Postcard from Canada and Alaska, June 2009

I arrived at Heathrow check-in at 9.30 on Sunday 31 May to be told that I had been upgraded to first class and so made my way to the first class lounge! I then had a very comfortable flight to Toronto where I was met my cousins Pauline and Dinny, who drove me for an hour or so to Courtice, a suburb of Toronto for the 65th party of my other cousin Heather. It was a good party and I met up with all Heather’s family and friends. At around 7.30pm [12.30pm my time] Pauline, Dinny and I set off for Dinny’s cottage on Kahshe Lake, near Bracebridge. Two and half hours later we arrived and I fell into bed around 4am my time!

After a good night’s sleep, and a good breakfast, the next morning, we set off for Bracebridge itself and went to Dinny’s friend Brian where we spent an hour or so and Brian took us on a excellent tour of the Bracebridge area. After a visit to Dinny’s home in Bracebridge [she is in the process of selling up this home and moving to Calgary], we drove back to Kahshe Lake and had a happy evening together in the cottage. The next day Pauline, Dinny and I picked up Brian from Bracebridge and went on a tour around Huntsville and Deerhurst. We stopped for a wonderful lunch at The Cottage on the river at Huntsville, and then returned to the cottage via Bracebridge. On our last evening at the cottage we had a delicious dinner, played with our photos and laptops, and watched a DVD.

On Wednesday morning, Pauline and I bade farewell to Dinny and set off for Pauline’s home in Wainfleet on the other side of Lake Ontario. We stopped at Hamilton for a short time to call on Marjorie, Pauline’s elder daughter, and then drove on to Pauline’s apartment, where we had a rather late pizza lunch! About an hour or so later Pauline’s son and daughter-in-law [Tony and Daystar] came over with two of their children and had some supper with us, and a little later that evening Pauline and I went over to see her daughter and son-in-law [Betty and Andy] for a drink with them. The next day Pauline and I drove up to Guelph where I took my 90 year old aunt, Nan, and Pauline out for lunch at The Boathouse, a nice restaurant on the River Speed. Pauline then drove us back to Wainfleet and we took in a visit to Lake Erie en route

On Friday morning Pauline and I left home early, had a coffee with daughter Betty, and then headed for Niagara-on-the-Lake to meet with Tony and Daystar. First stop was a visit to the Chateau de Charmes winery where we had an excellent tour and wine-tasting. Then we went on to their local golf club restaurant “19th Hole” for lunch on Lake Ontario in glorious sunshine. After lunch Pauline, Tony and I [plus one of Pauline’s grandchildren] went to Niagara Falls where we had a wonderful afternoon. We took ride on the Maid of the Mist which takes you right up under the Falls – quite an experience! Early on Saturday 13 June, Pauline drove me to Toronto airport and I took off around midday for Vancouver.

By 4pm I had checked into my luxurious room at the Shangri La Hotel in Vancouver, and I spent a few hours enjoying the luxuries! Sunday morning was cloudy but warm so I set off for Stanley Park and walked all the way around for three and a half hours. By 2pm the sun had come out so returned to the hotel and to their pool to soak up the sunshine f or a few hours. On Monday morning my friends Anne and Martin picked me up and we drove over to West Vancouver for a tour of the Olympic sites and en route we saw my first black bear! They then took me to the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club for a delicious lunch on the waterfront, after which I returned to my hotel for a short time by the pool, but the sun was not that warm!

The next day, Tuesday 9 June, I walked around Vancouver for a short time, and then met up with my friend Anne and we went to Granville Island – we walked around the market there, bought ourselves some lunch which we ate in the sunshine and then drove back to pick up Martin from his doctor’s appointment. From there we drove out to their home in Port Moody and had a lovely dinner party, enjoying drinks on their balcony and a wonderful salmon steak barbeque. A friend of theirs drove me home late that evening. Early the next morning I took an excursion to Vancouver Island. The coach took us via the Ferry at Swartz Bay and on to Victoria. I spent a happy 3 hours or so walking around the delightful city, and enjoying a nice lunch in the sunshine. We were then driven to the amazing Butchart Gardens – the most incredible gardens I have ever seen. I spent two hours walking around and enjoying the colour and the scenery, before rejoining our coach to return to the ferry back to Swartz Bay, and on to Vancouver, where I arrived at 9.30pm. It was a truly lovely day in gorgeous sunshine. On my last day, I walked around the city for an hour or so in the morning and then spent the afternoon by the pool in glorious sunshine. Picked up a delicious supper from the Deli next to the hotel which I enjoyed with some wine before putting my head down!

