June 25, 2008. Juneau, the state capital. I know that because I was a geography major. I was a geography major because I always thought it was a good idea to know where you are (for no matter where you go, there you are) – and where you’ve been – and where you’re going.
The gang would meet up for dinner every evening – same time, same station – to discuss the day’s events and what we had all been up to. We had our own dedicated sommelier, because we were just that special. He had an assistant as well – something to do with our little peccadillos such as wanting our feet washed and our necks and shoulders massaged before dining. Anyway, they were great guys with great stories about the life and times working on a cruise ship. Wish I could remember their names.
[Can you imagine how hard it was to keep an eye on Crazy Dave in this place?]
[First stop, Mendenhall Glacier, part of Tongass National Forest, about 12 miles from Juneau. The visitor center was built in 1962, when you could almost touch the glacier from the “front porch.” The glacier has receded two miles since then.]
[Mendenhall Lake, created as the glacier recedes.]
[For those who would know her, doesn’t the photographer in the foreground look like Cindy Dale?]
[Pretty impressive – but where we’re standing is where the glacier used to be.]
[“I wish I had a glacier in my backyard!”]
[Perfect weather.]
[Ruthie & Anne checking for Dall sheep on the mountainside.]
[Crazy Dave garnish?]
[Great hiking. We wish we could have spent more time here.]
[Well, maybe we don’t want to do any more hiking – that’s a bear in the tree!]
[Checking on the bear, who was next to where all the buses are parked!]
[This is Anatoli. As reported, July 2, 2008: For all you basketball fans, Anatoli is not just famous for having his picture taken with Ruthie. He is a history teacher at Juneau High School where he taught NBA All-Star, Carlos Boozer. Carlos was a very good student, he said. He moved to Juneau from Russia in 1992 and still has a very strong accent. In the summer, he drives tour buses where he entertains the likes of us with history questions and great humor. So, I guess it is true that you can see “a Russian” from Alaska.]
[Alaska State Museum in Juneau.]
[Out and about, seeking garnish.]
[As I recall, we climbed a lot of stairs in Juneau.]
[The Governor’s mansion.]
[The state capitol.]
[Looking for Sarah.]
[Always looking to pick up stray animals.]
[The shopping district.]
[Here you can see why there are no roads into Juneau.]
[Bill & I find what we were “shopping” for.]
[Ketchikan will be our next, and last, stop in Alaska. Then we begin the long trip home.]