Rocky Mountain High

This one of those days that a nap is in order. Yesterday we drove to Estes Park, Colorado. About 142 miles. No big deal, but we are climbing to a new level. 7850 ft. The campground good and is the closest to the park. I get Satellite reception, which is good. We are also getting good Cell phone signals. Today we went into the park and drove the 84 miles round trip. It was wonderful. the scenery was spectacular, with lots of wild life. Got back to the park about an hour ago and took a good nap. The altitude in the park got high as 12267 Ft. Air was in short supply. I am going to post a few pictures but don't know which ones yet. 

 The only thing that was disappointing, is seeing the devastation that the Bark Beetle is doing on the pine trees. The forest is ravaged by the insect. Lots of dead trees. They are losing many of the trees, what a shame. I will see if I can post some pictures now. The picture of all of us huddled under my awning is in the Colorado Springs campground, along with the first picture. The rest are in Estes Park, and in the Park. JVP

Colorado Days

Arrived here in Colorado Springs at Garden of Gods Campground.  Joy arrived the next morning so we are all here now.  Went to Mason Jar Restaurant with our niece Melanie and had their famous chicken fried steak.  Our first outing the next morning was to 7 Falls.  We rode the elevator which is inside the mountain (9 stories) rather than walking the 224 steps.  The falls were beautiful, saw some big trout in one of the ponds and lots of chipmunks. They even go inside the gift shop. Next was Miramont Castle built in 1895 with 9 different styles of architecture.  Thursday we were off to Littleton to see our Washington friends Scott and Doreen and celebrate her birthday at her daughters home.  Food and drink were great and Max and Buddy had a tiring day playing with their cocker and new dashound (which Buddy really liked).  While we were gone Elmon, Pat & Joy went to the Garden of the Gods (we had been there last year).  July 10th we went to the town of Manitou Springs and walked around the shops and saw the old buildings.  Next was one of the highlights of our trip.  We took the 1 1/2 hour each way cog railroad to the top of Pikes Peak.  We bought a lunch which we ate on the way up.  Really an interesting railroad trip, scenery and view from the top.  Not a lot of air up there so we took it real easy and then rode the cog back down the hill.  Really steep hills-18% grades in some places.  We also saw where the road comes up to the top.  Joy visited the zoo and wolf preserve while we did the peak.  She had done it many years ago and didn't know how she would do in the altitude.  Came home and  had dinner outside and had thunder, lightning and rain.  John & I sat outside under the awning and watched the storm go by.  Sat, July 11th our last days here in Colorado.  We went out to breakfast and then to Air Force Academy.  We had a short tour of the grounds, saw some of the planes and visited the chapel.  The chapel is just gorgeous inside and out. It was closed shortly after we left for 2 weddings.  Their is a chapel for Protestants upstairs with a huge pipe organ and then downstairs is a Catholic chapel, Jewish and Buddist chapels.  Came home and had a Bar-b-que with rain and thunder storms again.  We huddled under the awning and had our dinner while it rained.  Tomorrow we are off to see more of Colorado.  We have had a great time here.  Too much to see and do in just a few days but we had a good taste and will be back again.  It is a beautiful, green, mountains, rain and thunderstorms and red dirt place.  Pictures are Pikes Peak and  Air Force Chapel and B-52 outside on the grounds.

The First Days

We have been on the road for two days and are in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its early, I could not sleep. Buddy and Max are in their bed snoring away. The sun is just coming up. Last night we had a beautiful sunset and the moon came up through the clouds. 

On Saturday we left home and drove to Palmdale. We spent the 4th with Pat and Elmon, our good friends that we travel with. On Sunday morning it was up early and on the road. We made it as far as Williams, Arizona. It was hot traveling through the desert, 108 in Needles. The coach did well in the heat. Stayed in a nice RV Park, at 7000 ft. and in the pine trees. The temperature was a mild 86 deg. Went in to Williams for dinner at a good Mexican restaurant. I had a Alaskan Amber beer. We shared a Fajitas and took half of it home for a dinner the next night. Monday was another 400 mile drive here to Albuquerque.  Should be shorter runs from now on-which we are all happy about.  Went to Camping World this morning and picked up a few things.

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