You’ll never get me on a cruise. Unless it’s to ALASKA! Recap and New PTR Link! 2/1

[KatMark]

Cynthia, what a great update. I am FAR from an adventurous person, but that looks like fun and something that I would do.

Great job by Eric wanting to be the first to go.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

we did a zip line adventure tour up in mackinaw island but it was nothing like yours...that looked like a whole lot of fun, would love to do that.

 

[MEK]

So where do I think you went next?

Well - if it was just you, Jeff, and the guides I would definitely say the closest bar, but since this is a family destination I'm going to say....

That snowblower could probably eliminate the entire state of Delaware's annual snowfall. Wowsa!

And that darn boat looks wider than the street - oh wait, it probably is.

Cool pictures!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Going to try, it's been a nutty nutty week for sure and the weekend doesn't look any better but I hope to get one up at some point. It's funny, I thought of you this week while I was watching the Sing Off, the University of Delaware has a group on there (the Deltones I think) and it made me think of you

One of my friend's sons was in that group (he is now out in the midwest continuing his masters degree). They are freaking amazing!!!!!! Each person literally sings a different part. That's a lot of parts!

Okay, I have to interrupt this intellectual report to say that I have a visual image of a 50's group in my head - matching yellow turtlenecks and white buckskin shoes - maybe that was early 60's? Smokey Robinson???

 

[tinacaplan]

The pictures of the giant boat at the end of the street are so cool! Love them. Makes it very apparent just how big that ship is. Ziplining, on the other hand, terrifies me. I have a fear of heights, in a way. Its more a fear of climbing things, actually. I climbed to the top of Stone Mtn in Georgia a year or so ago with my entire eighth grade and had a total panic attack once we were at the top and I had to get back down again. And Stone Mtn is NOT very high. Looks like you had an amazing time. I am so enjoying this report, Cynthia.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Wow good for Eric, being the trailblazer! Maybe he's ready to ride a bike now! our zip excursion looks great! I remember my mom said there wasn't much in Skagway, but it was quaint. They did the train and saw alot of wildlife.

I do feel sad about one thing, though. When you look down the street, the Wonder fills up the whole space - obscuring the view of the bay. Too bad they couldn't move the dock over a little. I'm sure the people there are thankful for the business the tourism brings, though.

 

[eandesmom]

The town looks cute. The pictures with the ship at the end of the street are really cool. Looks like the boat is going to tear through the street.

It is a cute town, the boat definitely seemed to dwarf it. The carnival spirit was actually there as well, it was just more around the corner so you couldn't see it as well.

The moose puppets are neat. Love the pictures will the bear looking over the boys' shoulders.

What a great excursion in Skagway!

I'm glad you had so much fun ziplining. Sounds like a very well organized excursion. We went to an adventure park in Mexico last February with 2 ziplining courses- I think a total of 14 different zip lines.

The most amazing part is that my 9 year old son, who does not like extreme coasters and also did not ride a bike (until 4 weeks ago) had absolutely no fear. Ummm, did you not look down and see the ground way too far away???!!!!???

Hmmn....I don't think we've tried the bike with Eric since we got back. Both boys need new bikes and well...it hasn't been in the budget, esp with school starting.

It was a great excursion, very glad we did it.

LOving your pictures and review!!! We have the same picture with the snowblower and were amazed, and of course Sarah Palin.

That's a riot! I bet most of our cruise has the Sarah Palin pic

I KNEW IT! I knew you probably posted last night and I didn't look! Double Of course, it will probably be 10pm before I get a chance to look tonight. I HATE that!

now now, it was like NOON my time yesterday...you didn't look last night!

Because I'm so on top of your updates myself.

I also can't bring my mac to HHI next week because the screen is cracked and if I close it too many times I am going to kill the whole computer. So it has turned into a desk top essentially. I am trying to nurse it along until I can pony up the money for a new one. I learned an important lesson - no lap top should have a 17' screen. Its just too top heavy.

I am going to have to figure out a way to keep up next week or maybe I'll just go with the "what the hey?" attitude.

Maybe I can get my old pc to run!

Anyway - I am sure your pictures are awesome and I can't wait to see the zip lining. Sounds like a very cool place!

NO! Just go on VACATION and leave it all at home.

