We flew from Anchorage, back to Seattle then to Vancouver. Vancouver to Auckland and then to Christchurch. 

 

 

Vancouver

you can buy your i products from vending machines!

Auckland after a 14 hour flight, I think those people are us!

 

We made it to Palmer for the night and almost kissed the ground outside McDonalds, so pleased to see some realty and normality after a very long time!
After a night in a (hire by the hour) motel, and yes the bed did squeak..... (and no not from us) we spent a great day in Anchorage, went through the amazing Museum and then out to the float plane runway, where eventually later that night had an amazing meal at the Millennium hotel over looking the two runways (float and normal) watching the sun set and the planes land. Indeed a perfect end to the trip!

the oil pipeline display

as so .....

so to update from there to here!

the cruise was well ......  we got to Skagway and finally got off the boat, and well we didn't get back on!

During the night, the Captain announced that a large storm front was approaching and that the cruise company had cancelled one of the ports and excursions, and was possibly cancelling the next one as well. Alongside this, they shortened the day trips in Skagway and the one we wanted to do we couldn't.
Of note, this is NOT an easy thing to do, or an easy decision to make .....
so the photos and trip took a diversion and we went to Whitehorse, which we had meant to do as a shore excursion,  but couldn't. We then drove across the Alcan highway through the Yukon and the top of Alaska, turning left at Tok (look that up!) and down to Anchorage. This is a remote road, and the Alcan highway has a bit of a reputation!
What a fantastic end to one of the most fascinating and amazing countries! This is our 800 mile journey! 

Skagway

Carcross in the Yukon

and up to Whitehorse. Stayed the night in this great little town!

 

and out of Whitehorse on to the Alcan Highway via Haines turnoff.

just stunning views

this is it!

and more

Destruction Bay

from here over to there .. Destruction Bay

From Beaver Creek ... an interesting story about that place and Buckshot Betty's Cafe

after leaving Tok where is was snowing and talking to Basil, to check we were ok to keep driving we head into the Glacier mountain range, and up in to the pass

finally at Glenallan

and do check out what is actually on this truck we are following! typical Alaska!

the snow plow markers ready for winter, yes to snow gets that high and those poles show where the road is

finally heading out to the Glacier mountains after a snowy drive and a bit of stress at actually maybe not making it home, to some sun.

 



So not much to add, the day was taken with chugging across the Alaska Gulf and then back to bed. The boat was a bit disappointing, in that it was not as luxurious as they make them out to be. The food is more like "rest home" slop, ok, but the same thing each night. The rooms are good, but the Statendam is an old boat so it is showing it's age. Very outdated TVs in the rooms, very poor shows and technology on board.

Lots of elderly on board, who are nice, but it does tend to lend that kind of air to the ship!

It was disappointing in that they hype up the 'things to do' on board. The realty is that the shows are not flash, and there is very little to do and you get quite bored. Also they do charge for everything on top, which we were unaware of. we knew about paying for drinks, but nothing was free, and the internet is horrendously expensive.
So that's the boat.................. 
and honestly after two days on board you are bored silly!!!!!!!!


So on day three we finally made it to Glacier Bay, you don't get off here the boat just floats around the bay and the fiord for the day watching the glacier.............

interesting but also a little bit like our scenery .........



we are still alive....

I will begin again now we have internet access...
so the photos you will see are us at Seward and heading on to the boat, the drive down to Seward on the coach with the group we were with. 

 

 

group photo at Canyon Creek

Seward

the Statendam

looking our to the entrance

leaving Seward

the towel collection that changes every night on the bed