Alaska Cruise

OMG - the trip of a lifetime! Our family cruise to Alaska was spectacular! We flew with Carlos and Megan to Seattle on Thursday evening and met with Judy and Marilou and Ray and Mel and then boarded the Celebrity Solstice on Friday afternoon. Saturday was a day at sea to give us time to explore the gorgeous ship. Sunday we docked in Ketchikan where Roger went salmon fishing and the rest of us took a seaplane tour of Misty Fjords and the Tongass National Forest. It was cloudy and misting on and off - in the low 50's - but it did not dampen the gorgeous scenery.  We were even brave enough to get out and stand on the pontoon!

Mel & I in Misty Fjords

Nobody caught any fish but Roger got some incredible video of eagles swooping down to catch fish that the boat crew were tossing to them. There was a naturalist on board the cruise ship that gave informative and entertaining talks on the history of Alaska and all the wildlife - bears, whales, eagles, sea lions -  so we learned something new every day.

We awakened to beautiful blue sky and sunshine on Monday morning as we cruised in Tracy Arm Fjord to the Sawyer Glacier. Photographs, videos and words can not describe the incredible beauty of the snow capped mountains, waterfalls and the blue tinged icebergs floating in the water. Thanks to Megan's great eyesight, we even saw a grizzly bear along the edge of the fjord! This cruise was the "maiden" voyage of the Solstice into Alaska so a helicopter joined us and flew around taking marketing pictures - we got very close to the glacier and stayed longer than usual in this lovely place.

Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm Fjord

Juneau was our next stop - another gorgeous day - but there were high waves out in the sea that cancelled Judy and Marilou's whale watching (we did see whales from the main ship) and Carlos and Megan's sea kayaking excursions. We took a shuttle out to the Medenhall Glacier and while we were hiking to get up closer and see a waterfall we encountered a mother black bear and her 2 cubs grazing along the trail! That stopped our trek - great to get a look at them from a distance but didn't want to get too close to a protective Momma bear! We learned that much from the talks!

Roger & I at Mendenhall Glacier

Skagway was next - another gorgeous day - the crew and towns people kept telling us how lucky we were to have so many warm, sunny days in a row! Of course, the term "warm" is used differently in their world vs mine! I bought a headband knitted from sled dog hair mixed with wool - they assured me people with dog allergies would not sneeze when next to me!!

We rode the Yukon Railroad up through the mountains in Skagway - more gorgeous scenery around every turn and tunnel. Roger and Carlos road up on the train and then biked back down the mountain. They said it was fun but an exercise in braking! Megan had to cancel her plans to go with them because of her knee injury - her surgery is planned for June 14th.


Yukon Railroad Trip

The next day was another day at sea to relax and reflect on all our wonderful memories. We celebrated Judy's retirement on formal night. She loved her "Celebrate a Hero" book where all her friends and co-workers wrote fun messages. The hot tub, more great food and entertainment were daily enjoyments. As was sitting in the lounge just looking out the window! Judy and Ray won some money at the casino - the rest of us were happy to break even!

The ship docked in Victoria, British Columbia on Thursday evening but Roger and I have been there before so we stayed on the ship. Poor Megan, had a kidney stone! The ship physician treated her that evening and she felt better on Friday - she either passed it or it moved to a more comfortable spot!

Carlos & Megan at formal night

We toured Pike's Market and ate delicious seafood along the wharf in Seattle on Friday - saw a movie Friday night and flew home on Saturday. Always good to go and good to come home! But, I miss the omelet bar!!

Our camera broke soon after our voyage began so my pictures are limited but, Judy bought a new camera and took a photography class at JCC before we left so, she was our group photographer. Anxious to see her pictures!

Mother's Day

Mom and Samantha Kate making silly faces!

