Alaska: Some Like it Hot

Tammy and I just returned from an unforgettable cruise with the Ray family. We sailed from Seattle and spent the week in the Inside Passage exploring Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Prince Rupert CA. We appreciate Grandma Ray who provided the resources for us all to make many memories, especially with Mike and Ruth Ann Petramalo. Ruth Ann has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Our first stop was Ketchikan, Alaska. The normal weather for this time of year is about 55 degrees and raining. Our day was 75 degrees and sunshine. We met Craig and Juaneta Cannon, a friend from high school who joined the church and married Juaneta, who was a year younger than me. They were gracious and exciting hosts and took us out on their boat for fishing and crabbing.

Tammy got a goot bite but the hundred pound halibut just got away. We did have good fun setting a crab cage, catching a nice sized crab, and then cooking it on a deserted beach. Thanks again to Craig and Juaneta for their hospitality.

Tammy really enjoyed getting to know the Rays much better. Here she is visiting with Marlene Hinton as we wait for the bus to take us to Mildenhaul Glacier in Juneau in the crisp morning. The temperature was more than 80 degrees later in the afternoon. We had the best fish and chips on the planet for lunch.

Here are Mike and Ruth Ann Petramalo posing in front of the Mildenhaul Glacier. This is a river of ice that flows 12 miles from the eternal snowfields above.

The scenery in Alaska took my breath away over and over again. This is a typical scene. So much beauty! God knew what he was doing when he created Alaska!

We sailed right into a bay full of ice bergs and were able to get quite close to a large glacier. Enroute we were tickled to see one ice berg with 5-6 seals sunning themselves. There were also bald eagles galore, everywhere. Alaska is a very patriotic state.

In Skagway our excursion cancelled out and we we rented a tandem in town and rode about 20 miles along the most beautiful scenery. In truth we enjoyed being together, alone, better than any of the excursions (and it was much less expensive).

In Prince Rupert we found a nearly empty golf course and played a round. Actually Jeff played a round and Tammy played around, drive the golf cart. It was so fun!

On the last day we posed on the grand staircase on the cruise ship. What a fun group! These are all of Juanita's siblings, their spouses, Grandma Ray, and Gretchen Petramalo, Mike's Mom.

After a week in heaven (Alaska) we returned home renewed, ready to move forward. Thanks, again, to Grandma Ray for putting this together. We all bring with us many memories that we will always treasure.