North to ALASKA, updated last page

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

We've always wanted to do a 3 month trip to Alaska. That includes a month at Mount McKinley to ensure we see the peak. We'd go north into Canada and put Dolly on the Canadian railway to go across. Then put Dolly on/off/on/off/on/off the Alaskan ferry. Drive up to McKinley, stay the month, then drive back down to the ferry for the on/off routine again. Then drive home through the southern part of the US. But with road conditions in Alaska and fuel prices, it's doubtful we'll ever do the trip. In the meantime I'm living vicariously through your pics!

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

Our next stop along with Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching.

A couple pics as we leave and cruise to JUNEAU.

As usual, the staff does their "animal thing", but our room steward added a little extra. Grandma insisted that we get his pic with his creation.

We arrive in JUNEAU and start our tour. Again the staff allowed Linda to board the bus early so this went well.

We get off the bus, start down the walk and look what was waiting to greet us.

A couple pictures from the parking lot.

The path to get the close ups. Linda waited in the visitor center as I walked down. She was able

to get a good view since it is elevated and they have an elevator.

There she is.

The waterfall up a little closer

A few pieces fell off, but don't worry it will be there for a while.

Ok let's put things in perspective. The little tag on the map is where the visitor center is.

Dave does this answer your earlier question?

Another pic as we get ready to get on the bus.

Next stop. Whale watching, and other assorted critters.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

WOW, Just WOW!!!!!!

[stefa70 205]

WOW, Just WOW!!!!!!

I second that!

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

I am in awe of the awesomeness of Alaska! I can't wait for more pics and it will be wonderful to be able to strike this experience you are having from our bucket lists someday! The eagle pic is cool....I have seen them a few times while deer hunting....what a wonderful creature. The Navy hat on the towel monkey is priceless as well. My wife loves when the CMs use their creativity like that.

Can't wait for more sir!

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

The tour Grandma decided on included the whale watching adventure. So when we leave the glacier we head to the pier and our boat. We no longer started to pull away from the dock and here was a whale. Look in the center window. He was so close to the dock that he even surprised the Captain. It all happened so fast that I didn't get a good pic. It also had it's fluke out of the water about 100' from the boat.

Another one right along the shore.

The first thing we see is an Eagle looking for dinner. We found out that an Eagle's eyesight is so good that they can spot a fish on the surface a mile away.

We head out in search of a couple others and find a few sea lions lounging around.

Then a couple more whales. It appeared that there were at least 3 including a calf. (I need Carol's camera)

A sea lion comes up to check us out.

We keep cruising, but no more whales.

Then we come up on another group of sea lions, lot's of sea lions.

Another eagle perched in the area.

Back to the sea lions.

A few get noisy.

Another eagle.

The" Boss". Found that these are all males, mostly teenagers, and they will be battling for dominance and the "old" guy doesn't need to worry about "that" anymore. He just keeps everybody "in line".

A couple more come closer.

Mendenhall Glacier off in the distance.

Too many pics.

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

Whale watching continued:

Time is running out so we head back to the dock.

Some of the scenery and houses as we head back. Interesting fact about JUNEAU, despite being the Capitol, there are no roads to get there. It's either by, plane, boat or on foot. They want to move the Capitol to Anchorage, but no money to do it.

Since we couldn't do any exploring in the city, no ECV, we head back to the ship. Many got off the bus in town.

A view of the Federal Building. Typical government, they spent a couple hundred thousand dollars to install tinted windows and JUNEAU has about 40 sunny days a year. :banghead: (Bus driver made sure we knew that)

A couple more pics from the Verandah as we wait for dinner.

Pulling his utility trailer?

Up next, even though subdude, "Pirate Night". ALASKA won't allow fireworks from the ship.

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

The whale watching, eagles, glacier, sea lions, must have been a treat. Keep up the great photos!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Very awesome!! You got some great pics!!

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

I am loving every second of this report! Awesome job, Dave. :heartsmiley:

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

behind but just in time for the party. I so want to see Alaska. Love the pictures... love the pictures... love the pictures.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Spectacular! My parents did an Alaska cruise several years back and told me how beautiful it was, but your pictures make it look even more amazing. I want to go someday.

[stefa70 205]

Best update yet Dave!

Love all the wildlife, especially the king of the sea lions!

[We4mickey 6]

Awesome pics Dave. Our friends just did the 15 day Hawaii cruise (their first ever) and booked the same Alaska cruise for next year. I have been telling her about all the great pics. She is beyond excited about seeing whales.

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

OK, "PIRATE NIGHT", slightly subdude.

