It's Bloody Hot Down Here

So I guess I lied to everyone. I said I would update once a week and that hasn't happened. Life/school/work definitely got in the way. So no more promises. Just subscribe to my RSS feed or check facebook/twitter for postings of my updates.

That being said, September has been a rather eventful month. I kinda enjoyed the listing aspect that I used for the previous post so I will employ it once again.

1. HEAT: It is unseasonably warm. Lots of 90 degree days and mother nature seems not to care that it is now autumn. I would really appreciate it not being in the 80s on my birthday but it is very possible. I'd also like to wear my uggs and be comfortable in jeans. Hopefully this small rant will lead to the weather changing.

2. Jobs: Last time I was here, I had plans to work at the National Gallery of Art. However, I was offered another position and chose to take one at the Historical Manuscripts department at the University of Maryland. I am a processing archivist for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Collection(UBCJA). It is about 700 linear feet, which is a rather large collection, and it is my job to process it, or in non-archivist talk, order it logically. I've already started working and I like it for the most part. Stay tuned for exciting developments over the next three years.

3. Labor Day Weekend: Kathryn came to visit!! I gave her the quick and dirty tour of the area, albeit more quick than dirty. We went to the Columbia Mall, drank at the Pirate Bar in Silver Spring, trekked around the Mall in D.C., saw two planetarium shows, questioned our place in the world, drank at the Thirsty Turtle(for the first and last time ever), got cupcakes at Georgetown cupcake, and saw Obama's crib. It was an awesome weekend and I think/hope Kathryn enjoyed the area enough to come visit again!


Hot messes right here

4. Classes: I started classes. The library science courses are pretty basic. Just reading and taking notes. The history course, theories of imperialism, is very interesting and a lot tougher than any of my other courses. I enjoy it the most and am actually looking forward to taking more history courses next semester. I am definitely glad I didn't just come here for Library Science. Grad school would've been easier than undergrad.

5. Half-Marathon: I was going to have an entire post about the half-marathon but I decided against it. But yea, I ran, and survived, a half marathon. It was amazing actually. I have now been inducted into the running tribe with the name of Extreme Squid/Jersey Terp. I should probably combine that in some way at some point. Nevertheless, I ran it in 2:22, which means I averaged a 10:30 mile. For 13 miles. I was in loads of pain by the end of it but it was such an amazing experience. Definitely found strength I didn't know I had. Can't wait for the next one - thinking the Jersey Shore Half-Marathon in May. And then maybe I'll do a full marathon. And then a triathlon. And an Iron woman! I'm doing it all!


Running Tribe!

I would say that this encapsulates the month of September. At least it recounts all the PG tales. All drunken escapades cannot be recounted for fear of my family disowning me and my future children reading this one day. If you are really interested, make plans to take me out, by me a beer, and I will recount them with pleasure.

Maryland in August

I know I said I was back and that I was going to blog. Well, I am back but I have been rather lazy in updating my blog and continually put it off to watch episodes on Netflix.

That being said, I am now vowing to blog at least once a week. Even though the blog might be a small paragraph about how much I hate grad school and how hard it is, I will blog.

In order to move things along, I am going to recap August with a list of things I have done:

1. Motor Vehicle Agency
I went to the Motor Vehicle Agency, Maryland's version of the DMV. It was an enlightening experience. I went the first week I was in Maryland in hopes of being able to get my car titled and registered, and get my license. Well I was able to get it titled and registered, for $170 dollars, but I didn't have all the documents for my license. So I try again a few weeks later, and again, I don't have the right documentation. After ranting on the phone, complaining about canceled checks and Maryland in general, I calm down enough to get the right documentation. And today, I went back and they gave me my license, for $45. And I am registered to vote. However, I still need to get my car inspected, something they don't do at the MVA. Ah, the convoluted ways of our government.

2. Borders
I got a job at Borders.....and then quit my job at Borders. I needed something to do and was able to get a job at Borders since I was sorta still on the books. All the while, I was applying for other jobs. And I really didn't like working nights in Silver Spring, a town I didn't know and one that has been known for some crime. So, when another job seemed close to being offered, I quit. Which leads into...

3. The National Gallery of Art
I have been offered a position, unofficially, at the National Gallery of Art. It is in the Image Collections Department in Library of the National Gallery of Art. I would be a Library Technician/Student Assistant. I say unofficially because the director chose me but I have to hear is officially from the personnel department. The position is 20 hrs/week during the semester and it can be full time during breaks. I will have it for three years and the networking/resume building could be fantastic so I am very excited.

