12 July 2018
The capital of alaska is another pretty place. I went to Nugget Falls and Mendenhall Lake with a fellow solo traveller, Abe.
A return bus ticket was $45USD and the trails are an easy walk. We got quite close to the glacier and waterfall.
I still haven’t seen a bear but back on the ship we did see about 100 dolphins playing in the ships waves.
11 July 2018
Ketchikan the first city of Alaska has a busy harbour. Today there were 4 cruise ships in port. Several seaplanes (float planes) helicopters and fishing boats buzz around most of the day.
My first stop was to buy my souvenir fridge magnet. I discovered Alaska is the 49th USA state and this is my 49th state I have visited.
I then went to take a local bus to the Totem Bite Park. The cost was $2USD one way with a $5USD all day pass whereas the cruise ship was $40. It was only a 25 minute ride each way so as I had a long port day decided it would be a good easy trip and I might finally see bears! Well 5 minutes into the trip the bus broke down so I took that as an omen to not do the bus trip today. I walked back into town, not concerned about doing any tour as I would be back next week on the Southbound cruise back to Vancouver. I did find various tours I might take next week.
I walked around town and enjoyed this cute town although there are far too many tourists.
10 July 2018
I love sea days because everyone parties the night before as they don’t have to get up early. Tonight everyone will party again because we don’t dock at Ketchikan until 11am so Another sleep in for everyone.
A deck game called ladder toss we decided should be called testicle throwing. Lots of fun.
Lots of fun in Battle of the Sexes.
Does anyone recognise the shawl and shoes?
We celebrated Abe’s birthday on Tsar’s Palace on the ship.
Yesterday I mentioned I would provide more information on Danny.
Danny (30 years old) whom we met on night 1 was actually married and on the prowl with me being his first invitation. It became clear later on the cruise that he and his 40 year old wife were swingers. My friends who know me know that I abhor infidelity and as open minded as I am in many things, swinging is not something I am into. I am very selfish. I won’t share my man and I refuse to be shared. The antics of Danny and his wife became entertainment for many on board but it bordered on stalking and harassment at times. You never know what you will meet on holiday.
9 July 2018
This morning I boarded my first seaplane. Harbour Air from Vancouver Island to Vancouver.
I have been so spoilt living in Sydney. Whenever I need to get a plane, Sydney airport is 10 minutes drive from my home. Taking a cruise, whether from White Bay or Circular Quay it is no more than half an hour and $3.00 for a train or $20 for a taxi or Uber. From beautiful Vancouver Island the ferry is $19 but takes 2 hours. Then you need to take an uber or bus to the cruise terminal. The most efficient transport is a seaplane which takes 15 minutes to Vancouver and then a 10 minute walk to the cruise terminal although at a price of $129.
Regardless this was a wonderful trip with a great view of Vancouver Harbour.
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Once checked onto the Norwegian Jewel I completed the tedious muster and then with my first cocktail in hand I got onto the dance floor at the sailaway dance party.
At the muster I sat next to Valentine from France who is a big rig driver in the USA. We hit it off straightaway and found out we were cabin neighbours. We went to the “solo travellers meet and greet” and made quick friends with Abe, another big rig driver in the USA and Rick a school teacher.
We all had dinner together and found another solo traveller Danny who joined us. More about Danny later in the cruise but I won’t include his photo as the reason will become apparent later.
A fun night of eating dancing and making new friends. And yes, I shut down the dance floor, although I wasn’t the only dancer to start off the night as usual. There was a family of 50 onboard holding a family reunion and they were great party people.
8 July 2018
An enjoyable day with the Bertoia cousins at Englishman River Waterfall Nanaimo.
I keep coming across these cute rock sculptures around North America. I haven’t discovered their meaning or where the idea comes from.
North Island Wildlife Rescue Refuge on Vancouver Island is the home of many animals who have been mistreated and cannot live in their normal habitat.
Cute Hedwig.
7 July 2018
The marina is a pretty spot for lunch with cousin Elena.
The fountain built by the Italian community in Italian Square Park to commemorate British Colombia’s Centennial anniversary.
