9/12/12 Ketchikan

Well we didn't have much planned and decided to jump on a quick lumberjack show demonstration today. Well it is raining hard and windy so this turned out to be a good choice as it is covered and heated viewing. Short walk to the show area and it was basically what you see on tv. After that since it was raining so hard we just walked the town popping in and out of stores and some very unique stuff that we haven't seen yet. Also went to creek street which is a row of houses and stores on top of a creek that runs through it with salmon that are spawning. Made our way back to the ship to eat lunch and think I will make my way to the pool here shortly.

9/11/12 icy straight point, hoonah ak

Nothing planned today so got of the ship on tender around 930 am and head to the local town. This stop is not cruise owned but very much in their best interest and not much around. This is a old cannery converted to a cruise port with shops. The town is 1 mile away so got on a shuttle to town to see what was there and get away from the port area. Well this is a old fishing town and not much there either some homes and grocery and hardware store. So we turned around and walked back the mile on a nice concrete path. Checked out some stores in the cannery bought a couple things of art and went on the nature hike that was there. This was a .6 mile loop through the woods and bracket and back. Was nice walk and back to the ship around 1p for lunch and more relaxation in pool. Oh while eating saw some humpback whales right near the ship. Tomorrow is Ketchikan and not much else planned. This vacation is winding down fast.

9/10/12 Skagway rental car tour

Well today got off the ship as soon as possible to get the rental car and a drive out the Klondike highway. I had purchased Murray's guide which gives a detailed report of stops, views, and places to see along the way. This drive we planned to drive out to emerald lake which is about 75 miles out and into Canada. Along the way we went from cloudy/rain to sunny to a very small desert. There isn't much but sights and great photo stops and one town, carcross Canada. This is a very small town with couple stores and is mainly a old stoping point for gold rush days.

Made it to emerald lake and turned around back to the ship where along the way we would have to pass through customs. Back in town around 2-3 pans turned the car back in a checked out the downtown area real quick. Also while in town mailed some stuff back from the post office in the flat rate mailer. Back on board in the evening hit the steam sauna up some pool and time for dinner. Going to be in icy straight point tomorrow.

9/9/12 Juneau bike and brew

So today we were set up to do the bike and brew tour. We were to meet up on the pier at 930 am and then a short ride to bike tour. We got out of the cars a short distance out of town then biked around mendenhall lake with a couple stops for photos of that glacier. The total bike ride was about 8 miles and ended at the glacier visitor center. Took a brief look around some photos and back to town for the brew portion. Here we sampled 4 beers from the Alaskan brewery. The amber beer is the flagship beer and is good beer but can't get it on the east coast. Maybe some time later. Began to rain and cloudy so didn't want to go up the tram since visibility would be low. So back on the ship and pool, food and relaxation.

9/8/12 Hubbard glacier

Today was basically a sea day with a couple hours in between to see Hubbard glacier. The cruise ship
Was going to navigate it's way around the ice and get as close as it could to the glacier then spin around and slowly return out of the bay.

So the captain got close u for us to see some calving and hear the thunder from the glacier cracking. Was neat to be so close to a huge glacier. That was about 4 hours and we were off to Juneau where we stop for the day tomorrow.

9/7/12 Seward Alaska cruise embarkation

So today was a sleep in day for once in a while. Got up around 10 am and readied to get breakfast and pack up to send luggage on the ship. The earliest we could check our luggage was 11 am and it was a short walk to the cruise pier. Well we really weren't thinking and decided to find food in town, we could have just boarded the ship and eaten there but oh we'll. Had breakfast at this rail car restaurant and was good.

Went back to the hotel and picked up the luggage and walked 5 blocks to the pier check in area. Check in was painless and within 30-40 mins max we were on the ship up in the solarium and checking the ship out. As soon as 1 pm came around we made our way to the room and most of the luggage was there so unpacked and got settled in for the cruise.

For the first time we have a balcony room and this should be very different. More to come but standard cruise fare day 1 just getting around and feeling out the ship.

9/6/12 glacier cruise part two Seward

Today we were up at 4 am to get everything packed up breakfast and out ready for a 5 am taxicab ride to the train depot. We are schedule to take the train from anchorage at 645 am to Seward arriving at 11 am. This was a different mode of transportation than I have ever taken. There was nice room in reclining chairs with nice big windows. The train takes a slightly different route other than the highway so I got to see things that you can't from the Seward highway. Along the way the sun was out and no wind so great photos, wildlife and inland glaciers. We arrived exactly at 11 am and meet with the glacier cruise people and the took our luggage to the hotel and we just had to get on the cruise. So while picking up our tickets dad talked to the guy and got them to comp us the buffet salmon and prime rib buffet (19$/person). Score one for the day. Once boarding found out the woman that fell was doing better but still in hospital, that was good to, and the weather was perfect, 50 light winds and sunny.

Cruise went off without a hitch saw the standard sea otter in the bay and began moving further out. As we got out into the bay saw orcas right in front of the boat, the dall porpoise came by to, the shortly later a humpback. We were hitting on all cylinders so far and only 1/3 of the way into the cruise. We then moved around Aialak point to see the glaciers. We got up close and the sound these slow moving ice sheets makes is something that is crazy, cracking and just sounds like raw power. Then sometimes they break off and huge splashes into the water. After being out there for a while it was time to head back fill our bellys and a couple more animal sightings, puffins and sea lions. Back promptly at 530p and we got off and went to the hotel.

Checked into the motel and it is not luxury but will serve the need, and walking distance to the cruise terminal, restaurants and the 4 block downtown. Tomorrow is the relaxing part of this adventure with the bags paged liquor concealed I am ready.

Oh one thing I have to give big props to the company Major Marine tours. They fixed a bad situation and made us very happy and we just ended up with nothing but positive things to say. Anyone coming to this town needs to go on this trip with this company.

9/5/12 dogsled and glacier Seward

Today we woke up for a scheduled 10 am dogsled training tour excursion. When I got up it was pouring rain still and I was like I hope that creek we crossed wasn't over the bridge or I would be staying in the rv park for a couple days. Well when heading out dumped all the tanks and took a light load back with us to return the rv.

Up to the ididaride place and was checked in and ready to do the 1.5 hour ride and demo. They went over the timeline for a race team, supplies, and dogs. These champion teams travel 160 miles per day and complete the whole race in about 8plus days. After this moved into the yard and there were dogs everywhere all just looking at you like pick me, pick me to run. These dogs are breed to just want to run and are lean looking but that is proper apparently. They hook 16 dogs to this golf cart thing that holds 8 and I stood on the back with the musher. So they were going to pull 10 adults two miles was just crazy. Once we were loaded and dogs hooked up they pulled a pin holding us back and we shot out. Now the dogs had to be stopped about 4 times as they would overheat as this was about 50 degrees and way to warm for them. But once stopped they were ready to go the hole time waiting for the brakes to be released. Was neat once finished saw some 2 week old pups and a typical race gear for dog and driver.

After this we went up to exit glacier which is a land glacier that you can hike up to the face about 1 mile in on easy hike. Did this was neat to see the receding but this seems to be a normal thing and has had some slow times during our revolution. So global warming maybe? But maybe not too as could be normal.

Drove back to anchorage and got the rv turned in and camping out in the parking lot for a early train ride back to Seward and cruise departure the following day.