Days after our return

Ok I will admit this …. This trip took a lot out of me as I became ill late on the day we returned (Aug 20).  I felt great when I got home at 3:00 but then as the day moved on I started feeling it.  I was seriously down for two plus days; I even tested myself for COVID just in case.  When I think about it, it’s not really a surprise.  A cruise is a whole lot of food, drink, and people, and with that crazy flight home it’s no wonder.  And I found out that I was not the only one who got sick from the 8 of us.

But I’m happy to report that I am well on the road to health.

Alaska had been the destination that Dennis and I talked about doing “when we are old”.  Well, I guess my timing was good.  Thanks to Lynda’s idea and planning, we  celebrated another decade birthday together: 

Will we be blessed enough to be The 80 Chicks???

Alaska did not disappoint, but instead overwhelmed me with it’s grandeur and vastness.  Did you know it is 2.5 times larger than Texas?

Alaska = 663,268 square miles
Texas = 268,820 square miles

And consider the population difference:

Alaska = 733,000
Texas = 30,977,000

Sorry Texas, Alaska is much more appealing.

Now as for weather, I have to admit that I could not handle the cold temperatures in the winter, or the lack of sunlight. We learned that the alcohol and suicide rate is high, but I can understand that.  I could only live in Alaska during the summer.

As for the ship itself, I don’t think the Royal Princess is very well suited for a cold cruise. In comparison to the Norwegian Bliss, which has a HUGE indoor observation area at the bow, it was challenging to find a place to stay warm inside and still watch the beauty moving by. I was very grateful that we had our own balcony, but that precluded us from sharing the beauty together with our group.

Being the techno geek that I am, I thought I would enjoy having an electronic device to open our cabin, pay for purchases, and even order WHATEVER from the Princess app and have it delivered anywhere on the ship.  But I scanned the device  via my EMF tester before we left and WOW!  That entire ship had to be glowing with Electro Magnetic Frequencies.  Not very healthy.

Of course there is NEVER enough time, but I would have really appreciated more time to explore, especially on the land portion of the trip.  And that reminds me …. when driving in Alaska, there are no billboards!!  Only endless nature. 

We all know that port stops are never long enough and excursions are the only way to go. My favorite excursion? The Alaskan Crab Adventure in Ketchikan. I booked that one at the very last minute. And in Juneau, The Food Walking Tour was delicious and it gave us a nice overview of the state capital. And trains, well … ALWAYS.

I wanted to try this Spruce Tip Gin in honor of my good friend, Deb Carnsew, but missed the opportunity.

Speaking of friends, many thanks to Jae Carnsew for turning me onto these electrolyte pills which Ivonne and I took faithfully. They really helped to keep our bodies hydrated and running smoothly.  But there is always a limit. 

I think Dennis and I may have been wrong on waiting to do this trip “when we are old”.  I think Alaska is best experienced as a young person with more energy, an adventurous spirit, and time.  When I was right out of High School, I spent two summers working on the south rim of the Grand Canyon as a waitress. That’s where I met my dearest and oldest friend, Marty Osborne. We had some amazing experiences IN and around the Canyon. I thought of those days many times on this trip,  as Alaska would be a fabulous place to live and work in the summer.

Of course I have friends my age and older who are still very active.  But I spent my career as a computer consultant and did not pursue as many physical adventures.  It’s all about choices.

If you haven’t yet seen the movie “Into The Wild” I highly recommend it.  I started watching it again on the flight home.  We actually drove by Stampede Road where Christopher McChandless started his adventure into the wilds of Alaska.  We also saw a replica of the Magic Bus that he died in. If you want more info:

https://christophermccandless.info/into-the-wild-bus/

TODAY IS TUESDAY, August 27th, and I am finally feeling like myself again. It took me a week to get my mojo back, and it’s a good thing because it’s my morning to teach yoga!

Many thanks for all who chose to travel along with us. Joe and I are leaving soon for a week long driving trip through Northern Arizona. We’re hitting some great locations: Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Page and Antelope Canyon, Jerome, and points in-between. If you have any suggestions of where to go and where to eat, please let me know. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to just following our nose and seeing what we’re meant to see. No real timeline except for hotel reservations and a couple of booked tours.

I Love Being Free.

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