Fire and Ice : A photo travelogue from Alaska thru the canal to the Caribbean and beyond

[scubacruiserx2]

The weather was quite nice so we decided to head up top to the Retreat

 

 

The top was partly open

 

 

Our Retreat cabin was to the upper right

 

 

 

Facing aft you can see the Tamarind Bar behind the shaded window

 

 

Our Retreat space

 

 

[Sea42]

Are both the corner Retreat Cabanas the family size?

[scubacruiserx2]

3 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Are both the corner Retreat Cabanas the family size?

 

Yes they are .

[scubacruiserx2]

As it was a sea day the Pinnacle was open for lunch . Tomato Broth with spicy Lemongrass Chicken .

 

 

Crab Cakes spiral shaved cucumber, sweet chili-mustard sauce

 

 

ALASKAN BLACK COD FILLET SANDWICH * sour dough bread, cilantro relish, Asian slaw

 

 

The price was $ 15 extra pp.

[scubacruiserx2]

Dinner was at the Canaletto

 

 

 

 

 

The clocks went back a hour

 

 

We're suppose to be in Juneau at 1 PM tomorrow

Edited November 20, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

We knew because of the time change that we would be extra hungry so we ordered an early room service .

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The weather had been nice and clear.

 

 

But the fog began to roll-in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Westerdam was right behind us.

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Our new neighbor out back

 

 

On our last visit here we landed on a couple of glaciers . On this trip the helicopters were full so we decided to do a walk and a food tour . The first stop was in this blue store for some fresh made Pelmeni .

 

 

They took a while to make as they were made to order - but well worth it . We carried them across the street to sit here while we ate them and the fresh Rye bread .

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

Tracie's downtown looked pretty full so we went to the more distant one .

 

 

We also checked out to see if other flights were available . They had whale watching available but said that not many whales we still around . we knew a place where we could see one breeching up close .

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Thar she blows !

 

[scubacruiserx2]

On the way to visit Tahku I looked in the overhead door's window to see what kind of apparatus that the Capital City Fire Department had .

 

 

Sam an Engineer came out and offer to give us a quick tour

 

 

 

This is probably the unit that Sam operates

 

 

I spent most of my time on on of the smaller units and we we can switch to the others if the need arises . In Miami-Dade County about 85 % of the calls are for the small trucks .

 

 

They have a nice station and equipment presumably from cruise revenue . They also respect their history and had a nice restoration in progress .

 

 

Edited November 22, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

The next stop was Tahku the humpback Whale fountain

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

There's a nice walk along the water toward Tracy's II

 

 

I like taking photos of kids because they are so real , spontaneous and natural and not so self obsessed . But I check with the parents first .

 

 

 

While it's a nice place to visit I wouldn't want to sleep here . Sam said that Alcoholism is rampant here and that they have a safe place where they can sleep . 

 

 

Unfortunately Tracy's II was closed because of Covid

 

 

So no legs here without a long line and high prices for frozen legs .

 

 

I think that we will stick to the fresh Centolla in Ushuaia at Kaupe

 

https://solsalute.com/blog/centolla-in-ushuaia/

 

Edited November 22, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

 Plan B was to head to the top of the Mt. Roberts for the view and a snack

 

 

 

Halibut Sliders and clam chowder

 

 

 

 

This young lady saw me taking a photo of Pat and asked me if I would take one of her and Dad said OK .

 

 

 

Goat was not on the menu

 

 

 

There was an entertainer on the way down that taught us this song . He said that it was the last trip down of the season . When listening to the song I like the CC setting to read the words .

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

On Wednesday September 28th we stopped at Skagway at 0700 - 2030 and we booked a guide named Thomas from Tours by Locals for a day photography tour to the Yukon .

 We stopped by the Artic Brotherhood and the Red Onion for a photo

 

 

And stopped at a small waterfall

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We made a quick stop at Thomas house for bear spray before heading out on our trip which turned out to be a trip to Carcross , YT via the Klondike Hwy . It was about an hour and a half distance drive with me in the front and Pat seated in the rear . Thomas seemed to ignore my questions if he didn't like them and didn't hesitate to over talk us at his convince and rapidly change subjects if he didn't agree with us . One of the first things he asked was how I liked my neighbor . We had mentioned that we live in the woods West of Palm Beach and so I explained that we didn't like them removing many of our trees and destroying our fence . We left our 2 and a half acres pretty much wooded for the fresh air , shade , privacy and as a wind block against hurricanes . This worked well for 25 years until our builder/developer neighbor clear cut 90% of his land . Additionally , he elevated his land by a couple of feet so that his land drains on to our land . 

