We're back to Seattle for the rest of the trip. While I don't think I can ever get enough of the Alaskan scenery, it was nice to be back under a sun-lit sky after all of that rain. We ended up staying at the Westin for the next few days while taking in the sights.


Not really knowing what to do, Shelley and I bought the Seattle City Pass, an inexpensive way to see the city. Our first day out, we ended up checking out the Seattle Aquarium and the bay cruise. That's a picture of the Blue Angels practicing over the bay during our cruise.


After the bay cruise, Shelley and I finished the day at Pike Place Brewery. Great food and beer are what you can expect at this place. I recommend any of the burgers along with a pint or three of the Kilt Lifter.

Victoria, CA

This was our last stop before heading back to Seattle... Victoria, Canada on Vancouver Island. This was another short stop, only lasting from about 7:30 in the evening until about 11:00. Not much you can do with that little time. Shelley and I took a walk and admired the scenery and architecture, only stopping for a short break at Darcy's Pub near the water line. Back to the ship to head home...

Timberrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Ketchikan, Alaska. The home of the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Remember that nice sunny day we had in Sitka (read the last post)? It didn't follow us to Ketchikan. This is one of those places that reminds you that the jacket you bought at Old Navy 8 years ago is water "resistant" and not water proof.

Despite the rain, Ketchikan was a nice town. We only got to stay a short while... until 1:00 in the afternoon, but that was enough time to catch the lumberjack show, Canada and USA in a gut wrenching, heart pumping battle of chain saws, axes, and very slippery logs. As corny as it sounds, the show was a pretty entertaining mix of comedy and skill with sharp objects. That picture is one of the last images of that little boy before being sawed in half by team Canada... just kidding. The boy is fine.

Sitka - Is that the sun?

Apparently, Sitka, Alaska gets about 5 days of sunshine per year. Fortunately, we got one of them. Shelley and I signed up to do a hike in the rain forest and were told to expect a grueling and soaking day. Lo and behold, when we arrive on land, the clouds part and we're in for a beautiful day.

"Did you say rain forest in Alaska?" Yes. Alaska has a lot of trees and rain which equals rain forest. Apparently they also have really shy bears cause we never saw one despite all of the recent sightings of a mama and her cubs. Nevertheless, we got to see a lot of small wildlife include banana slugs and some other mean looking slugs that like to attack the banana slugs. I was going to eat one then I remembered I'm not starring on Man vs Wild so I passed.

This is Shelley and I in front of a large body of water with jumping salmon. You can't tell in this picture, but there's a lot of salmon getting ready to jump... trust me. We also found some really tiny crabs hiding under the rocks on the shore. Our guide said that to prove you are a real Alaskan, you have to eat one. Thankfully, since I'm neither Alaskan, nor do I star on Man vs Wild, I didn't have to eat one. I'm getting enough calories on the ship, thank you very much.

Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay is otherwise known as the highlight of the trip. You know that moment when you get your first 50" HDTV, you flip on Discovery Channel, and they are doing some nature show about how global warming is melting the glaciers? No I'm not going into a rant about global warming. It's just that seeing these glaciers up so close was one of the most awe-inspiring sights and I'll never forget it.

Keep in mind that the Amsterdam was one of the smaller boats we saw going through the inside passage in Alaska. Thanks to the size (or maybe the captain was intoxicated) we got to pull right up to Marjorie, one of the most awesome glaciers you'll ever see. Not 20 minutes after we pulled up to Marjorie, a huge section of the glacier (must have been about 8 stories high) started to crack and then it fell into the water. That got our attention.

To our right, the park ranger was standing with her jaw dropped as this massive wall of 200-year-old ice slid into the water. To the front, about halfway between the ship and the glacier, was a group of adventurers on kayaks, unexpectedly caught face to face with a pretty menacing wave. They did what they were taught to do and turned into the wave, avoiding a very cold dip in Glacier Bay. Thankfully no one was hurt.

