Holland America MS Amsterdam Travelogue #6 Day at Sea June 2, 2011

Holland America MS Amsterdam Travelogue #6

Day at Sea

June 2, 2011

Thursday was our second relaxing day at sea. And, that is precisely what we did – relaxed. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast up on the Lido and then began our activities. We were under partly cloudy skies and relatively calm seas. I did hear a couple of people complaining that they were getting seasick – but not nearly as many as the day the seas got to me at the beginning of the cruise. I seem to have my sea legs now and am doing okay – knock on wood – except for seeming to have developed a nice case of bronchitis. Yep! It got me! Luckily I brought lozenges and some cold and allergy meds along with us.

We enjoyed another culinary demonstration down in the Culinary Arts Center. This time our Cruise Director, Jimmy from Australia made crab cakes. Now mind you – this was supposed to be funny, and it was; but Holland America also gave us the real recipe. Jimmy’s version included lots and lots of Tabasco sauce. In fact, he put so much in the crab cake mixture that it would have been spicy hot anyways; but then proceeded to pour it all over the cake once he placed it in the pan full of hot oil. As if that wasn’t enough, when he turned the cake which was now almost crispy black because he said he liked it crispy, he poured the other half of the bottle on the other side. Needless to say he did not get many volunteers to taste his masterpiece! However, he tried it himself and said his tongue was on fire! How odd!

We stopped by the Explorations Café and had Josalito make us a warm coffee latte and Jim read the New York Times condensed version that they provide daily to the passengers and I came down to the cabin for awhile for do a little journaling.

The day continued by attending a Microsoft Techspert hour where you could go ask your questions for the computer guy. The comedian, who performed the other night, gave a talk later in the afternoon on the Secret of Comedy which was interesting and then we stayed for BINGO. And, I won the second game! Had I been the only winner, my jackpot would have been $200 – but I split it with one other lady and so we each walked away with $100.

Before dinner we wandered up to the Crow’s Nest and played Trivia with Jim and Mary from our zip adventure and we won! We got Holland America pins. After that we headed down for dinner in the dining room and then went back up on the back of the ship to enjoy the sunset as the Amsterdam proceeded north up along the Kenai Peninsula on to Anchorage where we will be tomorrow. After not seeing much but open ocean for most of the day, around 9:00 p.m. we could start to see the white tops of the mountains. Spouts from whales could be seen far off in the distance from our table at dinner. We are still waiting for them to be closer and give us a real dinner show!

Till then…

Holland America MS Amsterdam Travelogue - Day One

Holland America MS Amsterdam Travelogue

May 27-28, 2011 – Embarkation Seattle and day one cruising Inside Passage

The anticipation of a vacation is sometimes as exciting as the actual time away. One thing that made this departure especially fun and exciting for me was a surprise I had arranged with our friends, Rob & Christie who live in Portland. We surprised Jim at Seattle/Tacoma airport! As Jim and I made our way through the terminal and on to Baggage Claim where we were to meet our Holland America representative for our transfer from the airport to the ship, Rob & Christie were there to greet us and yell out “Hey Melvin – need a ride?” The look of surprise on Jim’s face was priceless and immediately turned to smiles and lots of hugs all around. We made our way from Sea/Tac Airport up to the Space Needle in downtown Seattle, where we enjoyed lunch with an incredible 360 degree view from the top! The restaurant rotates every 47 minutes and offers an absolutely beautiful view of Seattle and area.

We flew into Seattle under very cloudy skies and a light misty rain when we disembarked the plane. Miraculously the storm clouds vanished and gave way to the sun and blue skies. It was absolutely glorious! We could see out west to the snow capped Olympic Peninsula and mountains; but Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainer remained hidden behind the thick clouds to the east of Seattle.

Our lunch was delicious; and we enjoyed a glass of wine and toast to dear friends. Each of us ordered something different from the wide variety of offerings on the menu; and we were all happy with our respective choices. After lunch, we walked up to the observation deck of the Space Needle where we could see not only our ship, the Holland America MS Amsterdam in port, as well as Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas, Celebrity Infinity and Carnival Spirit. After taking a few pictures of the incredible views, Christie managed to find us a table up in the snack area where we sat and played a game of Euchre – our favorite card game – and the gals got lucky today and won! Whew hew!

Our time with Rob and Christie was over all too soon; and we all felt the same about our time together – it wasn’t enough – but we loved it. They drove us to Pier 91 and after more hugs and thank you’s, we checked in and boarded the ship. There was no one in line in front of us or behind us, for that matter – so checking in a little later definitely has its’ advantages! Many many thanks again for Rob & Christie for our surprise at the airport, delicious lunch and private car transfer to the ship!

