June 4

Glacier Bay Scenic Cruising

WOW what a day today was!  To be honest, the first hour or so we were a little disappointed as the John Hopkins glacier was not nearly as colorful as glaciers we've seen in the past.  But then we sailed to Margerie Glacier and that was SPECTACULAR.  We have NEVER been so close as we were to this glacier today and we sat just about 400-to-500 yards off of her for over an hour trying to catch some "calving" - that's when the glacier breaks off and crashes into the water.  When this happens, and you don't realize these "chunks" are the size of skyscrapers, the BOOM is like very loud thunder or gunshots.  We saw four or five minor ones which drew Ooooohs and Aaahhhs.  But then after nearly 45 minutes of waiting the entire one corner came crashing down - the ranger later said that was very unusual and we were most fortunate to see that!  Just so amazing - no matter how many times we've come here, the glaciers are so spectacular and keep us coming back (and yes, we WILL be returning again for "Alaska 6.0" in the next few years).  Just an FYI.....I captured 109 images today and whittled it down to just fifteen - you just HAVE to be here to see it to appreciate the grandeur fully.

Just a quick word about yesterday, June 3......it was a much needed day at sea where little really happened.  After spending three of the previous four days traveling for more than eight hours each of those days we were ready for a break.  The highlight came when the four of us met for dinner at the on-board "specialty restaurant," The Pinnacle Grill.  Our travel agent, the best travel agent in the world let me tell you, Nancy Nelson had purchased us dinner and so Gary and Claudia joined us.  The food was amazingly tasty!  Thank you so much Nancy :)

Photos from Glacier Bay

"Patiently" waiting for arrival in Glacier Bay

John Hopkins Glacier

The "Glacier" Photo-Op at John Hopkins Glacier

Hoonah Glacier - right next to John Hopkins

Margerie Glacier - Close-Up #1

One of the "smaller" clavings....probably "only" a 20-story skyscraper size!

Margerie Glacier Close-Up #2

Margerie Glacier Close-Up #3

The BIG Calving - at least three or four times the size of all the others

Margerie Glacier Close-Up #4

Margerie Glacier Close-Up #5

THE photo-op of the day :)

Glacier Video Highlights

June 2

Leaving Denali - Beginning The Cruise

This morning we were up early to set our bags out and then after breakfast we boarded our charter bus which would take us from Denali National Park all the way south to Seward where we would board the MS Noordam.  We were very impressed by the organization of the Holland America staff and we had a smooth journey, albeit a LONG one (our third long day of the four days since we began "Alaska 5.0").  But our bus driver made great time and we arrived an hour early - after spending eight hours on the road.  The scenery, especially the final segment was really extraordinary.

All aboard!

Lunch at the Mt. McKinley Lodge

The MS Noordam

Tomorrow is a day at sea and probably will not have any photos to post.

June 1

A Day In Denali

After getting up E-A-R-L-Y back-to-back morning with L-O-N-G days each day today we had the morning to ourselves.  Well, actually we had the option to go on an eight hour tour of the park that began at 6 am but we opted out.  We'd been on this tour the last time we were in Denali and what we saw yesterday on the Jeep Highway tour was awfully similar.  Kim and I enjoyed a great breakfast (all our meals for the land portion are fully covered by the meal plan we got with the tour!) and we had a lazy morning.  We walked over to the Denali Square area, near us - just a quick word, it's pretty cool this entire complex is owned by Holland America/Princess with countless lodges, shops and restaurants.....really done well!) and had a light lunch.  We headed back to the main lodge to meet Gary & Claudia for an early dinner at 4:30 because we had early evening excursions.

My excursion was a flight-seeing trip to a glacier where we were to land and walk around.  We'd done this on our second trip to Alaska and I knew that being able to fly up there with the ever-changing weather was "iffy" - so at lunch we asked about the status and were told they wouldn't know until they did a test flight right before we left.  So as we finished dinner I checked.  Can't be a good sign when the clerk at the desk said, "They want to talk to you" and handed me the phone :(  Ronnie, the gal at Fly Denali broke the news that they couldn't go.....sigh, but then she said the would offer me an alternative flight.  Before she could go any further I said YES I'm in!  And what turned out to be really cool was I was the ONLY guest who went with the alternative so it was me and the pilot Eric.  Since we had two empty seats he asked two of "the guys" that worked at Fly Denali if they wanted to go along so "just us four boys" went for a little flight.  SOOOOOO cool as we took off - I was in the front seat (actually had a steering wheel, but told Eric I really wasn't interested in 'taking the wheel') and we flew over the wilderness then up through the passes in the mountains.  Just an amazing experience.  We landed at the Wood River Lodge which was originally built in the late 1880s and after sitting empty for twelve years has been revived this past year and will open their doors like a bed & breakfast kind of retreat this summer.  Had a full tour - and a free beer - and then back into the plane for the flight back.  Just really extraordinary.  Check out the pics below.  Meanwhile while I was flying Kim and Gary went to the Black Diamond Golf Course and played nine holes of golf on the tundra course.  What a great day all the way around!  Tomorrow we drive the nearly ten hours to Seward and board the ship to begin the Alaskan cruise :)

The Flight Plan

Alaskan Golfing

March 31

An ALL-day Adventure

McKinley Express Train Ride:  

Anchorage to Denali (8 Hours plus)

Denali Highway Exploration

We needed to be up by 6 am after the long travel day yesterday as we had a full breakfast provided, but our bags needed to be out by 6 am and we had to be ready to be boarded on the buses to transfer us to the train by 8 am.  All went smoothly and by 8:30 we were in our seat on the domed train ready for our full day's adventure.

We've now been on three domed train adventures in Alaska and this rates, in our opinion as the "medium wow" factor.  In 2009 we cruised first and then bused here to Denali National Park.  We then took the McKinley Express farther north to Fairbanks for our departure.  We saw very little "Alaska scenery."  The ride was cool as was the meal on the train, but no big mountains or glaciers.  In 2016 we flew to Anchorage and then took the McKinley Express to Seward to board the Celebrity ship.  THAT ride was one of the best "excursions" of any Alaskan adventure, full of glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, lakes.  Just breath taking.  Today we saw "a lot" of mountains, snow, a few glaciers but L-O-T-S of forest.  The lunch was good and we enjoyed the experience, but NOTE TO SELF:  Next Alaskan trip:  Book the train from Anchorage to Seward!

We arrived at the Denali train station about 5 pm and were scheduled to join our first excursion, driving a jeep on the Alaskan Highway at 6 pm.  Fortunately they'd distributed our keys and all the information on the train.  Went to our room (which is about a 10 minute walk to the main lodge AND a nice climb by the way), only to find our keys did not work.  The host of the building let us put our carry-ons down and our luggage was already there.  Nice.  We caught the shuttle to the main lodge and at about 5:45 I got our keys changed.  By 6 the van was there to take us to "Jeep Camp."  Lined up for us were ten multi-colored jeeps.

We teamed up into groups of four and filled out the forms so we could all take turns driving (though I eventually did not) and set out.  And let me tell you, the "Alaskan Highway" is NOT like an interstate freeway - no it's a two lane gravel road!

We were constantly having commentary & narration from the front and back jeeps as we hunted wildlife and photo stops.  We did see a couple of moose and a porcupine and lots of cool photo ops.  It was nearly 9:30 pm when we turned the jeeps back for base camp and then back home, arriving a little before 11 pm.  A great day, but a LONG day.