Last day in Seattle.

May 28, 2026 / brisbanefrannie / 4 Comments

The weather in Seattle has been great. A little light rain the first day but stunning blue skies and warm now.

I’ve always wanted to visit Bainbridge Is. an island about 30 mins ferry from Seattle. People live on the island and commute by the ferry – service is every 40 mins till midnight.

We caught the 7.55 ferry so we were there for breakfast. Crossing to the island was clear so we could see Mt Rainier where we spent the day yesterday.

Lisa and John are great to travel with. They research everything so we had no problem getting around and finding great places to visit & eat.

Breakfast was in an old carriage. A regular American diner with a waitress who was under 5’ and could have been straight out of a comedy tv series.

I had a beautiful omelette with vegetables. Delicious.

We drove up to see Pia – a peace maker troll. Entirely made of wood she sits in a peaceful meadow and invites calmness.

Following up on the museum we saw at Gibson , Vancouver we went to I the Japanese memorial. It was so tastefully fine – telling the story of the Japanese who had lived and ran businesses on Bainbridge only to be rounded up during the war and sent to internment camps in a desert in Southern California. It’s heartbreaking to read their stories.

Many returned to nothing and had to start again.

Next stop was the museum. A little gem. Manned by a very friendly tanned man who spends winters in Palm Springs, he made us very welcome and told us the Pickle Ball mania was started right here in Bainbridge!

There are quite a few local authors including Kristen Hannah a favourite of mine. This week they are hosting a book crawl through the town Wine and books. What would be better. So sorry we’re missing it.

One shelf of local authors. Anyone read Jonathon Evison?

After several hours of wandering the lovely shopping street. Walking and driving around the picturesque parts of the island and visiting museums we caught the ferry back.

We arrived back to the busy waterfront and got ready for our Harbourside cruise. A one hour tour in perfect weather with a narration pointing out the buildings and local attractions. It was perfect.

Seattle is getting ready for the World Cup soccer starting in July. It will be great. The city is clean , covered with flower boxes , friendly and lots of great eating and drinking spots.

Our last dinner was Oysters with margaritas!

Tomorrow we move up Vancouver for our Air NZ flight home.

Paradise at Mt Rainier

May 28, 2026 / brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

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.

Heading down the mountain we stopped at a sculpture park and then a general store with many versions of Big Foot.

Such a day of contrast, people, weather and we finished with seafood and margaritas by the water.

Rail Journey. A Highlight

May 22, 2026 / brisbanefrannie / 8 Comments

Excitement was mounting in our room this morning. Our big 8!hour rail journey to Denali was on today. Steve particularly likes train travel.

It seems there are a lot of rail enthusiasts with us! Particularly the men.

We left the hotel around 8.15 after our bags were picked up from inside our room at 6! We had ours ready so stayed in bed when the porter knocked and came in to get them.

The train is beautiful. All seats are upstairs and very comfortable with big dome windows and ceiling.

The dining cars are downstairs.

The biggest excitement was seeing a bear just before we left the station! It was the only one we saw all day.

There is seat service for drinks snacks & cocktail’s! They love their cocktails here in Alaska. With names like Blue Caboose, Clumsy Conductor, Rail Runner, moose Kiss….. oh what to choose.

The staff are young and lots of fun pointing out things of interest as we travel along.

There are many gravel pits along the way. Gravel is used extensively on paths and roads as it is crushed and manages the snow run off from glaciers. They don’t use salt on their paths and roads because moose love salt and would be on the roads and paths licking it away. And moose cause lots of road accidents. They don’t get out of the way.

Another story involves duct tape. In Wassilla they use a lot of it In fact 325 miles a year and have duct tape events such as a duct tape prom! Imagine that! These are small places and need to invent their own fun.

Funny things our guide told us:

Turkey bowling. They use a turkey as a ball on the frozen lake.

……Alaskan saying. There are many more men in Alaska. So for the women……The odds are good but the goods are odd.

……Black spruce is like a Charlie Brown type of Xmas tree. White spruce is bigger more traditional. Aspen tree has black eyes in trunk. The white birch white bark. If it’s peeling it’s paper bark.

…….Moose eat willow. Asprin from willow bark.

……Braided rivers. Messy. Snow is melting spread on an open plain.

……Talkeetna a small town ( inspiration for the tv series ‘Northern Exposure’ ) a place where 3 rivers meet.

…….The mayor here has issues. Mayor is a cat called Aurora but now Winston the Alaskan dog is in the running.

……All mountaineers who want to climb Mt McKinley arrive at Talkeetna. May – Aug is the climbing season. This is base camp. Denali or Mt McKinley as it was called is one of the tallest mountains in the world. It is the tallest on the American continent and is one of the ‘seven summits’ of the world.

…….we saw a beaver diving in the river. Can be big. Beaver pelts are very soft. Warm and sticky. Top layer coarse. So waterproof. Next layer is soft and cosy.

The journey was 8 hours and just wonderful the whole way. We had lunch in the dining car with a lovely couple from the Blue Mts in Sydney.

We arrived into the Holland American lodge at around 5pm. It’s a big resort spread out over a large area. Half high up and the rest down below with a shuttle running the whole time to transport you to the different areas.

Our room is a good size – a bit dated! but the bed is comfy.

Our wilderness tour starts at 6.30! So we intended to be in bed early. But as it’s still light here at 10pm we ended up staying around the fire with the new Aussie friends we have made here.

Last Day at Sea

May 17, 2026 / brisbanefrannie / 3 Comments

We weren’t sure what to expect from a cruise. But this has been lovely. Good stops along the way . Good shore experiences. Great hospitality on board and of course the scenery.

Today is another quiet on board day. I didn’t think I’d like whole days at sea but there is as much or as little to do you want.

