17 September, 2009

Alaska, A Quick Recap


It's taken a while to upload the adventure and make sense of the photos from our trip. This collage is a random sampling of places visited and sights seen. I'd go back again in the blink of an eye, it was truly the trip of a lifetime; but it's so good to be home again, too. If you choose to click on the photo collage you can see that I found a few quilts shops along the way; oh, yes I did!
Top row, l-r: Alaska RR- McKinley to Whittier, totem pole in Ketchikan, Chulitna River (McKinley), Chena River (Fairbanks), a moose and me (Fairbanks)
Row 2: Mt. McKinley, quilt shop in Skagway, Chena River (Fairbanks), quilt shop (Juneau), ship view leaving Glacier Bay
Row 3: PO at Chena Indian Reservation, Ketchikan, quilt shop in Talkeetna (small town where opening shots for "Northern Exposure" were shot), Chena River (again), Mt. Mckinley
Row 4: Glacier Bay, our stateroom on the ship, Seattle WA, Mt. McKinley (view from Denali Nat'l Park), Alaska sign (reentering AK from Canada)
Row 5: Humpback whale's tail (outside Glacier Bay), Ketchikan, riverboat on the Chena River, Mt. McKinley, Glacier Bay
Row 6: Mt McKinley, waterfall in Skagway, glacier ice, Seattle sunset, Coast Guard boat escort into port
Row 7: Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, our ship, Mt. McKinley from the Chulitna River, Glacier Bay
Row 8: Moose in Denali N.P., Mt. McKinley in all it's majesty, quilt shop in Talkeetna, Creek. St. (Ketchikan), raft trip on the Chulitna into Talkeetna.

We traveled a week on land before we boarded the ship. Our land portion took us from Fairbanks to Whittier with stops along the way in Denali and Mt. McKinley. The weather cooperated and we had crystal clear views of the mountain. Mt. McKinley is also known as Denali (Athabaskan Indian for "The Great One"). While traveling in shuttle buses, motor coaches and river rafting we saw bear, moose, bald eagles, salmon, river otters, beavers and a few caribou, too. Our week on the ship began with two sea days in College Fjord and Glacier Bay; there we spotted humpback whales, more eagles and a few seals hanging out on an piece of floating ice. We ported in three cities: Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Our last day was a sea day and we concluded our journey in Vancouver, BC. We flew home from Seattle, (also where we began our adventure) it was a perfect vacation in every way. And yes, the food was incredible on the ship, most meals (lunch and dinner!!) ended on a sweet note! Now, I ask you, what could be better than this? Oh, by the way, did I mention the BAKED Alaska? ;)

Life is Good!
... I keep tellin' ya...
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17 comments:

AnnieO said...

What a great trip you had! Someday I'd like to get to Alaska too. My great grandmother and her parents lived far inland in Eagle, Alaska for years when she was very little and she had her own dog sled team (this was in the first decade of the 1900's) and my great great grandad ran a store. It is a place of wonders, both animal and geologic!

Kimberly Mason said...

Sounds, LOOKS like a great trip! My parents cruised to Alaska this summer, their second trip there. The first time they drove the motor home. I know they'd go again in a heart beat. Must be amazing!

But with desserts like that, don't you have to hit the treadmill pretty hard? *g*

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

Oh, it sounds magical!

Janet said...

Looks like a dream vacation! SOMEDAY - maybe we'll get there too but in the meantime I guess I'll just have to be content looking at great photos like yours. I like the collage idea - what do you use to put that together?

Paula, the quilter said...

What fun! Hubby and I want to do something similar to both Alaska and Hawaii.

Salem Stitcher said...

Wow. What a wonderful trip. Unbelievable. One day...

*karendianne. said...

I'm delighted you had a wonderful trip. I can imagine your soul is filled and your spirit enriched. I'll be back a few more times to study the photos. You must just go through them and catch yourself staring, lost in the majesty God creation. In Awe of Love, *karendianne.

Zlaty said...

Wow a dreamy vacation! Thanks for sharing the pictures! The food looks amazing!

Enjoy the time back home!

Zlaty

Ancestor Collector said...

Gosh, this looks like an amazing trip. I will have to get particulars about your itinerary, modes of transport, etc. Alaska is right at the top of our list of places to visit and you've made me realize why!! So, tell me, it looks like you went on your trip alone....where is Mr. G???? ;-)

Anonymous said...

A vacation of a lifetime! How fun!

*karendianne. said...

ahhh, I came back again. Have the chills just imagining... I promise I wont comment with each return. I just lurk.

Domestic Designer said...

A true dream vacation! Maybe someday I'll get to go...I have my fingers crossed.:-)

Linda in NC said...

Fantastic photo montage; thanks for sharing.

Glad to have you back in blogland again - missed you!

Tanya said...

Welcom back! What a wonderful time! As a child our family took one trip to Alaska but it really stays in my memory. The scenery (barren in places) the never setting sun, the ship and food! No quilt shows for me back then!

julieQ said...

How fun!! This is a big dream of mine, would love to go someday. Thank you for sharing...how about a bit a Baked Alaska?

Carrie P. said...

Great photos from your trip. When my son was a teenager he went to Alaska on a missions trip and one place he stopped was Ketchikan. He loved it in Alaska.

Grandma said...

I live in Alaska and did the inside passage three years ago with my cousin and friend and had a great time. I loved that trip on the ship!!! And we stopped at all the quilt shops along the way. Glad you had a great time!!!
Diane in Alaska