Mom with Emily Grace

We are driving through Louisiana and remembering the two week trip we had with both of our mothers in 2002. Judy and Mel drove them to Kentucky to meet us and we traveled to North Carolina to see Heather and Kyle and then on to Atlanta to see Rick and Allison, stopping to see the sites on the way. We toured New Orleans while in Louisiana and then headed back to San Antonio. They flew home later that month.
We laugh because I let them take turns sitting in the front passenger seat of the motorhome so they could see the scenery but, they usually fell asleep within minutes. Izetta said "wake me up when we cross the Mississippi River!"
We have fond memories of spending time with them. It was during this trip that we noticed the beginning of Mom's dementia and Izetta was in a nursing home within 6 months. We timed it just right!
I told Roger I wish I could have your Mom's chicken and biscuits and my Mom's pie for dinner today!!


First Christmas in our Spring Branch home

Gaffney, South Carolina

We are in Gaffney for 3 days while Roger attends a class at the Freightliner Chassis factory. We took the plant tour yesterday and then had great Mexican food at Bronco's - a place Jay Burley told us about. After lunch we drove out to Cowpens National Battlefield. We assumed it was a Civil War site but were surprised that it was actually where the Continentals and backwoods militia beat the British during the Revolutionary War. The battle took place in an area where local farmers "wintered" their cows, hence the name. A little piece of history.
There is a dinner for all the attendees and their spouses tonight. I am busy today getting things ready for our cruise next week - packing isn't the problem - it's deciding what to take that is the dilemma!

Charlotte Reese Lasich

Meet the newest addition to our family, Charlotte Reese Lasich, born April 15, 2013 in Dallas, Texas.
Congratulations Joel and Rachel! Now Mel and Ray can enjoy the rewards of being grandparents! The girls are excited to meet their new cousin!

Savannah, Georgia

It finally stopped raining and the sun came out yesterday so we toured historic Savannah - a beautiful old southern city. We took the "hop on - hop off" trolley tour so we could hear the history of the area. It was founded by an Englishman named Oglethorpe who brought debtors here for freedom. He designed the town around at least a dozen  "squares" or parks - all with lovely landscaping, statues and of course, those beautiful old live oak trees with moss. It reminds us of Charleston with the lovely old homes.



We ate lunch at "The Pirate House" an old tavern from the early 1700's. Delicious "She Crab" soup! The legend tells the story of a tunnel under the inn where the pirates smuggled rum and kidnapped men who were forced to sail and work on their ships. Hence the term "Shanghied" - even though they were not taken to China!

Then we toured St. John the Baptist Catholic Church - gorgeous fresco's on the ceilings, stained glass windows and three dimensional sculptured stations of the cross.




We finished the afternoon at Leopold's Ice Cream parlor - a Savannah icon for 94 years! A long line down the street but locals assured us the ice cream was worth the wait. And they were right!

It takes forever to get anywhere around here - you always are going up and over or around water and swamps!

 
 



 



Traffic stopped at the drawbridge - don't see this in Texas!

Rainy Night in Georgia

This week is the first time in we can't remember when that rain has interfered with our plans. It has been raining on and off - more on! - ever since we arrived on Jekyll Island. But, they are getting a lot more in Florida - 7 inches in 4 hours in Key West caused flooding - glad we are not there now! Wish we could take it to Texas with us!

We toured the Georgia Sea Turtle Exhibit/Hospital on Jekyll Island yesterday. It was very interesting - we wished the girls were with us because it was a very kid friendly display about turtle life and all the man made dangers that threaten their existence. They even have a large window so you can watch the vet perform surgery - he was removing a tumor - and then you can enter the recovery ward and see how they are recuperating. When we told the girls about it they said "we don't order turtle soup in restaurants!" Their contribution to keeping the turtles safe!

We packed up this morning and drove to Brunswick Airport because Omega has an airplane at a repair facility here and Roger wanted to check it out and visit with the mechanics. Not a problem for me, I'm in the parking lot cleaning the motorhome and cooking. We bought a Honey Baked ham and have been eating it for a week - down to bean soup today! Actually, a good rainy day meal.

We are on our way to Savannah but afraid the front is moving with us. Oh well, we'll tour with umbrellas!

Jekyll Island - 2

Our morning coffee spot - I see this and think "Prince of Tides"

I see this canopy of trees and think "old south"

Fun to watch the shrimp boats

Brunswick is one of the largest ports in the US for importing/exporting cars -huge ships and parking facilities