In late June of 2001, probably June 25, someone posed the question to Dottie, “where do you want to go for your 82nd birthday? Having recently retuned from a trip to Turkey, and one from France and Germany, she thoughtfully commented that she probably didn’t want to travel, unless it was maybe a cruise.
Cruise? Where?… I don’t know, Buddy always thought it would be fun to take an Alaskan cruise. Thus the roots for the following trip.
By the time all plans were made, Dottie plus ten family members were Alaska bound. Those on the cruise included: Dottie, Dianne & Jim from Kansas, Marilyn & John from Oklahoma, Jan & Deb from Illinois, newly weds Gene & Jane from Texas, and Jane’s brother Bob & wife Jeanie from Nebraska.
Thursday June 20, 2002 Oklahoma City, OK
For the Oklahoma contingency, June 20, 2002 started at 3:00 a.m. to catch a 5:30 a.m. flight to Chicago where we met up with Jim and Dianne for a six and one-half hour flight to Anchorage. The flight was over-booked and with the airline offering $1,000 travel vouchers, a sightseeing trip to downtown Chicago and a first class flight to Anchorage later that evening, the group had to hog-tie me to get me onboard the flight.
Once in Anchorage, we took two taxis to the Red Lion Inn. After checking in, the five took a taxi to downtown Anchorage for a truly outstanding dinner with a beautiful view. Just before finishing dinner, totally unplanned and unexpected, in walk Gene and Jane to sit down at the table just behind us. After the surprise meeting we asked Jane who had done over and beyond in booking everyone’s trip, what the plan was for tomorrow. She advised us that she and Gene, along with Jan and Deb, had chartered a sight seeing tour to drive them to Seward to pick up the ship. The remaining seven would catch buses to Seward.
Back at the Red Lion Inn, we had been told to expect 19 hours of sunlight per day. What I was not prepared for was 19 hours from sun-up to sun-down, and for the remaining five hour to be daylight with it never getting dark.
Friday June 21, 2002 Anchorage & Seward, Alaska
We were still unsure of the appropriate “plan of action”. We had breakfast and ran into Bob and Jeanie, who had been told to go back to the airport. I suggested going into downtown to see if there was a place to check in, but Dianne felt that it only made sense to go back to the airport since some arrivals only came in on the day of departure and if we went downtown, we might have to pay for a second taxi ride to go out to the airport. I expressed my opinion that if I had to spend three hours at either the Anchorage airport or downtown Anchorage, I would choose the latter, even if it meant an extra taxi fare.
Bless Jim’s heart, he got on the phone and started checking around to find the proper procedure. He found out not only that we could check in at the downtown hotel, but if we were one of the first 200 checking in, we would be routed to the train station for a scenic train ride to Seward. Now time was of the essence and slow mode became scramble. We contacted the other six and let them know our plans. Suddenly the sight seeing charter became the second choice as everyone scrambled to check in.
Everyone made the first 200 cutoff. Now we had time to sight see Anchorage. The town was having a celebration of “Summer Solstice”, the longest day of the year. Marilyn, Dianne and Dottie went to the Summer Solstice Fair, Jim and I took off on our own, finding information and locations of the ceremonial starting line for The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and feasting on reindeer sandwiches.
Back at the hotel, we took bus rides to the train station where for the first time all eleven of our family were together. Boarding the train we experienced an unbelievably beautiful three hour ride to Seward where we boarded the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, “Legend of the Seas”.
When we got to the room around 6:15, the room attendant advised us that dining had started about 15 minutes earlier. Met all in dining room for dinner. After dinner we went to the upper deck where we were advised that we were waiting for arrival of a group who’s flight had been delayed because of weather. Later we found out that the group was from Mustang Oklahoma, and flying in from Oklahoma City. Thank goodness we had taken the extra day. We pulled out of Seward around midnight but still daylight for beautiful scenic pictures.
Smooth Sailing all night.
Saturday June 22, 2002 All Day Sailing
A day to relax from an exciting Thursday and Friday. It was a full day of cruising, which just means there was no “port of call”. First thing that afternoon, all except Gene and Jane attended a wine tasting class. Didn’t learn a lot but not bad wine. Later that afternoon we arrived at Hubbard Glazier. We were told that it was the first cruise in several weeks to see the glazier because of rains.
When planning the trip we had been told to expect rain almost every day. But no rain so far.
Sunday June 23, 2002 Juneau, Alaska
A Catholic priest from Pennsylvania, on the cruise with some of his parishioners, offered to say mass for all onboard the ship. Got up early for Mass in the ships theater.
When leaving mass, noticed a lot of excitement. Found out that there was an eagle in the tree across the road from the ship. Everyone was trying to take pictures. Little did we know how common it was going to become.
Marilyn, Dottie and I opted for a cable tram ride to the top of the mountain directly across from the ship, and overlooking Juneau. There we watched a video explaining the two Indian tribes of Alaska, the Tlingit and the Raven tribes. Because of the closeness of the tribes, they were forbidden to marry within the tribes. Tlingits had to marry Ravens and vise-versa. The children of the marriage took the tribe of the mother.
On the ride back down the mountain, a young Tlingit woman, sang her native Indian songs for us.
That afternoon, we took a bus ride around Juneau. The ride included the State Capitol. It really was a building where the Alaskan Legislature meets. Alaska is the only state without a State Capitol Building. Since our trip I have become aware of an ongoing debate. Everyone wants to build a State Capitol, but a large contingency feel that it should be somewhere other than Juneau.
