Sat. 7/13
Well tomorrow we leave for Vancouver flying out of Newark, connecting in Dallas, and then landing in Vancouver........
Sailing from Vancouver
Mon. 7/15
We left Vancouver and are into day 2 of our "at sea" travels. We passed between Vancover Island and Canada proper, and are in open waters. First port-of-call is Ketchican where we will disembark and wander around, while our traveling companions, Jim and Mary Ann, will go do something, I can't remember exactly what it is, but I'm sure it will be interesting. We had a fabulous dinner last night to celebrate our trip and plan on a few more. I will continue these updates tomorrow .
We left Vancouver and are into day 2 of our "at sea" travels. We passed between Vancover Island and Canada proper, and are in open waters. First port-of-call is Ketchican where we will disembark and wander around, while our traveling companions, Jim and Mary Ann, will go do something, I can't remember exactly what it is, but I'm sure it will be interesting. We had a fabulous dinner last night to celebrate our trip and plan on a few more. I will continue these updates tomorrow .
Ketchikan
Wed. 7/17
We arrived in Ketchikan about 5:00 AM this morning. Up on the deck to watch us sailing into port was a very calming experience, despite the loud voices coming from the suites below, and all the Americans who could get cell phone service finally. But on to merrier things. We parted from our traveling companions who were on their way to a plane ride into a fiord. We can only hope that Marcia and Jim will provide us with even better treatment when we hook up. Tracy and I walked to Saxman Totem Park to see what I thought were only a few totems, but then I learned from Tracy that there were only a few left, because many were destroyed over the years.
We arrived in Ketchikan about 5:00 AM this morning. Up on the deck to watch us sailing into port was a very calming experience, despite the loud voices coming from the suites below, and all the Americans who could get cell phone service finally. But on to merrier things. We parted from our traveling companions who were on their way to a plane ride into a fiord. We can only hope that Marcia and Jim will provide us with even better treatment when we hook up. Tracy and I walked to Saxman Totem Park to see what I thought were only a few totems, but then I learned from Tracy that there were only a few left, because many were destroyed over the years.
Juneau
Thursday July 18.
Before I continue, I was somewhat chastised for not telling of the further adventures of our traveling companions, Jim and Mary Ann Mulligan. We explored Juneau with them and then went on a private boat to search for whales, and bald eagles, who I understand it are as plentiful as pigeons in Petersburg. We were successful in all our endeavors. Jim finally saw enough whales to prompt him to stop shooting with his camera, he saw a flipper, he saw a dorsal fin, and he finally saw a fluke. Now he can die in peace. We had a wonderful encounter with Liz who was our boat skipper, and who knew where the whales were, and gave us our money's worth. She even knew about the Moby Dick story about the birds circling around the eventual spot that the whales will breech.
After the boat ride, Tracy went off in search of a good map of SE Alaska. Jim and Mary Ann and I decided to have lunch at Hangers, a local joint. Tracy continued her search for a good map! After lunch the three of us met up with Tracy who was still on her quest for a good map. So, the three of us went on the tram up the mountain while Tracy continued her quest, for a good map.
Everyone made it back to the ship, the three of us came back first and then Tracy, who was successful in her tracking down a good map.
Before I continue, I was somewhat chastised for not telling of the further adventures of our traveling companions, Jim and Mary Ann Mulligan. We explored Juneau with them and then went on a private boat to search for whales, and bald eagles, who I understand it are as plentiful as pigeons in Petersburg. We were successful in all our endeavors. Jim finally saw enough whales to prompt him to stop shooting with his camera, he saw a flipper, he saw a dorsal fin, and he finally saw a fluke. Now he can die in peace. We had a wonderful encounter with Liz who was our boat skipper, and who knew where the whales were, and gave us our money's worth. She even knew about the Moby Dick story about the birds circling around the eventual spot that the whales will breech.
After the boat ride, Tracy went off in search of a good map of SE Alaska. Jim and Mary Ann and I decided to have lunch at Hangers, a local joint. Tracy continued her search for a good map! After lunch the three of us met up with Tracy who was still on her quest for a good map. So, the three of us went on the tram up the mountain while Tracy continued her quest, for a good map.
Everyone made it back to the ship, the three of us came back first and then Tracy, who was successful in her tracking down a good map.
Skagway
Friday July 19.
We docked at Skagway and since we had a later excursion, decided to do some necessary shopping. As we were strolling down the main drag, which is named Broadway, with only the glitz missing,we met up with Jim and Mary Ann who were getting ready to go on a dog sled expedition. Of course Jim and I exchanged barbs and we parted to get ready for our own side trip. We boarded a train that would take us up to where the earliest "stampeders" forged their way looking for gold, in the Yukon. On our way to where we meet up with our group of intrepid bike riders, we were called upon to perform a rescue mission of sorts. It seems that an older steam locomotive had busted a piston and was unable to move. So, being the good samaritans that we are, we had to couple with the train and push it to where the track split into three sections. We pushed the locomotive onto one set of tracks, backed out and pushed the passenger cars onto the other track, and then we were on our way, forty-five minutes behind schedule. When we arrived at Fraser BC, our guides were waiting for us, but not sure if we were going to make it. Now we could make tracks for our adventure down hill, fifteen miles back to Skagway. On the way we filled our water bottles with cool refreshing glacier water from a stream running to the ocean. We finally made it in to town, got a few pictures of the trip down, and made it back to the ship, getting ready to explore Glacier Bay the next day. I had a special drink to celebrate the day..... Jameson's with a splash of cool glacier water.
