R&K Travels Through Life

Alaska 2010 - Talkeetna to Anchorage 24/08/10

2010-09-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

A long train journey on our final stage of the holiday.
Lots of planes in peoples' back yards - something like 1 in 50 people in Alaska have pilot licenses.

A very nice hotel with a good bar.

Back to the airport the next morning an elk and baby along the way.

Alaska 2010 - McKinley Princess Lodge 23/08/10

2010-09-13T02:13:00.000-07:00

Only something like 20% of people who visit get to see Mount Denali (McKinley) - as you can see we were exceptionally lucky. This is a very impressive sight as is the whole panorama - the largest mountain in North America.

The lodge is fine some good restaurants and alternatives across the road. We took one of the free shuttles in the morning and had a sharp walk uphill - good to exercise after the Cruise.

In the afternoon we went on a leisurely Raft down the river.

Cruising in Alaska

2010-09-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

My General observations on cruising in general :-

Everything possible is done to help ensure passengers have a great holiday

daily soduku and puzzles
books and puzzles to loan
children clubs
lots of varied excursions but relatively expensive
all staff are excellent friendly and can't do enough to help
lots of evening activities - professional entertainment shows, films etc
naturalist was excellent

The natural beauty of Alaska is stupendous and the only way to get to see the Glaciers is by Cruise Ships.
The standards and availability of food is such that on average a weight increase of a pound a day is to be expected.

If you like to be organised this is the life for you

Alaska 2010 - Denali Wilderness Lodge 22/08/10

2010-09-11T02:12:00.000-07:00

The Princess Lodge is situated in beautiful countryside with a fast river flowing by - but I can't find the hot tubs!

Walks are limited by foot but enough to bring fresh air into the lungs - there are courtesy buses to the Denali Park entrance and as ever the rangers provide interesting and well presented information.

We had a 5 hour trip included in the package - the driver/guide was excellent - along the way we have an actor pretending to be one of the original Rangers - this is the inside of one of the huts.

There is also a talk by a native-American and various photo opportunities along the way.
We were very lucky to see two white wolves in the distance - easily recognisable with good binoculars - only 75 in the whole park. We also saw a large caribou.
An amusing interlude is the way the bus boils water for a cup of tea

There are a number of restaurants at the lodge and a pub across the way - good salmon and a variety of good beers. For breakfast we had granola parfait - granola, yoghurt and fresh fruit - very nice.

Alaska 2010 - Whittier to Denali 21/8/10

2010-09-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

So we board a glass-walled train that gives a 360 degree view of Alaska

The scenery demonstrates how vast Alaska is - but 8 hours is long!

More scenery - there is a hostess in each carriage who gives a lot of information

More scenery

Arriving at Talkeenta

Alaska 2010 - Whittier 21/8/10

2010-09-09T01:04:00.000-07:00

Cruising along the Inland Passage was certainly an experience - the Total Distance from Vancouver to Whittier being 1620.2 Nautical Miles.

Saying goodbye to the Diamond Princess (136 ft by 946ft) so big.

Alaska 2010 - College Fjord 20/8/10

2010-09-07T01:04:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia

College Fjord is a fjord located in the northern sector of Prince William Sound in the U.S. state of Alaska. The fjord contains five tidewater glaciers (glaciers that terminate in water), five large valley glaciers, and dozens of smaller glaciers, most named after renowned East Coast colleges (women's colleges for the NW side, and men's colleges for the SE side)

Cooler today but clarity is excellent for looking at glaciers

Glacier after Glacier today - words fail to adequately describe the grandeur all around - hopefully the pictures will speak for themselves

The Harvard Glacier

The Harvard Glacier is a large tidewater glacier in the Alaska's Prince William Sound. The glacier has a 1.5-mile (2 km) wide face where it calves into the College Fjord. It is 225 feet above the water level and 150 feet below the water surface. By any stretch of imagination Harvard Glacier is a spectacular one.

The following three pictures form a panoramic picture - we also did a video but too large for this site.

To get an idea of scale look at the boat with 4 people in at the bottom of this photo

This is the real deal - today we saw images that will stay with us forever - definitely one of those places to see before you die.

