Alaska is cool!

We're stting here in heavy jackets (Frances in furry hat and gloves), not because there's anything wrong with the shikp's over-efficient heating, but because we've just spent all day on deck, where the temperature was 11C (52F) without allowing for wind chill. Why? Because we've just spent one of the most beautiful days of our lives, cruising in Glacier Bay. It's glorious!

Yesterday, in Juneau, the capital of Alaska, we travelled to a salmon hatchery and the Mendenhall Glacier, in cold, miserable rain, and were impressed despite the weather. Today dawned bright and sunny, and we just couldn't tear ourselves away from the outside deck - at least a dozen glaciers, six of which are what John describes as "proper glaciers", which go all the way to the water. The surrounding mountains were huge, ranging from the height of Kosciusko to twice the height of Kosciusko. We had morning hot chocolate there, we had lunchtime chinese food there, we had carrot cake (and jelly for John, of course) there. Our tablemate, Cisco from South Carolina, had four bowls of icecream, two lots of french fries, a thick, toasted cheese and ham deli sandwich AND lunch there, while his wife Dianne was a little more restrained. Another new friend told us she'd lost weight today, just running from one side of the ship to the other, to take photos. Thank heavens for digital cameras - Frances has taken about 70 photos today, and John a whole heap more.

Uh oh! There's just been an announcement suggesting that we should go out to look for seals, sea otters and sea lions - this morning Frances saw a distant bear!!! Bye!