Common Threads

fish fry tailgating

coleslaw, hush puppies, sweet corn

camping out with friends

we took the cheap seats

in the bed of the pickup

saved the ticket price

Callaway Gardens

fireworks, just as jaw-dropping

from outside the fence

Independence Day

Eagles swoop down to catch fish

Symbols of freedom

Ready to return!

It’s not this much fun at home.

The food’s not as good.

Georgia’s way too hot.

We loved the chilly weather.

We live while we can.

Not one of us can

add another hour to life

– we savor moments!

I have my reasons

I never wear khaki pants

I cling to these truths

uncomfortable

doesn’t begin to describe

shattered boundaries

best part of travel?

coming home to your ”people”

who live to love you

stay tuned for the reunion photo….

In the south, I’m Kim

in the northwest, I’m Cay-um

according to them

We’re scheduled to take a tour of Victoria this evening on our last night aboard the Carnival Spirit. The last night of a cruise is almost always one of dread as we anticipate debarkation and have only the memories and the transitioning sea legs to take with us from such a fun week of overindulgence in fun and food. We’re hoping to get off the boat briefly, but we aren’t booking an excursion because of stricter Canadian protocols and the threat of rain (only the first we will have seen except a heavy mist at the Seattle airport upon arrival).

Stay tuned for photos, which I hope to post tomorrow morning.

majestic eagles

swooping, skimming, clutching fish

symbols of freedom

On our visit to Ketchikan, Alaska, we booked an excursion to ride in a Blackbird Hovercraft over to Black Sand Island, where eagles and pods of whales are known to frequent.  While we didn’t see any whales on the tour, the eagles more than made up for the lack of whales as they dove for herring and put on a spectacular show for us!  

The Hovercraft uses air and a boat skirt to float above the surface of the water, and can seamlessly transition from land to sea for an ultra-smooth ride without the negative impacts on wildlife.  This more eco-friendly method of transportation offers a unique and thrilling experience for water travel.  

Our guide gave us some history of the immediate areas around Ketchikan and the greater Alaska territories and took us to a small rock island where harbor seals seek refuge from Orca whales in the area.  

It was an unforgettable experience seeing the eagles swoop down for a morning snack, and we enjoyed the breathtaking wonder of these moments that will become indelible memories!

(Later in the day, somewhere between Ketchikan and Victoria, we did get to see the dorsal fin and tail splashing of a young male killer whale, according to the ship’s naturalist, right off the port side of the ship).