Seward and the Cruise Train

September 15, 2014

Unfortunately, we are some of the many people on this ship who are sick.  It's a vicious cough with cold like systems.  The only good thing about it, is that we aren't especially hungary!  Yesterday was a wild day at  sea, with lots of people unable to leave their cabins due to sea sickness.  We weren't affected so enjoyed a lunch with the captain of this Dutch ship (named Smith - seriously?).  We watched an amazing presentation by the crew director about, Fragile Oceans.  It was pretty interesting to hear what the ships are doing to prevent waste and safeguard the environment.  Even the soda cans area saved, recycled for cash at the next port and that's what the crew uses as funds for their party.

We arrived in Seward very early and boarded the Cruise Train to Anchorage.  The ride on the train was spectacular as we left the sea and headed inland.  We went to bed early and shared a container of Ring-O-Noodle soup.

CRUISING GLACIER BAY

September 12, 2014

A full day at sea with morning fog horns, cool temps and calm seas.  By the time we reached the famous Margerie Glacier, the skies cleared and the water was a brilliant turquoise.   It was a narrow passage to the glacier and while the ship turned and turned to give everyone a view, the crew served Dutch Pea soup and mugs of hot chocolate to warm up.  We watched several park ranger shows while at sea and ended the day with the last of our 'fancy' dinners in dress up clothes.

SKAGWAY

September 11, 2014

We woke up in the small town of Skagway and once again were greeted in this wilderness with a bizillion jewelry stores.  Oddly, we learned that the cruise lines own all the jewelry stores.  The only chain store in town is the Radio Shack, where not only can you buy hardware type things, but ice cream and a tan in the tanning booth incase you are looking pale.  No one has had a baby delivered in Skagway for 30+ years.  The services are so inadequate and minimal that a pregnant mom will fly about three weeks before her due date to Seattle to deliver.  The wildlife is prevalent and the locals call people riding bicycles down the hill, 'meals on wheels'.

We boarded the White Pass & Yukon Railroad towards Canada.  It's a narrow-guage train that slowly chugs up the steep 3000 ft, mountain.  Some of the bridges are made of wood and still standing --- at least they were when we went across.  We were fortunate to be in the caboose, so we could go outside and get a spectacular view.  At the top of the mountain, our driver met us and took us back down the hill.  The store front in the photo below is made entirely made of driftwood and over 100 years old.

JUNEAU - and the MENENDALL GLACIER

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Welcome to Juneau...the capital of Alaska.  A land-locked city with the only access to the city via the sea or air.  A whopping 30,000 people live in Juneau.  We boarded a bus and headed to Mendenhall Glacier where we hiked a mile up to the glacier and a waterfall, turned around and watched a wonderful story about the glacier at the visitors center. 

We learned not too many years ago, the McDonald's restaurant opened  here and people actually slept out the night before to be one of the first in line.  By early afternoon, they had already run out of buns so had to shut down for a day while more buns were flown in.

It's been great to catch up with family on the phone in port and check email to stay in touch.  We sure aren't missing the news and the break from reality is so fun. It's a dream come true to travel on such a wonderful ship to the night of the midnight sun.  And yes, of course, I added a coupla rocks to the rock stacking at the glacier.

Loving the Seattle Kids and North to Alaska - Ketchikan

September 5, 2014

We had a fun three days living at the Travel Camp on the Ft. Lewis military base.  It's so nice to be with Jared, Becky, Brody and Maycen.  We watched Maycen's soccer practice and a 'real' game on Saturday morning.   We went to the Washington State Fair and watched the kids and us giggle through the big slide and all the rides for the kids while the big kids rode the big rides.  We're not sure who really had more fun.  On Saturday, the warm temps made it a perfect day to enjoy American Lake in their boat and watch the kids enjoy swimming at the beach.  Jared cooked amazing ribs for dinner and we all complained that summer really shouldn't end.  Maycen had her first sleepover in the camper and we loved every minute!

