Juneau Jaunts

August 16, 2011 Juneau Arrival

8/16/11-8/17/11

Yes it was cool and yes it was rainy, but nothing can diminish the thrill of seeing wildlife or the beauty of sailing through the narrow passages and straights on the route to Juneau.

We stayed at Grandma’s Feather Bed and there was actually a feather bed in our room as well as a Jacuzzi. Both were greatly appreciated after walking through town, souvenir shopping and a tram ride up Mt. Roberts in the rain.

"At Last" (sing it Etta) ALASKA

August 13, 2011 Departure date for our Alaskan Adventure

My sisters, their husbands and my niece came to the Alaska Ferry terminal to give us a great “Bon Voyage”. The ferry set sail at 6 pm on a wonderful sunny evening. The purser assigned us to a very nice berth with a bathroom (top priority) and a window. It felt first class to us. We scurried on deck to wave and watch for wildlife on the way out of Bellingham Bay and through the San Juan Juan Islands. Eagles, harbor seals and Orcas were spotted that evening. Almost immediately, we began to interact and connect with fellow passengers. With only 200 or so people, it wasn’t hard. Most were Alaskans heading to their homes around SE Alaska or tourists who preferred to bypass the big cruise ships (thus, a common bond). I found several people who, like myself, were interested in using GPS and the ship’s monitors to track our course. Just Old Salts at heart.

The relative calm of the inside passage made for a wonderful night’s sleep.

8/14-8/16/2011

There was a definite change in the weather when we awoke. Rain, duh. I dusted off my rain gear and spent a lot of time on deck. Chris found plenty to keep himself busy: socializing, reading and pub crawling. There was even small theater that occasionally showed nature films and movies. Even though we packed enough food for an army, the restaurant's breakfast menu was too much to resist. We rationalized that we were still economizing because we shared our meal.

We arrived in Ketchikan early on the morning of the 15^th. Chris had met a retired Alaska Ferry Chief Boatswain, Stephen Mason who offered to show us around town during our 4 hour layover. Steve graduated from Lake Washington High School (around 1960), has a home near Thorp WA and a cabin on Duke Island, AK. A very nice guy who gave us the opportunity to see Fairbanks and its 2 Totem Park’s which otherwise, would not have been possible.

Steve travels on his own "ferry" from Ketchikan to Duke Island (see above). Such a good looking first mate there...

Friends, Family and Fun

Jerry McNeight

Mike Cooper

Jerry, Larry, Ike

Sue, Mike and Joan

Linda and Rosemary

"improved" (sic) format and I'm still trying to figure it out. So again, you get to guess who, where and when....

7/19/11 to 7/21/11

Friends

Impulsively, (so what is new) we stopped in Gig Harbor to look up a friend from a lifetime ago. Time has not changed Judy Kohler and I would have known her anywhere. Even with several decades between visits, we started where we left off, as if it were yesterday, and talked the hours away.  We reminisced for quite some time about her parents, Jayne and Jim Evans, both now deceased. I have so many fond memories of Jim and Jayne. They were like parents to me from my senior year in high school and through nursing school. Over the years, I visited with them several times at their home on Whidbey Island and Jayne always had her wonderful raspberry pie waiting for me. Judy said I was welcome to visit the property anytime and I think that will be a good place for me to bid her parents “adieu”. Judy joined Chris and I for lunch at the Tides Tavern. We enjoyed a good meal with wonderful company and a fantastic view. We’ve promised to meet again, soon.

7/21-7/24/11

Away to the Tropics and Dash Point

RHS class of ’65 is very special. Last year I was unable to attend my 45^th reunion but was kept updated on the event by many good friends and classmates. A promise was made that we would have a “mini reunion” when I finally made it back to the great northwest and indeed we did! We met at Dino’s in Renton and I think we had a great turn out. A special thanks to Linda West, Jerry and Linda Mullin, Gail Hazelett and so many more for making it possible.

My niece, Courtney Shamek’s wedding was 7/22/11. She and Brandon Veach were married in an outdoor ceremony, along the water in Lakewood.  A tropical theme was carried out through the entire event, with blue cocktails at the tiki bar, leis for the groomsmen, palm leaf fans and shell necklaces for the guests and tropical isle named tables at dinner. It was a truly a beautiful wedding! Her parents, (Vicki and Jim), grandmother, aunts, uncles, and many others put in countless hours and the results were  spectacular.

Chris and I camped at Dash Point State Park that weekend. Although this park is in the middle of a metropolitan area you’d never know it. The camp sites are wooded and the sounds of the city do not penetrate the forest.  Vicki, Jim and granddaughter Aspen, came by one night for a campfire, s’mores and few scary fireside stories.

 

7/24/11

More Friends

A trip through the Seattle area would not be complete without a stop in Medina to see my best friends, the Kirsch’s. We had a fun poolside visit and cookout with Betsy, Rod, daughter Jessica and her family (husband James and children Allie and Jack). 

7/25/11-8/12/11

Family

Finally arrived in Ferndale/Bellingham. Moby went to the RV spa for small makeover (refrigerator repair) and we stayed with Patti (sister) and husband John. When Moby was in shipshape we parked her in Judi (sister) and Mike’s back yard for the duration. We had gatherings with family, cookouts and plenty of chatter time. We visited Mike at work (a Nooksack casino) for a great buffet and a little “financial foolishness”.

I took a couple of one day trips. One to Whidbey Island, with my sister, Patti to pay homage to Jim and Jayne Evans. Their son Ken and his wife were there for the weekend and we had a great time reminiscing and laughing about having gone to "Renton". 


The second trip was to Black Diamond to visit my former neighbor and lifetime friend Katherine McNeight. She has "celebrated" 91 years and still is amazingly bright and mobile.  We had a wonderful day talking, going out to lunch and visiting places from out of the past. She is a newlywed and I met her husband Tom for the first time. He's a real character with a great sense of humor.


Much to my regret, I spent so much of my time talking that I forgot to take pictures....