Ketchikan Kan

We arrived in Ketchikan by 6AM, after a long overnight trip in the fog. (Last night we looked out and couldn't see the flag on the bow. The big fog horn went every two minutes as required. ) It was clear of fog when we arrived in K., and we even had sunshine for a few minutes this afternoon. We have already gone on a tour of the fish hatcheries, seeing big, big salmon climbing up fish ladders to spawn. We also saw eagles with broken wings-they'll live out their days in a sanctuary, eating well and entertaining the tourists with their beauty. Then we were off to Totem Bight Park where we saw amazing totems and heard the folk tales that the Haida, Tlingit and other tribes use to explain the sun, salmon and other facts of nature. It was fun, but we passed on the required shopping in town. There are four(!) cruise ships in here, and we are the smallest. K. looks like any fishing town to me, but it got dressed up for the touristas who come between April 15 and Oct 1. That's it folks, and they still only have 14,000 people and a small marina.

Comments on this trip: It's after lunch, Jim has gone off to mail postcards, and I am catching up with email and my blog. We have noticed there are lots of really old people on this ship. (Even older than we are!) And, it looks to me like the women are doing better than the men. Lots of the guys look over the hill, but their wives are still hanging in there. I wonder if that is in the DNA or if we just take better care of ourselves. Lots of people have been married for many, many years; this morning a woman told me she is celebrating her 50th anniversary tomorrow. Some men have younger women with them, but I haven't seen any young men with old ladies! Of course, there are some women traveling together. One young woman obviously has her grandmother, and I applaud her for that. Last night was a formal night and they weren't as dressed up as the last cruise. Maybe it's because we are going to Alaska. There were some people in tuxes and long gowns, but not as much glitter. Last time I was open mouthed with awe at the amazing jackets and dresses that looked like Bob Mackie designed them. This cruise is quiet, too, with more people sitting around reading books and looking out the windows. We have even slowed down and plan a nap each day!! And, lots of people are on their third or even forth trip to Alaska. That must be a testimony to how people feel about this place.

I am looking out the windows and the Zaadam is leaving port on their way home to Seattle. They were on a 7day cruise. I'm getting hooked on this; I'm planning the next one! Cheers, we'll be thinking of you as we sail along. Leaving here at 5PM for Sitka. Jim and Virginia

Aug 24 Holland America to Alaska

Hello Everyone! We left Oak Harbor for Seattle on Sunday Aug 22, staying over with Libby for the night. We hadn't had a chance to see her new Pioneer Square office, so after lunch we went downtown Seattle, along with the duck boats(!), to visit her way-cool building and offices. She has beautiful furniture and lots of storage and meeting space. Her townhouse is shaping up, too, after being a home office for several years. We loved her new dining table and renewed bedroom.

Monday Aug 23-After a leisurely morning we were off with Uri in the limo to be dropped at Pier 91. It was the most beautiful day, and Seattle put on a big show! The temperatures were in the high 70's, Mt Rainier was right there, and we were docked even with Queen Anne, looking back at the city and the mountain and the water and the sailboats and the tankers coming in and out. The out of towners were awe-struck. I over heard one man say he had been to Seattle twice and had never seen the mountain. After talking to a couple from Sacramento, I commented, " We try to put on a show for visitors, but not all the time, or they'd all move here!" Promptly at 5PM, we shoved off from the dock and started working our way towards Haro Strait. As we passed Whidbey Island, Jim had his GPS, maps and binoculars out, attracting a huge crowd. We had to tell everyone we lived over there. Of course, everyone wanted to know why we would go on a cruise when we already lived here?? We had a late dinner in the Lido buffet and then went to our cabin for an early night. Jim was up at o'dark-thirty (5ish) to go out on deck to see Campbell River as we passed and our entrance into Johnstone Strait. That was pretty uneventful, and now we are cruising along looking at the beautiful tree covered mountains on northern Vancouver Island. Wow, it is really magnificent up here. We know it's beautiful because we've had our boat as far as Desolation Sound, but it just keeps being beautiful. Can't wait for amazing Alaska!