4. Friends
I have friends! Yes, I know you all were worried that no one would like a loud, obnoxious, sarcastic Jersey girl but that has not been the case. My roommates have sorta been forced to deal with me since we all live together but I think they might like me. :) And I met some people in the iSchool (Library Science) and they accepted me. And I met a bunch of people at the History Orientation and they also seem to like me. I'm sure alcohol made me seem a lot more awesome than I really am but I am more than okay letting them believe that.

5. Washington D.C.
Living this close to D.C. is great. I can get on the metro (something I have almost mastered) and go anywhere I wish to in the city. I have learned where not to go, which is very important. I went to the Library of Congress and the Postal Museum, the latter I would recommend to everyone. It is very interesting. I also have been to a bar in D.C. It was fun, but it might have been a gay bar, something we realized after two hours. Whatever, it was fun.

6. Georgetown Cupcake
Staying with the D.C. chat, I went to Georgetown Cupcake. BEST.CUPCAKES.EVER. Nothing else to say. Seriously. However, it takes forever to get there. It took over an hour by the metro and then we had to wait in line for 40 minutes. But the cupcakes are worth it. They changed my life. And they can heal broken hearts, even if it is just for a few moments. Here is the website. You can order them and I will pick them up for a nominal fee of a peanut butter fudge cupcake. I'm very cheap. You can bribe me with cupcakes.

7. Sports
I discovered sports in D.C. I went to a D.C. United (soccer) game. It would've been great had I not been by myself. I did enjoy myself and would like to go back to another one if I get the chance. I also went to a Nationals game last Friday night. That was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to all. They stadium is nice and even though the Nationals are crappy, nothing can ruin a baseball game in the summer.

This list pretty much sums up my month of August in Maryland. It has been an overall good time and I really like it here. The one major downfall is the heat. It is 93 degrees out right now. Slightly unbearable.

Classes started today but I don't start until Wednesday. Hopefully my background check goes through soon and I will be able to start my other job very soon. I hope to return soon with a recap of my classes and maybe some tales of Labor Day weekend shenanigans.

I'm Baaaaackkk

Miss me? I know you did. Don't even pretend to hide it. I missed writing about myself and my rather exciting life. So here I am, back to blog some more. Back to tell some tales of lore that will be passed down to my children, and my children's children, until they become stories on the epic scale of the Iliad. My goal in life is to become Homer of the 21st century and that goal begins here....

Well enough of that. I am back mainly because I have moved! Yes, I have moved from my hometown in Jersey to a new place in Maryland. My new place is located about 20 minutes northeast of Washington D.C. It is a nice town in a nice area with extremely nice people. As Frank says, it's nice to be nice to the nice.

Why did I move, you ask? Well I am here because I am starting grad school at the University of Maryland. I will be studying to get my masters in both History and Library Science. It takes three years.....so you're stuck with me for at least that long.

What will I be blogging about? Excellent question. Anything and everything that I might be involved in. No I will not include trivial details about what I ate for dinner, although that could be a topic when I choose to make an awesome meal. I will not blog everyday either. Only when I do something that I deem riveting enough to tell the world. This might include trips to DC and the surrounding area or updates on the half marathon I will be running in September.

For my first blog post, I will tell of my move to this lovely state. I don't have any packing pictures so I will describe as best as possible and then give you images of the final product.

Packing for my move began in June. I knew I would have two weeks to pack after returning from Alaska so I have to get a head start. I began the process by packing my books. If you know me well, you know I have a small library. I packed 8 boxes of books. I left a bookshelf and a half in New Jersey.


Yeah, I gots lots of books

So after packing the books, everything else would be simple. We went to Alaska, had a fantastic time, and then we came back. Suddenly, I had two weeks to pack up my life. Two weeks to say goodbye to friends and family. Two weeks to PTD. (That is pack, tan, drink to those who don't get my Jersey Shore reference.)

So I packed. Some clothes in suitcases but most was left in the dresser. Put all my stuffed animals in a big tub. Packed toiletries and other necessities. Packed games, pictures and knickknacks. I tried to tan. Went to LBI one day and then to Sea Bright another day. Didn't succeed too well in that department.

But I passed with flying colors in the drinking department. Not like any of you expected any less of me. Did some karaoke, went to the Stone Pony for the first time. Danced my face off at the Downtown. Had my first experience in Seaside Heights at Hooks and it was pretty awesome. Said goodbye to great friends at a going away party at my house. Really enjoyed my last two weeks.

