Tag: #solotraveller

Nanoose British Columbia

24 July 2018

I spent the day at my 79 year old cousin Josie’ s place on the edge of the woods of Vancouver Island. Her home has no backyard neighbours, in fact there is noone between her and the West coast of Vancouver Island.

With the largest population of cougars in the world I was hoping to see one on our walk through the woods. I will beat some of my funny friends to the headline if I was attacked “Aussie cougar attacked by Canadian cougar”.

On our first walk Josie’s husband Jimmy got so worried about us he came through the woods with a huge saw in hand. He used the excuse that he was clearing a path for us.

After lunch Josie filled me in on more family history regarding my cousin Harry Bertoia, sound art sculptor and modern furniture designer.

Josie and I went for a late afternoon walk in the woods and realised we had worried her husband Jimmy again as he broke out with the Reveille Military Wake Up Call on his trumpet to call us out of the woods!! If I was ever going to see a bear it wasn’t going to happen after that!!

How strong must a woodpecker beak be! These are woodpecker holes.

Vancouver

23 July 2018

Gettting off the NCL Jewel I was trying to work out the logistics of doing another cruise. It is depressing when a cruise ends however, I really can’t complain as I still have another 24 days of my USA Road trip to continue.

My cousin Elena met me in Vancouver after I did a free walking tour of the city.

The 2010 Winter Olympic cauldron.

Raindrop sculpture is not a popular piece of art.

Went to Queen Elizabeth Park. The Photo Session Sculpture.

The Dancing Waters Fountain was so inviting Elena and I couldn’t resist cooling off.

The BC Ferry between Vancouver Island and Vancouver is fascinating. It amazes me how many vehicles including big rigs line up to board the 2 hour trip.

Ketchikan

21 July 2018

23C 80F!! This is my last day in Alaska!! What a breathtaking place!! So glad I did the 2 cruises northbound and southbound. I saw everything differently the second time. The weather was different and everything is so fresh crisp and clean the photos look photoshopped.

A bald headed eagle above.

I took the local bus to the Totem Bite State Park which was the best way to enjoy this glorious weather, walking around this historical site.

One of the cruise families have been Geocache hunting and found this.

I returned to Ketchikan by local bus and was dropped off in the historical red light district of Creek Street.

Went to see if there were Salmon running but the video of the water was a beautiful consolation.

Can you see the golden eagle.

Juneau

19 July 2018

A short port day in Juneau. I walked around the harbour to catch some bald headed eagles sitting by the shore.

Had some killer whales swim by but decided to enjoy watching rather than photographing for a change.

In the afternoon we sailed to the Sawyer glacier and inside passage.

This video is spectacular

Norwegian Jewel Southbound

17 July 2018

After several annoying incidents including moving me out of my cabin 9525 to 9151 for the second part of my cruise due to a booking mix up I was invited to the VIP glacier viewing on deck 15, The Haven.

This is an elite area which provided complimentary drtinks including hot chocolates with triple Bailey’s shots. But the best was the view of the Hubbard glacier.

The weather this time was so much clearer which produced very different photos to 2 days prior.

I have been enjoying ship events solo as I normally do but I have been missing the fun team from the northbound Alaska trip.

Luckily the entertainment and crew have been filling some of that void.

The solo travellers this cruise include young ones aged between 18 and 20. I call them my babies and they also accompany me on the dance floor.

Glaciers

14 and 15 July 2018

These were sea days but in particular we floated around Hubbard and Sawyer Glaciers.

The scenery is breathtaking. We sailed through ice which crackled, spectacular blue and white of islands of ice and heard explosive sounds when pieces of the glacier fell away (caving) were entrancing.

Of course I danced away each night.

Skagway

13 July 2018
The gang Abe, Bob, Rick, Valentine and I had a 3 hour experience on the train at Skagway along the White Pass and Yukon Trail.

This rail excursion is a must do as it takes you through breathtaking landscape up high mountains, scary wooden bridges and gets close to the oldest cantilever bridge (once again I am fascinated by bridges).

Trying to get photos through the trees there are cries of “can someone cut down some of these trees!! Throughout the train.

The town looks like something out of a movie.

Juneau

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.

Ketchikan

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.