Our dog is terrified of thunder. My randomized shop play list landed on The 1812 overture. The Boston Pops version with real cannons. She laid shivering under the bench until I took pity on her and let her out. Shes a bit leery of the shop, now. 

Well I hope John is not having a Three Dog Night this time of year in Cally. If so he is one dog short.

13 hours ago, John Morris said:

I take it you went on an Alaskan cruise? Something on my bucket list, I hear it's absolutely beautiful!

 

I hope you get into the shop soon Reilly, and thank you for the sentiments about Woody or doggy. You know, he does the strangest things now, it's almost as if he's happier deaf. He'll sit in the back yard and look up at the sky and bark and bark and bark, with his tail wagging happily.

He rolls around on the grass more, he runs after our bigger dog more, perhaps he feels invincible with his new power to ignore and not have to hear anything?

This was our 2nd trip in 3 years and it was the same but very different. From the weather to the people on board. I questioned early into the trip if I had made the best choices. Unfortunately at out 1st port of call there was a horrible accident in which 15 fellow passengers were involved. Of the 15, 4 lost their lives as well as their pilot. There was a collision of some sort between two float planes, one caring 11 passengers and the other had 4. The smaller plane ended up upside down in the water. They only recovered 4 at first but later the next day the other one was recovered. All eleven and the pilot of the second plane were transported to the hospital. I heard later reports that at least one more had died from their injuries. Even though I've run rescue squad for 6 years and seen my share, this event hung over my wife and I the entire trip. We weren't there, we didn't see it, but it certainly had its impact. I think it was the unexpected event that just caught me totally off guard. 

 

We carried on with our trip after a long delay before leaving port but the accident stayed in the shadows. We saw some incredible wildlife (Grizzly, Moose, Caribou, Eagles...), the top of Denali, whales alongside our excursion boat, and met some amazing people. One older Chinese couple who were extremely pleasant but she surprised me when we were discussing some excursion we had taken and she would ask "how much you pay?" Always caught off guard because we had arranged and paid for everything months ago so I honestly couldn't tell her. Our float trip down one of the many rivers seeing eagles,beaver dams, arctic terns in 34 degree waters.

 

The ride into Denali National Park was better than last time seeing grizzly bears, moose, and caribou. As for accommodations there is no comparison. On board the ship you are spoiled with great service, food, and entertainment. The staterooms are extremely comfortable but I did see into one of the interior rooms and it's a box and no windows. I don't think I am claustrophobic but I certainly would be in there. One of the things I never liked about riding in the back of the rescue squad. I need to see where I am. 

 

But I've gotten way off topic. Sorry John.

On 5/29/2019 at 12:59 PM, sreilly24590 said:

My trip to Alaska left both the little lady and myself sick thanks to a few sick couples that seemed to constantly be around us. Ugh....

On 5/29/2019 at 1:27 PM, hatuffej said:

I want to make a jewelry box with how-I-do-it photos. 

That would be most splendid hat

 

Steve, I have been noticing your absence!  BTW, I shared your astro website with my son.  He was super impressed with your pics

@sreilly24590, now that is not a wonderful way to kick off a trip is it? I am saddened by the loss of life for those folks, they just wanted to enjoy a cruise and they got this. So sad.

I understand how that could remain in the shadows of the cruise, but I am glad you guys found your way out of it and made the best of the trip after all.

 

Would you mind stating what cruise line you guys took? Just curious for our own research, like I said someday I want to take my wife on a trip like that. What attracts us to that cruise beside the beauty is the people. From what I understand it's a different person that take a cruise heading up in that direction, then the people who jump on the cruises heading south to Mexico and other party locations, the trip is a bit more wild, more booze, and more vomiting, whilst the cold water cruises seem to be more tame and more of an educational experience in the sights. I may have it wrong but that has been what I heard and my own impression.

 

That is one beautiful image you got there, with the fog streaming in or out. How big do you think those Grizzly's were? I just imagined one running across that plateau you are in, could you out run it!

Thanks for the run down on the cruise Reilly.

