The 5th National Park in the US. Mt Rainier has 25 glaciers and is an active volcano. Eruptions of hot lava molded by glacier ice formed the mountain.
The first building in Paradise was in 1917. First national park to allow cars.
We were up in the snow again. Mt Rainier is 14,400 …….so very tall.
We had a Ranger chat and heard all about how the road was put in , who was the first to climb the mountain, when the lodge was built and how US troops used it up train for endurance during the war.
The lodge is lovely. A typical ski lodge. Lots of timber and open spaces.
A pianist was playing in the open area and the dining room was closed!
I gathered another Junior Park Ranger badge for Leo. The first Ranger ( with an unfortunate comb over ) wouldn’t give us one but later the Ranger who gave the park talk came on duty and he kindly gave me one for Leo.
Deciding to explore a little we drove down the mountain and stopped at two waterfalls. The forest is lush and green, the paths a little muddy with the rain from the morning. People might actually need the walking poles they were carrying.
It was too slippery for me so I waited at the top of the waterfall and took photos as the other climbed down.
The second one was not so far and definitely not muddy.
We stopped at the Longmire on the way down the mountain. Lunch was in the lodge dining room followed by a visit to the tiny museum.
Longmire. Reminds me of Binna Burra
Heading down the mountain we stopped at a sculpture park and then a general store with many versions of Big Foot.
One of my favourite sculptures Big foot. Scary.
Such a day of contrast, people, weather and we finished with seafood and margaritas by the water.
The Discovery is a big paddle wheel boat sitting on the river outside the big set of shops and a restaurant where we’ll be having lunch.
Once on board we were offered coffee and blueberry donuts. They were delicious. Dunked into the coffee it made a good breakfast.
The boat started along the Chena river past some lovely homes. It’s green and lovely and hard to imagine it in winter when it can be 40 below ! The trees are all budding so it looks beautiful.
Our narrator is clear and offers great insight into life in Alaska and living in Fairbanks. He also plays trombone but not today!
We heard about some of the houses we were passing some all timber others concrete or brick. Painted.
We stopped at the home of mushing and heard about Susan Douglas. A local woman who won 4 Iditarod races. Amazing story made so sad as she first of cancer at 52. They showed us mushing – and told us it’s the number 1 sport in Alaska. I love that they are keeping this tradition going. In the era of electronic’ everything’ it’s good to see mushing is still popular.
We landed at a village where some of the young native Alaskan met us to direct us around the village and talk about life there. They were lively young people, so confident talking about some of the customs of their culture. Most were either in high school or heading off to college.
Dylan talked about the Caribou and how they adapt. They change coat colour. Antlers on male & female and they drop them after they reproduce.There’s around 7500 in 52 herds in Alaska . They were brought from Siberia. Around 1800’s
We saw the skins of lynx, wolverines, fox pelts red, silver cross fox. All from same litter. White coats. Used to trim clothing. Beaver pelt is water resistant.
Snow shoes are made from winter hide & string , Bedding from spruce branches topped with moose hide. The skin are used for huts. And lean to huts for when they are nomadic. But how they survived in these harsh conditions is amazing. Birch batch is pliable so used for canoes and for baskets.
Beadwork on belts. Flowers embroidered were the bluebell and forget me not. Animal tracks trimmed with fur buttons made from moose antlers.
Women’s winter parker. Traditionally beaver fur trimmed river otter. Wolverines fur put around face waterproofing and warm. Bead works passed on. Traditional rose pattern. 23. Lb $35,000 now. Resourceful people.
We had a salmon filleting and smoking demonstration
Leaving the river we had lunch in the large eating all. All very slickly done. Hearty stew, vegetables. Salad and pecan pie.
The afternoon saw us on a little train into a gold digging expedition. Dexter , a local character explained how gold dredging was carried out. Then it was our turn to pan. We were directed to seating with a pan set up for everyone in front of a trough. We panned and got to keep the gold flecks we found. They were weighed …..I got $5 worth so they sent me back for another go. Old.l Dexter helped me! Success. I got around $16 worth. Steve got $26 with. In the end we had around $40 worth and here’s the smart part.. you could have your flecks put into a charm or locket which of course you had to pay for.