After dinner that evening, Gene and I literally ran back to a Harley Davidson store to get there before they closed at 7:00 p.m. Gene wanted an Alaska Harley T-shirt. Success was ours and we returned to the ship with t-shirt in hand for the evening on the ship.
Monday June 24, 2002 Skagway, Alaska
Woke to the most commercial site seen on the entire trip, perhaps in my life. Beautiful rock cliffs across from the ship were entirely painted with wall to wall billboards for shops in Skagway. Marilyn, Dottie and I took a bus into town (short, less than 1 mile). Shopped most of the morning.
I asked a shop owner if he knew Robert Service’s story “The Shooting of Dan McGrew” and if there were any truth to the story. He was familiar with the tale and each year the town enacted the story. He stated that if I wanted more information, I should go upstairs (to his residence) and talk with his mother-in-law. Not wanting to pass up such an opportunity, I proceeded upstairs, asking for Alice. Alice was the only one upstairs and she was busy ironing clothes. She seemed excited that someone had come to see her and stopped long enough to talk. She explained that Robert Service had spent much of his time in the Skagway and White Horse area. There was a Dan McGrew who was postmaster in White Horse, about 20 miles away but he had not died of a gun fight, nor in a saloon, but in bed of natural causes. There was a Malamute Saloon, but it was in Fairbanks. As far as she knew, there was no factual basis for “The Shooting of Dan McGrew”. I explained that my dad had memorized the poem as a child and I had followed him, memorizing it later in life. She wanted to know if I had memorized “The Cremation of Sam McGee”. I was familiar with the poem but had only started memorizing it when it fell by the wayside. She expressed over and over with great emphasis that I should pick it back up and memorize it also. I thanked her for her time and returned to the task at hand, shopping.
That afternoon, all eleven, Marilyn, Dottie, Jan, Deb, Dianne, Jim, Gene, Jane, Bob, Jeanie and I, took a bus tour out of town and into Canada. Saw beautiful scenery and water falls. Stopped at entry sign “Welcome to Alaska” for photo op and at Border Patrol for customs entry. (More show than substance.)
Dianne, Dottie, Jan, Debra, Marilyn and I went to local bar in Skagway before returning to the ship.
That evening after dinner everyone met in the dance lounge and spent the rest of the evening dancing and drinking. Not a bad end to a great day at the second port of call. Fun evening but night brought very rough sailing.
Tuesday June 25, 2002 Sitka, Alaska
Ship was anchored offshore and we had to take a Launch into the Sitka port.
Marilyn, Dottie and I into town for very mediocre shopping but very interesting sight seeing.
Veterans home was the first sight of Sitka. Very beautiful landscaping. Into town the prominent structure was the old Russian Orthodox church. It sat in the literal center of town with the street splitting to surround the structure.
Back to the port, Marilyn, Dottie & I took a bus tour around the city. The tour stopped at a salmon cannery where there were literally flocks of eagles. Stopped for a tour of the Russian Orthodox church and a brief history of the city and church.
Next stop was at theater stage for Alaskan folk dancing and a story of the Alaskan statehood flag.
Last stop was at a rain forest path tour, not guided. Simply another case of unexplainable extreme beauty.
Returned to the ship for the climax of the trip, a celebration of Dottie’s 82nd birthday.
After dinner attended a show in the ship theater where the topic of discussion was how extremely rough the sailing had been for the past 24 hours.
After the show, a group went to the ship casino. Played the Video Poker and put myself up about $12.00.
Wednesday June 26, 2002 Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan had attractive boardwalks into town. Lots of shopping opportunities with some decent crafts and jewelry. Marilyn saw a ring that she wanted but would not part with the $1,400. Regrets until today that even with my encouragement, she did not buy the ring. I purchased an Alaskan jacket, which remain my favorite jacket today, three years later.
Marilyn, Dottie and I took another bus tour. This trip was overall the most interesting. It included a trip to a walking tour of a rain forest back into the woods to an ancient “clan house”, and an outdoor totem pole exhibit.
Next to an Fish hatchery and Eagle preserve.
Last to a totem pole museum where we learned the history of totem poles and understanding of totem pole structure.
Returning to the ship, after dinner we attended a piano concert in the ships theater where we ordered a CD of the pianist. Since, have received several of his CDs in the mail.
After the concert, returned to the casino. I began to follow the lead of Gene playing roulette. Ran my gains up to around $35.00. Followed Gene to the Craps table where he was following the lead of a “high roller” who was explaining the game to him. Did not take long to realize that Gene was following his lead very well because both were loosing. I chose not to follow Gene this time.
Thursday June 27, 2002 All Day Sailing
Sailed all day through some very beautiful views.
Bob had met the Captain and explained that he had been Commander of a nuclear submarine. The Captain said that they no longer allowed tours of the bridge but invited him and a few guests to his residence and a brief tour of the bridge.
That afternoon, Bob, Gene, Jim, and I went to the bridge for a personal guided tour by the Captain. Very much a highlight of the cruise.
Dinner that evening was a beautiful trip through Misty Fiords. Again, it was only breathtaking.
Friday June 28, 2002 Vancouver, Canada
Arrived in Vancouver and prepared for departure. Went to game room to wait for departure call and said goodbyes to all.
Took bus ride through some very rough looking parts of Vancouver. Arrived at Vancouver airport to very long boarding lines and very high airport use taxes.
Flight to Denver. Flight to Oklahoma City uneventful considering the past week.
P.S. Had been told to expect rain almost all day, almost every day. Ended with about 15 minutes of sprinkles twice during the entire trip. Perfect weather for a perfect trip.
Happy Birthday Dottie. | 