The whistle sounded loudly at 5:00 p.m. as we left the port of Seattle and headed north through the Puget Sound and up along Vancouver Island and the Inside Passage. We had a few sprinkles on the windows as we left port; but that was it for the rain! Knock on wood! Though it remained cloudy Friday evening, we could see for miles and miles and it was beautiful.

Our cabin is a “standard” verandah cabin. There is a full couch along with our bed and plenty of closet and storage space. We enjoy our balcony with the chase lounge, chair and small table – but most of the time we are standing up to see what there is to see. Our dinner companions are a mother and daughter (Mamie and Stephanie from Texas and another couple, the Andersons – also from Texas). Our table is right next to the aft windows and we have a glorious view of the wake of the ship and where we have been during the day.

Our first day was spent at sea, getting to know where things are on the ship and meeting our dinner companions and other people along the way. The skies above were solid clouds but no rain. We passed several white lighthouses with red, tile roofs at Scarlett Point and Pine Island before leaving the Queen Charlotte Strait and heading out into the open ocean of the Queen Charlotte Sound. And yes, we did see some of those magnificent black and whites gliding smoothly through the waters along Vancouver Island! It was a small pod. Not everyone on the ship saw them; so we felt lucky to have been looking out off our balcony when they passed quickly by heading south.

We joined “Darren” the fitness guy on the ship at 7:30 in the morning to walk a mile in our quest to Trek the Deck for our precious Landon’s Rockin’ Walkers for Walk for the Cure for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. We wear our denim JDRF shirts every morning and walk 3 ½ times around the deck for a mile. It is enjoyable. I walk at my own pace (slow walker here!) and the others walk more briskly than I – but we are all out there! There are several dozen walkers on the ship every morning. There’s still time to sign up to sponsor us if you go to the JDRF website!

Unfortunately, towards the end of the day as we headed out into Queen Charlotte South, the seas became quite rough and it was uncomfortable – so for a good number of passengers on the Amsterdam (me included) we suffered a bit with seasickness. Jim went to dinner without me. We ordered some room service for me; and he also was very kind to make sure I had an ample supply of ginger ale and saltine crackers. Though I have still not tried it yet; on the menu for room service for “rough sea days” you can order green apples and saltine crackers. I’ve heard this is helps but haven’t indulged as of yet.

Tomorrow is Ketchikan – I’ll be in touch when we have internet service. I am finding as I did last year, that internet service is not always available. Till next time…

December Newsletter

Hello Everyone!

The Holidays are upon us once again! I don’t know about you, but this past year has gone by incredibly fast. We were able to travel a lot this year and visit family and friends along our way. Those moments are really special to us; and, as many of you know, I usually share those times in my Travelogues. Some of you receive them via email and then I post them on my website and on my Blog. I started writing the Travelogues when we were away so that our parents could know what we were doing and seeing.

December greeted me with a wonderful surprise. I have been named one of the “Top 50 Travel Agent Bloggers in the United States”! Here is the link to the website. I am one of the Travel Agents Who Love to Travel - that’s me – Enthusiastic Cruiser! http://www.onlinemarketingdegree.org/the-top-50-travel-agent-bloggers-of-2010
As I often do at the end of the year, I reflect back and think about how lucky I am. Sometimes when the world is so busy around us, we forget to take time to thank those who have made a difference in our lives. This year, Carpenter Travel has grown because of all of you. If I have not told you before, I will tell you now – I realize that you have many choices today when it comes to making your travel plans; and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to help you with yours.

The holidays are a very special time for many of us as we will be traveling near and far to spend time with family and dear friends. Many of us have special traditions; and this month I thought I would share some German family traditions that I’ve learned about from the German exchange student that our brother and sister-in-law have had the pleasure of having join their family for this school year.

Leoni is 16 years old and her family lives in a small village about 200 miles south of Frankfurt. She is quite a talented young lady who not only sings but also plays the flute and the piano. She speaks excellent English and has blended into our family very nicely. She has beautiful rosy cheeks and her eyes seem to light up when she speaks about Germany and her family. Jim and I have been really enjoyed getting to know her and learning more about Germany and their culture and way of life.

In Leoni’s family, their holiday celebrations begin on December 5th when each of them sets one of their boots outside their bedroom door. When they awake in the morning, their parents have filled their boot with special treats including some candy or something sweet. On December 6th, the neighborhood children will walk door-to-door and either say a poem or sing a song and the neighbors will give them a treat (very reminiscent of our Halloween except they do not dress up in costume).

