We headed to the west coast, and the beautiful city of Vancouver at the end of July to enjoy a few days in and around downtown Vancouver, before getting on a 7 day "Alaska" cruise. Well, they should just call it a "BC/Alaska" cruise, as the first and last days are spent on the ship passing the amazing BC coast line on the way to SE Alaska. I had my gear packed in my new (giant!) Lowepro backpack, and kept the weight around 25lbs all in. This was important as we needed to walk a few blocks with all our gear and luggage from the SkyTrain station to Canada Place to get on the ship.
So, there I fussed for several days after getting this new Lowepro Protactic BP450 backpack. It needed to carry my RF200-800, EF70-200 2.8L, Sigma EF17-70, GoPro, extra batteries, ND filters, MacBook Pro, and of course, my R7 camera with a tripod mounted on the outside.
All the photos below are just the ones I took with the gear above - with the exception of my gear photo, that I used my iPhone. As most of these have a lot of detail, go ahead and click on the photos to get a closer look! In fact, most of them were taken with my 70-200. I like the challenge of trying to see the details around me, and using the telephoto lens on the R7 forces me to do that.
It was warm in Vancouver, and with all the walking we did there just to visit places, I decided (unfortunately) not to carry my camera around. It's the one downside to a larger camera. Although the photos would've been much better, I just pulled out my iPhone to capture anything around town.
However, once on the ship, out came the camera and lenses to get shots of leaving Vancouver especially as we pass under the Lions Gate Bridge and past Stanley Park! It was a very warm and bright afternoon, so lighting wasn't the best really, and we were just trying to spend time at the pool.
Brilliance of the Seas still in dock at Canada Place, with downtown Vancouver behind.
The Brockton Point Lighthouse (built 1914) on the northern tip of Stanley Park, just east of the Lions Gate Bridge.
Stanley Park and the Seawall, with downtown Vancouver towering in the distance.
Siwash Rock, just off the Seawall on the west side of Stanley Park. Third Beach is just south of this, and what a nice beach it really is!
One last look at Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver in the distance, as we get further out into sea (and back to the pool!)
The next morning, we woke up to this. What a difference in mood, temperature and lighting. This was the beauty of the BC coast line, with hundreds of little islands passing by...
And more islands...
And more. It didn't get tiring to watch this scenery roll by. We were very fortunate that it was relatively warm (mid to high teens), and no rain. Even warmer and sunnier weather waited for us in Alaska.
We woke up the next day in Alaska, with a beautiful sunrise, clear skies, warmer air temps, and a layer of cloud just off the coast over the ocean.
Surrounded by beautiful scenery.
And whales in the distance, and close to the ship! Leeann saw this one not too far off the ship, and so I quickly changed lenses to get a close up!
First stop, Icy Strait. We packed a lot of warm clothes. We didn't use any of them. The week prior, all the ports were around 12-13c and rainy. The week we were there, it was mid 20s and sunny. So, we all ended up wearing the one pair of shorts over and over. However, in Icy Strait, I wore pants and was cooking the whole time!
Quick stop at shops, museum, and sights around the port before walking 1.5 miles south to the small village of Hoonah.
Sights around Icy Strait cruse terminal.
The natural beauty around Icy Strait.
Leeann enjoying the sunshine (and heat!) on walk to Hoonah.
The 1.5 mile path from the cruise terminal to Hoonah.
Sites around Hoonah.
Looking down the main road into Hoonah. That's April (and the others are off camera) waiting for me to get my photo.
The next day, we stopped in Skagway - the northern most stop for our cruise. We got off the ship early, and on to a train on the White Pass and Yukon Route railway. Once the train started rolling, we got outside on the platform and didn't go back in for the whole two hour journey into northern BC!
The train climbs, and climbs, as this Klondike Gold Rush era railway built in the late 1800's needed to get through the pass on the way to the Yukon. Notice the bridge on the left of this photo, and the other train approaching it across the valley - where we'll end up about 20 mins from when I took this photo.
Over bridges, through tunnels, crossing valleys.
Oh, and the scenery.
Around mountains.
Almost two hours of climbing, looking back toward Skagway. Two of the docked cruise ships can be seen in the middle of this photo.
Close to the BC border!
Glad we aren't taking this bridge!
Through the mountain...
After going into Canada for 20 mins, getting off the train, we got back on a bus and headed back into the US. Next stop: Liarsville and a salmon cookout!
Liarsville is a touristy spot set up in the original camp spot during the gold rush era, as a historic reenactment. Good salmon too!
Alaska's awesome state flag.
Liarsville.
Tents, and signs set up around the camp of Liarsville
And a little play about the goldrush.
Leeann panning for gold, and she got some!
Back in Skagway, walking around all the shops, and sites of this picturesque, and touristy town on another HOT day (27c)!
Looking down State St in Skagway, with a cruise ship in the distance.
Day 4 started at 5am with a visit down Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier. With the warm weather continuing, there was little ice in the fjord, and the captain said this was the closest the ship has ever been. It definitely feels like a tight fit for a ship over 1000' long!
Constant views of waterfalls, and ice chunks going down Endicott Arm.
And the colour of that Glacier before the sunrise. Stunning.
More waterfalls...
Real close up view of the glacier at 800mm on my camera
Ice, ice, and more ice.
Excursion for some to get an even closer look at the glacier before heading to Juneau.
And with birds in the area, of course I need to get a photo with my 200-800.
Later in the day, we visited Juneau. Rented a car, and headed for Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. Here's the gang posing in front of Nugget Falls on another warm Alaska day!
Mendenhall Glacier, just north of Juneau.
Day 5, and heading to the fourth port. Ketchikan. On the way, more stunning scenery and photo opportunities. As our last stop, the weather has stayed warm, mostly sunny, and calm.
Fishing off the coast of Alaska, by Ketchikan.
One of my favourite photo opportunities of the trip was when I spotted what looked like a lighthouse. It was several kms from the ship, and I couldn't make it out, so I put the 200-800 on, and slowly zoomed into 800mm while snapping photos.
And in all directions, the view was incredible, with fantastic lighting to set the mood.
But it wasn't until I got home, that I noticed in a series of shots I took at 800mm of the navigation marker that there were a couple of eagles on the top - one of them diving off toward the sea. This is my favourite shot of the trip!
On our "photo tour" in Ketchikan, we visited a Potlatch totem park to grab some photos of totems, clan houses.
...And old cars.
And more old cars.
And just before leaving, April noticed this bald eagle in a distant tree. I asked the photo guide to give me a couple minutes to change lenses and grab a photo. He was far away, and not ideal location, but I never turn up an opportunity to get a shot of an eagle!
Being a "photo walk", trying to find interesting shots of totem poles...
And more totem poles...
And more...
Back in Ketchikan, he took the group to this scenic view down a river that salmon are swimming up. Being I was one of the only people on this photo tour with a large camera, and prepared with all my gear, I rushed to get the right lens on, the ND filter (it was a bright sunny day!) and get a decent shot. Better than an iPhone at least.
And all those salmon. Incredible the rapids they need to swim up!
Scenic Creek Street.
The guide suggested this shot, with the flag in the foreground. Why not.
The terrain changes quick in Ketchikan, so this funicular on Creek Street is definitely easier than stairs.
Alaska hats, souvenirs, etc.
Looking down a narrow alley off Creek Street.
Entrance to Creek Street.
Colourful flags in front of one of the buildings along the creek.
Final full day of the cruise, and passing again the mostly foggy, cloudy but at times beautiful BC coastline.
Later in the day, racing another ship home to Vancouver with Vancouver Island in the distance.
Yes, Holland America, we loved Alaska too.
