Juneau a better idea…
Our port of call today was the unlikely capital of Alaska, Juneau. I have been here before but back in 2019, I don’t remember much about the city. As in 2019, I visited Mendenhall Glacier with the intention, this time, of walking the one mile to Nugget Falls. If it wasn’t for the impossibly harsh winters, I would seriously consider living here, except that those with the means have already done so and property is now as overpriced as almost anywhere. Juneau is a city in a gorgeous stunning setting of high hills and mountains, snowcapped most of the year. Cruise tourists are well catered for with souvenir shops and other attractive retail outlets, eateries, bars, and a very wide range of excursion options including flightseeing and helicopter trips. It would be easy to fill in a week here, let alone just a day.
Again, I was late getting up this morning and actually let breakfast time slip by. The supervisor in the Lido surprisingly made sure I had enough to eat; he didn’t have to. I was extremely grateful. I then disembarked and located the shore excursion to Mendenhall Glacier which I wanted to revisit. We were given 2.5 hours to explore as we wished.
The path to Nugget Falls was well paved and relatively flat. I don’t quite know why, but the two mile round trip reminded me of the Tissington and High Peak Trails. An easy stroll along these nicely prepared and paved pathways through dramatic landscapes and alongside the wide waters of a lake whose name escapes me right now. Hopefully, my creased up leaflet of the area can help me identify the huge mountains which frame the receding Mendenhall Glacier.
Two and a half hours was probably adequate for what I wanted to do. I was able to walk back to the Information Centre via a less popular route along the lakeside, and admire the impressive icebergs which had come adrift previously.
There was time for lunch, an excuse to go somewhere with decent WiFi. For a second time, there was no WiFi where I chose to eat, and the WiFi on board Queen Elizabeth in these waters is not at all good. I could post unillustrated blogs but that would be a pity. After a caesar salad the size of Alaska, I looked for good places from which to photograph the remaining cruise ships. There were five in today; the maximum is seven. Celebrity Eclipse which had sneaked into pole position at Hubbard Glacier depriving QE passengers of a decent close up view, was berthed proudly at the Quay nearest the city centre! We were last! (Behind Holland and Barrett’s Nordam). Let me explain to my non-UK readers, Holland and Barrett is a UK wide chain of health shops which retail homeopathic medications etc. A couple whose Alaska voyage was cancelled by Cunard, seemed to assume Holland and Barrett also ran cruise ships, rather than Holland America Line! This story may well be apocryphal but I now refer to H.A.L as H & B!
I walked around the city seeking photographic opportunities and enjoyed the lengthy boardwalks particularly along the quayside.
Walking and driving around Juneau, you would not believe this State Capital is only accessible by plane, car ferry or cruise ship. As I say, there are plenty of opportunities here, but these come generally at a hefty price. Get to know the geography of the place, and there numerous hikes at varying levels of ability. I am told the cable car trip is $45.00 for approximately 5 minutes each way. I don’t remember spending anything like that amount in 2019, but the views are worth the outlay, particularly if you have the time to explore extensively at the summit (of Mt. Roberts)
I joined Lesley and Linda briefly on open Deck 9 aft as we sailed away bound for Sitka.
After dinner, I adjourned, as seems now to be my routine, to the Royal Court Theatre. The comedian was far from the rave reviews in the Daily Programme and I came away lamenting the 45 minutes I will never get back!
Even at 11pm it was not completely dark and I took in one last breath of fresh air on the Promenade Deck before going to bed at midnight.
The following morning revealed drizzle low cloud and mist obscuring partially the otherwise lovely port of Sitka. Completing this blog in the comfort of an empty Lido, looking out onto the uninviting greyness that is often the case in Alaska, I ponder, “Should I Sitka this one out….”
Thanks for reading, David, 11.06 hrs BST -9, The Lido midships, port-side, with oil tanker alongside while the Queen Elizabeth is bunkered. And it’s still raining!
“
David's Cruise 