Here I sit writing this, looking out at the open sea as we head for Vancouver.  Tonight is the karaoke final which is about all I have to look forward to now.  It has truly been the trip of a lifetime.  We love the Princess line and will probably continue to be their customer in the future.  At the writing desk here, the huge window overlooking the ocean, there is an advert for Caribbean and Mexican Riviera 2011-2012 Overview!

The last day of cruising is always (ok, so I’ve done two cruises) – kind of bittersweet.  I hate to get off the ocean, but I will be glad to get home.  I miss the guys and I miss Ed the Dog.  I miss eating right, and I even miss my WiiFit, which they didn’t have after all.   One thing I have decided is that I will be whale watching off the coast from now on.  Living there for thirty years, I’ve always had that “oh, I can always do that next year” feeling.  I think I will be a regular activity for me in the spring when the whales are on their way back north and are close to chore.  We have blue whales – the largest creature EVER on earth – right out there in the Farralones.

Of course, there is always another cruise to Baja, California, where the calving occurs.

What would I do again in Alaska?

The train trip from Denali to McKinley

Any glacier anywhere

Anything Juneau, period, plus:

The whale watching with Capt. Greg

Bear watching with Capt. Greg – this requires camping out, woo hoo!

Kayaking with Capt. Greg

Wolf watching with Capt. Greg – more camping, who’s afraid of the big bad wolf, or bear for that matter..

So, Lauren and Ryan have been married for two weeks, we head home, back to work and normalcy, with the knowledge that Alaska will be here for us if we ever want to return. Thanks for listening as I wrote this journal of our trip.  I am hoping that I can put some photos on the blog – not sure how to do that but will try anyway.