ALASKAN CRUISE- 2004

On the warm and sunny day of August 28th, 2004, Carol and I left Atlanta on a Boeing 767 and within an hour or so arrived for a short stop in Detroit. Soon, we were back in the air and a few hours later we were enjoying our first trip ever flying over the snow covered mountains of western Yukon Canada en route to Anchorage, Alaska.

In our final approach to the Anchorage International Airport, I noticed the beauty of the city below as it stretched for miles with tall buildings downtown. Once we had our luggage from the carousel, a quick stop to pick up our rental and we were on our way. Now to see Alaska first hand!


After a city tour of Anchorage, we drove north to our first destination, Denali Park--home of the world famous Mt McKinley. After checking into our neat cabin just outside the park, we proceeded to unpack--it had been an exciting but long day--time for sleep and rest.


For the next couple of days we drove up to Fairbanks and over to North Pole, Alaska. We could not resist the temptation so after some searching, found a gift shop that sold postcards and sent one to each of the grand kids--all saying "Here's Papa John and Mimitutz at the North Pole where Santa lives".

Back to Denali. One drives a very short distance into the park--probably a mile or so--arriving at the visitors center. That's as far as you can go in your own vehicle. There are a couple of ways to actually enjoy the beauty and vastness of the park. Either go in on foot with very limited resources or take a park bus. We chose the bus--like there was a choice--I wasn't going to be walking the same path grizzly bears call home!

After getting our bus ticket, we were on our way. By the way, the buses will travel to designated checkpoints, turnaround, and return to the center. You decide how much time you want to spend in the park and buy a ticket accordingly. We chose the bus to Toklat--some 53 miles into the Park. This was pretty much an all day trip considering the buses travel about 20-30 MPH on winding dirt roads and will stop to view and gaze at wildlife. Plus, there are rest stops facilities along the way-somewhat crude compared to the lower 48 standards.

A couple of last comments about Denali. We had the pleasure of having a very large grizzly walk on the road just feet in front of our bus--talk about seeing nature up close and personal- and without notice, the grizzly left the road heading toward a river. Also, we never actually saw Mt McKinley. Our young tour guide said he had not either because of cloud cover. I had taken many photos of the park but unfortunately lost the digital camera memory card!

On August 31st we returned to Anchorage for the night. The next day we took a bus to Whittier where we boarded "The Spirit" Carnival Cruise Ship and were on our way to: Prince William Sound; Sitka; Juneau; Skagway; Ketichan; and leaving the ship in Vancouver, Canada.

Just so you know, I served in a church leadership position that required I not have a beard. So, for the first time since the 70s, I had only a moustache. I felt naked--but it still was a good time in my life!

Before you view the photos, here's some interesting facts about Alaska:

49th state--statehood achieved Jan 3, 1959

Brought from Russia 1867 for $7,200,000 or 2 cents an acre

2007 Population was 676,987

One fifth the size of US for landmass

33,900 miles of shoreline

5% of landmass covered by glaciers

39 mountain ranges

Mt McKinley is 20,320 feet high

Some record low temps Anchorage -34; Fairbanks -62

Following are some of our photos. I hope you enjoy!

Here we are on September 1st, 2004 in Whittier, Alaska, boarding Carnival's Cruise Ship--The Spirit. BTW-this was our second cruise on the Spirit--see my story on Hawaiian Cruise-April 2003.

Carol, Moose, and I. I'm the one on the right--LOL.



Here we are with a gold prospector. Of course, gold played a very important role in the history of Alaska.

The Spirit at sea.

Post Card of the four major Ports of Call!

Ditto

Another post card.

Alaskan Map Post Card

Alaska as seen from outer space.

Another map of the great state of Alaska.

This photo is of the train that tourists choose when traveling the state. The photo is taken in Anchorage.

A local downtown Anchorage gift shop.

The city of Anchorage from a distance.

Map of the bus routes from the visitors center at Denali Park.

Moose in the Denali park.

Post card of Denali.

Mt McKinley in the background--what a beautiful photo!

On our way from Denali to Fairbanks.

Fairbanks, Alaska Post Office.

I loved this sign: Alaska-The Last Frontier.

Downtown theatre in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks

On our way from Fairbanks over to the "North Pole" where, as I mentioned earlier, Tutz and brought, signed, and mailed post cards to the grand kids.

A map showing Whittier--which was a military base during and after WW II. This is where our cruise ship was docked and we departed from. To arrive at the dock, our bus had to navigate a single lane tunnel bore thru the local mountain.

Boats docked at Whittier.

Carnival cruise ship docked at Whittier.

Whittier harbor and dock from a distance.

After "The Spirit" left Whittier, our first full day at sea was in the Prince William sound where the captain actually came so close to one of the glaciers, you could feel a drastic drop in temperature the closer we came. Not to mention, that no matter where you looked, there were icebergs everwhere in the sound. This was very exciting for the two of us!

Here we are leaving one of the glaciers--the wake left by the ship is very noticeble.

