A Journal, with Pictures

We arrive at our first destination Ketchikan, Alaska which is known as the salmon capital of world. Ketchikan originated as a salmon fishing and canning port and still has a big commercial fishing industry. The only access is by air or sea and averages 162 inches of precipitation per year. Ketchikan was a rough and tumble town in the early days and the former red light district, Creek Street, has been converted to tourist shops. Besides fishing, tourism is the main industry. This was my first stop last year when I flew to Alaska so I knew the lay of the land and decided to explore the surrounding area. We took a boat excursion to Misty Fjord which is a glaciated fjord, and lived up to its name, Misty. We saw wild life and beautiful scenery including a volcanic plug called Edgecomb Rock. When we returned,we toured Ketchkan, returned to the ship for cocktails, dinner and a show put on by the ships entertainers called “Viva La Viva”, which was very good. The ship left Ketchikan late afternoon to cruise overnight to Tracy Arm Fjord.

 

 

At dawn we arrived at Tracy Arm which is a 30 mile long narrow and deep fjord terminating at the Sawyer glacier. The scenery was spectacular with cliffs rising 4000 feet, winding toward the glacier. As often happens we encountered fog and ice near the glacier and had to turn around before we got to the face. We then headed for Juneau.

 

We docked at around one in the afternoon in at Juneau, Alaska’s state capital. We did a little sight seeing, including the famous Red Dog Saloon. At two thirty we were picked up by van and taken to a dock for a photo safari by land and sea. This turned out to be one of the high lights of our cruise. The objective was whale watching and we were rewarded by observing a phenomenon called “bubble feeding”.We spied a pod of 12 humpback whales cruising near the shore. They lifted their tails and dove and our guide said, it looks like they are bubble feeding for mackerel. In this process they dive below the school and surround the fish with a circle of bubbles, then they ascend with mouths open ingesting the fish finally exploding at the surface. We could hear the whales as they climbed and then they broke through the water right next to the boat. They continued the bubble feeding for another thirty minuets or so. We then made our way past sleeping sea lions back to the dock for our land photo op.

Bubble Feeding Humpback Whales!

We docked still excited about our whale experience and drove to the Mendenhall Glacier. We walked through a beautiful forest, past native medicinal plants, streams, and then came out to see the face of the glacier.

 

On Sunday we arrive in Skagway, which was the jumping off point for the Klodike stampede. Skagway is on a northern finger of the inside passage. This seaport sits on a deep-water fjord, the Taiya inlet, at the head of Lynn Canal, which stretches 90 miles from Juneau. We choose a wild life viewing excursion in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Once we docked in Skagway, we went by van to our ferry for the 30 minuet ride to Haines, Alaska. We then boarded a bus that took us to our jumping off point for our raft trip down the Chilkat river, were the salmon running upstream in shallow water attract bald eagles. At the peak season, November, they estimate that four thousand eagles visit the area. We were briefed by our guides, and then spent two hours enjoying the incredible landscape, eagles, and a native flute serenade by Sunny our guide. CP the tour director entertained us, sold us the T-shirt that funds a big party at the end of the tourist season and regaled us with stories at lunch after the river trip. Then it was back to Skagway the way we came, some sight seeing in town, cocktails in the cabin, a great dinner then we took in the ships evening show “Le Cirque Navigaton”.

On Monday morning we arrived in Sitka Sound and left the ship directly onto a jet driven catamaran specially designed for sight seeing. Sitka sound is a spectacularly beautiful area, with a ancient volcano, Mt. Edgecumbe on one end, forested and rocky island and wooded coast. Sea Otters, sea lions, seals, whales, deer on the shore and eagles abound in the area. We had a great day seeing and photographing the wildlife. We returned to shore and for the first time could photograph the Seven Sea Navigator from the water, what a beautiful ship.

