#52 Stories--Story #42

What were your most common childhood vacations like--road trips, visits to Grandma's house, camping trips, weekends at the lake of beach?

As a child our family "vacations" were generally a road trip to see my grandparents in Washington state or a visit back to my parent's high school reunions.  They were friends with classmates in each others' classes so they regarded those reunions for either a reunion for both. They always has a good time. We also sometimes took these trips and included a visit to  cousins that we only saw every year or so.

Our family included my dad's parents for most of my growing up years, and because of their infirmities, we really didn't vacation that much.  I recall one big trip to Disneyland with another family in our ward, but I don't remember much besides the trip probably cost too much and took too long away from home and work for my parents--especially my dad.  I know he didn't like crowds, or expenses, or too much silliness.  He still doesn't.

On many occasions, we did spend weekends at drag strips not too far from home where my dad would be racing.  I liked those because we were often left to our own devices--I collected coins from under the bleachers, spark plugs from the pits area, rode bikes all over, and then returned to the camper or trailer for lunch or dinner.  I think we learned to make our own fun on these kinds of weekends.

On our visits to my grandparents' house I remember visiting his animals with my grandpa and   learning to sprinkle salt on the huge banana slugs and watching them dissolve. I loved hearing my grandpa talk to his dogs or horses or cattle.  But it was a place that I never felt really comfortable.  The water was always bad and smelly, with bath tub stained with rust or other minerals. My grandma made me a little nervous because she was a little unsteady mentally. I knew she loved us, but I wasn't ever sure she knew us apart when we were all there together.

For fun things--Frontier Village, beach, or lakes, etc--we did a lot of those things with friends and their families. Sometimes my sister and I would go with Mom and meet our cousins from Palo Alto and do fun things with them. The only camping I remember doing was at Girls Camp--but it was decidedly not normal camping.
 

Alaska Trip, Finale

OK, just one more thing:

This proves we were all there.  this was the "walk-on" photo opportunity.  The first of many, the only one we got though.  Thanks to Mom for that!!

Alaska Trip, part 7

I guess I've stretched this out a bit, haven't I?  Oh well.

The night we got back on the ship in Juneau, we headed to a special dinner.  BIL Tony had lined up an on board steak house dinner reservation for my parent's in honor of their anniversary--that was above and beyond our typical dining room experience. I had steak and lobster and prawns.  Everything was delicious.  so rich, and so much food!  But we enjoyed the special anniverary recognition they gave my parents and we all rolled off to bed very full.

Before we pulled into Ketchikan the next day, I realized something was not right.  I must have eaten a little too many tiger prawns as I got pretty queasy that night.  I regretted the decision of the prawns even more then next morning, as I was still throwing up.  But I downed some Imodium, so at least it was only coming out one direction, and put on a happy face, and opted not to eat anything that day in port.

In Ketchikan, I was a bit out of sorts, but tried my best to enjoy that day's adventures. Genius Golfer and I went into the town to walk a bit before me had to be back and meet the tour group for our excursion.  The fresh air was great, but my energy level was really low from throwing up and more all night. There is a LOT of shopping, but it mostly high end and too fancy-pants for my taste, even when I feel well.  But we did find a key ring for The Girl.

We headed onto the bus a little later--so the extra sleep in was a great help--then headed off to visit the Totem Bight State Park.  our tour guide and bus driver was Rusden, a U of U student who grew up in Orem.  We can't get away from Utah County even when we travel. 

Rusden is a history-education major with an emphasis on Native American studies.  He LOVED the native Alaskan culture and it really showed through in his knowledge and enthusiasm as he taught us about the park and the traditions associated with totem pole carving.  the weather was drizzly all day, but Ketchikan is the rainiest city in America, so what do you do?!  At least it wasn't coming down in buckets.

from the Gift Shop's museum...didn't get to see on e of these live and in person, darnit.

Throughout the Totem Bight park I kept thinking how similar these traditional clan houses and clan oral traditions and legends were to the Maori traditions in New Zealand.  They must be connected somewhere to be so similar.  It was a kind of familiar feeling, after having seen the Maori clan houses, etc. on our visit there.

After that we headed to the Great Alaska Lumberjack show.  This was my mom's pick after hearing about it from my Aunt MaryAnn.  I don't think I would have picked it, but this was mom's party, so we did what she wanted.  In the end, it was pretty fun--even though I still didn't feel well.  The timbersports show was just that--a series of contests simulating what a lumberjack would have to know who to do and then doing it for speed and time against another competitor.  The audience was divided into two teams--the US camp and the Canadian camp, reminiscent of the old timey competition in the Alaskan timber lands of yore.  The athletes were half actors too, so they were revving up the audience and that added to the fun atmosphere.  It was fun, but by the time we were done there, I was pretty done too.

 

 After that, we headed back to the ship.  gG went back ashore for the best fish and chips he says he's ever had.  He was killing me with that!  I love fish & chips, but there was no way I could eat anything yet.   I napped for bit and then watched a movie with GG when he got back.   I stayed in an slept while everyone else went to dinner.  Not my favorite part of the trip, I tell you.  Being sick isn't great when you are at home, but its the worst on a floating city.

I stayed in most of the next day, with GG.  We watch several movies that were being shown on the ship's TV.  I slept,  I drank some ginger ale and finally kept something down.  We had to be packed and suitcases left out for pick up before midnight Friday.  It was a very laid back day at sea as we headed into Vancouver, British Columbia were we'd end the trip on Saturday morning.

We pulled into Vancouver early and we were one of the first groups ti disembark because our flight was early--about 12:45 PM.  We saw my parents, and sister and Tony before we headed off. 

We flew home from Vancouver, via Portland.  We flew right over Mt St Helen's.  What an amazing sight.  then had a little bit of fish and chips at the Portland airport before coming on home.  It was  great week, but it was sure good to be home.

Alaska Trip, Part 6

After whale watching, we headed over to see the Mendenall Glacier.  It is a national park, and apparently everyone aboard the five cruise ships in Juneau that day had the same idea.  The drizzly rain picked up a little and overall, it was CROWED!

 Genius golfer checking the glacier through the telescope.

 The view from the visitor's center.

The lake at the bottom of the glacier with icebergs floating through it.


I waited 20 minutes to use the visitor center's restroom before commandeering the men's room with one other brave woman.  After all the action of the whales, generally complaining people weren't much fun.

Alaska Trip, Part 5

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the beautiful wildlife in Alaska.  In Juneau we did a little whale watching.  And BOY, those whales were worth watching!  I believe there was one in the mix who was either ADHD and missed his giant does of Ritalin or was a typical 17 year old boy showing off for the ladies:

These mammoths of the water were astonishingly active that morning.  It was a lot of fun.

Alaska Trip, Part 4

Our first excursion off the ship was in Skagway, fro a Yukon Railway adventure.  You'd not think that just getting off the ship would be so welcome, but it was.

The weather held out for us, and the scenery, again, was gorgeous.

Dad napped along much of the railway.  Mom said that this was a might expensive nap.

 At the Canadian border.

 Another Bridal Veil falls.

The Little engine that Could and then realized it couldn't any more.

Alaska Trip, Part 3

We sailed for a few days through some spectacular scenery.  We cruised past the Hubbard Glacier, into Glacier Bay and then headed to Skagway.

Along the way, we saw some of nature's most powerful forces at work.

I only wish you could hear the sound the glacier makes as it calves into the water.  It is intense.  And I can't even think of something to compare it to, except thunder.