Saturday arrived. Pops and I packed the Budget Truck to the brim. Then I packed up my car and called it a day. My room echoed as I walked through it, empty of all the furniture that made it my room. Gone were my bed, my dresser, my lamps, my bookshelves, my tv, my filing cabinets, my photos, my rugs. A few things remained, items I couldn't bring with me. I slept the last two nights in Tim's room, sleeping fitfully in a room that was not my own.

Then Sunday morning arrived. I went through the morning ritual as if in a trance. Washed, ate breakfast and got into the car. We drove to Maryland, Mom and I in my car and Dad in the truck. Barring a few direction problems, we all arrived by 1 and began unpacking.

We were lucky that is didn't rain. It had called for thunderstorms but nothing happened. WE unloaded the truck, broke for lunch, and then finished the unloading process. Then came the unpacking process, something that is infinitely more difficult than the packing process. However, it got done, albeit some minor scuffles between mother and daughter.


It's a vanity that spins. Thank you IKEA


I have a walk-in closet. I'm spoiled for life.


No room is complete without a sexy picture of Johnny Depp.

We did our shopping trips on Monday and finished the decoration process by Tuesday morning. We had enjoyed a good weekend together, settling me into my new home. Spent lots of money, leisurely walked through IKEA and ate in great restaurants in the area. We went into DC today, got lunch in Union Station and discovered all the shops in the station. I saw mom onto the train. She headed back to New Jersey, a true empty-nester, while I embarked on my new life in Maryland. I've cut off most of the apron strings - no more comments about it, Tim.

Of course, I will be back to visit New Jersey and enjoy my friends and family who live there. Who knows, I might end up back there one day. Keep reading to see how my future unfolds.

A Fond Farewell

Well it's finally Day 18. The last day of our trip. As of right now, I am sitting in the Vancouver Airport, awaiting our flight to Newark. It has been a long day already and will not end until 10 p.m.

We spent our last day on the Diamond Princess in a state of complete relaxation. Mom and I got pedicures in the morning then had our final breakfast at Sabatini's. The sun came out and it was a beautiful day as we cruised towards Vancouver. We soaked in the sunshine as we wrote, read and ate lunch on our deck.

Alas, we had to pack and did so with a heavy heart. Dinner was a quiet affair in the dining room as we said goodbye to our waiters, Ferdinand and Berta. We played gin in the Wheelhouse Bar (I was running the table) and then retired for the night.

The trip, to say the least, has been fantastic. I want to thank everyone who read the blog and a double thanks to those who commented - letting me know that someone out there was reading my writing. Hopefully you enjoyed it and if you didn't then don't tell me. I'd rather live in a world where everyone adores my writing and I have no critics.

And so this post will be the last on this blog for the time being. I've enjoyed writing it and I hope you all enjoyed reading it. I have no future travel plans as of yet but I'm sure I'll get the bug soon enough and be back in action. Thanks again!

Mangia Mangia

I looked up the definition of cruise ship and found that it means place where you have unlimited food and gain 10 pounds in a week.

Indeed, they are correct. This cruise ship has unlimited food and I might have gained 10 lbs, give or take 5 lbs. It's a rather vicious cycle. You get up in the morning and eat. Either buffet style or as we have, in a small restaurant called Sabatini's. It is a place that suite passengers can eat breakfast and it's lovely.
Then you wander the ship, looking for something to do until it's lunchtime. Then you eat lunch. Then you wander the ship, think about going to the gym but nap instead.
Next thing you know it's time to get ready for dinner. You go eat dinner and you have to have dessert every night. Then it's to bed or to a bar. Sleep, wake, repeat. You can get food at anytime that you might be bored. You have unlimited 24-hour room service. So yea, you all get the point.

So, to keep the cycle going, we decided to pay an extra charge for dinner and eat in Sabatini's. Greatest idea ever.

We arrived for dinner at 9 pm, only time they had available. Our waitress explains how they work. It is a trattoria-style restaurant. You order either a soup or a salad and your main course. Everything else is brought to you on a tray and you get to sample what you wish to. So we order our soup or salad and entree and then dip our amazing bread into olive oil. Then the rounds began...bear with me, I don't remember everything exactly but it all tasted awesome.

