Juneau Part 1

We did it, sleeping overnight in Skagway we completed our quest of camping in 49 states! It was met with a whimper, no party or special meal heck we almost forgot about it until someone mentioned it in the morning. So we placed the ceremonial jewel sticker and patted each other on the back. Lots of trip to go. We are not out of the woods yet, literally. So we had slept in that morning or tried to we all get up pretty early as it’s always light, and we still have not adjusted to Alaska time at all. Next step was getting to Juneau, we’re leaving the camper in Skagway and taking the White Night on the ferry to Juneau. It’s about a 6.5 hour trip but you have to check in early then the ship was delayed and got going late so was a 9 hour tour all said and done. It was an interesting ride. Was really windy so couldn’t stand outside for long. We just chilled at a table in the upper deck common area. We read our books and played a game of cards. They had a small cafeteria with some hot food but we always missed it so most of us ended up eating chili. It was good chili but maybe not the best choice as we’d all be sharing a hotel room later. We got into Juneau late and this first night we stayed at a hotel. We all crammed into one room. We have a Airbnb but I had read the ferry schedule wrong when planning the trip, originally I had us coming in the next day but since the ferry didn’t run that day we had to come a day early. I was lucky we were in Skagway already so didn’t make too much difference to leave a day early. 

The first day in Juneau we slummed around waiting for our house to open up. We grabbed breakfast at the Rookery, a small little place with excellent food. Marcus had realized he forgot his contacts in the camper and was pretty upset about it. He had his glasses but doesn’t like wearing them for activities, I get it I’m the same way. Well we needed to pickup some water so we made a Costco run and checked if we could buy some contacts. They didn’t have his prescription in and couldn’t substitute anything. It was Saturday so our eye doctor’s office back home was closed. We ended up getting him a new exam at the clinic attached to Costco to get a new prescription. He was squared away with enough samples to get through the week and he was extremely grateful we went through the trouble. 

Even after a couple hours spent in Costco we had a bunch more time to kill so we drove the Glacier Highway north.  I wanted to drive it as far as it goes, only like 30 miles but we didn’t make it all the way. We stopped at a few places along the highway and it was getting to be check-in time so we headed back after we visited the Eagle River area. 

Our house is on Douglas Island across from downtown Juneau. It’s on the channel and had awesome views of the channel, downtown, the mountains, and all the cruise ships. It was a bonus day and nothing planned so hung around the house the rest of the day and rested. It’s just been a week but what a trip so far we’re all pretty exhausted already. I made some frozen pizzas for supper we brought over from the camper, since we have access to an oven here we put all our oven things into the cooler.

Next day we visited the Mendenhall Glacier it was pretty awesome. We did some of the easy hikes around the visitors center. No one felt like doing more than that.

We haven’t seen night time for days now and it’s really wearing on us. We’re so tired by evening barely making it much past 9:00. Never thought I’d yearn for darkness. We go to sleep and wake up to the light… It’s exhausting. 

Here’s some pictures of our first few days next up will be a couple days on boats whale watching and fishing, 

Walking around Skagway, we didn’t all have proper rain jackets and it’s been rainy and cool so we had to get some shopping in to make sure we were outfitted properly. 

In line for the ferry. We had to wait about a hour longer than expected.

Found a table for five and setup camp on the ferry

Pulling out of harbor

We played a game of hearts to pass the time

Going outside seemed dangerous. The wind was whipping and would push you around. Sort of fun for a few minutes. Here’s Luke trying to turn the corner to the front of the boat. They all made it but then quickly retreated. 

The views were amazing

Me getting g wind whipped pretty good

Sam, Luke, and myself safely inside. 

We passed a few lighthouses along the way. 

Lucas heading up with some delicious chili. Luke and I had a bowl. Marcus had two bowls.

Out the back of the boat. Less windy if you didn’t go out too far no one’s on the back deck there’s an area with an overhang behind me were a lot of people are sitting or sleeping in lawn chairs under some heat lamps. 

We went past a few glaciers not sure this one’s name but pretty cool.

We have a backpacking game set the kids took out and played some chess. 

Shot of our setup taken form outside the boat

Our hotel room at the frontier suites by the airport. We are crashed out and ready for bed. One room just for the night. It has a bunk so I thought it’d have a top and bottom but no only a single bunk. Since Luke called bottom bunk he ended up on the couch cushions on the floor. Marc and him wouldn’t share the fold out. After I laid on it in the next morning the cushions might have been the good choice it was a pretty hard fold out.  The single bunk was cool but I didn’t get a shot of it.

The Rookery. Becky’s favorite place. She had a pastry the rest of us had breakfast sandwiches or French toast. It was excellent. She ran back there again this morning while Marc and I were running to get pastries for everyone

Downtown Juneau, we walked and shopped a bit after we ate.

Costco, has to be the most beautiful Costco location on earth. Small by Costco standards but well stocked. We spent a couple hours here to get Marcus’s contact situation squared away 

Recreation area we stopped at driving north on the glacier highway. 

Always amazing views anywhere you turn here

Boys enjoyed skipping rocks

Samus on a tree. As I always say no one’s happier than Samus climbing a tree.

This is at Eagle River campground area. There are salmon already spawning and heading up river. Here’s three that are stuck on a tricky part of the river. I think they are just exhausted now we’ve seen some others power past on the first try but these guys are stuck. Hope they make it otherwise will be easy pickings.

Eagle River lives up to its name lots of eagles hanging out. 

View from the house on Douglas Island

View of Juneau

Paraglider or something in a parachute soaring down

They had a game tip the waiter that had everyone entertained for a while

Down on the beach at the house. Shot of the cruise ships so many every day, four or five at least it was crazy. 

Lights on in the city. It does get a bit dimmer here with the mountains never saw past 11:00 to know if it ever gets dark. The website still says “not for this day” for this location so probably not. 

Eagle on our beach area

Today we checked out Mendenhall Glacier. This is a lake near the parking area

Glacier in the distance

I guess it’s receeded so much in the past couple decades. Still pretty impressive 

Shot of the glacier and nugget falls

Walking to Nugget falls we took an offshoot more rugged route. 

Marc and me

A couple stream crossings there were rock hopping paths but feet got a little wet

Lone Iceberg floating in the lake

Nugget falls

Samus helping Lucas up in a big rock

We are at The Hanger that evening. It’s in an old seaplane hanger I guess. We ordered a pound of king crab legs just to try them. An expensive appetizer at $80 a pound but we had to try it. I had the halibut fish tacos for my main course and it was excellent. Crab legs were good as well I normally don’t like crab but not bad. 

That’s it for the first few days on our mini vacation from our vacation