Which Way's Up

Remember way back at when I was sharing my goals for the year and pledged to take time off like a normal person rather than freaking out if I missed a blog or two?

I mean, this counts, right?

Today, as you are having your first cups of coffee, I am waking up on a ship just off the coast of Alaska as we begin an adventure three years in the making. I have packed for my age with rolls of KT Tape and Tums. I have packed two pairs of sneakers because my feet can betray me at any moment. Xanax? Of course! There are a lot of flights on this journey…and also my husband.

While the original planning of this adventure included friends and family in multiple cabins, today it is just three of us – my husband, myself, and the person voted most likely to get me into trouble, Kathy. Honestly, I’m a little nervous about the amount of wrangling I’ll be doing in the coming days, as both Kathy and Rich share the same sales-oriented mind.

What’s that mean? Oh, just a failure to pay attention to anything until one second before action is needed. It should not surprise anyone who knows these two that neither had opened our itinerary until two days ago–an itinerary that I’ve sent 184 times. And, if I’m being honest, I can only confirm that the person living in my home opened it and did so under duress. My hope is that, as of this posting, Kathy is also on the ship.

It’s like herding cats, ya’ll.

In just a few hours, we will be off to Musher’s Camp, and I will have tiny bits of beef jerky tucked into my pockets to ensure that the sled dogs like me best. Will I also bring a giant purse suitable for “borrowing” a puppy?

That’s not important.

Tomorrow, we will leave our ship behind with 42 other travelers before hopping on the White Pass Train for the trip to Whitehorse Yukon.

You see, this is more than your standard Alaskan cruise – the is a tour that will take us by ship, trains, planes, buses, and one covered wagon all the way to the Arctic Circle. This is a vacation that will need a post-vacation vacation. Thank goodness I have one planned.

I mean, if you’re going after your bucket list, make it count – am I right?

Also on the docket for this week is a flight to Dawson City (also in the Yukon Valley), a flight to Fairbanks, a bus ride to Denali’s Wilderness Lodge, and perhaps finding a lumberjack for one of my single friends.

Three years in the making – jeez, it’s about time.

I’m sure you understand my need to step away from my keyboard and take it all in!

We are traveling with Holland America this week on an Alaska-Yukon-Denali sea/land tour. This tour has limited openings each summer as there is only space for forty-five travelers at a time. Think you might be interested? Here’s a link to the 2026-version of the adventure: HAL CruiseTour. I’ll tell you all about our trip when we return and, perhaps, we’ll get you booked for the 2026 season!