Wednesday 30 June 2010 - Travel Lexington Park to Anchorage     Cool Pix

Suzette and I left the house at 0600 and drove to National Airport the morning of Wednesday 30 June. We parked in economy parking and shuttled to the terminal. We had an 1100 flight to DFW. From there, our flight departed at 1515, and we had a 6+45 hour flight to Anchorage, AK. We met mom within 15 minutes of arriving at the Anchorage Airport. She had a flight from South Bend to Atlanta and on to Anchorage. All of our connections were good and all our baggage arrived. After we met mom and collected our baggage, we shuttled to the Westmark Hotel in downtown Anchorage. The first thing struck us was that even though it 2200 local, it was still bright daylight. We had dinner at the Orso just across the street from the Westmark. OK. The Glacier Brew House, also across from the hotel was very popular, but was a 45 minute wait and noisy. 

Thursday 1 July 2010 - Anchorage     Cool Pix

Thursday (1 July) morning we got up and went to the Cafe 817 for coffee and a bagel. After that, we walked to the Anchorage Visitor Center and arranged a tour to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The center was about a 20 minute shuttle ride from downtown. OK, but a stop I could done without. A number of young Alaskan natives (teens) talking about their native culture. We caught the shuttle back to Anchorage and went to the Anchorage Museum. It was very good. Some great Alaskan art, and a lot of good exhibits. Highly recommended. As we walked back to the Westmark, we stopped at the 5th Avenue Mall to buy some gloves. Had a light dinner at the food court at the mall.

Friday 2 July 2010 - Train Anchorage to Denali     Cool Pix     D40

On Friday morning (2 July) we had a 0600 baggage stage. We put our baggage that was to stay at the hotel (storage) and our light tote bags that would go with us to Denali out. We each carried a backpack. We boarded the bus a the hotel at 0730 and went to the train station. We boarded the Anchorage to Denali train. Our car was a vista car with seating n top and dining below. We had breakfast and lunch on the train. Very nice. Great service and meals. The scenery and view was spectacular. Traveled from Anchorage through Wasilla, to Talkeetna, then on to Denali.

At Denali, we were picked up by a coach and taken to the McKinley Chalet lodge. We stayed in the McKinley Village Lodge.  We went over to the Wilderness Access Center (WAC) and bought tickets for the 0930 Saturday shuttle to Eielson Visitor Center. Someone recommended that we do this rather than take the Tundra Adventure Tour. It was good advice. We returned to the lodge, had a nice dinner at the lodge and went back to our room. The rooms were nice.

Saturday 3 July 2010 - Denali     Cool Pix     D40

On Saturday morning (3 July), we shuttled over to the WAC and loaded on a green school bus for a 106 mile (round trip) drive to Eielson Visitor Center. Our driver, Elton Park, was very good. The weather started nice, but gradually deteriorated throughout the day. As we started, we saw caribou in the river bed, dall sheep in the distance on a hill, and later, a mother brown bear and two cubs very near the road. The bus stopped every hour and a half or so for comfort stops. We spent about 45 minute at Eielson visitor center. By then the weather was quite poor - light rain, low ceiling and fog. We were not able to see Mount McKinley at all. As we departed Eielson, we saw a fox. We returned to McKinley Chalet, had dinner at the lodge and went back to our room.

Sunday 4 July 2010 - Train Denali to Anchorage     Cool Pix     D40

On Sunday, 4 July, we had breakfast in the morning and then were picked up at 1100 by a bus that took us to the Denali train station. We boarded a vista car left about 1230 for Anchorage. The trip was good, but noisy due a group of college students also on the train. We got back to Anchorage and shuttled back the to Westmark. All our baggage was already staged in our room. We went to bed about 2300 on 4^th of July. No real fire works that we detected.

Monday 5 July 2010 - Prince William Sound     Cool Pix     D40

On Monday 5 July, we had breakfast in the Westmark, staged our baggage, and were picked up at 0800 for the bus ride to Whittier, AK. It was a 2 hour ride along the Seward Highway. We went through the Whittier Tunnel which is the longest combined vehicle, railroad tunnel in the US. Because it is only one lane wide, t is only open 15 minutes one direction before switching to the other direction. The motor way is on the train track and trains must also be scheduled through the tunnel.

