Sat, Aug 24:

Alaska Cruise:  Norwegian Jewel:  Up at 5:00 this morning after very little sleep.  Mike started having severe pains in the groin yesterday and we ended up going down to the medical facility on board ship.  Actually, he started having the pains while we were at Butchart Gardens.  I ended up calling a cab to take us back to the ship.  He thought the pains would go away but they didn’t, so down to the medical facility we went.  I was very impressed with the medical staff.  We didn’t go down until around 9:00 at night.  The doctor/surgeon on duty knew exactly what it was.  He had a hernia pop out.  They sedated him and pushed it back in.  The thing is, part of his intestines or bowel is pushing out through this thing.  He needs to have surgery ASAP.  We have at least 7 days of driving ahead of us.  I’ll be doing most of that.  And all the heavy lifting.  I can handle that (I hope).  We didn’t get back to our room until around 11:00.  We still had to pack and put our bags outside our room for pick-up at midnight.  Got my stuff packed before we went down to medical.  I packed most of Mike’s stuff and put our priority luggage tags on everything and set it all outside.  We went down for breakfast at 6:00 and then met John, our Concierge, on deck 7.  We had priority status so John got us off the ship early with the other priority guests.  Got through customs and our luggage was all there waiting for us.  Got a porter to carry our bags to the curb and then a taxi sped us back to our park.  Unpacked everything and then went to do the laundry.  Had that done by around 9:30 and then went to the grocery store.  Got everything out of the way, fueled up the truck and then relaxed the rest of the day.  We were both pretty tired and Mike still not feeling great.

Victoria and Butchart Gardens:  The Butcharts came to Vancouver Island for the limestone deposits and started a limestone quarry for cement production. They built their home close to the quarry and Jenny Butchart was always upset at what this quarry was doing to the land.  So, after the quarry was abandoned, she started a garden.  This she would call her sunken garden.  The quarry walls were covered in all kinds of climbing plants and she had tons of soil brought in for the floor of the garden.  It is the centerpiece of the garden today.  They then added a rose garden, Italian garden, and Japanese garden.  It is truly beautiful.

And I really loved the city of Victoria.  Not too big—population around 80,000—it is called the city of gardens.  And it really lives up to that name.  From private homes to city parks, there are flowers everywhere.  I loved the architecture and the city seemed really clean.  Apparently, the climate is very moderate.  They get almost no snow, little rain compared to, say, Seattle, and no extreme temperatures.  I could picture living there.  Except, it is on an island.  Would have liked to experience more of Victoria for sure.

Sunken Garden--Butchart Garden

Butchart Garden

Sunken Garden--Butchart Garden

Butchart Garden

Seattle when we pulled in at about 6:00 a.m.

Alaska Cruise:  Norwegian Jewel:  Breakfast at Cagney’s again this morning.  We’re off to the Butchart Gardens in Victoria today. There we’ll have a gourmet picnic lunch in the gardens.  We won’t dock until around 2:00.  We’re going to meet John, our Concierge, at 2;15 so we can be one of the first off the ship.  Don’t have to be back on board until around 9:00 tonight.  Then we have to pack and be ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning.  Again, we’ll meet our Concierge who will get us off the ship early so we can (hopefully) be one of the first in line for Customs.

Thu, Aug 22:

Alaska Cruise:  Norwegian Jewel:  A sea day today.  We slept in and then went to Cagney’s for lunch.  After lunch we walked around some and stopped to listen to some of the live entertainment on board.  Then off to the casino.  I left Mike there and went back to our room and sat out on our balcony reading.  Between the gentle rocking of the ship and the susurrant sound of the ship’s wake, I had a hard time keeping awake.  After dinner tonight we’re going to see Le Cirque Bijou at the theater. Our Butler brings us goodies every day.  Today he brought some truffles and assorted cheeses.  Day before yesterday he brought us chocolate covered strawberries.  Yesterday it was fresh fruit.  We are so spoiled.  Overcast today and mid-50s.  Even so, we are really comfortable on our balcony, since we’re aft of the ship and alee of the wind--which, by the way, is 25 knots today.  Tomorrow we will be in Victoria.