Leoni has told us that her family does decorate for the holidays, but not nearly to the extent that people decorate here with all the lights and festive garlands and trees. Their decorations will be a beautiful table setting that will always include four candles – one to be lit each week during Christmas. They celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.

We have talked about special foods that her family prepare s for the holidays and she mentioned red cabbage or Rotkraut. My Grandma used to make this for every holiday – and my Mom has continued with that tradition. The recipe we have is over 100 years old from my Great Grandmother Hoffman. So, I thought I would share that recipe with you this month. If you have any recipes you’d like to share with me – I would enjoy receiving them and giving them a try in my kitchen. I know that you will all be cooking some wonderful things in the kitchen – and your holidays would never be the same without them. Those special aromas and flavors are distinctly familiar and make our holidays very special.

Grandmother Hoffman’s Red Cabbage –“Rotkraut”

1 – large head of red cabbage – shredded fine
2 – Tablespoons Crisco shortening
2 - Tablespoons Canola oil
1 – Red apple cored, skinned and shredded
3 – Tablespoons light brown sugar
½ - Teaspoon salt
¼ - Teaspoon pepper
3 – Tablespoons Vinegar

Stir well. Simmer at least 2 hours. Put lid on tight. Stir often. Serve warm.

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May your holidays be filled with special memories.

And, As Always,

Safe Travels

Barbara
Your “Enthusiastic” Excursionist

P. S. Whodunit?

Whodunit?
You all know I LOVE cruising! But did you know that I love a good mystery as well? Ever since my childhood when I read the Nancy Drew books (“The Secret of the Old Clock” – “The Hidden Staircase”), I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery. When I came across a company called Whodunit Mystery Cruises, my curiosity was peaked. In 2011, I am becoming a “Partner in Crime”!

What better way to get the best of both worlds than on a Whodunit Mystery Cruise! Enjoy an elegant experience at sea, while MYSTERY and MAYHEM LURK all around you, and even INVOLVE YOU! As the clues unravel, you try to solve the spectacular mystery of "whodunit" - before it's too late! Whodunit creates a Live Mystery aboard the most beautiful ships in the world that you become a part of ... as well as try and solve. There are times during the mystery cruise that you will be following the deadly saga and other times when you are free to just enjoy the cruise ... They don't want you to have to look over your shoulder for the entire time aboard the ship.

If you book the cruise and choose to be a part of Whodunit, when you board you will be given your own deadly role to play. Don't worry, if you are on the shy side you can just sit back and watch the plot unfold. But if you are not shy, then you can use your character to find out as much as you can. You see, the actors will be mixing among you and in character for the entire mystery cruise!!! The hilarious story begins to unfold on the opening night where you will first meet all of the very M Y S T E R I O U S Characters. Then during the week there are mysterious notes slid under your cabin door, secret rendezvous set up for you ... all kinds of suspicious happenings!

On the days we are in port, nothing will happen aboard the ship at this time, so you won't miss any important clues. But be careful.... Captain's Night is bound to be a beautiful, elegant but- a D E V I L I S H night, for sure!

Just think...mutiny and...mayhem... gambling...all the grub you can handle...intrigue...laughter...star laden skies...and Mystery on the High Seas!!!! On May 20, 2011 Jim and I will be on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas sailing out of Seattle to – where else? ALASKA of course!! (Now, come on – you knew that was coming didn’t you?)

So - Supersleuths! Grab your magnifying glasses, deerstalker caps, and life vests as Whodunit heads from Seattle to Alaska on a 7-Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier Cruise! There are bound to be clues around every iceberg as we cruise the inside passage to Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord and Victoria BC.

In addition to the May 20, 2011 sailing on Rhapsody of the Seas for 7 nights from Seattle to Alaska – there are other mystery cruise opportunities for 2011:

1) September 3-8, 2011 on Enchantment of the Seas for 5-nights from Baltimore to the Bahamas

2) October 28-31, 2011 on Monarch of the Seas for 3-nights from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas

3) December 3-10, 2011 on Voyager of the Seas for 7-nights from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean.

Pricing starts from $997.53 including taxes, port fees and Whodunit Murder Mystery per person based on double occupancy.

