Icy Strait Point

September 27, 2021

Hoonah~ Tlingit for "where the north wind doesn't blow." 

Today is almost another sea day since we won't reach Icy Strait Point until this afternoon sometime between 2:00 and 3:30pm. It's unusual to have this much wiggle room in arrival time. I can only surmise its dependent on how bad the headwinds are that the Encore has to fight. 

We however are experiencing fairly slight seas and a partly cloudy sky. The ship is so large, if she's bucking a direct headwind, we can't feel it. It's only when we're turned slightly against the wind so it strikes the ship alongside that we wallow a bit from side to side. Once again, my scopolamine patch is still working (It's usually good for 3 or 4 days.) And fortunately, we're heading for a tidy cove where the wind does not blow. 

We decided to try breakfast in the Observation Lounge with Mom, Dad, #2 Daughter and Nephew. (#1 Daughter and Daughter-in-Law were very early risers all week, so by the time we managed to shamble out of our cabins looking for sustenance, they would have had to behave like good little hobbits and indulge in 2nd Breakfast if they wanted to eat with us!) Breakfast in the Observation Lounge is much lighter fare which appealed to us since we'd all been eating quite a bit since we boarded. I broke my fast with cheese, ham slices, a handful of walnuts and wonderfully strong coffee. 

The Observation Lounge is a lovely area, with two stories of floor to ceiling windows looking out over the bow of the ship. However, all the loungers directly in front of the windows were already occupied and by occupied, I mean camped in. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if some folks sleep in the loungers they've claimed tonight so they will have that spot for our day long scenic cruising in Glacier Bay tomorrow.   

After breakfast, we all parted company so we could pursue our own interests. 

The DH and I booked a couple of excursions for Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier and Gardens, and the Juneau Tram. Then we went in search of the spa. We were given a brief complementary neck and shoulder massage before we booked a 75 minute couples massage for 1:30 pm on the day we’re in Ketchican. 

We arrived at Icy Strait Point around 2PM. Add a dash of cold rain and the place's name says it all. Sadly, the tram ride into the town of Hoonah, where we were hoping for a native presentation and more insight into the people who live there, was not running. In fact, we weren't even allowed to walk there. The town was off limits to us due to Covid. Given the horrific history of viruses borne by outsiders to native peoples, I really can't blame them. 

We were pretty much stuck in a non-place, a muddy, graveled tourist trap with not much cultural value to commend it. My parents had taken a look at the long pier they'd have to walk to even reach the first gift shop and decided to stay on the ship. They made the right call. 

I'm not afraid of rain. I knew I was coming to the largest temperate rain forest in the world, so I was prepared with the right gear. But Percival, my O2 concentrator, doesn't like to get wet. In fact, he's in danger of shorting out if he does, so the DH and I called it a day and slogged back to the Encore. 

But we didn't stop exploring Icy Strait Point. Using the DH's new birthday binoculars, from our balcony, we could see bald eagles roosting in treetops. A seal swam by, making a vee in the water. And an old growth forest of hemlock and Sitka spruce stretched heavenward just across from our berth. 

My friend Kristy (She and her hubby are going on the Viking World Cruise with us in January!) says it reminds her of the Ewoks' moon of Endor in Return of the Jedi. (Sorry, folks. I've been a fan of the franchise since the first Star Wars movie.)  To get an idea how incredibly tall those trees are, check out the little specks of color on the green ramp that are actually people.

The wonderful thing about cruising is that you are brought to places where you can experience lovely adventures, whether you leave the ship or no.

The evening show was Kinky Boots, a ninety minute Broadway-style musical that's won all kinds of awards. It was well done, but the canned accompaniment was so loud, it often overpowered the vocalists and frankly made me wish for ear plugs so I could hear it without pain. This was actually a problem with all the shows in the main theater all week. (I know, I know. It's a sure sign you're getting older when the music is suddenly too loud!) 

Really looking forward to tomorrow in Glacier Bay!