ITA on the 17" though.

That looked like a blast. I'm glad the boys loved it and that Eric did so well being the first one. It sounded like they worked you up slowly to the scarier zips.

It was a blast! I thought I'd be a bit freaked out and it was just pure fun.

 

[eandesmom]

Ziplining looks like so much fun. It is amazing how small the town looked up compared to the Dream.

Oh, what a cliffhanger! I can't wait to see where you went.

It was a blast, very very glad we did that instead of the white pass railway. After 3 days on the ship, getting out and flying through the trees was just wonderful!

Cynthia, what a great update. I am FAR from an adventurous person, but that looks like fun and something that I would do.

Great job by Eric wanting to be the first to go.

It was really fun and felt very safe, we loved it.

we did a zip line adventure tour up in mackinaw island but it was nothing like yours...that looked like a whole lot of fun, would love to do that.

It was a ton of fun! You'd love it. Parker's a wee bit small though still.

So where do I think you went next?

Well - if it was just you, Jeff, and the guides I would definitely say the closest bar, but since this is a family destination I'm going to say....

Ok, that was a wine spewing moment. Yeah..it's nightime and well, there was open wine left over from gourmet club. I "had" to have a glass while I try to rebuild my entire email and calendar system...

That snowblower could probably eliminate the entire state of Delaware's annual snowfall. Wowsa!

And that darn boat looks wider than the street - oh wait, it probably is.

Cool pictures!

The ship probably was wider than the street.

 

[eandesmom]

Okay, I have to interrupt this intellectual report to say that I have a visual image of a 50's group in my head - matching yellow turtlenecks and white buckskin shoes - maybe that was early 60's? Smokey Robinson???

LOL! Funny thing is that the Deltones actually wore all yellow and white in the last show we saw! And are freakishly attractive.

Smokey is a different ballgame but he's got a cool look all his own....those eyes!

The pictures of the giant boat at the end of the street are so cool! Love them. Makes it very apparent just how big that ship is. Ziplining, on the other hand, terrifies me. I have a fear of heights, in a way. Its more a fear of climbing things, actually. I climbed to the top of Stone Mtn in Georgia a year or so ago with my entire eighth grade and had a total panic attack once we were at the top and I had to get back down again. And Stone Mtn is NOT very high. Looks like you had an amazing time. I am so enjoying this report, Cynthia.

Heights are a funny thing. If I feel on the "edge", above the snowline when skiing, too close to an edge hiking, driving a windy mountain or coastal road on the edge, it freaks me out to no end.

This, on the other hand, had no real edge as the tree canopy kind of covers you and mentally combined with steps, stairs, ladders, makes it much less scary to me.

 

[englishrose47]

You all are BRAVE !!!No way I would get on that bridge or FLY thru the air !!!!!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

Great update! That looks like so much fun, and I'm so impressed with your boys to get through the whole thing and not be scared.

When we went to Skagway, we did the train tour. They did not offer the zipline tour, or I am sure we would have done it. We really liked the train, although it felt pricey to us. It was a long tour though and it is one of the things that I remember really well from that trip. It felt like we were seeing a part of nature that most humans would never get a chance to see in their lifetime.

As for the shopping there... It is a very small town! Our running joke was that in every shop, we would search to find the items that DIDN'T have a picture of an eagle, bear or fish on it. Eagles were everywhere!

I can't wait to find out where you went next.

 

[eandesmom]

You all are BRAVE !!!No way I would get on that bridge or FLY thru the air !!!!!

It was really really fun Rosie!

Great update! That looks like so much fun, and I'm so impressed with your boys to get through the whole thing and not be scared.

They were all over it

When we went to Skagway, we did the train tour. They did not offer the zipline tour, or I am sure we would have done it. We really liked the train, although it felt pricey to us. It was a long tour though and it is one of the things that I remember really well from that trip. It felt like we were seeing a part of nature that most humans would never get a chance to see in their lifetime.

That's why Jeff wanted to see it, although I'm not sure the visibility was ideal. It was pricey to us as well. Granted, ziplining was more but versus sitting on a train, seemed easier to justify. We were also concerned the boys would be a bit bored given how long the train ride was. Still, it's supposed to be spectacular.

