May 12, 2009

May 10 and 11


Himself: Cranky but still avidly being a tourist.

Herself: Putting up with him and having a ball.

What’s Happenin’: The 12th: Glacier Bay.
Synopsis: Juneau, the state capital, on the tenth. We became one with our cameras as we headed down the gangways to our busses. We toured the city with a knowledgeable guide, saw the Governor’s mansion several times, toured a salmon farm, and had a good long stop at the Mendenhal Glacier.

(All spelling errors corrected later. You betcha.)


To be able to stand out at the edge of the glacier’s lake was truly magic. Until recently, this glacier was retreating only 60 feet a year. Last year it retreated over 200 feet. We were in awe as we stood as close as we could to the ice surrounded by the ecosystem the ice created.

Dinner was good only after G had a fit about the overdoneness of the meat. Two deserts each...did I say some of our clothes are now marginal. A good show in the Vermeer Lounge.

Skagway on the 11th. There we were being endlessly, slowly, pushed toward the dock by two tugs, and near the ramp was a colorful looking lady with some sort of sign.

(Lots of pictures to be added later of Seedys in her various guises here and there too.)

Finally the gangway was connected, and we, not hearing an announcement, headed down anyway.

I cannot thank Seedys enough for giving up her day to make her town ours and to cement our friendship face-to-face. We have known each other for almost 12 years, but this was the first time we had met. She blooms with vitality. Her enthusiasms are infectious, and her joy contagious. Since the ship was late, we missed out train. She took us all over town showing us the neighborhoods in a way a tourist never get’s to see. We got to shake hands with her friends, find out how the town really works in winter and summer, and rejoice in her company.

From the harbor to the tip of the mountains we went. Viewing her town from the comfortable housing to the trailers were the summer workers live gave us a new view. The cemetery to the snowplow, to the history of the train cars and the facades. From a snack and conversation, from lunch, from another snack on the way to the ship, we chatted and ate. We had a ball, and Seedys had every emergency covered. Seedys is the best of company, and the portrait she gives us here in her blog offers us only the tip of the ice berg that is Alaska. I, for one, am sure grateful she writes on several sites URL later.

Thank you so much dear Seedys for sharing your day and life with us high at the top of the world.

2 comments:

  1. A day spent with a local person sounds more like my cup of tea. I find organised tours, like museum visits tend to go well beyond my hour or hour and half concentration span. I love seeing art or monuments, but not so long. A bit of chatting and laughter and time just to look... that's the type of day I prefer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad you're having a good time!

    ReplyDelete

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