Day 5: Tuesday July 26

However, apparently Jeff has left without giving anyone the password for the internet, so U will just have to wait a while to catch up! I’ll probably be home b4 U do!!!!

Was up early, in case anyone wanted to take a taxi up to the Mendenhall Glacier - in the pouring rain - & beat the crowds from the huge cruise ships that were also in port. Finally got to go around 9ish. I was glad I did, but we didn’t get to get as close as we did on/at the Columbian Icefield, & I guess it wasn’t quite as impressive, but still wonderful.

There were many lovely icebergs in the lake below though.


The glacier has receded so much & so quickly that it’s really worrisome.

After this side trip, we joined a small group from the ship to visit the State Museum. It was very well set out & put all the displays in context.

We now have the new captain in charge, & are sailing towards Ford’s Terror.

Stopped en route to get a close up view of what was for some, their first ice berg! It was very blue & we circumnavigated it.

We had no sooner moved away (& in to dinner as well!) when it toppled over & turned turtle, & none of us saw it! The windows were so covered in rain that from the dining area it was impossible to photograph the ‘after’ picture.


Our anchorage in Sandford Cove from a distance looked like it couldn’t possibly be calm & peaceful for the night, but it was, but no bears in sight despite the likely looking beach.

(It's getting too noisy here in the bar, & taking forever to upload photos, so will have to hope I can find some wi-fi again soon!)

Day 4: Monday July 25

Gut has started playing up again - guess I must have an infection of some kind damn, damn damn!

Think we are meant to be going ashore to the community @ Tenakee Springs today.

First up, by chance, I found out they were putting out the skiff as there was A bear, so dashed to get life jacket - compulsory - & was in that boat quick smart this time! And yes there it was, & I got a short video too!

& as if to say "I've had enough of you guys watching me................!"

On return, decided that I will just have to take the Immodium so that I don’t miss out on everything & will also start eating again (carefully) since fasting isn’t helping. We’ll wait & see!

So, there was an expedition to the township of Tenakee Springs,

& also a Nature Trail in the temperate rain forest. I chose the latter.

It felt so good to be out walking, & it was lovely

                                           Thought this root looked a bit like a sleepy koala!!


Continued on to a suspension bridge, AND, wait for it, was just about to take a photo looking upstream, when  I heard a splash into the water, AND wait for it ..........

Yup, there it was MY bear!!!!

was probably the only one to get a picture of it through happenstance!! What a thrill! My trip is made!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*****************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are now steaming towards Juneau, & apparently we should have an internet connection then (we didn't!).

But the extraordinary day was not over then!

Suddenly, not just 1 humpback whale was seen, but 4 or 5, or was it 14 or 15 & they were bubblenet feeding!! This is when they co-operatively fish together, making bubbles that scare the fish, & they circle around them, blowing & beating the water, herding them in to an ever decreasing circle.

What an incredible sight (I was so excited that I completely missed some wonderful photo opportunities, but did get some). This has to be one of the most incredible sights, & not witnessed all that often.

They did it again & again!

Imagine being on those little whale watching boats! They couldn't get out of the way as of course they couldn't start their engines! But we had a ringside seat also! WOW!!!!

What a day!!!

We arrived in Juneau around 10pm, & will have a change of Captain as Jeff & his fiancee have family issues to deal with in Florida. We have a good deal of the day to explore the town etc.

Day 3: Sunday July 24

Having actually got some sleep, woke to rain.

Still have a pretty unhappy gut, so another day of fasting.

The real bummer was that I couldn’t go ashore & do the hike to the warm springs or even the lake, as the skiff would not return for 2 hours, & I couldn’t risk being away from the loo for that long.

 Johnny bringing the skiff back in to the ship

       & just passing by my cabin window.....!!

                                            

     

After we left Baranof Bay we cruised for about 6 hours but, not as “splashy” as going south, and I finally got to go up to the bridge - fascinating.

But now, I’m really p…ed off, as they did not make the announcement, that the skiff was going in to see bears over the loud speakers as everyone but me was at dinner! Those 1^st lucky ones to go saw 3 brown bears, but “scared them off” & by the time the rest of us got to go, they weren’t there. Apparently 1 did come back, but I didn’t see it.

                                             returning to the ship after a fruitless bear search!

