September 11, 2011
Today started off great at The Woods Coffee. I about jumped for joy when I saw a gluten free breakfast sandwich. It was delicious along with my Blackberry White Chocolate Mocha Latte’. Yummy! The small town charm of friendly people and quaint settings made it our favorite stop yet.
While we waited in line to board the ferry Will met 3 other Coast Guard peeps headed for Kodiak. However, they were all boat people. One of which left his family behind until their housing is available. I pray they get housing soon too.
We have just set sail from Fairhaven, Washington, a small town just south of Bellingham. Ailish enjoyed the view off the deck and the wind in her hair. She is going to be one adventurous young lady someday.
September 12, 2011
Today is our first full day at sea. The activities have included sleep, eat, walk, sleep, eat, and sleep some more. Will has a valid reason for all the sleeping because of all the driving and unloading and loading the vehicle. Not to mention a slight cold that he has. Ailish, well she is a baby and is actually taking her naps! The bouncer is the perfect size for our cabin and the vibration and rocking of the ferry saves on batteries. I am not sure why I am sleeping so much. Maybe I am catching up on sleep too or the motions of the ferry are coaxing me. Either way I think it’s a good thing.
The view outside our cabin window is lovely right now with the most beautiful blue rolling swells. In the distance they are crashing on rocky shores that are covered by pines that lead up to mountain tops.
The rest of the day included an Orca Whale spotting (Ailish and I missed it) and a rousing game of scrabble. Topping it off with watching the Guardian to get Will pumped up for the task ahead of him. I on the other hand will not be watching that movie anymore until we leave Alaska. During intermission I was able to capture an awesome moonlit landscape/seascape on my camera. We are looking forward to posting pictures soon. Last but not least Honey Bear finally relieved herself after 30 hours. She didn’t understand the concept of relieving herself on the hard boat floor and we suppose that the other 8 dogs or so were a bit distracting (it is a designated area near where the vehicles are parked).
September 13, 2011
Ketchikan, AK was our first stop on AK soil. Honey Bear enjoyed the many spots to sniff and relieve herself. The foggy and misty day was not too cold as we walked to a small coffee drive thru. However, wearing my Tom’s did not prove fruitful. My feet and the end of my pants were soaked. Thankfully, Ailish was all bundled up and quite happy for fresh air.
We are now underway to our next port of call, which we will reach early tomorrow morning. I think we played five games of goldfish before looking at the clock thinking it was noon. Nope, it was only 9am. Guess naps and more games and movies are to be had today. Ailish is currently snuggling with her blanket.
Whales! We all got to see two Orca whales in the distance. Watching them surface, go back down, and spray was quite the sight. The most graceful was watching their tails glide back into the sea. Then there were these birds that flew just barely touching the water and then diving under. They looked like penguins, but penguins are not found down this way. Maybe they were puffins. I would look it up but no internet yet. Just documenting on Word until there is internet access.
September 14, 2011
It has been a rocking day! I don’t think I have ever been on a boat that rocked for this long. The curtains are going back and forth; water is swishing on the deck; and our jackets and bags are swaying on the rack. I think my brains are starting to swing too. Just a little dizzy, even Ailish has been in a comatose state. Will and I have been catching our step ever so often. Thankfully, we are not sea sick and are not prone to it. In fact it has been quite fun to walk around, but I think after today, we have had our fill.
Juneau was the first stop today at around 4am-6am. Honey Bear got a quick walk, but as I have been told there was nothing around besides the docks with other ferry boats. I guess the happening part of Juneau was further along the coast from where we were.
Tonight at around 9pm we are to arrive in Yakutat. Then off to Whittier, back to finding ways not to become bored.
The best way to describe this ferry is a cruise without all the free amenities and entertainment. Also, without excursions and port of calls that are during normal business hours. I will say that the crew is very kind and there are some nice folks on board. One of which has offered story time for the youngsters on board. Yep, that about sums it up.
September 15, 2011
Another rocky day at sea and now safely docked in Whittier. The best views thus far have been entering into Whittier with glacier sightings. As well as glacier run offs into the blue-green sea. If it wasn’t sleeting one would think they were in a tropical location viewing a waterfall.
Will took Honey Bear for a walk where they found a place for coffee (um, where’s my cup of decaf?) and discovered some interesting things about this town when Will asked about the large building. According to the coffee lady it was built by the railroad and the whole town lives there. They don’t see each other for about 100 days out of the year (summertime) and the rest of the time they get sick of each other from staying in close quarters due to the 300 inches of snow each year.
September 16, 2011
Yeah! Land hoy! Well, not yet, but almost. We have four more hours until Kodiak. Can you tell we are counting down? It has been felt like a never ending amusement park ride for the last few days with 8-12 foot swells. At times it has felt as if we were airborne. The front of the ship was the extreme. We would see sea and then only sky. It was the cause for much laughter.
The morning hours have been past with a couple games of scrabble. I have to mention Will won his second game against me last night and even got a “scrabble”. It was incredible! This morning he won his third game against me. I must be losing my touch. All this rocking, bumping my head on the bunk, and no coffee, I’m beginning to have withdrawals.
Praise the Lord! We will be able to stay at the CG Hotel until October 7th (before it was only until September 23rd)! Hopefully, we will have housing soon!
Land is in sight!
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