• Lacey Travels
  • Lacey Travels

Alaska & the Yukon

En 22-dags äventyr från Lacey Travels Läs mer
  • Margerie & Grand Pacific Glaciers

    29 augusti 2017, Förenta staterna ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    At the head of Tara Inlet are these 2 glaciers. They are 65 miles from the sea. In the late 1700's the glaciers extended right to the ocean through Glacier Bay.

    There are seals floating on the calved ice chunks and the glacier groans as it moves and sheds ice. Margerie Glacier is considered fast moving. Grand Pacific Glacier is really huge but the amount of dirt and silt at the face is banked right up. It's not till you get away from the face that you see the ice behind - very wide and stretching far inland. We stay at the head of these 2 glaciers for over 90 minutes before slowly. It's a long way back through Glacier Bay. It will be around 8pm before we are back to the Gulf.Läs mer

  • Haines, AK

    30 augusti 2017, Förenta staterna ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    A small fishing, tourism and mining town on the fjord and Chilkoot River, Haines is considered the Bald Eagle capital of Alaska. Annually, more than 35,000 Bald Eagles migrate here for the great salmon run. All 5 species of Salmon return to the Chilkoot River to spawn.

    During WW2, Fort Seward was built here to provide a military presence for the US against Canada and Russia. The buildings are well restored and still stand dominantly over the foreshore. Haines is also one of the wettest places along this coast with high mountains that are bordered on the other side by Glacier Bay.

    While in port for the day, the crew do maintenance on the lifeboats.
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  • Golf Alaska

    30 augusti 2017, Förenta staterna ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    We take up a shore excursion to play golf at Valley of the Eagles Golf Club in Haines. It is owned and run by Stan and Kathy. Stan is the retired town doctor, and Kathy is the retired school teacher. The course runs for 9 holes along the Chilkoot River.

    There's lots of wildlife that have access to the course and we see plenty of bald eagles but no bears. The course is really wet and we start in the rain but after 9 holes we are playing in sunshine. We have to play in overshoes or, in my case, gumboots because of the water lying around. We end up playing golf with Bob from Cape Cod and really enjoy the experience. I have a real tumble and slip on the glacial silt path. Didn't hurt at the time but it's stinging now!
    The greens are AstroTurf and overall the fairways are pretty good. The surroundings and the wildlife are magnificent. Tyler, our host, makes us hot chocolate and salmon mousse balls for a snack.

    We end up playing 18 holes and could have played all day if we wanted. It was great fun.
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  • Juneau, AK

    31 augusti 2017, Förenta staterna ⋅ 🌫 11 °C

    The capital of Alaska, the permanent population is around 32,000 and grows to over 45,000 in summer. Most days it's raining.

    Our trip by jet boat to Tracy Arm Fjord and the Sawyer Glacier is cancelled en route due to adverse sea conditions. We are disappointed but better off safe. So we head for the free wifi available at the public library. Then it's off to explore the town.Läs mer

  • Alaska Museum, Juneau

    31 augusti 2017, Förenta staterna ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Walking along the waterfront, we head for the state museum. It's permanent exhibits trace Alaskan history and social life. Exhibits include the First Peoples of the region; the importance of fishing and whaling to the native culture and the state's early development; Alaska's interaction with Russia and the US; then the place of Alaska in WW2 history.

    From the beginning of 1940, the US ploughed considerable resources into Alaska to defend US territory. The building of the Alaska Highway, military installations, airports and harbours were all erected swiftly along with a communications system. Alaska became a strategic part of the defence of US soil. In 1942, the Japanese invaded and took hold of Attu and Kiska, 2 of the Aleutian Islands. It wasn't until 1943, they were regained and it was from there that bombing raids were made on the Japanese Islands.
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  • Ketchikan, AK

    1 september 2017, Förenta staterna ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Have travelled south overnight to the port of Ketchikan for an 11am arrival. It's a much larger town based around the fishing and timber industries as well as tourism. We are the 5th ship in port today and can't dock until after 1:45pm. People who have earlier shore excursions have to use the tenders to go ashore. Ours is this afternoon, so we wait for the docking.

    The port is a hive of activity with float planes and helicopters buzzing between the cruise ships. All manner of sea craft go to and fro on this waterway. Ketchikan gets the most rainfall in Alaska. It is fine and sunny this morning.

    A large portion of the waterfront properties in Ketchikan are built on stilts over the water - there is so little land that can actually be built on as the mountains rise steeply so quickly. Property is quite expensive here in Ketchikan because of this - so little land can be built on. An interesting fact we learn is that homes cannot be accessed by cars.....they are accessed by stairs and elevated timber pathways which are called streets and avenues.
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  • Totem Bight, Ketchikan, AK

    1 september 2017, Förenta staterna ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Totem Bight is a state historical site in Ketchikan. This site held sacred by the natives has been salvaged and reconstructed. The site has several totem poles and a clan house. Our guide tells the story of each of the poles from the Tlingit and Haida tribes who lived in the area. Each totem pole reflects the native myths and legends. The symbols are the raven, the eagle, the beaver, the bear and wolf, and the killer whale.

    The totem poles were hand carved with native implements like the adze. Paint was made from charcoal, copper deposits, iron deposits and mixed with saliva and fish roe.

    It's a beautiful, quiet setting right on the banks of the Inland Passage just a few minutes from downtown.
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  • Gastown and the Vancouver Waterfront

    3 september 2017, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We walked down through Chinatown and its environs where there were a lot of homeless people on the streets. Then across to Gastown, the historic centre where Vancouver was first founded. The streets here are leafy and beautiful with colourful hanging flower baskets. Two landmarks in this area are the statue of Gassy Jack and the Gastown, steam clock. Gassy Jack, a saloon keeper, was a founding father of Vancouver.

    Walking further along the waterfront, we go to Fly Over Canada - a music and video "ride" taking you across Canada from east to west. The ride swoops and dips and we feel and smell the sights and sounds of the country. Can't take photos here. We continue walking down past the convention centre and then head back up to Gastown for the clock chiming 3 pm. By 4 we are back at the hotel for check in and a good rest.

    The remainder of our time in Vancouver was spent in our hotel room when we came down with the flu.
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    Resans slut
    3 september 2017