July 14, 2009 Butchart Gardens

Tuesday, our adventure began at the Ocean Wilderness B & B on Sooke Island. Following a wonderful breakfast, our group of eight boarded the SUV and traveled to Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C.

Of the three previous cruises to Alaska, Dianne and I hadn't included Butchart Gardens on the itinerary. After seeing digital images of the incredible site, that wasn't to be the case this trip!

Here's some history about Butchart Gardens. Robert Pim Butchart and wife, Jennie, moved to the current location of Butchart Gardens in order to mine the area for limestone type product to produce Portland Cement.
Once the mining operation completed in 1908, Jennie, envisioned a wonderful garden area to replace the remains of the area. Her task began with moving soil that would be acceptable to flowers, trees, and wildlife. Thus, the abandoned quarry blossomed into the spectacular Sunken Garden. As the years progressed, more was added to this beautiful, breath-taking site.









Our group spent well over six hours observing and taking in this wonderful vision Jennie had in her mind and produced. Dinner, in fact, was reservations at the home where the Butchart's lived.







As twilight began somewhere around 8:30pm local time, lights on the grounds began to signal evening was close behind. Even at this point in the evening, the gardens not only remained beautiful, but provided you additional photographic opportunities.
Leaving Butchart Gardens, we made the journey back to Ocean Wilderness B & B for another wanted night's rest.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Sunday, July 12th, was a travel and rest day. Following church and lunch in Juneau, it was time to say goodbye, for the moment, to our dear friends in Juneau. We then flew from Juneau to Seattle, picked up the eight passenger SUV and arrived at our motel for the night and to meet our three other couples for the next segment of our trip.

Monday, was an early wake-up call to travel to Anacortes, north of Seattle to board the ferry to Victoria Island. Vehicles and passengers boarded and we we
re off to the island! Once at Victoria, we traveled to the downtown area and parked in The Empress Hotel parking garage. A wonderful, old, but well maintained hotel. Lunch was adjacent to the harbour area, and yes seafood was the order of the day!

After some walking time to stretch the legs and see the outside of the Parliament Building and some quick looking in some of the shops, we traveled to our Ocean Wilderness Bed and Breakfast location on Sooke Island.

A delightful place to spend Monday and Tuesday nights. From the B & B there was a 15-story walk down to the beach area. Bill and Morris were the initial travelers down and back up the steps to

the beach. Dianne and I made the trek down to view the surrounding area.

While Dianne was sitting comfortably in a chair, I was observing and taking digital images of the beach area when it happened. I noticed something to our left moving out of the forest. Yes, a black bear. I'm guessing it was moderate in size, but didn't get close enough to take measurements!

The bear was approximately twenty-five yards from our position. He would look at us and continue his search for whatever he was searching for at the time. Both Dianne and I remained still and quiet. Yes, I was quiet.

After taking several digital images, I quietly said to Dianne, "I think it's time for the two of US to leave the building". Dianne agreed and we began our upward ascend to the B & B. I told Dianne on the way up, if I see the bear behind me coming our way, I will pass you, including my camera equipment!

Once back at the B & B I asked Bill and Morris if they had seen the bear. They didn't believe we had seen a black bear until I produced the digital images on my camera's viewfinder. The remainder of the afternoon was R & R at the B & B until dinner.

Bill and Myrion had visited Sooke Island several years ago and knew the lay of the land. They had made reservations at Sooke Harbour Restaurant for the evening meal. Great, multi-course meal.

Following the meal, we traveled back to the B & B to end the day with a well deserved night's rest, ready to experience Butchart Gardens in Victoria the next day.

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.

Senior Saints Party, August 1, 2009

Our local congregation has a group called "Senior Saints". Any member fifty and older qualify. Several times during the year, John and Betty Proctor, coordinators, plan an activity for these people. One trip included traveling to the Petrified Forest in Flora, MS. Last night's activity was a meal, funny emails and, of course, board games.






As we entered the multi-purpose room a group was already playing Chinese Checkers. I can't remember how long it has been since I have been that close to people playing this game!



We sang a familiar children's song with appropriate words for senior saints--

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, this I know
Though my hair is white as snow.
Though my sight is growing dim
Still he bids me trust in Him.

Though my steps are oh so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go.
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.

Though I am no longer young,
I have much which He's buegun.
Let me serve Christ with a smile,
Go with others the extra mile.

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words os clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand his love.

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say
That I love Him every day.

Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so.


The tables were decorated with a "beach scene" complete with beach towels, flip-flops, beads, etc. Jimmy Buffett would have been proud of the arrangements!

John Proctor engaged the group in a game of Bible Trivia. While the group handled the questions well, there were a couple of times John Pigg and Danny Spain consulted with Danny's Bible application on his phone to verify the game's answer.




After dinner, the group broke into two smaller groups, one playing Balderdash and the other Apples to Apples. And the fun began. Laughter soon followed with the playing of the games. It could be that several people woke up Sunday morning with sore ribs from all of the laughing.

While the Ridgeland, MS, area received additional rainfall, thunder and lightning, every one of us focused on the group and great fellowship.

Thank you John and Betty for a wonderful Saturday night.

Emily's Graduation, July 31, 2009

Friday was a special day in the Palmer household! Emily now has completed all requirements and earned her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development from Hinds Community College.



Dianne, Amy and I were part of the guests in attendance to witness and celebrate graduation ceremonies on the campus of Hinds CC.


Emily not only completed the degree requirements, but had a 3.6+ GPA which placed her in the category of Magna Cum Laude territory. Congratulations, Emily, we're proud and you and your accomplishments.

Now, she'll change her major to Elementary Education, take core classes at Hinds from Aug. 2009 thru May 2010. Then, transfer to Delta State University for two years to earn her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education.

Go Girl!!!!!!!!

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.