Ketchikan

Today we landed in Ketchikan, The Salmon Capital of the World.  Which is great, if you like salmon.  Which I don't.  Nevertheless, it does have a Starbucks about a mile and a half from the cruise port.  I wanted to get an Alaska Starbucks mug to go with my other mugs, so Maribeth, Mathieu, Everley and stroller, and I decided we would trek down to the Safeway/Starbucks to attempt to accomplish this task.

We made it to our destination, only to find no mugs.  Mathieu took the lead and inquired about our quest.  The barrista said they were out, but expected more in, and if I gave her my name/email/phone number, the would contact me when they came in and mail me one.  So I did. 

We started back to the ship when we got a message that Steve wanted a bottle of Propel water, so we left Mathieu to attend to that task while the girls went ahead - with his speed and long legs, we figured he would quickly catch back up with us.  He didn't, but Everley fell asleep in the stroller on the way back, so all was good.

We got back to the ship in time to have lunch and then go back out for our Duck Tour.  Which ended up being a Dud Tour (yes, Molly, I should have expected it).  The "narrator" apparently was more interested in honing his stand-up comedy routine than dispensing with actual facts about Ketchikan.  After what seemed like 90 hours instead of minutes, we were deposited back to the ship.  Steve, Maribeth, Everley and stroller, and I did a bit of shopping while Mathieu went hiking.

Eventually everyone ended back on ship before we left Ketchikan.  Thanks Ketchikan for a great day, and Duck Dude - get some new material!!

Everley ready for bed.  And adventure ...

My injured toe.  Yes, it's a bit painful ...

Off to Starbucks!!!

On the lame duck tour, we saw an eagle.  High point of the tour ...
On top of the ship mast.  No, that's not me with the blue earring ...

Duck Tour.  Big Whoop ...

Apparently the best way to see what's going on in Studio Sea is to lie down.
I must try it sometime ...

Someone was a bit cray-cray during dinner, so LaLa's dinner got delivered to the room.
Of course, Cray-Cray wanted some ...

Which she got ...

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Today was a great day because:  beautiful sunny warmer weather in Ketchikan; Starbuck trekking with Mathieu, Maribeth, and Everley; Mathieu getting the mug situation remedied; lunch on the ship; stupid duck tour with the fam; final port shopping; dinner with E

Juneau

Today we landed in Juneau.  Everley spent last night in our room so that her parents could see the midnight premiere of "Maleficent" (they slept through it).  So, this morning she was ready (in Everley terms) for our trip to the Mendenhall Glacier. 

We boarded the bus and headed off.  Soon we were at the glacier.  I decided to leave the backpack in the bus, since we were going to be there for only about 90 minutes.  Of course, Everley decided to have a poopy diaper.  Oh well, it didn't seem to hamper her seeing a porcupine in a tree or touching the touchable exhibits or seeing the glacier. 

 

Our next stop was a salmon hatchery (NOT A FISH FARM).  We learned about harvesting salmon eggs (AND THAT IT'S NOT A FISH FARM) and how salmon come back to get their eggs harvested because of the smell they remember from when they were babies.  Everley got to see (and touch) fish and other marine animals and had three servings of crackers and salmon dip.

We boarded our bus once more and were dropped off downtown, where we walked around a bit and bought some Del Sol princess fingernail polish for Everley (duh) and then boarded the ship.  After lunch and a nap, we headed to the Pixar Party to see some characters, but not before I managed to drop the stroller on my toe - it's purple now.  My toe, not the stroller.

 

After dinner, we headed back to our room where we found our room steward had changed the sheets to princess sheets!  Everley was thrilled, and decided to sleep in our room again.  Who wouldn't!!  Another great day in Alaska (well, except for the killing my toe part).

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Today was a great day because:  glacier and hatchery tour with Steve and Everley; Everley singing happy birthday to moo; sheets on Everley's bed

Skagway

Today we landed in my favorite city, Skagway.  I like it because it's small and quaint.  And totally a tourist city (as our tour guide told me today).  Normally it has 900 citizens, but more come in for the summer.  This year's high school graduating class had a total of four.  All these facts were brought to you via our tour guide.  You're welcome.

Anyhow, while Maribeth and Mathieu were out on a hike/bike/boat excursion, Steve, Everley, and I went on the White Pass train ride.  This is a train that follows the trail that folks went on back in the day to get to Canada to the gold rush.  Or something like that.  We boarded the train right by the ship and headed up the mountain - and up and up.  We passed lots of landmarks along the way (you really should come and take the train if you want to hear about them all) and at some points, you could look over and straight own - wayyyy down!  At the top, the engines unhooked and hooked back up at the other end of the train for the ride back down.  All in all, a pretty cool ride!

Getting ready to board the train!  Did I mention it's a bit chilly here?

Studying up on our excursion materials ...

That's the view of the ship from the train.  It's down there somewhere ...

That's the old train bridge.  We went across the new one, thank goodness!!

We made it to the top!  Those are the Alaska, America, Canada, Yukon Territory, and British Columbia flags.

Train rides can be exhausting!

You can rent this to spend the night in.  I prefer something with indoor plumbing.

Meanwhile, back on the ship, Everley meets up with Daisy.

And then Cinderella ...



And then they take a stroll ...


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Today was a great day because:  train ride with Everley and Steve; shopping in the train store; meeting Daisy and Cinderella

Now That's A Big Piece Of Ice!!

Today we spent getting to, looking at, and leaving Tracy Arm.  Basically, it's a glacier.  In other cruises, we've gotten closer, but apparently (according to my overhearing a crew member) the ice today was much thicker than expected, and perhaps it was a little early to be trying to get there.  At any rate, it was a beautiful day to see the ice.  It's always cool to see small chunks of ice that become more and more numerous as we get closer to the glacier.  Steve jokingly asked if people would think he was crazy if he went to the open decks in his life preserver.  Everley and I spent most of the day together, so that Steve and Mathieu could take in the glacier, and Maribeth could have a spa day.  Then tonight, Maribeth finally saw her first whale sighting - she wasn't so impressed, as she wants to see one leap up in the air as if it was auditioning for Sea World. Anyhow, it was a most wonderful day in the ice box!!

The glacier - that blue ice cube triangle in between the mountains.

Everley and Pluto playing ball.

The obligatory port hole shot.

Everybody gets an obligatory port hole shot.

Somebody wasn't all that impressed with Tracy Arm.

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Today was a great day because:  beautiful weather; chatting on the veranda with the dude from next door; glacier viewing; whale watching; Everley playing with her new basketball all over the ship and playing with cast members and characters

Sea Otters and Whales and Bears - Oh My!!

Today we landed at Sitka.  Steve and Everley and I went on a Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest while Maribeth and Mathieu went on a rainforest hike.  We loaded up and got on our "catamaran" (that's Alaskan for boat) and off we went.  We saw everything!  Lots of whales and tons of sea otters, along with three lone bears (seen from a great distance, but supposedly the three dark blobs were bears).  We also saw puffins and seals and bald eagles - which  were beautiful.  After our tour was over, we spent some time in Sitka to shop, and met up with Maribeth and Mathieu.  Then it was time to return to the ship for lunch and a nap!  A wonderful day in Sitka!!

Hot chocolate and a cap - helps to keep one warm!!

Clearly a tour guide in the making ...

Some light reading before we leave port...

The Wonder in Sitka!

Sitka's volcano

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Today was a great day because:  seeing all the wildlife on our tour; lots of Everley time; walking with Everley after dinner and her getting hugs from Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto