Rap up of the Alaska Trip

Sun June 28th  We arrived home yesterday to 90 degrees which is quite a shock after having it in the 60's.  We are caught up with laundry and house cleaning for a while.  Funny how everything gets a fine layer of grit from bathroom re-do all over the house.  Now I can try to finish up this blog of our Alaska trip before work tomorrow.  Wednesday we got into Skagway where we took the narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Railroad trip.  Earlier in the morning we went to town and looked around.  We have been there before and not much changed except for all the Cruise people wandering around for things to buy.  We came back to ship, had lunch and off for our train trip.  It was a beautiful ride through the mountains.  Quite a steep grade so you could see the front of the train going around the corner a lot.  We could see the river below and got to see mountain goats up on the hills.  People on an earlier train got to see a small bear.  Of course the eagles were around to but they fly too fast for pictures.  We saw the old train trestle built in the Gold Rush Days made of wood-glad we traveled over the new metal one.  All of our group took the train but we were by ourselves. Troy and Colleen (our niece) and kids took an earlier train and Troy was attacked by a bear.  It was a statue however and he hit his head on it while trying to pose for pictures and ended up at ship's hospital getting  stitches in his head.  He has quite the story to tell.  That night all the kids ate early and played card games in their room while us adults had a great steak dinner at one of the restaurants.  We then sailed all night and at 4PM landed in Prince Rupert, Canada.  It was just a short stop and not much of a town to do anything in but had quite a history.  We did take a tour of the City and went out to one of the oldest Salmon canneries.  The place isn't working any more but we got to see how they canned before machines and then all the machines were working so we saw how they made the cans, put in the salmon and sealed and processed them.  There was a First Nation Lady (Indian) there mending nets by hand.  Left there at 10Pm  and were at sea until we got home.  We had really calm waters all the time and nice cool weather.  enjoyed visiting in the evenings with everybody.  We had a great time but were glad to get home to our dogs. We are leaving next week for the summer. Will be keeping up with the Blog better. Our Best to All, JVP

juneau

June 23rd we arrived here in Juneau.  It is raining here mostly just a light sprinkly rain.  We took our ship's shuttle into town and walked around a bit and got a few trinkets.  We bought a can of halibut but doesn't have a pull top so we can't open it.  Guess we'll have to try it when we get home.  Went back to ship and than off to our trip.  We went out to Gold Creek for a salmon bake.  We had music-had an Alaskan ale with our salmon.  Had a lot of other food even chicken but we just ate our great fresh salmon.  Walked back along the creek to a really nice waterfall.  There are always other cruise ships when we dock-the Princess has followed or lead every time.  She is a really big ship not that ours is small.  This cruise line is OK-we've been on nicer ones and do like the smaller ships.  Since there are so many of us we usually eat late-about 8pm so are up awhile to let dinner settle but shows are usually when we're eating.  We couldn't cruise down the inlet to Sawyer Glacier because of to much ice so the Capt. took us to see another Glacier.  We went for a long time  down a fiord with  beautiful tree covered mountains, waterfalls and clouds settled in over the tops.  The water is such a beautiful emerald green color and has alot of small ice bergs=nothing like the ones we saw in Newfoundland.  The ship took us down to the end of the glacier which was a spectacular sight, spun us around and we cruised back down the inlet. We saw some small whales on the way down.  Had a Mexican dinner last night and also enjoyed another Alaskan ale while we cruised down the inlet.  

Alaska or Bust

The weather has been cool and cloudy.  Yesterday we went to Ketchikan and we were lucky enough to have nice weather.  We took a trip on a small boat out to see a lighthouse, saw so many bald eagles and their huge nests, and totem poles on an island.  Here is picture of our group at dress up dinner night.  Having fun with everybody in evenings.  Stays light until 10 or so and sun up at 4 AM.  It is great having our balcony and seeing everything from there.  We have seen a few whales.  Water is really smooth sailing and our room is nice.  