Drinks and dinner tonight to farewell our travelling buddies. Leanne and Darren from Sydney and Matthew and Maureen from the Blue Mountains. Great fun meeting them.
Tomorrow an early start for our Seattle adventure with Lisa and John.
The weather is beautiful. We went to the Margerie Glacier and the boat did a 360 so we could view it well. The sun was out.
Margerie Glacier Margaret Glacier. North of Juneau.
Today is another sea day. And it’s amazing how quickly the day will pass.
We did our exercises then went for breakfast to the Lido. Thats the food hall with different offerings- all behind glass and served by the staff.
It’s great for people watching that’s for sure. Some people pile their plates high others take little offerings. It’s on the same level as the outdoor area around the pool. So you can carry your plate outdoors. Or go to the burger – hot dog stall outdoors.
There’s lots of options. We certainly haven’t overdone it. For breakfast I’ve tried the poached eggs with mushrooms and spinach. Or with salmon. Steve’s enjoying the eggs Benny. Or sometimes just Greek yoghurt and fruit.
The coffee is just ok. You can have filtered coffee. Or barista coffee. I’m looking forward to good coffee back home.
Lunch is usually a -made up on the spot, salad. You just name everything you want and it’s put together in a lovely bowl. Suits me. Steve has a baguette or a burger. Usually with a beer for him and tea for me!
There’s an app where you can search all the available entertainment for the day. Ranging from information talks to gym sessions, to prayer sessions! Art auctions, pickle ball, jigsaws, cards, to games ( I played mahjong) to watercolour painting.
This is what I chose this morning. I got there early but all the seats were taken. But saw two ladies I now know. Roxie from mahjong and Patty who we’ve spent time with as couples.
Patty made a space for me and we tried our hand at painting jellyfish. 🪼
I’m a bit rusty. But it was fun
From there we made our way to the Park Ranger session. There was one for kids. And one for everyone else.
There aren’t many kids on this cruise so I was able to call into that and get a few park ranger badges. Leo our grandson wants to be a park ranger. He has the hat, T-shirt and vest from Yellowstone National Park and is very keen to become one when he grows up. It’s so lovely to see how dedicated he is. He wants to volunteer at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary near where he lives. He’s 6! So has a few years to wait until they take juniors to help in the holidays.
We went to the adult session and it was so interesting to hear about the glaciers in the Glacier National Park. I must say the US has magnificent parks that they look after so very well. Our ranger explained the criteria for becoming a National Park and it’s quite rigorous.
The junior Park Ranger.
I did a few laps of deck 3. It’s a mile around. So about 1.65 km. I got my steps up doing 5km, visited the library to change my book and found a quiet area to read. Steve and I like the Crows Nest. Right at the front of the boat with big picture windows. It is hard to get a front row seat !
The Crows Nest.
Notice the person at the bar with the striped top. She is always there in that spot. Doesn’t matter when you get to this area. She’s there drinking beer – out of a can. Never takes a glass. oh my. She might explode soon. Good for her. I’m sure she’s relaxing well.
There is also lots of games – you name it. It’s here. So there are a lot of people playing cards, Scrabble and some I don’t know. It seems Bridge is not as popular anymore. No Bridge being played anywhere. But mahjong is very popular.
If our friends the Wilsons were here we’d be playing cards! Five Crowns.
While I’m sitting here writing this there is a calligraphy class going on next door in the art area.
Another round of the deck for me before a retreat to our cabin.
We are meeting Tom and Patty for a drink and to play Music Trivia. We’re been to a few sessions and tonight it is ……. The Beatles. I’m a bit of a tragic when it comes to the Beatles. So along we went.
We did very well. Got them all and the pianist Kelly from Perth Australia was impressed with how many got a perfect score. Well, we are the right demographic!
The tie breaking question was not a ‘name that song’ it was ……. Who was the youngest Beatle and how old was he when they disbanded. Di you know ? I’ll leave the answer to the end.
From the music we went to dinner. This time at Canaletto. The Italian restaurant. It was lovely. We scored a table by the window. And it doesn’t get dark here until around 9 so the views were great. Including seeing a whale.
We were going to the magician. A show at the World Stage. But we were late and decided on another two laps of deck 3!
An early start today. We have an 8 hr tour. It’s all so well organised with a message directing us to gather in the dining room.