CRUISE WEST TRAVELOGUE NO. 9 - METLAKATLA, ALASKA

CRUISE WEST TRAVELOGUE NO. 9 - METLAKATLA, ALASKA

SPIRIT OF YORKTOWN

GOLD RUSH INSIDE PASSAGE – JUNEAU TO SEATTLE

August 15, 2010 to August 25, 2010

METLAKATLA

After Alyssa came over the intercom system and said “Wake up Yorktown, we will be passing Ketchikan this morning on our way to Metlakatla”, we got dressed and went down for breakfast and coffee in the lounge. It was interesting approaching Ketchikan from the north past the lighthouse on the north end of Gravina Island. Being in a small ship gives you an entirely different perspective of the area around you because you are so close to ground level. When you are on the larger ships, you are hundreds of feet in the air and looking down on everything.

There were no large cruise ships at the dock in Ketchikan as we passed by, so it was easy to find Creek Street and our favorite restaurant “Steamers” which is right along the dock downtown. As we were going by, many of us realized we were traveling very slowly. .

As soon as the ship was tied down and secured to the dock, the passengers were guided to buses up the hill where we were taken to a Tshimshian Clan House for a native cultural dance presentation. Metlakatla is home to both Haida and Tshimshian natives. Their Clan House includes groups from Raven, Eagle, Humpback and Wolf clans. Metlakatla’s main source of income is fishing; and there is a beautiful small harbor near the Clan House full of fishing boats and personal boats as well. This is a self-governing community because they opted to retain their reservation status rather than to incorporate with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement.

We entered the Clan House and instructed to sit on the wooden steps that lined the edge of the interior. A young Tshimshian man dressed in full native clothing came out and began telling us about their culture and introduced the rest of the dancers. This dance group travels all over the lower 48 states performing at schools and different cultural events – including performing at The White House – to share their traditions with others. There are eight different coastal tribes – Tlingit, Tshimshian, Haida, Northern Kwakiutl, Bella Coola, Southern Kwakiutl, Nootka and Coast Salish.

The dance group is composed of babies to elders. Each person makes their own costume. The beading is extraordinary with the detail they incorporate into the patterns. Beads made from shells were used by several of the women. The patterns on the back of their costumes represented the specific clan they were from (i.e. humpback, raven, etc.). One of the older women wore a beautiful red, full-length cape with a whale appliquéd on the back. The band around the entire cape was about 4 inches wide of ¼ inch shell beads that she had meticulously sewn on in perfect alignment with several other bright colored beads interspersed to add color. She had long black hair that fell softly to below her shoulders. She wore wire rimmed glasses and smiled when she danced showing her love and passion in her soft facial expressions.

The Tshimshian people are very proud and very willing to share their culture with you. During the performance of song and dance we were encouraged to get up and dance with them. We were told beforehand that if you did not accept their invitation to dance with them it would be an insult. So, when one of the dancers held out their hand to me, we quickly stepped down onto the floor and moved around the dance floor with our arms outstretched as if we were eagles and then brought our hands together and motioned up and down as if we were whales. It was fun and we were joined by about 50% of the people with us, so there was a large group on the floor.

We wandered through their small shops down the hallway from the Clan House where the women were selling their homemade items. There was everything from jewelry to hand-woven baskets to handmade moccasins. As we went outside, we noticed a totem pole facing the small harbor that was carved of several figures, one of which was holding a Holy Bible. After our allotted time for shopping had come to an end, we were scurried back on the buses and transported back to the ship. We all boarded and went to the dining room for lunch where it was then announced that we only had one working engine and that a crew had been flown in with parts to make the repairs. It was about 12:30 at this time. We were given the opportunity to leave the ship again if we wanted and go explore the town. Jim took off exploring and I took a nap! We finally departed Metlakatla about 5:30 p.m. that evening. At dinner they announced that we had the all-clear from the Coast Guard and were good-to-go. Because of this engine trouble, however, we would not be able to go into Misty Fjords National Monument as originally planned. I think the majority of us were just happy that the ship engine was repaired and we were underway.

So we traveled out of Metlakatla into the Chatham Sound heading south along Porcher Island and Pitt Island.

DAY SIX - TRAVELOGUES NORTH TO ALASKA - HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - WHITE HORSE TO DAWSON CITY

TRAVELOGUES – DAY SIX – JULY 5TH – WHITE HORSE TO DAWSON CITY
HOLLAND AMERICA MS VOLENDAM
13 DAY CRUISE/TOUR
“NORTH TO ALASKA”

Another early morning for us from White Horse. We had to board our motor coach at 8:00 a.m. so before we did that we walked down two blocks to a Tom Horton’s to grab some breakfast and then went across the street to Starbucks for that first cup of coffee of the day to get us going. White Horse has a population of 23,000 people and is the capital of the Yukon Territory. White Horse was a big port in “the day”.

