Juneau

This morning we awoke to fog, heavy clouds and rain. This is to be the dog sled and glacier walk day!!

Fingers crossed for clearing - we went to our staple restaurant - Windjammers for breakfast before heading back to our room to dress appropriately for the excursions and weather.

We checked in and got aboard the shuttle taking us to the dog sled and musher camp. A 20 minute trek took us into what felt like a rain forest. There were huge ferns, moss on the trees and just an enormous amount of growth.

As we pulled up to the camp, you could hear the dogs get excited as they wanted more than anything to get on to the trail and run hard. Something they were bread to do!! We are divided up into groups of 6 and the first 2 groups got to go onto this large golf cart style "sled" and be pulled by the dogs. I have to say that those dogs can run, fast, and pull a lot of weight!

The Musher has certain commands such as "G" - which meant "to the right" and others that were not audible to me for further directions. Sled dogs - aka Alaskan Huskies do not know what stop means. The musher had to apply the brake for them to slow then stop.

After our mile long trek we sat and learned about the various types of dog gear, sleds and equipment needed to sled through the snow for hundreds of miles. Sledding for work basically ended in the 60's but now they have races that are anywhere from 200 - 1100 miles through the snow and cold!

Finally we got to see the puppies. One batch was 15 weeks old and the 2nd was 3 weeks old. Absolutely adorable!!! Check the pics.

We head back to the ship for lunch and then some shopping. In one of the stores Kelly spots - and I still cannot believe it - a Para Cord Bracelet!! - What would Mason do?? I buy it of course!!

Well the weather is still wet and dark. I fear that the excursion I based this whole trip around will be cancelled.

At 2:15 we go back out to the dock to learn that yes…it has been cancelled L We have opportunity to be put on another list but it only has one spot. Kelly very graciously steps back because she has done a walk before. I put my name on the list with fingers crossed. We go out for a little more shopping and head back to hear the worst…no chance at all that the copters will be flying. I am grounded and my dream excursion is lost.

Kelly decides that all is not lost for the weather and we walk back to a store that sells Alaska Brewery clothing and guess what? They have an excursion to the brewery with free taste testing :D Good Call Kelly!!

Off we go to the Alaska Brewing Company - which is located near the end of the only highway in Juneau. Yes the end…It has a beginning and an end. There is no road service to Juneau - Capital of Alaska. True Wilderness.

Meanwhile, back at the brewery, beer is flowing. The tour consists of going from one room to the next, having a seat and listening to a guide give a verbal on how the company was formed in 1986. From where we are sitting you can see pretty much the whole brewery. After a fairly short synopsis as how the owners met, got married and funded the brewery, we got to go for refills!! It was great liquid tour J