Alaska 2010 - Glacier Bay 19/8/10

2010-09-05T01:03:00.000-07:00

John Muir

"To the lover of pure wildness Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world." ..."it seems as if surely we must at length reach the very paradise of the poets, the abode of the blessed."

He described Glacier Bay as

“a stern solitude of ice and snow and raw, newborn rocks, dim, dreary, mysterious”
. And he wondered at the beauty of ice rivers that

“poured down from their spacious fountains on either hand.”
Muir was not only in awe of the natural beauty of Alaska, he was also very taken with the indigenous people who were the few remaining members of the Tlingit Indians.

A superb day - good weather - this is why we came to Alaska.

Rangers came on board and ran a commentary during our time here.

Ships are able to enter by permit only (a maximum of two cruise ships with zero on many day) - so we were lucky

Humpback Whales

On a beautiful day we saw dozens of spouts and several at close quarters,
The best was a pod of 6 that came out of the water at the same time

Sea Otters

My nomination for cutest animals in the world. Dozens of them passed by the boat - given relative sizes you need to have good binoculars. I am surprised to discover they can be up to 6ft high. They lie on their back and let the ocean current take them.
We even saw one mother sea otter carrying her baby on her chest - Ahhh!

3 bears on the shore eating the carcass of a whale

The Margerie Glacier

about one mile wide, with an ice face that is about 250 feet above the waterline and a base about 100 feet below sea level
The ice looks blue because light hits the compacted ice where long wavelengths (red) are absorbed while short wavelengths (blues) reflect back through the ice to your eyes.

Grand Pacific Glacier is dirty because of the debris embedded in it

Rains 80 inches a year on average but not today! There were also dozens of bergs on which gulls have hitched a lift.

Some passengers prefer to view the proceedings from the hot tub.

Alaska 2010 - Skagway 18/8/10

2010-09-03T01:02:00.000-07:00

Arriving at Skagway

Overcast 13C/55F
6.30 to 8.00pm
A nice little place on the Alaska Panhandle - with the emphasis on little

Rangers

Informative tour and film - highly recommended

Camp Skagway

The entire front of the building is faced with pieces of driftwood.
So many jewellery shops - Why?

Friends
Mike and Millie - honest, intelligent, amiable and good company - thanks.

Anniversary

Self explanatory - and the waiters provided us with a chocolate cake and sang a song.

Alaska 2010 - Juneau 17/8/10

2010-09-01T01:01:00.000-07:00

Bear

Ketchikan to Juneau is 275 Nautical Miles. Passengers can alight 8.00 am to 13.00pm
Weather - partly cloudy 66F/19C

Bears at Mendenhall

This is the only pre-booked trips we made (some of them very expensive). Got off the coach and following the guide book we walked the opposite way to the crowds walking to the Mendenhall Glacier. Literally within a couple of minutes we spotted 2 bears at Steep Creek. As you can see very close.

Mendenhall Glacier

The glacier is a very impressive sight and easy to get too. As in all US National Parks the hidden gems that is the Ranger Service provide informative talks cheerfully delivered.

Glacier

St Nicholas Orthodox Church

Mount Roberts Tramway

A six minute albeit expensive ride up - owned and run by the local Tlingits. We did the 2.5 mile trek back to town - thank goodness for the exercise.

view from the cablecar

Juneau

A pretty little place

Afternoon in the gym - more food and a film in the evening.

Alaska 2010 - Ketchican 16/8/10

2010-08-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Back 1 hour to Alaska Time - now 9 hours behind from the UK time. As far as body clock it is better than going from wast to east - but still takes a few days to adjust.
The Cruise from Vancouver to Ketchikan is 512 Nautical Miles - it was 35C in Vancouver.

The Ocean Princess

Ocean Princess

You can see that the boat is enormous - 3000 passengers, 16 floors. This is a luxury liner with shops, theatres, several quality restaurants, gym, leisure centre etc.

Ketchican itself

There is lots of rain but not today

We are so lucky with the weather - the picture shows that Ketchican has annual rainfall that makes it one of the wettest places on the planet. The town is compact with some pleasant features as well as the usual tourist traps.

