On Jun 24, 11:30?pm, wrote:
On Sun, 24 Jun 2007 04:48:21 -0000, Chuck Gould

wrote:
http://www.pbase.com/gould/ketchikan&page=1

Did you see the Ted Stevens bridge? I hear it's a nice one

We did a fly/drive in Alaska a couple years ago. Flew into Fairbanks,
out of Anchorage 3 weeks later with 1500 miles of exploring in the
rentacar in between. Did Homer and Seward in the Kenai. Went on boats
in both, whale cruise in Seward and a water taxi/hiking trip in Homer.
We thought that would be better than a cruise. Seemed to be good for
us.

The cruise was fine, but the most fun was had during the hikes, two
rafting trips, a visit to a defunct cannery (near Prince Rupert), etc.
The cruise ship experience itself was OK but not the most memorable
aspect of the vacation- lots of eating, drinking, etc.
I hate to rent cars and drive on freeways during a "vacation", so
there was a lot to be said for unpacking only once and having somebody
wait on you for a week. The cruise was also about the only way for me
to go by water to Alaska before I retire.....8-9 knot boat + 2000 mile
round trip to Juneau + a need to turn out a complete product every
four weeks year around regardless of vacation doesn't add up to taking
my own boat that far north. I'll have more fun on my own boat during
our 17 day cruise in August than I had on the cruise ship. :-)