AK Rundown: July 28 & 29, 2007

"Float the Boat"

Host: Rebecca Sheir

Intro/News/Credits

Aboard the Kennicott. Host Rebecca Sheir joins us from the Alaska Marine Highway System's newest and biggest mainliner, the M/V Kennicott, while it's tied up in Whittier. 1:22

Riding the Stikine. Ed Schoenfeld takes the new Inter-Island Ferry Authority ship from Wrangell to Coffman Cove. 2:35 (2:45 with intro)

Tenakee Bound. Brian Pollack rides the LeConte from Juneau to Tenakee and meets local resident Linda Buckley and her traveling companions. 2:39

Cleaning Up Big Lake. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is concerned about water quality in Big Lake, says DEC's Laura Eldred. Lake users like Elaine Hunter and Geoff Wright of the Alaska Sailing Club are joining in efforts to keep it clean. AK's Ellen Lockyer. Pkg. 4:33 (5:12 with intro)

Break #1: "Beyond the Sea" performed by Ray Conniff, His Orchestra & Chorus from 'S Continental

Engine Control. Host Rebecca Sheir joins us from the engine control room on the Kennicott, where we learn about the ferry's very own "Hal": the Voyage Data Recorder. 2:10

Riding the Stikine: Part 2. The Stikine's kitchen is a family affair, with meals made from scratch. We rejoin Ed Schoenfeld as he sees, and tastes, what's cookin'. Pkg. 3:00

Tenakee Bound: Part 2. Brian Pollack goes behind the scenes on the LeConte's bridge. Pkg. 3:26

Button: "On a Slow Boat to China" performed by Peter Ecklund & Scott Foster from The Potted Palm Orchestra

Christmas Tree Lane. State ferries making the long run from Bellingham to Skagway must navigate the Wrangell Narrows, a 21-mile slalom course with 46 zig-zagging turns marked by blinking red and green lights. John Ryan joined the crew of the Matanuska as they made their way through the passage known as Christmas Tree Lane. Pkg. 3:02

Hovercrafting in Alaska. If you're tired of Alaska's traditional ferries, barges and fishing boats, how about a hovercraft? The Alaska Hovercraft has been described as a "big, springy bus"; when you're riding it, you're literally supported by a cushion of air. Host Rebecca Sheir tells us more. 1:10 (Music: "Open Sea Theme" by Sven Libaek from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Soundtrack)

E-Craft: More Than Meets the Eye. AK's Scott Burton investigates a new vessel that might be able to handle Alaska's unpredictable waters with ease, since it's as variable as the waters it's designed to run in. It's called the E-Craft, and its head designer is Lou Madden. Pkg. 4:38

Break #2: "Come Sail Away" by Dennis DeYoung from Karaoke - Classic Rock, Vol. 13

Riding the Stikine: Part 3. Ed Schoenfeld spends some quality time with the Stikine's captain and first mate, as he watches operations on the bridge. Pkg. 2:36

Tenakee Bound: Part 3. In the winter, the population of Tenakee holds steady at about 85. But Brian Pollack discovers that when the LeConte arrives in the summer, its passengers bring a whole new dynamic to the town. 2:47

Button: "(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay" performed by Erich Kunzel from Sailing

Alaska Barges. Stacked with shipping containers, barges make their way all across Alaska, out the Aleutian chain, up the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, even to Barrow. Scott Burton visited the docks in Juneau to check out the operations, and spoke with barge owner Don Reid of Alaska Marine Lines. Audio postcard. 2:40 (3:07 with intro)

Boating to Kotzebue. Long before there were ferries or barges, Alaska Natives traveled by boat. For hundreds of summers, the Inupiaq of Northwest Alaska have gathered in the Kotzebue Sound area for trade and celebration. This July they continued that tradition, and Len Anderson was there. Pkg. 5:17 (5:58 with intro)

Button: "Barrow Welcome Dance" by Barrow Dancers

Calendar of Events. AK's weekly look at upcoming events around the state.

Close: "The Love Boat (Instrumental Version)" by Charles Fox and Paul Williams from Sing Classic TV Tunes, Vol. 1 (Karaoke)