September 7, 2014

We left the Travel Camp and headed to the SeaTac airport to meet the shuttle which would take us to the Holland America ship, Statendam, in Vancouver, BC.  Willie was left in the capable hands of the Toppenberg's and we were off to Alaska for our first ever visit to the 49th State ---- and we were able to check a big item off our bucket list.

We rode a luxury shuttle to Vancouver where we boarded the ms Statendam.  It's a mid-sized ship and our room has a big balcony on the starboard side of the big blue ship.  We booked through Costco and sailed towards Ketchikan at 5 p.m.  Already we've met some amazing people who surprisingly share some of the most intimate information.   People on board are from all over the world so it's a fun melting pot of cultures.  

We were entertained by a movie about a mom bear and her cubs and how difficult the first year really is as they forage for food looking for the golden pond filled with salmon for bulking up for the winter.  An amazing documentary that set the stage for our trip to the last frontier.

Monday, September 8, 2014

We spent the entire day at sea and tried time after time to figure out where we were on the ship and where we were going.  There were about 800 people on board (ship holds 1200) so it wasn't too crowed and the  last trip for the season heading up the inside passage.  We found a secret spot on the fantail where you're out of the wind, overlooking the wake and can bask in the sunshine.  Yes, fortunately, lots of sun!

It was fancy night, so we got all dressed up and celebrated our 30th anniversary with delightful new friends from the UK and Vancouver. The ship and crew helped us celebrate with a special dessert.  Of course, luck would have it, we enjoyed a gorgeous full moon too!

 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Hello to Ketchikan where they have 300 days of rain each year --- about 13 feet of rain!  Fortunately we enjoyed bright sunshine and had lunch and a shop around with new friends who jokingly said that Holland American is for 'newlyweds or the nearly dead'.  We haven't found too many of either fortunately!

We toured Creek Street where the ladies of the night entertained the gold rush men and saw the salmon already dying as they returned after 4 years to the place of their birth in the creek.  Interesting that they can even remember where to return to lay their eggs.  It's one of nature's miracles for sure.  We learned from a local fisherman that on a good trip out, he could earn up to $2400 a trip and in a not so good year (like this year), the pay is about $650 per trip out.   There is a season for each type of salmon and now is the time for the Coho.  

We are getting better at finding our way around the ship and recognize many new friends.  It's so fun to be so pampered.

 

Hello Yellowstone Park!

September 3, 2014
It's been  25+ years since we were last in this magnificent park.  We found a great KOA at West Yellowstone and booked two nights.  Two full days of driving deserves a day to vacation and explore.  A couple of fun things we noticed....the vehicle of choice in Montana is the Toyota FJ (my personal favorite car!) and our new favorite slogan is, "..if the mountains are calling, you must go" and so we went.

The pin-hole leak in the water valve for the toilet is still leaking so a repair and/or a new toilet is in our future very soon.  We tried to book an appointment at the Camping World in Spokane, but they are booked solid until next Monday.  They promised to try and fit us in tomorrow if we were willing to wait, but we're thinking we can't wait around, so will have Amazon deliver a new one to Becky and Jared's...love you Amazon Prime!

We had a fun day touring the park, exploring and were saddened that Roosevelt Lodge (after a long drive) was closed along with several parts of the upper and lower loop for bridge work.  The crowds were not existent and the weather spectacular as we toured without the rig  thank heavens since there were so many hair pin curves.  Some of the local beers have pretty interesting names:=)  The bubbling hot spots, shops and waterfalls were beautiful.

This morning we were up early and headed North on scenic 191 out of West Yellowstone towards I-90 near Bozeman, MT.  We drove along the rippling and sparkling Gallatin River and went past the entrance to Big Sky ski area.  This is a spot we will go back to and spend more time in the future.  Just maybe this is one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

The un-beautiful part....we were about 8 cars behind the road crew painting the road....and yes, one side of the rig is now yellow while my side is white....both the car and rig have a new doo! Hopefully it will come off about the same time the toilet is fixed! 

Tonight we returned  to the Blackwell Island RV Resort in Coeur D'Alane, Idaho. We stayed here two years ago and loved it.  It's fun to be back along the banks of the Spokane River.  Tomorrow we head towards Seattle and our kids and we can't wait!