August 17 - Mobile phones and Disneyland

We have just returned from a family vacation in Disneyland and all I can say is – thank goodness for our son and son-in-law and their mobile phones. Lyle and I would have had a very different holiday if we had been there by ourselves trying to negotiate our way without these handy dandy devices and of course, the ability to use them.

Lyle and I are of the old school where we are used to paying with cash or by credit card. It seems that this method of payment is almost obsolete. When it came to catching the bus from our hotel to the Disney Parks, the only way to pay was to download the app, pay online and then show the proof of this to the driver. Andrew did this for us and then was able to track bus times and routes on his phone so that we didn’t need to wait at the bus stops for long periods of time in the heat – and yes, it was very hot!

I found it quite difficult walking around the park area. Ninety percent of the young people were walking around looking at their phones checking out lineup times for the different attractions. This meant that instead of looking where they were going, they were looking at their mobile devices. I don’t see people coming towards me at the best of times and so had a very difficult time trying not to bump into people.

On the last day, and at the urging of our kids, I consented to using a wheelchair. I should have given in sooner. Instead of the stress of trying to see where I was going, I sat in the chair and allowed the other family members to take on the task of wheeling me around.

There was some variance between the differing areas of the parks. In 1955 when the original Magical Kingdom of Disney was opened, accessibility issues were not at the forefront. In 2001, when the neighbouring Disney California Adventure Park opened, it was clear that those accessibility issues were addressed as part of the planning. In California Adventure Park, wheelchairs and strollers were able to join the regular lines of standing guests.

I was especially pleased at the Grizzly River Run ride. It was getting dark and I was wondering how I would be able to see to get into the raft. As it turned out, there was a separate entry point where I could take my time to clamber in and out and so I was able to enjoy the ride with the rest of the family. I did smile when our six-year old grandson with great gravity, informed me that I wouldn’t be able to take the wheelchair on the ride but that there would be a special seat in the raft and so I would be okay. He also advised me not to be scared!

The best part of our family holiday was seeing our two grandchildren chatting and planning together. I am quite sure that they will become experts in the future generation of mobile phone users and other electronic devices.

There is only one picture with this post. I am standing beside Tigger. 

Sue with Tigger

 

 

 

 

August 5 - Sled Dogs

In past posts I have written about guide dogs. Sometimes I have written about one specific dog known to me and at other times I have written about guide dogs in general. The guide dogs that I have met over the years are in quite a different category than the sled dogs I encountered on a shore excursion in Skagway, Alaska.

The excursion we took was absolutely brilliant. We took a short bus ride from the ship to the kennels where we were introduced to Casey. Casey showed the small group of 18 of us a facsimile of the sled she had used in her first Iditerod race. The Iditerod is the longest cross country sled race held in North America. It is run annually and competitors need to pass a series of elimination races before they are even allowed to compete.

I was quite amazed as Casey showed us the long list of items she was required to take with her on the run. She explained that priority was always given to the care of the dogs and that at the various pit stops along the route, veterinarians were there to assure that the dogs remained healthy. She said that even though there were required rest stops, her own biggest hurdle was sleep deprivation.

Following the chat, we moved to the kennels themselves and the dogs came out to meet us. We were behind a chest high fence but this was no barrier for the dogs. They were obviously excited to meet the new visitors and nuzzled up so that we could scratch their ears and pat their backs and noses.

Apart from some initial barking, the dogs were quiet as they inspected us. The barking began when Casey hitched them up to the sled. They were obviously wild with excitement at the idea of going for a run. As Casey straightened and untangled the lines, the dogs urged forward. It was clear that they knew what was in store! When Casey released the brake, the team took off at the speed of light!

After the quick run around a gravel path, Casey came back to show us some of the puppies. We were allowed to hold and cuddle these. The puppy I held was a soft but very wriggly bundle. He was also surprisingly heavy. We were warned that the puppies weren’t trained so I was glad that I could escape without my clothes being soiled!

The next part was the absolute best. When the five or six little puppies were back in their kennels, Casey brought out the cutest little two week old pup for us to see. I was delighted that I was close enough to actually see the tiny thing and I could definitely see how Casey could become so attached to her charges. 

Our encounter with the sled dogs was one of the best parts of our Alaska experience and I would highly recommend the excursion to anyone who happens to be in that part of the world. There is a picture with this post. It shows the tiny two week old pup in Casey’s hand. 

 

2 week old sled dog pup.

 

 

August 1 - Sightings in Alaska

We are home again and I wanted to tell you a little about our cruising experience. The time spent with family was amazing – possibly made even more enjoyable because of the famine of visits over the past two years. Family was top priority but the second to top the list of highlights was the abundance of wildlife sightings. This was in sharp contrast to the same cruise that Lyle and I took in May some five years ago. On that cruise we saw ...well, maybe it was a brown bear dozing on the ice or maybe it was just a rock.

 

This year, our daughter who was on a constant lookout spotted, whales (both humpback and orca), seals, sea otters, dolphins and porpoises. Jen and her family spotted the an orca whale as it surfaced right beside our balcony. The other excitement was a bald eagle that was perched on a piece of ice floating beside the ship. This was in Glacier Bay as the ship was idling and so the icy perch stayed beside the ship for some time. Although we had seen most of these animals in zoos and aquariums, Jen explained to us that it was quite different seeing them in the wild.

 

Now you might wonder how I could be excited by these “sightings”. To be perfectly honest, I saw none of the creatures I have just listed – although I think I might have seen the piece of ice where the bald eagle might have been. My excitement and wonder was in hearing the exclamations and joy in the voices of my family. Those were my true Alaskan sightings.