June 12, 2010: JUST WOW :) Alaska was BEAUTIFUL – best trip ever
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Okay – I have been a lot of places in the world. I have seen some beautiful sights – but I have to say that this Alaska trip was probably the best trip I have ever been on. INCREDIBLE beauty – everywhere. The mountains were amazing – the glaciers were spectacular – the ocean and rivers were perfect – the weather was awesome – Victoria, Canada is incredible – seeing mother enjoy all of it was awesome. We had a great time with Jason and Jess.
Best trip ever! Hands down. I am going back – especially want to go back and explore Victoria. It is going on the list!!!!
Took a lot of photographs – will post them below. Put many of them on my Facebook, as well.
Temperatures were in the 40s at night and 60s during the day. It only sprinkled on us a couple of times. We arrived back home late last night – everyone is worn out. Temperatures are in the 90s here in southern Illinois. I am not a fan of the heat and high dew points.
Mihai is coming to visit from Romania next weekend and then we are heading to Europe for a month. Going to explore Sweden and Germany. Hopefully the weather will be nice! Looking forward to leaving the heat behind us. At least we hope. Temperatures tonight are in the 50s in Sweden. So, that is not too bad.
OK – some photos from the trip
Time to say goodbye to Daisy – she is going to visit her
Cousin Levi for the next week while we are away on the ship
Ready to go!!!
Where are we going????
Someone is falling asleep on the way to Levi’s
Mother ready to board the ship
Joey – heading out from Seattle, Washington – on the Rhapsody of the Seas Ship – Royal Caribbean
Seattle is in the background
Mother and me with Seattle in the background – heading out!
Seattle, Washington – leaving port
Seattle
Joey with Seattle in the background Time to head out to sea!!!
Leaving for Alaska
Mother and me on the Rhapsody of the Sea – ship
They have formal night twice during the cruise. Dress-up
time
Mother and me – dinner on the ship – I am pretty sure we are all done with food for awhile. No
shortage of food on the boat.
Joey on formal night
Getting ready to head to dinner
Mother and me – getting ready to go to dinner on the boat
Out at sea – near Alaska – it was actually chilly out there! Temperatures were in the 40s at night and 60s in
the day. Local people thought it was hot. They should try living in our region for awhile. I don’t think they could
make it!
Some music on the boat – they had music playing a lot.
Joey all dressed up and ready to go to dinner
Joey on the deck of the ship
Don’t blink because you won’t see me dressed up very often
Mother trying the snail
Joey and mother – at sea near Alaska – planning the day out
On the ship Rhapsody of the Sea
Enjoying the view! The Pacific waters were an amazing blue color. Pretty!
Out at sea – watching the waves off the balcony
Some art on the boat
Art
Time for some BINGO on the boat. We did not win. 
We played three different
days.
Joey loving the model ship
My mom found someone to dance with on-board
At sea – heading for Alaska
Enjoying the view from the ship
At sea
Rhapsody of the Sea – Royal Caribbean ship
Mother watching the water go by
Joey had a birthday while we were away at sea – we ordered
this cake and thought it was a real cake. It ended up that it was
a cake made of flowers. Now what are you supposed to do with
a cake made of flowers????
While in Juneau, Alaska we went to see the whales – they were jumping out of the water – we were able
to see their full bodies. Quite amazing!!!
Whales in Juneau, Alaska!!!!
Beautiful creatures.
Joey in Juneau, Alaska
The views were INCREDIBLE – to say the least.
Watching for whales in Juneau, Alaska
The trip of a lifetime – Jason and Jess in Juneau, Alaska
ALASKA!!!!
Jason and Jess Darnall
AMAZING
Joey on the whale watching tour
Mother and me – whale watching tour in Juneau
Jason and Jess
Mother – Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska – beautiful to say the least
This is where we had lunch – during the whale watching
Near where we had lunch – Orka Point Lodge
Orka Point Lodge – lot of Eagles around
Orka Point Lodge – boat out on the water
Where we had lunch – during a break in the whale watching – Orka Point Lodge
Jason – Orka Point Lodge – Juneau, Alaska
Juneau area
Jason out on the whale watch tour
Watching for whales
Juneau area
Whales jumping out of the water
Beautiful Alaska
Glaciers near Juneau – Mendenhall Glacier
Mother and me with glacier in the background – Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier
Whales! Near Juneau, Alaska
Joey with glacier in Juneau area – Mendenhall Glacier
The glacier is melting about 100′ per year. Mendenhall Glacier
Joey broke the glacier – well at least part of it.
