Blogs from Seward, Alaska, United States, North America - page 3

Well, it started raining early this morning, and was still drizzling when we got up, although there are signs that the sun is wanting to break through. We slept in late this morning, and may have to start setting our alarm at night again in order to be on our way at 8:00. After breakfast and packing up the RV, we were on our way to Seward. The trip north on the Sterling highway was pretty uneventful, with the low clouds and light rain spoiling the scenery. We retraced our tracks from two days before until we got to Rte 9, near Cooper Landing, and we headed south. Just north of Seward, there was a turn off to "Exit Glacier National Park", so we decided to take the 8 mile road up, and see what that ... read more

It has been a very long time since I have posted, but really gonna try to do better and start catching up on these blogs. Yes, Alaska is part of the US, but it seems like a world away and most of the time seem like a completely different world. Seems like that place you only see in magazines and never in real life. Well, we were due for our September vacation and Alaska came up as cheap and reasonable. Well it was pretty late in September so we were not sure this would really be the best decision (we have considered summer vacations in Alaska several times, but the prices were totally outrageous and out of this world). We do things off-season when we know we should not so we went for it. Why not? ... read more

First full day at sea. No real issues other than a rather hot room - easily fixed by lowering the temperature control. I noticed that there was a stretch class at 0700 so do the right thing and get up for that. Arrive early so do some bike work, then on to the rower for a warm up - need to wear off all that crispy bacon..... Miss the start of the stretch class and now no room so continue with some gym junkie stuff..... After half hour have had enough so leave and wander the ship. Find all sorts of areas and the other food places. Interesting time and lack of people to do a reccie.... Back to the room and have a shower - good pressure but not much room, the cat is safe. ... read more

On Wednesday, my wonderful hostess and niece, Ginny, delivered me to the train station at 5:45 am to catch the train to Seward where I'm hoping to go horseback riding, kayaking and see some bear, moose and glaciers! I have a message into the horseback riding tour and am hoping to hear back from them. Now, I'm not a morning person, but catching this train was worth it. There are some incredible views and the conductor provides commentary the entire trip, stopping the train to view beluga whales in the Turnagain Arm and a bald eaglet getting ready to leave the nest! Very cool! I learn how to remember the five types of salmon found in Alaska using only your hand: Thumb finger - Rhymes with "Chum" Index finger - you stick it out to sock ... read more

Very early morning departure from Anchorage on the Alaska Railway. Sitting on the train, ready for the trip to Seward, sounds of reveille were heard in the early morning, carried in the crisp morning air from the local military base. We were in the "D" car, which is similar to first class in commercial airplanes with more comfortable seating, a bit more leg room and fewer assigned seats in the car. The prior day, we were in the "C" car which was comfortable and we had no complaints with either arrangement. The train depot has a white tent for luggage service, and our bags were checked through to the ship for drop-off at our cabin later in the afternoon. The train route was much more scenic than the prior day's trip. In this route we encountered ... read more