Took a float plane to Taku Lodge today. It was one of the coolest things I've ever had the opportunity to do. These are a few pictures from the flight. On the way home I got to sit in the co-pilot seat. It was amazing!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Best Day in Juneau YET!
Today was expected to be the worst day of the season. The city closes the streets in and out of town for a July 4th parade and it plays havoc with all the tours. I expected cranky passengers and terrible tips. Instead I got an Alaska size adventure. Let me explain!
It all started when I was on track to be the last shuttle out of town before the parade began. I was in a hurry to get my passengers on the bus, because if I didn't, we wouldn't make it out of town before the downtown streets closed.
I was at the lot loading my bus as fast as I could, and before I knew it we were at standing room only with an almost full bus and lots more people to still get on the bus. If they didn't make it on my bus, t hey would have to wait another couple of hours before heading out to the glacier.
I asked everyone to squeeze a little tighter, and then yet a little tighter so we could fit every waiting passenger on the bus - stating that we didn't want to leave anyone behind.
Shockingly everyone cooperated and soon we were headed out of the lot with a very, VERY full bus. The road was already packed with people waiting for the parade, so I made a crack to my passengers that everyone was there to give them an Alaska Size send off to the Glacier. Then I started waving at all the people lining the street and honking my horn. My passengers followed suit and we waved and laughed our way through town. It was hysterical!
What could have been an overcrowded ride to the glacier turned into a wonderful adventure - and it set the stage for the entire day. My bus was full all day long, I was laughing and joking with passengers, and they responded in kind.
At the end of the day I had not only a tip bucket full of money (some 20s , a few 10s and more than few 5s along with tons of 1s) , but more importantly a wonderful day filled with memories that will last a lifetime.
Happy Independence Day everyone - and God Bless America!
~Miriam
It all started when I was on track to be the last shuttle out of town before the parade began. I was in a hurry to get my passengers on the bus, because if I didn't, we wouldn't make it out of town before the downtown streets closed.
I was at the lot loading my bus as fast as I could, and before I knew it we were at standing room only with an almost full bus and lots more people to still get on the bus. If they didn't make it on my bus, t hey would have to wait another couple of hours before heading out to the glacier.
I asked everyone to squeeze a little tighter, and then yet a little tighter so we could fit every waiting passenger on the bus - stating that we didn't want to leave anyone behind.
Shockingly everyone cooperated and soon we were headed out of the lot with a very, VERY full bus. The road was already packed with people waiting for the parade, so I made a crack to my passengers that everyone was there to give them an Alaska Size send off to the Glacier. Then I started waving at all the people lining the street and honking my horn. My passengers followed suit and we waved and laughed our way through town. It was hysterical!
What could have been an overcrowded ride to the glacier turned into a wonderful adventure - and it set the stage for the entire day. My bus was full all day long, I was laughing and joking with passengers, and they responded in kind.
At the end of the day I had not only a tip bucket full of money (some 20s , a few 10s and more than few 5s along with tons of 1s) , but more importantly a wonderful day filled with memories that will last a lifetime.
Happy Independence Day everyone - and God Bless America!
~Miriam
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
It's July!
Can you believe it's July? 60 More days until I return home from my Alaska Adventuring and 11 more days until Larry arrives. That means when he leaves, I'll have 39 days left here after he leaves. I can DO THIS!
June has been unseasonably warm with lots of sunshine. When I came I expected cool rainy weather to be the norm. I woke up today to rain showers and am hoping they continue for a few days. It would be nice to have sunny days when Larry is here, so I don't want to use them all up before he arrives :)
Today is also a Monday, and that makes it a bit bittersweet. Monday's are great because the first ship isn't in until 11:00, which makes for a late start. But Monday is also the first of the week with Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday being very long days at work. By the end of these three days I'm dragging pretty bad, but there is still Thursday and Friday to go before a day off on Saturday.
I spoke with Chris last night, and it sounds as though he and JuleeAnn will come up for a couple of days when Larry is here. I am excited to not only see them, but to have them see Alaska. It really is like no place I've ever been, and even though today finds me rather homesick for my family and friends, as well as the familiarity that comes with home, Alaska is an incredible place to visit and live for a summer!
TTFN
Miriam
June has been unseasonably warm with lots of sunshine. When I came I expected cool rainy weather to be the norm. I woke up today to rain showers and am hoping they continue for a few days. It would be nice to have sunny days when Larry is here, so I don't want to use them all up before he arrives :)
Today is also a Monday, and that makes it a bit bittersweet. Monday's are great because the first ship isn't in until 11:00, which makes for a late start. But Monday is also the first of the week with Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday being very long days at work. By the end of these three days I'm dragging pretty bad, but there is still Thursday and Friday to go before a day off on Saturday.
I spoke with Chris last night, and it sounds as though he and JuleeAnn will come up for a couple of days when Larry is here. I am excited to not only see them, but to have them see Alaska. It really is like no place I've ever been, and even though today finds me rather homesick for my family and friends, as well as the familiarity that comes with home, Alaska is an incredible place to visit and live for a summer!
