all the wrong turns with

theLoopers Escape to Alaska...

or, While you were roasting, we spent eight days on the Pacific Princess cruising the Inner Passage (temp 65°-75°) from Anchorage to Vancouver with 677 other fine folks!

July 11, 2007

The first night onboard this ship provided the best nights sleep we've had in months, maybe years? Our cabin had a nice bed, and the gentle rocking of the ship made it even better! I woke up at 5:59a.m. (according to the time stamp on my camera) to use the restroom, and before going back to bed, decided to crack the curtains to see what was outside. Man, am I glad I did! The sun was just coming up, and we were slowly moving into College Fjord. As you can see, the water was like glass! I spent the next three hours snapping these photos from all over the ship. Amazing!

  theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska    

At 9:00 a.m., there was the mandatory emergency muster. This is where everyone on the ship (except for Wheezie Mae) had to get out of bed, get dressed, grab a life jacket and head on down to our designated muster station to learn what to do in case of emergency.

Ours muster station was in the main dining room. Here's Jill, Timm and I "mustering."

 theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

July 12, 2007

We spent the entire day at sea, headed for Glacier bay, so we spent time checking out all the bars on the ship. (There were 5... it's a small ship)

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
Cruising makes a guy tired, so I took a nap and watched the world go by....

At 11:30 p.m. (according to my camera), I noticed someone at the bar that looked familiar. Keep in mind, I ALWAYS see someone that I think looks familiar. I always go up to these "familiar people" and ask them IF they are "so-and-so", usually getting a strange glare as they walk (or run) away, and embarrassing the hell out of Wheezie. Well, this time it was no different. I walked up to this woman and said pardon me, do I know you?" Instead of grabbing her wallet and running, she yelled my name and gave me a big hug!

Turns out I was (finally) right! It was our friends from the 2004 Balloon Fiesta, our friends and camping neighbors Claudia and Al!
[ See, it's a small world! ]

Seeing our friends Claudia and Al again, and meeting their friends Dennis and Karen -->

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

July 13, 2007

We headed into Glacier Bay late in the morning. Before getting inside, each ship/boat must have a U.S. Forest Service Park Ranger onboard as pilot. Below is the ranger getting onboard our ship.

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

The ship gets within 1/2 mile of the glaciers. Being surrounded by ice makes the air pretty cold.
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

«- View from our cabin.

After leaving Glacier Bay, we headed for Skagway in open water, so we hung out in the casino bar with the usual cast of characters - Claude and Linda from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Linda from Phoenix, Claudia and Al, Karen and Dennis...
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

Along the way, I'd poke my nose outside to check out the scenery... it was always awesome!

 theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

July 14, 2007

Skagway, Alaska

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

After checking out Moe's and the Bonanza in Skagway, it was back to the ship, headed for Juneau... and a 50's party in the Cabaret Bar that night.
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska « Hey Elvis? theLoopers Escape to Alaska

July 15, 2007

Pulling into port in Juneau, Alaska

theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

<-- Claude & Linda

Formal dinner night (below)

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

We had a good time hanging out with a few locals at the Rendezvous and Doc Waters, and Wheezie was offered a job ("camp female" for 13 drillers).

 theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

After dinner, it was more antics in the Cabaret Bar... a champagne waterfall, 700+ glasses stacked in a pyrimid, then everyone got a chance to pour a bottle of champagne. After a few cases, it was free champagne all night! Of course, we opted out on the free champagne, electing to increase our bar tab instead...

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

July 16, 2007

Ketchikan, Alaska. We couldn't dock our ship, so the crew lowered a few tenders to carry us to shore. Each tender holds 120 passengers. Claude and I thought it was interesting watching the process...

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

Once onshore, we headed directly to the Arctic Bar where we ran into some fun folks! Wheezie was offered yet another job - "woman" - and even got a phone call saying "jump off that damn ship!" Fun!!!

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska

The Coast Guard must have heard that we had too much fun, and escorted us out of town!
FYI: It'll take more than a 50 cal. to keep us from going back! ;)

July 17, 2007

We were invited to visit the bridge of the ship (after submitting a written request a few days prior). They showed us everything, and explained anything. They have some VERY cool navigational equipment!!
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska

After the tour, we had to pack our things so the steward could get them ready to offload the next day. The rest of the day was spent watching the world go by, and having fun with all of our new friends...

  theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
Mary & Isoph      
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
Claude (Elvira) Mary, me & Isoph Claude & me Linda & me
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
Millie & Sam Mary Arnold & Johan Wheezie & Johan
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
Wheezie & Michael Michael & Arnold Millie, Wheezie & Sam ...aaah!

July 18, 2007

Vancouver, BC.

Off the ship, get luggage, go through customs, go to the airport, go through customs again, go through security, wait 3 hours for our flight, one plane to Seattle, another from Seattle to Reno, a shuttle ride to the Reno Hilton (where we parked our truck) along with our baggage, and a 45 minute drive home.

theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska
theLoopers Escape to Alaska theLoopers Escape to Alaska