Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Picking up where I left off........NOT !
I'm revisiting this blog site after a 6-year absence....wow, a lot has happened in my life since I last posted.
Contrary to the way it must appear ( I last posted from Juneau in 2009) , I did not fall into a glacier crevass in Alaska, nor did I get swallowed by a whale....nor did I decide to jump ship and open an artist studio in Hoonah....although any of these scenarios is probably more exciting than the truth :)
No, I continued to travel the world with my companion (he and I have since parted ways and both of us have gone on to other relationships). Subsequent cruises took me to England, Ireland, Iceland, France, as well as a host of Caribbean nations and an all-inclusive reosrt in Mexico. Each trip had its own share of "Wow" moments, and I remember fondly the places I've been and the people I've met along the way.
Speaking of along the way....I decided in 2011 that I had enough of the working life, and retired from my position with Natural Resources Canada after 28 years. Determined to make a fresh start, I bought a lovely 2-bedroom condo in Fredericton, sold my home of 30 years, and settled down to a life of leisure. I also joined a local singles' networking group, where I met my Significant Other, David (yep, another Dave....some habits are hard to break..lol). He and I have share a love of Ballroom Dance, Halloween, and all things 'Walking Dead" related. It is a strange and wonderful life !
And so , this year, I'm off on another life-adventure....I have embarkde on a post-retirement career as a home-based Travel Agent ! Yes, after many years of researching, recommending, and setting up vacations for family and friends, I made it official :)
I must admit, I am delightfully busy doing what I have always loved...sending people out to see new places, make new friends,leave their daily troubles behind, however temporarily, and to enjoy what this wonderful planet has to offer, as I have done for many years.
So I am once again taking up the challenge of reporting on my travels here......starting with my next Caribbean adventure in October of 2015.
Wish me luck, and come along....
Thursday, September 10, 2009
South to Vancouver, Day 3
Day 3 - Juneau, Alaska
Our return visit to Juneau started out with cool temperatures and light rain. Since the Radiance was docked a bit further from downtown than last week, we set out for a walk to collect some free gifts from one of the many coupon books we had received, and to do a little shopping.
We were back at the dock in time to catch the shuttle to our Gold Panning Adventure and Salmon Bake. We were taken to the former site of a thriving gold mine by our friendly and knowledgeable native guide, who proceeded to introduce us to the fine art of panning for gold.
After instructing us in the panning and washing of the gold flakes. he handed each of us a pan filled with silt, and we staked out spots along the creek bed to wash, swirl and hopefully separate the gold from the silt.Fifteen minutes or so later we were all examining our tiny souvenir vials of water in which floated the fruits of our labour: several tiny flakes of brilliant gold.
From there our guide drove us to our lunch, the Famous Salmon Creek Salmon Bake. We were greeted by gracious hosts who lead us to long tables and passed out cups of hot, delicious clam chowder. We were then left to load up our plates with salad, wild rice pilaf, baked beans, cornbread and savoury grilled Sockeye Salmon. We ate our fill and headed back to the ship for some late-afternoon downtime in the Thermal Suite before meeting other frequent cruisers for a tour of the navigational bridge.
Another sailaway, another bottle of champagne, and another great day on the Radiance of the Seas.
Tomorrow : Skagway
Our return visit to Juneau started out with cool temperatures and light rain. Since the Radiance was docked a bit further from downtown than last week, we set out for a walk to collect some free gifts from one of the many coupon books we had received, and to do a little shopping.
We were back at the dock in time to catch the shuttle to our Gold Panning Adventure and Salmon Bake. We were taken to the former site of a thriving gold mine by our friendly and knowledgeable native guide, who proceeded to introduce us to the fine art of panning for gold.
After instructing us in the panning and washing of the gold flakes. he handed each of us a pan filled with silt, and we staked out spots along the creek bed to wash, swirl and hopefully separate the gold from the silt.Fifteen minutes or so later we were all examining our tiny souvenir vials of water in which floated the fruits of our labour: several tiny flakes of brilliant gold.
From there our guide drove us to our lunch, the Famous Salmon Creek Salmon Bake. We were greeted by gracious hosts who lead us to long tables and passed out cups of hot, delicious clam chowder. We were then left to load up our plates with salad, wild rice pilaf, baked beans, cornbread and savoury grilled Sockeye Salmon. We ate our fill and headed back to the ship for some late-afternoon downtime in the Thermal Suite before meeting other frequent cruisers for a tour of the navigational bridge.
