Ketchikan on Aug 8th

Was awake as we arrived here (0600 Alaska time 0700 BC time)

After a light breakfast we started walking the streets ( so to speak)

We made our way over the old hooker part of town and then continued up the creek watching the salmon trying to make it up river. At one point we went down a path to right beside the creek and were only a couple of meters from the fish

Walked up to the Totem Pile museum ( which , once got inside we remembered we had been in to on our last trip).

We caught a free shuttle across town to a mall where I was able to get a slow internet connection to send and receive text messages

After the shuttle returned us to our ship we again went walking to the downtown. At a very popular fish restaurant we shared a salmon burger and mesquite fries. Yummy.

Before getting back onboard the ship Caro did some shopping

As of 1PM we are back onboard having walked 14400 steps and 10.3 km.

While in the hot tub we met a lady from Calgary who works on Baffin Island at a big mine there. Interesting

Supper was supposed to be at Sabatini’s but somehow the reservation was not there so we are now going tomorrow. Instead to went to Concerto’s restaurant which we really like. At supper we were with a couple from the Victoria area. They have been travelling a lot over the years

Saw a couple of humpback whales about 1930 hours.

Caro went to see tonight’s theatre presentation

Sunday at Sea

Ship went around Vancouver Island by Victoria last night

Omg. What a day

While Caro went to exercise class I went to a naturalist talk.

Caro’s Medallion” was not working properly. We spent over an hour looking for each other. Went to cruise desk for help with medallion issue.Problems fixed and now Caro can use the on-board app properly and we can find each other.

We also asked how much it would cost to upgrade our inside cabin to a balcony.

NO CHARGE!!!!!! So we changed rooms.

Before and After!

While eating a nice lunch I noticed the naturalist eating nearby. I asked if we could be put on his list to call for when the northern lights were out ( up til 2AM). Turns out he is from Red Deer and a teacher and he knows Serge!!! We had a wide ranging discussion on many topics.

In afternoon went to watch a talk from a fellow who owns one of the original Deadliest Catch ships (season 2). Now a tourist boat in Ketchikan for those who wish to see what the crab fishing is all about. $C500 each for a tour and boat ride so “no thanks”.The captain gave a phenomenal talk and showed parts of the Deadliest Catch episode with a rogue wave. Super interesting.

Tonight was a formal night so I “tidied up” a bit and we had supper in the main restaurant.

After supper we rushed over to the main theatre to see a production show. Very good singing and dancing

After that ( and in a massive surprise for me) was a show at the other end of the ship in the lounge with Edmonton comedian Andrew Grose. I love his podcast and for about a year was a patron on Patreon. He was also at our house ( in the middle of the night) to hand deliver a “Grose Misconduct” ball cap that I had ordered from him ( it was in the darkest days of Covid and he had no work so I was helping him out). I made a point of talking to him after the show telling him who I was. He remembers going to our house as it was the only delivery he had to make to the Fort.

Aug 6 Alaska cruise start

Royal Princess

Up at 0300 for a 0400 drive to airport. Parked car at Park2Go.

Flight delayed 30 minutes but otherwise smooth.

Walked around Vancouver shoreline for 90 minutes

Checking in took about an hour

Had lunch. Very tasty

Ship left port one hour late at 6:30 PM

Supper was “OK” however starter soup and later deserts were great. Ordered a bottle of Merlot wine to celebrate our 39th. The wine was nice but hard for us to justify once we found out the price (after checking our account) which was $80CDN. It is no more than a $15 bottle of wine at home

Watched an outside fountain light show and after that Caro stayed out to watch one of her favourite movies out on the big screen

Castlegar to home

 We left Castlegar about 8:30 AM (9:30 Alberta time) and headed back to Alberta. Our original plan was to stop south of Calgary somewhere but, as is usual for us, when we get that close to home we just "go for it".

We stopped for lunch in Fernie where Caro picked up some bagels at a shop that Lisa likes to go to (and Caro "loves" their bagels so we picked up a dozen). We also bought some salami so that is what we ate as we carried on. 

Once back in Alberta I filled up with "cheap" gas (I think it was "only" about $1.85 litre).

Just outside past the Crowsnest Pass area we took highway 22 north and then cut over towards Nanton. It is a beautiful drive (even though we had bad weather).

Caro took over driving at Nanton as six hours driving is generally my limit.

We stopped in Red Deer at Famoso Pizza and made it home at 9:30 PM. The non-stop driving time is ten hours so we had two hours of breaks during the day.

