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[chezp]

Sunday 4 September – part three: that’s an expensive anniversary present!

We headed back to the room to drop our new purchases off and to enjoy a bit of relaxation before we had to head out for our shore excursion. Then it was off to meet up with our excursion group...



When we met in the Walt Disney Theatre, it quickly became apparent that this was going to be a very small tour group. As well as ourselves, there was Gill from New Jersey and a Chinese family, who now live in Vancouver. When the kid started screaming, we were very glad to be told that it would be the three adults on one flight and the family of four on the other.

We headed off the ship and met Eric on our VIP bus....



He was very good at explaining what we were seeing, including a totem pole in the front garden of a house that a husband bought for his wife as a fiftieth anniversary present. He told us that these cost $2,000 a foot.



We also drove past Creek Street, which used to be the red light district and saw Dolly House from a distance, one of the most well known such establishments.





We even saw an eagle’s nest and two eagles as we drove along...



Here’s the price of gas in this part of Alaska:



Finally, the road ran out and turned more into a dirt track, which was fun to negotiate. Soon we were at George Inlet Lodge, which was truly a beautiful place.



First we had to descend 79 steps. Thank goodness we wouldn’t have to go back up them again, as we’d be flying out. That was a relief!



As I say, it’s a stunning place and was moved over here from its original spot 100 miles away.



We were met by Anna, who did a very good job looking after us during our meal in our own private dining room, which was very cool.



We loved these salt and pepper shakers, but they did look a bit rude...



Next: crab feasting and flightseeing

[lindawdw]

Beautiful view from the restaurant window! Those salt and pepper shakers were shall we say "interesting"

[lauriep]

Wow, this looks like it's going to be a great excursion!

[disney_duke]

While I'm sure that's a nice anniversary gift, I'm not sure it's the most practical...
Beautiful views from the lodge. I wonder though, is there any restaurant in Alaska that doesn't have you dining with.... uh... animals or their skins?

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures from your excursion!

[KMB733]

Looks like a great excursion for so far!!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by disney_duke

While I'm sure that's a nice anniversary gift, I'm not sure it's the most practical...
Beautiful views from the lodge. I wonder though, is there any restaurant in Alaska that doesn't have you dining with.... uh... animals or their skins?

No, it's not exactly practical is it? And I'm with you about the animals and the skins - they did seem to crop up a lot everywhere we went...

[chezp]

Sunday 4 September – part four: crab feasting and flightseeing

We started out with salad with mandarins in, which was very unusual, but worked very well. That was accompanied by crackers with salmon and cream cheese mixed with ranch dressing, which I couldn’t get enough of. I think I got seconds and thirds...



Then the main part that we’d all come for – the crab feast itself. Anna demonstrated how to get into the crabs, which was a very daunting prospect for me, as this is something I’ve just never been able to do. : However, with some expert tuition, I got there in the end, which was a relief. The crabmeat was so good, it was worth all the trouble to get into it. I can honestly say it was the best crab I’ve ever had.



It was accompanied by your choice of beer, soft drink or white wine and I opted for the latter. It was all finished off by cheesecake, topped with Alaskan blueberries. I wasn’t expecting much from it, as we’re not fans of American cheesecake, but this was pretty good stuff.



Crab feast:

Appetiser 9 9
Entree 9½ 9
Dessert 8 8½
Service 8½ 8½
Atmosphere 9½ 8½

Average score: 8.80

As we were finishing up eating, we heard a pounding sound and, sure enough, it was now raining heavily outside. I couldn’t believe our luck, as it had been beautiful weather on the way over here. If only we’d been able to fly out and then eat, but unfortunately that wasn’t how it worked out....

We left via the gift shop and I got a couple of laser die cuts in there for my scrapbook at amazingly low prices. I can’t believe how much scrapbooking stuff is available everywhere in Alaska. It’s so good to see.

They came to find us in there to take us down to get our floatplane. We were taken to a little fishing hut, so we could shelter and I took some photos through the belting rain.


Our plane arrives


We were called off, as it was our own plane and we were told we could sit anywhere. I opted to sit up front with our pilot Gary.



I must admit, when we took off, I thought that the whole flight was just going to be a complete waste of time, as the windows were covered in rain, and it was impossible to take any photos. I got lots and lots of photos at first like this one...



... but then the cloud cleared and suddenly the rain was gone from the windows and I got some better shots. We flew over the Tongass National Forest, which we were told is the largest in the US – at least I think that’s what I remember. It certainly seemed to go on forever, at least as far as the eye could see. I was just amazed at the beauty of all it. Eric, our bus driver on the way down, had talked about spotting the smallest detail, rather than the enormity of it all and now I could see what he meant.



Much as I loved the scenery, the ride was a little bit bouncy in places and there was no warning whatsoever. A couple of times, my stomach literally lurched from beneath me, which wasn’t a good feeling and especially not when trying to take photos. I could just about see behind me and realised Mark wasn’t taking photos or videoing, so I knew he wasn’t doing so well....

Soon we were coming into land on the water, in the same strip of water that we’d sailed through earlier in the day. I must admit, when we started out, I thought that 25 minutes would be nowhere near long enough, but now I was glad that this was almost over.



The landing was exceptionally smooth and I was fascinated by the whole process, this being my first ever landing on water.



I think we were both quite relieved to get back on to dry land. Mark’s description was that his head was pounding. I was doing better, but feeling a little disorientated and it was starting to feel as if I was sickening for a cold, which was not a good sign. :

Mark was cheered up though to spot this boat – it didn’t mean much to me, but it did to him, as he watches the Deadliest Catch, whereas I don’t.



Next: a pirate birthday for Mark

[bonphil]

Great pictures!

[lauriep]

Wonderful lunch and amazing photos from the flight. I hope you and Mark recovered quickly from the effects of the rough (fortunately short!) flight. And I hope you're not starting a cold!

[disney_duke]

Whew, I just sighed a great sigh of relief with that landing.... on the WATER!!! Beautiful photos, wonderful experience, but just reading about it made me nervous!!! Lunch sounded delicious though, glad you enjoyed the cheesecake this time! How lucky to spot the Cornelia Marie!! That's so cool!! I'm a fan of that show myself (can't wait for it to start again in a few months, but they're actually out there crab-fishing at this moment).

[jenseib]

Skip loves that show too. I really don't care for it at all. But he just goes nuts watching it. He is really into a lot of the new Alaskan shows lately, and I guess it's a good thing, because I have mentioned cruising to Alaska, and he sounded more interested in it. Unfortunately, the time they sail there is bad for him, as it is busy season for farming. But maybe someday now, we may look into it.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by jenseib

Skip loves that show too. I really don't care for it at all. But he just goes nuts watching it. He is really into a lot of the new Alaskan shows lately, and I guess it's a good thing, because I have mentioned cruising to Alaska, and he sounded more interested in it. Unfortunately, the time they sail there is bad for him, as it is busy season for farming. But maybe someday now, we may look into it.

At least you're starting to get this interest. Having such a short season is a problem, especially with a job like that.

[jenseib]

I just showed him the picture...he said, yep, thats Phil's boat...the guy that died and his kids took over.

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures from the plane! Glad the weather cleared for you!