Fishbone

Day 11 – Sat Jun 17: Part 2/3 Majestic Princess! Love! Exciting & new! We’re all set to sail on a 7-night southbound Alaskan-cruise in a “deluxe balcony obstructed” cabin. Cruise fare (includes taxes, fees, & port expenses) - onboard credit: $3595.00-300.00=$3295.00/3=$1098.33 per person. Sat 06/17: Whittier; 8:30PM Sun 06/18: Hubbard Glacier Scenic Cruising; 3:00PM-8:00PM Mon 06/19: Glacier Bay National Park Scenic Cruising; 9:15AM-7:30PM Tue 06/20: Icy Strait Point (Hoonah); 6:00AM-7:00PM Wed 06/21: Juneau; 6:30AM–5:00PM Thu 06/22: Ketchikan; 10:00AM-6:00PM Fri 06/23: At Sea Sat 06/24: Vancouver; 7:30AM They rolled out the red carpet & we were welcomed aboard with pomp & circumstance. Now that the formalities are out of the way … it’s time to eat! We headed directly to the Lido for a light lunch. Horizon Court (World Fresh Marketplace)! There was an ample assortment of delicious food. My husband wasn’t very hungry, but Colt & I gobbled up a little grub. My most favorite treat on all the ships I’ve ever sailed on was at the old Fish & Chips on Carnival’s Conquest-class ships: Ahi Tuna on Watermelon. Sadly, both the Fish & Chips spot & my beloved little squares of perfection are no more. After lunch, we followed the yellow brick road to the Emerald Deck! Deluxe (boujee) “Stateroom”! It’s technically an obstructed view cabin, but there’s really no “obstruction” in terms of a life boat, etc. Instead of a balcony “wall” made of glass, the hull of the ship serves as the “wall”. Because of our room’s location near the front of the ship, the balcony itself is about three times that of a normal balcony, providing more than enough room for all of us to relax! It was an incredible bargain for an exceptional room. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to see over the rail, but it’s not an issue. When I’m out there, I bring a large couch pillow to sit on. It’s super comfy & raises me up 2-3 inches. I’m about 5’6” & think I have an excellent view. Room “Stewart”! Our room steward is Ryan Bueno from the Philippines. After quick introductions, I asked him for three extra blankets. He gave me a little side eye (although my husband said I was imagining it), so I explained that we were from Florida & thus were already cold. Once Florida was mentioned, he seemed to be more sympathetic to our plight & shortly thereafter, he delivered three blankets to the cabin. Yes, I know … temps in the 60s is not COLD … if you live in Michigan. But if you live in Florida, it’s cold! Just like when ya’ll tourists come to Florida in August & loudly (& endlessly) proclaim “It’s soooo hot!” It’s all relative. Tips! We pre-paid the “crew appreciation” fee in advance. $336/3=$112 per person. I don’t “tip” in advance, but depending on service, will do so at the end of the cruise. We’ve never removed the “crew appreciation” fee & we’ve never not tipped extra. Only once have we had a “Bad Stu” & we still tipped him, although in hindsight, I wish we hadn’t. Despite my “Type A” label, I think I’m pretty easy-going (although the guys might disagree). For me, it’s all dependent on how nice someone is. And by nice, I don’t mean doing things for me or giving things to me – I mean just genuinely nice. In fact, we had a super nice Stu once (he was so kind to my old German mom), that we didn’t even care when we came back to the room at midnight to discover that he forgot to pull the upper bunk down. And since it was so late, we figured he was probably sleeping (or partying), so my husband figured it out. No big deal. “Mustard” Drill! The muster drill has changed dramatically since our last cruise in 2019. We tried to watch the overview on my iPhone while eating lunch, but it kept glitching. We subsequently watched it in the cabin & then stopped by our muster station, where we were advised that we needed to go back & watch the overview? Wait what? We just did. He didn’t believe us, so back to the cabin we went to try again & again & again. I eventually stopped by Guest Services & told them we weren’t watching it again. They agreed & overrode the system. The best muster drill I’ve ever experienced was by the “Reverend Dr E” on Carnival. Hands-down, he wins. “Man overboard, man overboard, oh my God, there’s a man overboard”. Afterwards, we toured the ship from top to bottom, forward to aft, port to starboard! All 15 decks! We also stopped by the “Beach House” (the designated teen hangout) to finalize Colt’s registration. Closet! The closet is a little weird – it’s primarily just an open hanging rack w/ a few small shelves off to the side. To make it easy, I positioned both of our bags on the bottom & organized our stuff accordingly: 1 bag for me & 1 bag for the guys. Clothing hung up over each respective bag. Magnetic Door! I like to affix a magnet to our door to help us quickly identify our cabin. In December, on Oahu, we parked our rental (a white Nissan sedan) in an empty spot & the guys ran inside a fishing supply store while I waited in the car. While they were inside, a white Nissan sedan pulled into the spot on my left & then another white Nissan sedan pulled into the spot on my right. When they came out of the store, Colt got into the backseat of the car on my left … put his seat belt on … & discovered that the lady in the front seat was NOT his mom! Fortunately, she was super nice about it, although Colt was super embarrassed. Sofa Bed. The sofa is currently hiding Colt’s berth. I’ve already told the room steward that once he converts it, we do not want him to switch it back – he can just leave it as a bed for the duration of our stay. The bed totally obstructs the balcony door. No worries – the guys will slide across it a la Bo & Luke Duke. Me? I’ll stop, drop & roll. Blankets! In addition to the extra blankets brought to us by the room steward, I also placed warm & snuggly blankets that we brought from home on the beds. You’re probably wondering why we need so many blankets. Reminder: we’re from Florida! Plus, I hope to leave the balcony door slightly ajar overnight to hear the waves crash against the hull & to breathe in fresh air. I’ve never ever left the window open overnight in Florida. Why? Humidity, pollen, bugs, reptiles, bad guys … need I say more? Stateroom Bottled Water Package! We purchased 12 (500ml) bottles of water in advance. It hasn’t arrived yet, but our steward has advised that room service will be delivering it later in the day. $7.08/12=.59 bottle. MedallionNet Internet Plan! I purchased a single-device plan in advance of boarding via the app. It’s kind of an unnecessary expense, but how else would I be able to post updates for my super old German mom? $105/7=$15 night. …

