The following day, we found ourselves in Skagway, unable to port properly. Rockslides the year before altered the way that Princess docks here. We needed to use tender boats to get to shore leaving Dean and Claudia behind. 😑 We strolled through Skagway, dined at the Red Onion (a former brothel during Gold Rush times) and enjoyed Alaskan Fry Bread before boarding the White Pass train into Yukon territory - which was AMAZING. Check out our TikTok video: White Pass
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Alaska
Time for a new adventure!
This 5th trip traveling with Claudie and Dean was certainly an adventure, too! We all acknowledged that packing for cold weather in the summer is the most difficult travel experience we've ever had. Our very first cruise, to celebrate Claudia's cancer remission (not once, but unexpectedly TWICE) in two years, was planned for 7 nights on Princess' Ruby cruise ship for an inside passage to Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan with a day cruising Endicott Arm's Dawes Glacier.
We flew Air Canada to Vancouver, British Columbia to meet Ruby. The first day on a cruise ship is so interesting, with all the levels to explore and sights to visit around the ship, but we were fortunate to have a balcony, port side, and could watch Alaska roll right by us without leaving our bed, if we wished.
Our first full day on ship was at sea. While "inside passage" to Alaska never gets you too far land, we enjoyed the snow capped mountains and the small ripples we left behind.
By July 4th, we arrived in Alaska's capital city of Juneau. While it was the largest port we would visit, it was also inaccessible by car - only by air or sea. It was about 58 degrees and overcast, but we headed out to find some crab for lunch and to stroll through town.
Our following morning was at sea. We ordered breakfast to our room and stayed on the balcony as we traveled down Endicott Arm on the lookout for icebergs (no joke) and the arrival of the Dawes Glacier. Just after these pictures were taken, we had the rare opportunity to experience "calving" - where the outer edges of the glacier crack (quite loudly) enough to crash into the waters below.
That evening, we enjoyed a formal dinner in the main dining room. We are not very good at being "all-inclusive" people. We wander and find as we go along. This cruise gave us no choice but to sit and experience. Our cruise staff, especially our waiter, learn our likes and dislikes almost immediately. If there was a special request or something wasn't to our liking - it was placed or replaced immediately. Needless to say, there were very few things that disagreed with us and Dino took it to the max by trying anything and everything that had never touched his palate before. Boy, did we enjoy watching him enjoy it all! Here's just a peek at a little of what hit our plates...
The next morning was our last port in Ketchikan. The sun was out and we were excited to all get off at the port. Dean was attacked by a bear while waiting to dock, though...
...but we were able to rescue him and get outside into the sunshine. Our first order of business was to get ourselves over to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show where the guys learned to yell "Yo Ho!" We were overwhelmed with the crowds of 6 cruise ships being docked at the same time and could not find anywhere to enjoy a salmon themed lunch like we had planned on doing without standing in long lines or battling the masses.
It wasn't long before our entire week was gone. We disembarked exactly one week after we began. We said goodbye to Ruby and headed out to see Vancouver. Our next adventures would lead us south to Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
50 State CHALLENGE: NYC stop
Back in 2014, Chato set the goal of running forty races as he turned the BIG 4-0. Fast forward ten years, we've certainly rode a roller coaster, but he has reset our sights on his next challenge: wrap up the states we haven't knocked off. With the purchase of a scratch off map, we discovered 23 states together over our 25 years and nicely rubbed them out. We realized that there were 5 states that one of us could say we hit, but the other could not. There were 21 that neither of us had gone near, but there was New York - we had both "touched" but not at the same time together or long enough to count (when we crossed the bridge while in Niagara Falls back in 2015.
So, it is time to get to work:
Let's get New York done:
We took my birthday weekend to take on the Big Apple. Chicago kids in a big(ger) city? Say less; we've got this! From bike riding through Central Park, taking in a Broadway production, and jumping on subway trains, ferries, taxis, and a lot on foot, we saw all the sights in lightening speed.
New Jersey was on Chato's "to do list" even though I had visited it back in 1985 when my Aunt took my family over to Atlantic City. We are at break even right down the middle and halfway to somewhere: 25 states to go.
Friday, August 4, 2023
Day 6 - Estella to Torres de RÃo (Camino Frances)
On this day, we knew not to start too early. There was the promise of something amazing if you timed it correctly. Outside of Estella, approximately 3km or so, awaiting just around a bend in the road, there is a fountain. Not just any fountain though... a fountain full of wine! You'll have to watch the video below to see it for yourself. We consider ourselves very lucky. There are stories of pilgrims that eagerly arrive only to find the fountain empty. Each day, the Bodega Irache fills it with 100 liters; once it is gone for the day, it's gone. The fountain is open from 8am to 8pm.
Ayegui is the town that hosts the Bodega Irache. Cool fact: The winery bottles a line of tempranillo in this rioja country called PRADO IRACHE. Sad fact: The Prado part of the name only refers the rolling meadows that the grapes grow in. Happy fact: We are still pretty proud to see Prado plastered all over Spain.
We carried on, believing their were storm clouds behind us.
But the arrows kept pointing us in the right direction.
We paused for a good breakfast: café con leche and fresh croissants.
While we knew we had a long haul of a walk; our original plan was to stay in Los Arcos, but there were no rooms for us. The long path to Torres del RÃo was our only option. Thankfully, we found some new camigos, Margarite and Eric. We strolled the long gravel paths and time flew talking with them.
When we did arrive in Los Arcos, we made a decision to taxi forward the 8km to Torres del RÃo.
We were blessed with a refreshing snack and drinks upon arrival at a very unique and lovely albergue, La Pata de la Oca. It's medieval theme was stunning, mysterious and yet welcoming. Alfonso waited on us hand and foot and our pilgrim dinner was filled with beautiful people. We loved spending time meeting them all.
Day's end stats:
Km: 25
Miles: 15.5
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Day 5 - Puente La Reina to Estella (Camino Frances)
We've been out of the country for a week at this point. On this day, June 13th, we gladly had an uneventful day. We left Puente La Reina around 7am feeling pretty accomplished that we were making gains on those endless kilometers and goals pointing us in the right direction.
We had some beautiful views along the rises and dips of our trail. We kept ourselves busy and amused, too.
I met Ann Marie from California and we strolled along exchanging stories and being hopeful for all that our Camino would bring.
We came across our very first open air "donativo" - table set up specifically for pilgrims as they walk the Camino. Snacks, water, or little offerings that anyone could take for the price of whatever you could afford. On this morning, we found tostadas with olive oil and lots of nuts. It is the sweetest way to realize that the pilgrims are always cared for as they walk their own way.
By the time we arrived at our destination of Estella, I realized I was earning my first blisters on the pad of my feet. All of those lovely stairs are my favorite. Ugh.
Day's end stats:
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