From the Observation Lounge

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Oh the excitement of getting on the ferry! She loomed way above the

dock, looking like an adventure to happen. and I was oh so ready!



I got down to the ferry terminal around lunchtime, happy to wander

around for the four hours till check in time. I had my luggage stowed

early as I did not want to carry that everywhere I went. I was sort of

astounded at the weight of my backpack, and the much smaller carry on

bag - they grounded me totally - literally. Anyway - I took a wander up

the road to the little town of Fairhaven - it has a lovely hill, where

you have the opportunity of testing out your leg strength and lung

capacity. I met a couple of other women who are also on the ferry and we

wandered through the town enjoying the peaceful effect before heading

back down to the ferry terminal.



The next couple of hours was spent wandering around, taking way too

many photos of her - the M/V Malaspina. The ferries are also known as

the "Blue Canoes". Slowly people arrived, dragging all shapes and sizes

of luggage - some had boxes on home made carts, others fancy, high

dollar luggage with all the matching labels. It was interesting to sit

and watch this mixture of people all heading North. Everyone has a

story and I sat there drooling at the opportunity, not just for the

photos, but the stories!



After asking whether I could board and getting permission, I took that

long walk down the loading ramp into the belly of the ship. I sort of

giggled/snortled when I stepped in - it was like walking into the mouth

of a huge big whale. And then my eyes got used to the dark inside and I

wound my way through the tightly packed cars to the elevator and up to

the Pursers office where I could go and claim my cabin.... my cabin with

a view.



Its hard to describe the feelings of just this part so far. I was

obviously excited, teetering on the edge of my comfort zone, and yet so

much at peace, totally comfortable and............ well, lets just say

that I did not have to go and hunt a smile - one was wrapped firmly

around my face.



And so - after claiming my cabin, exploring the boat, heading down to

claim my luggage from the car deck,which is as far as they deliver it, I

was ready for some picture snapping. Grabbing Gypsey, we made a good

few circles around the entire boat - again.. There are not too many

tents on the top deck and the heated solarium is not very crowded either

- it almost makes me wish I had just camped out up there.



The most glorious sunset arrived on the horizon not too long after we

left Bellingham, and about the only sounds heard for a while was the

ooh-ing and aaah-ing along with the click of multiple cameras, as the

sky softened and the sun slide behind a mountain and then lit up the

clouds all around.



Talking to others on the boat is easy and free - almost everyone is

friendly and so easy to start a conversation with anyone. The food is

delicious.



Right now, sitting in the observation lounge, going through Queen

Charlotte straight, lovely scenery - countless little islands all

over. The Canadian Geese are heading north in huge flocks and the snow

capped mountains slide continuously by. It is so absolutely peaceful

and the ferry is much quieter than I thought it would be. We have just

taken a left turn, the zig zag through some of the islands here - on my

right is a view right out of my dreams.... water, mountains, snow, geese

and in front of us now is a narrow channel through two islands and

another right in front.



We have had two whale sightings, smaller whales, and they were not at

all energetic.... I snapped some photos of bald eagles way up in the

trees as well, but the views of the mountains, the snow caps, the

waterfalls and just the softness of the sky today was definitely the

winner. Both cameras rubbed my neck raw today, so I will have to make a

plan about that..... if I just use my camera harness for the heavier

one, it would help, I would imagine. The obnoxiously big camera has

been performing so incredibly well today and wow, I could not have got a

few hundred great shots that I nabbed today, without it! At first I was

a tad reluctant, almost embarrassed to walk around with the two, but now

I really dont give a hoot. And there is an added bonus - people now

come looking for me when they see something interesting!



Much of the time has been spent chatting out on the decks, sometimes

while cowering in a nook away from the wind and other times braving the

wind and icy cold to try for that perfect shot. Many of the folks on

board are headed up to Alaska for jobs, to go home again,and in the case

of a few - on a whole new adventure of just packing up to see when the

road takes them. It's fascinating to hear their stories of their lives

and how utterly different is is from the lower 48's. Conversations

start easily and are just as easily put on pause and something else nabs

attention, and then later in the day, that same string is carried on

again as if no time had passed. Lovely.



I am sitting in the dark observation room again, its about 10pm and its

beautifully peaceful in here. There are three others in here, but we

are all just keeping to ourselves, its almost like in a church - you

know not to talk - not now. Everyone is watching the darkness go by,

with the occasional blinking of the navigational light or the spotlight

of the boat lighting up something. I wish I could stay up here all

night long.



Tomorrow morning early, we will arrive in Ketchican, Alaska. Our cell

phones should get signal again, which is almost a pity, its really been

great without the ringing of phones all around. I figure about a third

of the passengers get off tomorrow and anticipate and almost empty boat

for the ride back down next week. There is a travel group on board -

RoadScholar and the leader of the group has invited me along on all and

any of their tours. I think I am going to go with them tomorrow - but

might break away and just wander around. We have 5 hours there, but the

tourist season is not yet open, so almost everything is closed down.

Not quite sure what I will end up doing and might go and talk to the

Purser before tucking in for the night.



It has been an incredible day. The views have moved me to misty eyes at

times, the air is fresh and crisp - apart from the one guy on board who

smokes a simply delicious smelling cigar! Its wonderful to be here. I

am going to watch the darkness go by for just a few more minutes and

then off to call it a night. The motor has a gentle throb to it, very

soothing, and very early this morning I woke up to the knowledge that my

feet were higher than my head, and then it slowly switched around - I

just lay there with a very happy grin on my face until I drifted back

off to sleep. So far its been a really quiet ride with only a little

bit of bumpiness earlier, but I still managed to walk with a cup of

coffee and not spill it - so it was not too bad at all.



More tomorrow



Annie



Xx

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