Day 11 – Sat Jun 17: Part 1/3 Greetings from Whittier, Alaska! This morning in Anchorage, we woke up early & ate breakfast in the room. We didn’t want to take any food on board the ship, so we gobbled up a random assortment of leftovers from our week on the road (box of cereal, granola bars, etc). Budget! We returned our rental to the airport w/ no issues & then walked over to the terminal for our pre-arranged transfer. While we were standing in the terminal, a lady came down the escalator carrying a tube. My husband laughed & said "Look, there's someone else who has a tube just like ours!". Except it wasn't "someone else's tube. It was ours! We accidentally left it at the rental counter. I'm not sure how we forgot it, considering that it's a massive tube that my husband bought at a UPS Store in Anchorage in which to transport his fishing poles. Starbucks! Breakfast sandwiches for the guys & a slice of lemon pound cake for me. Two lemonades to share. Alaska Cruise Transportation (ACT Big Bus)! I had originally planned to book a transfer from Anchorage to Whittier via Princess, but there were no details provided on the website in terms of specifically what that entailed & I’m a detail kind of girl! After hours of research, I surmised that we would first be transferred from the airport to the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage, before continuing on to Whittier. I’m not sure if my understanding was correct, but nevertheless, I wanted a direct transfer, not one w/ a stop-over (of an undermined length). Thus, I booked us on the ACT Big Bus. Cheap, quick, & easy. $157.29/3= $52.43. We’d already driven the route in our rental car, so it was hard to justify the cost of the train, although it sounded fun. When Colt was little, he loved two things w/ a passion: trains & Curious George. Thus, for his 5th birthday, we took an Amtrak train from Palatka, Florida to New York City! What an adventure! Where did all the time go? The ACT Big Bus picked us up from the airport at 10:00AM & we arrived in Whittier before the train. Our seats were next to the bathroom which had a big sign that read “Emergency Use Only”. I guess a lot of people had an emergency. I didn’t get too irritated ‘cause when you’ve got to pee, you’ve got to pee. Because we had already spent a night in Whittier, we didn’t mosey around. Instead, we headed directly to the massive ship (which towered over the harbor) to board the beautiful Majestic Princess! Road trips are fun, but now it’s time for the guys to spoil ME! ME! ME! Seward Cruise Ship Terminal. The Majestic Princess appears to be the only ship in port. Not really sure if tiny little Whittier can handle more than one cruise ship at a time? Embarkation! It was easy & we had no issues. Well, we did get asked "What's in the tube?" over & over again. The lines were incredibly short (unlike any of the terminals in Florida) & I think we must have also arrived in advance of those coming via Princess transfers, including the train. Yay! I had paid for everything & had registered everyone online in advance, so we sailed through. We used our passports as identification. Ocean Medallion App. I downloaded the app in advance. I’m fairly technologically “savvy”. Shoot, I still vividly remember the day my first PC, a Gateway, was delivered in a box disguised as a Holstein! And the day I installed the After Dark screensaver from a floppy disk so that toasters would fly across my screen. Those were the days! Unfortunately, a lot of the recently touted “technological advancements,” are BURDENSOME! I can’t check my work email anymore w/out first authenticating who I am via the DUO app; I can’t get a simple signature on a PDF anymore w/out going through DocuSign; & we recently gave up our Walt Disney World Florida Resident annual passes (that we’d previously renewed for years) because I can’t ride Space Mountain anymore w/out pre-planning my every move around the Kingdom on the My Disney Experience Sucks app! Sigh. Ocean Medallions! They function kind of like Disney’s Magic Bands, but look like Apple AirTags. I find them annoying & intrusive. You can pay to have them shipped to you in advance of your cruise (why?), or you can pick them up at embarkation like we did. They come w/ a lanyard to wear around your neck, but I brought along three AirTag bands that I bought on Amazon so that we can wear them on our wrists. …

