Vancouver

We arrived in Vancouver, our last stop, to a beautiful, clear sunrise. We docked at 6:30 am but were unable to get off the ship until 8:30. Because our flight home was to leave at 2:10 pm that day, we had little time for site seeing so we took a buss tour of Vancouver. We stopped at Stanley Park to see the plastic totem poles. Then through the gold cost of Vancouver and from there we headed to the Vancouver airport. After a four hour flight and short limo ride we arrived in Elgin around 9:30 pm to, you guessed it, rain, and found two very happy dogs waiting for us. While the weather was not the best on our trip it could have been worse and we will not likely forget the twenty foot seas pitching the ship, and all not nailed down, to and fro, back and forth, side to side (I’m turning a little green thinking of it) the four of us had a great time and would recommend that if you have not seen Alaska to put it high on your list of places to visit. Click here to see more pictures taken on our great Alaskan adventure.

Next posting ... ????? ...

Ketchikan

Ketchikan was another short stop, arriving at 10:00 am and departing at 6 pm. We had not made any morning plans so as Wendy, David and Holly finished getting ready, I went down on the dock to find information on a Totem Pole tour. We made the buss just in the nick of time. Wendy and Holly pose for a picture at the entrance of the park. In the afternoon Wendy and I went on a Rain Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary tour while David and Holly opted for a Canopy Adventure & Wild Life Expedition which covered the Rain forest by means of a harness and “zip” line. Before we caught our afternoon buss we stopped for lunch at a local store were Wendy and I shared a Salmon wrap. A short walk back to the dock to board our buss was interrupted by an elderly lady who had grabbed my elbow. When I turned to see who had a hold of my arm, I saw the face of this very, frightened lady who asked me in a trembling voice, “did you, were you on the boat with me? I can’t find my husband and I don’t know were he is”! This poor lady was in tears and very frightened. She wanted to go and look for her husband but did not know where to start. Wendy and I tried to reassure her that her husband would be found but walking around was not the best way to find him. We asked her if she came on the big boat or a smaller boat. She was not sure, which feed her fears more. We asked her if she had her boarding card. No her husband had it. By this time the lady’s emotional appeal for her husband had draw attention to the three of us and a man came up and started asking questions. He identified himself as an employee with Princess Cruises and was wearing an identification badge around his neck. He tried to ease her fears with about as much success as Wendy and I. He did manage to escort her off to the side. Wendy and I went on to get our buss but not before he reassured us that he would take care of her and find both her husband and their boat. I worried for her the rest of the trip, until, three days later, at the Vancouver airport were I’m sure I saw her going through a security line, safe and sound. The Rain Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary tour was nice. At times the sun was coming out from behind clouds which made for some very nice picture opportunities.





























David and Holly enjoyed their Zip line tour of the rain forest. We saw lots of Salmon, but no bear. Lots of trees, but no bear. Lots of bear poop, but no bear.

Next post … Vancouver …

Juneau

Juneau’s weather started much the same with overcast, cloudy skies which turned to a steady rain that morning. We had a late lunch under a tent having the best, all you can eat, “baked” salmon diner. I sit in front of my computer salivating while recalling the meal, no, feast that was prepared for us. Sorry, I got a little ahead of myself. The only planed excursion in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier, Macaulay Hatchery tour, & Salmon Bake. The stop in Juneau is a short one, docking at 6:30 am and departing at 4:00 pm. We boarded our buss and headed to the Mendenhall Glacier where trails and large wood walkways built above the water ways gave us a look at our first bear. The small Black bear cub had been chased up a tree we presumed, by its mother. There were “signs” (bear poop and fish parts,I thought of a picture of the “signs” then reconsidered) of bear all over the forest floor and along the shore line and we were sure the presence of a larger bear had caused the mother bear to take these precaution in order to protect the cub. The little bear looked to David and I to be a second year cub which would most likely make this his last fishing trip with mom. Up a path we did see a large Black bear sleeping away what surly had been a fresh fish meal. The bear lounged not fifteen yards from the trail! A little unnerving I must admit. The Mendenhall Glacier is a site to see. I like this picture which captures the size, the enormity, of not only the glacier but the waterfall that the rangers say had not been this large in many years. This glacier, as most glaciers in Alaska, but not all, is receding back up into the mountains. I was a bit surprised to hear that the rangers, while not 100% convinced that the receding ice is due to global warming, they are warming up to this theory. The newly renovated visitor center was very busy. So busy in fact we were unable to see the video that gives the history of Mendenhall Glacier. We got back on the buss and twenty minutes later were being given a tour of the Macaulay Hatchery which I found very informative and interesting. By 1:30 pm we were sitting down to that great baked/grilled salmon I had mentioned earlier. Salmon Creek put on quite the feast. The salmon was grilled over a wood burning fire. David and I went back for several pieces of Coho salmon. The Coho was delicious! All three stops, Mendenhall Glacier, Macaulay Hatchery and Salmon Creek are a must see if you ever visit Juneau.

