Pop and “Uncle” Ed, one of those honorary uncles who had been one of pop’s army buddies, built a cabin cruiser in Ed’s garage. It was a 16-footer made from a kit. They proudly trailered “The Laurel” to a marina … Continue reading Which Amsterdam?
Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going. –Paul Theroux. If that’s the case everyone on the MS Amsterdam’s 2020 world cruise is a confirmed traveler. The first half of the cruise went pretty much as … Continue reading 2020 MS Amsterdam Grand World Voyage.
It is navigational dawn. That means I can just make out the horizon. It’s 6:14 AM and I am too excited to sleep. I am watching a parade of Cruise Ships entering Port Everglades. Right now, I’m watching a Celebrity … Continue reading Too Excited to Sleep
“High Speed Rail” is a relative term. In the EU to be called “High Speed” a train must be able to travel either 155 MPH (250 KPH) over purpose-built track or 125 MPH (200 KPH) over standard rail lines. The … Continue reading “Higher Speed Rail” in America. (Drawbridge Up)
It used to be a tradition at Alaska Airlines, still may be, to put their best pilots on their most challenging runs. In the late ‘70s those included the Southeast Alaska “Milk Runs.” Wrangell and Petersburg had gravel strips on … Continue reading “Let’s Go Fly!”
The first Christmas in Sitka, in a trailer park, Suzi looked out the window and saw brightly colored boats cruising by in the channel. Over the years the boat parade has ebbed and flowed with the economy and the weather. … Continue reading Sitka Christmas Boat Parade, 2019
When Michael Castellini, Dean of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Grad School, was a young scientist, his department chairs told him to stick with the research and never talk to reporters. ‘That is why we have public relations people, they’ll … Continue reading Mysteries of the Changing Seas, Sitka Whale Fest 2019
Saturday Sitka’s Rotary sponsored a wildlife cruise. On the preceding blog post you can read my comments on the day and the viewing. This page is all about scenery, including a picture on one of the fresh landslides we saw … Continue reading Rotary Scenery
Rotary lucked out. Planning a fundraising cruise in October is an iffy thing when you consider the weather. Rotary’s cruise on Saturday had interesting weather in that it was sunny with fog beginning to settle in. You looked one way … Continue reading Rotary Wildlife
At 2 PM the Tlingit community held a Mourning and Reconciliation ceremony at the base of Noow Tlein, (Castle Hill) On the top of the hill was the “Reenactment” of the transfer with the Russian flag lowered and the US … Continue reading Reconciliation Day
The bagpipers have returned to Seattle, the beards and bonnets are judged, ball gowns are back on their hangers for another year and I am still digesting pie and donuts. I’m also getting around to sorting, processing and posting pics … Continue reading Alaska Day Parade, 2019, Take Two.
There is always food. On Problem Corner I promoted black cod tips at the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association and the food booths and the hot dog stands opening, at 11 it was fish pie and fry bread at St. Michaels, … Continue reading Alaska Day Parade, 2019
Sitka Historical Society 2019 Brew Cruise. It was weird, we were on an Allen Marine boat and the whales were playing all around us, and while some people took time to watch them most people were pre-occupied with beer, brats … Continue reading Wailing at Whales
Sitka Sneakers! Here are some boot closeups from the 25th annual “Running of the Boots.” and a link to the main article. Continue reading These Boots Are Made for Running.
The last cruise ship, the Seaborne Sojourner, pulled out of old Sitka Docks this afternoon. The visitors were treated to rare late September sunshine. While a few straggling tourists will still come in on individual tours (and we are glad … Continue reading 25th Annual Running of the Boots.
This blogpost started with a Facebook message from Joe Montagna. Joe is a musician and elementary school teacher who played the “Brian May” part in a Queen tribute organized by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. I attended the Friday performance, … Continue reading We Will, We Will Rock You!
In Sitka Eagles get free health care. The Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center cares for eagles and other birds who run afoul of humans, trees or each other. Each year the center takes in eagles. Some can be rehabilitated, some cannot … Continue reading A Hole in the Wing.
Sitka knows how to play. Labor Day Weekend featured a classical concert, Jazz and Mud Ball, a softball tournament that is usually played in the mud, but not so much this year. But for us the highlight was a three-way … Continue reading Earthquake? We Missed It, Too Busy Rocking the Dock.
The NOAA website predicted a “minor magnetic storm” for August 30 and 31. As the weekend progressed the predictions of magnetic activity became more intense and prolonged, into the first days of September. And the clincher, the weather in Sitka … Continue reading A Minor Magnetic Storm
On Friday night we flew out of Anchorage, up Knik Arm and crossed over the Chugach range and Prince William Sound, flying over some of the same glacier we saw a little over a week earlier on the 26 Glacier … Continue reading Prince William Sound, and More, from Above.
The 26 Glacier Cruise is a staple of tourism in Prince William Sound. Although now it is not 26 glaciers. Some have retreated to the point where an arm of land has split them so there are more than 26. … Continue reading Prince William Sound at Sea Level
John Sebastian sounded old when he started singing and I was beginning to wonder if this would be one of those festival workshops that would make me sad, reminding me of my own diminished abilities. But his guitar was sure … Continue reading Winnipeg Folk Festival, 2019
The Sitka Daily Sentinel. Sitka’s Daily Newspaper had a great float, right about in the middle of the parade, AND, after the Coast guard got the biggest applause of the parade. Congratulations Thad and Sandy. After the parade ended the … Continue reading And the Winner Is…