We arrived back a the dock at 1730 still in the rain and were given a bus ride down the dock to board the Island Princess. Check in was smooth and we boarded abut 1800. All our bags were in our room when we arrived. As soon as we stowed our things we went to dinner in the dining room. After dinner we met Larry and Karon Cumberland, our friends from early Marine Corps days. We visited with them for a while, then went to the opening comedy show together, then on to the room for the night.

Tuesday 6 July 2010 - Hubbard Glacier     Cool Pix     D40

On Tuesday 6 July, I had arranged to meet Larry and Karon for breakfast at 0745, but my clock was off by an hour and I was ready an hour early. I sat in one of the lounges and read until Larry and Karon joined. We had breakfast together while Suzette and mom rested in. After breakfast, Suzette brought me my life jacket and we went tot he mandatory emergency/muster briefing.

This evening aboard we watched the magic show and the Blind Side (Sandra Bullock).

Wednesday 7 July 2010 - Glacier Bay     Cool Pix     D40

On 7 July, we met Larry and Karon for breakfast, then went to the naturalist lecture at 0900. Weather was poor in the morning, cold, rain and fog. As we pulled into Glacier Bay later in the morning, the weather improved dramatically and during the day became warm, sunny and bright. As we entered Glacier Bay we immediately saw whales. Their spout/spray is unmistakable and can be seen for miles. Two US Park Rangers came aboard and gave a great running commentary/tour of Glacier Bay. We transited up Glacier Bay to the end and saw Grand Pacific Glacier which is a dirty glacier and  Marjorie Glacier which is a clean/white glacier. We saw Marjorie Glacier calve several times. The weather was perfect. We spent 45 minutes at Grand Pacific and Marjorie glaciers then returned south. We me Larry and Karon for dinner and then went back to our stateroom just in time to see a large number of whales at the southern end of Glacier Bay. At one time we saw 10 12 whales spouting at the same time. They did several jumps and came completely out of the water. The pod was about a mile away, so it was hard to get any real close up pictures. After whale watching, we joined Larry and Karon for the evening show, "Do You Want to Dance?" a dance review by the ships dance cast.

Thursday 8 July 2010 - Skagway     Cool Pix     D40

We arrived in Skagway early this morning. Ship was at the dock before we got up at 0700. I went to breakfast with Larry and Karon. Suzette and Mom rested in a little longer. We went off the ship at 1000 with Larry and Karon. Walked about a mile into Skagway. Skagway is a very small town that now relies on tourism. Many jewelry shops. We came back to the ship and then went out on a street car tour at 1300. Had a very good tour guide. A 2.5 hour tour of Skagway and the outskirts. Returned to the ship for dinner t 1800 with Larry and Karon. Then to show "Motor City Music."

Friday 9 July 2010 - Juneau     Cool Pix     D40

We joined Larry and Karon for breakfast on the Horizon deck (casual). Then we went on a motor coach tour of Juneau. We stopped at the Alaska State Museum. Very good; The Macaulay Salmon Hatchery. Very interesting; Green Angel Gardens, a natural botanical garden; and the Mendenhall Glacier. Overall, a good tour. We were back on the ship at 1400 and got underway at 1530. We dressed for formal dinner, then Kevin Hughes comedy show. He was good. (From Wilmington, NC)

Saturday 10 July 2010 - Ketchikan     Cool Pix

No tours scheduled. Weather was foggy, drizzly and about 56 degrees. Suzette and mom went into Ketchikan this morning. I stayed on the ship. They did a little shopping then returned. Mom and I went to a presentation by a US Park Ranger on the wildlife in the area. We sailed about 1800. had a nice dinner with Larry and Karon. Comedy show that we planned to go to was full when we got there, so we called it an early evening.

Sunday 11 July 2010 - At sea Inside Passage     Cool Pix

Breakfast on the Horizon Deck with Larry and Karon. Then inside passage toward Vancouver. Used the afternoon to watch World Cup Soccer and get ourselves packed for departure in the morning.

Monday 12 July 2010 - Arrive Vancouver     Cool Pix

Arrive in Vancouver about 0730. Easy departure from ship. Took coach to Vancouver Airport and went into Fairmont Hotel located at the airport. Had lunch and supper on the airport food court. Went to bed and got ready for early departures Tuesday morning.

Tuesday 13 July 2010 - Travel Vancouver to Lexington Park

0500 get up. Suzette got mom to her departure at 0600. Suzette and I checked out of hotel and were at our gate by 0800. Departed at 0930 Vancouver to DFW. Then DFW to DCA. Collected baggage, drove home, arrive at 2330.