Alaskan Cruise!!

Well well well, I am back now and no worse for the wear. All of you remember that as a senior in high school I got a flier urging us to go to classes on the new wave of the future, computers, and I scoffed at this new idea and said that it would never get off the ground. That is the level of intelligence on computers that I deal with. A little sympathy here.

You have seen the slide show of our Alaska trip, a few words about it. We have never in our lives on this earth seen a land so green and wild and beautiful. Fog and mist everywhere, low clouds and some drizzling rain. we had sun in Ketchikan and fog, clouds and mist every where else. The temps stayed between 53 and 60 with no wind or measurable rain in port. Victoria Canada was the coolest stop at 48 and a slight breeze and what a quaint and beautifu island it is situated on.

We cruised out of Seattle and let me tell you that is one hilly city and is full of save the earth mountain muffins. I couldn't have a paper in my hand and someone would ask to recycle it for me. Geeesh. The streets Are so narrow and shaded. Nice place to visit and leave from.

We next hit Ketchikan, the site of the famous airplane ride over the mountains and glaciers. It is a tiny city built on the very steep slopes of the low ridges. It is 1/2 mile wide and 4 miles long. Some of the pix are of the houses way away from everyone else. The sewer lines are under ground here as ther is no perma frost, but the outlying homes have outdoor privies. Here is where we rode a jet Catamaran, covered and all with toilets for 3 hours up the Misty Fijord. Once again, to see all the mountains and the islands are one big mountain made of granitr with a layer of spongy material from 6 inche to a couple of feet thick. The trees grow in this with no roots in the ground, the first hydroponics on earth. We could see all th striations from the glaciers and all the thousands of little waterfalls that run continually off thesides. There was this cool little jagged peak sticking up from middle of the Fijord and it had vegetation all over it. Some loggers wife went out to this and planted all of the plants she had in her home when they left. The Botantists came along years later and were amazed at the plants on this spit if rok in the middle of nowhere and the water. They spent 5years and millions of dollars to find out what miracle of nature and evolution put them ther. The logger was reading about this miracle one day and called the government boys and told them it was his wife what planted them there.....In Ketchikan they have a street there called Creek Street, all on stilts over the water, 20 or so buildings from the gold days and all for prostituts as they were not on ground and hence no laws. Now they are all shops etc. Everything in these towns were in good repair as the weather causes slow deterioration. Of course all the tourist shops. You can see some shots up and down the streets.

Next was Juneau, third largest city in Alaska covering some 3800 square miles and 30,000 people. A cool place but Mrs. Palin was not home. It is the state capital. it is also where we went up the extremely steep Tram to the top of a very high mountain. Replete with a bird sanctuary and restaurant and many more people looking for a tip. Also had a few seals playing around the boat, much safer than swimming with Shamus kin. Everything there wants to eat you.

Next we went to Skagway, population of 800, 2800 with a cruise ship in port. All the ports are up to the edge of town as the inland passage way and the Fijords are 1000 feet or more. It is built on a spit of flat land which had been carved out of the valley from the glacier further up the valley. Being created this way makes the ground unstable and the town is in a State Park which leads to the price of an 85 year old house, 600,000 dollars. no new homes can be started without a lot of red tape and geological surveys. One main street and the Red Onion saloon, famous for the ladies who worked there. It is home to some summer folk who leave after the last cruise ship and before the first freeze. Neat place to visit,

Then south to Victoria. What a beautiful place, and so colorful. One park covers 155 acres and the smallest one is 3 by 6 feey, there is a picture if it. No more building there on the island, 100 square feet costs you 600,000 dollars. We saw a retirement home(picture of a light brown building) where they pay 6000 bucks a month. There are either college students or retirees there now and the parliament buildings and over 1300 hanging pots of flowers, green and colorful.

We are now home and happy to see the dog, no hassles and she only wants to please you and be loved. Good to be home on the 100 degree heat,yechhhhh. It was nice to get away on our first real vacation since the I Do's. Our Father In Heaven has made us a very beauitiful world in which to live.

Here is the little lady standing and looking up Creel Street at the old houses of ill repute. The water looks roppled becuse thousands of Salmon are migrating up stream. There were many dead ones also which had a different odor about them.

these next two shots are of us on the balcony of our room and watching Seattle go by, boo hoo hoo hoo. please recycle everything and hike up our streets.
do I jump or stay with the boat, looks mighty cold.

I noticed in these next couple of pictures of dad that he likes to pose for pictures.

This is the biggest bald eagle in Ketchikan, carved by the local tribe. There are a lot of bald eagles around southeastern ciostline, but very hard to get close to them.

This is the old guy trying to decide whether or not to go in and get a drink of cola. This is the very famous attraction for the gold miners in the rush days of Juneau. Could not find Sherrie, did she go in and start to work??????