Friday, August 15, 2008

What a Trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That just about says it all...I've been lots of places in my life but I don't think I've ever seen anything as beautiful as this! What a beautiful, beautiful part of our country. We had the most wonderful time...the ship was outstanding, we had sooooo much fun with our friends...Andy's really good friend from college and his girlfriend joined us. We had adjoining rooms and balconies...what a treat. We talked and laughed and ate and drank and laughed some more. Couldn't have been a better time. The weather was perfect everywhere we went...never a cloudy, rainy day. At each stop the locals kept saying that this was the best weather they had had since the beginning of July. The sun was out and the temperature was in the
60's...we were in heaven.
We left from Seattle on the Holland America Lines' ship The Westerdam Just as we got on board
Leaving the port in Seattle...from the deck of our ship as we pass the Space Needle.

First morning at sea brought us this beautiful sunrise... We knew it would be a perfect vacation!


We spent a day sailing in Glacier Bay...probably the most phenomenal sight ever...these glaciers are incredible...huge (getting smaller every day), beautiful sparkling white, with the most spectacular blue in the crevices and where the glacier has calved.


Our first stop was in Juneau...we went for a salmon bake (YUMMERS!)and then while exploring the area we came upon this beautiful double waterfall...

The absolute highlight of the trip for me was a helicopter trip, over the mountains and landing on a glacier, where there was a working dogsled camp. This was just amazing...many of the dogs in the camp have run and will be running in this year's Iditerod...it was amazing...I loved every second of it...but my poor man was petrified on the helicopter ride...he's afraid of heights and this was high...and then when he realized that all that was holding us up there was 1 propeller with 1 screw holding it on...well, he had very sweaty palms...but once we got on the ground he was as happy as I was
The camp is amazing...the people that take care of the dogs and do the training are mostly college kids from all over the country...our guide was a senior at Univ of Illinois getting ready to go to vet school. They stay on the glacier 6 days a week in those tents...amazing! They all said they loved working there...it was warm the day we were there...probably in the 40's but the sun was so bright and beautiful it felt like 60...until we started moving on that sled...my hands were mighty chilly.
Here are the dog houses...they're like little igloos
We got to drive the sled...look who I picked up
But the day came to an end and we had to say goodbye...

Our last stop, before sailing back to Seattle, was in Victoria, Canada...look what was waiting for us...a double rainbow...a perfect ending to a perfect trip!

19 comments:

Karen said...

You're home! Sounds like you had a great time. I'm with Andy about the height thing. I don't know if a helicopter ride is ever in the plans for me.
Hope we can get together for stitching one of these days soon. I know you have another trip planned and so do we.

Wendy said...

Wow...what a awesome trip you had. The glacier looks amazing. Welcome home!

Anonymous said...

What an absolutely wonderful vacation! Thank you so much for sharing your journey and the beautiful pictures! Alaska is one place that my husband and I are just dying to go to. Someday.....

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! I'm glad you had a great time! DH and I cruised Alaska in June, only we flew to Anchorage and sailed south for 7 days. We regret we didn't do the helicopter tour, but maybe next time. It is indeed beautiful country.

Mar said...

Welcome home, so good to hear that you enjoyed your trip, the pictures are lovely! Especially the ones of you and your DH.

Darlene said...

Welcome home - you were missed. What an incredible trip - thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Anne Heidi said...

Wow, that looks like an amazing cruise! Definately a very different scenery than Central Florida :-) Thank you for sharing your lovely pictures!

~Niki~ said...

My mother lives on Bainbridge Isl. and has a wonderful view of Seattle downtown. Your blog is fabulous! niki :)

Doe said...

Glad to know you had a wonderful time! I would love to do that someday. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures.

Judy said...

Oh my it looks fantastic! A trip that's in my list of places to go. You look like you had a blast!

Libby said...

What a fantastic trip. Aren't glaciers spectacular? Just love that blue. I'm with Andy - no helicopters for me *s*

Teresa said...

Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing. Sounds like a wonderful time too.

Gretchen said...

Hi! I just found your blog! Love the photos of Alaska and the sled dogs.

Thimbleanna said...

Wow! I'd love to make that trip someday. So glad you had such a great time -- looks like you had lots of sunshine too!

Ginger Patches said...

What an amazing time you guys had! It looks so beautiful and that sunrise...I can't remember the last time I saw a sunrise lol! The glaciers are beautiful, that's one of my favorite shades of blue running through the middle there...I bet you saw quite a few quilt inspiring colors!! Poor Andy, I am afraid of heights also so my heart goes out to him. You look right at home running that dog sled :)

Nan said...

Oh, such beauty!! It is my dream to go on an Alaskan cruise, and I feel like I just did! How wonderful to visit a dogsled camp, too! Your boys would be jealous if they knew......LOL!
Thank you for sharing, Carol! I'm glad you and Andy had such a great time!

Salem Stitcher said...

That is my dream trip! How wonderful it must have been. The photos make me smile. Thanks for sharing!

*karendianne. said...

Oh my, What a Trip is right. These photos are fantastic. Oh they make me so happy.

Vacation over the Rainbow of Love, *karendianne./ Living Life at LeeHaven

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh what an awesome trip! Alaska is one of my dream trips! And going through all these old posts, WOW has Hampton grown up! What a cutie!