Seattle Before Alaskian Cruise

Sat, June 20  Seattle.  We arrived here on Thurs afternoon, checked into our hotel downtown and went exploring the city.  We took a tour of the underground-the original city is below the sidewalks and buildings.  It was quite interesting to hear of early Seattle but certainly wouldn't want to have been in those times.  The buildings here are a lot of brick and marble, old mixed in with new but the old buildings are just beautiful.  We ate dinner down at Ivar's at the waterfront. We ate there many years ago.  We had clams and mussels to start with=very good.  Enjoyed our seafood dinners.  We are close to most things here and walk alot but is also easy to take a taxi and only $5.00 so we walk and then take taxi back to hotel.  Friday we awoke to cloudy skies and it had rained during the night.  We went down to Pike Place Market - John had a cup of coffee at the first Starbucks.  The market has such beautiful flowers and big bouquets for only $10  I just got a small one of sweet peas and a peony. (so pretty).  We enjoyed seeing all the fresh produce and had to get some Rainer cherries (the yellow ones).  We walked through the fish market and watched them throw the fish when somebody orders one.  We saw huge lobster tails, salmon from the Copper River in Alaska and other big fresh fish.  We went to Pike's Brewery and had their  beer sampler-6-4oz glasses.  We only liked the first 3 so drank those with our crab and artichoke pizza.  Rested a bit and then off for our City Tour.  Saw a lot of the city we hadn't explored and noticed that there was no graffi anywhere.  Our highlight of the tour was seeing the huge rhododendrons in bloom and  then the Ballard Locks.  We saw some salmon going up the ladder from sea to fresh water to spawn and also watched some boats go through the locks.  It only takes  5 minutes instead of all day in Panama Canal but boats are smaller too.  Ate down at waterfront again at place called Cutters.  I had salmon, halibut and cod with the best crab Cole slaw- John had his shrimp and crab Louie salad.  Our group has all arrived and today, Sat will be on ship.  We have to be there around noon and leave port at 4.  Excited to be on ship and see everyone and our next adventure. We are hoping to post on the ship but we will see what they have available for internet. Here are a few pictures to keep this interesting. JVP

June 14th.  Well, we are behind with our blog again but want to get this posted.  We have had a busy few weeks.  The end of May (on my birthday) we went camping with our group to a new place in Beaumont, Ca.  We didn't have a lot of people because of graduations and other activities but 5 rigs managed to make it.  On the way there, just off the freeway was a hugh dip in the road and we had to take it on an angle.  When we got through it the car hitch had broken and the car hit the back of the motorhome.  We were so lucky it happened there and not on the freeway since we were going very slow, or on the way to the campground as it was a big grade with lots of hair pin turns.  We unhooked the car and I drove it to campground and back home.  Our friends, radiator in his truck started leaking when they got parked and had to have a new radiator put in that weekend and another couple had to take their dog to the vet as she had something wrong with her jaw and couldn't drink or eat.  Other than that we did manage to have a good campout.  On Tuesday, the whole family went to our favorite pizza place to celebrate John's, mine and Paul's birthdays.  Then that Friday we went back again to see John's niece and family(lori) , her Mom & Dad and friends for another get together.  We are in the midst of having our bathroom remodeled and it has made a fine layer of dust everywhere.  Trying to keep up with it but seems to be a useless job.  This weekend has been a whirl wind of parties.  Sat, we went to a 50th  anniversary luau (one of traveling group), came home to change clothes for a wedding  and of the way stopped in to see how our grandson's 5th birthday was going.  We will have him by ourselves on Monday so will have our own celebration on his real birthday.  Sun, we went our niece's 25th anniversary and was also John's brother's birthday.  Whew!  Glad this weekend is over with and we survived it all.  Now we can get down to packing and getting ready for our cruise to Alaska this weekend.  Looking forward to seeing the changes and cruising the inside passage.  Our first house deal fell through in Big Bear and have found another we like even better so will see if we get this one and spend the fall and winter getting settled.  JVP

A get away to the Coast

We decided that we were bored and needed some R&R. So last Tuesday, a week ago now, we left Glendora and headed up the coast. We ended up in Buelton. The little Dutch community on 101 before you get to Santa Maria. The campground has been completely made over. This is now a first class 4 star campground. More expensive too. 

