LIVE from Fairbanks to Vancouver cruisetour 9/6/09

[Pia1913]

Hi Donna, thanks for adding more information. Am really enjoying both yours and Pia's postings. Hoping that you will post some pictures along the way! :p

 

I can't, but maybe Donna can. You won't recognize me anyway. Between the wet weather pants, shoe coverings, gloves and helmet, I look like an alien. If I didn't know it was me, I wouldn't recognize me either. :D

[Pia1913]

What fun ya'll are having. Have a great time hiking tomorrow. Keeping up with ya'll on Google Earth.

 

Now aren't you sorry you didn't come with us? :p

[JWJs]

Hey Pia and Donna. We arrived in Anchorage yesterday. Staying at the Captain Cook Hotel. Have an inlet view room--I asked for it when we checked in. Heading out for Delani tomorrow on the train. Have the Total Wilderness Tour booked...as of today. Spoke with a Princess rep in the Princess room at this hotel and she called and got us switched from the History Tour to the TWT. Whew. Couldn't do this before we left home...I was within the 14 day "no change" zone. Had to do it here in AK.

Loved reading what I've missed re your posts. Still concerned about the "poor bear" the hunters were skinning and doing whatever else they do. Like you, I have a tender heart for all animals.

This is a fabulous cruisetour so far. Our early a.m. mornings start tomorrow when we have to get up to catch the train to Delani. Bags that go direct to the ship and bags to go with us on the train to Delani and Fairbanks have been repacked and are tagged for tomorrow morning. Worked out well...was easier than I thought to sort and repack everything. I knew this was coming due to one of your previous posts. Many thanks for that post.

See you all soon.

Jeanne J

Edited September 11, 2009 by JWJs

[DonahCBrown]

Just a couple of notes before collapsing into bed - first up, the lodge closes RIGHT after we all check out - the nice gal at the desk from Louisiana who is here with her husband - they RV'd up here a couple of years ago, decided to try for a working vacation last year and came back this season - said that we all check out by 8:30 and they leave at 9:30!!

 

The lodge is very comfy and quite lovely with amazing views of the Wrangell St. Elias range. A ranger from the park came and gave a talk, but we were still at dinner and missed it, but reports from some of our colleagues on the tour were very positive, and when we DID get upstairs about 45 minutes or so after his talk was done, he was still there answering questions and chatting with folks - nice touch.

 

Got the schedule for the shuttle bus so we'll be heading in early (10ish) tomorrow. According to the weather channel it sounds like it will be clearing up by then.

 

Dinner - another really really good meal tonight - these last two places have made up for the mediocrity of Fairbanks and then some. Our table tonight had massive shrimp and crab salads (two), stuffed mushrooms (one) and calamari (one) for first courses - all very well done, followed by prime ribs ( the guys), one rack of back ribs, and a salmon - again, all very well done. Desserts were decadent - creme brulee - very nice - cheesecake, ice cream, chocolate cake with a dark chocolate frosting and a 'pudding' filling that was more like truffle - yummy looking (not mine and didn't taste)

 

That's it from Copper River for tonight from me, folks - really need to get some rest - hopefully without any smoke alarms!!

[Pia1913]

Good Morning. It's 7:30 AM here; how nice to have been able to sleep in until 7:00. :) The sun is coming up over those snowcapped mountains; awesome!

 

The chocolate cake to which Donna referred is sitting in a doggie box on my nightstand. Those other 3 piggies ate their desserts; I couldn't possibly have eaten one more bite.;) Breakfast in 1/2 hour and then we will go wandering. Sky is clear; no sign of rain. Folks at the front desk told me it hadn't rained here in two weeks and none was expected.

 

Later.

[Sea Fan]

Pia...I'll take that chocolate cake off you hands!:D It sounds like a lovely day.

 

Dianne

[Julia’s Journey’s]

i can't, but maybe donna can. You won't recognize me anyway. Between the wet weather pants, shoe coverings, gloves and helmet, i look like an alien. If i didn't know it was me, i wouldn't recognize me either. :d

 

lol:d

[Julia’s Journey’s]

Just a couple of notes before collapsing into bed - first up, the lodge closes RIGHT after we all check out - the nice gal at the desk from Louisiana who is here with her husband - they RV'd up here a couple of years ago, decided to try for a working vacation last year and came back this season - said that we all check out by 8:30 and they leave at 9:30!!

 

The lodge is very comfy and quite lovely with amazing views of the Wrangell St. Elias range. A ranger from the park came and gave a talk, but we were still at dinner and missed it, but reports from some of our colleagues on the tour were very positive, and when we DID get upstairs about 45 minutes or so after his talk was done, he was still there answering questions and chatting with folks - nice touch.

 

Got the schedule for the shuttle bus so we'll be heading in early (10ish) tomorrow. According to the weather channel it sounds like it will be clearing up by then.