Day 10 – Fri Jun 16 (46° at 10PM) Greetings from Anchorage, Alaska! We spent the morning in Seward, as we had rescheduled our day cruise from there a few days ago due to terrible weather. Lighthouse Cafe & Bakery! A chocolate donut with sprinkles for Colt. Oatmeal for my husband. A raspberry bear claw & a Dr Pepper from the fountain for me. Kenai Fjords 6 hour National Park Tour. We had high hopes for today, considering that yesterday’s day cruise was a total bust. We didn’t break down, but the cruise was meh. We were fortunate to find a window seat together upon boarding (seats were not assigned). Many families were forced to sit apart. We shared a table for six w/ a mother/daughter who were very nice. The cruise itself wasn’t what I imagined & was literally just a drive from Point A to Point B & back. We saw a little wildlife, but have seen much more on our own on land. Unfortunately, many people were sick & they were handing out vomit bags non-stop. Perhaps these day tours are a good value for people from states that are landlocked. Or for those who have never cruised. In hindsight, we would have saved a whole lot of money by not taking these little day cruises & had a much more enjoyable time exploring Alaska on foot (especially Seward & Homer). But you never know until you try! Now that we’ve tried it, we know that they are not a good value for us. Our day-cruise included a small lunch: chicken wrap, chips, granola bar, & cookie. I knew that wouldn’t be enough for the guys, so I brought extra snacks. I’m sure that anyone w/ a super athletic 13-year old teenager can sympathize. He’s constantly hungry. And note that he constantly eats. Please don’t tell me to “Give that boy a hamburger!”, ‘cause he probably just ate two. Mind your business. 🍔 After our cruise, we got gas, stocked up on essentials (cold drinks & a warm salted pretzel) & headed to Anchorage. Wee B’s! A hamburger joint w/ greasy burgers, shakes, & arcade games (which I previously noticed in images posted online). When we got there, I handed the guys a bunch of quarters & instantly moved up the ranks for “mom of the year”. 6th & H Street Garage via Easy Park Alaska! We parked in this public garage diagonally across from the hotel. Easy, safe, & cheap. $1.25 per hour. Marriott Anchorage Downtown! Special “friends & family rate” for “doubles”. We opted to stay in the room for the rest of the night. I think our travels have caught up with us & we’re all very tired. And cold. It’s not “layer up & you’ll be fine” weather. It’s cold. Very very cold. Out of the two Marriott properties (Marriott Anchorage Downtown vs Sheraton Anchorage Resort & Spa) the Marriott Anchorage Downtown is far superior. Rooms were very modern & well appointed. 1 more “goodnight moon” until we board the Majestic Princess! Wait … what? Yipee!

@minniegidget The guys "catch & release" on all of our vacations. They literally go fishing once a week back home (kayak or boat). A girl can only handle so much fish guts. Not on vacation! Sometimes, we give the fish to locals. My husband once caught a Pompano in Pensacola & the people next to us flipped out when we released him. 🤣

@bandyttu This made me laugh out loud! At least they made an attempt! 🤣

Day 9 – Thu Jun 15 (43° at 10PM) Greetings from Seward, Alaska! This morning in Whittier, we woke up early & drove over to the Phillips Cruises lot. We parked & then took a long walk, as we had plenty of time before our departure. Lazy Otter Café! My son learned about instant karma & doing the right thing even when you don’t want to. We walked down to this snuggly little cafe & were greeted w/ warm smiles & a friendly welcome. As usual, the guys took a while to decide on what they wanted, but the employees were so patient & kind. As we were waiting on our order, a “gentleman” who had been eating breakfast in the cafe proceeded to leave, but prior to doing so, he began to complain to the staff that his food “could have been warmer”. I’m not sure what you can expect in 40’! There are icebergs floatin’ around up here! As he was complaining, I noticed he left his wallet & phone on the table. I really wanted to let him leave without them, but I couldn’t bring myself to let him, so I said “Excuse me sir,” about five times while tapping him on the shoulder, but he refused to turn around or acknowledge me & walked out the door. I reluctantly resorted to a loud “Hey you! You left your wallet & phone on the table”. He finally turned around, looked at me, came back inside to pick up his stuff, & left without saying a word. Sigh. We walked back to the parking lot in the rain & boarded the M/V Bravest for our day cruise. How does that song go again? “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale. A tale of a fateful trip. That started from this super cold port. Aboard this tiny ship.” Phillips Cruises. 26 Glacier Cruise. We made it out to Harvard Glacier & marveled at the cracking ice. We witnessed a little bit of calving. Shortly thereafter, they informed us that we’d lost an engine & were headed back to shore. Thus, we missed the majority of the tour. Such is life. The cruise included a “hot meal”, which consisted of “wild Alaskan smoked salmon chowder w/ oyster crackers; fresh julienne vegetable salad; multi-grain roll; a cheddar cheese snack; a fruit snack; & peppermint patty”. Our assigned seats were at a tight table for six with another family of three from Detroit. They were very nice & we were fortunate to have them as our tablemates. In hindsight, I should NOT have booked an expensive day cruise out of Whittier, especially since we’ll soon be boarding the Majestic Princess in all her glory! Expensive lesson learned. $641.85/3=213.95. Our valuable time would have been much better spent on our own, with an extra day continuing our exploration of either Homer or Seward. After we docked, we tried to high-tail it out of Whittier, but our “release” was delayed. First, we had to wait for an incoming train. Then we had to wait for an outgoing ambulance. Once we got to the other side, we were stopped again. A rescue helicopter was hovering overhead & proceeded to land directly in front of us. The ambulance was there waiting. We counted our blessings & threw a few prayers up for all involved. Life is so short. By the time we got going, I really had to pee! We stopped by the Portage Glacier Welcome Center, but it was closed. We stopped by a stand-alone bathroom on the side of the road, but it was locked. Not a porta-potty to be found. Good lord. Exit Glacier Lodge! Fabulous! Super clean, all warm & cozy! And a nice bathroom! 😉 2 more “goodnight moons” until we board the Majestic Princess!