Spectacular sights – Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
Whale – rare to see them jumping out of the water like this. It happened three or four times while we were
there. The tour guide on the boat said we should never go whale watching again because we would never
see something like this.
Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier
Roar – be careful there – might bite. Mendenhall Glacier area in Juneau, Alaska
We did not see any live bears
Waving Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
Enjoying Victoria, Canada – Butchart Gardens
Enjoying Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada
Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada
Tea in Butchart Gardens
Jason and Jess Darnall – Tea in Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens – Victoria, Canada
Mother with Jess in the Butchart Gardens
Mother – Buthcart Gardens – Victoria, Canada
Tea in Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens – Victoria, Canada
Mother and Jess
Butchart Gardens – Victoria, Canada
Mother and me- Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens
Jess taking photos of the beautiful flowers
Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens – Canada
Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens
Joey – Jason – Jess – Mother
Joey in Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada
Mother in Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
We went for a train ride in Skagway – the train took us to the top of the mountain – we crossed into British Columbia
by the train – INCREDIBLE views
Waiting to get on the train in Skagway, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
On the train – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Mother on the train – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
View from the train – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride – heading into Canada – British Columbia
Train view – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride – near Skagway, Alaska and British Columbia
Mother enjoying the view on the train!!!!!!!!!! White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Train ride up into the mountains – pure beauty – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Arrived at the top – in British Columbia. Mother – me and Joey
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride – my mom
Skagway, Alaska – getting off the boat
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Once the train stopped – this is where we arrived – British Columbia. Way up on the mountain! Above Skagway
Mother – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Jason and Jess – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Joey Dillon – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Skagway, Alaska – our ship in the background
Mother – White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
That would be me White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Top of the mountain – at least one of the mountains. White Pass Scenic Railway Ride trip. Fraser, B.C.
That would be me in Fraser, British Columbia
Mother in Fraser, B.C. – Canada
BEAUTY – Fraser – British Columbia, Canada
Mother looking out over the lake in Fraser, British Columbia
Fraser, British Columbia
Rhapsody of the Sea – Skagway, Alaska
Beautiful
Skagway, Alaska
I found WALDO in Skagway, Alaska!!!! I have looked forever and a day for Waldo!!!
White Pass Scenic Railway Ride – on the way back down the mountain we stopped here – border of British
Columbia and Alaska
Up on the mountain
Jason and Jess
The train we road from Skagway up into the mountains. White Pass Scenic Railway Ride
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska – can you imagine living here???
Ever wonder how they remove the snow from the train tracks?
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska. The snow removal equipment for the railroad tracks
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
We just had to stop in here – Skagway, Alaska!
Monument in Skagway, Alaska
This is where we had lunch in Skagway
Skagway, Alaska
Which way should we go
Skagway, Alaska
We had some ice cream in Skagway
Fire station in Skagway – nice
Skagway, Alaska
Jason and Jess ready for the train ride
The cars in Skagway are nice
Skagway, Alaska
Glacier near Skagway, Alaska – amazing!!!
Tracy Arm Fjord the Sawyer Glacier
Tracy Arm Fjord the Sawyer Glacier
Tracy Arm Fjord the Sawyer Glacier
Tracy Arm Fjord the Sawyer Glacier
Tracy Arm Fjord the Sawyer Glacier
Mother in the Tracy Arm Fjord with the Sawyer Glacier in the background.
Tracy Arm Fjord and the Sawyer Glacier
Tracy Arm Fjord with the Sawyer Glacier – mother and me
Mother in the Tracy Arm Fjord with the Sawyer Glacier
Tracy Arm Fjord with the Sawyer Glacier
My mom Judy – Tracy Arm Fjord with the Sawyer Glacier in the
background
Tracy Arm Fjord the Sawyer Glacier
My mom and me – glacier in the background!! Tracy Arm Fjord the Sawyer Glacier
Sunset at sea
My mom and me – formal night on the boat
Mother and me
My mom had a great time
Joey and me on the boat – formal night
Formal night on the boat – as formal as I get
Happy birthday Joey – this cake you can actually eat – unlike the
other one
Happy birthday Joey
Joey had a birthday while we were away
On the ship – they had music
ALASKA!!!!