The Escape made it home okay and the weird vibration didn't get worse. The vehicle is going to the mechanic next week.

Kimberley to Castlegar

 Caro was up early to tend to Rachel while Mike and Michelle slept another hour.

By 9:30 we were all on our way with Mike and family heading back up to Fairmont to rejoin Hannah,Will and the D'Angelo family while we started going to Castlegar.

We gained an hour on our journey as we entered the Pacific time zone. This allowed us plenty of time to take a side trip to the beautiful city of Nelson (where Mom's sister Molly raised her family). After a twenty minute drive around town we headed south towards Castlegar,stopping just north of town to an historical suspension bridge and information panels on the Doukhobors sect (they had a thriving community here many years ago).

The photo below is taken just downstream of the Brilliant Suspension bridge and is the highway bridge into Castlegar.

 It wasn't much time after that that we were in the backyard at Brent and Tiffany Ryan's house. Kevin and Linda live in the bottom half of the house in the summertime and live the other six months in their home in Florida.

The rain forced us inside shortly after we got there mid-afternoon. 

They drove us around their city and out into the countryside to show us some points of interest. Very pretty area!

Supper was B-B-Q'd chicken with baked potatoes etc. We ate with Brent's family upstairs, enjoying good conversation.

After supper the rain had stopped so we went on a great hike through the forest nearby.

After further conversation back at the house we said our "good byes" and went to our hotel (The Sandman Inn).

Another wonderful day. "Thank you" to the Ryan's.

Kimberley

 ....or "the big cry day". LOL 

After a somewhat OK night at the Days Inn in Cranbrook we got up and had the free breakfast !! Pancakes, oh boy!! Freshly made pancakes for me and bacon,eggs and potato gems for Caro. Truly wonderful in my books!

We gassed up and we paid $2.19.4 for gas. The most we have ever paid, ever!!

The trip to Kimberley was nice and we were soon with Mike, Michelle and Rachel at the hotel at the base of Kimberley ski area. 

While Rach had her nap Caro and I went downtown for an hour to see the town and give time for Mike and Michelle to prep for the wedding.

We walked around the small downtown which is pedestrian only and while we were there we listened to musicians playing for those enjoying the beautiful day we were having.

Back at the hotel we got last minute instructions from M+M re: Rachel and soon they were gone on the 1:15 shuttle out into the country side to the wedding venue.

It was obvious Rachel was not having her normal happy day and no matter what we fed her, entertained her, or where we walked her she was not happy.

By 5 PM it was time for us to get Rachel ready for the 30 minute trip out to the wedding venue location for feeding time with Michelle. Rachel was certainly upset on the way out but she calmed down once she saw Mom and Dad!

One feeding, a showing off of the baby to the wedding guests, and we were homeward bound with a contented baby..... for the first 3 kms!!

Then unhappy baby returned LOUDLY. LOL. Not much we could do for her at this point but grin and bear it!! Maybe one day she will read this post. Ha ha. 

Caro managed to get Rach to sleep by 7:45. I had a drink prepared for Caro soon after.

Addendum-Sunday morning. 

Happy,wonderful Rachel is back with us!! Yay!!

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

 After a decent night's sleep last night in Radium we went out for breakfast in a recommended takeout place. It was busy and the food was good. 

We hiked Sinclair Creek ( we also did this hike some years ago). It is a flat walk of about two kms. total so it was a good way to start the day.

Mike phoned us from Fairmont suggesting we could meet in Invermere however the backup of cars on the highway attempting to get into Invermere for Canada Day was loooong so we cancelled that idea and drove straight to the resort.

It turned out to be a fantastic day. We started off with everybody going for lunch. Afterwards most of the group went back to their cabins to relax and  Caro and I walked around the resort to see the outflow of water from the hot springs pool. Pretty neat!

Zooming in shows people swimming in the natural ponds.

Later Hannah and Will participated in some Canada Day activities put on by the resort,getting candies and cotton candy as rewards.

Then it was off to the pool with all except Barry and Lois. I must have been out in the sun alot the last couple of days as I have a sunburned head ( yes, I know the reason why my head burns so easy LOL)

We said our "good byes" about 7:15 and were on the road to Cranbrook. The vehicle still "shudders" with hard acceleration but otherwise is OK. 

Tomorrow we will meet Mike and Michelle in Kimberley. While they attend a wedding and reception etc we are looking after Rachel (with anticipated two drives out to the wedding location for feedings). Hannah and Will are staying behind in Fairmont with Barry,Lois and Aunt Ray. We will be spending the night in the same suite as M+M tomorrow night.