August 1, 2025 Shooting

 Matt has found a shooting range that is not too far from us.

He has been going there to do some shooting practice.

Today he decided to take the whole family.

We all really enjoyed the target practice, but the kids especially enjoyed it.

July 30, 2025 Alaska Day 11

Alaska Day 11:

Today we were in Vancouver. We got off the ship at 8:00, but our flight did not go out till 7:00pm. So we decided to have an adventure at Capilano suspension bridge park. 

 

First we went through their totem pole exhibit.

 

 Then across the very long suspension bridge to the tree top park at the other side.

  

 

We crossed all the bridges. Learned about (and saw) banana slugs. Listened to a talk about owls while an owl interrupted with hoots. Then crossed the huge bridge again to get to the cliff walk.

  

 

 

For the cliff walk we were not on the top of the cliff looking down, no….we were on the side of the cliff on a suspension bridge, looking down. I thought I would be terrified, but it was so much fun!

When we were done the park gave the kids certificates that said “I survived!” 

 

Then we went to Prospect Point in Vancouver. 

 

The view of the city was amazing and we found some very large trees that the kids were able to be inside of. 

 

The plane ride back was not the worst I have ever had, but it certainly was not the best. One flight was delayed once, one flight was delayed three times and the gate was moved twice. But we made it home and we are so glad to be back.

One note about the trip. Every tour guide that we encountered all mentioned how lovely the weather was the whole time we were in Alaska. There was no rain, it was not too cold, and we even saw the elusive sun.

July 29, 2025 Alaska Day 10

  

Alaska Day 10:

This was another day at sea. 

 

We started the morning by going to a demonstration of how the room attendants fold those amazing towel animals.

That was followed by the parade of flags. At least one person from each country represented on staff came to be in this show of country’s and flags. There are over 800 staff on board of the ship. Over 60 countries represented. At the beginning of our cruise we chose to partake in a country scavenger hunt. We were to find and get signatures from as many people from different countries as we could. In the pictures you can see Glen showing the front of our paper and Grace is showing the back. 

 

When the hunt was over and the points were counted, we got 5th place. It was a fun challenge for the week.

 

Then Matt, Grace and Glen went to learn some magic from the magician that we saw earlier in the week. Grace then tried the new tricks on me during supper.

Matt and I went to a trivia session for classic rock name that tune. We did pretty well with our combined efforts. However we were nowhere near winning.

Grace did a speed climb in the climbing wall. This was just for the teens. She did the wall in just 32 seconds! But she was not the fastest one. She had fun doing it though.

Finally we ended the day full of events and packing by watching a comedian. This has been a great trip but we are ready to start our journey home tomorrow.

July 26, 2025 Alaska Day 9

Alaska Day 9:

Ketchikan, Alaska! 

 

When we decided on this trip I found out that one of Grace’s friends had lived there. So I talked to the parents and discovered some places we should go, and found out the Lumberjack Show came recommended. So we got tickets to see the Lumberjack Show. 

 

It is four lumberjacks and an announcer. Two of the lumberjacks competed for USA and two competed for Canada. They sawed, chainsawed, climbed, and did the log rolling in the water among many other lumberjack type things.

 

Canada (the side we were cheering for) won the competition, and Grace got a picture with the lumberjacks.

 

Then we came back on the boat in time to do Harry Potter Trivia. We were one of three groups with the highest score. However, we did not win because we could not remember who was Headmaster of Hogwarts before Dumbledore. We had a great time though.

July 23, 2025 Alaska Day 8

 

Alaska Day 8:

Today we left one boat to board another one. We went on a whale watching tour. 

 

 

I can not even count how many whales we saw. They were all around us. 

 

 

We were in a place where three waterways converged so it is a great place for the whales to eat.

On our way back to the cruise, we saw a mamma bear and a baby bear on the shore. That was an unexpected bonus for our tour.

 

Back on the boat we did more putt putt and farkle. Then we went to watch a fantastic magician/comedian.

July 23, 2025 Alaska Day 7

 

Alaska Day 7:

Today was the day that I think all of us were looking forward to, and it did not disappoint. We were greeted by our tour leader Earl E Bird (real name Elias). He was dressed and took on the persona of a prospector from 120 years ago. He told us about the gold rush and mining. Later we all got to practice what we learned and panned for gold ourselves.

We also got a talk about the Iditarod from a lady who participated in it herself a few years. She talked about equipment and the history. Then while she talked about the dogs she let the dogs walk amongst us (searching for treats and pets).

 Then after the older dogs were sent to their kennels to rest, the 7 week old future sled dog prospects were brought out to be held, loved, and cuddled on.

 

Back on the ship we played ping pong, putt putt, and farkle. 

 

 

Finally we ended the day by watching Snow White in the movie theater.

July 22, 2025 Alaska Day 6

 

Alaska Day 6:

Today we had our first shore excursion and we were not sure what to expect. But it blew all of us away. We went to Juneau and got to see the Mendenhall Glacier.

 

We hiked to a photo point, and it was pretty.

Then we hiked to the waterfall that is just beside the glacier. That was so much fun.

We got in the waterfall spray, then we went to the shore that was across from the waterfall and played in the sand a bit.

We got back on the bus and were taken to an all you can eat salmon bake that is located outside in a rainforest. Yes, we were in a temperate rainforest…when I think Alaska I certainly do not think rainforest, but I was wrong.

The atmosphere was fantastic, the food was even better.

They even had fire pits for roasting marshmallows.

When we were done we hiked down the river and saw some salmon in the river, then we saw another waterfall.

Finally, we panned for gold.

   Exhausted, we got back on the ship and just relaxed the rest of the day.