NHsnowpup

Here are just a few shots taken on the train from Anchorage to Seward. The first two could be either highway or train, and then the last three are only seen from the train.

Seen early on trip from both highway and train.

Along the shore/road

Up into the mountain passes, one of a bunch of glaciers we chugged past. Sorry, can't figure why it turned, but . . .

Got to see ourselves coming and going, up the switchbacks.

Oh, yes, there was a nice little mountain lake, too.

Now, to be honest, the day was a perfectly spectacular one. I didn't get any really good shots as we went by the many waterfalls. It was a lighting issue in the valleys and overhangs.

When we returned by car a few days later, it was drizzly and overcast, but typically I like foggy shots. Here are the really good shots we stopped to take on the way back from the road. Oh, I forgot, except for the hubby and I posed ones, there weren't any.

 

PLEASE…post your favorite Alaska reviews (with photos!) here

OK, you asked so I went back and found the link to our book that I made as a memory/keepsake for our Alaskan cruise and land tour. It's more a highlights and scenery book than a review of specific excursions, places. If anyone wants specifics about vendors, etc., just ask away. We planned it ourselves and had a ball. We still talk about it and are so glad we went.

http://www.panraven.com/storyviewer/...M5MDM3MjA3Mg11

I wanna be you when I grow up! :)

I find that's the nice thing about taking pictures. You crawl around on the ground; sneak up into areas no other adults will go; stalk the neighbor's cows; and look at the world with the wonder of a child. I hope to "retire" someday and even if I need a "Hoveraround" chair I'll still be chasing the rainbows.

Hubby is very good about standing (far enough away so no one would guess he's with me) and waiting until I get back up and brush all the sand off me before we move on.

Gorgeous. I love this kind of shot where everything fades into the distance.

This is our neighbor's front cow pasture. Luckily we are a friendly neighborhood and they don't seem to mind sharing their view. "Winnie, that crazy lady is sitting out front again today staring at our trees." "Laurie, that's her fur sure, so you just put that 12 gauge back in the closet." "The cows don't seem to pay her no mind."

Snowpup - we may live in El Paso now but we grew up in Michigan so we definitely know what that kind of snow is like. I don't miss the snow but do miss the color in the fall.

Sparky-we've talked about it but we don't think we could give up the four, oops five, seasons here in NH. Maybe we'll change our minds, but I'm shooting for the $10 and $25 season passes for the over 80 crowd. Few years to hone my skills.

Before the snow. Lucky they don't fire me for getting distracted on the way to work in the AM.

The snow photos remind me of why we like it here in El Paso. Especially the one of the car with a ton of snow on it. Snow's pretty but the shoveling is definitely not - and the power outages must be awful.

Your plow guy is your best friend.

Yep, we're crazies. After our first 5 days with no power in our little house, we invested in a generator instead of adding the 2nd bathroom or re-doing the kitchen to get a dishwasher. Fifteen years later, the generator is still purring along; we do have the 2nd bathroom now, but the dishwasher still has two hands. Some of my co-workers at school are on Day 3 with no power for their dishwashers.

Just waiting for the slopes to open, though the snowshoes are out.

Always happy to have a chance to get my fav--snow on foliage. This weekend however was a new one for even us crazies.

Friday AM we had 4 inches, mostly gone by our PM Halloween parade at school. Sunday AM we woke up to about 24, and about 24 hours without power to go with it.

Do you have any photos of the shoes you brought with you?

My hikers were from Sports Authority. Mens 10, cause I have big feet. This is a picture of a different year's model. Mine were dark brown and green. Didn't see them there last time I was shopping. http://compare.ebay.com/like/230679839153?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?

Similar one is the one made by Hi-Tec, both were regularly on sale for $40. http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3539220&cp=3077570.3079720.766059.1335214.766063&pg=6&parentPage=family

My watershoes/hiking sneakers were made by Salomon. Tech Amphibian 2, got on super low sale. Mine were actually ladies and light blue http://www.backcountry.com/store/review/200002518/Hiking-Shoes-meet-Water-Shoes.html

My cute sandals were closeouts at Wal-mart. Light blue leather/suede with silver accents on the straps and a thick cushy bottom/sole, not totally flat. Sorry no pics of that one. I still wear all three regularly

I figured these out ahead of time because we don't check bags when flying TO our destinations. When packing, limit the things that you will only use once, for only one reason, and or never again after you are off the ship--

1.) Shoes--I found cute and very comfortable thong sandals that I used for formal nights and for walking around the ship, to and from laundry, by the pool, etc. and Water/hiking sneakers that flatten out to pack in the suitcase as my back-ups and for water days. Wore the waterproof low hikers on the plane and every day cause they take up half my bag, but save my back and feet.

2.) I bought a good-sized can of nuts at our first stop of a 16 day Alaska land/cruise for room snacks and then used the empty can to pack those small trinkets that get lost in drawers and pockets or left behind when re-packing or lost/broken in your suitcase.

3.) Tiny battery votive added a warm glow to the bathroom.

4.) Charging--Small outlet expander on a swivel with three spots did the trick rather than a large power strip. Rotate the days you charge things. Nothing dies all at once. Also many things can be charged using the usb ports on your netbook/laptop. Invest in extra batteries and travel sized chargers or usb cord and plug to wall with usb port opening combinations. We have one for the outlet in the car, too. All cords pack into a small zipped pouch, so nothing gets left behind and you don't need to dig to find it.