Creek Street boardwalk

Picturesque

The famous 'Married Man's Trail' is fine - the boardwalk itself is quaint with some interesting shops and old brothels - and never particularly crowded.

Lots of Bald Eagles

At the Salmon Hatchery

We took the Funicular to the top of the hill and went to the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle sanctuary. The picture above is one within the sanctuary - we did see many free flight eagles throughout the trip - very impressive birds.

Salmon spawning

You will have to peer a little to see the salmon in the picture. We were lucky enough to see the thousand upon thousand of salmon swimming back to the hatchery, to spawn and die. I've seen TV and read about the life cycle but it was certainly engrossing to see it in real life.

Entertainment
We went to see a show during the evening - there are always lots of different alternatives and always at a professional level - more of that later.

Alaska 2010 - 13/8/10 At Sea - 15/8/10

2010-08-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

We set out on our adventure with a shuttle to Heathrow and a flight to Vancouver.
British Airways have certainly improved their entertainment schedules and watching Invictus and Avatar certainly helped the time go.
8 hours behind time difference - landed in Vancouver to find we wern't on Princess' list - fortunately they hadn't left the airport and after a couple of calls we find we are booked into a nice hotel and were transported there for a nights sleep.
In our half day in Vancouver before enbarkation we visited some old haunts - Stanley Park and the Totem poles. The temperature is balmy at 35C and the scenery wonderful - this is a view along the path.
The Canadians are true to their friendly reputation - lots of people will enquire if you look at all lost.
We went to the Brewery in Gastown for a welcome pint and lunch
On going to the Cruise Terminal we find that nearly 3000 people are trying to board at the same time so there are inevitable delays.
On getting through the line up to US Immigration it is to find that it has got even stricter - fingerprints of both hands. Unfortunately mine didn't take quite right which meant I had to wait a good three quarters of an hour whilst they reprocessed - we were last on the liner - stress

Sunday 15th August 2010

On getting on the ship and finding our room the day is spent orientating - with all the other passengers - so a bit frenetic but impressive.

The weather is good - important places passed overnight include

ShelterPoint, Narrow Passage and Queen Charlotte Sound

The Inside Passage

Nicosia Blue Line Trail

2010-08-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

A very easy way to walk around the city is literally to follow the Blue Line. Maps and signposts are good along the route.

The tourist office next to the Kyrenia Gate is friendly and informative. It was easy Easter 2010 to go through checkpoints. It is probably worth an afternoon if you have little else to do. As always in Northern Cyprus lots of dolmas (cheap buses) and good places to eat - including the one from which the picture was taken.

Check Out The San Diego Zoo via Google Maps

2010-01-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

Check out this cool view of the San Diego, California City Zoo (one of the coolest zoos in the world).

San Diego Zoo (Great Zoos of the United States)

The Flowers of San Diego, California

2010-01-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Right now where ever you are, it might be snowing or you might be having other issues with the weather.

But here where I live in San Diego, California I went running the other day (12Jan2012). And while on that run I took pictures of various flowers that I often see when I run.

I hope you like them, and if you get a chance I hope you come here to San Diego to see them for yourself...

Books on Travel to San Diego, California @Amazon.com

Right now where ever you are, it might be snowing or you might be having other issues with the weather.

But here where I live in San Diego, California I went running the other day (12Jan2012). And while on that run I took pictures of various flowers that I often see when I run.

I hope you like them, and if you get a chance I hope you come here to San Diego to see them for yourself...

Books on Travel @Amazon.com

click image for info

Dubrovnik

2009-09-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

	A beautiful city in the far south of Croatia – known in the Middle Ages as Ragusa. I prefer visiting here to visiting Venice. I think I remember reading that it was one of the earliest democracies (from 14th century to 1800’s)
	You can see how beautiful the city is – the Wiki is fine. The temperature, food and wine is excellent.
	A walk around the city walls is free and full of beautiful sights. On the couple of occasions I have been we have done day trips only so I am not sure if a longer stay is sustainable

Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast (DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide)

Amsterdam

2009-09-18T00:06:00.000-07:00

	Lots of windmills here as well
	Amsterdam is full of canals - flowers - and the red light area
	I seem to remember this being the site of the Anne Frank Museum
	A visit to the flowers
	and the Cheese Market. Amsterdam is definitely worth a visit.