We have friends, John & Beth,  that were staying out at Vandenburg Air Force Base,in their fifth wheel trailer. They are retirees and have all those privileges, and are able to camp on the base. They moved to Florida a few years ago and are out here helping his mom and dad, they are in a nursing home. They have been in their trailer for a year, and will be working their way back home this summer. 

Anyway they took us on a tour of the base. (Vandenburg) A lot of prime real estate, You need a lot of room to shoot off rockets.  I guess during the war it was a busy place. 

Thursday, we had a late breakfast at Patti's Pancake House in town. Big pancakes. Toured the city and went to a museum, and checked out the local Dutch Church. John knew of a Falls out in the country. Not very much water going over the falls but was a pretty walk and beautiful anyway. 

The campground got very busy  on Friday and we left and went to Santa Maria to Costco to do a service call for the shop. It was easy, I have not lost my touch. On our way back to the campground we did some wineing and stopped by the Indian Casino for a look see. I was not that impressed. We got up on Saturday and left for home. The traffic was a nightmare when we got to interstate 5. Everyone leaving town. 

We went out for Mexican cuisine, at our favorite restaurant for dinner on Sunday and spent a quite Monday at home, having my brother Bud and Betty over for dinner. Here are few pictures of the weekend, and some Fantasy Tour guides that were on their way to Alaska for the summer. JVP

Our April camp out was at Emerald Desert resort in Palm Springs.  We left home and it was hot already but that didn't last more than a day.  Thursday found it windy and cooled off but every day after was still windy and cooler.  When we went into town it was nice behind the mountain which was protected from the wind.  We went to the Follies to watch the ladies sing and dance.  They all look wonderful with slim figures, great legs, good voices=I wish I could look that good when I get to be 70.  The oldest was in her 80's and sang great.  While we were there my temporary crown came off.  Made a trip to drug store and got some cement which lasted about an hour when I swallowed  the temporary with my salad.  No more eating now. Made another trip to drug store and found  something that is like a cap.  It didn't last long and it was out too.  We put it on again and I slept on it and it adhered good so I was able to keep it on for 3 more days until we got home and  the permanent was installed.  What a hassle and an experience.  John isn't sure he wants to take me camping any more as this is twice now he's had a problem with health issues for me.  Of course he wasn't doing so well himself.  Before we left his blood pressure got really low and he felt light headed.  Went to Dr. and gave him an IV as he was dehydrated. So he drank a lot of water while we were there and purchased a BP machine to watch his blood pressure which was fine after that.  Dr has since taken one of his pills away and cut another in half and he's feeling much better.  This month was our grandson Cody's 16th birthday and we had a great party at his parents house.  I finished up my bowling league but since we are going to be home for awhile I started the summer league.  We ended up in the middle of 10 teams so did Ok.  Everybody was home for Easter this year so I had dinner.  The kids had a great Easter egg hunt and the other day I found the last egg hidden in the planter now for 2 weeks.  Good thing it was plastic.  We took some family pictures=although not everybody was happy about that but you have to jump on these occasions or they slip by. 

Virginia and I went to Big Bear in March to get our fix for the mountains. We have been doing that a couple of times a year for many years. We go and look at houses for sale. Well this time we found one we liked and made an offer on it. The offer was accepted, and now we are in escrow for a home in the mountains. We are very excited. 

We have have so many things going on this spring. Graduations, birthdays, home repair, new home, and a trip this summer that starts in July. We have been looking for furniture, and have found some but have not had a lot of luck finding any for mountain homes, these days dark furniture is in. Well, I am going to stop now and try and post some pictures of the family at Easter. Will write more next month. John & Virginia