We docked at Skagway and since we had a later excursion, decided to do some necessary shopping. As we were strolling down the main drag, which is named Broadway, with only the glitz missing,we met up with Jim and Mary Ann who were getting ready to go on a dog sled expedition. Of course Jim and I exchanged barbs and we parted to get ready for our own side trip. We boarded a train that would take us up to where the earliest "stampeders" forged their way looking for gold, in the Yukon. On our way to where we meet up with our group of intrepid bike riders, we were called upon to perform a rescue mission of sorts. It seems that an older steam locomotive had busted a piston and was unable to move. So, being the good samaritans that we are, we had to couple with the train and push it to where the track split into three sections. We pushed the locomotive onto one set of tracks, backed out and pushed the passenger cars onto the other track, and then we were on our way, forty-five minutes behind schedule. When we arrived at Fraser BC, our guides were waiting for us, but not sure if we were going to make it. Now we could make tracks for our adventure down hill, fifteen miles back to Skagway. On the way we filled our water bottles with cool refreshing glacier water from a stream running to the ocean. We finally made it in to town, got a few pictures of the trip down, and made it back to the ship, getting ready to explore Glacier Bay the next day. I had a special drink to celebrate the day..... Jameson's with a splash of cool glacier water.
Glacier Bay
Saturday July 20th.
I woke up early to watch the British Open on the tv in our room, lucky enough to get ESPN, which had the coverage. We were headed to Glacier Bay from Skagway down the Lynn Canal, thru the Icy Strait, and into Glacier Bay. Along the way we passed Haines AK, which is 15 miles by water to Skagway and 359 miles by road, going the long way home.
Once we entered Glacier Bay it was so foggy that the park rangers who were to come on board to give us a guided tour of all the glaciers, pulled up to our ship and could only see it when they were right on top of it. We passed the following glaciers: Reid, Lamplugh, Johns Hopkins, Topeka, Margerie, Grand Pacific. While we were watching the Margerie, when we saw a calf, a small breaking of the glacier and a plunge into the water.
I woke up early to watch the British Open on the tv in our room, lucky enough to get ESPN, which had the coverage. We were headed to Glacier Bay from Skagway down the Lynn Canal, thru the Icy Strait, and into Glacier Bay. Along the way we passed Haines AK, which is 15 miles by water to Skagway and 359 miles by road, going the long way home.
Once we entered Glacier Bay it was so foggy that the park rangers who were to come on board to give us a guided tour of all the glaciers, pulled up to our ship and could only see it when they were right on top of it. We passed the following glaciers: Reid, Lamplugh, Johns Hopkins, Topeka, Margerie, Grand Pacific. While we were watching the Margerie, when we saw a calf, a small breaking of the glacier and a plunge into the water.
Hubbard Glacier
July 21 Sunday,
Well we were supposed to sail into the inlet that would give a great view of Hubbard Glacier, but it was so foggy that it turned into a bust. We couldn't risk going any further, and had to turn back. So we are headed to Whittier, trying to straighten out the snafu with our days on land, and hoping for a pleasant outcome. Congratulations to Phil Mickelson on winning the British Open. I will report further.
There was a positive outcome to the mix-up with our itinerary. It seems the agent we booked the reservations through had a case of fat fingers and had us going to Fairbanks instead of Alyeska and finally to Anchorage. But with a couple of ship to shore conference calls, the problem was straightened out.
So we all could enjoy our last dinner together at a Brazilian Steak House on board ship, with some great wine, great company, and a surprise cake (with our help) to celebrate Jim and Mary Ann's Anniversary. After that we enjoyed some music and a audience participation comedy show.
Well we were supposed to sail into the inlet that would give a great view of Hubbard Glacier, but it was so foggy that it turned into a bust. We couldn't risk going any further, and had to turn back. So we are headed to Whittier, trying to straighten out the snafu with our days on land, and hoping for a pleasant outcome. Congratulations to Phil Mickelson on winning the British Open. I will report further.
There was a positive outcome to the mix-up with our itinerary. It seems the agent we booked the reservations through had a case of fat fingers and had us going to Fairbanks instead of Alyeska and finally to Anchorage. But with a couple of ship to shore conference calls, the problem was straightened out.
So we all could enjoy our last dinner together at a Brazilian Steak House on board ship, with some great wine, great company, and a surprise cake (with our help) to celebrate Jim and Mary Ann's Anniversary. After that we enjoyed some music and a audience participation comedy show.
