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Joyhawk
Member
| Joined: | Thu May 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Denver |
| Posts: | 555 |
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Offline
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 03:35 pm |
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I am so excited to meet all of you on this amazing adventure!! I spent my morning looking at the excursions and there are sooo many choices and things that I want to do! I have to remind myself to breathe and relax and know I am choosing the perfect excursions.
I will look back through other threads also - but I am wondering which whale excursion was so amazing last year. I saw the footage, I think from David's camera?? Seeing the beautiful whales and feeling their glorious energy is probably my highest desire for this trip. It sounds like they all see whales and I wasn't sure about going on the day or evening expedition.
Any thoughts?
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 04:13 pm |
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Yes, that was David's camera! And it was close enough to a whale to be sprayed with stinky whale exhalation!! (is that what you call the spray they let out?) We were on the Mendenhall Glacier and Whale experience - it was a double excursion that (I think) incorporates the best of Juneau. First they took us to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center. It was raining and very cold when we were there, but this year I hope to go back and hike up to the amazing waterfall. Rick, could you show us some pictures at this point in the thread please? I'll try to find some of David's too...
While we were hiking around the area and photographing the glacier, which is right up against a gorgeous lake, Rick was kayaking in that lake and he got some even more amazing shots. After the glacier they took us to a pier where we boarded a boat with about 100 other tourists and headed out to look for whales. The naturalists on board discussed all kinds of interesting things while we were underway, and the boat has two levels - and and outside deck. When we spotted those two whales and they came over to the boat they literally hung out with us, bumping up against our boat for over half an hour! It was incredibly RARE for this to happen. The naturalists were speechless and stumbling excitedly over their words as we left the area. The laws permit wildlife viewing for only 30 minutes at a time, so we had to actually LEAVE the whales. It was clear that this sort of thing just does not happen on a regular basis AT ALL. We considered ourselves witness to a pretty huge event. I'm glad so much of it was caught on video. In case anyone missed it click here:
http://theabeforum.com/forum3/869.html
The other excursion I won't miss is the Misty Fjords. I just can't wait to get back there. It was magical and beautiful...
This was taken at the Mendenhall glacier, an iceberg floating in the lake that had calved off the glacier... the following week, that berg had melted a bit, but Linda and I were in a raft that went over to it and we were able to break off little pieces of it.
Attachment: P7110516 (Small).JPG (Downloaded 69 times)
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 04:43 pm |
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I'm in the mood for posting some more pictures from last year's Alaska cruise.. so here they come! (I only know how to upload one per post, so here come a string of posts from me....)
We toured the market in Seattle the day before the cruise. Don't miss it if you come in a day early or stay after the cruise! Those cherries were amazing... so were the liche, the flowers... and the FISH!
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 04:46 pm |
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The gorgeous Fairmont Hotel in downtown Seattle.
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 04:47 pm |
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We sail away! Let the fun begin as Seattle "floats by"...
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 04:52 pm |
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The forum was only about 2 months old when we set sail last July, but our Alaska roll call was impressive and the wonderful Forum members had a fun "meet and greet" in the Crow's nest before sailaway! Shades of what is to come for us in just a few weeks! If anyone has any ideas on how to improve our meet and greet, or would like to "address" the group.. please let me know!
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 04:56 pm |
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First night dinner in the Vista Dining Room. We are UNDERWAY!! And ready to eat, drink, and be merry!
(what's up with my mouth being open like that? The food isn't even here yet... I must be yelling instructions at Tom before he snaps the photo.. I'm usually not that bossy in my "real" life - just here on the forum!  )
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 05:00 pm |
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Glacier day is my absolute favorite. Don't forget to come out on the bow for the best experience of the day.
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 05:04 pm |
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Glacier day draws to an end, but we don't want to go inside. This is Jody and Tom getting the last views of the scenery with some hot chocolate on David and Jody's verandah. We're cold but very very happy!
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 05:07 pm |
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The Vista Lounge as we prepare for another wonderful Abraham Workshop.
There is GREAT LOVE for you HERE!
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 05:14 pm |
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So.. you ask... are there any MORE pictures of the Alaska cruise???
And I answer... YES!!! You can see all of David's fabulous photos on the AbrahamAppreciators page:
http://www.AbrahamAppreciators.com
If that doesn't get you in the mood to sail, I don't know what will!!
ENJOY!
 Jody
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xxrivmanxx
Member
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 01:32 am |
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Jody,
I figured as long as you asked so nicely I could try and find some pictures of Alaska.
Here's one of that same blue jewel in your picture but from a different vantage point. I was pretty close to the glacier when I took this one. We had parked our Kayak's in a very convenient small cove and climbed up on the rocky outcrop overlooking the glacier face. I'd like to say that it was one of the most amazing spots I've been but it's not that hard to find that feeling in many spots during this cruise. I'm looking forward to topping it this year.
Attachment: gulls n jewels.jpg (Downloaded 61 times)
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xxrivmanxx
Member
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 02:19 am |
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| I'll throw this one in tonight too. I was paddling past these two big icebergs and noticed the blue jewel in between them off in the distance and I put my kayak in reverse to get this shot. Attachment: jewel 5.jpg (Downloaded 60 times)
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Jody1
Super Moderator
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 04:22 am |
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You put your kayak in reverse?  Remind me not to tailgate you on glacier lakes!
Those are gorgeous.. so everybody, are you excited yet????
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winyourself
Member
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 06:43 am |
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Omigosh Rick!!!! Those photos are amazing!!! I can't wait to get on the cruise!
Roll on July!
Teddi
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