Day 8 – Wed Jun 14 (41’ at 10PM) Greetings from Whittier, Alaska! This morning, we stopped by the Fishing Hole in Homer for one last look. We pulled in next to a white truck w/ large black trash bags in the bed. We jokingly questioned the contents. My husband laughed & said the bags were moving. It was all very funny until we noticed a red tag on one of the bags. It was labeled: DEAD. Clearly we’ve watched one too many episodes of Forensic Files ‘cause my husband threw it into reverse & said our time in Homer was officially over. 🤪 Bagel Shop! I’d never had a bagel (or even heard of bagels) until I was in high school. After gym class one day, a girl threw up in the sink. “What the heck did you eat?”, I asked, peering disgustingly at the chunks of bread that she had regurgitated. “A bagel,” she responded through tears. Despite our terrible introduction, I’ve grown to love bagels, especially poppy seed bagels! The more, the merrier! The Bagel Shop was very nice! Warm & cozy! Umami Lox on poppy seed for me. Surf ‘n Turf on multigrain for my husband. Cream cheese on poppy seed & a hot chocolate w/ whipped cream for Colt. Sterling Highway! After breakfast, we hit the road. About 5 minutes out of Homer, my husband proclaimed that he was sleepy (didn’t we just wake up?), so I drove us across the Kenai Peninsula en route to Whittier. We made a few stops along the way, but mostly we just focused on gettin’ to where we’ were gettin’. We passed a tackle store near Cooper Landing & suddenly my husband wasn’t so sleepy anymore. Sigh. I stopped & the guys bought a few flies (despite not being fly fishermen). The flies are super cute though & look like little bugs - an ant, a bee, etc. We also stopped at a post office, where we bought a box for the fishing poles. Sigh. Not sure if Princess will even allow us to take them on the ship! Double sigh. Traffic in Alaska has been non-existent. We haven’t experienced any delays. The speeds are a little slower than we’re accustomed to, but the roads are also much more winding. The snow & ice must wreak havoc, as many of the roads we’ve driven on are in poor condition (pot hole after pot hole). We noticed that there are far fewer 18-wheelers to share the road with (in comparison to 75 in Florida where it’s essentially a big rig convoy 24/7). We also noticed that there’s no garbage blowin’ all around & there’s no dead animals on the sides of the highways. Portage Glacier. The park rangers were a little grumpy, but I guess we all have bad days. We had hoped to hike the Byron Glacier Trail, but it was pouring rain & freezing cold, so we stamped Colt’s NPS passport & moved along. Anton Anderson Memorial (Whittier) Tunnel! We hadn’t timed it, but literally arrived about two minutes before it opened for southbound traffic. The tunnel was not as daunting as expected. Every so often, we passed a “Safe Room”, which of course resulted in discussions of alien invasions and nuclear fallout. Sigh. Whittier Sign! Photo opp! Anchor Inn. Sigh. It’s not as though there were many options. Similar to the Breeze Inn in Seward, we paid a 3 star “lower-48” rate for 2 star digs. There are two buildings that comprise “The Anchor Inn”: A three-story building that contains a bar/restaurant on the second floor (which is where we checked in) & a two-story building in which the motel rooms are housed (on the second floor, over the Prince William Sound Museum). $189 night. Someone at the bar pointed me to the check-in desk, which was in the middle of the restaurant, inches away from a guy enjoying his dinner. About 20 minutes later, someone showed up, handed me an old-school key, & sent me on my way. I must admit that I had a little panic attack upon entering the building in which the hotel rooms are located. Maybe it was more than a “little panic attack”. Maybe I’m a little homesick, very tired, super cold, & completely exhausted. Maybe it’s knowing that I’m literally trapped in this town with no way out until tomorrow. Maybe the room smells a little … a lot. It smells terrible. The room is clean, but the smell is overpowering. Much to my husband’s dismay, I opened the window. Wide. It’s in the low 40’s, but a girl has got to breathe! We set out to explore Whittier & to get some fresh air. Begich Towers! Almost everyone in Whittier lives in this building? Say it isn’t so! I grew up in military housing, but at least there was more than one building in which to live. Whittier Creek Falls! Small falls off the side of a parking lot. Whittier Harbor! Lots of weather-beaten boats hanging tight to rusty old cleats on frayed lines. Buckner Building. I have no words. Whittier Ice Cream & Pizza! Their pizza is of the flatbread variety. Hawaiian for Colt, All Meat for my husband. Pepperoni for me. Super cheesy! After we ate, I felt a lot better. The two employees manning the shop (one from Guam, one from Texas) were super friendly. Back at the old Anchor Inn, the guys washed & dried another load. I’m so grateful! There’s a laundry mat right on the premises, which is convenient, but it needs “a little something” … like a disco ball, 70’s jams, old school arcade games, cupcakes, whiskey shots … anything to make the spin cycle a little more exciting. The smell in the "inn" is overpowering. I texted my old German mom back home in Florida & she told me to brew some coffee. I thought it was a great idea, so I tried, but the coffee machine was broken. I spent the rest of the night in front of the open window. We were literally a few yards away from the rail yard & it was fascinating to watch. They were loading all kinds of machinery onto rail cars - RVs, boats, heavy equipment, etc. Those fork lifts were pulling double duty! It was very evident that whoever was driving them was very skilled. 3 more “goodnight moons” until we board the Majestic Princess!