More Crete

2009-09-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

	Knossos is OK but much of it is a representation by Arthur Evans
	However you do get an idea of how small the Minoans must have been and the bull acrobats.
	There are still lots of windmills in Lasithi - I cycled up to the plateau from Elounda several times.
	There are still lots of traditional scenes up in the mountain villages.
	The Island of Spinalonga seen from Elounda

Northern Sporades

2009-09-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

Skopelos (Greek: Σκόπελος) is a Greek island in the western Aegean sea. Skopelos is one of several islands which comprise the Northern Sporades island group.Skopelos is slightly larger than Mykonos (85 km²) and Santorini (73 km²). The nearest inhabited islands are Skiathos to the west and Alonissos to the east.

	We have stayed on Skopelos a couple of years in this Villa for the 4 of us. I can do splendour.
	There is ample room inside and outside – the marble floors just cool things down. I remember the glow worms, the astounding views from the terrace and the fig trees.
	Skopelos Town is dynamic but not too busy. Full of elegant Greeks and Italians with few British. There is no rowdy behaviour - an elegant place to stay.
	All 3 islands – Skopelos, Skiathos and Alinossos are lush – plenty of shaded walks in the heat of summer. Lots of flowers – I love Bougainvillea.
	This was a very elegant restaurant. Patronised by people speaking a multitude of languages and one of the few places you need to book. The waiters/waitresses were unphased – converse in whichever language. This was elegant dining – canapes, main courses and the ambience of the place. There are several fine restaurants in the town including Finekas – which has fine views.
	Evidence of the lush and shaded walks
	Time to chill and read a book or have an Ouzo.
	Some beautiful surprises along each walk. I heartily recommend this Island.

An Island in Greece: On the Shores of Skopelos

A Couple of Athletic Thingies

2009-09-03T12:18:00.000-07:00


	Starting the Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle route in 1980
	I must have been young and stupid – this was shared by the two of us each evening. I remember breakfast was cooked up on a Primus Stove – instant mash and instant sausage mixed. Yum!
	It rained every day.
	Very, Very Cold up here.
	Finishing my first Marathon in 1982 – Bradford – 12 miles of which were uphill – it poured the whole way round! (3 hrs 40 - I got a lot quicker than that)

Infinity and Durrell

2009-09-02T00:44:00.001-07:00

	Corfu is a nice enough place in the Ionian Sea - excellent climate, wonderful restaurant/tavernas. When we were there it was very hot, too hot to do much walking. Good job the villa we were staying in had an infinity pool with marvellous views.
	I remember reading Lawrence Durrell who is very much associated with Corfu - this is a picture of the family house. A liitle of his poetry Strip-Tease

Soft toys that make to seem girls
In cool whitewash with two coral
Valves of lip printing each others' grease ...
A clockwork Cupid's bow. Increase!
Their cherry-ripe hullo brims the open purse
Of eyes washed white by the marmoreal light;
So swaying as if on pyres they go
About the buried business of the night,
Cold witches of the elementary tease
Balanced on the horn of a supposed desire...
Trees shed their leaves like some of these.