Being on a trail near the bears is a very dangerous situation. You can't outrun one. Bear spray is your only hope unless you have a gun,which is a non-no in a park that protects the bears. 

 

John, years ago we took a cruise up the Inside Passage to Alaska. Its very scenic and relaxing but you have to deal with crowds, on the ship and in the ports. Our cabin was small but comfy. There was always 2-4 ships in port when we docked and a couple of thousand people were milling around on the streets, browsing the shops, people everywhere. The local excursions are pricey and very busy. On the drive from the port to Anchorage, I hiked up to a glacier, just me and the local birds. We rode a train from Anchorage to McKinley NP and I saw maybe 2 dozen ducks, and a moose about 1,000 yards away. No bears anywhere. The train crew had the A/C on in the AM  because it gets hot in the afternoon. Most everybody was uncomfortably cold and the crew wouldn't turn it off despite repeated requests. At the park HQ, I hiked up a trail to a mountain top with a crystal view of McKinley, ate wild blueberries, and communed with Dall sheep. Very few people on the trail. 

Edited May 31, 20196 yr by hatuffej

Our Alaska cruise was with Princess Lines. Couldn't ask for a better experience. Lots of shore time at multiple locations. All of the on shore activities (the choices were many) and, accommodations were all five star. All the lodging we were in was owned by the cruise line. As was the on shore transportation. From debarkation at Vancouver to catching the flight back to Phoenix, it was seamless. Never had to worry about anything. We were treated like royalty. Highly recommend Princess. 

John our cruises have always been with Princess so I can't speak to other cruise lines. They have all been great so we didn't look elsewhere. I'm not sure which is the best way to do the sea and land cruise in Alaska. Both were sea first finishing with land. At sea you'll have all the comforts you could want and excellent service. The live entertainment is usually very good and a variety of activities to enjoy including the casino if so inclined.

 

The food is great whether it's from the formal dinning or the the cafeteria style and usually there are two formal nights requiring coat and tie in the formal dining areas. That's when I choose the cafeteria style. I'm there for the sights more so than the dress up. There are speciality diners such as Italian, steak, and seafood which are extra as well. Movies under the stars which at our time in Alaska can be chilling but streamed movies on demand in your cabin as well. Live music is usually very good as well. We had a group called Excell which was excellent and played nightly on Deck 5 with plenty of room to dance if so inclined.

 

We have always booked at minimum a balcony room so we can go out and enjoy the views but was upgraded to a mini-suite last trip and liked it so much we booked one this year, A suite is beyond my comfort level and my reasoning is that we spend more time out and about and as long as I have can go outside the room on the balcony I'm good to go. A suite might make more sense for those traveling as a group that have more than 2 people in the room. I know our mini suite had a separation curtain between the sitting are and the bedroom and the sofa was a sleeper so another couple or children could sleep there as well. 

 

The land side is entirely different. While most everything including passage is owned/operated by Princess it's not quite as comfortable. The train ride and bus transportation is well maintained but nothing out of the ordinary. The listed excursions are vetted by Princess from what I can tell and you can make arrangements through Princess or do them yourself. As for accommodations at the lodges, depending on where you stay will make some difference. I say that because our stay at McKinley was not up to standard in my opinion. The carpets were dirty in both the room and hallways.

 

Seeing this was one of the first groups through this year they should have had time to get things in order. The rooms are nothing special although the beds are comfortable and the bathrooms adequate. Closer to dorm style maybe. What I found this time is that it was noisier than I remember but we had a few groups that were much louder than normal and a number of people commented on that. The walls aren't that well insulated for noise. But again, you're there for sleep for a day or 2 before moving on. Denali Lodge about the same. Dining choices are certainly pricey but then they do ship most everything in so there is that. I'd estimate that a reasonable meal is maybe 30% more than at home here in Central Virginia.

 

We had date night last night, yeah I know, after 32 years you'd think it gets old but it doesn't, and ate a great meal for the two of us at $46 and that same meal there would have been $70-80 at the lodge. So I knew we needed to budget for that before hand. There is usually a less expensive choice where you can get say a chef's salad for maybe $10 or a burger for $12, fries extra. Location is everything......

