As we entered Glacier Bay we cruised along snowcapped mountains with running waterfalls along both sides of the ship. The ship got engulfed deeper into the inlet, the morning clouds began to disappear and the sights were surreal. We all kept our eyes open for the wild life. We saw all sorts of animals, including sea lions and hawks. All day was spent cruising, looking for blowholes and drinking some bouillon on the top deck. Glacier Bay was voted one of the top 10 places to visit in the United States by the New York Times. Sadly to say, plenty of people who have been here before say that things aren’t as grand as they once were. All though the sites were impressive, the glaciers are receding.
Skagway Alaska or the gateway to the gold fields boasts one of the shortest, toughest routes to the Klondike; which is also slang for an Alaskan Lesbian. In the past, you were required to carry over two thousand pounds of cargo over White Pass through mountains and valleys. If you did not have two thousands pounds of materials, you were refused entry into Canada or the United States respectably. The town of Skagway had many shops, definitely has the influence of other US ports of call with stores such as Diamonds International and a Starbucks. Josh found a dollar store off the beaten path where he was able to purchase 20 post cards for $1.
We also had the pleasure of crossing the boarder to Canada and walking on a suspension bridge which was 60 feet long and towering over 300 feet above a river giving us spectacular views of the Klondike. We ended the Journey with a salmon bake at Liarsville, Alaska. We had a great time and enjoyed spectacular scenery, check out the pictures.
Leaving Skagway and cruising along the Gulf of Alaska has so far proven to be an easy crossing. Before we started sailing, I was expecting bumpy rides as seen in, “The Deadliest Catch” but we’ve only encountered mild waves with some cold weather. Today Bob, Stacy, and Scott walked a mile outside while Josh opted for a warmer climate and went to the Gym. In the gym Josh saw three blowholes. We participated in other activities throughout the day including trivia, wine tasting, golf tournament, gambling, champagne art auction, and a Princess Show Production called, “Ports of Call. One of the highlights today had to be the International Buffet which we explored after eating lunch in the dining room. Yes, two Lunches or a lunch and a half.
Today we visited a city which is located in the Prince William Sound, Valdez, Alaska. In 1989 this small city was devastated by one of the worst oil spills in the history of the United States and after speaking to some locals, we learned, they are still recovering today. Today, we all had a chance to explore, visit, and appreciate Valdez, Alaska. The morning started with a white water rafting trip down Valdez Glacier River. We all got wet by the 36 degree water, but the rafting company gave us wet suits, boots, and other protective gear. We all felt like we were filming a sequel to Ghostbusters. We all experienced excitement on these level three rapids and enjoyed some great scenery including three major waterfalls.
After the tour we took the bus back to town and had to walk through the drive through of a bank to get cash. This very small town does not have any walkup ATM machines. This town sported a few shops, liquor stores, many motels and R.V. parks, a post office, pub, and Mexican restaurant. IT WAS AMAZING, the best time on our trip thus far!
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