Here are three photos taken by ship photographers and we in appropiate attire based on the event. That's me "sans" beard--I'm with the lovely and talented Mimitutz! Don't remember the caliber of the carbine--it was a stage prop anyway.

Carol and I trying to stay warm on deck.

A chocolate moose. This was the Gala Buffet on the Spirit. Anyone who has cruised knows all entertainment on board centers around great food!

Here we are at Sitka-our first Port of Call. This small town has still a lot of Russian influence. Sitka was the headquarters for the Russian-American Company which colonized and exploited their new found possession. Sitka was the site of the historic transfer of Alaska from Russia to the US and Alaska's first capitol until 1912 when it was moved to Juneau. By the way, the official transfer of Alaska to the US took place October 18th, 1867.

A unique Sitka church.

Raven Totem Pole in Sitka taken by proffesional Ron Niebrugge

Sitka waterfront

Another professional photo by Ron Niebrugge of Sitka

The next few photos are of the state capitol-Juneau. This is the only US state capitol one can not drive to. There are no roads from any where else in Alaska or Canada to this city. One gets there either by boat or plane. Also, keep in mind that 1 out of 4 Alaskans have their pilots licenses.

As I mentioned earlier, I lost the camera memory card for this part of our cruise. So, the following photos were borrowed from Ron Niebrugge--he gets full credit!

Juneau

Our third Port of Call and my favorite location was that of Skagway. And just as this post card says, this was the gateway to the goldrush. The architecture of the buildings remain pretty much in tact as they were in the late 1800s when gold was discovered in the mountains not too far away.

Another post card.

Here we are as we head out to Skagway.

The Spirit docked at Skagway

Photos of Skagway

Our fourth Port of Call was that of Ketchikan. Carol and I thought it was ok, but a lot of tourist gift shops with same international names we see in St Thomas. Here are the photos.

Here we are leaving ship.

The two large poles are at the center of the "lumber jack" competition

After we left Ketichan, we spent another day at sea and arrived at our final destination of Vancouver on September 8th. These two photos taken from our hotel room toward downtown. We had been to Vancouver before so not many photos taken. We left the next day for home.

FLASHLIGHT FOR WALKING THE DOG!

You're going to love this! What an invention.

TELERMARKETING CALLS--HOW TO HANDLE

How many of us have been right in the middle of a serious project, or dinner, or visiting with friends when the phone rings. We jump to answer only to find the person on the other end wants to make us an offer we can't refuse (using an old movie line) or to conduct a survey or ask that we pledge resourses for their cause, etc??? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller, anyone?

Well, I sure have! So have I got the solution for you. Simply play the video (roll the tape) and see how one telermarketer will probably never make another call to that number. Enjoy.

NEW AIRFORCE ONE

FOLKS ARE EDGY IN MEXICO!!

DO GUYS REALLY LISTEN? (WARNING-LANGUAGE)

THIS ECONOMY IS "GOING TO H*** IN A HANDBASKET"

I just finished watching a recent 5 minute "You Tube" segment of Glenn Beck (now on a real TV Station) on the subject of government spending. Glenn began the subject by showing the major impact of inflation on the German economy back after WW II. Those of you who remember your history, may recall that prior to inflation folks would go to the grocery store with a few German marks and bring home their groceries in a wheel barrow. After the German economy went bust, the average citizen would go to the grocery store with a wheel barrow of marks and come home, maybe, just maybe, with a single loaf of bread. Now folks--that's inflation and that's where we are headed!

Arthur Laffer, a former Reagan economic advisor, made a couple of comments that made me sit straight up and take note. Mr Laffer said, there is no stimulus in the stimulus package. Think about that. We are seeing our government vote on a $815,000,000,000 stimulus package that has no stimulus! Furthermore, only 21% of this hard earned tax revenue will hit the US economy in 2009. Basically, our government is out of control. They are over reacting by printing and spending more money than any of us or generations to come can ever repay.

And you know what's really alarming to me? It seems no one really cares! When's the last time you talked with someone who was mad enough to call, e-mail, or snail mail their Washington Representative and truly unloaded on him or her? When's the last time your friends monitored how their Senator or Congressman voted on a sensitive issue?? Do our represenatives represent us, special interests groups or big government?

Let me tell you, I have been burning up the air ways to those elected by me to speak for me! And I know how they voted in such matters as the recent Secretary of the Treasury who had gone four years without paying taxes on funds he had signed a contract that vowed he would! Furthermore, this yo yo did go back and pay taxes on two years because the statute of limitations had run out on the other two. Only after, I repeat, only after he was given the nodd by the new "change" administration for consideration of the head job, did he go back and pay the other two years of back taxes. And do you remember the classic response he gave to the question: "Why did you not pay your taxes?" Very simply, he did not understand the contract he had signed. In other words, the current liberal and over their pay grade administration has convinced the Democratically controlled congress to approve an incompetent to watch over our money.

