Day 13 - From Anchorage to Seward

This morning we had a few hours before the bus would take us to the train station for another train ride, this time to Seward, where we would board our ship for the cruise portion of our adventure. There was a Farmer's Market just down the street from our hotel, so we decided to check it out . . . 

Lots of little tented spaces filled with crafts, souvenirs and other fun things . . . 

Including the biggest heads of broccoli and . . . 

Cabbage, and other veggies I've ever seen.
Must be all that sunshine again!

And now that we are over 200 miles away, the clouds are gone and the sun has decided to come out, and guess what decided to appear?

Yep!  Mt. McKinley!  So we did get to see it after all!

Almost time to meet the bus, so we headed back to the hotel for our very short trip to the train station and our ride on the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic Train to Seward . . .

Our train.  As we boarded, we thought we were in the first car -
turned out we were in the last car - the train has engines at both ends.

Again, we started out inside looking out the window, but soon we moved to our favorite place on the platform between the cars.  Here's some of what we saw . . .

Mud flats

The train tracks run very close to the shoreline, which at low tide (like now) is basically a mud flat formed from glacier sand and very dangerous.  If you try to walk on it, you can get stuck just as you would in quicksand, and then when the tide comes in, you would drown.  So stay away!!!  Here are a few more views of the mud flats . . .

Guess the fishermen know exactly where to walk to avoid the "quicksand"

Wonder what they are fishing for?  Salmon maybe?

As we chugged along, we heard more about that huge earthquake from 1964.  It caused the ground in this area to sink some seven feet, allowing the salt water to mix with the fresh water, killing all the trees. Between the permafrost and earthquakes, trees don't have much of a chance in this area . .

But with or without trees, the scenery is still breathtaking!

Passing over a trestle

Glaciers off in the distance

A closer look

More damaged areas

Eagles nest - Mrs. Eagle must have been out shopping somewhere 

We arrived in Seward where are cruise ship was waiting.

Before we could board, we had to enter this building
and go through customs.
This took a VERY. LONG. TIME.  

Finally, we got through the line with all the proper forms filled out, and were deemed acceptable to embark . . .

Our cruise ship

So huge it wouldn't all fit in one picture!

Holland America's MS Oosterdam

We walked up the ramp, and the first thing they did was take our photo . . .

Welcome Aboard!

We found our stateroom, which was really nice.  Two twin beds, nightstands w/locking drawers, a sofa and adjustable coffee/dining table, a little desk with a TV angled on one side, ample closet space, and a very nice sized bathroom.  And our very own private veranda!  Don't know how we failed to take photos of it!!!  And even though it was "just" big enough, it was quite comfy!

After traveling out of a suitcase and staying in different places for two weeks, it was nice to finally be able to unpack and put things away, knowing we would be staying in the same room for the next week.

And looking down off the side, we were treated to this cute little guy and his friend just swimming past the ship. . .

Mr. Otter and Mr. Seagull

LOVE otters!  So cute!

We found our way to the dining room for our first dinner onboard ship.  We met some new people, had a delicious meal, and we're looking forward to the "cruise experience".  Ship sales at 9:30 - ish!

Oh, that's one more thing about Alaska.  Everything runs on "ish" time here . . . "The ship will sale at 9:30-ish."  "The bus will pick you up at 6:00-ish."  "You will arrive at 7:30-ish."  It's a new way of looking at the clock for sure.

Tomorrow is our first full day of cruising in the Gulf of Alaska.  Stay tuned . . .