Day 2: Saturday July 23

As my bunk is the wrong way was able to get it made up the other way which means my head is under a sort of shelf impossible to write this up!

Today I really had to fast - such a pity when good food is laid on & paid for already *sigh*!!

A sunny, hot day (got very burnt) & whilst breakfast etc. was happening I was out on deck at the bow just outside my cabin. [Got some Sprite - to go flat - & when my gut settled a bit some salted crackers.]

Would preferred to have just been left in peace, but of course that is not possible.

However, in the afternoon we came upon humpback whales, & altho’ I didn’t get much in the way of pictures, it was wonderful to watch these awesome creatures going about their lives.

It was a good thing that I had been with my sister so that I knew what passengers were talking about when pointing to “over there by the boo-ee” - not that I could see the bouy, but at least I understood what they were meaning!!!!

We spent a long time watching so didn’t get to where we were scheduled to go & instead went through to Kelp Bay so that those who wished to, could kayak while the weather was good, & anchored there for the night.

Alaska!

Am going to leave this exactly as I wrote it, & post it in days, as if it were current, but will try to get as many up whilst I have the opportunity (am sitting in a busy bar @ 10 AM in Petersburg! (It is in real time the 29th).

Day 1: Arrived in Sitka early afternoon on Friday 22^nd.

We had an hour or so to wander before a bus tour which took us to the Eagle rescue & Rehabilitation Centre - really well thought out & a very successful programme, although there are some birds that will never be able to be released to the wild, they play an educational role such as the bald eagle Sitka that came in to the talk with her handler.

Even the vets were having a hard job trying to work out what sort of bird this was & literally were looking it up in a book as we watched!

The museum,

& the Russian Orthodox Cathedral

were next up, both very interesting.

                                                              I liked this nice touch!!!

Then to the ship, which is about 100ft. long & - as long as one is not in a single cabin - well set out.

Still really unwell, but tried to be sociable by having dinner - not a good idea. Also, dinner was the time of sailing & I desperately wanted to be out on deck with my trusty camera, but missed out. Not sure how I will survive a boatload of Americans for 9 days!!! The only other non-American is the Russian pastry cook! Help!


There was the most glorious sunset, which I was able to photograph, but stayed out too long & got really cold, but couldn’t bear to leave it.

Very difficult to find any place to put things (1 peg & although there are 2 drawers not really enough room to open suitcase!) it’s a bit like the cabin on the train from Halifax. But hey, I'll be in the same bed for 8 nights!!!!!

Alaska here I come! Yay!!

OK! Sitting in the airport in Seattle! Thank heavens all the US customs, security etc. was done in Vancouver, & had a great assistance bloke, from Denmark, who nearly fell over himself with delight when I thanked him in Danish! It all helps smooth the way!!! Little did he know that is virtually the sum total of my Danish *grin*!!!!

Will see if I can upload a photo or 2.

Interupted by gate change!!!!

Mother  chasing youngster away - getting too old to be with her! My "kids" will doubtless relate  to this!!!!!

He's still running!

This one is a bit older & obviously been on his own for a while, & doing well.

Amazingly I've fluked better videos of bears, but U'll have to wait until I get home for those!!!



No time

Am out of time & energy after almost 12 hrs. travelling today. Due @ airport around 6am! Maybe fill U in then.

Heading for Alaska - doubt I will have internet. Don't worry if no updates! Will try to keep journal.

Fantastic bear watching yesterday near Tofino.

Catching-up again!

Left Jasper @ 2.30pm on Sunday & travelled by train overnight to Vancouver - arriving almost an hour early (!!!!) @ 8.40am - having seen some wonderful sights on the way such as:

& little things as well, like these grasses (?buffalo grass??)

when I "took the air" when we stopped @ Blue River for 10 minutes or so.

Marvellous skies & clouds too.

But, we had to do an awful lot of sitting around as the luggage took sooooo long to unload that we missed the bus to the ferry to Vancouver Island, then another hour waiting for the ferry on top of the 2 hours that we had for the next bus, & unfortunately another 3 hours waiting @ Nanaimo for the bus to Tofino - a real bummer. And, in fact, what should have been a lovely ride then, was made horrible because of the revolting smell emanating from the toilet on the bus - quite sickening. Only managed a few photos:

& so to bed - eventually!!