Somehow, I've fallen behind. Let's see if I can catch up before we embark on our cruise tomorrow! I just took an hour long shower & am now sitting w/ my feet up in a comfy chair by the window of our hotel room on the 10th floor overlooking Knik Arm. The sun is still very high. I asked my husband to go buy me a little bottle of champagne from the hotel lobby, but he said he's "too tired". I bet he wouldn't be "too tired" if I asked him if he wanted to go fishing! Sigh.

@gottagoacruzn Thank you! I am so ready for this part of our trip!

@Stealthdog Thanks so much, JC! Appreciate the information! I've been reading along & hope you & Eric have had a fantastic cruise! I imagine that you're all packed up & ready to get off the ship. Enjoy your last night! Drink a glass of champagne for me & know that tomorrow I will be thinking of you as you disembark & we embark! Enjoy Denali! Safe travels back home!

@cr8tiv1 Nice! There’s nothing better than a little more Aloha in our life!

Mahalo for your kind words @cr8tiv1! Oh how I miss those gorgeous Hawaiian sunsets from the west side!

Day 7 – Tue Jun 13 (48° at Midnight) Greetings from Homer, Alaska! We were very tired last night, so we decided not to set the alarm & to just wake up “whenever”. Thus, we finally “slept in”! Hooray! We tried to grab bagels at a nearby shop, but they were closed. McDonalds! Since we had already driven out of the Spit in search of the bagel shop, we decided to just grab breakfast here. Apparently, everyone else decided on breakfast here too ‘cause the drive thru line was standing room only. My husband & Colt decided it would be quicker to go inside & I’m glad they did because theirs was the last breakfast order. My husband said the person behind him caused a scene because she wanted breakfast too. I guess she’s not “lovin’ it”! Beluga Lake! Short walk to a small dock on the lake where apparently, everyone owns a floatplane. Skyline Drive! Great views! So glad we drove up here ‘cause it gave us a great perspective of the Spit! Wynn Nature Center! Set in a boreal forest, we walked the squishy boggy trails. They were not yet “officially” open for the season & thus we were let in free. Lots of poop, but no animal sightings, although they said a porcupine was sighted just prior to our arrival. Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center! Quick stop to stamp Colt’s NPS Passport. Bishop’s Beach! Beachcombing! My husband found an interesting starfish. Lots of dogs here running free. Really makes me miss my beloved Bruno & Copper the Whopper. My mom tells me that my dad is walking them. I sure hope he hangs on tight ‘cause he’s in for one wild ride. Swell Taco. Rockfish tacos for the guys & a halibut taco for me. These were expensive single bite tacos, meaning it literally took us each one bite to finish them off. Our very hungry stomachs were disgruntled. Sea Sweets. Six mini cinnamon & sugar donuts to share. Seafarer’s Memorial! In memory of those lost at sea. End of the Road Park! The guys trekked down to the water & set up camp: two poles lodged into makeshift holders assembled from driftwood & rocks. The rest of their stuff was scattered all about in complete disarray. And then they waited. And waited. And waited. Until lightning struck. They were on fire. Both of them were reeling in fish. One after another after another. They even reeled in a pair at the same time. They were jumping up & down, dancing, giving high fives. Their laughter was contagious! They ran out of bait at one point, so they drove to Sportsman Supply to purchase more. They were greeted by the friendly staff there as “The Florida Boys”! When they resumed their fishing bonanza, I noticed that my husband was wading out further & further in an attempt to cast out farther & farther. He does that a lot in Pensacola too, but there it’s swim trunks in the steamy Gulf. Here it’s waders in the icy Pacific! I guess in his excitement, he lost all situational awareness & now he has to throw in another load of laundry! He tried to pretend like nothing happened, but when he took his waders off, I saw him dump about a gallon of ice cold ocean water out of each one. Sigh. While they were fishing, I watched otters do the backstroke - they are so cute! There were lots of bald eagles soaring overhead. I also watched the ferry being loaded & was quite surprised by the variety of vehicles - in addition to cars, trucks, & vans, there was a bulldozer & a “fish school bus”. Boardwalk Fish & Chips! Cod basket for my husband, cheeseburger for Colt, & salmon burger for me. After dinner, the guys ran around on the beach for several hours. Salty Stays Oceanfront Room #1! We headed back to our cozy room for what I thought was the rest of the night, but the guys decided to … go fishing again! They fished long after the sun had officially set … just past midnight. Making every minute count! I watched another ferry being loaded; found more otters around the bend; discovered a swing under the dock; & photographed an eagle that wasn’t bald. At first I thought it was a different kind of eagle, but now I wonder if it was a baby baldy? 4 more “goodnight moons” until we board the Majestic Princess!