A few housekeeping items.: (1)we are in a room with a big window, so I can sit and look out; (2)the food isn't nearly as amazing this time (It's very good, but since I know all about it, I can be discriminating about what I eat.); (3)the crowd seems old, but the ship is smaller and the crowds aren't as overwhelming; (4)since we are traveling alone, Jim is making friends everywhere, talking to people, telling them what his GPS says and where we are, etc., etc., etc.(had drinks with a couple from San Antonio last night); (5)we are more relaxed about the whole experience, so it's already more fun; (6)I've already got the next cruise planned!!! On the way to Alaska, Jim and Virginia

Cruising Away Again to Alaska

We are almost packed, we have both cameras ready, and we have books, knitting and a GPS to take along so we know where we are! We are leaving early tomorrow to spend the day with Libby, and then we'll board the ship on Monday noonish. We depart at 5PM. Our friends, the Liebmans, who live in Sierra, are waving a flashlight as we go by West Beach. How fun is that! We'll be waving, but with doubts they can see us on a big ship. Hope we see something like the photo attached. More later. The Wagners

SS Amsterdam Here We Come!

Nine days and counting! We leave on our cruise on August 23, but we're going to Libby's for the first night, the 22nd. That will give us a chance to see her new digs in Pioneer square and have a leisurely breakfast before we board the ship at noon. We leave Seattle at 4PM. Our itinerary for the cruise is as follows:
8/24 Inside Passage; 8/25 Ketchikan;8/26 Sitka; 8/27 Skagway; 8/28 Glacier Bay; 8/29 At Sea; 8/30 Anchorage; 8/31 Homer; 9/1 Kodiak; 9/2 Hubbard Glacier; 9/3 Juneau; 9/4 At Sea; 9/5 Victoria BC;9/6 Seattle.

I have the boarding passes printed; the luggage tags printed, and I've made lists of clothes and other accessories for the trip. I only have to pack my bag now. The biggest problem with that is the weather. We have no idea if it will be warm or cold. Everything I've read says to pack for any weather and layer, but there is a real difference between cold and 30 degrees and warmish and 60degrees So, I'm depending on the US weather bureau to give me a forecast for the first 4-5 days and then we'll do the best we can. I know we'll have four dress up nights, so we'll pack for that. When we cruise, I take along all the jewelry I never wear any more. When I was working, I would wear dresses and suits and dress things up with necklaces and earrings, etc. Now I never wear anything like that. We dress for dinner each night on the ship, and I get a chance to wear all the cool stuff I've still got in my jewelry box. Some of it is fun costume stuff which I love and can't give up.
More later.

Wagner Scheduling

We are filling up the calendar through October. Pretty soon I'll have to start in on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The skies the limit on that since we have no commitments this year. Here goes on the things we're doing:

Weekend of July 30-August 2: Whidbey Island Hopping on the SS Karen Marie. We'll go out on Friday and get back on Monday if we like it out there and Jim is OK.

August 3-22 Open for options, depending on Jim's physical therapy and condition.

August 23-Sept 6: Cruising Alaska in the Big Boat!

September 16-20: Virginia in Ashland doing the Theatah!

September 23-October 9ish: Trailer Trip to California

October 18-23: Vancouver Island Touring

More specifics later. V.

Looking Ahead to Another Cruise

We're going on another cruise! This time we're taking a Big Boat, the Amsterdam , owned by Holland America. We made the decision recently to add that to our summer/fall outings. We have had to limit our own cruising, so we will have two weeks viewing Alaska from the deck while someone else drives! Stay tuned...Virginia and Jim

Waiting at the dock

The Karen Marie is waiting at the dock. We did get out for a short overnight at Coronet Bay right after we got the boat home. We went with Rosie, Sandpiper, Kanowe(George Smith) and Anita Lee for their shakedown cruises. It was fun to help out. We had good apps and drinks on the float before dinner. Those power boaters all have chairs, so we threw them out on the dock and Janet had a table and we were had a floating cocktail party! Everyone got practice docking and using their dinghies, either motor or rowing, and we made it home in time before a low low tide. Short and sweet. The next Thursday the kids arrived for the 4th, so it was a good break.

We had the July 4th bash and moved on the boat for two nights, then moved into our camp trailer for one night before the guest room was available. Then on the 6th we had our home back to ourselves. It was a long 6 days since Jim re-injured himself on the 2nd. We are trying new meds now and physical therapy, and wishing we were out on the boat. More later.