When gold was discovered in Dawson City by George Carmack news quickly flew about Gold! Gold! Gold! And the rush was on.

We departed from the hotel on the plush motor coach furnished by Holland America and passed the large white paddle wheeler, The Klondike. This was one of the only ways to get from Skagway to Whitehorse back in the Gold Rush Days. The Klondike was built in 1898 and is now a museum. We traveled along the Alaska Highway for about 20 miles to the intersection of the Klondike Highway. The Yukon River is 2,200 miles long and flows south to north and empties into the Bering Sea. The Raven is the territorial bird of the Yukon. In White Horse, they experience 6-7 hours of daylight in the winter months and 21 hours of daylight on the longest day of the year, June 21st.

Skagway was the gateway to the Klondike. The trek from Skagway began with your first destination of Whitehorse and then ultimately to Dawson City. By the time the prospectors and hopeful gold miners finally had traveled all of the trails, they would have traveled over 600 miles in all.

100,000 came through Skagway – men and women alike. Their either climbed up the Chilkoot Trail or the White Pass Trail. They say that no matter which one you decided to take, you always wished you had taken the other trail. The “Chilkoot” means the “meanest trail”. Schools do not have snow days but they have “bear” days. When the grizzlies decide to come visit, the parents keep the kids home.

We crossed the Tahini River which was very reminiscent of driving through the mountains in northern California with a two lane road with gravel and dirt shoulders and about 209 feet off the road begins the forest. We learned that when there happens to be a forest fire up here, they let it burn They do not fight it unless it is threatening homes.

This has been the first time that we have seen the famous Alaska fireweed. It is about two feet tall with delicate magenta colored flowers at the top. It is fully edible and the first flower to grow back after a fire. Then the birch, aspen and cottonwoods return and then the pine trees.

We stopped at the Braeburn Lodge for the largest cinnamon rolls made in the Yukon Territory. These humongous rolls are at least 2-3” tall and are at least 8 or more inches in diameter. The Braeburn Lodge is a small log cabin wit a large front deck with hanging baskets full of purple and pink petunias and small pansies.

Animals that you will find in the Yukon include elk, moose, raven, black bear and grizzly bears. Polar Bears are only about 100 miles north of Dawson City and are the most violent.

Holland America is not letting us go hungry by any means. We have a stop every two hours. Today’s lunch stop was at Carmacks – another small village along the highway We had lunch at the Hotel Carmacks – a rich tomato base, turkey vegetable rice soup with our choice of sandwich. I opted for the veggie wrap which was in a green tortilla with only lettuce and cucumber inside – not the best choice taste wise. I would have enjoyed a salad more.
The Hotel is a wooden structure painted in a light blue base with white trim. There was actually a little mini-mart near the front where they had a good supply of goods offered for the travelers that stop by.

After our tummies were all full, we headed out again down the highway and across a new steel bridge over the Yukon River.

We had a picture stop at Five Finger Rapids about half an hour after lunch. Originally there were four islands in this very narrow channel which made navigating through the rapids quite a challenge in the old paddle wheel boats and other boats the prospectors had built for the journey. Now, there are only two islands and three fingers of the river – but it is still a dangerous area to pass through and quite a challenge in any boat.

Looking across the valley out the window of our motor coach I saw a beautiful forest that appeared to look much like a gorgeous green patchwork quilt of every color of green against the rolling hills. The groves of birch trees or cedar trees stood out against the darker pines and so thick that it looked smooth as if sewn together like a quilt.

The Yukon River meandered through the low meadows. As we continued on, every once in a while we would see more evidence of forest fires. Though there was much evidence of mew growth on the forest floor, the evidence of the fires was obvious with the dark, burned barren tree trunks standing tall but with no branches – just like sticks stuck in the ground. There were also many areas where the trees had fallen and the trunks were laying on the floor of the forest next to each other, grey from the weather.

All along the highway there are signs for campgrounds for those being adventurous and driving through this magnificent area. There are small road stops with a one-pump gas station if you are in need of gasoline. Gasoline is quite expensive here at about $1.18 per liter which computes into about $5.00 per gallon in the US. Ouch!

The closer we got to Dawson City, I noticed yet another change in the landscape. The thick forest changed to groves of birch and cedar trees with their branches gently moving in the wind. Their white trunks are straight and tall and they have an umbrella of leaves on their top branches of a light grayish green color.

