First of all I am not a great traveler, at least when it comes to airports, security, sitting on a jet for hours etc. However that I could handle if it weren't for all the additional hassles of just getting from my place in a more remote part of the world. It starts with getting to an airport that has jet service to Seattle. We have to take a 5 hour ferry ride to Juneau Alaska. Not so bad right? But the ferry only sails 2 or three times a week this time of the year , and must be booked in advance in order to assure space on the car deck for our SUV. So that means the entire vacation, jet travel, accommodations in Hawaii, car rental etc etc all hinges on the ferry. It also needs to mesh with return travel back from Juneau home but that leg is less critical. Then there is the dog, and where we keep him boarded is also booked a month in advance to have some assurance he will have bunk space (this part sucks leaving him behind!).
Of course there is the notorious bad weather this time of the year. Storms frequently postpone the ferry in and out of here, so in order to make certain we don't miss our flight and completely mess up connecting flights to Hawaii (Alaska Airlines is amazing at filling every seat on that flight!) we have to arrive in Juneau at the very least a day in advance, but 2 days is preferable, just to be sure to make it to our flight. This means staying around Juneau for a while (several nights), either at in laws, or a motel. Since our flight left at 5 am we opted for a nights stay at Super 8 near the airport. Getting up at 3 am sucks! Then sitting on a plane for around 10 hours ain't no fun either...
Leaving home port: Ferry Malaspina 400+ foot, 55 years old. Part of the State of Alaska "Marine Highway" which serves all of SE Alaska. This boat chugs along at 17 knots, and makes a round trip from Skagway AK (15 miles north of my town) 1000 miles south to Bellingham WA every week year round.
The "Mal" on the return home in Juneau yesterday. We were greeted from Hawaii with a foot of fresh snow.
Was it worth all this? I suppose so!
Good to be back home, but there is a foot of fresh snow in the drive and my plow wont start! Starting to sound like a real whiner here!
Of course there is the notorious bad weather this time of the year. Storms frequently postpone the ferry in and out of here, so in order to make certain we don't miss our flight and completely mess up connecting flights to Hawaii (Alaska Airlines is amazing at filling every seat on that flight!) we have to arrive in Juneau at the very least a day in advance, but 2 days is preferable, just to be sure to make it to our flight. This means staying around Juneau for a while (several nights), either at in laws, or a motel. Since our flight left at 5 am we opted for a nights stay at Super 8 near the airport. Getting up at 3 am sucks! Then sitting on a plane for around 10 hours ain't no fun either...
Leaving home port: Ferry Malaspina 400+ foot, 55 years old. Part of the State of Alaska "Marine Highway" which serves all of SE Alaska. This boat chugs along at 17 knots, and makes a round trip from Skagway AK (15 miles north of my town) 1000 miles south to Bellingham WA every week year round.
The "Mal" on the return home in Juneau yesterday. We were greeted from Hawaii with a foot of fresh snow.
Was it worth all this? I suppose so!
Good to be back home, but there is a foot of fresh snow in the drive and my plow wont start! Starting to sound like a real whiner here!