Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Blog From a Boat

Yep, I'm on the boat. Apparently there is a satellite internet connection for this one, the M.V. Malaspina. The Malaspina is bigger than the Kennicott, but not quite as nice. I think this one is a lot older. But a boat's a boat, and it's still fun =)

Earlier I took pictures as we were sailing into Sitka. That was our last port. And we were there for 4 hours, so I got to take a couple pictures of the sunset too.

Unfortunately for you, dear Reader, you can't see those pictures because Blogger refuses to let me upoad them with this connection. Unless you're on Myspace. Myspace, ironically enough, is the only one that will let me (sorry Facebookers). So the rest of you will just have to wait until I get to Eugene, Oregon, to see my pictures of the beautifulness.

I don't really have anything important to say. I'm mostly blogging because I can say I'm doing it at sea (well, technically, an inlet, but whatever) and that's just cool. Though I will tell you that there are some GIANT trees in Juneau. If you've never had the opportunity to visit, it is incredibly beautiful, but my overwhelming memory of Juneau will not be the beauty, it will be the 75 foot Christmas trees that line the highway from the ferry into town. They're almost ridiculously large. That 75 foot thing is NOT an exaggeration. They're freakin huge! It's pretty fabulous. I got a couple pictures, not of the giant ones, it was too dark to take pictures when I drove past those, but of some of the moderately smaller ones closer into town. Of course, you won't be able to see those pictures, etc. etc. etc.

Anyway, I think I'm done talking about nothing simply to be talking about nothing from a boat so I'm going to go now. I will be in Bellingham on Friday at 8am. From there it's just another week til I get home =)

Also, for those of you who wish to leave comments (and how else will I know anyone reads this other than me?) you may do so as 'anonymous' if you do not have a blogger account. You just hafta check the little anonymous box and do one of those stupid word thingies and it'll post. Just don't forget to leave your name =)

Saturday, December 27, 2008

M.V. Kennicott

Day 2 aboard the ferry was much calmer. Not quite as fun, but beautiful, in a non-thrilling way.





Be forewarned, I love sky pictures.


The boat's wake.

Dawn, 9am.

The windows were a bit dirty and streaked with ice.







I do so love this sign. I even got film of it =)


I love this cloud. It's a dot =)









Again, love this sign.


I also love this boat. It's a box. A floating box!



The sun was very dramatic when it finally emerged.








The snow on the deck. Hence the closed sign.










This is my favorite mini island chain. I'm going to live here when I grow up (no, no word yet on when that might be).

Ah, home.



The Sea.

I love the sea. Have I told you that? I do. The ocean is one of my most favoritest things. I will always be alright as long as I live semi near a sea coast.


This was my first time on a ship this size. And my first time sailing the open waters. Thank God I do not get seasick. I learned this as I was trying to sleep last night while the boat was cresting 14ft waves. It’s an odd thing, to be lying flat, sometimes with your head above your feet and sometimes with your feet above your head. Gets everything good and discombobulated. I have some video that I got with my camera just so you can see how hard that boat was a’rockin.





And just for comparison, here's one where the sea is calm.



It was so much fun =)

The sun came out briefly as well, but I didn’t risk life and limb to get a picture out on the deck. Some things just aren’t worth dying for. But no seasickness. Whoo hoo! I even had a cheeseburger for lunch during the worst of it. It is no easy feat walking down a hallway when the hallway moves in the opposite direction you’re trying to go. And showering? Forget it! You try lathering your hair with one hand while your other hand hangs on to the rail so you don’t pitch out the curtain into the public space. You actually have to brace yourself in a corner to rinse it out. At least next time we’ll be on the Inside Passage and I’ll have my very own bathroom. No sharing for me! And next time I won’t forget my toiletries bag and have to get the Purser to walk me down to the Car Deck (where passengers are STRICTLY forbidden to go while the vessel is underway, according to Coast Guard law). No, no, I’ll remember it all, and be comfortable to boot!

We’re just about to leave Yakutat. I took a couple pictures. No more than a couple, though, because a couple encompasses all there is to see in Yakutat. Also, the snow is blowing sideways. Always a fun situation to take pictures in. So, here I sit, in the Forward Lounge, drinking an ice cold can of Dr. Pepper (just for you Amandita! And also because the Coke was sold out), waiting for the ship to begin to pull away. I’m told after we leave Yakutat and go around something, we’ll then be in the good part of the voyage, one that doesn’t force you to walk like a drunken two-year-old up a flight of stairs. I’m looking forward to that. Though I will miss the swells. They were pretty spectacular. I asked the Purser if this was bad, and he said yes, this was pretty bad, but he’s been in 30 footers before, and at that point, all you can do is strap yourself into your bunk and pray for a dock. Ah, the good ole days.

Still no cell reception. Apparently they only use land lines in Yakutat. Probably because everyone worth talking to is within shouting distance. I’m told that Yakutat is beautiful during the day, as it is entirely encircled by giant mountain peaks. Won’t be seein that though, as it’s 9pm and the sun set six hours ago.

Well, that’s all I really have to say about the ride so far. I’ll leave you with this quote:

“Hi! That’s my cousin; he always farts in my face.”