Seward, Alaska - Friday
This was the first time for us to put our feet on land since Sapporo, Japan which was one week ago. We've had six full days at sea as a result of our Dutch Harbor landing being aborted - I think because Crystal got there first. They say however that it's just not possible to transport 2740 passengers with the limited facilities at Dutch Harbor. Apparently all they have is four school buses that they use for cruise passenger transport. This almost caused a mutiny as most of us agreed we'd be happy to just walk around. A measly $50 US per person was all they credited to us.......why did they market this port if it were not possible?Security is so heightened that two US Coast Guard cutters patrolled our ship continuously throughout the day - guns on the prows of the boats. The mountains around Seward were monumental and ominous. Periodically, the clouds seeped up and down the slopes and shrouded the peaks and then they would dissolve again to display the splendour of the snow blanketed giants. There was a misty rain to greet us as we stepped off the ship but it soon dissipated and by the afternoon, the sun was shining and the mountain peaks were unshrouded and glistening white.
Seward, a city of about 3,000 has one main street with lots of junky souvenir stores, so we took a hike on the twin lakes trail instead. There is also a lovely walk along the waterfront and we passed lots of city-run campsites all along the beach which we reconnoitered for the future. I met a 170 lb, 14 month old Irish wolfhound on the beach and promptly fell in love. 'Shane' was so gentle and affectionate and didn't even try to jump up (that would have been a calamity). I had to befriend his crusty 65 year old master too, who was a toothless Alaskan stereotype but so friendly.......
By the time the ship was about to sail at 7 pm, the coast guard guys were obviously getting bored since they'd been patrolling the ship since 7 am. Just below our balcony, they were doing wheelies and figure eights - almost standing the Zodiacs on their sides. It seemed so ludicrous with the guns at the prow. The sun was bright as we sailed out of the inlet and so the previously ominous mountains were sparkling and majestic.
posted by O'Leary @ 8:00 PM
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