Dawson City was where the original gold was found that started the stampede to the Yukon in 1898. George Carmack staked his claim on August 16, 1898 at “Discovery Claim” in the Klondike River Valley. As soon as news spread about the gold discovery, Dawson City saw an influx of thousands. The Gold Rush lasted only a couple of years, but the legend will live forever. It is said that there is still a lot of gold in them thar’ hills. Of the 100,000 who trekked over the mountains, only about 30,000 actually made it to Dawson City.

Our afternoon stop about 2:30 was at Moose Creek Lodge – just a little roadside log cabin painted red. Their claim to fame is their homemade tarts. We tasted a raspberry one – and they ARE very tart.

Tintina Trench was our final picture stop of the day. It is a fault line in a glorious valley of spectacular panoramic views of the majestic mountains and valleys of the Yukon Territory. It is 45 miles from here to Dawson City.

The forest has now changed once again to pines that are only one straight truck up standing tall with no branches. The highway is lined with patches of bright pink wild sweet peas that grow to about 6 inches tall and are not edible. The landscape seems to change at almost every turn, and it is more beautiful than the last one. The sky is so blue it is incredible. The skies have cleared with only a few puffy white clouds dotting it making it look even much deeper blue.

One of the other things that we have been able to experience first-hand on this trip is the infamous Alaska mosquito. They are about ½ inch long and unfortunately several have decided my forehead is a nice place to have a little snack. They are pesky little creatures.

We enjoyed dinner last night a Sourdough Joe’s for fish and chips. I had grilled salmon and Jim had the cod. We ate with two other couples from our group and enjoyed getting to know everyone a little more.

After that, Jim decided to partake in the infamous “Sour Toe” drink at the Gold Rush Hotel. Honestly, I thought it was gross and disgusting – but there were actually seven people from our group that got in on the festivities. They have this big ceremony and if you put this frost bitten toe in your shot of Yukon Jack you have to drink it and the toe has to touch your lips. Jim has his certificate along with the others.

Once that was over, we walked outside and the sun was shining high in the sky, not a cloud in the sky and it was 10:30 p.m.!! Such is the land of the midnight sun! Tomorrow we actually get to sleep in and we will enjoy that! We have a small coffee pot in our room – which we will also enjoy while we are getting ready. There are “black out” curtains on our windows, so when we shut them, literally no light comes through and it is easy to get to sleep.

Talk to you tomorrow!

DAY FIVE - TRAVELOGUES NORTH TO ALASKA - HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - SKAGWAY TO WHITEHORSE

TRAVELOGUES – DAY FIVE – HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
HOLLAND AMERICA MS VOLENDAM
13 DAY CRUISE/TOUR
“NORTH TO ALASKA”


Happy 4th of July from Skagway, Alaska! As with all the rest of our days, we were up early again and headed to Starbucks for a quick cup of coffee before we were off for the day. Today we will venture from Skagway up the White Pass on the White Pass & Yukon Railway ultimately arriving in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

We boarded the “passenger” train – which is an entirely different train than the “shore excursion” train that is offered through the cruise ships as a shore excursion while you are in Skagway. This is an actual working train that transports passengers up the mountain for a purpose as opposed to the shore excursion train that just takes you up the mountain and back down again.

As the train slowly climbed from sea level departing from downtown Skagway at 8:00 a.m., we traveled along the Skagway River as it tumbled over the rocks and down through the glacial valley. The valley above Skagway is full of mountains full of smooth granite boulders wet with the runoff from the snow capped mountains above. In between the granite boulders are crevasses filled with brush and trees. We climbed higher and higher across a tall trussle that at first glance appeared to be hanging on the side of the mountain. It was amazing as we traveled along and eventually rode over it and through two mountain tunnels.

The White Pass 7 Yukon Railroad is a narrow gauge railroad. Construction began on it in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. There are 110 miles of track between Skagway and Whitehorse. The track rises to 3,000 feet at the summit in just 20 miles.

The higher we traveled the thicker the clouds were; and our visibility was completely lost towards the top of the mountain. However, all of a sudden, through the fog and dense clouds magically appeared an old wooden trussle that was shrouded in the fog. It is no longer a functional track, but is quite impressive to see.

Even though the Conductor said we were traveling parallel to the Trail of 1898 where the prospectors climbed up the mountain shoulder to shoulder carrying then heavy supplies, it was difficult to see it through the clouds. The prospectors were required to bring in one years’ worth of supplies in order to enter the Yukon Territory. In order to accomplish that feat, the prospectors had to make several trips up and down the mountain.

As we crossed the summit from the US into Canada, we arrived at Summit Lake. This lake is the head waters of the Yukon River. It is 2,200 miles long and ends in the Bering Sea.