Another sailaway, another bottle of champagne, and another great day on the Radiance of the Seas.
Tomorrow : Skagway
South to Vancouver, Day 2
Day 2 - Hubbard Glacier
The weather for this trip to the Hubbard Glacier was even better than it had been the week before. By the time the Captain announced our arrival, we were in tee-shirts and sunglasses on the aft balcony. Despite the warm weather, we went ahead with our plan to serve hot chocolate with Bailey's and cookies from Room Service to our guests. Along with Bob and Vita, we chatted and snapped photographs from our vantage point on the aft of the ship.
The ship had just completed a 180 - degree turn showing us the full face of the Glacier when a massive chunk of the face of the icebank went crashing into the ocean with a monstrous roar, causing a wave to race toward the ship and making us hang onto the rail when it reached us. Not long after that, a huge piece broke free from the right edge of the Glacier and also went sliding into the sea, announcing its presence to all onboard. We sailed away feeling blessed to have been given this awesome show.
Tomorrow : Juneau
The weather for this trip to the Hubbard Glacier was even better than it had been the week before. By the time the Captain announced our arrival, we were in tee-shirts and sunglasses on the aft balcony. Despite the warm weather, we went ahead with our plan to serve hot chocolate with Bailey's and cookies from Room Service to our guests. Along with Bob and Vita, we chatted and snapped photographs from our vantage point on the aft of the ship.
The ship had just completed a 180 - degree turn showing us the full face of the Glacier when a massive chunk of the face of the icebank went crashing into the ocean with a monstrous roar, causing a wave to race toward the ship and making us hang onto the rail when it reached us. Not long after that, a huge piece broke free from the right edge of the Glacier and also went sliding into the sea, announcing its presence to all onboard. We sailed away feeling blessed to have been given this awesome show.
Tomorrow : Juneau
South to Vancouver : Day 1
Seward, Alaska : Turnaround Day (Day 1 Southbound)
We arrived in Seward to sunny skies and a friendly welcome. We made our way to the dock at Small Boat Harbour and the Kenai Fjord Tours vessel Explorer for our 10-hour trip. The day was chilly and I was thankful for the waterproof, insulated jacket I had purchased in Ketchikan the week before. We set out with our young Captain and his crew to observe the local wildlife of Alaska. The ocean swells were large and plentiful, so much so that I began feeling very 'green' and had to sit out a lunch of Caesar wrap and baby carrots. Luckily I had brought some anti-nausea medication and was fine as soon as it 'kicked in'.
Although the whale-watching was a bust, as it had been on a previous trip this week, we were thrilled to see bald eagles, sea lions. puffins, and sea otters, and the weather was sunny and fairly warm. On the long trip back to Seward we were delighted to learn that we were to be delivered to the lodge on Fox Island for a buffet lunch of salmon, prime rib, rice and dessert. For a fee, you could also purchase a pound of Alaskan King Crab, shelled and ready to eat, and we did.
We sadly had to say goodbye to Barry and Dorothy, Pirate friends from Florida. They accompanied us on our Kenai Fjords cruise and amid much hugging , bid us farewell until next time. Back on board the Radiance, we checked in and completed some first-day business, including meeting our new neighbours Bob and Vita from Arkansas, and re-connecting with two Mariner Repo friends, Bill and Mariana from California.We invited them to join us and our other Pirate sailors for champagne on the balcony as we sailed away from Seward. We were delighted to discover that Bob is an amateur magician, and he treated us to an impromptu magic show in our cabin.
Another great day and a great start to Cruise number 2, Alaska Southbound.
Tomorrow: Cruising by the Hubbard Glacier
We arrived in Seward to sunny skies and a friendly welcome. We made our way to the dock at Small Boat Harbour and the Kenai Fjord Tours vessel Explorer for our 10-hour trip. The day was chilly and I was thankful for the waterproof, insulated jacket I had purchased in Ketchikan the week before. We set out with our young Captain and his crew to observe the local wildlife of Alaska. The ocean swells were large and plentiful, so much so that I began feeling very 'green' and had to sit out a lunch of Caesar wrap and baby carrots. Luckily I had brought some anti-nausea medication and was fine as soon as it 'kicked in'.
