Riffs on an Alaskan Cruise

Taking a cruise to Alaska serves to show how big the state really is. We are covering just a little bit, and yet it is taking us a long time to go from Point A to Point B. If we ever come back to Alaska, it will be by plane to Denali. And, we’ll have to give ourselves plenty of time.

This is a good introduction. . .it just is a very slow pace. So far, we’ve been at sea for nearly nearly three full days, with just nine hours ashore. Actually, we were on land less than that. The rest of today is at sea as well – although part of the attraction is seeing the famed Hubbard Glacier, which is still growing and advancing. Apparently it is 64 miles long or so, and we’ll just be seeing a section.

Patience is a watch word for this cruise. I’m not known for my patience, although Carol is less patient than I. With a number of projects, the blogging, and conference calls to deal with, I do have plenty to keep me busy.

The food is good, but not great. I understand they are cooking for a couple thousand people, and the food is fine at that level. You just have to patient (there’s that word again). At least there are lots of choices.

While sitting in the library typing these riffs, just saw a bunch of porpoises off the starboard side.

I’m thinking that the average of the people on this cruise is 60 – and I might be generous with that estimate. There are a goodly number of folks in the 50s (which I will be one soon!). There’s a trivia contest for Alaskan trivia now, and people know all the questions dealing with the 1950s and 1960s, but struggle with newer questions.

Both Torie and I quipped – separately – that is like being at a Billy Joel concert. I do have a pretty good head of hair compared to most.

The girls are understandably disappointed by the lack of teenagers on the cruise. Some of it may be that school is back in session, and some may be the demographics of cruises. There is a lot to recommend a cruise – your hotel is also your transport. It certainly worked great in Greece and Turkey – Alaska is so far removed that you have to spend a LOT of time traveling from point-to-point.

The satellite internet in the library is considered slow today because a number of folks are on. Early this morning (6am) when I was up here, it moved fine. Now it’s MUCH slower.

They have a lot to do on the ship – I’ve missed a lot because of work, etc. But today I had my first ever acupuncture treatment (for my bad right ankle). Certainly was interesting – and not at all painful. Maddy greeted me with “Mr. Weirdo” – so apparently the girls thought it was a bit unusual.

The next few days should be higher speed than the last few – although the shore excursions were great! Tomorrow we have sea kayaking in the morning in Sitka, and then we have a catamaran and float plane trip planned for Ketchikan in the Misty Fjords.

I’m not as outgoing as my brothers, so I’m not as chatty with strangers on the cruise. On the excursion I talked freely with my fellow adventurers, but I’m not as likely to just start talking to people on-board (except at the casino).

I am reminding myself that my cruise is free, Torie is a reduced rate, and we've always wanted to do this!

I'll have more riffs later in the week.