We left the ship really early. Our flight was at 12:04 so we went straight to the airport. We did however have a last breakfast at the buffet and my last 800 calorie caramel latte. Boohoo…
As we were leaving the port, I saw this ginormous fishing boat. I looked it up, of course, and it is a commercial fishing boat that processes the fish after being caught. From start to finish right there on the boat. I thought it was cool.
Tall people problems. I’m saving for first class seats next time. Those poor knees. However…this was me hanging over the seat arm because my neighbor decided to fall asleep and lean ALL THE WAY OVER on to me numerous times. It was a long flight and I tried to be kind and understand but COME ON!
It was a long day but we arrived home around 1:30am
I can’t begin to thank our friends for inviting us to share this amazing trip. It was more than I could have ever imagined.
I can’t believe it’s our last day. It’s been so fun and what a privilege to be able to do such a fantastic trip. While it’s been great, I miss home too. It’s so good to go, but love to come home too.
Most of the day was spent at sea.
We attended a line dance class (we=me and Wendy) , made a paracord bracelet and painted a watercolor (it was really not in my skill-set) but still fun to try.
Steve and I went to top deck and watched a Jurassic park movie while I was wrapped in blankets.
Took a walk…..loved this view
And our final entertainment was “A Hot Summer Nights Dream .”
The entertainment was really good and we loved our drink server in the Theater. I’m always amazed when someone can remember details like room numbers and drink orders when he serves 100’s of people a day. Go Mark Anthony!!!
We disembarked around 6:30pm in Victoria, British Columbia. What a beautiful town.
Welcome to Canada! We had to ride a double decker bus from the port into town. I hang with a bunch of tall people. I don’t know what the problem was, I had plenty of room. BC Parliament Buildings Yum The cutest bagpiper Great shot, Ken Had to send this to my girl.
We ended the evening with a snack, some cards and an earlier night.
Our driver today was Liv and she was by far our favorite. She was from Utah and had just completed her first year of her Masters Degree in Nutrition. She was an excellent tour guide and a lot of fun to talk to. The best smile ever.
Our first stop was the Goldrush Sled Dogs. This place was no joke. The owner had run the Iditarod 6 times. They showed us all the gear that they needed and were required to carry. Who knew Fritos would light a fire and actually stay lit?
The Iditarod map. This was one of the owners. her husband was the Iditarod participant This was an actual dog sled used in the Iditarod The dogs were loud and very excited to get out and greet us The puppies!!! Oh my gosh; the puppies
Liv waited for us and when we were done with the sled dogs, we were off on an hour long journey up the mountain to the White Pass Summit.
Liv stopped more than halfway to the White Pass Summit and let us get out . It was very very cold but so beautiful. Assume the photo position! We had such a good time
We got to the top of the White pass Summit and got on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad at the 2,865-foot summit.
We were instructed to always have three points while we were up walking.
A short story…….while we were on the train, I got up to use the restroom. It was not a great restroom and it was imperative to use it and get out quickly. While in the restroom, the train went through a tunnel and while everyone on the train heard that it was going to be pitch black, the restroom did not have a speaker so while using this disgusting restroom, I also got to experience complete darkness while in the gross and disgusting restroom. My travel mates were amused.
The train ride ended in Skagway and we decided to walk around town and grab some lunch.
The totems were very cool
Back at the ship we had dinner and the show in the theater that night was “feel the funk@ and afterwards we hit the martini bar.
Day 4 started so early!!! The ship was going to be traveling the Endicott Arm and viewing the Dawes Glacier beginning at 5:30 AM and it was promised to be spectacular so we got up and viewed out our balcony at the beginning. Look at the view!!! The blue ice is coming off the glacier.
This the Dawes Glacier. The ship did a full 360+ circle at the glacier so that you could view it from every angle of the ship. We were standing on the top deck to get the best view.
Breakfast and a caramel latte was on the schedule and then we attended the ships Memorial Day Service.
We docked in the early afternoon and got on our bus to Juneau. I know this is the capital but it was NOT at all impressive. Mostly jewelry stores and bars as we drove through to the Tonga’s National Forest to see the 1.5 mile wide Mendenhall Glacier.
Every time we took a picture, it was announced “assume the position.”
We left the glacier and rode to the Gold Creek Salmon Bake. We ate dinner in a heated, covered pavilion in the Alaskan rainforest. We ate unlimited alder wood-grilled wild Alaskan salmon, barbecue ribs, clam chowder, baked beans, scalloped potatoes and cake. Again, it was ridiculous and the property was beautiful with its waterfall and abandoned mine.
I try and pick up a Little Rock on each of our stops.
The evening ended with a Magician/comedian show in the theater.
Day 3 started bright and early. We had breakfast and of course….a caramel latte before meeting for our excursion into Ketchikan.
It was chilly
Most excursions begin with a bus ride. It’s fun to chat with your bus driver because he/she is usually a college student working in Alaska to save money for their next year of college. Our bus driver today was from Utah. She looked about 12 years old but she said she had been coming to Alaska for a couple of years to work in the summer.
She drove us to our first stop which was to drive 4 x 4 UTV’s along the logging roads of the Tongass National Forest and stopping at the Mahoney Glacial Cirque.
So many layers Our cutie friends Steve drove first and I drive backIt was very bumpppppppyOur guides Finn and Abby. Yes I find out about people. Finn is a seasonal worker and this was his first summer in Alaska. He is a ski instructor in Colorado during the winter. Abby has been with this company for three years and has recently moved to Ketchikan and is planning on being a local. She said her first winter was BRUTAL!