TTFN
Miriam
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Catching Up
I haven't posted anything for several weeks, but life has been simply non-stop! It's been a good month though, although very much busier than May was.
I've pretty much been working 60 hours a week, six days a week, with Saturday being my typical day off. I do enjoy taking Saturday and exploring Juneau.
Several weeks ago I determined that I needed to set a bit of money aside from my tips and make Alaska the adventure it is supposed to be. I started renting a car on the weekends, and it has been a great investment. I pick the car up Friday night after work, and return it Monday morning. This allows me the freedom to do things on my day off, as well as Friday evening (since I don't have to work Saturday) Sunday evening and Monday morning.
I've done a bit of hiking - tried hiking My. Roberts but wasn't really prepared for how strenuous it was, so I didn't summit, but made it part way up and will be better prepared next time. I've been whale watching and got to see a pod of humpback whales bubble feed, which is amazing! I've also done a fair bit of hiking out at the glacier. This weekend I'm planing on hiking on some old mine trails above town and going to the Alaska State museum.
A couple weeks ago I didn't think I would be able to make it here for the entire time. I found myself so incredibly lonely and missing home, that I actually told Larry not to book his ticket to come up, because I wasn't convinced I would have the determination to stay. Larry, being wise and knowing me better than any one just listened and told me he would do whatever I needed him to do. The next day I felt a bit better (I was really tired and quite discouraged the day this happened) and he has now booked a flight to come visit for 10 days in July. It will be wonderful to spend some time together in this amazing place.
I have learned quite a bit about myself through this experience. One of the things I've really come to realize is what a unique opportunity it is to be here. It's not very often a person has the opportunity to live outside of a daily family unit after being in one for so many years. It's easy to get comfortable with the way things are, and not reach outside one's comfort zone.
Even though I have daily contact with my family, I'm in a very different position here. It gives me time for reflection and focus on who I am as an individual, rather than just as a family member. I'm rediscovering strength I forgot I had, as well as realizing areas of opportunity I maybe wouldn't have recognized with the strength of my family around.
The one thing I've realized more and more each day is that I married the exact right person for who I am. I don't know how on earth I got so lucky to have Larry as my companion and friend, but I do know that I am t he most blessed woman on the planet because of his presence in my life.
Pictures of Alaska coming soon!
TTFN
Miriam
Monday, June 10, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
How to Be a Good Traveler!
Seeing as how I meet a couple hundred travelers a day, I've gained some insight on how to be a good traveler.
Here is what I've learned :)
1) If you're riding a bus that has a narrated tour given by a live driver, please do not allow your child to sing twinkle-twinkle little star at the top of their lungs while the driver is trying to give the tour. This is especially important when the child is sitting right behind the driver and singing said song in the driver's left ear. Remember, other people are trying to listen to the tour they paid to take.
2) If there is standing room only on the bus, please take the hint that you need to adjust your position when the driver says (5 times repeated) "Folks, please be courteous of the people you're standing next to. Leaning on the seat they're sitting in means you're practically sitting on their head. If you could please be sure to just grasp the seat back with your hand while the bus is in motion, this would keep everyone safe and comfortable" Yes, if you hear this repeated more than once, it means someone, maybe YOU, are the offender, and the driver is trying to tell you nicely that you're practically sitting on the person's head :)
3) When the driver tells you there is no more room on the bus,and that the next shuttle will be along in 20 minutes, please don't try to get on the bus anyway saying "There are just two of us" No more room means exactly that, NO MORE ROOM! This means even two more people will no fit onto the already overcrowded bus.
4) If you're not going to leave your driver a tip, that's fine. We appreciate tips, but we know not everybody is going to tip, and we don't expect you to. Do not, however, reach into the tip bucket and pretend you're putting money in, when indeed you're not. We can see the tip bucket, it's clear plastic! When you reach in like you're placing a tip in, but don't actually leave one, it makes you look like a jerk, rather than just someone who chooses not to tip.
5) Do not carry on a conversation via your cell phone at the top of your voice when the driver is trying to give information. This is not only rude, it's in bad taste as well. If you must make a call, or accept a call, please keep it brief and to the point. Not everyone on the bus needs to hear you say "We're driving back from the Glacier right now" Everyone on the bus knows exactly what you're doing already, they're on the bus with you! :)
6) Don't shove and push people in line while trying to get on the bus. If the bus is on time, and you're running late, then it's YOUR fault you're out of time, not the drivers fault, and not the other travelers' fault. Plan you're time accordingly please!
7) Don't threaten to call someone's boss to get them fired because they're doing their job. The person you're treating so badly may just be the brother or sister of the boss :)
8) If you are traveling with a child, invest the $20 and buy an umbrella stroller from Walmart. Dragging your $300 Cadillac Stroller that is the size of a small bus onto a crowded bus is inconvenient for everyone. You paid for an adult ticket, that means one seat, not a seat for you and two more seats taken up by your baby paraphernalia.
9) SMILE! You're on vacation and you're supposed to be having fun.
TTFN!
Friday, May 24, 2013
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