Alaska June 2014

There are so many things I could say about our trip to Alaska...but really words can not describe the beauty of the hand of our Creator that we witnessed while traveling this beautiful, virtually uninhabited, land.  All I can say after going is, WOW!  You have to see it to believe it.  Pictures don't do it justice...but I will do my best.  Bear with me as the pictures seems to be out of order:)  Journey with us..to Alaska:

A bird's eye view from our plane window.  We started out flying from Chicago to Vancouver.

Goodbye Vancouver and Canada Place...off we go to see Alaska!  Throughout the entire cruise, land could be seen on both sides of the ship through the majority of the cruise.

We docked in Skagway.  Overcast, but never was the beauty of His handiwork diminished by the weather, it just enhanced it.

Skagway, cute small town of I believe 900 people.  When our ship docked about 3000 people got off.  You can imagine what the cruise industry does for their economy.

The thing to do in Skagway is a train ride.  It takes you uphill into Canada and the scenery is amazing.   15 miles uphill, a 15 mile bike downhill...crazy fast!  Think you could see the smoke from my brakes in Indiana.

Waterfalls abound in Alaska as Glaciers melt and look for a way down.

Taken on the cruise ship, I think in Juneau.

The above 3 pictures were taken as we cruised.  I have over 300 pictures.

Lines of porpoises were frequently found dancing alongside the ship.  I also discovered that I enjoy whale watching.  That basically involves sitting on the ship with binoculars at the ready for bursts of misting water blown by a whale.  Then shortly following you would likely see them dive and their tale flop in the water.  They'd put this show on for you as the ship cruised by, then disappear back into the deep blue.

One day our ship traveled down Endicot Arm to view a large glacier up close and personal.  If you ever see an Alaskan cruise advertisement where the ship is surrounded by what appear to be small icebergs, near large glaciers is where they are getting those shots.  As you approach the glacier icebergs that have broken off (aka calved) float all around you.

Seals were big fans of these floating chunks of ice!  They were everywhere.

Beauty everywhere.

A closer view of the glacier.  Its hard to appreciate the size, but to help you, if you were swimming in front of it you would be at best a small black dot in this picture.

A bald eagle sitting on a tower...they were seen frequently in Juneau.

Joe and I on top of Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.  

Joe in the helicopter.  This picture is darker than I thought.  We all had headsets on so we could talk and ask questions as we flew over the glacier.  Little was said, the view spoke volumes.

All geared up for hiking on ice!  Ice pick, spiky shoes (boots with crampons), helmets...we were ready.

Flowing water was beautifully perfect on top of the glacier.  We dumped our water bottles and filled them with glacier water.

The black dirt is called glacial silt...I believe thats just stuff off the trees?  Can't quite remember, guess I'll have to go back and ask;)

A cavern we walked through.

My honey.

BFFs:)

A view from the helicopter.

A selfie in Juneau before getting back on the ship.  The day was gorgeous, 70 and sunny.  We ate crab legs at a local outdoor crab shack.

Ketchikan, our last stop.  They get 13 ft of rain per year, that's a lot.  They say you just learn to live life in the rain or you'd never leave your house.

Geared up for our zip lining adventure over the Tongass Rain Forest.

Joe ziplining.  They said rain on the lines makes you go really fast.  It was fast, it was fun, I'd definitely do it again.  On our last zip two black bears wandered beneath us...what a finale!

One of the suspension bridges, adds to the thrill effect.

Walked around town, we were dressed for it but still soaked by the time we got back to the boat.

Their rain gauge...a little bigger than the one I used to own.

So now we are home and it seems like a dream...did we really just go to Alaska and do all that stuff?  Yep, I have the pictures to prove it.  Looking back through the pictures took me right back to the train ride, the rush of biking back down the 15 mile hill, the helicopter ride, standing on a glacier, zip lining, walking through the rain with my best friend, relaxing, enjoying some down time, missing my kids by the time it all came to an end.

I was so amazed as we cruised through these uninhabited parts of Alaska, at how much beauty there is and wildlife everywhere.  Whales playing in the ocean, eagles soaring up above, porpoises dancing, seals sunbathing on icebergs..out where there's nothing, nothing to see it, nothing to stand in awe, nothing to make sure everyone plays fair...it's just pure nature, created by God, for God.  Simply Amazing.

Psalm 104

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, your are very great!

Your are clothed with splendor and majesty,

covering yourself with light as with a garment,

stretching out the heavens like a tent.

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;

he makes the clouds his chariot;

he rides on the wings of the wind;

he makes his messengers winds,

his ministers a flaming fire.

He sets the earth on its foundations,

so that it should never be moved.

You covered it with the deep as with a garment;

the waters stood above the mountains.

At your rebuke they fled;

at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

The mountains rose, the valleys sank down

to the place that you appointed for them.

You set a boundary that they may not pass, 

so that they might not again cover the earth.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys;

they flow between the hills;

they give drink to every beast of the field;

the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

Beside them the birds of the the heavens dwell;

they sing among the branches.

From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock

and plants for man to cultivate

that he may bring forth food from the earth

and wine to gladden the heart of man, 

oil to make his face shine

and bread to strengthen a man's heart.

The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,

the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

In them the birds build their nests;

the stork has her home in the fir trees.

The high mountains are for the wild goats;

the rocks area a refuge for the rock badgers.

He made the moon to mark the seasons;

the sun knows its time for setting.

You make darkness, and it is night,

when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.

When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens.

Man goes out to his work 

and to his labor until the evening.

O Lord, how manifold are your works!

In wisdom have you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

Here is the sea, great and wide,

which teems with creatures innumerable,

living things both small and great.

There go the ships,

and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

These all look to you,

to give them their food in due season.

When you give it to them, they gather up;

when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

When you hide your face, they are dismayed;

when you take away their breath, they die

and return to dust.

When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,

and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the Lord endure forever,

may the Lord rejoice in his works,

who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

for I rejoice in the Lord.

Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wick be no more!

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Praise the Lord!