A short walk up Salmon Creek revealed beautiful waterfalls along with spawning salmon in the creek.

Next post ... Ketchikan or "Are you on the boat with me"???

Skagway

We docked in Skagway at 7 am on the 22nd as scheduled. There was no change in the overcast skies but the rain did hold off for most of the day. Our first land excursion was a Klondike bicycle tour which consisted of a buss ride up into the mountains and a bicycle ride, with very little peddling, back down into town. Wendy and I were reminded of our bicycle ride in Hawaii down Mt. Haleakulah, without the altitude sickness.This waterfall was at our droupoff point before we started down hill. We stopped at the Black Water pounds which are fresh water pounds that have a very high acid concentration, causing them to appear black. Our guide said he enjoyed the reflective nature of the water on a calm day. Our afternoon excursion was an “Evening Wildlife Expedition” which took as on a 45 minute catamaran cruise to the city of Haines. The one animal we did see most often was the Bald Eagle.

We passed beautiful waterfalls that were flowing harder then in past years due to the heavy rains Alaska had been getting all summer long.

This excursion we had our hopes set high in seeing a brown bear (the smaller version of the grizzly bear) of two. Our buss driver/guide explained that this was prime season during the salmon run for bear to be teaching their cubs how to fish and fatting up for the winter. We stopped along the Lutka Inlet where the DNR had a fish gate (not calling it by its proper name) where there were many “signs” of bear. The shore line was littered with salmon that had been torn open, along with bear droppings all over the place which convinced everyone that we were in fact in bear country. Every year the DNR count the number and type of salmon that return to this Inlet. I was told that the salmon population was very healthy. Our guided explained that the DNR employee has a boom box playing all the time while on duty, on the gate, not only for entertainment but mainly to help keep bears away. We continued on our way to the Chilkoot Lake State Park where we toured the forest then returned to the catamaran which took us back to the ship. Sadly, with no bear sittings. Spectacular scenery! Neat pictures! Lots of bald eagles! Looking for bear facts? Click here.

Next Post ... Juneau

Glacier Bay

Having survived the twenty foot swells from the night before and after a days worth of antibiotics I was feeling better. Can’t say the same for David who was feeling very tired and was diagnose with monition sickness by both Wendy and Holly. They prescribed Ginger root for him. So David ask one of the waitress to see if the chef would part with some ginger root and sure enough she brought David two pieces. While he chewed on the first piece, his face, in a contorted expression that clearly said this was something that did in fact not taste very good at all. This took place just as I was returning to the breakfast table and I heard, “ I’m not going to eat that crap” which came in unison from both Holly and Wendy as David suggested they try some of the ginger. Go figur... The girls argued that they do not have motion sickness so they don’t have to try it. A few minutes later, David said that he was feeling better and proceeded to chew on the second piece of ginger which he said, did not taste any better. No one could keep up with David for the rest of the trip. Seems it doesn’t taste very good but has something going for it when it comes to curing (being very tired)/ motion sickness.
By 10:30 am we were entering Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The weather was overcast but brighter then other days past. The park offers spectacular views of glaciers and wildlife. We started at the back of the boat were we saw breaching Humpback whales, seals, and birds. We returned to our rooms to sit and watch as we cruised past Reid, then Lamplugh glaciers. A park ranger had been picked up prior to entering the park and was providing the entire ship information on what we were seeing over the ships TV system. At the far north end of the park were the Mergerie and Grand Pacific glaciers. The ship stayed within a half mile from the face of Mergerie and after about a half hour turned the ship 180 degrees so everyone onboard could get an up close look at the glacier. The whole time we were on the ship looking out I had trouble understanding how big things were. The ranger said that from the water line to Mergeries highest point was about fifteen stories high. I tried, as everyone else did, to get a video or picture of a glacier calving, ice breaking off a glacier forming an ice burg, with no luck. By this time we had moved up to the observation deck. I did get a picture of Wendy holding on in fear, real fear that the railing would give way against all the people trying to get the best view. We made it without loosing anyone.

Next posting.... Skagway

Onboard the food train ..... ship

The weather delayed our departure to College Fjord by four hours while tourists who were being bussed in from all parts of Alaska arrived. After checking out our Staterooms we found the buffet line. All kinds of food, 24 hour a day! When we first started or trip six day ago, on the way into the airport, I said to Holly, David and Wendy that I was afraid that I would, when I did get to the buffet think that I would have to eat as much as I could to be sure I was getting my moneys worth. Holly and Wendy reassured me that if I eat just a little and had plenty of fruits and vegetables, bla bla, bla. This advice from the three of them who visited the buffet lines four too five times a day. No lie. I was in bed (my sinus infection may had a little to do with it) by 10:30 pm or so most nights while the three of them went to clubs and shows, having a great time, and of course, hitting the buffet line one more time before they turned in. I tried, unsuccessfully to see the ships doctor when I first got on board. Office hours were two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. Not sure what he did during the off time. Maybe he wore a second hat as the golf pro for the virtual golf shop on board? I had to wait till the next morning and made sure I was first in line. Being on a ship, I thought I was in for a large bill and was surprised when the bill totaled a little over one hundred bucks. Dr. Andrew, we were on a first name basis, proscribed an antibiotic, “Z pack”, which had me feeling much, much better, in a day or so.

