Friday 1st in Los Angeles.
Have started the homeward trek and am currently sitting in airport lounge waiting.  Managed a few of the iconic spots in LA such as Sunset Blvd, Chinese Theatre, Walk of Fame, Universal Studios and movie stars' home tour. There would be a lot more to see and do, but time (and cash) are limiting factors to all tourist activities anyway. Home on the 4th.

 First three are in Yellowstone.  Last one is at Bear Country USA and they are hand rearing these cubs as the male kills them if left with the pack

Tuesday 29^th May

In Los Angeles now and it really seems that our holiday is almost over. Had two nights in Keystone to finish off the bus tour, three attempts to see Mt Rushmore and a long day travelling to get to Denver.    Keystone is one short street full of souvenir shops for tourists visiting Mt Rushmore.  Our first attempt to see the lighting up was foiled by fog, as was our day visit the next morning.  The sun shone however on our last day and a blue sky provided a lovely background for the carvings.  Never realized the work that went into these monuments – both Mt Rushmore’s presidents and also Crazy Horse.  First there were scale models made up, measured and these measurements transferred to the  mountain using crane structures and simple plumbobs for carving (first stage was using dynamite).

Quite glad not to have to have bags ready for early bag pulls and have our own leisurely start to the day on Monday.  It was Memorial Day on Monday and a long weekend for people.  Friends of a friend picked us up and took us for scenic drive into the mountains around Denver, before lunch at their home.  Had another drive in the afternoon, dinner with them before returning to the hotel.  Saw some beautiful scenery including a large natural amphitheatre used for concerts.

Denver is the mile high city, but they lived at 8,000 feet.  Could notice it a bit when you walked – puffed a little

Flew into LA on Tuesday morning – minor hiccup with flight bookings but all sorted by one very obliging desk clerk.

Plan to have a tour and visit Universal studios in next couple of days.

Headed off from Salt Lake City towards Jackson.  Spectacular scenery  as we went up into the Grand Teton Range.  Went for a float trip down the Snake River.  That was a little different and also quite cold.  Wind had come up and the guide had his time cut out to direct this little rubber raft/boat where he wanted it to go.  Afterwards we headed for Yellowstone National park for two nights.

It snowed lightly as we travelled, but this continued overnight too and everything was covered in light snow.  Have seen lots of bison ad elk.  Travelled around Park to many geothermal features.  More spectacular scenery, which only got better as the snow increased.  It looked just like a Christmas card scene.

Have now seen Old Faithful go off but it was so cold that the water spray was almost lost in the steam created. 

Very cold overnight – down to -3.  Snow much heavier in the morning.  Road had been closed going back to hotel the night before and road we planned to take the next morning was also supposed to be closed.  Drove out there anyway and road was open so headed across the pass towards next stop.  Top of pass is almost 10,000 ft above sea level so was a steep twisty ascent and descent.

Tonight (Thursday) we are at a ranch.  Everything very well set up for guests, good accommodation.  Had dinner in ranch house, bonfire and ‘smores afterwards.  Played horseshoes and had a sing along around fire.  Tomorrow it is fishing, horse riding or resting before going to Keystone for 2 nights.

PS    ‘smores are one cracker biscuit, a few squares of hershy chocolate, a toasted marshmallow and another cracker on top as a sandwich.  This is a campfire treat over here.  Quite tasty

Top photo is of a painting - couldn't believe the 3d effect. Middle photo is stretching one cocoon of silk to make the silk duvets and bottom one is 1000 cranes made from a single piece of paper (Nagasaki)

Monday 14^th

Seward today.  After 6 sea days, we decided that another day out on the water hoping to see wildlife was not on the agenda, so we cancelled the cruise.

Tuesday at sea, a bit warmer around 5 today.  Cruising in Yakult Bay to the Hubbard Glacier.  Impressive piece of ice!  Saw whales as we left the bay.

Wednesday was Juneau –  the only capital city in the USA with no land access – sea or air only.  Had an interesting trip to a salmon hatchery and for the benefit of those who know how I enjoy fish – I had some salmon dip and it was nice. After that we went to the glacier gardens in an area reclaimed after a landslide and then to Mendenhall Glacier – another impressive piece of ice.  Really hard to actually comprehend the size of these.  It looked huge and we were over a mile away.

Thursday – Ketchikan   They call it the rain capital of the world, the salmon capital and I think it is the tourist mecca.

Interesting fact – there are 1.8 cars per permanent resident and only 27 kms of road!

 Went on a guided walking tour of the old town and this was really interesting.  Spent some time in the old redlight district of Creek St.

One sea day left and then it is time to disembark in Vancouver.

 Sunday 20^th

Long day yesterday.  Left the ship  just after 8, caught bus to Seattle and plane to Salt lake City, Sounds good, but there were a few waiting periods between events.

Found out we could attend a session of the Mormon Tabernacle choir this morning.  They do a direct TV broadcast and people could go as the audience, but we had to be quiet and not clap.  It was great – approximately 360 members, including the orchestra.  The tabernacle was a magnificent building with excellent acoustics.

Bought lunch in a large grocery store - choose your food (hot or cold),  pay by weight and eat in on a balcony.

Found a post office open on Sunday and sent a parcel of excess clothes home.  Surprise!!

Welcome reception tonight and tour starts in earnest tomorrow morning with bag pull at 7 am, depart at 8 am

Wednesday 9th

Weather still continues to be pleasant.  The air is cool but there is little or no wind.  If you are up on the top deck (playing shuffleboard), then the wind is a little more noticeable.  Just the mad Australians out in it though!  A pod of Orca whales passed by the ship this morning.  Close enough to see bits as they swam, rather like dolphins, but not close enough to even think about photos.

Seriously, with a jacket, gloves and a hat it is not too bad outside at all.  Noon today the temp was 5.2°, but it certainly didn’t feel that cold.  Would hate to be in the sea though as sea temp was 5°, and 4.6 km deep. Don’t think I could touch the bottom!!

Muroran, the port for Sapporo, was just a town grown up around the port and its industries.  We didn’t go into Sapporo, instead took a tour out to Mt Usu and lake Toya – an active volcano area, though nothing since a new mountain was formed in 1945 I believe.  Was pretty scenery that might have been magnificent if it wasn’t for the haze in the distance.  Went up the ropeway (cable car) to the observation deck and then climbed up to the look out.  Got warm enough to strip to shirt sleeves for a while.  Because we are in the cooler north of Japan there were still quite a few cherry blossoms around.  Not as spectacular as they would have been a couple of weeks ago, but still impressive in quantity.

Thursday 10^th May and Thursday 10^th May

What a novelty to have two days with the same date following each other.  The ship’s paper calls it Thursday Day 1 and Thursday Day 2.  Crossed the International Date Line so we have the day we  have already had!

Weather is cold – now past being cool.  Yesterday was 5°, last night 1° and today it hasn’t got over 3°.  Thursday Day 2 may be warmer!

Sunday 13^th May

Weather is still cold.  Not a lot of wind most of the time so with layers of clothes you can still go out and not freeze.  Highlight though was the snow.  Last night it snowed and they actually reached the ground.  Of course we went out and took photos.  This morning there was compacted snow (ice) heaped up on all the open decks.  Poor deck crew is busy shoveling and scraping.  I am sure they didn’t expect this as part of their duties and they are so cold, especially since the wind has picked up today.  A few of them haven’t seen snow falling before.  Another snow shower just after lunch with bigger flakes this time