We met up with Patty and Tom and a new couple from near Jarvis Bay in Australia.
We then had a tender take us from the boat to the shore with a short walk to our bus. The reason for the tender was there had been a rock slide last week quite near where the ship is anchored and they don’t want rocks falling on us. So it’s a bit of a performance to put us in tenders and drop us further along the dock.
Our chatty driver River is our guide today. He settled us in and explained the day. We are to bus up to Whitecross with a stop at Carcross for coffee and a look around the little shops and businesses. No jewellery shops.
The scenery as we left Skagway was beautiful though low cloud made it hard to see the mountains.
Carcross for coffee.
The driver continued his banter and we all relaxed into the trip and chatted to those around us. Patty and Tom were in front and we chatted away to them.
We left Cancross and continued on to our lunch stop which is in Canada – and included a village. They had two museums and a great display of wild animals which had been recreated through taxidermy. Quite frightening!
The museum dedicated to the Mounties was very good and the history of the gold mining in Dawsons Creek was fascinating. Towns grew up from nothing and thousands came seeking their fortunes. Most of course didn’t make much at all.
One of the huskie dogs here for a summer holiday. The huskies are moved here for the summer for training.
The scenery is as spectacular as it is harsh.
Looks like a tropical paradise. The silt produces the beautiful blue.
The highlight of the day was returning to Skagway by train. The Whitecross railway. It descends 3,000 ft in 7 miles. Quite a ride! It took about 90 minutes.
But before that we spied a bear near the road as the bus was taking us to Fraser to get the train. he was strolling along…….
.
The scenery was gorgeous. I was trying imagine building that railway back in 1897 taking nearly 3 years to complete.
Rounding a bend I saw the front of our train!
We arrived back in Skagway, population 400, and strolled the streets. We walked carefully as if you fall and break something there is no doctor in town! Just a vet.
The building and all the sidewalks are timber.
A rough timber clad building. The Red Onion Saloon. A former brothel. Now it’s a popular bar. A real ‘outback’ type of town.
Back on board after a very cool walk back to get the tender.
Then it was orange party night on the ship.
I did my best to wear orange!
There was a party on the World Stage which we went to after our dinner at Morimoto. It’s one of the speciality restaurants onboard. It was so tasty. Asian fusion.
Lots of orange clad people dancing.
A late night as tomorrow is a sea day. So a sleep in.
We slide into port at the respectable hour of 10 just as Steve and I finish our eggs Benny with salmon. No simple room service today. We were having a busy day and wanted a nice breakfast!
Big ships dominate. But it is the only way to get around this remote country.
Unfortunately it’s raining! We walked through the township. Juneau is the capital of Alaska. It has around 33,000 people and most of them work in tourism, logging, salmon, selling jewellery ( why are there sooooo many shops selling diamonds ) and lollipop persons seeing us safely across the roads to save being run down by a tourist bus.
We avoided the jewellery speakers and called into the public library. Curiously located on the 5 th floor above a city car park, it is warm and welcoming and the librarian was helpful with bus timetables.
Winter wear. A change from jewellery shops.
We didn’t book a tour of the glacier ( we’re flying over this afternoon) or a whale watching tour ( we’re flying will see some later this week when we do go on a tour)
So we decided to be a local and get the no 8 bus out to the Medenhall glacier. It worked well.
Above a car park. Level 5.
Except we did not leave enough time to walk the 1.5 mile up to the glacier so only saw it from a distance. But we met some nice people on the bus.
Especially coming back we had a great chat to a couple from England. Both were in the police force. So lovely and interesting. pity they are on the Princess cruise.
We got back in time for our 5 glacier fly over in a light – ie…..very small plane.
Ready for the flight.
We met Kathleen and Jonathan from Nth Carolina. Along with a grandad and his two grandchildren 6 and 10 we flew down the Taku river over the glacier and along the river over two more glaciers. The plane was small we had headphones and an excellent commentary.
Stunning scenery
It’s so remote , so cold looking – and this is the start of summer. You have to be tough to live here in the wilderness. Though it did remind me of the opposite conditions in the Northern Territory of Australia. The blue of our waterways, and the remoteness of our outback.
Here they have grizzly bears. We have crocodiles 🐊.
