I hadn't even realised it until now, but yesterday was my last day in the States! That was a rather unceremonious farewell to such a beautiful country! My goal today, the final day on the cruise and, therefore, the day I had to return the library books, was to finish reading the book "Spirited Waters". Had grand plans of reading several books and completing my blogs but have succumbed to the siren song of the cruise spa (and chatting and meeting people). Unfortu...

The Pearl docked in Ketchikan at 6am today. After an early breakfast, I headed out to the pier and boarded the Blue Line $1-per-ride public bus headed to Totem Bight State Historical Park. We were the first people to arrive - only a handful of intrepid folk "brave" enough to travel independently of the pre-arranged cruise tours. It was great - I practically had the place all to myself! The park was started in 1938 as a way of salvaging and reconstructing totem p...

Today was definitely one of the highlights of the cruise as we entered Glacier Bay National Park with rangers onboard narrating the history and science of the area. This National Park is only accessible via boat or seaplane so it is a real privilege to be able to access these, otherwise, hidden places. With the new Alaskan hat, gloves and jacket I'd purchased from a discount store in Skagway, I was prepared for the icy glacial winds. The Tlingit, the Native Amer...

I set the alarm for 6:30am so I'd have time to have a leisurely breakfast and then go on shore before the crazy cruise crowds descended en mass. In town, at the National Parks office, I signed up for the early morning Ranger-led walking tour of Skagway's Klondike Gold Rush Historic District with the hilarious Jay Proetto (also fondly called "Ranger Jay" by any passing local), who took us around town, showed us many of the renovated buildings and wove entertaining...

This morning my Spa "buddy", Melinda, called bright and early and we headed down to breakfast with a window seat to gaze at the islands and snow-capped mountains as we drifted by. To help me digest the huge amounts of food I'd consumed, I took a 2-mile speedwalk around the deck until I got so dizzy that I had to stop. Next, off to the Spa for some sauna treatments and thermal soaks. Then, quick shower and lunch by a window again before layering up (it's a coooooo...