As for the shopping there... It is a very small town! Our running joke was that in every shop, we would search to find the items that DIDN'T have a picture of an eagle, bear or fish on it. Eagles were everywhere!

I can't wait to find out where you went next.

Oh that's a riot! I think that would be about impossible to find.

 

[DisMomAmy]

What a fun excursion! We want to go ziplining soon - we almost did it this past summer in the NH White Mountains. We seem to have weights on the opposite ends of the scale - the place Tim could go, the boys were too light. Where they could go, Tim was too heavy. Hopefully Tim will lose the few pounds he needs to go on the smaller zipline by next summer. I know the boys would love it.

You reminded me of some big news... Alex finally learned how to ride his bike! He's one month shy of 11 but he did it! There's hope for Eric! He hasn't mastered it yet but we went out last weekend and he did a few straight runs that ended with a big grassy area. I decided to take a video but that was a mistake... Alex drove right into me! It's a funny video... I need to figure out how to post videos! We'll see if he wants to go out again any time soon.

 

[eandesmom]

What a fun excursion! We want to go ziplining soon - we almost did it this past summer in the NH White Mountains. We seem to have weights on the opposite ends of the scale - the place Tim could go, the boys were too light. Where they could go, Tim was too heavy. Hopefully Tim will lose the few pounds he needs to go on the smaller zipline by next summer. I know the boys would love it.

They boys would love it. I'm not sure most of them are very strict about the weight if you seem close.

You reminded me of some big news... Alex finally learned how to ride his bike! He's one month shy of 11 but he did it! There's hope for Eric! He hasn't mastered it yet but we went out last weekend and he did a few straight runs that ended with a big grassy area. I decided to take a video but that was a mistake... Alex drove right into me! It's a funny video... I need to figure out how to post videos! We'll see if he wants to go out again any time soon.

That's a riot! Or maybe not depending on the speed. I didn't learn until I was 12 myself but...that was due to not having a bike (cue sad music lol). And I biffed it big time while learning. Old enough to be cautious which is not a good thing I think.

Better than driving into the neighbors car, which is what Evan did when learning how to turn in our cul-de-sac. That was an $800 learning curve, ouch! Hopefully he didn't hurt you too much.

Eric was really close at one point, not sure what happened other than we didn't get him to the school in time to keep the momentum going. Our street is a bit of a hill so not ideal for learning, we take them to the elementary school where there is lots of space.

 

[natebenma]

You reminded me of some big news... Alex finally learned how to ride his bike! He's one month shy of 11 but he did it! There's hope for Eric! He hasn't mastered it yet but we went out last weekend and he did a few straight runs that ended with a big grassy area. I decided to take a video but that was a mistake... Alex drove right into me! It's a funny video... I need to figure out how to post videos! We'll see if he wants to go out again any time soon.

That's a riot! Or maybe not depending on the speed. I didn't learn until I was 12 myself but...that was due to not having a bike (cue sad music lol). And I biffed it big time while learning. Old enough to be cautious which is not a good thing I think.

Better than driving into the neighbors car, which is what Evan did when learning how to turn in our cul-de-sac. That was an $800 learning curve, ouch! Hopefully he didn't hurt you too much.

Eric was really close at one point, not sure what happened other than we didn't get him to the school in time to keep the momentum going. Our street is a bit of a hill so not ideal for learning, we take them to the elementary school where there is lots of space.

I love these stories about kids learning to ride a bike at an "advanced age"

My 13 year old does not ride. He had some sensory issues when he was younger and didn't have any interest in learning. Still doesn't. So consequently, we never went through the bike riding phase with Ben, who is 10.

About a month ago, he came home from his friend's house (across the street) and said "I rode a bike here" Wait. What??? You don't ride a bike!!!

Well, we went out and watched him, and he did ok!

Maybe he will learn to drive that way too!

We do have a bike that is a pinch too small for him (originally intended for Nate years ago), and he has been riding that almost every day! Guess who is getting a bike for Christmas!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I just read your Tracy Arm update -- beautiful!!!! Wow, oh wow. I loved the pics you took with the Carnival ship, it really gives a sense of how HUGE it all is.

Zip-lining looks like a blast! So glad the boys jumped right into it!

I'm very curious to where you are going...I have NO clue, I don't know anything about Alaska!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Yeay for another Alaska update!

