Juneau

Next stop Juneau. Juneau, is a captivating blend of stunning natural beauty and rich history, nestled between towering mountains and the shimmering waters of the Gastineau Channel. As Alaska's capital city, Juneau is unique in its accessibility—only reachable by boat or plane, it offers a sense of seclusion while serving as a hub of culture and government. With its lush rainforests, breathtaking glaciers, and vibrant wildlife, Juneau is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers. The city has a charming downtown area filled with historic buildings, museums, and local shops, and a lot of jewellery shops.  Also a great coffee shop - you don't often hear that from an Aussie abroad.....

We have docked early and are set to meet the gang at 8am Juneau time, no sign of Mum and Aunty Fi!  They operate on a different time zone!

Aunty Fi and mum explore the charming shops of Juneau and get harassed by the Jewellery store owners.  Sue is out early on a Whale watching excursion and Jen, Neil, John and I are off to the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls.

The Mendenhall Glacier, located a 15 minute drive by bus, offers a stunning view of both nature's beauty and the subtle impacts of climate change. Stretching about 21kms long, the glacier has gradually receded over the past century, a process largely attributed to rising global temperatures. As the glacier retreats, it reveals new landscapes, including the expanding Mendenhall Lake, and opens up access to scenic spots like Nugget Falls, a 377-foot waterfall that cascades near the glacier’s edge, which was part of the glacier as recently as 1980.  It was a lovely walk to the viewing points and falls, through rain forest and streams.  Just gorgeous and the weather was fantastic, something very rare in Juneau.

Then back into Juneau, coffee and back on board for lunch as the rain came in.  Now lunch is no longer selfservice, as there appears to be a breakout of stomach bugs on the ship, so they are taking precautions.  Then we congregate in the lounges and decks as we depart Juneau and see the magnificent landscapes, the ever-changing colours, seals, whales and logs that look like seals and whales. You will also see in the photos various towel shapes - today we had a monkey.

Because of forecasted bad weather we are docking in Ketchikan 2 hours earlier and departing Ketchikan earlier.  There are certain doors that have been locked due to winds - the sea feels pretty calm - but who knows what is to come.  More tomorrow.