Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise 2018

I am doing this now with distant memory with some deterioration due to alcohol indulgence.  Sunday we awoke to find ourselves dockside with a completely vertical view of granite outside our cabin balcony.  The four of us were going on a White Pass mountain tour.  This area of Alaska has gold rush history and apparently the desire to possess this shiny element was so powerful that people would risk their lives to obtain it.   We were treated to a comfy coach tour up to the top of this mountainous area.  Our driver was a seriously funny tour-guide who kept us laughing while we made our way upward through the various climatic eco-zones.  The scenery was spectacular and punctuated with occasional glimpses of the train tracks hugging the opposite mountainside.  Jaren, our driver and aspiring comedian reminded us of every rickety looking bridge that we would be experiencing first hand when we rode off the mountain in the narrow gauge...

Felt like a new guy this morning after a good night of rest and abstinence.  We are still underway and will not arrive in Juneau until 10 am.  Nace and I perched ourselves in the Observation Lounge and were treated to panoramic views of lush forested peaks, low fog, high fog and bright blue skies.  Quite spectacular.   Today the guys and girls go our separate ways.  Nace and Glenda are going on a guided garden and glacier tour.  Rod and I will take a helicopter to the Mendenhall glacier and learn how to hike on ice.   Having no firsthand experience with their experience I can only say that Rod and I totally excursion shamed Nace and Glenda when we reunited and reviewed our day over drinks before dinner.  It was really quite hysterical and both Glenda and Nace laughed so hard they cried trying to make us wish we had gone on their rather lame excursion.  Truly they had a very nice experience but I am out of superlatives to d...

I managed to sleep until 4 this morning.  I slipped out of the cabin for a caffeine eye opener on the level below our cabin.  I am being treated to an eastward view nearly eye level with Ketchikan and yes is is light out.  I peaked out of our open slider as soon as I arose and found it remarkably light for what most consider the middle of the night.   We will forego the massive in room breakfast today for the continental offering in the coffee bar.  For some reason I am not hungry?  Nace and I were fascinated by the process of bringing the ship into the dock and the coordination of the crew on both the ship and dock.  Below is the final step of setting the gangplank in place. I refrained from over caffeination since we are heading out on a small crab boat for the morning.  Watching the barista work the morning rush below. We watched this ship snug in b...