Here's more on that story from Jonah Goldbery of the Tribune Media Services, Inc: "Timothy Geithner, now the Treasury secretary, quite clearly tried to defraud the government of tens of thousands in payroll taxes while working at the International Monetary Fund. The IMF does not withhold such taxes but does compensate American employees who must pay them out of pocket. Geithner took the compensation — which involves considerable paperwork — but then simply pocketed the money." Now I ask you, do you think for a second that the IRS would accept your response that you did not file your taxes because you didn't understand the form?? Not in your life time!

Now, back to the issue at hand. What if we haven't been taking an active part in politics other than going to vote--which of course is one of the most important rights and freedoms we have! What if we would contact our representative but we don't know who he/she is? Well, if we live in Georgia--where the posted speed limit signs are a mere suggestion--we are in luck. Because, boys and girls, at the beginning of this post, I have listed for your viewing pleasure and use, the most current listing of Senators and Congressmen by district. All you have to do is find the district you live in, enter the reps website to the internet, click on contact, and fire away! What are you waiting for?

Footnote. Just single click on the list to open it up--much easier to view!

CRUISE TO THE CARRIBEAN--2002

The better half of 2002 was spent in "pain and agony". It was during Valentines week-end when the pain surfaced. It was Carol's year (we take turns each year) to plan our Valentine week-end. So we drove to SC and it was about half way there when she told me we would be staying in a really nice B & B on Hilton Head Island (BTW-all properties on Hilton Head are really nice!). I was so looking forward to the trip! The windshield time with my sweetie was much needed and very enjoyable.

It was during our second day, when I simply got out of the car the wrong way that I re-injured my back (1st time was back in 1998 headed to London). This time however, it would not heal by itself with the usual bed rest, muscle relaxers, and Advil.. Instead, as the week-end wore on (usually a week-end in Hilton Head flies by--not when one is in excruciating pain!), I was required to endure a more severe acute pain than ever before. Tutz knew I was in real pain when I encouraged her to leave me laying on the hard floor of our B & B while she go to the mall--so at least one of us would could enjoy the day!

So it was from Feburary thru May after trying many different methods including: pain relievers, MRIs, xrays, and epedurals to the lower back area, etc, that my young surgeon from Emory on Monday June 18th, 2002, corrected the herniated disk at L4 & L5 with 4 hours of surgery and 6 days in the hospital. All the while, my dearest wife Carol was the full time care giver--24/7.

That leads me to the fact that because we spent most of 2002 dealing with my back problems, Carol and I really felt a strong need to relax and enjoy our Anniversary away from home. Carol had always suggested we should go on a cruise, I had never cruised and did not want to. However, I gave in, the plans/details finalized, and we drove to Miami to board the only "Smoke Free" ship in Carnivals' Fleet--The Paradise.

Let me just say, I was wrong in thinking I would not enjoy a cruise. In fact, not only was it relaxing, but I soon learned we could spend all day at various fun filled events with excellent food and, we would have added fun when exploring different ports of call. So, any of you that have not cruised and not certain you want to, let me encourage you to give it a try. You should love it!

As the following photos bear out, our ship would dock at three ports: Nassau, San Juan, and St Thomas. We left Miami on September 15th and returned September 22nd--a really good 7 day cruise for my first time at sea. I was able to visit Hard Rock Cafes at each port and spend some money on jewelry in St Thomas. I read a favorite book along the way. After leaving St Thomas, the plan was to cruise close enough to se Cuba at a short distance. This plan was aborted due to a storm on the high seas.

Please enjoy the photos and leave me your comments.

Here is our first official ship photo as we board The Paradise in Miami.

A map of West Indies showing our three ports of call: Nassau, San Juan, and St Thomas.

Carol enjoying a quite moment on deck of the Paradise. We were among the first to board so that's why we had already unpacked and now could enjoy isolated serendity while looking at downtown Miami.

Carol on board with Miami in back ground.

Here I am on board with Miami in back ground.

Carol unpacking in our spacious cabin with private balcony. Service was impecable as our tip at the end of the cruise would reward!

Post card photo of The Paradise at sea.

Welcome to Nassau.

The ever famous and in many Hollywood movies Hotel Atlantis as seen from The Paradise as we approach our Nassau docking.

Here I am after making a quick "pin purchase" in the Nassau Hard Rock Cafe.

Gang board/ramp of the Paradise.

You got to love the "no smoking" icon! Sadly, the Paradise lasted a couple years longer as a smoke free ship before it joined the fleet as permiting smoking. It was interesting that the rules about non-smoking were very simple. If a passenger were caught smoking on board--anywhere on board--that passenger would be forced off the ship at the next port and required to pay their own way home plus a fine of $250 to Carnival. Carol and I heard there were two couples sent home during our cruise.

The Paradise docked in Nassau.

Next door to us in Nassau as seen here is the Disney Ship.

Looking down from deck of ship.

San Juan Hard Rock Cafe.

Here I am at the San Juan Hard Rock Cafe.

The San Juan La Fortaleza with city in back ground.

Postcard

Ditto

Harbor at St Thomas

As our ship approaches the St Thomas harbor for docking on September 19th, 2002.

A great photo of cruise ships docked in bay at St Thomas.