Roadie: Victoria, British Columbia

View from the Harbour Pathway, Victoria, British Columbia. (7/4/19)

Just as we spent Canada Day in Juneau, Alaska, we spent Independence Day in British Columbia, Canada. It was a very brief stop and the final port of call on our seven day Alaskan cruise. The cruise ship dock is located at Ogden Point, a 35-minute walk to downtown Victoria. As you might expect we were beginning to miss home, but we're still game for a self-guided walking tour of Victoria, British Columbia. Our boat was docked for only 4 hours so it was a nice low-key way to conclude what had been an exciting six days.

Aquatic life beside the cruise ship on our way to Victoria, British Columbia. (7/4/19)

Look closely and you'll find the outline below water of a dolphin that swam
beside the ship. (7/4/19)

A humpback whale exhaling. (7/4/19)

View from our patio of neighborhood to the left of the Ogden Cruise
Ship Terminal. (7/4/19)

View from the Harbour Pathway. (7/4/19)

(7/4/19)

Close-up of sweet peas, a flowering plant, not the vegetable. (7/4/19)

View from the Harbour Pathway. (7/4/19)

One of the garden areas in Beacon Hill Park. (7/4/19)

The British Columbia Parliament Buildings home to the Legislative Assembly
of British Columbia. (7/4/19)

Close-up of giant sequoia outside British Columbia
Parliment. (7/4/19)

Close-up of the Knowledge Totem Pole carved by Coast
Salish artist Cicero August. The pole was originally created for the
 1994 Commonwealth Games. (7/4/19)

(7/4/19)

(7/4/19)

Community garden in James Bay Village area of suburban Victoria,
British Columbia. (7/4/19)

Community garden in James Bay Village suburban Victoria,
British Columbia. (7/4/19)

Roadie: Dawes Glacier, Alaska

Into the Endicott Arm. (7/1/2019)

It's been two weeks since our return from an Alaskan cruise and I am beginning to miss it. On days such as today, where it is forecast to be 90°+ and humid, pictures of our Alaskan trip bring a sense of calm cool. Ironically during our time North, their temperatures were at historic high. When our ship was near the base of the Dawes Glacier (pictured below) we heard what sounded to be an extremely loud thundercrack. It was the ice falling away from the face of the glacier. Given the rate of climate change, and its obvious impact on the world around us, that may very well be the sound the world makes as it dies. Sorry to be a bummer; fortunate we had an opportunity to see it before it diminishes too much more.

Dawes Glacier terminates in the waters of Endicott Arm and together these two sights are classic glacier visits for those travelling to Juneau.

Anne and I up at 6 a.m. to view scenery as the ship heads down 

Endicott Arm to the Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

When turning, many vantage points from all directions came
into view. (7/1/2019)

Seals on ice could be seen on floating ice as we approached the glacier. (7/1/2019)

The deeper the blue hue, the older the ice; that is a very old
piece of ice to the lower left hand corner! (7/1/2019)

Former parts of the Dawes Glacier, now set adrift. (7/1/2019)

The water, full of varying degrees of minerals and other things due to 

glacier melt, seems to change color. (7/1/2019)

Mountains and valleys without end. (7/1/2019)

Dawes Glacier stands over 200 feet tall, with another 250 feet of glacier hidden below water. Tourist ship captains who commonly travel this area are trained to maneuver the ship to make two complete turns on a dime, slowly spinning what he called “doughnuts” so that no matter where you were on the ship, at some point during the spin all guests will be facing the glacier. Our captain was no different, and did an excellent job delivering on his promise.

The Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

Close. (7/1/2019)

Closer. (7/1/2019)

Closest! (7/1/2019)

Making our way back up Endicott Arm
and on to Juneau. (7/1/2019)

(7/1/2019)

Roadie: Glacier Bay National Park

In the background, the Mendenhall Glacier. (7/1/2019)

Don't ever become so jaded that you begin to think that you can see too much incredible natural scenery. After 3+ hours whale watching, we took a quick bus trip to Glacier Bay National Park and Reserve, an American national park located in Southeast Alaska west of Juneau. The park is also part of the Tongass National Forest, a fact which offers a sense as to the size and scope of Tongass--our earlier stop in Ketchikan took us to a different corner of the same rainforest! Still feeling the natural high from the wind, waves and humpback whales, vibing with the glacier and waterfall from a distance was still easy to do.

Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls both of which empty into
Mendenhall Lake. (7/1/2019)

Glacier Bay National Park and Reserve is yet another wonderful
national park. (7/1/2019)

The Mendenhall Glacier... catch it now before its gone. (7/1/2019)

There is a trail that takes one to the base of Nugget Falls, and closer to the Mendenhall Glacier. Given the short amount of time we had in the park--and that those we were traveling with being too tired to take the 2 mile trek, Anne and I opted to view from afar with our family. Like all the national parks and sites we have visited there were many smaller things, in this case lichen and birds, that were as interesting to observe as the park's headliner, the Mendenhall Glacier.

Nugget Falls to the immediate right of the Mendenhall Glacier. (7/1/2019)

My brother-in-law and my brother. (7/1/2019)

(7/1/2019)

The "Tern Stop" was a pick-up/drop-off point for visitors as well
as an indicator of things to come. (7/1/2019)

Arctic tern sitting on its nest with a friend. (7/1/2019)

Arctic tern offering a friendly reminder. (7/1/2019)

(7/1/2019)

Roadie: Whale Watching

7:30 a.m. heading toward the Tracy Arm Fjord and the Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

During our 7 day cruise of Alaska, we had two opportunities intended for whale watching. These were times during which we were all but promised to see humpback whales. While neither disappointed, we also numerous humpback whales while sitting on are balcony drinking coffee or simply walking on deck. The first chance was as our ship passed through the Inside Passage and took a pass by the Tracy Arm Fjord. Later tha day we took part in a three hour whale watching tour off the coast of Juneau. During this time we saw six whales including Flame (a mother) and Bunsen (her calf). Whales are identified by the notches in their fluke (shape of the tale).

The day before going to Juneau was an "at sea day" which meant there would be no leaving the vessel for about 24 hours. At 6:30 a.m. the following morning, guests were invited to go out on deck as the ship moved into the Inside Passage. In addition to getting close to the

Waiting for whales, seals and glaciers. (7/1/2019)

Seals were very common travelers on the pieces of ice--the did not 

stick around to pose too frequently though. (7/1/2019)

When whales are around, every inch of the boat including 

the heli-pad becomes a potential viewing area. (7/1/2019)

Many seals could be seen from the deck bathing in the early 

morning sun. (7/1/2019)

Lots to see... 360 degrees of beauty. (7/1/2019)

The very early morning seemed the best time to get better 

pictures of flukes! (7/1/2019)

Later that day we arrived in Juneau and headed out on a whale watching excursion. Tourism is the primary commodity of Alaska and that is never more apparent than when looking for whales. The captain of our boat chose not to crowd in with other boats of tourists so as to not startle the whales. We came across a number of groups in the same general area all awaiting a peek at the humpbacks.

In Juneau, the humpback's dorsal fin appears first followed ...  (7/1/2019)

.. soon thereafter by the fluke. (7/1/2019)

Television would have you expecting to experience a Free Willy moment wherein a whale jumps over the boat and you can raise your arm to rubs its belly. This is not whale watching but rather, fantasy. Our experience was equally rewarding but not nearly so photogenic at least my this not-so-good photographer. It was incredibly enjoyable to just watch for groups of birds close to the water (a sign of possible whale activity) and wait a glimpse of the amazing creatures.

Many tourist boats hoping to glance a whale. (7/1/2019)

Clean shot of humpback's fluke. Note the unique notching on 

the tail by which individual whales can be identified. (7/1/2019)

Humpback whale fluke just prior to turning up. (7/1/2019)

Humpback resting before diving. (7/1/2019)

Back to shore following three hours at sea... would have happily 

stayed longer! (7/1/2019)