5.)Luggage--A lot of carry-on rolly bags have an expandable option, which comes in handy when returning home with more than you left with. (We mailed our formal wear and second half of the trip's toiletries to the last hotel before the ship) Then we MIGHT check a bag heading home. A daypack is useful on port days; carries the netbook, all camera equip., and documentation when flying; and is a great second carry-on allowable item.

As long as you have your documents, ID, money source, and chosen traveling companion (optional, I know) you should have a WONDERFUL time.

The design really was based on the Amazon "frustration-free" boxes that the K-cups ship in (the bins are the same volume). The rest of it, including the space for accessories on top, was just dreamed up as I went along. Thanks for the nice words!

 

Dave

Love the projects dreamed up as you go with the materials you have on hand. Once built a 6 by 7 storage shed from scrap since I had an 8 by 12 and an 8 by 14 as the prize finds dumpster diving.

Did you make it a stackable set of bins or is it all one piece? Reminds me of the stacking glass fronted lawyer bookshelves of old. Pretty piece, shown off with good detail photography. Thanks for sharing!

Loved being up before anyone else out on deck.

Heading up the channel to Skagway

 

This'll be my first fall trip to northern climes in over 20 years...I usually don't get up north until winter. I just hope the crappy hot long summer didn't push back the fall too much!

This is what we have so far this year. Swamps are colorful, right on schedule. You can see it coming.

Our neighbor moos are very accommodating with their placement and posing for me. A reason to get up early.

From recent trip

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LalBFDJKmAlhAyjJsi2cdr9exFpIyzmN-N4GWINKp70?feat=directlink

(Taken through glass of enclosure)

Can't get Picasa to work for me, though it did before. Are my file sizes too big? I tried all choices and check boxes; seems like it is working and then the dreaded red X raises its ugly head.

Well, you'll just have to click the link. Well, guess not. It worked under small.

Trying to get the photo, not the link, posted.

Really enjoyed watching this big ol' bear swimming around.

I believe I might have done it, YIPPPEEE! rats, not!! YES!!! 3rd try got it!

We trekked out to Columbus, OH recently and hubby rewarded my good behavior;) with a trip to the Columbus Zoo. So, legally it wasn't today. but I was thinking of Pierce's tips while composing, so . . .

Trying a photo post of a link to five shots with crossed fingers!

https://picasaweb.google.com/102234428652856576316/Columbus?authkey=Gv1sRgCIy5g83y0Ouj7AE#5640112705864193362

Getting clear shots through glass is a challenge!

Has anyone used Landsea Tours Advenutures in Vancouver?What is your opinion of them? Would you recommend them or use them again?

http://www.vancouvertours.com/pre-cr...uver-city-tour

 

 

We are staying at the Fairmont Airport Hotel and this tour company will pick us up from there and show us around Vancouver for 4 hours. This seems it may be an easier option than trying to tour the city on our own.

 

When we get off the ship, we plan on renting a car and visiting the Vancouver Aquarium and any other attractions we saw from this tour that we want to revisit.

__________________

Sounds like a perfect plan to me.

We used a different vendor when we disembarked. The fireworks competition was there that night and the streets were packed and backed up. Our driver knew the way around the crazy. Ours was 5 hours--included the pick up at the dock, the tour of the city and both Cleveland Dam and Capilano bridge, and drop off at the Amtrak station for our trip down to Seattle that night. We felt that it was a great way to get to see a new city. DH thought it was a perfect ending to our trip. Enough of an intro. that he wants to go back to Vancouver again as part of a trip to the Northwest. ;) YES, that was the plan!! Hook 'em early and draw them in.

I've had my camera for 14 months.

 

TRY THIS- with the camera turned off, hold down the "FUNC SET" button and instead of using the power button on top of the camera to turn on the camera, push the 3rd button above the display screen (It has a picture of a blue arrow pointing to the right...and is the button you can use to turn your camera on when you just want to view your photos on the camera's display screen)... If you press both these buttons together, the camera will turn on with a display of a strange digital clock on the screen.

 

Next just push the button in the middle (again referring to the 3 buttons above the screen, it has a icon picture of a camera and a movie camera)... it opens up your lens even if you have gotten the "lens error" message. ;)

 

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1.)Ok, mine crapped out on us a while back at 5 mos. old, and I have tried all the tricks. Yours had the last step that was new. Tried it. Still no dice. I have all the info. ready to ship her back. Will let you know how Canon treats us.

Also had an AE-1 way back that ended up with with shutter/film advance issues that soured me on Canon. This was first try after 25 yrs.

2.) bought the silly thing after seeing your panraven book and did enjoy using it when we were kayaking at home. We are super happy with our panraven book from our Alaskan cruise. (I posted it over on the Alaska forum)

"Alone in the Wilderness" ... book & movie by Richard Proenneke ... the film was shot by Dick on a 16mm camera ... shows him living alone along a lake (near Lake Clark I believe). Pretty amazing stuff ... and I believe that the NPS has protected his cabin now. Google both the movie and the book, I think the movie was a PBS production (for fundraising).

My son DVR'd it and it sits there in the primo #1 spot, not to be erased. I love just listening to Proenneke's voice as he matter of factly explains what he is doing that day. From the natural and primitive skills viewpoint, he is king!! Go drink your latte Bear G.

Never Cry Wolf is an all time favorite of mine. Gives you a feeling for the far northern areas, caribou/wolf inter dependence, migrations, native legends, survival, etc. Not sure where it was actually filmed, my copy is making the rounds at my school.

Hey ladies I love this concept! You could post fashion show thread of you each modelling your swapped gowns when you return from your cruise. That would be "MAH--vah-lus"