Skagway is a very cute town -- love the picture of the street with the Wonder at the end of it.

That is a seriously big snow blower!!! I definitely would not want to live somewhere where there is that much snow to blow off the tracks!

The moose puppets are very cute!

I am super impressed that Eric wanted to go first on the ziplining! It reminds me of the ropes course we had to be trained on this summer for that class I was taking. Very similar. I was not the first one to do it, I can assure you.

 

[winnieriffic]

Loving your posts! Thanks for sharing~

 

[Happydog]

Yay for zip lining! I had to laugh when you said that the Es didn't weigh enough to go very fast. ME, heck, I'd blink and I'd be on the other side!!! That would definitely "zip"!!!! So was there a height restriction? The height issue is what is holding us back from Universal, want to make sure that Nolyn is tall enough to enjoy the rides... I thought it would be fun to take the boys on the Africa Trek next summer (I talked to Tracy about it) but the age requirement was a problem. Anyhow, your photos are quaint! Really show off the town, or the STREET that is the town! Very picturesque. LOVE that the fog just clings and rolls off the mountains... reminds me of Rainier!

 

[eandesmom]

I love these stories about kids learning to ride a bike at an "advanced age"

My 13 year old does not ride. He had some sensory issues when he was younger and didn't have any interest in learning. Still doesn't. So consequently, we never went through the bike riding phase with Ben, who is 10.

About a month ago, he came home from his friend's house (across the street) and said "I rode a bike here" Wait. What??? You don't ride a bike!!!

Well, we went out and watched him, and he did ok!

Maybe he will learn to drive that way too!

We do have a bike that is a pinch too small for him (originally intended for Nate years ago), and he has been riding that almost every day! Guess who is getting a bike for Christmas!

Go Ben but OH NO NO NO on the learning to drive that way.

Evan might be getting a bike for Christmas...which would let Eric have his although it's still too small. We will see. Eric needs a piano.

I just read your Tracy Arm update -- beautiful!!!! Wow, oh wow. I loved the pics you took with the Carnival ship, it really gives a sense of how HUGE it all is.

Aren't those something else? Side by side it's very similar in size to the Wonder and it looks so tiny!

Zip-lining looks like a blast! So glad the boys jumped right into it!

I'm very curious to where you are going...I have NO clue, I don't know anything about Alaska!

It was a blast! Highly recommend it.

Yeay for another Alaska update!

Skagway is a very cute town -- love the picture of the street with the Wonder at the end of it.

It is very cute. And small.

That is a seriously big snow blower!!! I definitely would not want to live somewhere where there is that much snow to blow off the tracks!

The moose puppets are very cute!

I am super impressed that Eric wanted to go first on the ziplining! It reminds me of the ropes course we had to be trained on this summer for that class I was taking. Very similar. I was not the first one to do it, I can assure you.

Isn't that thing huge? That's some serious snow, no doubt. Although really, in the panhandle, it's not that bad comparatively speaking. Your course sounded intense!!!!!!!!

Loving your posts! Thanks for sharing~

Thanks!!!!!!

Yay for zip lining! I had to laugh when you said that the Es didn't weigh enough to go very fast. ME, heck, I'd blink and I'd be on the other side!!! That would definitely "zip"!!!! So was there a height restriction?

Yeah, I didn't have an issue zipping away that's for sure.

Many of the lines have a 70 lb restriction but don't seem to have a height one. Eric was not 70lbs as of the trip, Evan just going over a month or so before so we picked one that didn't have a stated restriction and also said 8 and up, versus the 10 and up of many of the others (with the 70lbs). I didn't see a height restriction on any of them.

The height issue is what is holding us back from Universal, want to make sure that Nolyn is tall enough to enjoy the rides... I thought it would be fun to take the boys on the Africa Trek next summer (I talked to Tracy about it) but the age requirement was a problem. Anyhow, your photos are quaint! Really show off the town, or the STREET that is the town! Very picturesque. LOVE that the fog just clings and rolls off the mountains... reminds me of Rainier!

We had a girl on our Trek, which Tracy probably mentioned. I can't recall the age requirement but imagine they enforce it. Definitely go when the boys are both old enough, I know the E's would LOVE it.