We departed Skagway on Thursday eve at 5 pm. I was sitting shirtless on the deck, soaking up the sun under partly cloudy skies. The temperature was 67 with gentle breezes.
Since our departure from Juneau, we have been piloted by Alaskan Mariners who intimately know every square inch of the way as we cruised and are cruising through the Lynn Canal. The Lynn Canal is actually a fjord and is the second longest and deepest fjord in the world. The largest is in Argentina.
The afternoon views of the landscape are stunning. With our good fortune of temperate weather, the grays and blues of the morning have given way to pristine white of the snow pack, verdant emerald greens, sapphire blues and all shades in between. We breathe in the pure air and gaze at millions of acres of scenery upon which no man has ever trod.
10 minutes after leaving Skagway, we passed Long Fall, a 1500’ vertical drop with such an immense volume of water that it never freezes. The tips of the surrounding mountains are jagged and resemble the Grand Tetons. Comprised of granite, slate, and other miscellaneous rocks, they range in height from 7,200 to 14,000 feet.
By 8:30 pm, we bid farewell to our Alaskan Mariners and entered the Gulf of Alaska, setting a course southward for Victoria, Vancouver Island, our next stop, scheduled in two days from now.
We chose rack of lamb for dinner paired with a lovely Kendall Jackson cabernet. None of our table mates were savvy when it came to wine, so we had a spirited conversation about viticulture. As a result two of the folks at the table have decided to plan a vacation getaway to Sonoma County.
After dinner, we enjoyed the Cruise Ship Personnel Talent Show. Several of the solo acts were stellar and the grand finale was hilarious. We then danced the night away to the sounds of Groove Line and the Star Princess Orchestra, two phenomenal musical ensembles.
We retired to our stateroom, ordered room service for a late breakfast tomorrow and were lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the ship.
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