Well I have finished off with a bit of a difference. I caught the hop on hop off bus and toured the city sights. I did get off when we got to the Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden. They do package deals so I bought a ticket to both the attractions. The Space Needle has an entrance time as they have to count numbers on the 2 elevators that go up to the top.

Anyway, I wandered around the Chihuly exhibits first. Amazing what someone can do with melted sand!!! The glass sculptures are different shapes and colours. Also amazing was that the sun was out when in the garden, so an extra added bonus as it was supposed to be raining again.

I got to the Space Needle half an hour early, but it didn’t matter as the queue was so long it took over half an hour to get to the elevator. Quick trip up to the Observation deck and then a walk all around the outside. Down one floor to the rotating glass floor. It used to be a restaurant but was renovated not too long ago to be another observation deck (with a bar in it of course!) If you look closely at the photo taken through the floor you can see the yellow/green, purple and blue glass sculptures that I’ve included in the ground level photos above.

Just one more night in Seattle, then the long trip home. 3 planes and 4 airports! I will get home eventually, lol.

Final location map: docked 6 am

Well, talk about a madhouse! All those people looking for cases and rides away from the port! I got away from it all about 9.15. Caught a taxi to the hotel and arranged for the driver to take me to the airport on Sunday. As I was early and they had a room available I had early check in so that was good. However, not much of a view. Except the big grey building is the Seattle Public Library.

I did attempt to go out for a walk, but it was raining and the cold wind so strong it turned my umbrella inside out, so I went back to my room. Dry & warm.

I’ve booked a trip on a hop on hop off bus tomorrow. Hopefully the weather won’t be quite so awful even though the forecast is more rain!!!

Location maps: 20.00 last night, 2.40 & 10.40 am, 15.00

Well last full day on the ship, and as I have to be off at around 8.20 am, not much time on it tomorrow.

We obviously had a slow cruising morning as we didn’t dock until 2, with the gangway opening up at 3. I had a whale watching tour planned, so did the long pier walk to get to the meeting spot. One bright spark thought we would be catching a bus to the water. Not sure what he thought Voyager had been sailing on, lol. Our boat was around the corner! As the weather wasn’t very nice, all grey and windy, I didn’t think we would see much and we didn’t. There was one humpback whale bobbing up and down occasionally and managed a tail shot!

By the time we got back it was decidedly raining!!!

Had a late dinner and then packed as the main suitcase has to be out by 10 pm. Hopefully it will be in the right spot to collect in the morning and then on to the Seattle hotel I have for a couple of nights.

Location map 4.40 am

I worked out why the afternoon excursions as I’ve another one in Victoria. It’s because the ship doesn’t get into port until the afternoon! Just took a little while for the penny to drop, lol.

Quite a miserable day, the fog horn was going for most of the morning. Then rain this afternoon/evening.

My air conditioner has been running on cold! The mechanic came in this afternoon and it was 18 degrees even though the thermostat was on high heat. He fiddled with something and now it’s much warmer in here.

Earlier in the week I got another thank you from the cruise line. It’s a very heavy glass ornament.

It was also monkey day today!

And… there was a sunset last night, I managed to catch this bit of.

Location maps 4 & 6.30 am & docked

Panorama from balcony

Just as well I did the panorama when I did as the Serenade of the Seas docked next to us and this was my view from then on!

I actually had an afternoon excursion. Not something I usually do as I prefer morning ones. However, as it was a wildlife cruise maybe they are better later in the day. It was a surprise to everyone that the day was sunny. They haven’t had a sunny day for almost a month, so it was good timing for us. Sitka Sound has lots of islands in it, so lots of locations for possible sightings.

We did see a couple of sea otters, circling bald eagles and an active nest. Our guide said there were 2 hatchlings last year, so hoping for more this year. Some Stellar sea lions on a buoy platform and later one swimming around. There was also a humpback whale feeding along a shoreline. We saw her blowing when she came up for air and her tail a couple of times.

I like this photo. I took it because it sort of looked like a volcano with a ball of vapour above it. Then the guide said it was a historical volcano meaning it isn’t quite dormant, but unlikely to erupt for a few thousand years.

Then back to the dock. The ship was at the end of the long pier and the gangway near the end of the ship too. Someone said it was a 400 yard dock, Whatever, it was long!!
Yet another time change tonight, forward again to match Seattle time! Only 3 more ship nights, 2 hotel nights, a plane night and then home!!!

This is what I closed my eyes on last night!

Location map 4.30 am. Oops, forgot the docked one again!

Woke up at 4.30 am to be greeted by this!

So nice to be able to stay in bed and watch the world go past!

I had an early morning tour up to White Pass, which is on the Canadian side of the border. Apparently the dock we were at is the windiest place in Skagway as the winds are funnelled up to it. It was bloomin’ cold! We had a nice 25 seater bus which is a great tour size. Allows quicker ons and offs! The driver/guide gave us a running commentary on most of the buildings we could see going up the main street of Skagway. She had a huge amount of information to impart as we travelled along the highway, through the Coast Mountains up to the Pass. Lots of snow still around and lots of water coming down the mountainsides. Cascades (temporary) and waterfalls (permanent) were visible all along the road sides. Also lots of snow poles. As this is the main highway down to the US it’s kept open all year, so lots of clearing in winter & spring. They set off controlled avalanches in spring and clear it immediately to help ensure the highway is always open.