Prospero's Cell: Guide to the Landscape and Manners of the Island of Corfu

Vikos Gorge Walk

2009-09-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

	Zagoria is a famous Greek mountainous area to the north west side of Greece, in the prefecture of Ioannina. From our walk you can see Albania. It is an area of incredible natural beauty that includes the Vikos Gorge
	The area, called the Zagori, has 44 villages called the Zagorohoria. The 12-kilometer gorge itself can be hiked in two or three parts: Monodendri north to Vikos; Vikos to Papingo, and Monodendri south to Kipi and its lovely arched stone bridges.We did it in one day - from Monodendri to Macro Papingo - arduous but possible and you do get a wonderful sense of achievement.
	From Monodendri, the trail into the gorge drops steeply to the Voidomatis River. The trail turns left while still in the trees and continues through the woods in a charming, lovely, and pleasantly graded footpath that parallels the river. Said to be the deepest gorge for its height, the Vikos Gorge measures 2950 feet (900 meters) deep and 3600 feet (1100 meters) from rim to rim. At another spot, the depth measurements are 5,927 feet (1,780 meters) deep, from
	Monodendri or Vitsa are excellent places to set off for along the dry river bed to Kipi and view the graceful arched stone bridges along the way. Sometimes referred to as "packhorse" bridges, these one-, two-,or three-arched bridges were parts of cobblestone roads that linked these remote villages until roads were opened in the 1950s. Erected in the 18th and 19th century by itinerant builders who built over 500 bridges in Greece and the Balkans, the Kipi bridges were financed by local families and generally named after them. Armed with a map and a guidebook, one can easily spot the arching bridges and the stone "kalderimi" paths that lead upward to the various villages. The Misiou Bridge lies below Vitsa; the Kokoros is beside the main valley road; the Knododimou is between Kipi and Koukouli, and the rest are either side of Kipi. A triple span, the Plakida, is downstream and three more are upstream from the village.

I would definitely like to go again - there are mountain routes beyond Papingo that just look wonderful. You do need to arrange a lift back to collect your car - the area is remote - we managed to hitch with a couple of Kiwis.

Greece: Land of Light
Excerpt - Front Matter: " ... mountain ranges draped ih pine and crowned by snow. There is the Vikos Gorge, like a miniature Grand Canyon, and the otherworldly needles of rock topped by monasteries ... "

Moudzouris- Lehonia to Milies

2009-08-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

The narrow gauge Little Train of Pelion [gauge of 60 cm] now operates between Lehonia and Milies.
Having been superseded by the motor vehicle, however, the Little Train was decommissioned in 1971 because it was deemed to be uneconomical. Despite this, his friends never forgot their "Moudzouris" [an endearing term meaning "the smoky train"], and, after applying pressure to the right quarters, they managed to have it reinstated into service after about 25 years. Today it operates in high season only for tourist purposes, and a ride on it is the favourite excursion of Pelion visitors of all ages and nationalities.

An enjoyable 90 minutes each way (17 Euros return ticket)

Beaches in the East Pelion

2009-08-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

	The Pelion has borders with the Aegean Sea (see picture) and the Pagasetic Gulf - both perfect aquamarine.
	Papa Nero is a beautiful sandy beach an easy 4km walk downhill from Mouresi
	Enormous, with fine white sand and turquoises waters, Papa-Nero is a pure marvel.
	Agios Iannis. This extremely beautiful sandy beach is near the village of Kissos.This beach attracts every summer thousands of visitors
	Milopotamos is a white, sandy pebble beach, with light crystal water of a unique beauty.
	Damouchari is extremely beautiful and particularly peaceful, and has the advantage of not yet being invaded by tourists. There, one can enjoy a calm and dreamy stay at one of the two pebbled little beaches with amazing blue-green water, visit the remains of a kastro, see the little shops on the coast or admire the beautiful olive grove starting from the sea and ending up the mountain

Walking in the Pelion

2009-08-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

	The Pelion is the land of the legendary Centaurs, the site chosen by the ancient gods for their weddings It was here that the centaur Chiron, the wise teacher of demigods and heroes, gave his pupils daily instruction in the proper care of body and soul. Here, as well, the first beauty contest took place between Thetis and Eris.
	The land is full of kalderimi or mule tracks that make for delightful walks.
	We drove the car to local villages such as Kisso (52 km. from Volos, alt. 550 m.), one of the most mountainous villages on the eastern flank of Pelion, and walked down to the summer seaside resort of Agios Ioannis where the green of the mountain blends with the blue of the Aegean.
	From Mouressi it's a simple matter to walk down to the beautiful pebbled beach at Damouhari.
	There are many beautiful stop off places en-route. Churches, bridges or just time to gaze over the views of the Aegean.
	A new bus service connects all these villages - it is on time and the staff are very pleasant - this opened up lots of walks for us.
	Five kilometres after Mouressi, still driving through thick forest, you arrive at Tsangarada, on the spine of Pelion . Its emblem -the thousand year old plane tree in the main square whose diameter measures 14 metres