After our Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest excursion we disembarked in the city of Sitka. Sitka was the site of the original Russian outpost named New Archangle. The main objective of the Russian-American Company was to trap the then plentiful Sea Otter for their pelts. They were successful to the extent of reducing the population to near extinction. The Russians lost interest in Alaska, then sold it to the U.S. for a small sum. Today the small community thrives on commercial fishing and tourism. We searched high and low for a restaurant that served Dungenes crab to not avail and settled for King crab on a open deck in the sunshine. We then explored the town starting with a visit to the Russian Orthodox Church that is still active. We then climbed Castle Hill, the former site of Alexander Baranof’s castle with a great view of the harbor and Mount Edgecumbe across Sitka Sound. That evening after another great dinner we enjoyed a show put on by the crew that received a standing ovation from the passengers. Tomorrow early its Hubbard Glacier so it was in to bed relatively early.

 

 

 

Early on Tuesday we were scheduled to arrive at the Hubbard Glacier our last stop before Seward. The Hubbard Glacier is an icy tongue with its root on Mt. Logan in Yukon Territory. The vast Hubbard ice field originates near 15,300-foot Ht. Hubbard and flows 76 miles to lick the sea at Yakutat and Disenchantment bays. Hubbard calves a great number of icebergs, making it difficult to get close. I was out on the deck at seven A.M. and I could see the coast of the Yakatat peninsula, which is where I refueled last year, but I could see fog at the entrance to Disenchantment Bay. As we proceeded in we started to see ice and unfortunately more fog. The ice pieces turned into icebergs and the fog got thicker. As we had discovered at the other glaciers that we tried to visit, those big areas of ice create their own weather and its usually fog. We finally turned around before getting to the face of the glacier for safety reason. The rest of the day we steamed under overcast sky’s toward Seward with a scoop of ice cream on deck at four PM as usual. It was a relaxing day and we packed then had dinner with new friends from Hilton Head that we had met on the ship.

 

The Sevens Seas Navigator docked in Seward Alaska around six A.M. and the alarm went off at seven. We had packed and our bags were gone so we showered, dressed and our butler Seckesh delivered breakfast right on time. Eight A.M. we disembarked and boarded a coach for the two and a half hour drive to Anchorage. I had driven this route last year and had forgotten how beautiful it was, with small glaciers, lakes, streams, then meadows and finally Cooks inlet. We even saw a moose on what was one of the few overcast days of the trip. We arrived at the Anchorage Hilton where our bags had been delivered and hung out in the Regent Cruise Hospitality suite catching up on e-mail. We then wandered around downtown Anchorage, found a sea food restaurant for crab lunch, then headed back to the hotel. We caught the Regent arranged shuttle to the airport checked in early and waited for our eight P.M. flight back to the lower forty eight. Our red eye flight left on time giving us a last glimpse of the Alaska range, dinner a little sleep then land in Detroit. We then were on to Cincinnati, met our limo and we arrive home in Dayton almost exactly twenty four hours after we left the ship, a very long day. Looking back it was a great trip seeing amazing things in luxurious style.

On February 27Th. Joyce and I flew to Key West our first stop on a week long Florida swing. We had never visited Key West and planned the three hour and twenty minute flight from Hilton Head to include following the Keys to Key West. We stayed on Sunset Key a five minute ferry ride from down town Key West, which turned out to be a great choice. We hung out on the beach and then had dinner at the Latitude restaurant at Sunset Key.

Sunset Key

The next morning we set out to explore Key West. We boarded a tour trolley that took us around the town and pointed out the many interesting and historic sites. Key West has had a colorful history, going from salt production, to ship wreck salvage, a naval base and presidential retreat, to tourism. Its a combination of history and a funky present day tourist destination. We spend the morning and into early afternoon touring, sight seeing and visiting shops. After a late lunch at a cool side street restuarant we returned to Sunset Key to relax for awhile.

After relaxing on the beach we set out for the sunset celibration on Mallory Square where tourists and local characters gather for a coctail and entertainment by street performers. There are gymnasts, jugglers, fortune tellers, unicyclist, and musicians all performing as the sun goes down. Its a real happening and we enjoyed the show.

