another dog walking coming towards us. I'd turn around and start walking the other way, only to be met by another dog. And so it went for 15 minutes. Donner never relieved himself he was so strung out. When he sees another dog, he whines and starts to shake. He shows no aggression. He just wants to play with them but does not know how.
The staff of the ferry now only allows 15 minutes for dog walks when not in port only two times a day. Obviously, the person who set that rule doesn't own a dog or is not married. You cannot walk, feed, water, clean up after, etc your dog in 15 minutes. And some of the staff assigned to patrol the car deck to make sure you get off in 15 minutes were obviously either former prison guards or, more likely, inmates.
Incidentally, i noticed that there were at least six service dogs in the cabins. First time i ever saw that on these ferries. While i am not going to judge why someone without any obvious physical handicaps qualifies for a service dog, in looking at at least two of the handlers, my guess is that this whole thing about service dogs is being abused. I could easily qualify for a service dog but i do not want to abuse the privilege. Besides, no one would believe me with Donner.
3:00 p.m. to 5:15 Went to retrieve Donner for a long walk in a park near Sitka and discovered chaos in rear of Defender. It was apparent he was trying to get out again. Contents of containers strewn all over. No damage, though. When i returned from the walk, i tried something new to keep him from getting at the back window. I set up the rear cage panel inside the rear rather than outside.
9:30 - car deck open for 15 minutes. When i got near the Defender, i could see signs of chaos from 20 feet away. Donner had ripped out that 24 x 48 inch cage side from its mooring in the rear of the Defender and dragged it to the front seat. Containers were pulled from their places and the contents strewn all over again. Worse, he had torn the bottom of the plastic rear windows from its binding, making what earlier was a repairable job into one now requiring a replacement. Although this incident did some pretty hefty damage to Donner's and my relationship, i have to accept full responsibility for this. Before i left him, i shortened the leash on which he is tethered to keep him a foot away from the rear window. I think the loud engine noise on the car deck is what spooks him into trying to escape. The former prison guard assigned to my corner of the car deck would not even give me an extra minute to make sure he was fully secured before i left the car deck again. She probably doesn't have a dog or is not married, maybe both.
I did not have a chance to feed Donner his dinner thanks to the former prison guard. The good news is that she is on duty only half the time, so there's a good chance he will get something to eat tomorrow.
Wednesday
4:00 a.m. Port call for 30 minutes in Petersburg. Went To Defender and found that the short leash worked. Everything was in order and no more damage to roof, as if that's a relief for me.
I have got to do something soon to repair or replace the roof. I cannot drive 4000 miles to DC with in effect a gaping hole in the Defender 's rear window. Believe it or not, the engine problem was easier to solve that this one. If you saw the damage you'd agree.
If you haven't figured it out already, you will soon realize that this ferry ride to Seattle is predictably the worst part of all my trips. I loathe it. But it is a necessary evil. If i ever come this route again, i will do what i planned to do before my engine failure, take the ferry to Prince Rupert and then after a few days' rest, take the much better BC ferry to Vancouver Island.
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