When searching for bookshops or craft shops or writing centres I found this. It’s near Asakusa where we’re based ( Did I mention I love this area)
We tried to go yesterday and now today I really don’t have time to sit and sip tea and write and feel super peaceful. But I had to see it.
The lady who runs the shop – for a better word …. Is Eika. She was quietly spoken. Probably because there were 6 people sitting quietly writing.
The idea is you write a letter to yourself using prompts suggested by the centre.
I hope you can enlarge and read
You are given beautiful tea to sip and you write. In a year they post you the letter. What a lovely idea.
There are also postcards you can write to yourself or friends and they will post them.
There’s also a library. You can take a book and exchange but they ask you to write a letter to put inside.
Eika was delightful. She showed me around, talked so calmly and let me take lots of photos. And I bought some cards and coffee pouches with inspirational words on them. I had to use my translator!
The coffee bags with thoughts. Some translations don’t always’flow’
I think we need this in Brisbane. Japanese people seem so calm and patient. We need to adopt some of these traits.
We made it back to the hotel to change and get the Skyliner train. 41 minutes to Narita.
All very easy.
Tomorrow I wake up in Brisbane. Can’t wait to see the family friends.
We left the hotel by 8.30 – not really wanting to as we’ve loved our stay here. But new places await.
Hiroshima is a must visit to make everyone aware of the outcomes of war. It’s a very sobering place to visit.
We arrived by a JR Train using our Suica card. Locating lockers is easy with the great signposting. Then headed off by tram for the castle. The city is all new – for obvious reasons. A constant reminder of what happened but in 1941.
We decided, due to time limitations to just walk the castle grounds before moving on to Peace Park and the memorial to the victims lost in the bombing.
One of the most poignant moments was seeing the memorial for the children lost in the bombing and the many who dyed after from leukaemia.
When reading to children in the library I would read the story of Sadako and the Thousands Paper Cranes. When Sadako became ill at 10 her room mate told her about the legend of the thousand paper cranes – if she folded a thousand paper cranes she would be granted a wish. She folded 1,300 but died soon after. Now the paper crane is a symbol of peace. Hope and healing.
There are cabinets of thousands and thousands paper cranes which people are adding to each week. Today the dome. Just after the bombing
If you like film try and see the movie called Touch. It’s a beautiful but sad story of a young Japanese woman and Swedish man who fall in love. and the impact of the bomb years before.
We continued on our journey. another train. A Shinkansen.
Heading towards Okayama the McGregors got off at Ominichi. They are cycling for two days.
We continued onto UNO Port. I’m very keen to visit the art island of Naoshima. We’re staying in the port tonight.
A welcome at the station.
Luckily for us we got a booking at Bluno. Recommended by a friend it’s French Japanese food.
A welcome at the station.
Our hotel was a little bit of a mystery. We couldn’t get anything on the island and many hotels here were booked out so we booked at one with a Japanese name.
Turns out it’s small but perfect little rooms. Comfy beds, lovely yakatas and an opening window for fresh air. Just fine for 2 nights.
Taken from my comfy bed. The navy white yakata
We’ll explore a little before heading to Bluno. There is an art trail of outdoor sculptures. Such an interesting place.
Happy with our wine !
Dinner was delicious and lots of fun with the Wilsons as we reminisced about the holidays we have done together.
Tomorrow we head to Naoshima Island just 20 min by ferry. it’s become a destination for lovers of art.
A mix up with tour bookings led to the three couples going in different directions.
The Wilsons wandered locally , the McGregors did the Palace and Castle tour and Steve and I headed to two shrines
We caught the number 59 bus for lots of stops which gave us a good look at the suburbs our yo the east side of the city.
We started with Ryoanji temple. This is home to the most famous zen rock garden. It’s simple and it’s quiet and quite mesmerising.
Photo taken as a panorama shot. It’s rectangle garden.
This garden has sand which is raked meticulously. There are 15 rocks in the space.
We moved from this space into the gardens and loved the lake walk and the bamboo poles holding up the trees.
There are little corners with running water and statues of Buddha. I loved it.
We moved on to the Golden Temple. It’s probably the most famous of the temples here in Kyoto. Truely beautiful.