Although the whale-watching was a bust, as it had been on a previous trip this week, we were thrilled to see bald eagles, sea lions. puffins, and sea otters, and the weather was sunny and fairly warm. On the long trip back to Seward we were delighted to learn that we were to be delivered to the lodge on Fox Island for a buffet lunch of salmon, prime rib, rice and dessert. For a fee, you could also purchase a pound of Alaskan King Crab, shelled and ready to eat, and we did.
We sadly had to say goodbye to Barry and Dorothy, Pirate friends from Florida. They accompanied us on our Kenai Fjords cruise and amid much hugging , bid us farewell until next time. Back on board the Radiance, we checked in and completed some first-day business, including meeting our new neighbours Bob and Vita from Arkansas, and re-connecting with two Mariner Repo friends, Bill and Mariana from California.We invited them to join us and our other Pirate sailors for champagne on the balcony as we sailed away from Seward. We were delighted to discover that Bob is an amateur magician, and he treated us to an impromptu magic show in our cabin.
Another great day and a great start to Cruise number 2, Alaska Southbound.
Tomorrow: Cruising by the Hubbard Glacier
North to Alaska -Day 7
Day 7 : Hubbard Glacier
We were awakened by the Captain at 6:20 a.m. with an announcement that we were entering the bay. Having planned a small breakfast party on our deck , we got up to receive the room service order of pastries, fruit and coffee to be shared with our fellow travellers.
Before long we noticed that the mountains we had been observing off the port side were increasing in size, and shortly after that the announcement that we were all waiting for blared through the loudspeakers: we were to sail to within a 1/4 mile of the magnificent Hubbard Glacier. We waited patiently on our aft balcony until the Glacier came into full view.
The Hubbard Glacier is absolutely breathtaking. It is magnificent and vast, with waves of turquoise-blue coloured ice. And the sound it makes is just as indescribable. Creaks, groans and 'gunshots' permeated the still morning air, along with the rumbling of "white thunder".
We stayed on our balcony and welcomed friends with Mimosas, giving them a great vantage point when the Captain rotated the ship to starboard. We were able to see several small 'calving' events and snapped hundreds of photos in the meantime. After a chilly couple of hours , we departed the Hubbard Glacier and continued to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Radiance of the Seas in Alaska.
Tomorrow: Disembarkation in Seaward (for some people!)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
North to Alaska Day 6
Day 6 : Icy Strait Point
As all of our cruise days have before , today dawned with a high cloud cover and the promise of better weather ahead. This was the only tender port of our cruise, meaning that the ship does not dock but anchors in the harbour while the guests ride to and from shore in the life boats.
Icy Strait Point is actually the small native community of Hoonah. Its pier area has an abundance of shops, a restaurant, boardwalk and several walking trails. Once the sun had arrived for the day, we strolled among the shops and stopped for a bite in the restaurant. I had decided to try the Ziprider, the world's longest zipline at a full mile.A 90 second thrill ride takes you from a platform high above the town to a landing pad outside of the Landing Zone bar.
The other 3 members of my little travelling group waited for me at the pier while I boarded the bus for the 40-minute ride to the top of the mountain, 1300 feet above the town. We stopped at several lookouts along the winding dirt road and listened to an entertaining narrative by James, our bus driver. Once at the top we walked down a steep gravel road to the launching pad and lined up to await our fate.
One by one we were strapped into a harness chair and told to brace our feet against the gate in front of us. At a count of 3 the gates were opened and we soared out over the treetops towards the pinpoint of land which was out target. It was an adrenaline rush that left my legs shaking when I reached the bottom! I had managed to hold my camera out to my side on 'video' mode and captured the entire ride, albeit at some strange angles as I tried to keep myself from spinning in the harness. I was greeted at the landing pad by my friends and we went for a celebratory beer before heading back to the ship.
Tomorrow : Cruising by the Hubbard Glacier.
As all of our cruise days have before , today dawned with a high cloud cover and the promise of better weather ahead. This was the only tender port of our cruise, meaning that the ship does not dock but anchors in the harbour while the guests ride to and from shore in the life boats.
Icy Strait Point is actually the small native community of Hoonah. Its pier area has an abundance of shops, a restaurant, boardwalk and several walking trails. Once the sun had arrived for the day, we strolled among the shops and stopped for a bite in the restaurant. I had decided to try the Ziprider, the world's longest zipline at a full mile.A 90 second thrill ride takes you from a platform high above the town to a landing pad outside of the Landing Zone bar.