Had dinner with this lovely couple Pam and Gil whom I met on the Norwegian Epic three years ago. Who would have imagined we would meet up again just 5 minutes from my cousin’s home in Nanaimo Vancouver Island.
6 July 2018
Goodmorning Nanaimo.
Strolling through cousin Giuseppina’s backyard.
A little tree hugging.
This 800 year old tree in Cathedral Grove is taller and wider than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Billy goats gruff 🙂 Coombs Old Country Market started as a store with a grass roof. The Norwegian owners decided to put goats on the roof to attract passing trade. It is now a popular tourist spot.
Discovered my ancestry on my maternal grandmother’s side includes nobility.
5 July 2018
Crossing into Canada from Seattle there was a crazy lineup of cars and I had to get a ferry to Vancouver Island on which I had reserved a car spot and was worried I was going to miss it. Someone I met yesterday told me to take the far lane on the right to the duty free to bypass the traffic. I did this but the lane was marked Nexus. I wasn’t 100% sure what Nexus meant but I found out you get a full car search while being held in the waiting area. The waiting area had the type of Americans I have not yet met on my travels. The type who the world stereotypes and I was embarrassed to be in their proximity. A loud mouth female bragging she was being held up because she had Trump “pads” (what are they) and tazers in her car. She engaged another man in conversation who was a Trump supporter and I found their conversation disturbing. I was almost annoyed with having to sit there listening to these ignorant people instead of being in my car in the queue. The Nexus lane is a specific fast lane for people who have a permit and have completed specific background checks to get a quick border pass.
However I did get processed quickly and got to the ferry terminal in good time. I had no fear of them finding any contraband and definitely no Trump paraphernalia good or bad.
At the ferry terminal I embarked with my car on the ferry Queen of Alberni which goes from Tsawwassen to Vancouver Island. The ferry takes 2 hours, holds 1200 passengers and 295 cars and is the primary mode of transport to the mainland. The cost is $90AUD one way for car and passenger.
I am staying with my cousin Elena and her family for a few days in Nanaimo.
How about these views from Elena’s kitchen and front of her home.
This is what I woke to today in Puyallup. What a stunning view in the backyard of where I am staying.
I spent Independence Day afternoon in a place I found on my Meetup app. Tom and Peggy have a property with a pool in Puyallup Washington. Fascinating that they advertise their address on the Meetup App for the whole world to see. I decided to go because it was only 8 minutes from where I was staying although driving here it looked like it was in the middle of the bush.
Lovely people. Thank you for your kind hospitality everyone.
Throughout the day the sound of fireworks being let off in homes and streets everywhere brought back fun memories of our childhood cracker nights. Wish they would bring them back in Australia.
When night fell the show started. It is so exciting. I don’t know where to look. There are fireworks at the front of the house, at the back of the house, upstairs you can see fireworks out on the horizon and I am as excited as Sydney NYE. Perhaps more excited because it is just people and their neighbours putting on this great show. 2 hours so far and it isn’t easing up. Not bad considering it is illegal to discharge fireworks in many of these housing areas. What a fun community coming together entertaining everyone!!
3 July 2018
I met Kristen in the bathroom (restroom) of the Longhorn Saloon in Fort Worth Texas in March.
We hit it off and she invited me to her home in Washington. I told her that she has to be careful inviting me as I will turn up. True to her word she has been contacting me checking when I would arrive and today she welcomed me into her home.
On the way to Kristen’s there were several homes decked out for 4 July celebrations tomorrow.
This sculpture caught my attention “hearts are bigger in Puyallup”.
At Kristen’s we had a waterfight with her son Colby and his friends as part of her birthday celebration. Waterfight
Then Kristen’s fiance Kevin, started sliding down the staircase on an airmattress. This is the outcome when Kristen came down with Colby. Pay close attention to the hole she put in the wall with her right foot. However, she may have broken a bone or two of her left foot which did not go through the wall but rather took all the impact. The dangers of having fun. Stair slide
I will leave today with this question. What is it with toilet stalls/cubicles in the USA. They are all built with these big gaps! I don’t understand why.
Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond 