Alaska 8/12/22 to 9/1/22
Fri 8/12/22. West ark Hotel Anchorage Alaska
We are finally traveling again ! Our last trip was to Mexico in Feb of 2019, then Covid hit and put a grinding halt to our world as we know it. Sine Covid, we have cancelled planned trips to Scotland, Bali and Borneo, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Romania and Moldova, and Mexico. What is e are in Alaska now traveling with our oldest Dtr and family for a couple of weeks, then Jon and I are headed off on our own for a week. We have chartered a private boat that departs Mon. We originally were suppose to fly in tomorrow, but we decided to come in one day earlier because they have been cancelling flights and loosing luggage like crazy. We will be spending the weekend in Anchorage. Kids are in a different hotel tonight, then we all move to B and B tomorrow. We have been up since 5 AM. We arrived in Anchorage at 7:30 tonight and we’re in our room by 8:30, 12:30 AM east coast time. We are a bit wound up from the day but hope to settle down and get some zzz’ s soon !
Fri 8/12/22. West ark Hotel Anchorage Alaska
We are finally traveling again ! Our last trip was to Mexico in Feb of 2019, then Covid hit and put a grinding halt to our world as we know it. Sine Covid, we have cancelled planned trips to Scotland, Bali and Borneo, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Romania and Moldova, and Mexico. What is e are in Alaska now traveling with our oldest Dtr and family for a couple of weeks, then Jon and I are headed off on our own for a week. We have chartered a private boat that departs Mon. We originally were suppose to fly in tomorrow, but we decided to come in one day earlier because they have been cancelling flights and loosing luggage like crazy. We will be spending the weekend in Anchorage. Kids are in a different hotel tonight, then we all move to B and B tomorrow. We have been up since 5 AM. We arrived in Anchorage at 7:30 tonight and we’re in our room by 8:30, 12:30 AM east coast time. We are a bit wound up from the day but hope to settle down and get some zzz’ s soon !
Flying into Anchorage
Lots of beautiful views, not sure if we were looking at ice fields or glaciers, but it was beautiful !
Sat 8/13/22 Susitna B and B Anchorage
Very relaxing day today, drizzly out a good part of it. We met up with kids, then walked to our B and B to store our luggage for the day. Very nice B and B a block from the water with gorgeous views over the water, and about a 10 minute walk to all the sites in downtown Anchorage. We spent the day walking everywhere, and visited the Alaska Museum. It is an interesting little city with lots of little shops scattered about. We came back to the B and B late afternoon to rest a bit, then headed back into town for dinner. We walked home from dinner and even though it 9:00, it was still light out. It was fun day of exploring, and hoping to get our body clocks adjusted to the 4 hour difference.
Jon thought this was funny...
Our weather all day....
Gumpa and Cade
Who knew - there are wild Tundra snakes !!
Patio at B and B
Jon checking the weather forecast for Sunday
Sun starting to set at 10:00 PM....
Sun 8/14/22 Susitna
Today was forecasted to be 88% rain but it turned out to be beautiful ! We hiked about 5 miles in the morning on the Tony Knowles Coastal route. It was a beautiful walk along the water with views of the mudflats and water. We saw some sand cranes and bald eagles. Once the path veered more into the woods we saw a mama moose and her 2 babies. It was mesmerizing just watching them. We then we went into town and walked around some more, about a 19,000 step day. We had our cocktail hour back at the Inn, then back in to town for dinner at the Glacier Brew House. Tomorrow AM we get picked up and head to Whittier to board our boat which will be our home for the next five days.
Today was forecasted to be 88% rain but it turned out to be beautiful ! We hiked about 5 miles in the morning on the Tony Knowles Coastal route. It was a beautiful walk along the water with views of the mudflats and water. We saw some sand cranes and bald eagles. Once the path veered more into the woods we saw a mama moose and her 2 babies. It was mesmerizing just watching them. We then we went into town and walked around some more, about a 19,000 step day. We had our cocktail hour back at the Inn, then back in to town for dinner at the Glacier Brew House. Tomorrow AM we get picked up and head to Whittier to board our boat which will be our home for the next five days.
Good to have a coffee bar
Heading out on our Tony Knowles Trail hike
These Magpies were everywhere
Eagle having morning chat with friends
More beautiful scenery
Sand crane
Just because they are pretty
Moose sighting right on trail - mama and two babies....
Downtown Anchorage
Jon's Alaska look
Dinner
Not an unusual look for us - clueless !