First course: Cold Antipasti. Prosciutto with melon and arugula. Marinated Artichokes. Marinated Shrimp. Sun-dried Tomatoes. Chunks of Parmesan.
Second course: Hot Antipasti. Crab cakes. Ricotta Flan. Calamari. Zucchini Fritta.
Third course: Our soup or salad. I had a White Bean Fagioli. Very good.
Fourth course: Pasta. Homemade Potato Ravioli in a Basil Oil. Unreal. Also, large flat noodles with mushrooms in a cream sauce. Amazing.
Fifth course: Entree. Like we are even hungry at this point. I had stuffed chicken. Mom had Sea Bass and Dad had scallops. All fantastic.
Sixth course: Dessert. Best part. Mom and Dad had a white chocolate mousse. I had Tiramisu. Best Ever. Seriously fantastic.

Then they wheeled us out of the dining room. Well not really but we were done in. Amazing service and a great overall experience. It took about two hours and I immediately passed out when I arrived back to the room. Totally worth the extra charge and even the extra calories. However, despite the amazing food, I think we are looking forward to getting back to our normal diets when returning home.

The Ballad of the Aleutians

Bering Sea King Crab Tour
....A cruise Line's version of the Deadliest Catch
by Betsy

Not counting the 7 days we spent with Tim and Jackie, which was priceless, this last tour we opted for out of Ketchikan was the best tour we took. The F/V Aleutian Ballad is a fishing vessel (that's what the F/V stands for - something else I learned) that had previously been an active King Crab Fishing Boat and was actually featured during the 2002 season of Deadliest Catch. For those of you who religiously follow the show, this is the boat that took a 60 foot rogue wave over the side, rolled it on its side, but managed to recover. Well good news - there were no rogue waves Thursday; in fact the weather once again was smiling on us with sunshine and calm seas. We were treated to a fantastic afternoon of wildlife viewing both above and below the sea.


picture of the Aleutian Ballad

We traveled about 40-50 minutes from Ketchikan to a secluded area where the sunshine felt even stronger and the wind was even calmer. We were able to view sea lions sunning themselves on small islands.



Then, to our surprise, the Aleutian Ballad arrived near another island - this one full of eagles. They proceeded to toss fish into the water for the eagles as we stood by with our cameras snapping picture after picture of these beautiful creatures. I managed to get many good shots and have to say my arms were actually tired from holding the camera and snapping pictures, which sounds sort of ridiculous but was true!





Next we ambled along to where they had set a crab pot and pulled it in, just like in the show, although they don't dump the crab on the deck for this tour. We caught Brown King Crabs this time. Further along they caught and/or pulled in a Spiny Rockfish, Sea Prawns, Starfish, Sunflower Sea Star, Rock Crab, Dungeness Crab,
a Wolf eel and Octopus. Both the Wolf eel and Octopus will get into the crab pots and eat the King Crab so they have to catch these predators and keep them alive in a keg-shaped trap. Even if they try to return these predators to another spot in the ocean, they will remember where the King Crab pots are and return - they have a very good memory.




Hardcore Crab Eating.

Coffee, Tea, and Hot Chocolate were complimentary along with a snack for the ride back. And of course there was a shop onboard to purchase t-shirts, hats, etc. - we were told somewhere along the line that it's an Alaskan law that there must be a gift shop within 1000 feet of a tourist - I must say that all Alaskans comply with the law. But again, the tour was wonderful and the crew and boat captain were very candid, informative and interactive with us. They even posed with all of us at the end for a picture taken with the ships life buoy.


Crew Member Don, Ed, Betsy and Crew Member Terry

A Snarkle of a Time

When choosing what tours to take in Alaska, I came upon one in Ketchikan that seemed so awesome I couldn't not do it. Snorkeling. Seriously, who says they snorkeled in Alaska. Now some might say I am mildly retarded or clinically insane. I told a guide what I was doing and she thought I was crazy. Even my brother, a trained Army Ranger, thought me to be crazy. But I could snorkel in Alaska - soo much cooler than snorkeling in the Bahamas or Bermuda.

So, when we arrived in Ketchikan, I was relieved that it was a nicer day than it had been in Juneau. Clearing skies with some chance of rain. Not that it would matter when I was in the water but the sun is always better than clouds. I got off the ship at the appointed time and met up with my guide. I ended up being the only one in the group that was from a Princess Ship. All the others were from the Zuiderdam - a Holland America Line cruise ship. (Side note: there are many other ships in port when we dock. There were four in Skagway, three in Juneau and four in Ketchikan. So many of the tours have people from all different cruise ships.)