On Friday 12 June I flew to Alaska, arriving in Ketchikan at around 8.30pm. I checked in to the Cape Fox Lodge just before 9pm and got myself a typically [for America] huge plate of fish and chips, of which I ate about a quarter! I spent the next morning walking around Ketchikan – a delightful little Alaskan town, and I then embarked on the ‘Spirit of Yorktown’ at around 5.30-6pm. It was a busy evening, but I had a comfortable cabin, if a little near to the engine and pumps!

On Sunday morning I woke very early and by 6am was up on deck watching the Alaskan world go by. We had picked up two kayakan rangers, who of course arrived by kayak, and they gave us some good talks as we cruised around the Misty Fjords. It was truly magical scenery, and my sightings were a brown bear and two cubs, a mountain goat, 3 hump back whales, harbour seals and some Dall’s porpoises very close up. I spent most of the day on the open deck looking for wildlife, and met up with a number of fun people, especially two couples from Adelaide and one from Cardiff. We eventually reached Metlakatla at 3pm and went on a slow trip around the town finishing with a wonderful local Indian dance performance before returning to the ship.

On Monday morning I was again up early and was on the back deck sheltering from the rain to watch the passing scenery. Saw a black tailed deer and nearing a dozen bald eagles before we arrived at Petersburg, which is known as Little Norway. Went ashore to watch a Norwegian dance show by local children and then walked the town. In the afternoon we headed towards Frederick Sound and the Aussies and English on board were on the top deck looking for the humpbacks! We had a fantastic afternoon and saw many of them, as well as porpoises and seals! There were about eight of us on the top deck having fun running from side to side watching whales from all directions, and towards the end we had a glass of wine as well as a camera in our hands! On Tuesday we awoke to find icebergs in all directions and I spent most of the day on deck watching icebergs, seals and many waterfalls as we progressed up ‘Tracy Arm’ toward the Sawyer Glaciers, and even saw part of an ice ‘growler’ [small iceberg] break off in front of us. We saw many seals and their pups and had a lot of fun as we transgressed the Bay. At lunchtime we were given a wonderful BaBeQue on the top deck and the sun came out to help our enjoyment. Towards the end of the day we were back in Frederick Sound and saw some really wonderful displays from the humpbacks, and particularly one who put on a fantastic ‘tail flip’ right up close to the ship.

On Wednesday 17th we sailed through some beautiful ‘narrows’ until we arrived at Sitka at around 9am, and I then walked into the little town. Spent the morning wandering around, and even found an internet café to catch up on emails! After lunch back on board, I went on a short walk through Sitka National Historical Park before returning to the ship for departure at 3pm. In the afternoon we at last see another brown bear, and in the evening I dine with my newly found friends from Adelaide and Cardiff! Sadly on that day we were invaded by 54 Kiwis, who joined the ship for the last three days, making it all quite crowded now, so the Aussies and Brits stuck together and left the Kiwis and the Yankees to their own devices! I joined up with my Aussie and Welsh friends for a fun dinner.

On Thursday we were back into the ice again, and arrived at Glacier Bay at 6am where we took on two rangers. Some of us early risers spotted a humpback whale and then I spotted an orca whale. We then spent the morning cruising Glacier Bay and had a fantastic morning, spotting sea otters, steller sealions, three brown bears, mountain goats, bald eagles, puffins and many other types of birds. We finally reached Margerie Glacier, an absolutely amazing place, and while we were there a huge chunk of the glacier fell into the sea in front of us. That evening had another good evening with the Aussies and the Welsh!

Early on Friday morning we arrived in Skagway. I took a short local tour and then spent nearly three hours wandering around the delightful little town and even bought by myself some moccasins! At lunchtime we sailed on to Haines, where I did a short walking tour around Fort Seward, a delightful part of Haines, and walked on into town briefly before returning to the ship. That evening was the Captain’s farewell dinner with free wine so a rather merry evening was had by one and all! The next morning we were up bright and early as we arrived in Juneau and we all disembarked at 8.45am. After leaving my hand luggage in a nearby hotel, I then walked around Juneau for a couple of hours before taking a local shuttle out to see the Mendenhall Glacier, where I spent a few hours walking around before shuttling back to my hotel, and at last my room was ready for me! Before sorting my packing, I took one last stroll around Juneau walking up the road for 15 minutes or so to see the house of the Governor, Sarah Palin. A beautiful house but I don’t think she was at home!

On Sunday morning I went downstairs to try and find some breakfast to find that the hotel didn’t serve any! That’s a first for me! Later that morning I flew back to Vancouver, arriving at the Shangri La Hotel at 9pm. A long ol’ day. I nipped next door to pick up a few bits and pieces for some supper which I enjoyed with a whisky in my room before getting to my much needed comfortable bed! The following morning I caught up with my emails before setting off for the airport and take-off at 17.45. Had a good flight, touching down at 10.30 on Tuesday morning. On the whole a good holiday, but the last few days on board the Spirit of Yorktown was rather spoilt by the arrival of so many Kiwis.