Fridge Magnets. Supposed to be humorous but in actual fact this is what happened to a 16 year old boy who was participating in a trail bike event through the forest outside Anchorage two days after we left. He text his parents to say he was worried about a bear that was following him and that was the last they heard from him. Very very sad.
The day we went to Unga Island the EYOS team went ashore to check out some suitable landings. They discovered this cow that fallen off the high cliff on to the beach which was stiff and bloated. Fortunately for us they towed it a little way out to sea presuming it would be consumed by passing sea creatures but it was still floating a few hours later. Not a very nice sight but definitely an unusual one. Poor cow.
The next day we had our second medical emergency on the ship when a resident needed to be evacuated for urgent medical treatment. I certainly didn't want to be rubber necking someone else's misfortunate but we were interested in the procedure of getting someone off the ship in a situation like this way out in a remote part of the ocean. It was a very slick and speedy evacuation which was very re-assuring. The US Coast did a great job.
The ships rescue boat was also on standby while the helicopter hovered for about 15 minutes while the stretcher was attached to the line.
Then it was loaded onto the helicopter and up and away. The photo was taken from our TV screen where we have a full view of all sides and front and back of the ship.
The other medical evacuation was one of the harbour pilots that was on the ship in the first part of Alaska. The law requires that all cruise ships have two local pilots on board through the inside passage of Alaska. This particular evacuation was late at night and was done by Pilot Boat. I imagine that was a more tricky operation.
Not sure exactly what this was ( there was no signage ) but most likely an old motor from a fishing boat.
The heads on this pink clover were huge although I think the photo doesn't portray the size very well. They were double the size that we see in NZ. Probably due to the very long daylight hours.
This bald eagle had been misbehaving. He or she has been nesting and raising its young in a nest near the Post Office and diving down on people who come too close. One resident was dive bombed twice and still didn't take the hint to move away so it really attacked her and left her with gaping gashes in her scalp that required over a hundred stitches. This story was told to us by the bus driver who had no sympathy for the lady. She warned us not to go through the car park entrance if we needed the post office but to go through the back door. I took the photo with the zoom on my camera so I didn't go as close as it seems. Birds are not my favourite creatures and I would always give them a very wide berth. ( Walking in London and parts of Europe is always slow for me as I dodge around the pigeons!!!)
Went down to the cafe for a coffee this morning. The staff were waiting around for something to do and then they all started laughing at us. I thought I must still be wearing my nightie or something ridiculous but found out they were betting on who would appear first. Richard asked them if we had won the prize. Before we left they presented me with this white rose made out of a paper serviette and then made a shoe out of a fabric napkin to put the rose in. We have a lot of fun with them and are very lucky to have such a great crew.
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