As the top when we crested the White Pass, the landscape changed dramatically. Rocks that appeared to be volcanic were everywhere. It almost looked like something out of a movie set from Star Trek. The rocks and boulders were square with jagged edges. This is where we saw our first tundra which is a thick spongy ground cover that is growing among the rocks and in the flats. Scrub pines grow here. They only have a root system of a couple of inches because of the permafrost beneath; and they only grow a few feet tall.

The Yukon River cascades through the jagged rocks and forms calm pools of water in the flatter areas. There was no wind today, but it was quite cool at about 40 degrees.

At Fraser, British Columbia, the Canadian customs agent boarded the train to check our passports. We literally had to hold our passport up next to our face as he came through. A Canadian tour guide was also boarded here. .

After we received clearance from Canadian Customs, we continued on traveling down the mountain following the Yukon River as it flowed from the summit.

At 10:30 a.m. we arrived at Lake Bennett, B.C. which was our lunch stop. It occurred to me now that the Canadians eat their meals “early”. Inside of the red and white Yukon dining room, long banquet tables set up with blue cast iron kettles full of homemade beef stew. It was hot with big chunks of tender beef in thick, dark gravy and filled full with corn, carrots and potatoes. Everything was homemade including two kinds of bread sliced thick for dipping up the stew. We also had some delicious coleslaw. There was hot coffee and hot tea to drink and homemade, deep-dish apple pie full of cinnamon and nutmeg which made it especially tasty.

After lunch we ventured off with a group to hike around the area in hopes of spotting some wildlife. That didn’t happen, but the views of the First Presbyterian Church just off the Chilkoot Trail were absolutely spectacular. This area is so majestic and dramatic and spectacular no matter which way you turn. One way you are overlooking a gorgeous mountain lake, another way you are gazing at the mountains. The mountains rise up progressing above the very obvious tree line and then continuing up to dramatic granite cliffs where there is no vegetation. Some of the granite even gave the appearance of being gigantic fish scales with curved ridges. These sections appeared to be separated by areas that had obviously avalanched. All of a sudden, the sun burst out from behind the clouds and the lake began to turn hues of green and blue and deepened as the sky got brighter.

We walked around the lake over to the Chilkoot Trail where we hiked along the rivers’ edge. There were several places were old rusted antique relics were just scattered on the ground. There were many old rusted cans, but also an old wash tub, a show next to what appeared to be an old rusted eating bowl of some sort and several other interesting items. They are all protected as this area is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

At the top of the north end of the lake is the First Presbyterian Church. It was built after the gold rush in 1899 by railroad workers out of tree limb and trunks. The logs on the bottom were horizontal, the next layer was angled and the next level was vertical. When I got to the top of the hill behind the church, I was greeted with a picture postcard of the church and the glacial valley and lake below. It was nothing short of inspiring and left me in awe of the magnificent beauty. I’m struggling to find the right adjectives to be able to describe everything to you. I hope when you finally see the pictures that you’ll recognize things from the descriptions in m Travelogues.

At 3:00 p.m. we arrived in the small town of Carcross, B.C. We took our belongings off the train and boarded Holland America motor coach 888 with Clarissa at the wheel. She is living in Washington D.C. and just here for the summer working as a motor coach driver and will return to D.C. once the summer season has ended. Carcross has a population of about 3,000 permanent residents. They only have school for grades 1 through 6. After that, the teenagers mist be transported to Whitehorse and boarded during the school week. As we left Carcross in our motor coach, we passed the Sahara of the Yukon Territory at the Carcross Desert. It is about one square mile right in the middle of the Yukon Territory that is rolling hills of white sand just like we have in southern California. We also had a photo stop at Emerald Lake – known as the Jewel of the Yukon. The deep emerald green and blue waters are caused by glacial silt and something called marl.

We arrived in Whitehorse around 5:00p.m. and enjoyed dinner with another couple in our group. I had a chicken quesadilla and Jim enjoyed a prime rib wrap. After dinner the whole group enjoyed the Frantic Follies which was like a good old vaudeville show complete with girls dancing the can-can, banjo players, opera singers and the like. It was fun, but we were tired and after that, we went back to our room and crashed. Tomorrow is going to be another early morning….

Less than 24 hours and a new adventure begins!

So, the time has actually arrived. The suitcases are almost packed - just a few finishing touches (like an umbrella) and I'll check my list over and over again today to try not to forget anything.

Tomorrow at 4:30 a.m. the shuttle will come and pick us up and off we'll go in the dark to the airport! Then, at 6:30 we'll be whisked off up in the air to Vancouver. We will keep you updated all along our way.

