Sheilaclapkin's Blog;

Lovely Anchorage is an artful city with flowers blooming all across the cemented, building laden downtown center. We enjoyed an outside concert bundled in our jackets and scarves, while the natives sat in flip-flops and short sleeves. Right away they wanted to know where we were from…they wanted to know how we liked Alaska? The conversation was lively and we told them we like Alaska.

Remember Alaskan’s have to make the best of months May through September when the tourists come, use these months to fix and create roads, to do construction or build homes, plant food, flowers, take care of any outside maintenance and just enjoy the summer weather.  After we left the concert we marveled at a beautiful bed of flowers and ornamental cabbage. Enjoying the same bed of flowers including snapdragons was a little family.  I asked if I might teach the boys how to snap the dragons. Parents gave consent and wanted to know also.  I showed the little boys how to pinch the mouths of the dragon’s open without hurting the flower, noting that each mouth was different. The family squealed played with the snapdragons. The mother said, “Now, I know why they call them snapdragons.”  I could hear their joy as we continued our city walk.

We found out that the city of Anchorage passed a law that states 1% of the outsides of their buildings had to contain art. That 1 % percentage can be achieved by merely painting a line somewhere on the façade of each building. As we walked and with this 1% knowledge of art additions we did come to recognize attempts to add the concept of art to their buildings and appreciated it as we toured. We noticed paint attempts along with windows in patterns, rough and smooth glazed rock interchanged making a woven pattern, baskets and baskets of flowers hung from lamp posts and potted plants popped up in nooks and crannies up and down the streets of the downtown area. Bravo, Anchorage and more cities should follow suit, plus my attitude would be to up the percentage of art added.

Here in Anchorage is where I change animal spirits. Remember we asked the family in the beginning of the trip to choose an animal spirit.  Did you go along with us and choose one?   I chose to be the hawk and I have received many images and spiritual growth in the body of the hawk. Many of the characteristics tagged for this animal were used and taught their lessons to me.  There is no winning or loosing; there is limited height, there for most of the time invisibility was useful, not clear enough for my use. The clarity of vision was enjoyed and used, as was the ability for sharp focusing.  Several hawk visitations were mild and informative. The hawks I heard crying in our own backyard, I hope you are now healed.

A lovely lady suggested in a comment on one of my blogs that I adopt the spirit of a humming bird. I studied its many sweet attributes and workable concepts, but they are not for me, yet.

With the help of a gorgeous walk in downtown Anchorage, the Raven appeared to me. I was assured that I would be accepted without fear, and would comfortably have the ability to tear down and rebuild what was necessary: a renewal of sorts. There is certain courage in self-reflection, but I ‘ll tell you being in the sheer beauty of nature is automatically self-reflective.  I can’t tell you what else it is unless you view it without human interference. If not for solitude, reflection and glory to a higher power, than what?

Here in Anchorage and in the Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich Park stands the Raven sculpture by their son Roy A Peratroich Jr. It motivated me to take the spirit of the Raven and study its challenges.

Another view of the sculpture:

Becoming a Raven spirit requires a change in consciousness. Now that is work.   Many of you have been going along with the adopting of an animal spirit and I enjoy your newfound delight and gratification. Thank you for the trust as well. Keep sharing.

My new Raven spirit in its renewal state has the ability to find light in the darkness, honor the ancients, and has an opportunity to achieve divination and eloquence. Work slowly with your animal spirit, one level at a time.  If you have picked the right spirit you have a job for a long time in understanding its depth. Share,

We spent the day cruising Glacier Bay in Alaska. The sights along the way had cruisers glued to the passing scene. The story will be best told through photos. Missing from the photos are our humpback whale sightings with waving tails, bald eagle fly byes, and a few otters. Manuel saw through his binoculars, a big brown bear across the bay.

Along the way:

Glacier Sighting

The Photographers

Juneau is a beautiful harbor side city with old building facades giving way to Gold Rush charms. We were informed by our local guide, that the charm does disappear into the crowded streets when there are six cruise ships unloading their thousands of passengers and crew members each day. When you see tens of thousands of tourists descend upon the city, you understand that the 30,000 residents have made other arrangements for their shopping needs.  Today we are only four ships full of tourists needing access to Juneau and all it has to offer, Also, I asked about the ownership of these lovely shop offerings in town and we were told that the stores are independently owned, rent is paid by the year, but only occupied from May until September. When the tourist season is over, the shops are closed up and the shopkeepers head south until next May when they open up for tourist business again.