At last... Juneau

After a grueling night out in the open ocean, we have finally arrived at Juneau. It's raining, but Shelley and I were prepared with our waterproof jackets. If you forget a jacket, you can buy water resistant jacket with a hood at the gift shop just outside of the ship for about $20.

Now let me do you a favor and help you get around Juneau for a bit less than the cruise will charge you. Let's say you want to visit the glacier? That will be $7 billion euros (I choose euros because the dollar is a bit of a pansy at the moment) plus the souls of 8 defenseless kittens if you opt to go with the cruise excursions. Orrrr.... when you get off the boat, you can take the bus for $14 round trip every 20-30 minutes.

Mendenhall glacier is the first glacier I have ever seen. It was like watching Expedition Alaska on Discovery, but somehow you figured out how to get the 1080p working on the new 74' (that's foot not inches) LCD television. It was a cold and rainy day, but we got some nice pictures of the glacier and had a nice time hiking around the park.

So after freezing and soaking yourself into a chilled raisin for about 2 hours, what better way to warm up than to have some beer. That's right. I'm talking about the Alaskan Brewery in Juneau. But let me stop and save you some money. The cruise will happily book an excursion to the brewery for $90+ per person... on a bike. Hmmm... something doesn't sound right here. Bike riding and beer tasting (in my case gulping) go together like rollerblading on a Nascar track mid-race with a blindfold. Not a good idea. How about taking the bus for $3 per person to the brewery. It's about a 1/2 mile from the bus stop and here's the best part... THE BEER TASTING IS FREE.

When you get to the brewery, the nice brew master (pictured above) will hand you a glass and start you on the light beer. It's all good beer but I am partial to the Alaskan Amber. Shelley and I almost got through the beer line twice. The tour isn't so much a tour as it is a story-telling session in the middle of the brewery. Every so often, if the brew master sees too many empty glasses, he stops the tour for some refills. But all good things must come to an end. Shelley and I took the bus back into town and ended up at the Red Dog saloon and met some new friends that happened to be on the same cruise, and surprisingly, close to our age. It's a nice little bar with some live music and plenty of Alaskan Amber.

More pictures of Juneau? Go to Picasa.

A Day At Sea

Well it's our first full day on the boat.. err.. ship as we sail towards Juneau Alaska. Keep in mind, we are currently on the outside of the inside passage... Translation: Those are really big waves. That's a view of the indoor pool as the ship plows through the huge swells. If you look closely, you can see the remnants of the children who were repeatedly slammed against either wall of the pool. Good times though.

Any activities on this cruise? Well I decided that today would be as good as any other to hit the treadmill and start hammering away at those calories from day 1. 5 miles shoud do it. No sense in coming home looking like Jabba the Hut. Keep in mind that we are still plowing through 865 foot waves. Actually I have no idea how big they are... I just know the ship is moving a bit more than any ship should. Any minute now they're going to start calling the passengers to help drop a few crab pots. I didn't think the Bering sea was on the way to Juneau. Anyway, I'm running on the treadmill which happens to be on the top of the boat in the front. If you're going to feel the boat move, this is the best place to do it. I don't remember pressing the incline button, but apparently my treadmill has an off-road simulator. I've only made it 1.7 of my 5 miles, but that's good enough for me. I get to walk away with my lunch and no broken bones from being catapulted into the weights behind me.


Dinner Time
Shelley and I decided to book dinner in the "reservations, jacket, and tie required" restaurant in the ship. The restaurant is called the Pinnacle Grill and to my taste buds' delight, they serve all sorts of quality cow parts. Shelley ordered the filet mignon, and I had the 22oz porterhouse. [Insert drooling sounds here]

While this was the most delicious steak I've ever sunk my pearly off-whites into, neither one of us could stomach the movement of the ship for too long. Or perhaps it was the $14 double Captain and Coke that did me in. Needless to say, we both turned in for the evening right after dinner. Don't worry... there was no encore to the dinner. A few seasick pills later and we were both out.

For more photos from this day, visit Picasa. I must say that was some odd presentation with the crab cakes.