We leave Thursday for 3 days in Vancouver before our cruise through Alaska. Keep you posted.

Canada requirement.

I’m waiting for the perfect picture for my cover so it may be blank for awhile.

United has upped their breakfast game. No more cereal.

The vacation has begun.

Have to say we had a really good dinner at Fanny Bay Oyster House. Had an adventure this afternoon when my mom got lost at airport for several hours. Tomorrow Whistler.

Stanley Park. The largest park in Canada. It is 1001 acres of land. Over 1 million trees.

The bike/walk path are 8 km long. There are 2 beaches.

The Stanley Cup and Stanley Park are named after same person.

View from Lion’s Gate Bridge. Tall enough that cruise ships can pass under.

Shannon Falls the largest waterfall in Canada

My mom at the falls

Whistler is amazing. We did the Peak 2 Peak gondola.

The peak 2 Peak gondola is the largest of its kind. It goes from Whistler Mountain at 6063 feet to Blackcomb Mountain.

Stats on Peak 2 Peak

Gas prices in Canada per liter

The fruits are amazing. The picture doesn’t do Justice to the size of these strawberries.

Had lunch af Finn’s Seafood in Victoria. Fish and Chips again. Oops ate it to fast for pictures but it was delicious.

Next stop Butchart Gardens. Started in 1908 by Mrs Butchart when their limestone quarry was depleted. She started with a small garden then realized people were showing up to see her garden. It progressively grew and she started charging people.

Sunken gardens where quarry was.

Rose carousel

Monkey puzzle tree

Sturgeon fountain

Rose gardens. Unfortunately we are about 2 weeks early for the roses.

The Italian garden which used to be a tennis court

First chance I’ve had to notice the view from our hotel room.

Checked in and received upgraded cabin. Can’t wait to see what it is. Ok we are in PV2. It is 9:30 and we have not left yet. We were supposed to leave at 4:30. Hopefully we will make up the time.

Tomorrow is a sea day.

Update - 12:45 am we finally left Vancouver. Hoping this doesn’t affect our upcoming excursions.

Trying to see whales.

It’s been a relaxing day onboard. We arrive in Ketchikan tomorrow. Excursion cancelled but I went online and booked same excursion.

The original Totem pole carved commemorating Chief Ebbits event of Jan 11, 1892. Potlatchs were parties to erect totem poles. They usually lasted about 3 days.

Bald eagle

Seal

Totem poles

The Rock

Notice the strip of bark missing from the tree. The locals have figured out that the trees can still live if they just remove a strip. They use the bark for hats, ropes, etc.

View from our room

Supposed to be 73 and sunny today

Juneau has the only 4 lane highway in Alaska. It is 30 miles long and goes to nowhere. Drive one way and you get to the end of the road. Drive the other way and you get to the end of the road.

The closest point to Russia is 55 miles.

The Klinkets are the native Alaska tribe in the area.

During World War II, the Japanese did make it to Juneau and fighting did take place here.

Gas is $5.39/gallon. Avacados are $5 each. The only way to get items in are by plane or boat.

Mendenhall Glacier

Waterfall at glacier

The glacier is melting approx 15 feet per year

I’m just saying that we think we have big mosquitoes. These are huge.

Gravesite of Nellie Susan and William John Mulvihill at Gold Rush Cemetery. He was mayor for 16 years.

Gold Rush Cemetary

Jefferson “Soapy” Smith was a con man. \240He was a soap salesman. He would hide money in the bars of soap to sell them but those that got money were hired by him. \240He made his way to Skagway and took over brothels and bars and put rigged games in them. Mob was organized and led by Frank Reid to remove Soapy from town. Soapy was shot and killed by Frank Reid. Soapy shot Frank who died 12 days later.

Frank Reid’s tomb bought by the entire town.

Population of Skagway is approx 900 until cruise ships come in and bring it to 5,000 to 6,000.

It is said that 100,000 attempted the White Pass Trail \240looking for gold but only 40,000 survived. Of those 40,000 only 4,000 found gold.

Lunch at Skagway Fish Company

Downtown Skagway

Visitors Bureau

Red Onion Saloon

When a ship enters Skagway for the first time, the crew makes its mark. The higher up the marking, the more revered the captain.

Viking Orion docked in Skagway

Sitka black tail deer

Wild celery

Coastal brown bear

Land squirrel building it’s nest

Ice flows from glacier

Hubbard Glacier

The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for 2 cents an acre. A worthy purchase.

Sailing to Valdez. See you tomorrow

1907 Steamer fire truck at the Valdez Museum

This truck was meant to be pulled by horses but due to it’s 4 ton weight and \240the amount of heavy snow it was never taken out of the fire station.

Bob the moose at the Whittier Museum

Viking Orion in Valdez

Carved art at the dock

Seward Harbor

Viking Orion docked in Seward

Our tour takes us to Kenai Fjords National Park by boat

We had an amazing day today.

We saw a pod of Orcas

Humpbacks

Sea otters these are males since they are in a group and floating on their backs.

Family of Harbor seals

Bald eagle

Aialik Glacier

To top it off a glacier ice margarita

Stellar Sea Lions