As many of you know it is DCL tradition to have "PIRATE NIGHT" on one of the last nights of a Cruise. Well, due to ALASKA regulations there can be no fireworks. I assume it is to protect the wildlife, which as we have seen, is in abundance. Also due to the rainy weather the festivities were in the Atrium and on the WONDER, there isn't a lot of room as compared to the DREAM.

So, ARGHH!!! and off we go.

Dressed and ready to head for dinner.

Waiting for order .

Appetizers. As mentioned earlier I did get a couple food pics.

Crab legs.

Salmon.

Grandma and "Prirate" Grumpy

And then we get to talking and eating so I would forget the camera was in my lap. So here we are at dessert. Besides this trip was all about the scenery.

Grandma's ice cream.

Lemon meringue custard.

After dinner it was off to "Toy Story". Got a few pics before being hollered at again. Usually it is no "flash" photography or video, well this was "NO" photography

...

After the show, while waiting for festivities in the Atrium to start we were able to get a "private" pic with Minney.

The activity begins.

Dale.

Chip.

So then we head back to the cabin for a while and that is when Grandma fell and besides the only activity was the buffet on deck 9 inside and it would have been a zoo.

Next up,

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

looks like you had a lot of fun on pirate night until the fall. Sorry again. I can't wait to see what pics you got from the next port!

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

That is one handsome pirate!! Looks like you had a fun night! I'm so sorry Linda fell but I sure am glad she wasn't seriously hurt!!

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

That is one handsome pirate!!

What did you have in your coffee this morning?

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

What did you have in your coffee this morning?

:rofl2: Rum?

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Very NICE!! and you ARE a handsome pirate, and Linda is the perfect pirate's lady!!!

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

and you ARE a handsome pirate,

You've been in Cherie's Rum!!!!!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Arrrr!!!!!! Looks like fun!

[Grumpy and Grandma 740]

As we cruise our way to KETCHICAN it was our turn for the Character Breakfast in Parrot Cay.

And the Servers do their "Napkin Hats" for all in the dining room.

We arrive in KETCHICAN around noon. It is a city similar to JUNEAU, no roads in or out since it is on an island. It is also where the "Bridge to nowhere" was supposed to be built. They have a 30 mile long "Road to nowhere" that was built on the mainland that was intended to connect to the bridge. (Isn't government great?)

Our tour plans include the Saxman Native Village tour and Lumber Jack Show. Disney even made arrangements for a bus with a lift so Linda could take full advantage of the tour. Well, as you all know, we didn't need the lift. Again we were allowed to skip the "rendezvous" on the ship and head straight to the bus.

We arrive at the Village go to watch a video about the Saanya Kwan tribe, who still live there today.

A couple of the carvings in the auditorium.

We then go to the "clan house" to watch them do some native dances. This particular house is built very close to an original except for the doors. The original way on or out would be similar to the opening on the back of the stage. The number of steps indicate how "rich" the clan is, them more steps the more influent they are. Their cupboards are under the floor and numerous floor boards are left loose so they can access them

We watch several native dances before we go out to look at the totems.

Clan members of all ages participate

As we walk down the path to the totems I got a couple pics of the native foilage.

Salmon berries are very abundant, we were told they proliferate very similar to blackberries. They make a very good tasting jelly. Never did find out why they are called "Salmon".

The greenery along the path.

We arrive at the totems and are told the various stories behind each, here are a couple.

A view of the "Clan house". We missed this going up since the had a GC for Linda and others who couldn't make the walk.

It started to drizzle and since Linda was a little sore we went back to the bus. They also had a short tour of the carving house which we skipped. When we arrived back in town they dropped us of near the Lumber Jack show. Ketchican is about a 5 hour stop, so since the show started at 3:15, lasted an hour, the ship left at 4:30 we skipped that as well. Linda was too worried about getting back to the ship (about a 4 block walk) as well as the masses trying to re-board.

We head out of the port.

Dad, can I use the plane tonight?

That night after dinner we return to find a "dinosaur" and a couple chocolates on the bed.

The last day at sea we just hung out in the cabin as Linda was little more sore, but as I'm looking out the verandah door, what appears, another whale

That night after dinner we find this on our bed.

The next morning, early, we are in SEATTLE.

That ends our 7,500 land, air and sea journey. Luckily I only had to drive a little over 600.

Thanks for "riding along" and hope you enjoyed it. Despite the "bumps" we would do it again.

We recommend this trip to everyone, definitely worth the cost.

Hope to see many of you soon at the FORT or another CG.

THE END!

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Great trip report, Dave. I enjoyed every bit of it!!

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Love the pics! So sad to see your trip end! Thanks for sharing.