Day 5: Saturday, 8/21/10, Hubbard Glacier

Saturday was our first full day of cruising, as we made our way to Juneau. We took a side tour through Disenchantment Bay. . .

(which, was actually quite enchanting) to see a teeny part of the immense Hubbard Glacier.

This was the view from our room's balcony - Hello Aunt Andi!

The Hubbard Glacier is absolutely huge. This wiki article mentions how it advanced forward enough to completely close off the Russel Fjord in 1986. This is that Fjord (currently open).

Paul loved the deck chairs the best.

Joss enjoyed the bracing glacial breezes.

Daddy liked the Paul hugs.

Please note Paul is wearing two (2) hats.

The whiter area in the center of the picture below is where an iceberg "calved" off of the glacier. A calving is preceded by a rolling thundery sound, then giant chunks of ice just slough off. The little dark specks in the bottom left front are seals.

Close up of the seals! There were dozens of them, literally chilling out by the glacier.

This is a "calf" or an iceberg.

It was amazing to see the layers and the gorgeous shades of blue on the glacial face. The picture really doesn't do it justice.

We were lucky enough to see the biggest calving the cruise captain has ever seen. It was like a house falling down. It was real and it was spectacular.

Day 4: Friday, 8/20/10, Seward

Once we got off the train, we met up with the other Weil crew at the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward.

"All Aboard!" cried Captain Paul! (Well, not really. He mostly said "Boat! Paul in boat!")

Puffin!

Sharing!

Touching!

Grinning!

Learning!

All right, enough of the one word captions. Sorry, I'm crabby.

Thanks, Joss - can always count on you to laugh at the bad jokes.

Speaking of jokes, these seals would swim in one direction, as observed by Safta and Aunt Andi. . .

. . .then swim back upside down! Silly seals!

Joss enjoyed watching the many fishies. . .much like another boy we know did at around this age.


We all loved the aquarium, but we had the most fun just running around outside. . .

Hi, Jacob!


Apparently, every year there's a foot race to the top of that "hill," and this year's winning time was something sick, like 24 minutes.

Safta and Joss hope to beat that time next year. . .or at least, to get to the top by next year, if they start now. . .

Sophia chillaxing on a swing.

Trouble & Trouble, Inc.

Hanging in the playground was wonderful fun, with amazing scenery.

Dog-pile on top of a rabbit!

A boat much like ours, and a massive cloud hovering over the mountaintop.

Finally! In our room! Paul and Joss made themselves right at home - but where are you going to sleep, Mommy & Daddy?

Day 4: Friday, 8/20/10, Train to Seward

We woke up reeeeeeally reeeeeeally early to catch the Alaska Railroad train to Seward. Paul was in train heaven.


We didn't see too much wildlife from the train - a lone moose, and a few bald eagles (look for the white golf-balls in the trees - that's your eagle) - but the scenery was breath-takingly beautiful.


We also saw a few Dall Sheep.

There was also this one little cloud that was lost in the valley. . .Mommy couldn't stop taking pictures of it (don't know why).

Safta was camera-happy, too.



Safta was also Joss-happy. Which worked out well, as Joss was Safta-happy, too.

More of Mommy's little lost cloud.




There were some rather twisty-turning sections of rail as we went over and around the mountains.



Even way, way above the 49th parallel, Daddy is a loyal Buckeye.


One of a series of very small tunnels. Paging Dr. Freud!


Joss enjoyed the scenery. . .




Water like a mirror.