 

Dinner - another really really good meal tonight - these last two places have made up for the mediocrity of Fairbanks and then some. Our table tonight had massive shrimp and crab salads (two), stuffed mushrooms (one) and calamari (one) for first courses - all very well done, followed by prime ribs ( the guys), one rack of back ribs, and a salmon - again, all very well done. Desserts were decadent - creme brulee - very nice - cheesecake, ice cream, chocolate cake with a dark chocolate frosting and a 'pudding' filling that was more like truffle - yummy looking (not mine and didn't taste)

 

That's it from Copper River for tonight from me, folks - really need to get some rest - hopefully without any smoke alarms!!

 

The food all sounds awesome - now that you have made me hungry I guess I will have to settle for my most boring lunch!!:D:eek:;)

[Pia1913]

What a glorious day. Sunny, low sixties, no wind, very dry.

 

We had a leisurely breakfast and then took the shuttle to Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center (US Park Service). We perused various exhibits and then saw a 22 minute narrated movie of gorgeous scenery, including mountain climbing and flightseeing. Afterwards we did a one mile nature walk with narration by a park ranger.

 

We've come back to the hotel for coffee and a snack and then out to do some trail hiking/walks. It's really nice to have some free time today, because tomorrow will be another long one.

[Maryandi]

Hi Pia & Donna, Thanks for posting everytime you get a spare minute. I loved our trip in Sept., too.

 

Don't get sick of the Salmon - more on the ship !!

 

Wish we were there enjoying the scenery & company.

 

MaryAnn

[Sea Fan]

What a glorious day. Sunny, low sixties, no wind, very dry.

 

We had a leisurely breakfast and then took the shuttle to Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center (US Park Service). We perused various exhibits and then saw a 22 minute narrated movie of gorgeous scenery, including mountain climbing and flightseeing. Afterwards we did a one mile nature walk with narration by a park ranger.

 

We've come back to the hotel for coffee and a snack and then out to do some trail hiking/walks. It's really nice to have some free time today, because tomorrow will be another long one.

 

 

 

Well it's hot here and I just finished 3 loads of laundry, I have to go shopping and then make dinner!:( :D LOL thank Goodness you and Donna are posting I would have nothing to smile at!:)

 

Dianne

Edited September 11, 2009 by Sea Fan

[Pia1913]

Well it's hot here and I just finished 3 loads of laundry, I have to go shopping and then make dinner!:( :D LOL thank Goodness you and Donna are posting I would have nothing to smile at!:)

 

Dianne

 

So happy to be entertaining you Dianne. We just got back and now it's time for a short nap. :) Dinner at six.

[laughing husky]

Hi...just wanted to say that as an Alaskan, I love your live posts. It sounds like you are having a wonderful time in our wonderful state. I do want to point out that many Alaskans do hunt. We do so to put food in our stomachs. Those people who hunted that bear near Denali...you can't hunt in the federal park....are roughly 300 miles from a grocery store....And, I can assure you that this bear will grace someone's dinner plate. Unless you are a vegan, someone killed that steak that you ate and I really do like cows too. After Sept 15th the whole area of Denali....We call it glitter gulch...ceases to exist.....it is boarded up until next May....Bear, Moose, Caribou is eaten, however the country that kills and eats the most Moose is Norway....They just don't advertise it....Rarely do Alaskans hunt for trophy...It is usually people from the lower 48 who do that....We hunt and fish to put food on our table. Don't mean to start a war over the hot topic. Just trying to explain from the side of Alaska. Please enjoy our state. We love having you here. :)

[Coolmama_1]

I am so enjoying your vacation! Thanks for sharing:)

[Pia1913]

Hi...just wanted to say that as an Alaskan, I love your live posts. It sounds like you are having a wonderful time in our wonderful state. I do want to point out that many Alaskans do hunt. We do so to put food in our stomachs. Those people who hunted that bear near Denali...you can't hunt in the federal park....are roughly 300 miles from a grocery store....And, I can assure you that this bear will grace someone's dinner plate. Unless you are a vegan, someone killed that steak that you ate and I really do like cows too. After Sept 15th the whole area of Denali....We call it glitter gulch...ceases to exist.....it is boarded up until next May....Bear, Moose, Caribou is eaten, however the country that kills and eats the most Moose is Norway....They just don't advertise it....Rarely do Alaskans hunt for trophy...It is usually people from the lower 48 who do that....We hunt and fish to put food on our table. Don't mean to start a war over the hot topic. Just trying to explain from the side of Alaska. Please enjoy our state. We love having you here. :)

 

I appreciate and understand what you're saying, but for someone like myself who had never experienced hunting up close and personal, it was quite an eye opener. I can also assure you that no bear will ever grace my dinner plate, so you can have my portion with my blessing. :D Thank you for explaining hunting to us.

 

P.S. Our animal sighting du jour was one squirrel.

