Sweet Home Alabama!

We arrived in Birmingham around 5:30p.m. this afternoon. We we greeted by friends and family!! It was so nice to hug everyone's necks.
Lots of unpacking to do and then photos still to post of our last day and in Vancouver and the homecoming...

Vancouver, BC Canada May 27th, 2009

We just arrived.

We are all packed up.

We will be leaving for Birmingham in the morning.

We Made It!!!

Let's Hear It For The Boys (and Girls) that kept us entertained!

Since Jan. 26, 2009, the crew and cast of the Mariner have kept us well entertained, well fed, well educated and safe.

Thanks to you all.

Scenic Sailing

Mountains covered with snow.

Seal lions crowding the small beach area that we passed...you could smell them like we smelled the penguin rookeries!

These sea lions caused there to be two large pods of Orca whales..we did not get to see them. They must have had to eat and run..or swim!

Lighthouses. When you look at the remoteness of some of the lighthouses that have lighted our way around the world you have a new appreciation for the people that have lived their lives in them to help sailors navigate the world. Today, even this one in the photo is on auto-pilot. It is no longer "manned". A computer does the work. However, many still are "manned" and to those lighthouse keepers...thnaks for keeping us safe!

Ketchikan, Alaska May 25th, 2009

Ketchikan gets more rain than any other city/town in the USA. They get 13 FEET of rain a year!! Our day started out just a little overcast. As the day went on, sprinkles came and then a little bit of steady rain sent us indoors for one of the most unusual tours of our whole crazy/wonderful adventure. We went to Dolly's house! What a tour. The rain did not spoil our day at all.

We were lucky in that our new friend, Terri Breen, an Anthropologist/storyteller, who knows Alaska like the back of her hand gave us the quick and wonderful tour.

First stop was Ketchikan Candy. We had to try and buy chocolate covered oreos!! They say the candy from here is the best in all the world. If you are a lucky recipient....hope you think so!

More on the tour later....rainy good day.

May 25th, 2009 War Eagle!

You never know when you are going to run into a good Auburn man. Here...two good Auburn men meet!! War Eagle and safe travels!

Skagway, Alaska May 24th, 2009

This town has 700 people.

Our ship has 700 people.

This town has no doctor.

Our ship has a doctor and two nurses.

This town has 4 restaurants.

Our ship has 4 restaurants, a pool grill and 24 hour room service!

This town has charm and lazy-appeal like really no other town we have been to. No "chains" except Starbucks!! Most of the stores are run by local people. The Gunsmoke look applies here too except the vivid color is better.

The day we had here was crazy good weather. Short sleeves and shorts were the uniform of the day for plenty of the travellers...Nicky included. We had a great time just meeting the folks around the town and trying their local pizza!!

Picked up a few fun souvenirs fromAlaska and visited yet another quilt shop!! If you love quilting like my sister Kathy does...Alaska is the place for you!!!!

We had a great day in Skagway. Would love to come again.