Final From Victoria

We had a day at sea to rest up before we arrive in Victoria this afternoon. We are here for the evening, and then arrive in Seattle by 7AM. Jim thinks we'll wait around a bit in the sound while we wait for our morning dock time. We are packed except for the last clothes for dinner tonight and our morning duds. We have all the souvenirs and hats we can buy, and we have little gifts for people. This has been a great cruise, and I've learned a lot about cruising.

1. I learned you can have a laundry deal where for a flat fee they'll do your laundry every day during the cruise. That way you can really bring one slim bag!

2. I learned on long cruises-30 days or over, they offer classes and activities besides gambling and reading. They might have art lessons, bridge lessons, knitting groups, discussion groups, and other activities, including exercise classes.

3. I learned people cruise for lots of reasons, and one is that they handle handicapped people better than any other place. That's why there are so many handicapped people on these cruises.

4.I learned I can eat only a few things from a buffet, I can skip dessert and I can only order two courses at night instead of the offered four.

5. I learned I packed too many clothes and I could wear the same thing to dinner every night and no one would know. We have only had the same dinner companions twice on this 14 day cruise.

6. I learned I don't have to take videos, books, Books on tape, or Kindles since they have a good library on board.

7. I learned I really do like being very low on the boat ,and I do not like rolling and get that unhappy feeling when it gets rough. Down in our cabin, I am a happier person, so I guess that means I'll never have a verandah. However, I really do like an unobstructed view window!

8. I learned I do miss coffee in our stateroom and I must break Jim of the habit of waiting until we go up for breakfast. I am coffee starved all day without my early morning fix.

9. I learned I am ready to go home.

10. And, I learned I want to go cruising again, and we may cruise over Christmas if I can talk Jim into that for a present.

Hubbard Glacier and Juneau Whales

I was standing on the deck, looking at the glacier in Glacier Bay, and a man standing next to me told me I had to wait for the Hubbard Glacier to really get the WOW factor. That was true. It was awesome. We cruised in there and the captain started to rotate the boat so we could all see a wonder of nature. Yes, parts did calve off into the water; the icebergs were so blue, and we all appreciated the calm waters and overcast day, giving us a better look at the glacier's colors. Somebody said photos can never do it, and they are correct. The photos will never show what you see with your own eyes.

Our next day we cruised to Juneau, a funny town, but a great way to see Humpback whales. We took a whale watching boat; (that seems to be the only way we can see whales!)they promised a whale sighting or they'd give back your $100, so we saw whales. At first I thought they'd be as far away as the end of a football field, not too close, but as we neared the end of our cruise time, three whales surfaced very close to the boat, and we got to see them in all their glory-I finally got the breathing/blowing timed and ready to photo the fluke and my camera ran out of steam or something. By the time I got it back again, I had missed the final fluke and got only a blow on film. Next we went to see the Mendenhall glacier with a Parks Service guide answering questions. That was really cool. We also watched a salmon lay eggs from an underwater camera in a creek across the street. That was pretty amazing. Jim did take the tram to the top of the mountain, but I stayed on shore shopping. I bought a few T shirts and then headed back to the boat.

Now to talk about photos. We took/have taken many photos, and I think some may make it on to the Christmas card. You can't help but get great photos of Alaska. It's like Whidbey Island-everywhere you look is a photo-op. Jim has his Canon and seems very happy with it. I have a more complicated Hewlett Packard camera that does everything but eat, although it does eat up batteries pretty quickly. A few years ago I figured out I can take a video. I didn't figure out it has sound, too, so along with bouncing, upside down and sideways filiming, there are odd sounds, like breathing, talking to Jim and oooohhhs. I forgot about the video capability of the camera until I got on this trip, and discovered it again while we were at the Native Heritage Center for the women's dance and drumming exhibit. The photos look awkward, starting out sideways and spinning around. And, no sound. Finally, at the Hubbard Glacier, I rememberd the sound and announced in a deep voice, " This is an iceberg, over 14 feet tall!" That's it. Obviously I need someone to help me with this filiming and talking at the same time. I'll put it all on a CD so everyone can laugh like crazy. The next trip I plan to do better.

