Alaska Cruise and 911 - 20 Sep 2001
2001 Alaska Inside Passage and Glacier Bay Cruise
Vancouver
During the last week of August and the first week of September Hubert, Esther, Hal, Robin and I took a Holland American (Van Dam) Cruise to Alaska via the Inside Passage. We disembarked from Vancouver and took the Inside Passage north to our first port of Ketchikan. Photos were taken with a Nikon 8008 using Ektachrome 125 film. Negatives were scanned using a slide scanner and processed in LR.
Ketchikan
The hilight of our stop in Ketchikan was a snorkeling trip that Robin and I took. We had a small waterproof Minolta camera that we used to take photos under water.
Juneau and 9/11
We sailed north to Juneau that meant a day at sea. On September 11, 2001 we were in our cabin watching CNN when news broke that the first plane hit the Twin Towers at 8 am. We would be glued to the set for the remainder of the day and watch in horror as the towers collapsed. Shipwide vigils were held in memoriam while we wondered how these events would affect our travels; ports were closed and airports were shut down across the US and Canada. Would we even be able to dock in Juneau?
Initially, we were told that we may have to cancel the remaining trip. As the day went on, however, we were told that we'd be allowed to anchor in Juneau. Reluctantly Robin and I decided that we would continue with our plans for a 1-day fly-in fishing trip to Tongas National Park. But first I'd spend some time w/ Esther, Hubert and Hal in the exercise room.
Robin and I then disembarked and headed to the airport where sea planes would take us and several others into Tongas National Park for some Pink (Dog) Salmon fishing on the Tongas River. Our guides carried shotguns as Grizzly Bear population here is the largest in Alaska (we would see one at a distance).
The ride to the airport included a stop at a local glacier.
Our flight to the National Park.
We landed, met our guides, donned waders and fishing gear, and hiked to the river where the salmon were running and the fishing was prolific!
Robin managed to hook a decomposing salmon by the lip and spent several minutes fighting to bring it in. Even the dead fish are biting today!
As the Sun set we hiked back to the planes and flew back to town and the ship. Epic!
Skagway
The hilight of this stop was the popular White Pass & Yukon Route Railway tour. Esther, Hubert, Hal and I boarded a train and headed to the famed White Pass of Skagway to view the scenic railway that was built in 1898.
We'd return to the ship along w/ dozens of fellow shipmates to head on to our last stop - Glacier Bay!
Glacier Bay
Despite dark, overcast and foggy conditions the cruise to Glacier Bay was spectacular.
Once we turned around and started heading for home I took some time to photograph the inside passage scenery.
Due to the very recent terrorist attacks in the US our disembarkation was beyond hectic. We returned to Vancouver only to be told that bus trips to the airport were cancelled. We would have to take a Taxi. Luckily, we were one of the very first off the ship and were able to flag down a taxi that would take five of us and our luggage.
We reached the airport not knowing if we would even have a flight home. Most flights to the US were cancelled, but by some miracle our flight to Detroit was still scheduled. We managed to get everyone through security (Hal was given extra searches due to his handicap and wheelchair needs). I had to dump my fly-fishing gear and lose my hooks, and even 3-foot leaders. Small price though to get home...
