| On our cruise up the coast of Alaska we visited | | | | full range of activities on board. Bingo; entertainers in |
| Haines which is a short trip north of Skagway. It is one | | | | the bar or wine tasting in the Lounge. The fully |
| of the prettier towns and one with a road connection | | | | equipped gymnasium was open from 7 am to 8 pm. |
| to the Alaska highway. It is next to the coastal | | | | Enthusiasts were to be seen exercising before |
| mountain range and lies on a wooded peninsula. Here | | | | breakfast even if they had been at the Disco until 3 |
| we were to go on the Bald Eagle Preserve Float trip | | | | o'clock in the morning. Our evenings were often spent |
| through the Chilcat valley. We were kitted out with | | | | at the theatre, the song and dance revues were as |
| boots and life jackets and seated eight to an inflated | | | | practiced and polished as I have seen anywhere. The |
| raft. | | | | acoustics also were excellent, you could hear every |
| "Where is the outboard engine?" I asked. | | | | word in any part of the theatre. |
| In fact the water is too shallow and we were guided | | | | The Hubbard Glacier was the event in the afternoon |
| down the swiftly flowing river using oars. The | | | | of the next day. We ventured slowly up to the ice blue |
| shallowness of the river causes the salmon to be | | | | glacier. Around us were miniature icebergs caused by |
| visible to the eagles, which are present in large | | | | the ice breaking off the end of the glacier as it slid |
| numbers. Soon there was one at the edge of the | | | | down over the rock. Some were large enough to float |
| water. Personally I think "bald" is an uncomplimentary | | | | a human being. The glacier is six miles wide and 75 |
| description of such a splendid bird. The white feathers | | | | miles long. It glows with this pure mellow blue which is |
| over its head and neck give it a majestic appearance. | | | | characteristic of the light reflected from compressed |
| They stand out in contrast to the black feathers over | | | | ice. The deck was crowded with people looking for |
| the wings and body. | | | | the photo opportunity. The scene had its own particular |
| Every so often the raft would ground on the pebbles | | | | kind of beauty not seen elsewhere on this cruise, or |
| and our guide became very energetic; heaving us off | | | | any other in my experience. |
| onto deeper water as we jumped up and down on | | | | Kechitan was our last stop before returning home. We |
| the raft to release it. We passed under an eagle sitting | | | | went on the Mountain Lake Canoe Adventure for two |
| 10 metres above us on a branch. The raft was | | | | and a half hours. It was not an excursion for the keen |
| anything but still and rotated here and there giving | | | | canoeist but is well suited for the first timer. |
| everyone a 360 degree view of the magnificent | | | | We could have taken the cruise in association with a |
| scenery. | | | | tour of the Rocky Mountains but for us that would be |
| Passengers not taking the excursions would find the | | | | another time. |
| towns suitable for walking. Alternatively there was a | | | | |