Alaska
(The Inside Passage)

A 2-day pre-trip stay on Danville Island.

One day we rented bikes and tooled around Stanley Park.

What started out to be one of the BIGGEST HENGE OF THEM ALL.

Some people just now how to travel light.

All Aboard!

Looking out over the ship's bow at the Inside Passage.

The slow twists and turns and occasional town with a lighthouse. There's an eagle in that tallst of trees on the left. Look closely!

Told ya.

It was like a painting walking thru town.	All except the salmon dying everywhere.

We were the last ship of the season. Shops were already packing-up for winter.

Joan found a great shot! (wish I had seen it)

Her shot.

Dad bid Dolly a final farewell. 'Till next year.	I swear, after Dad said goodbye, she threw herslf into the icey river below.

We not only pulled into town, we docked on Warf Street. I mean to tell ya, we docked ON Warf Street!

Joan and I phoned home to wish the house-sitter a Happy Birthday.

The our ride came to pick-us-up.

Flying up to the top of the glacier field. A first for both of us. Very scenic, but should be done before eating a large meal.

Somewhere straight ahead is our LZ on Mendenhall Glacier. Three gray dots are actually another helo, a tent and a group of people.

Joan's out taking pictures...while Rick tries to not step into any of the holes.

Back on terra ferma, walking to the foot of another glacier.

Just across from the foot with a small river between us.

Spending the day watching and listening for glacier calving. When it happens, it sounds like a shotgun blast.

The glacier face. A wall perhaps 200-feet tall.

When it finally does happens, you're always looking in the wrong direction. This one I heard to my right. I swung around and took the picture. I had to wait 'till the film got processed to see what had happened.

Sailing out of Galcier Bay and towards Sitka, we headed out to open seas. Dinner, for some, was impossible. The only "safe" place was out on deck.

So out they went (one-by-one) and the rest of us cared for them with green apples and club soda. A good time was had by most all.

Still in bed, we heard over the ship's PA that we were pulling into Sitka. We both jumped out of bed to have a first look thru our porthole. At first we thought there was some mistake. But there wasn't one. We indeed were pulling into Sitka. It was just that Sitka itself was on the other side of the ship.

The old Russian Orthodox Church. You can buy a candle and light it, but the priests will blow it out after a while and resell it. Candle shortage?	Meeting up with others ashore.

While out walking around town, we ran into Mom & Dad. And, while standing on the corner, Dad yells at a truck driving by. The truck stops and the driver gets out. Seems they're old friends. Whew!

One of my favorite shots. Again, out on a real outdoor Promenade Deck. Joan in the distance, jogging?

A group shot out ny the pool.

Coming back into the Inside Passage and a bit of whale watching.

Not to be left out, the dolphins played "tag" with the ship. They'd swim directly AT the ship, then dive down just before smashing into it.

Hangin' out in the lounge.

And, it was Wierd Hat Night!

Back on deck, a perfect sunset to end a perfect cruise.