We met our friends Patty and Tom for the Alaskan brunch. Really lovely relaxing by the big windows looking as you cruise along. The mimosas were good as well.

Then a 5 km walk around the deck. It’s getting cooler as we move north. So a hat and gloves were helpful. Because I had time I went to the gym to keep my exercise program going. It’s great looking out at the front of the boat while doing leg curls!

We went to the information session with Ian the British man with lots of information for us on a variety of topics. Today it was the Iditarod race. In its 54th year it is a race for huskies, and their musher on a sled for around 1,000 miles. Each day is around 100 miles. 160km !

It is gruelling ! The dogs look adorable. They are well trained and strong. They do wear little booties to protect their paws.

It starts in Anchorage on the first Saturday in March then progresses west. There are two routes – alternating each year.

The gorgeous huskies and Ian being enthusiastic

We met some of the dogs a few days ago on their holiday.

Now decision time. Calligraphy lesson? Cards, Coffee in Crows Nest? Reading in the lounge. Always something to do.

They had a carnival on the pool deck. Complete with carnival games line hoops la, knock em downs etc. with fairy floss , popcorn, fancy cocktails and lots of uniformed ship staff it looked fun.

Later we started the evening with a chat session with Sergio the guitarist and Kelly the pianist. She’s from Perth and went to WAPA the musical university there. It was a good chat session about their life as a musician on board. we have a bit of an insight to that. We have two nieces who have worked on board as musicians. Bertie married the ships engineer so is still cruising the world when not in Italy when her girls are at school.

Our last session at the piano bar. The trivia today was songs from Movies. We sat with Patty and Tom and had a good score. Tom was a surprise! He knew lots and my love of movies came in handy. Though I often can’t ’name the song’ I can usually sing it though.

Last dinner in the dining room was fun. They brought out the chef and all the behind the scenes restaurant staff and with waiters paraded around the restaurant while everyone cheered and waved serviettes in the air.

The final show was called Timeless and all the cast sang and danced with infectious energy.

They finished with Time to Say Goodbye the Andre Boccelli song. It was appropriate to finish with as we made our way to our Cabin to pack. We have to have our bag outside the door at 11pm. Tomorrow all the groups have a disembarking time. We’re not until 12.10 so later than some…. Some left at 7.30!

Unfortunately it’s rainy and windy out. We’re heading to Alyeska resort which is primarily a ski resort with cable cars, thermal pool, walking trails etc. it should be good if the rain goes.

Others are heading to a variation of our 7 night program. Patty and Tom left at 8.30 and go to Anchorage before Denali. They leave Denali National Park on the day we arrive.

Farewell to this part of the trip.

Keep following for the land part.

Day 2 : all at Sea

May 12, 2026 / brisbanefrannie / Leave a comment

Today was a ‘sea day’ so we slept in and had breakfast delivered to our room.

We did our exercises and then had our yoghurt, fruit, tea and a croissant for Steve.

Then the gym! It’s a popular place. I was into my routine when I thought……. Beware the germs ! 🦠 I looked around but people were dutifully wiping down the machine after use. I only wanted 4 machines so wiped before and after use!

We came out of the inner passage this morning so there is a little more movement in the ship. It made me hold onto the walking machine. I wouldn’t look good flat out on the floor.

It’s interesting to see the ‘types’ in the gym. There’s the serious wirey ladies ‘going for it’. There’s younger runner. The overweight middle age man trying hard ( good for him) and me! Not sure where I fit.

A quick turn a round and off to a cooking demo. Led by a host who carved up the dance floor last night in the Rolling Stone bar. There were so many people there I couldn’t find a seat. I stayed awhile then decided I know how to cook salmon.

I did a lap of the deck to get my steps up then went up the room to meet Steve who had been to an information talk about the ports we’ll be visiting.

We went to the Lido deck just one floor above us – very handy on a cruise to be ‘close’ to the action without the noise.

We had lunch with a great couple from Long island NY . Patty and Tom. They were great company and like Donna and Seth from yesterday are doing the land package.

We’re meeting them tonight for a drink at the piano bar.

Following lunch Steve went to a talk on the port we are visiting and I went to Mahjong. Those who know me , know I play this game. We have a very loose way of playing. Kind of Chinese Australian. We don’t score we play games from a book and we have our own rules.

Today I met Roxie from Nth Carolina and she was funny ! Judy from NY who was so patient but obviously a very good player – by the rules type and Jane from Canberra Aus. Who really wanted to stick with Aussie type of play!

We had a few games. It was fun & full of laughter and Roxie and Judy were so patient with us!

We met back in our room for a cuppa and a rest before heading to the piano bar.

A lovely girl from Perth Aus was the pianist playing hits before the trivia – 50 and 70’s music! It was so much fun. We didn’t disgrace ourselves but didn’t win!

It lead to chatting to a big group of friends from Australia. From Innisfail north Queensland.

What a fun group. There are 6 couples celebrating several birthdays but really celebrating friendship. It reminded me of our Sri Lanka group of friends.

We walked to dinner with them and they went off to their big table with promises to catch up ! They are also doing the land part after the cruise.

We met up with Patty and Tom and shared a few stories before heading to the comedian show. Which was great fun.

There isn’t the ‘big musicals’ like on the Princess or Celebrity cruises but it doesn’t bother us. We’re enjoying dipping in and out of the shows.

Tomorrow is a port day. Ketchikan. We’re going to a lumberjack show – a bit like the Ekka in Brisbane probably.

We’ll wander the town and leave again at around 2.30.

I’m relaxing into this cruise!!! And NO I didn’t go anywhere near the 15 drinks I’m allowed! Neither did Steve. We decided we’re too old.

frans travel tales

come along with me

May 2026