Shadowmeboy's Alaskan Adventure on the Sun

[shadowmeboy]

 

After Dinner, we headed back to Nicole and Eric's place. Susan and Nicole decided to go for a walk around Lake Hood.

 

 

 

 

Mind you, it is 10:30pm out when this picture was taken.

 

 

They headed back, so we could get some sleep before starting to explore the greater Anchorage area.

 

The next morning

 

 

I woke up much earlier than I wanted to, and jumped on Cruise Critic only to find out our itinerary had changed again. I am so glad people had independent shore excursions which emailed them and told them about the changes. NCL never did send out an email or any communication about the changes.

 

As I mentioned before, the original itinerary was Seward - Hubbard Glacier - Icy Strait Point - Juneau/Sawyer Glacier - Skagway - Ketchikan - Sea Day - Vancouver.

 

So our revised trip was suppossed to be Seward - Hubbard Glacier - Juneau/Sawyer Glacier - Icy Strait Point - Skagway - Ketchikan - Sea Day - Vancouver

 

Now, we found out it had been changed to Seward - Hubbard Glacier - Icy Strait Point - Sitka - Juneau/Sawyer Glacier - Ketchikan - Sea Day - Vancouver, 2 days before sailing.

 

So, I got to start my morning off by calling NCL Shore excursions. Cancelling Skagway's excursion which was going to be a Sled Dog Experience. Cancelling Juneau's Shore Excursion which was going to be Mendenhall Glacier and a Salmon Bake. We booked the Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Discovery for Juneau since it was offered there as well as Skagway. We left Sitka open until we got to the boat. We booked NCL shore excursions because we had the $50 per port Shore excursion credit and the 4 nights of Specialty Dining.

 

Luckily, my amazing Sister made Sourdough pancakes with frech Cherry syrup! We had flown up with two huge gallon sized ziplocks full of fresh Washington Cherries, so she utilized them! BTW: The cherries got secondary screening at the TSA checkpoint in Seattle.

 

 

These will brighten anyone's mood!

[shadowmeboy]

 

We stopped by the local Carrs (Safeway) store to get something for lunch on the road.

 

 

We started down the Seward Highway towards Girdwood.

 

 

 

The tide was out.

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

The views were just amazing!

 

 

The Alaska Railroad parallels the highway for the majority of the drive.

 

 

 

As we traveled toward Whittier, where we were going first, we spotted the Alaska Railroad's Glacier Discovery train.

 

 

I am a huge train fan, so pictures of trains will dot the whole review!

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

An Alaska State Wildlife trooper

 

 

To get to Whittier, you must go through a tunnel. traffic alternates every hour. The tunnel is also how the Alaska Railroad gets to Whittier. In the old days, you would load you car onto a train car and you would ride the train to Whittier.

 

 

Driving through the tunnel.

 

 

exiting the tunnel on the Whittier side.

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

Susan and I by the Whittier sign.

 

 

 

Boy that glacier is heavy to hold up!

 

 

Remember that train we saw, it came through the tunnel after us.

 

 

You can see all the cars waiting to head back towards Portage and Girdwood.

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

I of course had to get video!

[shadowmeboy]

We got back in the car and headed into Whittier.

 

 

The Coral Princess was in the Port of Whittier that day.

 

 

 

 

Main housing facility in Whittier.

 

 

Old Army multipurpose building that is in a dilapidated condition.

 

 

[OhJinkies]

Thanks so much for doing this – I appreciated your review while I was planning for my Alaska cruise earlier this summer. How are you hosting your photos now?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[shadowmeboy]

Thanks so much for doing this – I appreciated your review while I was planning for my Alaska cruise earlier this summer. How are you hosting your photos now?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

I am using SmugMug and I am alot happier with them. Easier to get the pictures up.

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coral Princess and the Port of Whittier

 

 

 

We stopped by one of the local creeks. the water was cold, and I wasn't getting in it.

[shadowmeboy]

 

An Alaska State Ferry arriving into Whittier.

 

 

Susan taking a picture of me taking pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this picture!

 

 

 

 

This young man actually got in the creek.

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

My sister on the sandbar.

 

 

 

Nicole and Susan climbing back up, and Susan not looking.

 

 

there it is

 

 

All of us!

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

We headed back towards the tunnel, so we could go back through.

 

 

We found the train was waiting to head back through the tunnel.

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

panoramic picture of the train waiting to enter the tunnel.

 

After going through the tunnel, we stopped at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw Moose!

 

 

These trees died in 1964 when Alaska had its big earthquake. The trees sunk down and the roots got into salt water which killed the trees.

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Musk Oxen

 

 

 

The bear was very interested in the Musk Ox.

 

 

Brown Bear

 

 

Bull Elk

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

Wood Bison

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black-tail Deer

 

 

Elk (Females)

 

 

Fox

 

 

Porcupine

[shadowmeboy]

 

Black Bear

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caribou

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right when we were going to leave, we noticed the Moose moving towards the feeding shack

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

We left the Wildlife Center and headed into Girdwood. My sister knew of a cool waterfall called Virgin Creek Falls.

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

We only spent a short time here as the mosquito activity was quite plentiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

We drove by the Alyeska Resort.

 

 

We decided it was time to head back to Anchorage. After spending some time at my sisters apartment, we headed to Downtown Anchorage for Dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

Susan had to take a picture with the stuffed Bear.

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was busy inside Hard rock, because they had live Music inside and outside the building as part of their Solstice Celebration.

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

Susan had the Twisted Macaroni and Cheese with Reindeer Sausage.

 

 

 

I had the Local Legendary Burger. It was a legendary burger with Reindeer Sausage.

 

The food was good, the server was horrible, but the Manager made it right.

 

 

 

We headed back to the apartment ready to rest up for another trip tomorrow.

[shadowmeboy]

After a wonderful scratch made biscuit and sausage gravy breakfast made by my wonderful sister, we loaded up the car. Susan, Nicole, Erik, and I all headed out.

 

 

Susan ready for the day.

 

 

Nicole and I

 

 

it was raining as we headed out.

 

 

 

 

 

Rain made it hard to see some of the scenery.

[ColinIllinois]

Man, it's sad to see Rudolph, Donner and Blitzen ended up over a bed of mac and cheese. :o