Getting to Alaska

We arrived without interruption to our destination(s) - Juneau, then Haines - with bonus blessings along the way. Tom had broken his glasses the night before departure and was concerned about getting them fixed in time for our trip. Our four-hour layover in Juneau was more than ample time to walk to an eyeglasses store which happened to be open and a half-mile from the airport. People at the airport were impressively accommodating to help us get there, and one flight attendant even tried to fix them herself.

We were surprised by the size of our second plane whose job it was to transport us down the inside passage. The young guy carrying our luggage was also the pilot who led us and two other passengers across the tarmac to a five-seater plane, producing more than a little anxiety for Tom who is afraid of flying (and the smaller the plane, the greater the fear). Nonetheless, the views from 10,000 feet were incredible: glacier water is a beautiful turquoise blue unlike what I am used to seeing in the north Atlantic. Through the fog we also caught glimpses of glacier itself.

And for God to really show off in that 30-minute puddle jumper ride, an enormous rainbow accompanied us for the last third of the bumpy flight. We were encircled in that rainbow for several moments. Tom did not see any of this as his head was ducked and eyes closed, as he prayed and held his breath through the turbulence. Poor thing. But the good news is we made it!

Seas (waves) are at 5 feet today for the first day of our kayak trip which means we will do some kayaking mixed with some hiking. Our guide - Dennis from Amherst, MA - expects calmer waters for the rest of the week.  I don't plan to have access for blog updates until we return to shore and to this comfy lodge - Beach Roadhouse - over the weekend.

Until then, happy trails & paddling!

Tom and I with  our pilot Shane.