Anyways, we boarded a bus and drove 10 minutes to the dive shop. Here we got a quick lesson on how to get dressed and then went at it. Putting these wet suits on is harder than pulling up spanx but it does the same thing. It's like a constant corset for your entire body. The suits are 7 mm thick and are made of nyoprene. Nyoprene is a substance that allows the water in to a certain layer. Then it lets your body heat the bubbles of water in the suit, keeping you warm all the time. If anyone knows me well, you know that I am cold all the time. My normal body temperature is most often lower than 98.6. So I was a bit wary about getting cold.

We put on the suits. Then the booties. Then the hood. Then we were zipped up and ready to go. Got our masks, snorkels and gloves and boarded the bus again. We went a mile down the road to Mountain Point - the place where we were to snorkel. We got out, suited up and then got into the water. It was about 59 degrees. It was....chilly. I wasn't cold all the time but in no way was I hot. I had to keep moving so I didn't get cold but by the end, my hands were freezing.

Despite all that, we saw some really cool things. Sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers. I held all of them and took pictures - with an underwater camera so don't expect any of those. It was sorta crazy to see that these animals survive in these cold waters.


Sunflower Sea Star

After about an hour in the water, I was ready to get out. I had finally gotten cold and needed some warmth. We got back on the bus and went back to the dive shop to change. Getting out of the wet suits is about as difficult as getting into them but it was nice to be able to breath once again. All in all, the tour was awesome. I recommend it to anyone who goes to Ketchikan or any part of South East Alaska that offers the tour. The people were great and it was an experience that I will not soon forget.

My parents, however, decided to gallivant by themselves today and headed off on a crab fishing vessel that was once used in the show, The Deadliest Catch.
But that story will be told in a separate blog. Til then..

Our Beautiful World

While Kate is busy writing all the quips and one liners - I'm starting to get a little more retrospective so indulge me for a minute - or close the page, whichever works for you.

A funny thing happens on Day 15 of your vacation. You start to get real relaxed and real comfortable living this simple life....breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided...take a tour sometime during the day....soak in a hot tub....read your book...find a quiet spot on the ship where no one will find you.....check email if and when you want to....check your bank balance online to be sure you can still be away from work....stroll through the shops.....sit and have a drink...wander out on deck and stare at the ocean...life is short and we all need to slow down and just look around - the world is a magnificent place if only we would take the time to notice.

We have had such a great getaway and we really feel like we have seen and experienced lots of Alaska. Forgive us when we are daydreaming a bit next week - you know where our heads will be for awhile....Betsy

One If By Land, Two If By Sea

A vacation of this kind is only for the strong of heart. I've spent almost every waking moment of the past 2 and 1/2 weeks with various members of my family. We've been in cars, trailers, boats and buses together. I've learned more about them than I ever thought I would learn - or would need to learn. We've all been a party to each others quirks and quips - many of which have become inside jokes. One would think that a vacation of this magnitude could only end in bloodshed. However, the only blood shed was when Mom got a bloody nose due to a change in altitude.

Alas, our time together finally came to an end in Juneau. My parents got fed up by my late-night drinking escapades and my sarcastic wit. They ditched me to take their own tour - a float trip down the Mendenhall River. But more on their time later for I must have my say first.

So they threw me out early to go on my own tour - another hike. This one also included Mendenhall as we hiked to a point overlooking the Mendenhall Glacier. I awoke at 7 am when room service knocked on our door. I looked outside to see that it was....raining! Hooray! Hiking in the rain. That's the only way I'd do it anyways.

Met the tour group by 750 a.m. and boarded another bus that took us to the trail head. On the way, we got a short history of Juneau and here are some points of interest.

Quick Facts:
- Juneau is the only U.S. capital that cannot be accessed by car. You must come in on either a boat or plane. Spread that trivia around.
- Juneau has two McDonalds. When the first one arrived 20 years ago, there was a line that surrounded the building twice. People bought 20 burgers a piece - for everyone they knew. Also a plane came in and took over 200 burgers to another town nearby that has no McDonalds. It was a huge moment.
- Juneau just recently got a second high school. Find another U.S. capital that only has one high school. Crazy. Those who play high school sports in Juneau must either fly or take a ferry to play other schools. Lots of fundraising.
- There is one major road - called The Road. It is 39 miles long. At both ends there are signs that say "The End." Both have bullet holes in them.
- Juneau has more trails than roads.
- Also, Juneau has about 250 days of rain and 270 days that are overcast. Not much sunlight to be had in Juneau.