St. Elias Mountain in the evening
Alyeska
Monday July 22
With our itinerary straightened out, we were ready to disembark for our trip to Alyeska. We gathered in the Starlight Lounge on board the ship, and our group of 54 received our marching orders for the land extension portion of our trip. We had a chance to meet the wonderful woman Karlyn, who worked so hard to rectify our situation. At one time she even commented that she was scared to think how much the ship-to-shore phone call would be.
So we boarded a bus, and headed off to Alyeska via the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center, where we saw moose, and elk, and bison, muskox, and even a porcupine. All along the ride into Alyeska I couldn't keep from being blown away by the beauty of the scenery. There were so so many breathtaking sights that I was forced to finally put the camera down and just look at the snow capped mountains with their glaciers scattered seemingly on each peak. It truly was awesome.
So we arrived at Alyeska, got our room keys, and went out straight away to ride the tram to one of the peaks. With a lunch voucher in hand we snacked on the mountain overlooking the turnagain arm, a bay where the explorers discovered that they were going to have to turn again and find another path.
At that point we met up with Jim and Mary Ann who had decided that they were going to hike up a steep hill that they were told would give them access to a glacier. We all started up, but I decided that after only going to the first part, to turn around and not press on. It was a very steep incline with loose stones, and I couldn't see me making it down and still keeping my balance. So the three of them continued the climb, and I came back to the room, got my iPad out and made this entry for the blog.
With our itinerary straightened out, we were ready to disembark for our trip to Alyeska. We gathered in the Starlight Lounge on board the ship, and our group of 54 received our marching orders for the land extension portion of our trip. We had a chance to meet the wonderful woman Karlyn, who worked so hard to rectify our situation. At one time she even commented that she was scared to think how much the ship-to-shore phone call would be.
So we boarded a bus, and headed off to Alyeska via the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center, where we saw moose, and elk, and bison, muskox, and even a porcupine. All along the ride into Alyeska I couldn't keep from being blown away by the beauty of the scenery. There were so so many breathtaking sights that I was forced to finally put the camera down and just look at the snow capped mountains with their glaciers scattered seemingly on each peak. It truly was awesome.
So we arrived at Alyeska, got our room keys, and went out straight away to ride the tram to one of the peaks. With a lunch voucher in hand we snacked on the mountain overlooking the turnagain arm, a bay where the explorers discovered that they were going to have to turn again and find another path.
At that point we met up with Jim and Mary Ann who had decided that they were going to hike up a steep hill that they were told would give them access to a glacier. We all started up, but I decided that after only going to the first part, to turn around and not press on. It was a very steep incline with loose stones, and I couldn't see me making it down and still keeping my balance. So the three of them continued the climb, and I came back to the room, got my iPad out and made this entry for the blog.
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| Very Windy Day |
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| MP, How's this? |
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| Calf |
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| Papa |
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| See what I mean!!!!! |
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| The Intrepid Climbers |
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| The Hills Are Alive....... |
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| The turnagain |
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| Hotel Alyeska |
Denali
Tuesday July 23
Back on the bus again to finish the trip to Denali. We were lucky to have such beautiful weather, except for the day of the Hubbard Glacier viewing attempt. This day was no exception and it afforded us a spectacular view of Mt. Denali (or Mt. McKinley if you prefer). There it was sticking up in all it's magnificence with for a few puffs of clouds to give it some definition.
The place they put us at was an attempt to smooth our ruffled feathers, because we both got our own cabins with beautiful views of the valley.
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| Drew at the Kennels |
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| Sled dog ????? |
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| Puppy love |
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| Dog in a basket |
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| Mt. Denali |
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| Mt. Denali |
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| Our companions |
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| Our accomadations |
Denali Wilderness Tour
Wednesday July 24
At 6:45 this morning we had a shuttle to come pick us up for breakfast, really a golf cart, but it was a hike up the hill for us. So we took advantage of the amenities, so deal with it. Then at 7:55 we boarded a school bus (talk about a step downward), for our Tundra Wilderness Tour. It turned out to be an 8 hour ride along 62 miles of mostly gravel road that wound its way through the park. We saw all kinds of interesting and breathtaking things. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
To top all of this off, we all went to the town of Healy to a 9 hole golf course called the Black Diamond Golf Course. Jim and I played, and Mary Ann and Tracy just followed us around and searched for balls. They more than made up for the ones we lost by far. I must say playing golf at 9:20 PM ( that was our tee time) is something I never thought I would be doing!
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| Mansion on the Hill |
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| The Wilderness Tour |
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| again... |
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| further in the valley |
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| the river |
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| why did the ptarmigan cross the road? |
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| grizzly |
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| Our companions |
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| our |
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| kayaker |
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| Bullwinkle J. Moose |
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| the two bears and mama |
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| papa searching wildly |
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| Driver at course |
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| playing partners |
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| that's PM not AM |
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