Alaska - Inside Passage - June 21 - 29, 2018

We left for Seattle ( along with Caryl and Ozzie), city of departure, on Thursday and arrived late morning.  The time difference was in our favor, as we were anxious to explore this city of “Grey’s Anatomy”  Faced with the view of the Space Needle, we made our way to the “people mover” (an elevated train with two stops) then made our way down to the waterfront.  The flower markets were spectacular, along with the fish!  Skies were grey, as usually thought of Seattle, but the sun did come out eventually.  We found a good lunch spot, then made our way down to the Wonder Wheel.

Billy and Grace were arriving later in the afternoon, so we walked the city looking for a dinner spot.  We made our way back to the hotel and met them.  It was a hoot - haven’t seen Gracie since the summer of “68!  Anyhow, after salutations were made, we dined then made our way to the Space Needle.  We had timed ticket reservations, but we decided to go in early - our New York was showing!  We were allowed in and of course the views were spectacular.  Parts of the needle are under renovation, but that didn’t deter the crowds.  The sun glinted off the water, and various neighborhoods were pointed out. 

Next stop - the Chiluly Gardens.  We had seen this expo at the Bronx Botanical in the Fall, but Seattle is where Dale Chihuly hails.  Words cannot describe the beauty of the sculptures.  I was impressed with his architectural pieces and chandeliers.  Truly an exhibit not to be missed.

By now, fatigue  was  settlng in, and I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of Janet and Rich James - also a blast from the past, but at least I had seen Janet in Grad school.  Meet and Greets would have to wait til morning!

We all met early morning and it was as if 35 years had not passed, though I never would have recognized Richie!  It was great seeing them and we boarded the shuttle that would take us to our ship - THE SOLSTICE - 

Our accommodations were great, we were all in AQUA CLASS.  It didn’t take long to get acclimated - and of course - we found the Martini Bar, which would become our haunt!  The bartender, Yopi, was a magician as well as a dynamite martini mixer.  My drink of choice was the BLUE WAVE - blue sapphire gin, pineapple juice, with a splash of blue curaçao.  Mmmm - yummy!!

Saturday was at sea, and we found our niche at the indoor pool.  Relaxing can become habit forming!  

Our first stop Sunday was in Ketchikan.  Here, Lenny and I did an excursion on a sea cycle.  Basically, this was bicycles atop 2 pontoons!  The weather was not very accommodating.  It poured so badly, I needed wipers on my eyeglasses!  

The area we cycled was tranquil and pristine.  When the rain finally stopped, the sun came out in time for us to get back to the boathouse, and have a snack.  Our guides then tossed heron into the water to attract the eagles that were nesting nearby.  They are huge!!

Raining again, it was time to return to the ship.

Early morning we arrived inside the labyrinth of fjiords.  We had room service so we could take in the spectacular views from our veranda.  Our captain, TSAOS(?)  did donuts (circles) close to Dawson glacier so everyone would have a good vantage point for picture taking.

We arrived in Juneau anticipating our whale watch excursion - this we were doing all together.  Our first stop was Tongass National Park, to see the Mendenhall Glacier.  Here there are a number of different trails and hikes, but us being on a bus, we were pressed for time.  

Mendenhall Glacier is one of 38 large glaciers that flow from the 1,500 square mile expanse of snow and ice known as the Juneau Icefield.  As the glacial ice accumulates seasonally, gravity pulls the ice down valleys.  Slowly and steadily the glacier scours bedrock, grinding everything to powder or transporting huge boulders (erratics) on its 13-mile path to Mendenhall Lake.

We split up here, some to go to the Falls.  Len and I opted for the Visitor Center with its many interesting exhibits.  Then it was onto the whale watch.

Our guides knew exactly where to take our boat - we were a group of about 30.  We watched for “spouting” and after about 3 or 4 spouts, the whale breached out of the water.  It was pretty awesome.  I was disappointed that we weren’t close enough to get an appreciation for the actual size of this magnificent creature.

We had a late return to the ship and we got our signals crossed - who was meeting who where… but we did manage to get some dinner and end the night at the Martini Bar - what else is new?

Our last stop was Skagway - home of the White Pass & Yukon Railroad.  Again, we all had different excursions.  Lenny and I opted for a short ride on the railroad, that took us to a glacial lake where we kayaked.  This particular railroad was built because of the discovery of gold, in 1896, in Bonanza Creek in the Klondike.

There were a number of railroad excursions offered, and only one track.  It was interesting to see trains behind us as we went around curves.  The scenery was spectacular.  Alaska is absolutely pristine - NO pollution at all!  How different things  would have been if Seward didn’t purchase what we call Alaska … would we be speaking Russian?

When we reached the lake, we were outfitted with foul weather gear and took off.  The wind, and current made for a challenging paddle, but of course, a cinch on the return!  

Back in the city, we met up with Rich, Janet, Grace and Bill so we decided to eat out rather than back on the ship.  We found a place on the water (what else) where we had some great fish and chips!

Entertainment on the ship was kind of sketchy - but this one night there was a version of TABOO - where the panel gave their definition of different, very odd sounding words.  Captain Tsaos was a riot - we were rolling with laughter.

Our final day was in Victoria, British Colombia.  Again, we were on our own, on a bicycle tour of the city.  We visited the park, Chinatown and the wharf area.  It’s a pretty city, and I’d like to return.

 

As much as I was ready for the trip to be over,  I was sad that we would be leaving my newfound friends.  We arranged to have a reunion in Cutchogue in August.  

Bottom line - Alaska is a beautiful, pristine, land and deserves a revisit!