My hike commenced at 830. We climbed high into the Tongass National Forest. There was a 600 ft. elevation change - not too bad - and the hike was about 3 miles round trip. One of the worst parts of the hike was the rain but that is to be expected in Juneau. Another bad part was the 200 stairs. Right before the scenic overlook, you had to walk up 200 steps. It was like a slap in the face after spending most of the first part of the hike going uphill. We all made it to the top and then took a short path to the scenic overlook. Got some beautiful views of the Mendenhall Glacier that can only be seen by those who hike there.



Then we began our descent - all downhill...of course. Stopped for some more shots of the glacier and some pretty waterfalls.





Despite hiking in the rain, the tour was awesome and I was able to truly experience Juneau for what it is. And despite the weather, I think I could live in Juneau.
We got back to downtown Juneau by 1230 and I met up with my parents. We did some shopping and then boarded the ship to get lunch and relax for the rest of the day.

Now, since you are all sick of reading my writing, here is a recap of my parents trip - written by my mother.

Juneau - A Family Divided!
(written by Betsy, with permission by Kate)

We finally were able to ditch Kate (or maybe she ditched us??) and Ed and I headed off on a tour of the Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall River Float Trip. Unfortunately we have caught up with the true Alaskan weather and today it was raining and quite cool, with patches of fog - a little difficult to even see the glacier. However, as always, our tour guides make it fun as they handed out colorful bib overalls for us to put on, along with rubber boots, rain slicker and life jacket - think of Charlie Brown getting dressed to go out and play in the snow - you can hardly move once outfitted. Ed's favorite part was when I was issued ORANGE bib overalls - yes, ORANGE - that favorite color of Ed's that we give him so much grief about - well this time I had to wear them and he was quick to snap a picture of me.


Attractive? You bet.


My favorite picture of the cruise.

Sidenote: Did we tell you that Ed actually lost his orange overalls and rain slicker in Nilnichik? Now I know you are probably thinking that Kate or Tim or Jackie or I had something to do with them disappearing and it would have been a pretty neat trick on our part but honest, we have no idea where they went. Ed put them in the back of the pick up truck and next thing we know they are gone. Could there be someone else out there who likes to wear that color besides Mr. Ed?

Two-Timing Tongass

Well we've gone from 80 degree temperatures to glaciers and now we have entered the rainforest. No joke, the Tongass National Forest - all 17 million acres of it - encompasses much of South Eastern Alaska. It is the largest national forest in the U.S.

So Alaska can get pretty crappy summer weather. Southeast Alaska that is. They actually don't have a summer as we know one at home. Fairbanks gets the extremes: from 80 in the summer to -40 in the winter. However, in southeast Alaska, it ranges from 20-60 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of the year. Sometimes it gets below zero and sometimes it reaches 70 and 80 degree temperatures.

We entered Skagway, the first stop on our cruise, very early on Tuesday morning. The town is tucked back in a valley and was formed during the gold rush of 1898. Nowadays it only operates during the summer - purely a tourist town. During the winter, the entire town is boarded up and it shuts down. This is not abnormal for many towns in Alaska. For example, the Denali and McKinley Princess, two hotels we stayed at during our trip, shut down entirely come mid-September. They board up the buildings and become ghost towns during the winter months. Seems rather eerie to me.



However, Haines - a small town across the bay from Skagway, does not shut down during the winter months. It was here that we took our hike. This town's population fluctuates between 2100 and 2500 people over the course of a year, the 2500 being the population in the summer. We disembarked the ship around 9 a.m. and boarded a ferry to cross the bay to go to Haines. Then we boarded a small bus that took us to the trail head.


A view of Skagway from Battery Point

The hike lasted most of the day. It was about 4 miles round trip. They took us to a place called Battery Point where there is a beach. Quick note - Alaskan beaches are made of rock. Don't get too excited about beach visiting. It would be rather uncomfortable to lay on. We got some great photos during our hike and learned a lot about our surroundings. 90% of the trees in the woods we were hiking in are either Sitka Spruce or Western Hemlock (not the stuff that killed Socrates.) However we did locate that.


I brought some home in hopes of testing it out! Take that, Canadian custom officials.

The guides were locals - not born and raised - but have lived in Haines for an extended period of time. We lunched on Smoked Salmon Wraps - jury is still out on them - and then headed back to the trail head. The terrain was full of roots. Not a ton of elevation change but you had to constantly watch your feet so as to not trip over rocks or roots.

After ferrying back to Skagway, we stayed in town to do some shopping. Walked the main drag - known as Broadway - and got dinner at the Skagway Brewing Company. They have excellent porter. Mmmmm dark beers :) Then we wandered back to the ship, getting lost once, and almost decided to make a run for the Canadian Border - it's only 15 miles away!