@gottagoacruzn We are still driving around Alaska. Our ship, the Majestic Princess, departs Whittier, AK, this Saturday. I'm so excited!

@Tyskie Usually, I’m right there with them! Celebrating their catches or consoling their losses! I love to take pictures, so I walk the beach, photograph the wildlife, enjoy the scenery, explore the surroundings, etc.

Day 6 – Mon Jun 12 (40° at 10PM) Greetings from Homer, Alaska! You’re never going to believe how we spent our day in Soldotna. Champagne breakfast at an outdoor cafe on a cobblestone street? Nope. Picnic lunch on a grassy knoll filled with wildflowers? Nope. Romantic candlelit dinner at an Italian bistro w/ Tiramisu for dessert? Nope. We (they) fished on the Kenai River under a bridge covered in graffiti. And we would’ve been there all day long had the guys not lost all the lures they just bought at Ken’s Tackle across the way! In hindsight, the bridge was an ideal spot, because it started pouring & we stayed perfectly dry (for once)! This morning, we got a little bit of a late start. My dear husband gathered up every single piece of dirty laundry & took it to the wash. Two loads later, all of our clothes are washed, dried, folded, & re-packed. It smells like a Downy commercial up in here! Does anyone remember those old commercials from the 90’s … “Hello mother; Hello father; Greetings from Camp Hiasomething; Swimming’s cool here, but this place is … not like home … I miss those nice fresh pillow cases!” Soldotna Visitors Center! So very friendly! Gave us a photocopy of the fishing rig setup we’d need & sent us across the way to “Ken’s”. Ken’s! When we walked in, I think my husband was surprised to see two girls running the shop ‘cause he asked them if there was “anyone available” to help him setup his rigs. I was smiling from ear to ear when those girls taught him everything he needed to know for a day on the Kenai. You’d think by now he’d know that girls rule the world … but maybe he just forgot. Kenai River! Very nice setup. There’s a boardwalk along the river from which you can fish your heart out. While the guys were fishing, I made a lot of new friends … there was itchy, scratchy, zika, dengue, & malaria. Now these skeeters weren’t quite as big as the ones we met in Texas City, Texas a few years back, but they were just as hungry. This was the first time we encountered mosquitoes in Alaska. I guess it was because we were further inland. Kasilof River State Recreation Site. There were tons of cars parked here, but not a soul to be found! My husband walked down to the river to “take a look”, but didn’t see a single person fishing. As we drove away, the guys concocted all sorts of explanations for their whereabouts - from alien abductions to bear attacks. Sigh. Ninilchik Russian Orthodox Church! What a gorgeous setting. We were also treated to a baby moose & her mama! Homer Spit! We walked the beach, taking in the incredibly scenic views. Then the guys slipped on their waders & splashed around in the water for hours - skipping rocks, chasing waves, jumping into pools of water, & various other shenanigans. Airbnb! Our very first Airbnb! I was ridiculously nervous, but the intriguing little room above a shop on the boardwalk of the spit pulled me in! Perched precariously on the sand, it appeared small, sparse, & clean. Perfect for our needs! Salty Stays Oceanfront Room #1! Booked for 2 nights. Upon arrival, we determined that it was beyond perfect! The location was idyllic Homer, Alaska! Directly on the spit, across from the harbor, down the street from the Fishing Hole! It had everything we needed: queen bed, bunk-bed, mini fridge, mini microwave, & clean bathroom. The carpet-less floors made my OCD-self extra happy. The best part? The exceptional view from the large window overlooking/overlapping the water. $450.76/2=$225.38. Beluga Slough Trail! We walked the trail & were excited to see a trio of Sandhill Cranes (mom/dad/baby), which was especially heartwarming because baby crane’s are called … colts! Circle Hook! Photo opp. Sportsman Supply & Rental! Manned by three women who set my husband up w/ the rigs he needed to fish in Homer. Homer Boat Harbor! So many boats! Little boats. Big boats. Lots of long liners. We learned all about long line fishing on the Honolulu Fish Auction Tour that we took in December. McDonalds! I know, I know, but did you know that McDonalds in Alaska sells a special burger … the Denali - a modified Big Mac! Lots of restaurants in Homer seem to have either gone out of business, close very early, or are closed on Mondays/Tuesdays. Fishing Hole! The guys fished & fished & fished & … Tackle Shack! My husband had to run over to get some more bait! The guys fished until midnight. They're living their best life, no doubt! Then we came “home” & admired the view. We fell asleep to the waves crashing under our abode. What a fantastic way to end a great day. 5 more “goodnight moons” until we board the Majestic Princess!