The other 3 members of my little travelling group waited for me at the pier while I boarded the bus for the 40-minute ride to the top of the mountain, 1300 feet above the town. We stopped at several lookouts along the winding dirt road and listened to an entertaining narrative by James, our bus driver. Once at the top we walked down a steep gravel road to the launching pad and lined up to await our fate.
One by one we were strapped into a harness chair and told to brace our feet against the gate in front of us. At a count of 3 the gates were opened and we soared out over the treetops towards the pinpoint of land which was out target. It was an adrenaline rush that left my legs shaking when I reached the bottom! I had managed to hold my camera out to my side on 'video' mode and captured the entire ride, albeit at some strange angles as I tried to keep myself from spinning in the harness. I was greeted at the landing pad by my friends and we went for a celebratory beer before heading back to the ship.
Tomorrow : Cruising by the Hubbard Glacier.
North to Alaska Day 5
Day 5 - Skagway, Alaska
After our daily routine of meeting the Roziers for breakfast in the Windjammer, we disembarked onto the pier at Skagway. A shuttle was waiting to take us to the 'downtown area' of this quaint goldrush community, with its historic facades and turn-of-the-century feel. We strolled past the Red Onion Saloon and Brothrel , browsed in the bookstore and took photos of the White Pass Railroad Station. After checking out the area and filing away ideas for our return visit next week, we shuttled back to the Temsco Helicoptors office to await our flight to Meade Glacier.
We arrived long with Nancy at the check-in desk only to find that our 11:30 flight had been cancelled due to low clouds. We decided to reschedule for 12:45 in hopes that the sun that had followed us to the other ports would eventually find its way here. After grabbing a quick lunch in the Windjammer we were pleased to find out that our flight was a 'go' , and we were soon being briefed on safety and outfitted with floatation vests and glacier boots.
Once dressed for the trip and eager to take off, we lined up as instructed and were helped onto a waiting helicoptor. Three choppers took off in formation for the 20 minute flight to the Glacier. It was an amazing ride over the town of Skagway, lakes and fjords to the impressive river of ice. After a smooth landing we were helped from the helicoptor and greeted by our guide for the glacier walk.
Words do not do justice to the feeling of walking on this centuries-old icepack, the crunching of our footsteps on the uneven surface the only sound except for the wind and the fluttering of the Alaskan flag. The sun had indeed found us once again and the air was remarkably crisp and clean. Our naturalist guide walked us over the ice to gaze into a crevass and listen to the rushing water far below. He explained how the glacier was formed , how crevasses appear and how small streams of glacial water swirl around to drill holes into the giant ice surface. Stopping by a thin rushing stream that appeared turquoise in the September sun, he encouraged us all to dip our hands into the pristine water and drink the purest liquid we would ever taste. It was icy cold and exhillarating.
We walked and snapped priceless photos until we were informed that the choppers were on their way to pick us up. In a scene reminiscent of the "M*A*S*H" opening moments, three helicoptors appeared over the ridge and settled on the ice to pick us up for the return trip to Skagway. Thrilled and delighted by our experience, we settled in for the picturesque ride back to town.
As the Roziers headed back to town, we waited for the shuttle that would take us on the next part of our trip, the Mushers Camp and Dog Sled Adventure. We were taken 40 minutes outside of town to the Mushers' Camp, where Alaskan huskies are bred, raised and trained for endurance races such as the Ididerod and the Yukon Quest.
First on the agenda was a 'dogsled' , actually a 6-seater wagon pulled by 15 lean and muscular dogs for a wild 1 and 1/2 mile ride. We were instructed as to which dogs we could approach and pet after dismounting from the wagon, and we scratched the ears of the friendlier ones. Next we were treated to a lecture by a top dog handler who explained the care and handling of the Alaskan Huskies. And then the final treat of the afternoon : one-on-one time with 2-week-old puppies, whose mother, Stormy, kept a worried eye on us while we cuddled her babies.
We arrived back in Skagway tired, happy and smelling of puppy. Another great day in Alaska. The evening would bring another fine dinner with friends and a show by the Motown tribute group, Spectrum, always a crowd favourite.
Tomorrow : Icy Strait Point
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
