Traveling to Valdez, first Days in Valdez

[Bethers]

My latest 2 blog posts:

http://ontheroadwithbeth.com/blog/2012/ ... to-valdez/

http://ontheroadwithbeth.com/blog/2012/ ... he-summer/

[BarbaraRose]

Beth, what all will you be doing on the boat this summer? Seems like a fun thing to do! I love boats!

[Bethers]

Beth, what all will you be doing on the boat this summer? Seems like a fun thing to do! I love boats!

Anything and everything - including learning to pilot it - mainly we all learn that and do some just in case anything should ever happen to Fred, we'll all be capable of bringing the boat back to harbor. That said, everything else is included - from fixing the food and drinks served (no alcohol) to cleaning the boat, to watching for wildlife and taking the guests pics at the glacier, etc etc etc.

[BarbaraRose]

"...to watching for wildlife and taking the guests pics at the glacier, etc..."

You are already a pro at that! Sounds like a really fun summer ahead! How did you find out about that position?

[carold]

What a beautiful time of year to be in Alaska, still snow, but driveable. Great pics, Beth. carold

[Travelinana]

This is going to be a grand adventure and experience...just keep sharing and don't leave out anything. That is some yacht..hope the tips are very very good!

[Yakn1]

I have so enjoyed following your blog so far, and it sounds like there is so much more fun to come!
Hope you enjoy your summer and don't let them wear you out! I think I would like a job like that!

[bluepinecones]

Wonderful posts, Beth. Glad you are settled in for the summer.
Know Jean is delighted you got a second chance at working on the LuluBelle and she can tag along in spirit without worrying about being sea sick.
What size is the LuluBelle and how many passengers will she accommodate?

[cpatinjones]

I enjoyed the pics, as well as the commentary. I look forward to the "rest of the story".

[Bethers]

Maximum passengers - as of the Coast Guard inspection yesterday went DOWN to 72, I believe. Fred tried to never have that many - but we can. That said, I have to tell why it went down is because the average weight of Americans is going UP. Yep, they used to figure the weight as 165 per person (includes men, women and children) and now they figure it at 185 I believe. That's really sad, I think - but what they have to do. Boats can also go to a special dock and have weights put on them to show there stability and get things like # of passengers increased, but Fred is ok with the lower # as normally, we'll probably be going out with 30 - 50. Sometimes less, sometimes a tad more.

Barbie, I took this cruise twice when up here 3 years ago and had gotten jobs for both myself and Sparkle for the next year - which we canceled with her cancer. They only hire 3 people, and the people here on a season have the option to come back. Then, last year, they had damage to the boat and spent all year repairing her better than new. (That's what one of the coast guard guys told me - so I feel real comfortable about the repairs.)

If I missed someone's question, please ask again!

[Acadianmom]

I was wondering why they have all those L shaped poles along the highway.

Beautiful pictures. I hope you don't have to save anyone either. I took a life saving course in college and had to get someone out of a swimming pool by-myself. It isn't easy.

Martha

[sharon]

I was wondering why they have all those L shaped poles along the highway.

Beautiful pictures. I hope you don't have to save anyone either. I took a life saving course in college and had to get someone out of a swimming pool by-myself. It isn't easy.

Martha

Martha, those poles are for the snow...so the plowers know where the road is. They're a lot taller than they look in the picture...gives you an idea how deep the snow can get on that hiway.

[Colliemom]

Great trip Beth Felt like i was riding along with you. Love the way those crazy animals like to get on the roads and when you come along, it's like they are saying "buzz off". Don't remember where we were, think it was in British Columbia, but the signs warned of Stone Sheep on the roads and sure enough they were. I had never heard of Stone Sheep till then.

Looking at the pictures of the Chugach and Wrangell Mt. ranges brought back memories too. They had a record amount of snowfall in that part of AK, so I'm sure that had something to do with many places not being open, besides the normal snowfall for the season. I know we tromped through snow to go to Peyto Lake in the Canadian Rockies and that was June.

Glad you made it safely and are now hooked up and ready for the summer.