@Pluto_fan Anchorage has two teams! Here’s a link to the full schedule for all teams! Not sure if this will work, if not, I will repost tonight when we get to the hotel: http://www.matsuminers.org/files/uploaded_documents/1498/2023_Alaska_Baseball_League_Official_Schedule_4.pdf

Day 5 – Sun Jun 11 (42° at 10PM) Greetings from Soldotna, Alaska! This town was not part of our itinerary, but I’m getting good at improvising. We woke up early in Seward & got going. Lighthouse Cafe & Bakery! A pecan sticky bun & a Dr Pepper from the fountain! A great start to the day! Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor’s Center. Quick stop to stamp Colt’s NPS passport. Seward Boat Harbor! We met a nice couple while walking the docks, admiring the boats. They were from Phoenix, but spend their summers on a sailboat in Seward. Buck & his wife were pushing 70, but full of life! They were so very sweet - told me to stop by their sailboat if I got too cold & they’d let me borrow a thick winter jacket! ❤️ Afterwards, my husband reminded me about an old made for tv movie (And the Sea Will Tell) that we recently rewatched (a true crime story) - about Buck and his sailboat! LOL! Fish House! A bait & tackle shop where the guys stocked up on more “souvenirs”. Bay Barge Company! Another bait & tackle shop. How many souvenirs do two guys really need? The old guy here was super nice, pulled out a map & showed my husband exactly where to fish. Lowell Point State Recreation Area! We walked a short path to the black sand/pebble beach that was insanely gorgeous: the mountain tops were covered in fresh snow; the fog was slowly rolling in; a cold rain was falling from the sky; a seal played in the water; green trees encircled us; & a little island just off the shore was waiting to be explored. The guys headed right over, fishing poles in hand. The water was low enough so that they could walk over on stones that had been piled up. I walked the beach & took in the scenery. Firebrand BBQ! Brisket sandwich topped w/ slaw for my husband; turkey sandwich for Colt; pork belly sandwich topped w/ slaw for me. A bags of chips to share & two drinks. “Two Giant Puffins” mural. Photo opp! Downtown Seward! Seward is very different from what I imagined. It’s not a sleepy little fishing town, it’s a busting tourist mecca. 4th of July Beach! We drove by the beach & the guys got all excited ‘cause there were literally hundreds of fishermen - all dressed up in their snazzy green waders. We quickly parked & the guys threw on their own new waders & rushed down to the beach … only to discover that the fishing was taking place about a mile & a half out in the water. My husband reluctantly decided that they were probably not appropriately equipped & thus we slowly walked back to the car. My son was very disappointed. Along the way back, we passed two guys who were putting on their waders behind their big black truck filled with fishing gear. They asked us if we caught anything. We all laughed, told them we were from Florida, had no idea what we were doing, & were thus giving up before getting started. They proceeded to give my guys a 10 minute “lesson” on fishing in Alaska, gifted them w/ multiple hooks, & directed them down the road to a place where they wouldn’t have to walk so far out to fish. It’s moments like this that I live for. Pure kindness from complete strangers. ❤️ We proceeded down the road as instructed & the guys fished their hearts out. They didn’t catch anything, but had so much fun trying! They came back to the car once to warm up & switch into dry clothes (as it was pouring rain), but quickly headed back out. My son was so wet, I gave him my sweatshirt, which is now sopping wet too. When all was said & done, they were frozen to the bone, soaking wet, & filled with happiness. Red noses & blue lips. I hope my son remembers those two guys from Seward & the fun he had trying to snag salmon at Derby Cove for the rest of his life. ❤️ My husband told me that while they were out there fishing, another guy came over to show them how to do it ‘cause they were “doing it all wrong”! And then yet another guy showed them where the cutoff was for the fish they were trying to catch. The kindness from strangers has been overwhelming. ❤️ At around 6PM, we decided that we’d better get going. The great thing about Alaska is that it stays light out forever & thus driving at night is fantastic. You can accomplish so much in one day! Fred Meyer! We’re not familiar with this grocery chain, but we stopped for a few grab & goes for dinner in the car. Sushi, sandwiches, coleslaw, noodle salad, & Alaskan chips. Best Western King Salmon Inn. An old roadside motel like back in the day. We can’t complain as it’s clean, seems safe, & was affordable. It even has a little old-school charm w/ a cute pattern on the carpet (moose/fish/bear); light wood furniture; & two canvases on the wall – one of a moose & one of a bear. Once we were settled in for the night, my husband & I got into a little "tiff". He had the straight-up nerve to complain about the oatmeal that I brought, which exploded in transit & is now stuck in every crevice of one of our bags. "You've got to be kidding me!" I squawked! "Everything I own is a wet sopping mess, is covered in mud, & smells like tuna fish!" "Have you lost your mind?" We may, in fact, stink to the holy heavens, but not because of my oatmeal! So if you encounter us on the ship & think to yourself that we smell a bit like brown sugar & maple syrup ... know that it could be much worse! Much, much worse! 6 more “goodnight moons” until we board the Majestic Princess!

