We left Coos Bay on May 15th with Linda and Tully in their Motor Home. This was a first for us - camping in an RV. It's definitely a luxurious way to get around - lounging on the bed or taking a nap while leaving the driving to someone else.
Our first stop was the Thousand Trails Campground which was about 100 miles from Seattle. We found a site near the bathrooms and spent the evening playing games and relaxing. The next day we went on a side trip to Mt. St. Helens, the volcano that erupted in the early 80's. Linda and Tully had been there before, but not with so much snow still on the ground. The mountain was a stunning sight all covered in snow. The river valley below it still shows the scarring from the blast.
The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast and then made the trip to Seattle. Linda and Tully are experienced "cruisers" and knew that the people who flew in to Seattle would be anxious to get on the ship first. We arrived a bit after 1:00 and found the whole process of checking in, leaving our bags and getting on board to be very seamless and easy. Within just a short time we found ourselves in our stateroom where we were very surprised to find a totally unobstructed view. We thought we would have a window looking out on a lifeboat but as we later found out, the lifeboats were two decks above us.
The first order of business was a mandatory fire drill at 3:00. They took attendance and we all had to stand there, rather like fish in a sardine can but wearing life jackets. It was a bit uncomfortable, but you do what you have to do. Then we were able to go back to our cabin and enjoy our complimentary bottle of champagne. This is the way to live!
Tully and I went for a walk around the ship to check out the lay of the land. We also found out that three laps on the promenade deck equalled a mile. We were pretty good about walking at least a mile each day. Of course we were at the front of the ship and the dining rooms were at the back so just the act of going to eat gave us a fair amount of exercise. Linda and Tully had a balcony room on the stern of the ship so anytime they wanted to see any of the entertainment, they had to walk the length of the ship in the opposite direction. Soon after our exploratory walk we had our first dinner and it was everything we could have ever expected.
Our first port of call was Juneau, the state capital. We boarded a bus that drove past some of the hot spots in Juneau and took us to Auke Bay where we were boarding a boat for our whale cruise. We were guaranteed to see some wildlife or get our money back and the company has never had to make a refund. We were very lucky to have a beautiful day and see humpback whales and orcas along with some Steller sea lions and bald eagles. It was a marvelous cruise.
From the cruise we went to the Mendenhall Glacier.
And after the glacier, we went to a very nice salmon bake.
An Orca came up right behind the boat!
We left Juneau that evening and sailed over night to Glacier Bay. The morning was spent approaching the glacier. We were very fortunate to have another sunny day - a rarity on Alaska cruises. There was a boat near the glacier, sailing across its front. I thought it was a 3 or 4 deck boat similar to what you see on some lakes and rivers for tourists. When we got closer, I realized it was another cruise ship! The glacier is so enormous that the ship is dwarfed by it.
The next day we landed in Sitka, Alaska. This town has alot of Russian heritage and if I remember correctly, it was the capital of Alaska when it belonged to Russia. They sold it to us because they nearly drove the otter into extinction with over trapping and didn't see the value of the land. There is also alot of native American heritage here with many, many totems. The highlight of the day was our visit to the Alaska Raptor Center and a chance to see the magnificent bald eagles. We also enjoyed the Russian folk dancers.
Glass Sculpture in the entrance
This bald eagle was in Ketchikan outside Bight Totem Park. She was protecting her nest and babies from the raven above her, slightly to the right.
The folk dancers, all women, are all all volunteer.
We were only in Ketchikan for an afternoon and we spent that touring the city by bus and then going to Bight Park to see the totems.
Our last stop was Victoria, British Columbia. We took a tour of the famous Butchart Gardens which are actually outside Victoria. They were fabulous and built on the remains of a limestone quarry. Mr. Butchart manufactured a high grade of concrete which used limestone. His wife couldn't stand the desolation of the excavated quarry and told her husband she wanted to build a garden there. He gave his blessing and the results are fabulous. It has been kept in the family and opened to the public for many years. It is quite a treasure.
Early the next morning we arrived in Seattle. Mt. Rainier was magnificent in the distance. Before we knew it, our fantasy vacation was over. We returned to 1000 Trails campground for one more night where we relaxed and enjoyed more games with our good friends. The next day we headed for home in order to beat the Memorial Day rush. We couldn't get Buddy from the kennel until Tuesday, but we were surprised and pleased to find out he made some friends - older, smaller dogs that weren't upset by his shenanigans. Now we're saving up for our next cruise. Wonder where we'll go? So do we, but that's half the fun.