  That was not the answer that he wanted and so he pressed on with " I mean at Mar-a- Logo " . After I gave an apolitical response he corrected me by saying that we don't talk about politics or sports teams . He then began pointing out objects of interest by shoving his index finger and fist a couple of inches from my face about every 5 minutes and blocking my forward view . After about 20 minutes I requested  a photo stop at one of his points of interest and decided to join my wife in the back seat . The pointing stopped but he began to park the car within a foot from the ledge of the cliff on my side while opening Pat's door . I choose just to slide over  to the safe side at the all future stops .

Edited November 23, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[Sea42]

42 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

We made a quick stop at Thomas house for bear spray before heading out on our trip which turned out to be a trip to Carcross , YT via the Klondike Hwy . It was about an hour and a half distance drive with me in the front and Pat seated in the rear . Thomas seemed to ignore my questions if he didn't like them and didn't hesitate to over talk us at his convince and rapidly change subjects if he didn't agree with us . One of the first things he asked was how I liked my neighbor . We had mentioned that we live in the woods West of Palm Beach and so I explained that we didn't like them removing many of our trees and destroying our fence . We left our 2 and a half acres pretty much wooded for the fresh air , shade , privacy and as a wind block against hurricanes . This worked well for 25 years until our builder/developer neighbor clear cut 90% of his land . Additionally , he elevated his land by a couple of feet so that his land drains on to our land . 

  That was not the answer that he wanted and so he pressed on with " I mean at Mar-a- Logo " . After I gave an apolitical response he corrected me by saying that we don't talk about politics or sports teams . He then began pointing out objects of interest by shoving his index finger and fist a couple of inches from my face about every 5 minutes and blocking my forward view . After about 20 minutes I requested  a photo stop at one of his points of interest and decided to join my wife in the back seat . The pointing stopped but he began to park the car within a foot from the ledge of the cliff on my side while opening Pat's door . I choose just to slide over  to the safe side at the all future stops .

Wow! That sounds like an awful way to spend the day!

[oakridger]

Hi guys!  How lucky are you to have had the entertainer on your Tram ride in Juneau?!!  Such a cool chant and I'm going to watch/listen to it again!  

 

~Nancy

 

P.S.- I'm home now!

[scubacruiserx2]

55 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

Wow! That sounds like an awful way to spend the day!

 

The weather and scenery was nice and I've learned to deal with all kinds of people and circumstances in my job but I don't care to pay my good money for rudeness . It was reflected in his tip . 

[scubacruiserx2]

51 minutes ago, oakridger said:

Hi guys!  How lucky are you to have had the entertainer on your Tram ride in Juneau?!!  Such a cool chant and I'm going to watch/listen to it again!  

 

~Nancy

 

P.S.- I'm home now!

 

He was a very pleasant surprise to end a nice day . Where were you ? We booked our next trip on the Nieuw Statendam for the middle of January and hope to SCUBA dive Grand Turk .

[Diver2014]

The scuba diving in Grand Turk is awesome.  My dive club spent a week there a few years ago. We got to swim with a pod of wild dolphins, taking photos and enjoying their company for over an hour.  A once in a lifetime event.

[scubacruiserx2]

2 hours ago, Diver2014 said:

The scuba diving in Grand Turk is awesome.  My dive club spent a week there a few years ago. We got to swim with a pod of wild dolphins, taking photos and enjoying their company for over an hour.  A once in a lifetime event.

 

Love it and thanks for sharing the great photo !  I see that you live in Miami . I was born in Jackson Memorial - a long time ago . My last duty station on the Fire Department was at Fisher Island . We loved doing dive drills there with the Port of Miami Fire Station and we got paid extra for it . 👌

[scubacruiserx2]

This was our first time in Skagway so we may need some help with the places that we saw . The sun had peaked over the mountains and the light was great for photos .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

We did need to make a border crossing into the Yukon. At the Canadian Border Patrol stop, we handed over our passports and proof of vaccine. Seemed to go well until the BP Agent requested my proof of vaccine and booster. Pat told her she had it and she said no. We proceeded to thoroughly search the van and jackets etc. Pondered going back to the last stop. We went into the office and pulled up the ArriveCAN. It had to be "updated" since it was a land border crossing. No phone service, so we had to log-in to the Border Patrol internet. Updated and showed agent. That was good and the agent picked-up our passports and we could see she also had the proof of vaccine in hand that we had been tearing the car apart for! Uhg. about 45 minutes wasted. Oh well, know how to update the ArriveCAN now.

On our way.

[scubacruiserx2]

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate today  !  🙏 🦃