Thanks so much @CruzeQueen2! Although we’re cold & exhausted, we’re having so much fun! Today, I bundled up Colt so much that he said he couldn’t breathe & felt like a mummy! And I made my husband wear a poncho in an attempt to keep him dry, but he ended up getting all tangled up in it & eventually ripped it off. How a grown man gets tangled in a plastic poncho? I have no idea. But it was hilarious! @Hogladyrider We brought our swimsuits, but I don’t think there’s any way we’ll be stripping down to get in a hot tub ‘cause at some point we’ll have to get out & that would be brutal! Enjoy those gorgeous arches in Utah! Did you ride a Harley all the way there??? @minniegidget It’s so different from what we imagined in so many ways! I hope you get to road trip through Alaska some day soon!

It’s 44° here in Seward. It snowed last night & the mountains got covered in fresh flakes. It’s currently raining. We “layered up” & headed to a black sand beach where the guys are shore fishing on a little island while a hungry seal happily splashes around. Life is good. 💙🥶💨💦🐟🎣❄️

Day 4 – Sat Jun 10 (43° at 10PM) Greetings from Seward, Alaska! This morning in Anchorage, we were slightly delayed as I attempted to change some of our travel plans due to an incoming storm. I was able to reschedule our Kenai Fjords 6 hour National Park Tour & cancel one of the nights at our hotel. We’ll have to figure out the rest of it along the way. Seward Highway! It was an incredibly scenic day & we made numerous stops along the way. We discovered that our SUV is a hybrid & that’s why our gas gauge is not going down! Nice! We also discovered that it has a sun roof, which is really great – we can leave it open for fresh air while blasting the heater & keeping the heated seats on high. Bell’s “Highway Road Logs”! I downloaded the logs in advance & we’ll utilize them throughout our road trip. McHugh Creek Day Use Area! Scenic stop for great views out over Turnagain Arm. There’s a small “waterfall” here a short walk from the parking area, although I’d call it more of a “spill-over”. Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge! We walked the elevated boardwalk at Potter Marsh! A mighty moose was snoozing in the bushes. Lots of birding opportunities! Beluga Point! Sadly, we didn’t spot any whales. Windy Corner! We stopped to view the Dall sheep, but they were playing hide & seek. Bird Point! Great views of the mountains & the Turnagain Arm. Alpine Café & Bakery! “Sweet” spot along the way. We shared a cinnamon bun & hot chocolate as the temperature was dropping. Chugach National Forest Sign! Photo opp! Old Portage Townsite! We drove by ruins from the 1964 Earthquake, including a “Ghost Forest” of dead trees that were killed when saltwater flooded their roots, which in turn, also helps preserve them in their “ghost-like” state. Kenai Welcome Sign! Photo opp! Kenai Fjords National Park! We stopped at the Exit Glacier Nature Center to stamp Colt’s National Park Passport & then, much to my husband’s delight, we hiked the Exit Glacier View Loop Trail (1m) & the Exit Glacier Overlook Trail (2.2m). Welcome to Seward Sign! Photo opp! Benny Benson Memorial Park! In honor of the man who, at thirteen years of age, designed the state flag! “The blue field is for the Alaska sky & the forget-me-not, an Alaska flower. The North Star is for the future of the state of Alaska, the most northerly in the Union. The dipper is for the Great Bear – symbolizing strength.” I think it’s an absolutely gorgeous design! Simple, yet effective! Lowell Creek Waterfall! A nice gusher on the side of the road. Waterfall Beach! We beachcombed the small cove. Subway. Sigh. By the time we went to eat dinner, everything was fixin’ to close, so we stopped by this old sandwich chain. We haven’t eaten here in years. Apparently, they tried changing the menu - numbering the subs & giving them fancy new descriptions. But we weren’t fooled. Same old subs. We enjoyed our combo meals by the water, where a pair of bald eagles joined us! They were noshing on fresh fish! Jealous! Breeze Inn. We did not get what we paid for, but I knew that in advance. We paid a “lower-48” 3 star rate for 2 star Alaska digs. Booked for 1 night. $220.89 a night. The Breeze Inn isn’t terrible, but it’s not an easy, breezy, beautiful cover-girl either. It’s clean enough & feels safe enough, so I guess it’s good enough. I suppose I’ve stayed in far worse … a “wigwam” in Holbrook, Arizona; a “historic” inn on Route 66; a motel in Columbus, Georgia where cinder blocks held up the mattress (we checked out of that one mere minutes after we checked in & we weren’t surprised when they found a dead body under a bed in one of the rooms there a few weeks later)! The Breeze Inn comes with free entertainment! The show started at 11PM & went on All. Night. Long. The new kids on the block performed first – they were singing their hearts out! Step by step, they were hangin’ tough until 3AM! They were followed by the mamas & the papas, who were dancing in the street! Sigh. All we wanted was a little California Dreamin’! 7 more “goodnight moons” until we board the Majestic Princess!

Greetings all! We had a very long day & I’m too tired to post. Our plans have changed due to an incoming storm, so I’m also a bit frazzled. Will catch up tomorrow morning! I’m glad we stopped to frolick in the dandelions ‘cause we’re about to get really wet.