I Went to the Yukon! (part one)

I took a cruise back in May to Alaska, sailing round trip from San Francisco because I love being at sea. I hope to post pictures from each stop, but they won't be in order. The Yukon is first because it was the most thrilling for me.

The Yukon! Growing up we studied the gold rush of the late 1800's in school, I read a lot of Jack London. It seemed so far away, so rugged and dangerous - somewhere in the world I'd never see. BUT. I went there! Not on foot during the winter like the miners did. I traveled in luxury, I admit. But I'm not physically rugged enough to see it any other way.

It was an excursion out of Skagway, AK. Here's the view from my cabin window when we arrived.

The 'obstruction' is one of the life boats. The first time I sailed to Alaska I had an interior cabin. Never again! Even though they're cheaper, I had to set my alarm every morning because there was no daylight. Having to set an alarm on vacation just to catch breakfast is not how I like to travel. 

On the dock, waiting for the bus. 

A view of Skagway from the bus. According to Dallan, our bus driver, Radio Shack is the place to shop. They have frozen pizzas, coffee, and recently added an ATM - the second one in town. 

New Camera

I bought my daughter a Nikon CoolPix camera when she was in high school. When she got a job after college and bought herself a camera, she gave me the CoolPix. It took great pictures (see my blog posts from Alaska - I've included the tag - all those pix were taken with that little camera), but technology has advanced since then. My phone takes sharper pictures!

So - I picked up a NEW CoolPix (the S9500) and took it for a trial run today at the local botanic garden.

We're into serious fall here in the midwest. It was partly cloudy today, more clouds than sun. Also quite windy. The camera is almost completely automatic, so I was pleased to see there's great depth of field in this picture. 

Close-up came out far better than I expected!  Didn't notice the lighting effect when I snapped it. And it's focused in spite of the wind. 

Yep. Fall in the midwest. 

One outing and I'm liking the camera. The main issue will be teaching myself not to rest a finger of my left hand on the top where the flash pops up!  I'm practicing ...

Oh, and that NaNo thing I'm doing? The writer portion of my brain seems to be filled with flutter and fluff. No focus. No follow through.  I've written some thumbnails and one scene spread; no stories completed yet. I will keep flinging words at the page until a story happens.  And then another one ... and so on until the end of the month. 

Alaska Cruise, Part Six - Tracy Arm and back to San Francisco

We headed south.  Around 6 AM the morning after leaving Skagway we arrived at the entrance to Tracy Arm.  (Earlier in the season they go to Glacier Bay, but by September it has too much ice in the water.)  I bundled up (heavy sweatshirt, one of my winter scarves, rain jacket and gloves) and spent about four hours on deck.

It was around 50°F (10°C) and breezy.  I didn’t feel cold, but the ship was prepared for those who did.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part Five - Skagway

Our final port in Alaska was Skagway, a gold rush town and jumping-off point for the Yukon.  We tied up at the Mining Pier and were met by busses to take us to the various excursions.  It was a beautiful sunny day, but chilly.

The predicted high was 54°F (12°C).  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part Four - Juneau

On day six we reached Juneau, the state capital.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part Three - Ketchikan

On Day 5 we arrived at our first Alaskan port, Ketchikan.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part Two - Victoria

Our first port was Victoria, the capital of British Columbia.  Labor Day is a Canadian holiday as well as American, and they were having a wooden boat festival.   We arrived just as they were starting the boat parade.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part One

I returned from my vacation Monday evening - a ten day cruise to Alaska.  This trip had a number of firsts for me:  first commercial cruise, first time in San Francisco, Vancouver, and Alaska.  I enjoyed it tremendously.  Took hundreds of photos.  Not all of them are worth sharing, of course, and you’d be bored bored bored, so I’ve selected a few to post here. 

I sailed on the Sea Princess out of San Francisco.