We got back on board the ship to have a relaxing night. Went to the Lotus Spa and enjoyed the hot tubs and sauna. Almost fell asleep on the heated beds. FYI, those things rock and should become household necessities. Got some room service later that night and then fell asleep. It was definitely one of our most relaxing nights since joining the cruise and was much needed.

Get Your Bering's Straight

Oh, that headline rocked. Don't pretend you didn't enjoy my classy play on words. I should get paid for this.

Anyways, since boarding the ship we've done nothing but sleep, eat, and run back and forth between the port and starboard sides of the ship in hopes of seeing a whale. Well the latter isn't entirely true but some people are rather fanatic about seeing wildlife. To the point that they got up early on our cruising days to stand outside, camera ready, in case a whale decided to show up. That's a bit intense by my standards but I've seen a whale already so I've filled my yearly quota.

We spent the first two days on the cruise sailing through two different bays. On Sunday we cruised to Yakutat Bay - the bay that is home to the famous Hubbard Glacier. It was a rather overcast day but to our luck, the glacier was out. This was actually the first time in three weeks that the glacier was showing so we have been blessed by the weather gods this trip. It is a tidewater glacier - which probably means nothing to those of you who haven't seen glaciers. So time for a lesson!

First of all, a glacier, according to Merriam-Webster, is a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface. Many glaciers, especially those in Alaska, are formed from ice fields. For a glacier to grow, snow and ice accumulation much exceed ablation, or the erosion of a glacier. Thus, most glaciers are receding but there are a few that are advancing.

Now glaciers are classified in three common classes. There are Alpine Glaciers, Ice Sheets and Tidewater Glaciers. They form on mountain slopes and can be known as cirque glaciers. If one fills a valley, it is called a Valley Glacier.

Ice Sheets are the largest of glaciers and are more commonly known as Antarctica and Greenland. So I won't be discussing those.

Tidewater glaciers are those that terminate in the sea and are the ones we saw the most. They calve (break off) into the sea and form icebergs. They are most often formed from large ice fields.

That concludes today's short glacier lesson. Now here are some examples with photos and captions. There will be a quiz following the blog. :)

In Yakutat Bay, we saw the Hubbard Glacier, a tidewater glacier. It is the largest one in the Alaska and we saw it up close.


Hubbard Glacier




This glacier is really dirty.

We also got some shots of the glacier calving - which is what everyone wants to see and hear.


Beginning of a Calve


End of a Calve - I would've added all the photos to show the succession of the calve but that would be a lot of photos.


And we found this friend who was chilling on an iceberg nearby

The next day the entire ship awoke by 8 a.m. to see us enter into Glacier Bay. I, however, had drunk 1/2 a bottle of wine and was nursing a rather viscous headache all morning so I was not interested in whales, glaciers or anything but a bed. After sleeping off the headache, I awoke to see the glaciers in Glacier Bay and even caught sight of some whales by the end of the day. It was another gorgeous day - seriously unbelievable. Cool but the sun was warm. They rangers said it was one of the best days they've had in awhile.





We had so many more photos but it's hard to put them all up so I need to be picky and choose just a few. Hope this is a nice taste of what we saw. The glaciers were beautiful and the park was pristine. I recommend visiting as soon as you are able since the glaciers keep receding and they might not be around if you wait too long.

I'm on a Train......I'm on a Boat

Despite having beautiful weather while at the Denali Princess and the McKinley Princess, we woke the next morning to rain and clouds. Bye bye mountain, hello normal Alaskan weather. However, there was one bright spot to this dreary morning - the possibility of a fantastic breakfast.

We piled on a bus, coffee in hand, and drove an hour to the town of Talkeetna. Once arrived we sprinted off the bus and booked it to The Roadhouse, home of the famous Sourdough Hotcakes. Largest pancakes ever - they spill off the plate. My parents each got one while I was crazy healthy and got fruit, yogurt and granola.


I did try the hotcake though and it was amazing.

Talkeetna itself didn't wake up until 10ish. We wandered the quaint town for a bit after finishing our breakfast, looking for places to spend money. Stopped in a few different shops, bought some trinkets and took pictures of trains that rolled passed. We did meet a couple that had been there for three days. Not sure how you spend three days there since I was bored after two hours. Nevertheless, I would recommend visiting it if you get the chance. Supposedly the bars are good and you can drink with the locals which is always recommended when visiting Alaska - gives you the full Alaskan flavor (aka PBR and chewing tobacco - its a good flavor.)