David and Barre
Kids waiting for dinner
Mon 8/15/22 M/V Northern Explorer Prince Edward Sound
We were picked up at 10:00AM and had an amazing beautiful scenic ride. At one point we went through about a 3 mile tunnel. It is one way and you wait your Tuen for one side, then your side goes. The train also uses it and transits through after the cars have gone. En route it started to rain. We arrived and were met by our Capt. Al and his wife Reena. We then boarded our beautiful boat which is a 70 foot Bertram Trawler, and met our chef Ivan. After a champagne greeting, we had a Captains briefing. He told us there was a huge front arriving tomorrow with 50 to 60 knots winds predicted. He told us all the fishing boats were coming in. Our plan was to check out several coves to hunker down in and wait out the system. En route we stopped in Blackstone Bay and got up and personal with a tidal Glacier, surrounded by waterfalls. The kids literally went ice fishing with huge nets and fished out big chunks of ice from the glaciers so we could have glacier ice cocktails. We then headed back out, and saw a huge black bear swimming across a large expanse of water and exit by climbing a huge rock wall to get back on land. We hit a big area of open water, then tucked in to a cove. After driving around, the Capt. decided he did not think we would be protected enough from the projected front, so we moved to a second cove. We arrived and lucked out because we were the only boat and were able to tie off a huge cement mooring. By the time we got situated and at it was 10:00 PM and still light out. We headed to bed after dinner, and will wait to see what weather conditions are in the AM.
We were picked up at 10:00AM and had an amazing beautiful scenic ride. At one point we went through about a 3 mile tunnel. It is one way and you wait your Tuen for one side, then your side goes. The train also uses it and transits through after the cars have gone. En route it started to rain. We arrived and were met by our Capt. Al and his wife Reena. We then boarded our beautiful boat which is a 70 foot Bertram Trawler, and met our chef Ivan. After a champagne greeting, we had a Captains briefing. He told us there was a huge front arriving tomorrow with 50 to 60 knots winds predicted. He told us all the fishing boats were coming in. Our plan was to check out several coves to hunker down in and wait out the system. En route we stopped in Blackstone Bay and got up and personal with a tidal Glacier, surrounded by waterfalls. The kids literally went ice fishing with huge nets and fished out big chunks of ice from the glaciers so we could have glacier ice cocktails. We then headed back out, and saw a huge black bear swimming across a large expanse of water and exit by climbing a huge rock wall to get back on land. We hit a big area of open water, then tucked in to a cove. After driving around, the Capt. decided he did not think we would be protected enough from the projected front, so we moved to a second cove. We arrived and lucked out because we were the only boat and were able to tie off a huge cement mooring. By the time we got situated and at it was 10:00 PM and still light out. We headed to bed after dinner, and will wait to see what weather conditions are in the AM.
and we are off... en route to Whittier to catch our boat !
watch out for moose
amazing scenery our entire ride !
Qued up waiting for our turn to enter the tunnel
Jon and Blake getting ready to board
Our Captain Al and his wife Rena
Leaving the harbor at Whittier
This was so crazy, this huge bear was swimming across the water, he had
swam quite a distance at this point
Here is a long shot of the bear swimming
and teh bear finally reached the other side adn climbed up a rocky ledge and was off !!
Our first meal on board - Cade and Blake
We anchored at this uge tidal glacier, you can see the big ice chunks floating around the kids proceeded to fish out for our cocktails !
Tidal glacier
Jon and Susan
David and Barre
Cade, David, Barre, Susan, Jon and Blake
Cade, David, Barre, Susan, Jon and Blake
Jon
Cade Blake and David
Blake ice fishing
Blake - success !
Cade and David
Cade
Blake, Cade and David
the final catch !!!!
The main Saloon
Barre and Susan
Nothing beats martini made with fresh glacier ice !
Cade
This after 9:00 PM - our anchorage for the evening
Our only neighbors.....
Tues 8/16 M/V Northern Explorer Lake Bay
We woke up to light drizzle and gray skies. A fishing boat came in and moored behind, and we are the only 2 boats in here. After a leisurely morning and breakfast we headed out exploring in the skiff while the kids kayaked. We are near a fishery so we went there and watched salmon literally jumping everywhere, saw adult and baby Bald eagles, watched a black bear in a stream walk out and saunter away with a huge salmon in his mouth, and lots of Stellar Sea lions. David got surrounded by about a dozen adult sea lions that were threatening and had to paddle in to shore to get them to disband. As we started to head back in the winds started to really pick up and rains increasing. Got back in dried off and warmed up and feasted on fish pasta for lunch. Weather forecast calling for Gale winds to come in and seas up to 17 feet. We are happy to be securely hunkered down. We had a blast watching the sea lions frolicking, and all of the birds darting about.We spent the evening playing games and had a delish dinner of huge steaks and home made carrot cake.
Wke up to this surprise on our mooring
The Queen Mary snuck in after we went to bed last night...
Slow start to the day...
the boys spent lots of time fishing off of the boat...
Jon suiting up for our dingy ride in the pouring rain
Cade, Jon and Blake
Jon and I, ready for our adventure !