Edited September 12, 2009 by Pia1913

[DonahCBrown]

I'm almost afraid to say anything more about our glorious weather for fear that it will go away! Today was another very nice one, although we are getting some cloud cover now - if I were home, I'd call it 'afternoon and evening windward and mauka showers' weather - we'll see what we get here.

 

In re: the hunting - I DO get it - my dad was a hunter - for food, not trophy, so it isn't that I don't understand the culture and/or the need for it, especially in a place like this. There's subsistence hunting in Hawaii, too - in fact there are a lot of similarities between the 49th and 50th states (although not usually the weather :D). I'm just not usually quite so up close and personal with the end results. And no, in spite of a long sojourn in Northern CA - no vegans here...and the cows who live on the open range around my house end up in the grocery store.

 

Still, when you come up here, in part to see the wildlife (aka game...) it is kind of sad to see some of it on its way to someone's table, even if you know it is an issue of food for the family for the winter.

 

Enough of that! Today we saw a squirrel busy making a stash of pine nuts for the winter, and some bear scat, and have had a day long perfectly glorious view across the valley to the mountains, and as I sit here and type, some kind of large bird, possibly an eagle as it is gliding like a raptor usually does, is flying along the edge of the tree line. This is truly a magnificent and magical place. I can't imagine living here in the winter, but it surely is a wonderful place to visit in the fall.

 

Another EARLY day tomorrow with bus, catamaran, bus and, a real thrill for this claustrophobe, a nice long tunnel to go through to get to the Kenai Lodge. I sure do hope our good weather tags along to the coast with us.

 

Getting close to dinner time, so I'll close for the day and get packed as our luggage has to go out early too - it leaves here at 3 AM since it can't go on the boat over Prince William Sound and has to go around instead. Everything certainly has been well handled on this tour, I must say, and our escort, Guy, is very very good. He goes over to the east coast and starts the "History Tour" doing Boston and Colonial Williamsburg next - those are fortunate folks!

[regnig]

Pia & Donna thanks to you both for the great "live from". Your land tours sound just marvelous. We all have our fingers crossed for you that the weather continues to be sunny and warmish for you. Donna you just have to post the ATV pictures! ;):D

 

Barb

[LindaandJeff]

I enjoyed reading every minute of your travels so far! Makes me even happier that we already booked our Fairbanks to Vancouver adventure for 2010 already...though ours is not as long as yours. I can't wait to read the rest! Thanks for sharing...

 

For all of you dreaming about the adventures you are reading about, come join our roll call... June 29 Fairbanks, July 3 Coral Southbound 2010.:)

[Pia1913]

Pia & Donna thanks to you both for the great "live from". Your land tours sound just marvelous. We all have our fingers crossed for you that the weather continues to be sunny and warmish for you. Donna you just have to post the ATV pictures! ;):D

 

Barb

 

She really should, because the one taken of her by Dennis is really great. You are never going to see me if I have anything to say about it. :D

[cruiserjanet]

Pia, I am so going to need to show DH your live post. As I mentioned in our Roll Call, you will need to breathe on him, but now you may need to breathe a little harder. Okay to add garlic too. :D I would so like to add a cruise tour to our Alaska cruise next year but we would be gone too long and we can't do that just yet. Fortunately, Alaska is so beautiful that you can't go just once or even twice so I have a shot at getting that cruise tour at some point. ;)

Edited September 12, 2009 by cruiserjanet

[DonahCBrown]

May have to wait until I get home and back to my PC and Picasa to post stuff - not sure I know how from the little Mac that travels with us, but rest assured, there WILL be a Pia on the ATV posted somewhere! ;)

 

Back from dinner - another good one - this time we had one steak, someone who had a 'rerun' of the prime rib, pasta with chicken, and chicken stuffed with blue cheese and walnuts - yummy, that one was mine - and blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream, blueberry cheese cake (do we sense a theme? - it is blueberry season here) and I had the tiramisu - and one of us was really really good and had a second cup of coffee - I'll let you guess who.

 

Well, that's it from me from Copper River - have to put the bags out in the hall and try and get some sleep between now and - oh, probably 4:30 or so...yawn...so we can get breakfast and be on the bus by 7 AM...will check back in from Kenai.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

May have to wait until I get home and back to my PC and Picasa to post stuff - not sure I know how from the little Mac that travels with us, but rest assured, there WILL be a Pia on the ATV posted somewhere! ;)

 

Looking forward to it :D:D

[Pia1913]

Looking forward to it :D:D

 

What a sadistic bunch. :eek: Bet you don't recognize me, David. ;)

[Kiwi Kruzer]

What a sadistic bunch. :eek: Bet you don't recognize me, David. ;)

 

Oh yes I will :D....

When we were on the farm we used ATVs every day....

[paul929207]

What a sadistic bunch. :eek: ;)

 

Thank You.