Wed, Aug 21:

Alaska Cruise:  Norwegian Jewel:  Docked in Skagway this morning.  We are taking the White Pass Scenic Railway tour today—but we don’t board until 12:45.  So we figured we’d have breakfast and then walk into Skagway, which is only a mile or so from the dock.  After our breakfast we stepped outside and the wind and cold just about took our breath away.  Figured we’d forget that.  All these little ports are about shopping anyway.  Especially jewelry.  But the train ride was great.  And historic.  Skagway was the jumping off point for the intrepid “gold rushers” seeking their fortune.  They would take a steamer to Skagway and then buy provisions and horses or mules to carry all this stuff over treacherous and dangerous trails to the Yukon River and the gold fields.  They were required to carry a ton of supplies up over the pass and into the interior where they would journey through the lake systems to the Yukon River and the gold fields. They had to carry materials to make a boat.  Over 3000 horses and pack animals died on this journey because of the tortures of the trail and inexperience of the stampeders. Some of the animals actually starved to death because they didn’t think to bring enough feed for them.  Anyway, the train route paralleled this historic route through the pass.  Once we got back on board our ship we changed and went to La Cuchina Italian restaurant for dinner.  The ship pulled out while we were eating.  Back to our room and I sat out on our balcony watching the beautiful vistas slipping by.  This will be the last of the inside passage.  We’ll be in the open ocean until we reach Victoria.

Dead Horse Gulch--lost over 3000 horses and pack animals on this trek.  A lot of them here.

At this station the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police would check to see if they had enough provisions.

White Pass

The original trail.  This was a very narrow trail and there would be travelers going both ways.

This is an older trestle bridge.  Fortunately, we didn't have to go over it.

Skagway

Juneau

Alaska Cruise:  Norwegian Jewel:  Docked in Juneau this morning at around 6:30.  After our breakfast, we went to see the Mendenhall Glacier.  Really impressive.  We’ve never seen a glacier that close before.  Then toured the Mendenhall Gardens.  Really chilly with rain off and on.  But still enjoyable.  Juneau is much larger than Ketchikan.  Of course because it’s the capital of Alaska.  Still only accessible by boat or sea plane.  Juneau is surrounded by a huge ice field, so no roads other than local.  We had to be back on board the ship by 1:00 because we depart Juneau at 1:30.  So we had a large lunch at Cagney’s Steak House after we got back on board because we were both starved.  Back to our room to relax and watch the beautiful scenery as it slips by.  It’s like we’re cruising a river.  So narrow and beautiful.  This afternoon the ship is going to make its way up an inlet called the Tracy Arm to Sawyer’s Glacier. We should arrive there by 6:00.  It looks so narrow!  Should be interesting.  Then we turn around and cruise all night to Skagway.

Arriving early this morning at Juneau.

Mendenhall Glacier

Ice floes from the glacier.

The glacier is 100 ft. high.  And it's receding at a rapid rate.

Nugget Falls

Mendenhall Gardens

Mendenhall Gardens

Mendenhall Gardens

When we left Ketchikan last evening, it was like rush hour for sea planes.  They were taking off or landing every minute or so. Sometimes two at a time.  And the ferries were running as well. We sure knew we were in Alaska.

Either landing or taking off--right in front of the ferry.

Sea plane dock.

Another one taking off.

Sawyer Glacier:  Cruised up the Tracy Arm which was spectacular.  It kept getting narrower and narrower with more and more ice floes that looked like pretty ice sculptures.  We finally made it to the glacier which was really amazing.  Came right down into the sea.  And a beautiful blue color in places.  A once in a lifetime experience!  The Captain turned the ship around and headed back down this very narrow (in places) and beautiful channel. Mike went off to the buffet.  I sat out on our balcony until it got too dark.  Didn’t want to miss a thing.  

