Juneau? We're still in Juneau.

We continue our touring, camping and seeing in Junaeu.  It includes investigating the old mining village on Douglas Island. Nice walk all along the shore.  Although it feels like we are in the middle of no where - we run into tourists at the end of the island ziplining in the canopy of the island.  The walk opens the history of the area with remnant of buildings, structures and old piers.

On the advice of the camp site owners, we wonder to the shrine of St. Therese - where we have a picnic, and watch the whales.  Beautiful ground works.  Wonderful view of the water,eagles, commmon merganers, and possibly a loon.  Wildflowers abound with all colors against the lush background. 

Again on the advice of our camp site owners, we wander past Juneau to a salmon and halibut Grill - Than Ore house - the grilled halibut melted in my mouth.  But even better, The Alaskan Seafood Store, we bought king fish salmon fillets to grill at our campsite -mmm mmm good.  I am not sure I have ever tasted anything so good.

Our only regret was that our plans had us leaving Juneau the day before Celebration 2012.  What is that, you ask.  Every two years, the Tlinglit Tribe celebrates it's culture and arts with a festival.  And it started the day after we left.  But, unknown to us, and unannounced, the day prior,

the Tlinglit welcome Tlinglits from all over the southeas t.  We decided to stop at the shrine for another view and on our way there was a load of cars at Auke Village, and so we walked into a ceremony welcoming the visiting Tlinglits.  It was an incredible event to share, sounds, colors, and cooking.

Now if that wasn't enough - we still got to see a whale, an eagle returning to its nest, and then a bear.  The bear just nibbling on the side of the road. 

How lucky can you be?

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Knock, Knock......Whose there?

Juneau!

Juneau who?

Juneau its going to rain later today, for sure!

Knock, knock!

Juneau!

Juneau who?

Juneau we were on a cruise for two weeks and we forgot to blog?

Yeah and that's lichen to going on vacation and not bringing back silly t-shirts for the moms.

Oh right, a cruise without a porpoise!

In any case, we got our bear-ings on shorelines several times, and just don't forget the moosing around!

While most folks had a whale of a time with each sighting off the port side, or the starport side, or the bow, or the stern, I'm sitting right here like a barnacle until Shaun serves up another pint of Alaskan ale.

Wow, good thing we yoga-d up every morning after first-breakfast. Otherwise our bellies would never have caught sight of Lee's pastries, and those delicious fresh dressings.

Ketchikan get that mud off your clothes already? Someone might think you has eagle eyes by the way you went all fours up that waterfall and then down into those caves. I'd raven some clean clothes, but guess that'll have to wait a few more months. Just be happy the Tlingits don't show up to erect a shame totem in front of our tent site.  If they do I wish them luck with these early mosquitos, the swarms are building mighty fast.

Did you notice how all those folks fled the ship mid-cruise? Guess we'll have to sell more tickets to the sauna on deck four and hot tubs on deck three to the newbies joining us.

Cap'n Dano had a tale or two for us. I'm wondering 'bout now if he knew my Uncle Ennis and Aunt Amy seeing how he sailed out of Mystic on them square riggers. Aye, without his eagle-eye, for sure we'd still be sitting in the Narrow waiting for a salvage vessel to get us to open waters.

Okay, okay, before I get all mossy I might as well close this whale tale and get breakfast on. These's more calving in the distance, time to get hoofing up the trail to Mendenhall. Back with more good fun and photos shortly.

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The road less travelled

In one week, Ron & I begin our long trek up to Alaska. Today's task was measuring the car and measuring the bags. I never thought we'd have a problem, but Ron needed the reassurance that we will fit into the car.

The car -- our 2010 GM Equinox has a box on the roof, and a hitch tray on the back. We've removed the back seat also. Whatever fits, fits.

We'll be camping and motel-ing our way, taking 6 weeks to get to Alaska, another six weeks or so in Alaska, and then about two months more to Chicago, to the East Coast, and down the east coast - getting us back home about 6 months after we leave.

Six days and counting. Stay tuned for updates.