We then boarded a covered catamaran for a 7 mile ride along the coast.
This is where we saw our first bald eagle. I absolutely screamed and got a few looks from the other passengers.
Our excursion ended at the historic 200 year old George Inlet Lodge for steamed Dungeness crab, crab chowder, smoked salmon dip, and Alaskan blueberry-topped cheesecake. It was ridiculous.
Back at the ship, the afternoon rounded out with Class Rock Trivia (Steve’s specialty), dinner, a comedian in the theater and a late night Queen sing a long.
After a really long travel day we slept great! . Holy cow 7:30pm until 5:00am.
We had breakfast at the hotel and then took a nice walk around downtown before leaving for the Port at 11.
OOTD by Carolyn Grantz There will always be a plant picture We stopped for a minute at the famous space needle
Our boarding time was 11:30. We wanted as much time on this beautiful ship as we could get.
Next door neighbors in real life and on the ship
We dropped our stuff at our rooms and went for a tour of the ship.
There are food options EVERYWHERE, any drink imaginable and fun at every turn.
We started with lunch at the buffet. Not just any buffet but buffet overload. I should have brought more stretchy pants!
We really like to play cards so we began a “cruise long” card game. We will see who wins.
Wendy and I won a prize at the Art Scavenger Hunt and then we met up for a slice of pizza and another coffee. Always another coffee!
We had a fun evening planned with a show, which was really fun and where I sang very loud, dinner at the Normandie (the French restaurant on board) and then on to the Silent disco. Headphones with 3 types of music and everyone listened to their favorite and did we ever dance the night away.
Went to bed around 1.
Tomorrow we are at sea all day. You have a big day on Saturday and I’ve been chatting with Kate. Thankful she can stand in place today.
Remember last night around 7:30pm when I hugged you goodbye? You asked “are you going to try dnd get some sleep before your very very early departure to the airport?
I assumed I would toss and turn watching the clock waiting for the 2:30 am alarm go off and scare me when it was expected.
I actually slept!!! The first miracle.
Every-time when we schedule an early flight it seems like a great idea and then when the alarm gets set for 2:30am I rethink the original plan .
My eyes popped open at 2:00 so I retreated to the living room for a hot and glorious caffeinated cup of coffee, I prayed for our trip and felt thankful for the opportunity to go. Our friends asked us to join them almost 10months ago so it’s been a long time to wait.
Traffic was not an issue and the turnpike is often trouble.
We checked bags, strolled through TSA security and settled in to wait for our flight.
Gifted with a beautiful sunrise
Boarded……
Settled in with ear buds, movie selections and a book for a long flight across the the county to San Diego. Before even taking off, our next flight has already been cancelled and moved and we instantly went from lunch in San Diego to a very short wait for our flight to Seattle. The first flight was uneventful minus when a gentleman almost fell into my lap because he shouldn’t have been up walking around during a bad patch of turbulence.
No time for lunch so it was a banana on the go, a packed chomps beef stick and a protein bar.
While our first flight was 5 1/2 hours, the second flight was 3 hours and we arrived in Seattle around 2:30pm. we grabbed an uber to take us into the city to our hotel.
Don’t lay down. We were all getting sleepy!
So we take off and walk to the historic Pike Place Market but before we leave, it’s National Root beer Day and the hotel was giving out root beer floats. Did we want one? Yes of course!
The walk to Pike Place Market was short but Seattle is full of steep roads and I believe I might be out of shape .
We found the infamous GREAT GUM WALL OF SEATTLE! Was it gross? Well yes it was. But we still participated!!
Meat sticks and bananas were definitely wearing off so we found a place for dinner.
Well it’s 6:22PM in Seattle which means it’s 9:22 at home. It’s early but we are going to bed.
I’ll write more tomorrow. I hope everyone at home is happy and healthy.
At one time this blog was really important to me and every once in a while I’ll come back and read some of my past years of life. I’m not sure why I stopped writing in it, I really love to think about things to say and then put it into words.
This year (2026) I’ve been trying hard to be selective about my time, who I spend it with and how I use it.
Just writing that sounds so selfish.
My time? Why is my time so important and why would anyone care how I spend it?
I’m 61 years old and every time I say it, I think to myself “how in the world did you get to 61.” I remember being a kid and a teenager (I was not a very nice teenager) and spending summers on the road with my parents. I remember getting married and now Steve and I celebrated our 41st anniversary this year. My kids are grown ups with families of their own. I’m a grandmother for goodness sake.
I have a stellar family unit.
I have great friends.
I have a lovely church family and I am busy with many activities that give me joy.
I’m not saying 61 is old……it’s not, but it’s also not 30 or 40 or even 50.
Steve is getting ready to slow down finally. While he still works, he no longer will be traveling, he will no longer be meeting with customers and won’t be away from home for days at a time. It’s time and we are ready.
We are going on a great vacation starting tomorrow. We have talked about it for months and it’s finally here.
So much to prepare. So much to pack. Steve has made fun of my packing strategy. Lots of piles and labels on piles………
I made check lists for the boys to take care of a few things while we are gone.
Jack and Luke are taking care of the chickens and Mom and Patrick are going to water my plants.
I sat across from Mom this afternoon discussing all the things and she said “just go until you can’t go anymore.”
That’s where this big post all started.
We can still go.
We have the finances to go
We have the support to take care of everything at home so we can go.
So I’m going to blog our trip for Mom.
I want her to feel as close as she can to having the experience without actually being there and I’m going to write it out with pictures galore so that I can look back in later years and relive it again.
The Downtown Farmhouse 