Whatever Wednesday - Athabasca Glacier

 Got to ride in the Arctic Terrain vehicle up  to the Athabasca Glacier.  Very impressive piece of equipment.  Our driver  was a lad from Blackpool,  England.  

Another gorgeous day and while  cool, it  was not bitter cold

Avoid the slush parts.   (oops, Ray did step in a melty spot and  got his shoe, sock, and pants leg wet. Silly boy

The ice chunks were SO clear

I'll pose happily with the Maple Leaf.   Oh Canada!  You filled my heart with  joy

Fabulous Friday - Skagway, Alaska

Skagway - Thursday September 8.  This is one of my favorite days. I highly recommend the Glacier Point Wilderness Adventure. These excursions do cost extra but are worth the bucks spent. How else to truly experience Alaska? You have to get out there...into the rugged wild...albeit with guides. Prior to coming on a big trip like this I do recommend walking. Get into some semblance of shape - you'll want  to keep up and be worthy.

7:30 am  and off the boat. We board a harbor boat with Elise, our young perky guide, and twenty other intrepid explorers. Captain Dan pushes back and we zoom for 1-1/2 hours through fjords, inlets, passing waterfalls, mountains, misty clouds, and harbor seals lounging on shore. It's not too choppy. Yes, I took my dramamine.

On land we meet our dudes - the wilderness guides. These are twenty something guys who are college grads and not ready to settle down. They work hard in Alaska from May through end of September. They enjoy hiking, nature, and sharing  this wilderness with tourists. They've obviously done their research and their enthusiasm is contagious.

So, first stop is to put on waterproof boots. Then we hike on a narrow tree rooted path downhill to a river. Canoes await and we board. Matt is our guide - a dreadlocked white dude from the Midwest. He's very laid back and cool.  We paddle a bit and then he kicks on the motor. We zoom to the glacier.

The scale of this area is monumental. You think you are close to a glacier but you are a mile or so away. Chunks of ice float by. Matt stops briefly and hauls in a big chunk - it is crystal clear. The purity here is reassuring. Mankind has  not ruined everything.

Canoe lands and we slog ashore to walk about a mile on river walk. It's not easy - hence, you should have trained a bit for this. Blue ice gleamed.  Stunning  turquoise blue shades. Lapis hues take your breath away.  Rocks are the size of buildings. This glacier is HUGE. I'm out of adjectives to describe this.   Any pictures you see - they are true and more. Breathtakingly fabulous.

It was all exhiliarating.  We lingered  - hating to return to the canoe, paddling back, boarding our harbor boat and returning  to Skagway. Refreshed and tired for a good reason, we stumbled back to the ship by 3:30 for a nap.

I can't emphasize enough - book excursions. Get out there. Chat with your guides - it's an engaging group of young folks  seeing  the world and learning  a lot.

So, nighttime on the ship. Dinner - brie appetizer, trout with spaghetti, and a strawberry mousse. This is not buffet. The sit-down dinners are really nice.

7 pm  - Pub Trivia.  Victory!

8 pm - Mike Bliss - comedy, juggling, and magic. We are amused

9 pm - Group Trivia. Alas a tie...that's okay

10 pm - Goodnight

Alaska is Wild

 Oh yeah - boat, walk, canoe, and walk to see Davidson Glacier. Do I have stories for you, golly you betcha!!

And Denali - Tundra Wilderness Tour. This fella decided to cross the road in front of the bus, only twenty feet away. He was foraging for berries, not humans.

Wow is all I can say about our Alaska adventure.  We got back to Dallas Thursday morning at 7 am (4 am Alaska time). I am currently a zombie as I prepare this post, and I have to work on Friday (ugh - reality bites)

It's a teaser. I hope you are prepared for way too many Alaska pics and stories..... Are you with me?

Happy Friday and weekend. More to come