We are off to Victoria, but we have a day and night at sea and another full day before we reach there. I've been to the shops three times and expect I'll go back. Don't know where Jim is, but I'm off to read a book. Wish you were all here. Jim and Virginia

Aug 30, 31 and Sept 1-Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak

Hello Everybody! I missed a few days, but I'll catch up today. Photos from left to right are eagle, Homer and Anchorage.
Anchorage- We sailed in and didn't anchor in Anchorage, we tied up to a dock and got ready for a tour around the city and a visit to the Indian Heritage Center. That was worth the trip. We learned about all the different cultures and clans of the Native American peoples in this area. That was fascinating, and taught us about their games, dances, languages, etc. They were beautiful people with generous spirits as they told all the white people about themselves. The city of Anchorage was OK; we didn't stroll around. Many cruisers did that and enjoyed going into the shops, especially the fur stores with bikinis and jock straps! Gets really cold up here. the Sarah Palin store was a local attraction. I guess they have a lifesized mannikin for photos. Jim was sorry he missed that.

Homer was the funniest place. The ship docked out on the end of a 4 mile spit. Along the spit were the Salty Dawg Tavern and a mix of marine stores, fishing outfitters and general shack-like places. That took up about 1/2 mile. Some people went in to town which has a block of the same thing, but we opted to go on a bird watching trip on a 45 ft boat. Nice kids running the cruise, and we were inside so we didn't get wet as the rain started coming down. We saw the regular birds, Kittywakes (both mature and immature), gulls of different kinds, puffins, and lots of otters. They were the most plentiful of any marine mammal we have seen. I got a t shirt so I could say we have been to Homer with the clear understanding someone will ask why we went there!

We are sailing away from Kodiak now, backing out, I think. We were only in port from 7AM to 1PM, and we managed an overview of the city, including a trip through town; a visit to the Fisheries Dept of the U Of Alaska; (where we got to pet sea stars and anemones and crabs!) a visit to the Baranov Museum, since the Russians were the first to settle this island; a visit to the WWII bunker filled with WWII memorabilia as well as big guns; and finally the high school where a group of drummers really gave us a great show. I expected them to be native drummers, but they are a creation of a local guy who is Native American from somewhere else(California, I think), and he teaches any kid who wants to drum.(The youngest was 6 and he didn't have any front teeth!) They use African and other native drums to make amazing music. It was worth the trip just to see them. Kodiak is very beautiful, and of all the cities, I think I could stay here. It is surrounded by high green hills, mountains are off in the distance, and smaller islands dot the scenery around the main island. They are very proud of the island and the city, showing us the KFC/Taco Bell, Walmart and Safeway. I guess that makes them feel more like the lower 48. They have 70 inches of rain a year and 70 inches of snow a year, but the temperatures do not drop so low as other places since they have the Japanese current running by. Today the sun is shining and the island looks just beautiful. The biggest Coast Guard station in the U.S. is in Kodiak with 1500 people stationed here regularly. One interesting fact about all these small cities and towns we visit. They all have lots of churches. The religious sector must have believed it was the last frontier, because they had all arrive and set up shop, so to speak. There are 18 churches in Kodiak with 4000 people in town and 12,000 on the island. They must have small congregations or they have everybody in church. Two denominations are missing in Kodiak, the Methodists and the Presbyterians-I asked Jim what's wrong with the Presbys that they missed out on outreach to Alaska. He harumpted;guess they were going to Africa.


We are on our way to the Hubbard Glacier now. We heard it is the best and biggest, so I'm very excited about that. Anyway, no sight of the northern lights and only a few whale sightings. We are guaranteed whales in Juneau. I'll check in tomorrow. Jim and Virginia