Huron-Perth Boomers Winter 2023-24

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TRAVEL by Jill Ellis-Worthington Seen from the deck of the Volendam stationed five miles away, the Johns Hopkins Glacier – in Glacier Bay National Park – is 12 miles long and 300 feet high. climate change. This was especially true when she shared her pictures with a cousin who had done the same cruise a decade previous, noting a significant reduction in the size of the floating icebergs. This is something our friends and travelling companions, Barry (61) and Valerie (59) Wakonig, also commented upon. They took an Alaskan cruise in 1993. They were so taken with the visual spectacle, especially Glacier Bay, that they couldn’t wait to return. “The glacier was calving a lot back then and the floating ice was much bigger,” Barry said. “We only heard and saw one crack off this time.” Stopping in the various small coastal towns provides opportunities to take unforgettable excursions. In Juneau, the state’s capital – with the second ugliest capital building, according to our guide – we decided to stay on the ground and took a bike tour through the rainforest to Mendenhall Glacier. Though I’m an avid cyclist, I admit that the utilitarian bikes and rain dampened my enthusiasm, but the beauty of the forest and majesty of the glacier made up for it. Fortunately, we had learned that Juneau gets 230 days of rain each year, so we packed rainsuits. Some take to the air, like Trish Harrow-Rodic and her family. Since it was on her bucket list, Harrow- Rodic (55) was travelling with her ex-husband Damir (57) and son Jackson (16) and decided on a helicopter ride to the top of the glacier to go dog sledding. The trio was captivated by the puppies and loved riding the sleds behind mushers, but the scenery was the real star of the show. “It’s just surreal,” she said. “I just wanted to savour every moment of being surrounded by that much natural beauty.” Others, like Delarge and her group, enjoyed walking 26 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM
y Jill Ellis-Worthington TRAVEL Far left: Stopping by a ‘house of negotiable affection’ in a historic section of Skagway. Centre: Forest and glacier bike tour outside Juneau. Right: Mushing on Mendenhall Glacier (photo by Trish Harrow). around the ports to learn about their history. That’s what they did in Juneau, ending their trek at the famous Red Dog Saloon, reported to be one of the oldest in Alaska. For my husband and I, sawdust on the floor, costumed servers and bartenders and a singing cowboy on stage made this a fun, kitschy way to warm up at the end of a damp day. Skagway was the jumping-off point for the 1896 Yukon gold rush. Our foursome decided to head out on the White Pass and Yukon Railway tour. This three-hour train and van combo tour explored the route of gold-seeking hopefuls, ending in Fraser, B.C. The scenery is magnificent, and I especially enjoyed being able to stand on the open decks between train cars to experience it more closely as we chugged along. The story of the miners’ trek is tragic, so be cautious if you’re very sensitive. If you have mobility WINTER <strong>2023</strong>/<strong>24</strong> • 27
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Huron-Perth Boomers Winter 2023-24

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