The Trip Ends.
We disembarked from the Cruise Ship at 8.30am on Saturday 7th Sep and were driven to Vancouver Airport to commence our trip home. We Flew from Vancouver to Dallas to connect with a Qantas plane to Brisbane and then another Qantas plane to Darwin. We arrived home Monday at 1pm a total 33 hours travel and lost Sunday altogether after we crossed the international date line. A fantastic trip all up but now unfortunately its back to the real world of having to work again for a living.

Day 37 to Day 43

Well we boarded the Ship on Saturday the 31^st Aug at about lunchtime and then left Vancouver at 5pm.

We started the trip with a welcome drink on the rear deck with some Margueritas. Linda has found it a bit challenging finding her way around the ship, kept getting lost, but has just about got it mastered just as we are 24 hours from disembarking.

We had 2 days of sailing in relative calm seas before we reached our first port, Juneau. Upon arriving I tried to confirm our Sled Dog ride excursion only to be told that due to the above average hot summer Alaska has had the dog camp on the glacier had to be dismantled early and we would get a full refund. So we spent the day shopping and Linda purchased herself a very nice ring.

We then proceeded to Skagway where we did a tour of the surrounding area.  This was very interesting and our tour driver was very informative and had a very dry sense of humour, which made the trip a bit of fun.

It was then onto Glacier Bay. This is the bay you always see with the Glacier that is slowly breaking off directly into the ocean. All very interesting but it was very overcast and foggy so wasn’t able to get very good pictures.

Yesterday we arrived in Ketchikan and did a tour to see bears in the wild. We took a floatplane to a remote cove then drove and walked to a secluded creek where there was a viewing platform/blind setup. Here the Salmon were trying to swim upstream to spawn. We were lucky enough to observe about 4 bears in and around the stream. There were 2 in particular we saw actually catching and eating the Salmon. We were only approx. 20mtrs away from all the action. It was truly a memorable experience.

We left Ketchikan yesterday (Thursday) at 6pm and arrive Vancouver Saturday at 7am. So the trip is all but over as we leave Vancouver Saturday Afternoon and arrive Darwin Monday lunchtime.

As we have very limited Internet I will upload some photo’s when we return home.

Iceberg next to the ship in Glacier Bay

Black Bear Ketchikan Alaska

Ketchikan from the Ship

Balck Bear trailing two Tape Worms from his backside

Proving we were there

Again proving we were there

Where Glacier meets the sea in Glacier Bay

Day 36 & 37
Arrived in Vancouver yesterday and had a very interesting tour around the city. Last night had our farewell dinner with all the tour participants as not everyone is doing the cruise section of the tour. It was a great night and some great friendships have been made over the last couple of weeks. Today we got to sleep in as we don't board the ship till 11:30am. Not sure how we will go with internet on board the boat so this may be the last post I am able to do till we get home. Will have to see.

Arriving at Ferry Terminal

Totem Poles Stanley Park Vanvouver

Vancouver City Skyline from Stanley Park

Tour Group Photo taken in Jasper