 

The excursions like the float trip down the river, the White Pass Rail ride up into Canada, the Glacier and whale watching (right up beside our boat caught on video) were all things that made this a great trip as well. How I would do it next time, if there is one, I'm not sure. Maybe land 1st and then get spoiled with the more relaxing part of cruising. Not that there isn't plenty to do on the cruise part. Exploring the ports and taking those other excursions.

 

John I hope you and your family can do that trip. It's so invigorating, at least to us. It's like another country up there and so different from what my wife and I am used to here. When I get a chance and some energy back I'll post a few pages of pictures on my website of the different ports and our excursions. It will be like those endless home movie nights after vacation the neighbors all dread.........but you can stop the pain anytime with this........

 

-Steve

2 hours ago, hatuffej said:

Being on a trail near the bears is a very dangerous situation. You can't outrun one. Bear spray is your only hope unless you have a gun,which is a non-no in a park that protects the bears. 

 

John, years ago we took a cruise up the Inside Passage to Alaska. Its very scenic and relaxing but you have to deal with crowds, on the ship and in the ports. Our cabin was small but comfy. There was always 2-4 ships in port when we docked and a couple of thousand people were milling around on the streets, browsing the shops, people everywhere. The local excursions are pricey and very busy. On the drive from the port to Anchorage, I hiked up to a glacier, just me and the local birds. We rode a train from Anchorage to McKinley NP and I saw maybe 2 dozen ducks, and a moose about 1,000 yards away. No bears anywhere. The train crew had the A/C on in the AM  because it gets hot in the afternoon. Most everybody was uncomfortably cold and the crew wouldn't turn it off despite repeated requests. At the park HQ, I hiked up a trail to a mountain top with a crystal view of McKinley, ate wild blueberries, and communed with Dall sheep. Very few people on the trail. 

Hat my title for that picture is "can you spot the idiots?"....and it ain't the grizzly.......either one of those two guys were in a great deal more danger than I think they realized. These boys can move far faster than they look for their size. Thankfully there was no cub nearby.

 

Our ship had 3,300 passengers and we were one of 3 in port at the time at Ketchikan. We were on the Princess Royal. Once you got pass the port area you thinned out a good deal so it wasn't so bad and not everyone gets off at the same time. Our weather was varied but did reach 77 degrees one day. Average for that time of year was mid 50's. They also had a very light year for snowfall this past winter.

5 hours ago, Cal said:

That would be most splendid hat

 

Steve, I have been noticing your absence!  BTW, I shared your astro website with my son.  He was super impressed with your pics

Thanks Cal. It's nice to hear someone gets the same enjoyment from the heavens.

Done and hung. I really like this. I think I'll keep it

French cleat at the top and just a shim at the bottom.

 

 

Very nice. I think you're getting the hang of this woodworking stuff, by golly.

Edited May 31, 20196 yr by Gene Howe

2 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Very nice. I think you're getting the hang of this woodworking stuff, by golly.

All I had to do was do it right Gene!

Looks great....now we all need to make one.

1 hour ago, John Morris said:

All I had to do was do it right Gene!

That's my motto, too. But you get there oftener than me. 

4 hours ago, John Morris said:

All I had to do was do it right

Doing it right is highly overrated!!!

There's the right way and, the wrong way. Then, there's my way, which is only used when I can't get either one of the first two to work.  That usually means a bigger hammer. 

 Your dog Woody couldn't hear.  I had to smile at that. Years ago my wife had a dog named Willy. Willy did not like me, Don't know why, maybe he was abused by someone and I looked like him. My wife kept saying,"Just treat him nice, he will come around"

The first thunderstorm that Willy experienced in our house really upset him. When a lightning bolt hit not far away, he jumped in MY lap, not my wifes. Surprised the hell out of both of us. He never did make up to me, but would hunt me down during a storm.

Had slots for 16 saws...still wasn't enough

 

1 hour ago, steven newman said:

Had slots for 16 saws...still wasn't enough

Sure is a lot of saws Steve!