Final Port of Call

Prince Rupert, British Columbia

This was our last port of call. We walked around to the shops and some of the museums. I think the most interesting tidbit about this community, has to do with the first dairy opening. It seems the docks were not yet built, so the cows had to swim to shore.

Tracy Arm Fjord

This was beautiful. There was some concern that the fog would not lift, but it did as we arrived. Then stayed gone for a hour or so and then started to move back in.

So here are a few pictures.

Cruise: Day Four Skagway, Alaska

This would be our last Alaska port of call. So we did some shopping. Great end of the Season deals. Skagway is a very small town..in the summer the population is 700 people. In the winter that population drops to about 75 people. Skagway was a mining town. This was the last stop on a gold seekers way to the Yukon. There were two trails that they would take to get to the Yukon. At first we were not going to do any excursions, then as we passed the train station. I spoke up and said.."less take the train". So we went to the Depot and bought the tickets for the afternoon trip up to White Pass. Many of the posts that follow are pictures of that train trip. The trip included lots of stories and telling about the history of the area. I would say this is a definite must do it you ever find yourself in Skagway.

Train Ride 1

The Trial of 98. This was the one of the trail's that the miners would take to get into the Yukon. Many lives and also pack animals were lost on this trail. As you can see the trail is not very wide and there was not room for two pack animals to pass each other. So someone would have to have theirs step aside. They men were required to have 1 ton of supplies, before they were allowed across the border into Canada. They would take about 40 trips to get all the needed supplies from Skagway to the Border.

Train Ride 2

These are pictures taken at the US/Canadian Border. We were not allowed off the train, as at this point we were actually in Canada. The scenery was spectacular.

Train Ride 3

These are picture of the train and one of Kodie when we were sitting at the border waiting for the engine to change position and take us back down to Skagway.

Train Ride 4

Skayway Pictures

The town of Skayway, Harding Glacier and the Gold Rush National Park, where Kodie earned her Junior Ranger Badge.

Cruise Day Three: Juneau, Alaska

This day was rainy...but what to you expect we are talking about Juneau here. They have two seasons...rainy and snowy. This was cool..as we had our personal tour guide. A fellow Coast Guard Wife..whom husband is stationed in Juneau. Laura was a awesome tour guide. She picked us up at the ship and we had the tour of town..the tourist shops that close down in the winter months. We toured the state capital area and even went past the home of Sarah Palin (well not really it was the Governor's mansion and she actually doesn't reside there). The Russian Orthodox Church, this is one of the most photographed buildings it is an octagon-shaped building that was built in 1894...but since it was rainy...I didn't get out and take pictures.

Next it was out through the valley to the Mendenhall Glacier...we beat all the tourist buses and trips. So there were not many people. We walked down the shorter trail..took a few pictures and then headed inside to view a video and look at the other displays.

After that we headed into the Valley to eat at the Famous Bullwinkle's Pizza. There we were also joined by two other Coast Guard Wives.

Then it was back into town where out first stop back heading into town as the Salmon Hatchery. We got out..but again not for long to see the Salmon working their way up the fish ladder. Kodie really enjoyed watching the fish. Then we had to have the picture with the bears. After that we headed back toward downtown to where we jumped on the Tram and headed up to the top of Mt. Roberts (1,800 feet up the mountain). This was really really cool, we watched a short video story about the Tlingit natives and even worked on learning some of their native language. The cutest one is the word for Thank You " Gunalcheesh" or as the person told us just say cottagecheese.

We did a little bit of shopping up here and then it was back down the mountain. Then it was back to the ship for the evening.

This evening in It was Pirate Night for Kodie. My mom and I were in the Casino...then I my mom yelled...Kristy come here...There was a group of pirates demanding everyone's money. They were very cute pirates...they actually walked all around the ship..into the dining rooms and such. It was actually a Scavenger Hunt.

Cruise Day Three: Juneau, Alaska Pictures