We are traveling to the "land of the midnight sun" and to the "northern lights". We could experience anywhere from 18-20 hours of daylight while we are there with an "average" temperature of 66 degrees and a low of 52 degrees. Now, that being said, keep your mind on "average". We've been in Juneau when it's been 90 degrees - so we are packing for the layered look to be ready for anything.


One thing I haven't mentioned is that we would love to see the aurora borealis. It would be an incredible thing for us to be able to see the "northern lights" while we are up in Dawson - which would be our best chance for seeing something; but with so much daylight during the summer months, our chances are slim to none.. The aurora borealis is named after the Roman Goddess of Dawn "Aurora" and the Greek name for the north wind "Boreas". Auroras are the result of the emissions of photons in the Earth's upper atmosphere, above 50 miles from ionized nitrogen atoms regaining an electron, and oxygen and nitrogen atoms returning from an excited state to ground state. They are ionized or excited by the collision of solar wind particles being funneled down and accelerated along the Earth's magnetic field lines; excitation energy is lost by the emission of a photon of light, or by collision with another atom or molecule. And so we will concentrate on the scenery and the wildlife instead.

And so - tomorrow our adventure starts - and I will leave you with this from the great poet bard, Robert Service:

"It's the great, big, broad land 'way up yonder,
It's the forests where silence has lease;
It's the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It's the stillness that fills me with peace."
Robert Service - "The Spell of the Yukon"

CRUISE SALE MARCH 15-MARCH 21, 2010

CRUISE SALE! Princess Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Lines CRUISE SALE!!
Next week - March 15-21, 2010. Reduced deposits of only $100 on any cruise booked with CARPENTER TRAVEL for 2010 and 2011. Fully refundable. You will also receive a coupon book from either cruise lines valued at over $325 on onboard credits to be used during your cruise.

In addition, CARPENTER TRAVEL is offering new clients a $25 onboard credit for every cabin booked.

SPECIALS INCLUDE:

7-DAY SEATTLE TO GLACIER BAY CRUISE on Holland America MS Zaandam, departing September 24, 2010 and going to the ports of Ketchiken, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Victoria. Interior cabins starting as low as $699 per person plus taxes.

14-day HAWAIIAN ISLANDS CRUISE on Holland America MS Zaandam - round trip San Diego
departing November 7, 2010 - Interior cabins starting as low as $1499 per person plus taxes.

7-day PACIFIC COAST CRUISE on Norweigan Cruise Lines Norwegian Pearl - Los Angeles to Vancouver with ports of call at San Francisco, Astoria, Victoria, Nanaimo and Vancouver. Interior cabins starting as low at $419 per person plus taxes.

All prices above are based on double occupancy and pricing available at time of booking. Cruise Lines have the option of increasing prices until time final booking is made.

CARPENTER TRAVEL always recommends purchasing travel insurance, because I want your vacation to be memorable for all the "right" reasons.

CARPENTER TRAVEL
Located in Rancho San Diego, CA
(619) 592-4628 or (866) 963-0546
E-mail: carpentertravel51@yahoo.com
www.carpentertravel.net

“Alaska Cruise"
7-day Alaska Cruise to Glacier Bay
Round trip out of Seattle

HOLLAND AMERICA - MS ZAANDAM

Visiting the ports of Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Victoria
Interior Cabins (Category K) starting at $699 per person/ double occupancy
Ocean-view Cabins (Category E) starting at $799 per person/double occupancy
Verandah Cabins (Category AA) starting at $1,419 per person/double occupancy

EXTRA AMMENITIES ON THIS CRUISE ADD SUPERIOR VALUE - including Champagne and Strawberries, Deluxe Canapés, one Photo, one soda card per cabin, wine charms, Holland America cookbook and Lunch at the Pinnacle Grill Restaurant!

CRUISE SALE – March 15th to March 21st offering reduced deposits of $100 per person and a Holland America onboard coupon book valued at over $325. Book during that week and receive a $50 per cabin onboard credit from CARPENTER TRAVEL.

Book your cabin now with Barbara at CARPENTER TRAVEL and let her spoil and pamper you! You're going to LOVE it!
(619) 592-4628 or (866) 963-0546
E-mail: carpentertravel51@yahoo.com
www.carpentertravel.net

CARPENTER TRAVEL is a member of the East County Chamber of Commerce, SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality) and Barbara is an Alaska Destination Specialist and Accessible Lifestyle Specialist. CA Seller of Travel No. 209835-40

Fares based on double occupancy and availability at time of booking. CARPENTER TRAVEL always recommends purchasing travel protection insurance.