Monday, September 15, 2008

North! To Alaska!

What a great Trip! Pat and I went on an Alaska cruise of the inside passage. These pictures will give you a little of the flavor of what we experienced. I came to realize that Alaska is: Big, Beautiful, Wet, and Cold.

Saturday, September 6, 2008
Leaving Seattle. I am still amazed how the cruise ship crew can manuever a 100,000+ ton piece of steel around like they do.


Sunday, September 7
Just chilled out at sea with the other 16 Cargill employees and spouses. Here is Shane and Jennifer Holt enjoying a little sushi.




Monday, September 8
Our first stop, Juneau (we did see Governor Palin's mansion). We had a great excursion of the Mendenhall Glacier (would you believe this icefield is 1500 square miles!), went to the state museum, nature trails, and a large salmon hatchery (see me kissing one below).






Tuesday, September 9
Up to Skagway. This is very much a gold rush town (research 1898-1900). We had a great time riding the train to the top of Pass (3000 ft). We rode a Motor Coach (aka bus) back down taken pictures along the way. The young lady with Pat was our bus driver and tour guide. We went to a cool place that was converted into a late 19th century gold mine where we panned for gold. We panned out about $13 in gold and then subsequently had it made into a $25 necklace. Ah, capitalism. The population of Skagway is around 800. Back during the gold rush there were over 80 brothels in town. Our tour ended by taken a tour of the Skagway Inn and also eating lunch there. It was also known for its infamous activity.








Wednesday, September 10
A day on the Golden Princess. We were really looking forward to this day. This big cruise ship took us up the Tracy Arm Fjord. You can tell from our pictures that this was a cold, wet day. The upside was numerous waterfalls created as well as the subdued light making the icebergs appear a brilliant blue color. You can see the icebergs floating around and pictures of the glaciers. An incredible place.













Thursday, September 11
A great day in Ketchikan. We went with one of my consultants and his wife (Jed and Jaimee Southwick from Richfield) on a adventurous Backcountry Four Wheel safari and then canoed a cross a beautiful lake for lunch. We had an absolute blast. We thought it was going to be tame, but we had water and mud flying completely over the top of our jeep. (see the vegetation on top of the jeep). The five twenty something guides cooked us a great chowder and salmon meal, took us on a nature lecture. Of course we were the fastest canoe. The last picture in this section was also our last formal night. As you may know, you eat way too much on these cruises.










Friday, September 12
We concluded our trip in Victory, B.C. As you will remember, we went here last year for the sales contest trip so many of us were quite familiar with the area. Victoria is definitely a beautiful city. Flowers like none other.