Back to Sunset Key, another great dinner at Latitudes, then in the morning we fly to Fort Lauderdale to celebrate Joyce’s birthday.

In Fort lauderdale we have lunch with Jennifer and then the girls enjoy some spa time. We pick up Alexandra from school and she wears us out just watching her playing. We have a very jolly birthday dinner in Joyce’s honor. The next morning we fly to Sarasota for a “Gathering” of some of our NCR alumni friends.

Dan Enneking, Elton White and Joe Stephan along with help from other retired NCR Floridians, organized a great get together. There is golf for two days for the men and one day for some of the ladies. We have cocktails and heavy hors-d’oeuvres at Elton and Gordie’s fabulous apartment overlooking Sarasota Bay. Joyce and I are privileged to be house guests at the Stephan’s equally luxurious apartment with a great view and incredalble hospitality. The second day is golf at the Ritz Carlton Golf Course or sightseeing. We end the day with cocktails and dinner at the Ritz Carlton Beach Club. Friday, golf for the men at Prestancia TPC, ladies lunch on St. Armand’s Circle, then cocktails and dinner at the Field Club. Everything was done perfectly with great food, drink and friendship.

In attendance at The Gathering were:

Bill and Nancy Eisenman, Bob and JoAnn Tiffee, Dan and Barb Enneking, Dan and Pat McCarthy, David and Lou Laws, Des and Vivian Randall, Dr. Rich and Linda Miller, Elmer Bradshaw, Elton and Gordie White, Hugh and Edna Lynch, Jack and Nancy Poole, Joe and Nora Stephan, Leo Harty, Paul and Joyce Lappetito, Rex and Pat Fleet, Chuck and Carol Exley, Phyllis Schene and Gil and Joyce Williamson.

After another one of Nora’s great breakfasts, Joyce and I fly the two hour flight back to Hilton Head. Our little airplane is truly a magic carpet, allowing us to experience the tip of Florida, family and friends in a leisurly week. Breakfast in Sarasota and lunch in Hilton Head, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Joyce and I flew to Fort Lauderdale for a few days visit Jennifer, Mike and Alexandra then on Tuesday January 18th we flew to George Town in the Exumas. It’s a one hour and 50 minuet flight over gorgeous water. Our route of flight took us over Bimini, Andros, by Nassau and then down the Exuma chain of Islands. We had flown over these islands on our way back from Stella Maria, last year and vowed to return. We landed at Exuma International Airport, which serves commercial as well as general aviation aircraft coming into George Town. We stayed at Sandals, formerly The Four Seasons, which is an all inclusive resort on Emerald Bay about 10 minuets from the airport.

Sandals turned out to be a great place to stay. There is a magnificent beach, both a large high activity pool and a quite pool, several restaurants, tennis courts, a golf course, spa, gym, manicured grounds and a butler to look after your every need. We enjoyed a ocean front room overlooking Emerald Bay, that was very comfortable. Food and booze are included in the price and both were good quality. We hung out and met some nice people, including three fun couples from Nova Scotia that invited us up to visit them, which we just might do later this year. We played a round of golf, and took a trip into George Town. George Town is pretty laid back and the big thing going on is providing anchorage and provisions for a large number of visiting yachts. There are the obligatory tee shirt and island craft shops, found on most of the Islands, a few hotels and restaurants, as well a few places to get out of the sun and have a Kalick (local beer).

George Town is about a 20 minuet drive from Sandals, and worth the trip.

Our stay in the Exumas was very pleasant and we definitely will return. The temperatures in the 80′s, the Sandals property and the friendly accommodating staff made our stay special. We did a lot of reading and just gazing out from our deck at Emerald Bay, which provided us with gorgeous sunrises and a beautiful moon rise.

We originally planned to return on Saturday January 22nd, but extended a day, we then were going to go on to Key West but the weather forecast convinced us to take a rain check and fly home Sunday.

We had a great flight to Fort lauderdale to clear customs and refuel then on to Hilton Head. In all it was a great break from a unusually cold winter in the South.