Kids heading off in the kayaks
Small fish processing operation
Jon, Captain Al and me
Sea lions everywhere
David and Cade
Geting abit darker
9:57 PM and the kids are still out fishing
We’d 8/17. Long Bay
We woke up and as predicted the front came through with the winds and rains. At one point we got wrapped around the mooring and the Captain had to go out to get us untangled….. Because the winds had changed direction and we were really starting to get tossed around, the Captain decided to head out around 9:00 AM. We finally pulled into a cove surrounded by waterfalls with one other boat and got hit with gusting winds to 60 knots and we were dragging anchor. We pulled anchor an d left again and finally got to our current location around 2:00 pm. After a bison burger lunch, Barre and family headed out in the rain to explore. Jon and I stayed on board and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Later in the day the sun made an appearance so we out gunk holing in the dink. It was just stunning with every shade of green possible, waterfalls everywhere, black bear in the streams and salmon everywhere. Got back in for cocktails, then feasted on a huge halibut dinner. After dinner we played card games and again it was still light when we headed to bed around 10:00 PM.
We woke up and as predicted the front came through with the winds and rains. At one point we got wrapped around the mooring and the Captain had to go out to get us untangled….. Because the winds had changed direction and we were really starting to get tossed around, the Captain decided to head out around 9:00 AM. We finally pulled into a cove surrounded by waterfalls with one other boat and got hit with gusting winds to 60 knots and we were dragging anchor. We pulled anchor an d left again and finally got to our current location around 2:00 pm. After a bison burger lunch, Barre and family headed out in the rain to explore. Jon and I stayed on board and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Later in the day the sun made an appearance so we out gunk holing in the dink. It was just stunning with every shade of green possible, waterfalls everywhere, black bear in the streams and salmon everywhere. Got back in for cocktails, then feasted on a huge halibut dinner. After dinner we played card games and again it was still light when we headed to bed around 10:00 PM.
David and Cade fishing off the stern
Cade jumping in for his polar plunge
Blake - polar plunge
Susan, Barre, Jon and David - evening gunk holing
Captain Al
Jon and David
Susan and Barre
Our boat
One of the hundreds of waterfalls
Beautiful scenery everywhere
Back on board
Jon just chilling....
Thurs. 8/18/22. Hobo bay
Surprise, we woke up to pouring rain, again ! After breakfast we cruised for about 4 hours and arrived at our new anchorage around 1:30. We are surrounded bu sea otters which are really fun to watch. After a fish taco lunch, Barre and family headed out in the rain for a hike to an old gold mine. When the captain returned he told us he was having engine trouble on the dink, so we headed out with him to see if they Jon and he could figure it out. We got out, and sure enough engine died and we had to paddle back to the boat. Without a working dink, we then had to move the big about 30 minutes to go pick up the hikers. Once we arrived, the chef had to tow all the kayaks out in 2 different trips to get everyone in. The captain was on the stern helping to get everyone in and Jon ended up driving the boat. Chef left me in charge after getting the bread baked for dinner. Everyone had a job, and it was quite an adventure. We have had no internet or phone connection, it has been so relaxing not worrying about a thing. Jon and I both agreed we have not slept this well in ages. We are getting ready for cocktails, then tonight for final dinner we are having Alaskan King crab. Tomorrow back to the marina in Whittier, then we start the driving part of our trip for the next 2 weeks.
Surprise, we woke up to pouring rain, again ! After breakfast we cruised for about 4 hours and arrived at our new anchorage around 1:30. We are surrounded bu sea otters which are really fun to watch. After a fish taco lunch, Barre and family headed out in the rain for a hike to an old gold mine. When the captain returned he told us he was having engine trouble on the dink, so we headed out with him to see if they Jon and he could figure it out. We got out, and sure enough engine died and we had to paddle back to the boat. Without a working dink, we then had to move the big about 30 minutes to go pick up the hikers. Once we arrived, the chef had to tow all the kayaks out in 2 different trips to get everyone in. The captain was on the stern helping to get everyone in and Jon ended up driving the boat. Chef left me in charge after getting the bread baked for dinner. Everyone had a job, and it was quite an adventure. We have had no internet or phone connection, it has been so relaxing not worrying about a thing. Jon and I both agreed we have not slept this well in ages. We are getting ready for cocktails, then tonight for final dinner we are having Alaskan King crab. Tomorrow back to the marina in Whittier, then we start the driving part of our trip for the next 2 weeks.
Early riser Cade and hot chocolate
Cade and I waiting for breakfast
Berries the kids picked
Cade scouting the area out
Our anchorage for the night
Blake, Cade and David
Barre, Cade, David and Blake getting ready to head out...
Another black bear spotting
The otters were a blast to watch !
My job was to bake the bread
Jon - we went out for a quick dink ride
Picking kids up on beach with kayak rescue
Jon driving boat while captain assisted with the kayak rescue
Chef in galley
Cocktail time
Final dinner - Alaskan King Crab - Chef and Cade
Cade and Barre
Jon
Cade
After dinner movies
Good night y'all