When we got to the top, the driver said her hands were numb with the cold, which does not usually happen, so it was probably in the high 20s. Basically around minus 2 degrees. Yes, it was cold!!!!!!

We had to go back through US Customs on the way down the mountain. It was supposed to have been here at the top, but they decided it was way too cold, so it is further down the highway. If the peaks are rounded they were under glaciers during the Ice Age, if jagged & pointed then they were above the glaciers.

Back through Skagway, with all those mountains in the background! One of the original steam trains and also one of the trains used to clear the snow from the rail tracks.

Here’s a panorama from the balcony. I was looking at the views when the ship arrived in Skagway. She had to turn and reverse into dock, so I saw lots!

Had a late brunch and then tried napping as rather tired, but it didn’t happen. So will see how tonight goes. As the sunset is around 9.30 pm, it’s going to be light for a little while yet.

Location maps, early, a bit later, docked.

Well, I’ve made it to Alaska!! It’s cold, lol, Snow forecast for this evening.

I headed up to the pool as usual, but it was well and truly closed. Apparently it’s not open when the temperature is below 10 degrees. It was 8 degrees! So spent pool time doing some family tree.

Brunched, more family tree and nothing much else until the scenery really started. I add a towel to the balcony chair to sit on, put on my coat and wrapped my legs in a blanket and sat and watched the mountains roll by. Using the binoculars saw lots of seabirds, including large flocks of small ones flying just above the water near the shore. I did take the panorama while in motion so it’s a bit swirly in places.

Because of yesterday’s delay we arrived in Juneau at 17.00 rather than 13.00 so all the excursions where refunded and they arranged others to fit into the new time frame. So instead of doing a glacier garden and a salmon bake I just did the salmon bake. Very nice it was too.

It was raining as we got off the ship and it continued for a little while. Just as well I have a brolly in my excursion bag!

It was definitely getting colder as the evening came on. So will be interesting to see if it does snow.

Location map 3.55 am

Well the lifeguard said that the pool was 38 degrees and the water coming in might have been, but it definitely didn’t stay that warm for any time at all. It was very bouncy again with water hitting the top of the steps occasionally. It did look like it was steaming though with the warm condensation hitting the cold air! Not many braved the pool, I did see one bikini clad lady dip a toe in and then disappear off to the hot tub! A young Japanese girl who did get in for a short time said it was a natural wave pool. It sure had some waves today!

I was a bit late for brunch as it had taken longer than usual to do my 45 minute set of exercises as I had to keep stopping to stay balanced. It was over an hour before I got out. The shower in this room isn’t as nice as the others, it keeps varying between hot and cold!

Something a bit different happened mid afternoon. The ship turned around as there was a medical emergency and someone had to be taken off the ship. We had to return to an emergency designated area and wait for the Canadian Coast Guard’s helicopter to pick up. It must have been nearly 5 hours. So we are going to be late for our 1 pm docking at Juneau. I have an excursion booked for then as well, so we find out in the morning what is happening.

It was a grey and rainy day, with the fog horn going at times too.

Spoilt again with some goodies, and Miss Piggy as a towel animal!

Happy Mother’s Day again.

Location maps 2.30, 3.30 and docked.

Had a dreadful night, don’t think I slept more than a couple of hours in short snatches. Anyway, the last morning of cruise 2 & the first night of cruise 3 so didn’t get much done as had to wait around for a new door key, wait for the new room to be ready and then wait to meet the new room attendant. Funny thing is the room is exactly the same configuration as the other two were. However, I am on the other side and at the front, so now the pool is basically above my head and the food is at the other end of the ship. I’m also travelling backwards when sitting at the laptop.

Here’s the panorama from the balcony.

It’s still cold and overcast, so here’s hoping the cloud clears a bit, things look so much better with a bit of sun!

Here is a photo of Seattle retreating in the background and a few photos of the land we’ve been travelling past.

And here is a photo I took last night as the light was finally fading, you can see mountains amongst the clouds!!!

Location map 2.30 am

I forgot to take one when we were docked. But here’s the panorama from the balcony.

I did overdo it today, managed 4 times my usual steps for the day. Was quite stuffed when I got back to the ship, lol. I had a tour to the Butchart Gardens. It was a 45 minute bus trip with a very knowledgable driver, pointing out all sorts of things. The gardens themselves are a private concern but are over a hundred years old in the making, with a huge amount of staff and looked like an enormous amount of tourists! They were very well maintained and cared for. We had 2 hours in which to wander around, but I only got about a third of the way before getting back to the bus on time!

It was actually a good time to visit as being spring, things were blooming. Rhododendrons, bluebells, tulips, heather, lilacs, and so much more.

It had originally been a limestone quarry, but when the limestone ran out Mrs Butchart turned it into the sunken garden

I had to go back to my room when back at the ship to get out of coat and trousers as it’s not exactly warm out! Lunch was lateish again! I was supposed to have started packing, but didn’t. Had dinner with Carl and said goodbye to him there as he’s getting off early and I’m staying onboard. There aren’t any tours of Seattle, only a scenic trip to the airport!

I have to be out of the room by 8.30 am but my bags have to be outside by 10 pm tonight so I suppose I’d better get started as it’s 8.30 pm now!

I couldn’t resist the bumblebee in the heather!