There are five fish hatcheries in Juneau, each cultivating 150,000,000 eggs, therefore replenishing a dwindling supply of fish in Alaskan waters. Bravo! Okay you can start laughing if you wish.  There are so many designated bear viewing areas and no bear sightings.  I am certain and do not quote me, but I believe that when a site has accumulated enough tourists, someone presses a button and the bears come out and then, press the button again and the bears go back into their cages awaiting the next button to be pushed.  I think you are not laughing. I know, I know there are many bears here and the people who live here have made provisions to be safe from them. We have seen, whales in the mist, eagles galore and hawks. More are to come.  Oh yes, a gorgeous fuzzy white moth with deep yellow eyes landed on my parka and when I went to flick him/her off, he/she spit at me.  Oh my goodness, that is so strange. Any ideas on why, what, how who it was???

After our early morning tour of Juneau, we headed towards the Mendenhall Glacier and waterfall. We were told about the huge fires in 1911, 1926 and 1937. It rains so much in Juneau, they put wooden planks on the streets, also they built buildings out of wood and so much of the town was of wood.  There used to be huge winds of up to 100 miles per hour that would come through the city. The people used coal and kerosene to heat and cook. Once the winds picked up one house full of flames it blew the flames throughout the city. Very few all-wood structures exist today. Of course heating methods and changed and believe it or not, the winds do not come anymore.

The trees of the forest leading up to the glacier are lushly standing side by side with mists densely draping their sides and tops. I remember what our guide yesterday said, “If you cannot see the mountaintops, it is raining.” He said you don’t need a weatherman, just look to the mountains.  The mountaintops are covered in mist and it is raining.

Clad in our warmest layers and rain gear, we are let out to trudge to the Glacier and further if you wanted to hike to the waterfalls. I am shocked to see the area in which Skip and I climbed all over the Mendenhall Glacier so many years ago is now water and you have to view the glacier from a cemented area or a lookout building they have built as a viewing structure. We viewed a film in the center that explained that our climbing part of the glacier had simply melted and has shrunk dramatically. They say you can never go back, and if you back to the exact same spot, the change may be dramatic. Sometimes memories work out well.

When you know you are going to board a ship you may or may not agonize over the long lines and grueling wait. Not this time. The boarding went as smoothly as glass. These friendly people and efficient employees deserve a raise. We came early because of the line and wait fear. I thought we would have to wait in the lobby or the buffet area for hours before we would be able to rest in our cabins.  The minute we stepped onto the ship, we were escorted to our cabins.  I brought my antiseptic washing pads, but the stateroom was spotless, but I rubbed telephones, door handles and doorknobs just to be safe. This is the cleanest ship of all.  What planet are we on?

We are on the Coral Princess: 10 Day Denali Explorer.

Busy Harbor of Ketchikan

Today we docked in the busy harbor of Ketchikan, described as the Salmon Capital of the World.  Our guide told us of the fantastic travels of their salmon.  Why they travel to Japan and back to spawn is a mystery and how they come back to within inches of their birthplace to lay their eggs is also a mystery. I was thinking to myself of the Hansel and Gretel story and of them dropping their bread crumbs to guide their journey back home, perhaps salmon drop scent bags to guide their way home to the place of their birth.

Our guide was a local fellow so he could spill the beans without getting into hot water.  He told us that all of the dockside businesses and a good part of the town of Ketchikan are owned lock stock and barrel by the cruise lines. There were actually places we were not allowed to enter while not on a Princess tour from the ship. For example, we were not allowed to enter the carving building in Totem Bight State Park, which is owned by Princess Cruise Lines, because we did not purchase our tour through Princess. This news put a damper on eating and/or buying anything in the town.

We did enjoy the visit to the totems and learned that there are six kinds of totems. There is the Mortuary Pole, Memorial Pole, Heraldic Pole, Story Telling Pole, and the Pot Latch Pole which are all honorable poles except the Ridicule or Shame Pole and if you have not lived up to your expectations or bargains you have made, the Ridicule pole made in your likeness will remain and you will be ostracized until you repent and make amends.

Look at the photos coming next of an unincorporated part of the tour that seemed to be hidden from most of the tour participants that day and I am sure it is like that every day May through September. This little hidden miracle is this forest behind the bus parking.  Look how beautiful unspoiled land can be and I know cruise lines do not own it because there is no cash gain, but perhaps this tiny portion of land is at the edge of Totem Park. I would really like to believe it is owned by all of us, the inhabitants of this planet.