July 5th Icy Straits 
Our excursion here was to Mendenhal Glacier and gardens.
Just a note, the scenery on either side of the ship while we sail from harbor to harbor is fantastic. Mountains, rocks, trees, beautiful natural scenery. We have seen porpoise and sea lions, and some people have seen humpback whales, but so far, Sheryl and I have not seen a whale.
Next stop was the Red Onion Bar. Lots of fun. This had also been a brothel during the Gold Rush, and the waitresses and tour guides were dressed like turn of the century working girls.
Southeastern Alaska is a rain forest, and we are getting our share of wet stuff. Icy Strait consists of an old Salmon cannery, and a small Tlingit town called Hoonah. One gas station, on Ace Hardware. One school for grades 1 thru 12.
This is a place where you should schedule an excursion, because there is nothing else to do. They do have the world's largest zipline at over a mile long, but it only takes 90 seconds from top to bottom. We went on a wildlife and bear search. $220 and we never saw anything alive but each other!!! Got back to the ship, sat on the back deck, and watched 4 e
agles and a sea lion play around for an hour...for free. Oh well, the people on the whale watch tour saw 26 humpback whales. We'll get them on the way back!!
Some facts about Icy Straits:
agles and a sea lion play around for an hour...for free. Oh well, the people on the whale watch tour saw 26 humpback whales. We'll get them on the way back!!Some facts about Icy Straits:
There are 110 students in the school and 54 faculty members. Federal grants are a wonderful thing. Temps in the winter almost never go below 20 degrees, but it can snow up to 7 feet in one day, and school is never called off for a snow day. There are 3600 bears here, 32 moose, and lots of deer. Each Tlingit tribe member is allowed to shoot 6 deer per year, and one bear every 4 years. This and the berries they can as jams or jellies are what they live on thru the winter. There are blueberries, strawberries, and salmon berries growing wild everywhere.
On to Juneau - July 6, 2010
On to Juneau - July 6, 2010
Juneau is Alaska's 3rd largest city with about 31,000 people. It is the capital of Alaska, but is totally land locked. As our guide told us, there are only three ways to get to Juneau....By boat, by air, and by birth canal. Raining again today, but that's no surprise. Juneau gets an average of 270 days of rain per year. Although 25 degrees is the average winter low, it gets 100 inches of snow and has had winters with 200 inches. Great place for a capital!!!
Our excursion here was to Mendenhal Glacier and gardens.Didn't get a chance to get too close, but the glacier was 
impressive and there was a huge waterfall on one side. The tide was low and the locals say when it's low tide, the "table is set." There were eagles everywhere along the shoreline looking for fish, crabs, and shellfish.
impressive and there was a huge waterfall on one side. The tide was low and the locals say when it's low tide, the "table is set." There were eagles everywhere along the shoreline looking for fish, crabs, and shellfish. 
We ended the day with an Alaskan Amber beer at the Red Dog Saloon in downtown Juneau. A nice bar to visit to get some local flavor.
Just a note, the scenery on either side of the ship while we sail from harbor to harbor is fantastic. Mountains, rocks, trees, beautiful natural scenery. We have seen porpoise and sea lions, and some people have seen humpback whales, but so far, Sheryl and I have not seen a whale.
Next stop Skagway.
July 7, 2010 Skagway
Woke up today to a small town surrounded by mountains. There is the water,
a building, and then a mountain going straight up behind the building. We finally got to see the sun for the first time on our cruise. We started the day at a little theatre show in town called the "Days of 98." "Soapy" Smith was the local hooligan and the show was a comedy about him and the brothel his girlfriend ran. Guess what woman they dragged up on stage to do the can-can with the "working girls?" Sheryl did great, but had a hard time walking to our next stop.
a building, and then a mountain going straight up behind the building. We finally got to see the sun for the first time on our cruise. We started the day at a little theatre show in town called the "Days of 98." "Soapy" Smith was the local hooligan and the show was a comedy about him and the brothel his girlfriend ran. Guess what woman they dragged up on stage to do the can-can with the "working girls?" Sheryl did great, but had a hard time walking to our next stop. 
Next stop was the Red Onion Bar. Lots of fun. This had also been a brothel during the Gold Rush, and the waitresses and tour guides were dressed like turn of the century working girls.
One girl was really good at her portayal, and of course Sheryl had to set me up to get even for the can-can she had to do. I cam
e out of the bathroom and this girl started her routine on me. Anyway, the picture tells the story.
e out of the bathroom and this girl started her routine on me. Anyway, the picture tells the story.
Once out of town, we hiked up a trail to Lower Dewey Lake. Unfortunately it was a half mile straight up. Fortunately, there was a lake and waterfall once we got there. Up to now, Skagway was our favorite spot, not sure if it was because of the sun or the snow covered mountains all around. Either way, it was a great day.
Sailing away from Skagway.