As scheduled, we arrived in College Fjord at 5:30 am.The rain along with it being just before sun rise made for an eerie site and sound. Thunder and what I believe was the rain making the glacier ice give way much more frequently then it would have with out the rain, was very cool to experience. The sound of the glacier ice giving way, even though I did not witness any calving (more on calving later) is hard to describe. Like thunder but different in a deeper frequency kind of way.

The next 24 hours were at sea and the boat was rocking. Not from all the dancing David, Holly and Wendy were doing but the twenty foot swells that were being wiped up by the storm we steamed, or should I say dieseled through. The captain announced that the twenty foot seas’ were “normal” and that we were not to worry. The next morning we talked to our waiter and waitress who by the looks of them had a very rough night, said that was not a normal rid for them and they were glad it had settled down.

Next posting ….. Glacier Bay National Park

Blown back to Anchorage....

While I was getting warmed up next to a roaring fire, Wendy, Holly and David were rafting down a river. High winds had blown down trees that took down power lines to the lodge leaving the power off for 3 ½ hours. Besides rafting, Wendy, Holly and David were helping to pull downed trees from the roads. That night while in our rooms, a letter was passed under our door explaining that due to 70 mph winds in Valdez our catamaran cruise to Whittier was canceled. We were scheduled to leave the next morning at 8:30 am for a 2 ½ hour buss ride to Valdez. The change in plans turned the 2 ½ hour ride into a six hour ride back to Anchorage. Princess Cruises gave us a two hundred dollar, on ship credit and gave us each a lunch certificate that could be used at several restaurants in Anchorage. After breakfast we loaded up the buss and left promptly at 8:30 am. The weather, as you might have guessed, was cloudy and overcast with rain showers on and off until we got to Anchorage, were it rained most of the time we were there. We had a hurried but very tasty lunch for the price. The revised plans included a lunch stop an than catch another buss to Whittier. These plans changed, for the better I might add. A two minute buss ride to the train station and we were on the road/tracks again, headed for Whittier. Princess Cruises had their hands full the past two days. The high winds along with heavy persistent rains had washed out train bridges and roads between Denali and Fairbanks. Tourist from all over Alaska were having to endure long, very long, buss rides around the troubled areas. We were very lucky! Princess employees are to be commended for their patience. They truly went the extra mile in taking care of their customers. The train ride to Whittier was uneventful. It rained most of the trip and the domed cars we rode in had fogged up shortly after we left. The bar was open but it was a cash bar. We arrived in Whittier around 6 p.m. A short walk from the train and we were checking into the Sapphire Princess.

We got to our staterooms and in front of our doors was our luggage which we had not seen sence we left Copper River that morning.

Next posting ... Twenty foot swells made for lots of green gills.....

ATV's, the bear truth & high winds...

We pulled into the Copper River Princess Lodge around 5:30 pm, a bit tired from the nine hour trip. By this time my sinus infection had taken a good hold on me. The weather… you guess it, cloudy and overcast but the views from the lodge of Mt. Drum, Mt. Wrangell and Mt. Blackburn were still spectuler! We found a large fire burning in the fire place that felt heavenly. Daily temperatures were in the upper 50’s and mid 40’s for lows. Dinner and a return to the fire place did me in. When we arrived the winds were just picking up. The next morning, by the time we were done with breakfast, the winds were 15 too 25 mph and building. Our first scheduled excursion of the day was ATV’s. This was a first for all of us. Wendy was terrified of the thought of having to learn how to handle an ATV and was only distracted by the add fear that we could run and I mean “run” in every way, run into, run past, run around, run over … a BEAR!!!! We were picked up in front of the lodge by our twenty year old guide, Amanda’s whose presence had settled Wendy’s nervousness’ even if just a little. More so when Wendy found out that there would only be the five of us and that Amanda was going to be with us the whole trip. Amanda we came to find out was born and raised in Alaska and reassured Wendy that she would be fine. While she would not guarantee us we would not see a bear she reassured Wendy that “the noise from the ATV’s engine(s) would scare off all bears”. Three hours early, I’m sure Holly, David or I said something to this effect and more, which had zero impact on Wendy. We had a great time riding the ATV trails which included a stop at the Alaskan oil pipeline. Yeh, we're holding up the pipe line! That afternoon our second excursion was rafting down the Copper River. I was sick so I stayed in the lodge by the fire. Wendy, Holly and David went rafting. Wendy took these pictures of their trip, which due to high winds ended up not on the Copper River. I was told this rafting trip was not as rough as the Whitewater rafting in Denali.