It very beautiful
A quick taxi ride took us to the tour we were doing if the Imperial Palace and Castle. On arrival we found that the palace and gardens were closed as the Royal family were in town.
Our guide Jasmine was young and had the biggest eyes! And long blond hair well it really was black like all the other Japanese girls we’ve seen but she had dyed it blonde!
She broke the news that as it was closed we would instead go to the art gallery in the castle grounds.
We had a good tour of the castle and Jasmine explained the history of the shogans and their relationship to the Emperor.
The painted panels were beautiful especially the peony room.
We finished the evening with a tea ceremony. A young 19 year maiko explained her world as a trainee geisha. Very strange life in this day and age.
Guila smearing me with Vasalino for the last time…..to prevent swimmers rash!
Oh I’m so behind in my blogs. I’ve been in Palermo for 2 days and I’m still back in Favingnana ! Well the blog is.
The last day swimming was once again without our dear Francesco.
He would hate being sick and missing out.
The last swims were different and perfect.
The swimmers have relaxed and all chatting more.
In the evening we’re having a farewell dinner at Eduardo’s brother’s restaurant. It’s all about family here in Italy.
Eduardo has been lots of fun. He has told us all about his girlfriends but now declares his true love is Guila. It’s become a funny ongoing joke.
Francesco has asked us all to send him a few words about swimming and the sea. Something that shows our feelings for it. he has a game for us.
Everyone dressed up a but – island style for the last dinner together. We shared taxis and drove along the island to Giuseppe’s restaurant. It’s a big area. All outdoor tables facing the bay and the setting sun. A beautiful simple setting.
The fun begins with Aperols and continues with more Aperol or a Grillo ( a lovely light white wine)
The food is shared grazing plates and is simple but beautiful.
Photos are taken memories made.
With Francesco
We’ve known Francesco for 11 years so are so pleased he’s made the dinner so we can say farewell. This could be our last swim trek.
After dinner Francesco and Guila say a few words of farewell and start to give out the certificates. But on the back there is a quote written by one of the group. We have to guess who wrote it.
Reading the quotes!
I read one out. It was a Haiku and I guessed Colleen. Later in the evening it was Colleen’s turn ( Dora the explorer) she read out the words. It was a Haiku! Mine. She guessed straight away. So funny we hit each others. Steve and her husband also got each others. They were both the shortest quotes.
Mine said
Swimming in the sea Blue water beautiful fish Gives me calm and peace
Today we met at the ferry terminal. We were catching the ferry to Marettimo.
The islands we visited off the coast of Sicily.
Marettimo has the reputation for beautiful waters, national parks. No cars, white buildings with blue shutters and very friendly people.
It takes about half and hour on the ferry and the first sight gives the impression of landing in Greece. It is actually quite close to Tunisia and our watches will switch to their time.
Today Francesco our guide is sick. Guila reported that he was up most of the night with vomiting and diarrhea. A virus.
Poor Guila is sharing a small apartment with him so let’s hope she doesn’t get it. Or us!
We arrived at the north port and walked through the small village to the south port. Where the boats are moved to when the winds blow.
Today is perfect for swimming.
The town is very traditional. White houses, blue shutters, ( except one house has brown?) terracotta downpipes, and tiles on the wall outside each house announcing who lives there.
We stopped at this house.
Off we headed with Peppo and Nico
They found the perfect spot for our morning swim. We swam into caves, over beautiful fish , red starfish. It was beautiful. No hurrying.
We had Colleen and Dana our American friends with us. Colleen is like Dora the explorer. She stops and looks at everything. And she’s a geologist and expert I’d say in water quality. It was so much fun swimming with her. the 3.5 km went by in a flash.
Lunch by the boys mother was good. But not as great as Eduardo’s mum!
Guila , our guide cooed so well as the only guide. With Francesco sick she was on her own to supervise us. Lucky conditions were perfect.
The second swim of about 2km and again just perfect.
My swim group. Colleen ‘Dora the explorer’
For me the swimming is near perfect. No stingers, warm enough, no currents, no leaking goggles.
Back to the small township we wandered the small streets with little shops selling the usual souvenirs. It’s so colourful. It’s hard to resist.
Marion and her two daughters were great company.
A Sicilian favourite: brioche filled with gelato. No I didn’t try one!
frans travel tales 