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North to Alaska !!!!!

Carolyn and I have apparently completely lost or minds in our dotage .. and as a result have apparently decided that if you can't take it with you you have only two choices ...

1) Don't Go ...
2) Spend it all with the aim of running completely out of money at exactly the moment of one's demise ...

Although I prefer option #1 ... we have decide to pursue option #2 ... and with that in mind have booked a few exotic (for us anyway) trips before the end of 2008 ...

This blog will (hopefully) chronicle our 14 day cruise into the wilds of Alaska ... this will be Carolyn's 2nd trip to the area. She went with her dad shortly after Ethel passed away and Carolyn really enjoyed the trip and has been after me for years to "go to Alaska" .... so off we go ...

A link to the cruise information is:

Link to Alaska Cruise info

This cruise is round trip Vancouver/Vancouver ... departing July 24 and returning August 7 ...

I managed to snag first class tickets for the flight round trip using airmiles ... so we will have a really nice flight as well

We will be staying at the Victorian Hotel in Vancouver the day before the ship leaves and the night the ship returns ... which looks like a really cool place (check the link)

The cruise is aboard the Tahitian Princess which is a relatively small ship (~630 passengers). We have booked a mini-suite for the cruise since it will be 14 days on the ship ... I think we will enjoy the extra room and balcony!

The ports of call on this cruise are amazing and we have scheduled several excursions with independant guides that I think will really make this a special trip ... it is after all in celebration of Carolyn's retirement, and both our birthdays ... so it OUGHT to be special.

From Vancouver we will sail to Ketchikan where I have booked a flight to the Anan Creek Bear Viewing Observatory with Island Wings. This is a limited capacity lottery drawing only observatory so we are very fortunate to get this booking.

In Skagway we will travel the on the White Pass Summit railroad with Chilkoot tours (train up bus down).

In Valdeze we will do some exciting white water rafting down the Keystone Canyon ... MIGHT be too exciting!!

In Seward we have booked the Resurrection Bay Wildlife cruise thru Princess.

On Kodiak Island I managed to find a small operation bush pilot to take us to see bears ... I expect this to be a major highlight of the trip!

In Juneau ... we will be taking the Rainforest Canopy Zipline tour booked thru Princess

In Sitka I have arranged for us to take a SMALL boat with a local guide to see Puffins and Whales

And finally back in Victoria we will tour the Butchart Gardens

Whew ... are we crazy or what?

Hopefully I will have net access and be able to post to this blog along the way

Bade