Next posting.... "Blown back to Anchorage"

Denali Highway / washboard

Day four started with a nine hour buss ride cross country to Copper River. Cloudy and overcast, we loaded up the buss and left Denali about 8:30 am. The scenery on the Denali Highway was great, even though the weather was not the best. The rain held off for the most part. Not many wild animal sightings. A bald eagle here and there, After about three hours on the road, if you call an unpaved, pot hole ridden narrow lane trail a road, we stopped for home made pie and ice cream. I was not feeling that good, coming down with a sins infection, so Wendy, David and Holly sampled the goods with smiles of approval. This is Wendy before the pie and ice cream. The buss ride was not too bad, bumpy but otherwise ok. The rains kept the dust down which was a good thing. We stopped for lunch at a small place built in the middle of nowhere. Soup and sandwich and back on the road again but not before we got our first look at a glacier.Sorry I did not do a better job in documenting the names of the stops for pie, lunch or this glacier. I promise to do a better job on the next vacation. This link has great pictures of the Denali Highway. I know I have said this before but the Alaska scenery is something to behold! Enjoy!! Our driver/guide stopped at the Susitna River bridge so we could walk across and stretch our legs.
On the other side, shortly after we pulled away, there was a yell by two or three people, in unison,”Mooooose”!!! The buss comes to a stop and backs up to give those who can see it through the trees, a better look. Most everyone saw a cow (female moose) and Wendy and one or two others said they saw the large antlers of a male moose. With the moose mostly hidden in/by the trees there was no photo op. That was it for wildlife on this ride.


Susitna River.


Next posting… not sure of a title just yet… “ATV’s & bear attacks” or “ATV’s can’t out run a Grizzly” or ??????.

Denali, Day 2 - pm

So far the only animals we have seen are bald eagles and artic ground squirrels.But we had our hopes up during our fifty mile buss trip into Denali National Park (DNP) to see all kinds of wild life. With cameras, binoculars bottled water in hand we left the lodge with thirty or so other tourist. The weather continued to be overcast but the rain held off for the most part. During the trip looking out over the tundra there would be areas where it was sunny and others were it was raining or snowing, all in the same breath taking scene. The link above to the DNP is full of information and pictures of the wild life we did not see. We did get to see, from a far, a few caribou, a large herd of Dall sheep and more ground squirrels. Mt. McKinley remained hidden in the clouds but I did get a couple of pictures that do not, after having been there, do justice to the vastness of this beautiful land. Visit the park to see the breathtaking landscape!! If you do see wildlife, it will be an added treat!!


Click on this (or any picture) to inlarge it. If you look close, very close on top of the ridge, you can see a male caribou posing majusticly showing off his large antlers.

I tried but was unsuccessful in getting a picture of a tour buss as it traversed the narrow gravel road through the mountain pass. This portion or the buss ride is not for the faint of heart. Several hundred foot drop offs were but a few feet away from the busses wheels. I held my breath a few times. The driver says it gets even better when you meet a buss head on and have to pass each other. Thankfully we did not meet anyone along this portion of the trip.

Denali, Day 2 - a.m.

The view form the Denali Princess lodge. Nenana Gorge in forground.

Having dried out and warmed up after our whitewater rafting we started our second day in Denali on an Alaska Walking Tour. Our guide, Kevin, met us at the lodge at 7:30 am. After introductions we left to pick up two other people. Bob and Larry from Colorado, formally Huston Texas, loaded up a min van and a short twenty minutes later we were in the Alaska wilderness. I learned that everyone is in the Alaska wilderness when driving a few minutes out of any city in Alaska. The only sign of civilization is the occasional road sign. I did notice that most all road signs, even along the highways in Anchorage, were full of gun shot holes. I thought that was only a Wisconsin thing… “lets wanta goan bagas a road sign son”.... Back to the wilderness tour. Kevin is a very knowledgeable and interesting guide. He took us to “Dry Creek River” were glacial runoff cuts its way through the earth. Kevin explained that some days the glacial thaw is so strong that the river is impassable. Some days it consists of two or three creeks while others days there is no run off and the creek is dry. We hit it on a dry day. The day before there were several creeks running and a week earlier we could not have crossed it. We walked up the dry bed for about a few hundred yards then followed a path into the woods were we found all sorts of berries. Kevin pointed out ferns, fungi, trees, and mushrooms and told us stories or what he does in the off season. He climbs 200 foot towers in 40 below zero weather to build/repair towers. His talking about climbing towers was as interesting as the wilderness tour.