Postcard From Breathtaking Juneau, AK
Mari
I love Juneau, Alaska’s Capital City! I could hardly believe my eyes as our ferry pulled in to Auke Bay, Juneau around 4:45am on Monday morning. The Mendenhall Glacier sits powerfully above the town and is clearly visible miles away. (This shot is a little hazy, but the sun is just about to come up. You can still see the glacier though.)
Ty and I had boarded the Columbia ferry the previous morning around 10:00am for our twenty-one hour journey. We’d chosen this schedule as it afforded us the most daytime traveling. However, for pretty much the whole journey from Ketchikan it was overcast and rainy and the ferry was real busy. All cabins were long sold out as the Columbia had begun her voyage out of Bellingham, Washington. I was amazed at how many people choose to pitch tents or sleep in loungers on the sun deck! (See pic below).
We had a whistlestop thirty minute tour of both Wrangell and Petersburg. The Wrangell Narrows are incredible! The ferry crew skillfully navigates through 75 different markers making 35 turns. Even with high-tech equipment, they still have a crew member standing at the helm to keep an eye out. (See pic above).
I did see one pod of Orcas. Wow was that ever a moving experience. People flocked to the decks and clambered to take pics. I didn’t get much more than a few black specs in the water. LOL. Next time.
In the wee hours, we attempted to catch a few hours’ sleep in the recliner lounge with many other folks. (Most peeps take the cushions off the chairs and make a bed on the floor).
Then we awoke to the announcement we’d be docking in Juneau in twenty minutes. I went up on deck and saw the huge majestic snow-capped mountains all around, the clear sky, the still waters, and the breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier. It was like we’d arrived in a new world!
I don’t know what it is about glaciers and me - I’ve long had an affinity for them. I think the first time I saw one up close was when my mum took me to the Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies in 1991. It’s like they hold the secrets of thousands of years of history and are ever-so-slowly revealing themselves to us as they melt away. Maybe that sounds funny to you… but maybe not. 
We’re now staying at the Spruce Meadows RV Park - a lovely, peaceful park just three miles from the Mendenhall Glacier. (There are two other major glaciers nearby).
On Thursday, Ty left for a three-day side trip to Sitka on his bicycle loaded up like a donkey. haha. His folks lived in Sitka for a couple years in the 1940’s. There’s a twin-hull ferry over to Sitka from here in just 4.5 hours. Regular ferry takes nine hours.
Today was gloriously bright and sunny by 7:00pm. I headed out to visit with the glacier … again.
The pic bottom left is a close up of glacial ice. At first it’s real tight and compressed, then gets aerated and crumbles.
Oh, when we first arrived, we did take a tour of downtown Juneau with four cruise ships in harbor - I’ll load up a video shortly to show ya!
Next up: an all-day boat tour of Tracy Arm to spot whales, sea lions, bears and calving glaciers.
How about you? Have you seen glaciers up close? Have you been to Alaska? Would you like to? I’d love to read your comments below.
Posted on: Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:15 pm 
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What a fantastic summer you’re having, Mari! Thanks for letting us share it by proxy.
Continued safe and exciting travels,
@DrTodd
June 21st, 2008 at 11:58 amMari
Great photos from Juneau. The day we were there it was pouring rain. My camera never made it out of the pack to take any photos.
I’m sure you’ll love Tracy Arm - that’s where we saw lots of whales.
Patty
Patty Hankins’s last blog post.. Links - June 20, 2008
June 21st, 2008 at 1:09 pm@DrTodd - thanks a mil. So glad to be sharing the fun with all my peeps.
Talk to ya in Twitterland.
@Patty - ooee, well I’m glad I jumped on the chance to photograph in the sunshine! We’ve been in Juneau a week now and that was the sunniest day by far. The Tracy Arm trip is a full day; I’m challenged to find a full day open in my schedule. Ha! Thinking I’ll wait ’til Prince William Sound for da whale watching.
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:24 pmHey Mari Gal!
You have the most adventuresome life of anyone I have ever met! Hip hip hooray for you!
I got so excited looking at these photos that I wanted to get in my car right now and head to Alaska. I even reported you to Stumbleupon for this post-hoorah!
Everybody needs to see these photos! Just wait for me …..I’m on my wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…………..bye Michaelll…..
June 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 pmHi Mari - read your post on Facebook - and had to take a peek. I really love Alaska and still have a house in Haines - and a company that sells excursions all over Alaska - especially in Southeast. Let me know if you get to Skagway and I’ll see if I can get you on a zodiac tour with my husband’s company that does zodiac wildlife tours. As you can imagine Skagway is pretty crowded in the summer - with lots of cruise ships in port. Please feel free to email me with any Alaska questions - I’d be happy to give you some contacts and any assistance I can.
Have a fabulous time! I’ll keep reading as you go farther on your journey.
Jane Button
June 24th, 2008 at 8:00 pmMari,
I’m worried about Ty. Did he take the RV keys or do you have them?
Geoff
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:12 pm