July 13, 2015 - Alaskan Cruise - Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier, Whales
Crusing along Alaska's inland waterway.  Notice how low the overcast is.  Not good flying weather!
   
Yay cruise!
   
Lynnette and Jenny
   
Approaching Juneau.
   

Our first stop:  Juneau, state capital of Alaska!  Located on the Gastineau Channel and the Alaskan panhandle, it's a little town at the edge of mountains that come almost to the water.  I couldn't get over how small Juneau was, both physically and populationw-wise:  only 31,000 people live here.  (But a million come each year via cruise ships --roughly 6,000 people daily from visiting cruise ships between the months of May and September.)  You can't even drive here -- no roads.  You have to come by sea or air -- they do have an airport.  In fact, Juneau by area is larger by area than both Rhode Island and Delaware.

This picture is taken as we approach the docks.
   
As a pilot, I immediately noticed the clouds that were lower than the surrounding mountains!
   
Pretty, but I don't know if I would want to be flying in this weather.
   
Looking south back down the Gastineau Channel.  Named after Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets?   Actually, it was probably named after was probably named for John Gastineau, an English civil engineer and surveyor.
   
Looking astern at the Crown Princess.  This cruise boat was considerably smaller than the last one we were on:  the huge Royal Carribean Oasis of the Seas.
   
 
   
 
   
Getting close to the dock.
   
We disembarked the ship, and took buses to another dock, where we boarded a smaller tour boat for whale watching.  Cathy likes the name of the boat:  Saint Aquilina.
   
Let's go see some whales!
   
Another tour boat, similar to ours.
   
Bald Eagle in flight!
   
Seals or sea lions resting on a buoy.
   
Jack and Lynnette enjoying the three-hour cruise.
   
Where are the whales?
   
Anxiously awaiting the first whale sighting.
   
Thar she blows!
   
Oh yeah, that's a whale.
   
Wait! There's two of them!
   
 Awesome!
   
 
   
 
   
We boarded the bus again and headed over to Mendenhall Glacier.  As you can see, it was pouring rain.
   
 Lynnette and Stan trying to stay dry.
   
It was raining so hard we couldn't even see the glacier.
   
Scotty sees it!  I think he's lying.
   
We went into the Visitors Center.  When we came out, the rain had stopped, and there it was, the glacier!
   
Team photo.
   
I was intereste in the Sitka Spruce because it is a great wood for making airplanes out of.
   
 
The bus dropped us off in town, and of course, we headed directly for the famous Red Dog Saloon.
   
Shots for All!
   
A six-point oversees the dirnking.
   
The Red Dog Saloon from the deer's point of view.
   
Walking back to the ship.
   
Even though it is not the Oasis of the Seas, the Crown Princess is still pretty big.
   
 
   
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