The closer to the glacier, the more turquoise the water.

In a wider section of the channel, that same Holland America cruise ship that passed by us when we left Seattle, passed us heading out of the channel.

Rivulets of snow melt cascade down the steep slopes.

More and more ice floes.

One more turn, and there it is!

Beautiful!  Don't see anything like this at home!

Ketchikan

Alaska Cruise:  Norwegian Jewel:  Our cruise ship pulled into Ketchikan at around 6:30 this morning.  After breakfast we got off the ship and on to a smaller boat and cruised up to Misty Fjord National Monument.  Ketchikan is the 4^th wettest place on the planet.  We can attest to that!  Started out pretty nice, but by the time we got to the fjord it was raining pretty good.  What a beautiful place though!  After our cruise we walked around Ketchikan for a while and stopped in a bar and had a drink or two.  And to warm up some.  Most of the shops here are jewelry shops.  It is beautiful here, but you have to be really hardy to live here.  The only way in or out is by boat or sea plane.  There are 80 miles of roads, but only local.  Upper 50s today with clouds and rain.

As we were coming up this narrow passage this morning at around 6:00, a fishing boat was on its way out.

Sea plane taking off.

New Eddystone Rock

Lots of water falls coming off the steep slopes of Misty Fjord.

Misty Fjord

On the streets of Ketchikan.

This was waiting for us in our room when we got back.  How cute!

Alaska Cruise; Norwegian Jewel:  Left Seattle yesterday right on time.  Calm seas and partly sunny skies.  Ended up going to Azura for dinner.  I had salmon and Mike had pork medallions.  They had a steak and lobster special which looked really good.  Wished I’d gotten that. Just wasn’t that hungry. After dinner we went back to our room and watched all the places we’d just explored on the Olympic peninsula slip by on our port side.  The ship slowed considerably when we got to Port Angeles in order to let the Pilot off.  Were hoping we’d see Cape Flattery when we sailed by.  But it was too dark and foggy.  So we headed off to the casino and in search of dessert.  Today you could really tell you’re on a ship.  Moving side-to-side all day.  The sliding door on our deck won’t stay open.  Had breakfast at Cagney’s Steak House again this morning.  Then took a turn around the deck.  The water in the pools was sloshing around quite a bit.  Looked like fun.  Partly cloudy early and now mostly cloudy.  Even so, it’s really comfortable on our deck.  No jacket required. Speaking of our deck, a little bird flew in this afternoon and hung around for a while. Must be getting near land. Tonight we’re going to a cocktail party hosted by the Captain. Should be fun.  Alcohol consumption—up; food consumption—down; weight—stable.

Looking down from our deck.

Holland America cruise liner went by us, leaving us in her wake.

Seattle in our rear view mirror.

Enjoying the champagne.

North to Alaska!

Pilot boat just picked up the pilot--Port Angeles and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Olympic mountains with the fog rolling in.

Alaska on Norwegian Jewel Cruise Ship:  Our taxi deposited us at Pier 66 at around 11:30.  Because we have VIP status (how special is that?), we were whisked through check-in and security and escorted to the VIP lounge.  There we checked in with our Butler and got our key card which is our room key and also our credit card while aboard ship.  We were then escorted to our room and then to one of the restaurants where we get complimentary breakfast and lunch every day—if we want.  We had lunch and then we explored around a little.  Back to our room and opened our complimentary champagne and sat on our balcony enjoying the Seattle skyline and this beautiful day.  Our room is quite spacious with every amenity and we have a large deck aft of the ship, so we get a rather panoramic view.  Think we’ll go to LeBistro tonight for dinner.  We have a life boat drill at 3:15 and I’m already buzzed.  That should go well. Didn’t see much evidence of “Hempfest”, although we did see people dealing weed on the street while in our taxi stuck in traffic.  Gotta love it!  We debark at 4;00.

View from our deck.

One of the pools.

Sailing away in Elliot Bay.

Our room.

Our room.

Bon Voyage!