Finally it was time to board another bus. We took the bus to a small pickup for the train that would take us to Whittier - and the ship! And was that not the longest train ride of my life. We got on board by 1 and didn't reach Whittier til 630. We had a seat mate - a talkative woman from New Haven. She obviously didn't get the hint when I put in my headphones as she continued to talk to us. It was a long, cramped 5 1/2 hours.

But finally we arrived. And there she was, back dropped by the lovely mountains that surround the small town of Whittier. We quickly got on board and rushed to our suite. Part three of the trip had begun and we were going to enjoy it. For those who wish to watch, here is a link to video that is near and dear to my heart. It does have some explicit language so I do not recommend it to those under 18.You might have to scroll to the bottom of the page to see the video


Here is a picture of the deck of our suite. It looks out over the port side of the bow of the ship - we've enjoyed beautiful views of the Alaskan landscape from the comfort of our room.

After hastily unpacking, we attended the lifeboat drill. Then we headed back to the room to quickly shower and find a place to eat dinner. It was open dining the first night so we ate in the Savoy Dining Room instead of our normal International Dining Room. We didn't eat until 10 p.m.

Then, to escape the clutches of my parents, I ran off to meet some 18-25-year-old people in the club. Met a few but have since realized that this cruise is not going to have the party crew that I experienced on the trip to Bermuda. Ah well.

But now we are on the boat and have been for a few days. I know I'm behind in my blogs but there is so much to see and so much to eat and just so much more to drink. I'll do my best to blog our sea days tomorrow.

The 30% Percent Club

During our second week in Alaska, we joined a secret, elite club. The 30% club. It's intense. They do crazy Athabaskan rituals - stuff you only find in those Dan Brown books. We all have tattoos now. Wild.

Well most of that first paragraph was a lie. Yes, we have now been indoctrinated into the 30% Club. However, it's not as exciting and wild as I made it out to be but it's still pretty awesome. The 30% refers to those people who have visited Alaska and have seen Mt. McKinley.

But we are extra lucky because we saw it back-to-back. Thursday and Friday were the two most beautiful, clear and warm days that the Interior has had in awhile. And we took advantage of that situation. We took 150 pictures of the same mountain albeit from different angles. Now I will not put up all 150 pictures but I will pick out 10-15 that are awe inspiring.

If you all will indulge me as I give a short history lesson about the mountain. It is called Denali, an Athabaskan term meaning "High One," by locals, climbers, and anyone who has sense. Some random gold digger decided that the mountain should be named after William McKinley. And it stuck. However, Alaskans petitioned for the mountain to be renamed Mt. Denali. In 1975, they petitioned the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to change the name to Mt. Denali. However, those wily Ohioans needed to keep the McKinley name for their beloved president. So they found a loop hole in the system, saying that the board cannot consider a name change if a congressional legislation relating to that name is pending. And since 1980, the U.S. House Representatives of Ohio make sure there is pending legislation. This just makes me dislike Ohio even more.

Despite all that, the mountain is gorgeous. And here are some photos.

The first five or six are taken 34 miles away.














These last three are from 40 miles away at the McKinley Princess Resort

It's a Tundra Wilderness Out There

I'm going to fill this post with lots of pictures. I will preface the photos with the story of our trip and then add captions as I see fit.

After getting lunch in Denali, we boarded a school bus - the safest vehicle alive (thanks Dad, for the 10th time) - at roughly 230 p.m. Our guide, Justin, drove us into Denali National Park and took us into the Wilderness. Along the way we saw Caribou, Dall Sheep, Moose, Grizzly Bear and the Mountain. We went to mile 62, 9 miles further than expected and got some fantastic shots of grizzlies and the mountain. Despite driving in some precarious situations along roads carved out of mountainsides, we survived the affair in one piece. We got back to the lodge by 930, had some dinner and then hit the sack after a very long day.

Here are some pictures of the animals we saw as well as the scenery. I am saving the mountain for another post - one that will most likely be put up tomorrow or the next day - as there were too many photos and it was too magnificent to be muddled in with other blog entries.


Caribou!


I seriously thought about taking one of these home. They are ADORABLE


I spent 8 hours in the back of this thing...


A Golden Eagle


Grizzly Bears - they are golden in color in Denali because of some strange mutation


Our guide, Justin, has been doing this for 12 years. He spends his winters doing tours in other countries of the world. I want to live his life.


We had to go around some hairpin curves like this. The road was cut out of a mountain - one false move and you fall 700 feet