Juneau, Saturday, July 11th

Saturday in Juneau was a nice, easy-going kind of day. We had recovered from the eleven-hour excursion to Tracy Arm Fjord the previous day. But, we didn't want to over extend ourselves two days in a row.




We traveled from Douglas Island, across the harbour from downtown Juneau to Gold Creek. This creek is located on the northern edge of downtown Juneau. In fact, it would be the same creek that we eat salmon on Sunday afternoon, July 19th on the cruise.







After a relaxing lunch at Bullwinkle's, we traveled north of Juneau to Auke Bay. (We learned that the previous week Johnny Depp had spent three days on a yacht there.) It was now time for an incredible experience that you don't get during a cruise. Feeding the wild eagles.







On the rocks of the beach area of Auke Bay during low tide, the wild eagles realized there was food for them to secure. Well, in they came! Some passing by me within five to ten feet. In fact, one passed so close I could hear the "whoosh" of the wind thru their wings! An incredible experience and sound.


We were witnesses to two eagles "locked in" on the same piece of food and there was a mid-air collision approximately four feet off the ground and fifteen feet away from our small band of observers.











Some of the eagles were so comfortable with our presence that they "allowed" me the opportunity to capture their image only twenty to thirty feet away. What a sight!



Below, you'll see additional images of that event. As you look at all of the eagle images, notice that each eagle has a distinctive "look".











Sunday, July 12th, was a travel day to from Juneau to Seattle and an overnight stay before our travel to Sooke Island and Victoria, B.C.

Juneau, Friday, July 10, 2009

This particular day of our seventeen day trip was one of great expectation for me personally. I had been looking on a website that described the Tracy Arm Fjord excursion out of Juneau. After several conversations with the owners of this excursion, I was convinced Tom, Joan, Dianne and I should think seriously about booking this one.

I talked to Joan about it thru emails and conversations and she noted that she had seen this excursion advertised on local tv and it looked like a trip-in-a-lifetime experience. That's all I needed to hear! The famous words from the tv series Hawaii Five-O--"Book It Denno!"

This excursion is impossible to take during the actual cruise since you leave at 7:45am and don't get back to Juneau until 6:30pm. The cruise ships just aren't in port long enough to include this excursion. So, since we had the time on Friday, off we went!

Here's a list of the animals we saw during the eleven hours--humpback whales, orcas, birds, eagles, seals, otters, black bear, sea lions and mountain goat. I've included with this blog an image of several of these animals.

There are two waterfalls that the ship's captain maneuvers, in a safe manner, next to the falls. The first falls is really a rapids that splits into three parts over a large bolder. Let's talk about this "I'll get you as close as I can safely" statement. As you would expect, I was at the front of the forty something passenger boat. Dianne, Tom and Joan were next to me.

As we moved in closer to the falls, I had my camera up and composing images. As the mist began to hit my face, I looked up and we were within a couple of feet of the falls! Looking to my left for my wife and two dear friends, they had moved further away from me to avoid the water. Tom and I both turned our backs on the falls and one pants leg got wet up to the knee. Now that's what I call close.

We progressed to Sawyer Glacier. Smaller than the Glacier Bay and College Fjord areas, but just as spectacular and awesome. With a smaller boat than a cruise ship, we were able to move in much closer to the glacier. Cutting the engines, we were pulled in the water by the current from the glacier. Not any closer, but still movement.







It's difficult to describe, but the quietness was almost deafening! During the time there, we began to see sea lions popping out of the water onto the icebergs! Probably over forty before we left.




As we left this glacier area, we were greeted by a small vessel whose purpose was to deploy two or three Kodiak boats of scientist to capture, tag and release sea lions. With small monitors attached to these creatures, other scientists could monitor their migrating patterns.


Now we come to the second waterfall experience. This particular waterfall is the traditional starting at the top of the mountain and falling to the fjord below. The boat's captain once again maneuvered us to where we were sideways to the waterfall, approximately one foot away! This time I had my fish eye lens attached and began shooting images of the waterfall--from top to bottom. Dianne made the comment later that she wished she could have taken a picture of me taking the images of the waterfall. I was twelve inches or less from the water. Why didn't I lean over the railing and get a drink of cold water? The image on the right is that waterfall. Dianne's right, seeing this image doesn't give you the real story of how close I was to this waterfall.

Lumping all three previous excursions on Alaskan cruises doesn't equal the scope and shear beauty of Tracy Arm Fjord. It's worth an entire day and cost to experience.


Dinner for the four of us was back in downtown Juneau at Tarantino's. Tom and Joan's suggestion of the Chef's Special Pizza was incredible. It included salmon and other wonderful ingredients.

Now was the time to relax at Tom and Joan's home and prepare ourselves for Saturday's newest and unexpected experience!

Juneau, Thursday, July 9, 2009

Joan still had work duties, but that didn't stop Dianne, Tom and me from taking in more of Juneau than what is possible during our limited port time during the actual cruise.


This day we began mid-morning exploring Sandy Beach which is across the harbour from downtown Juneau. As the tides move from high tide to low tide and back, interesting artifacts are left on the beach. This was a mining area until its collapse, so you'll see pieces of equipment that had been used in the mining process. Parts of dishes also washed on shore, but finding a complete dish is extremely unusual.




After a leisure walk in the area forest, we stopped and looked across the harbour at downtown Juneau and cruise ships that were docked. Peaceful and beautiful are just two words to describe the scene.





Another trip to Mendenhall Glacier to actual capture closer images of the glacier and the waterfall. The cool temperatures balanced out the walking to and from the glacier/waterfall area.










We met Joan for her lunch break at The Hanger. This eating establishment is appropriately named since the pontoon planes begin and end their day's journey just below the resturant.


Mt. Roberts which is on the eastern side of Juneau has a tramway to the halfway point of the mountain. At that point there is a female bald eagle in a protected exhibit, but can be photographed. You guessed it, you're looking at one of those images!




Following dinner a The Twisted Fish, located near the cruise ship docks, we traveled to both end of the main road. Total of forty-five miles to the dead ends. Tom and Joan had us at the northern dead end at sunset. Incredible site to behold. I've included an image of that scene.

Our day was now completed and an evening's rest before our day long excursion on Friday to Tracy Arm Fjord.