nature – might be baloney

Whittier to Anchorage

March 24, 2026 Bill PikeLeave a comment

I was thankful for the deep sleep that kept me from feeling or hearing the ship’s silent docking in Whittier.

This morning, we worked our way to the busy Lido dining room. I think everyone had the same idea—grab breakfast, woof it down, and hustle back to recheck our room.

Took a few minutes, but we found a table. Worked our way through the assorted food stations, and made our breakfast choices. Back at the table, Butch and Marian found us, and we had breakfast with them.

As we ate, we compared our prep notes for leaving the ship, or as the cruise director from Holland America likes to say—disembarkation.

After breakfast, we quickly worked our way back to the room. There we made a final check to ensure we were not leaving anything behind. This included rechecking our backpacks to make sure that everything we needed for today was scrunched into place.

When our letter of the alphabet was called, we worked our way down to the gangplank for departure. A few raindrops were sprinkling down. Most of the short walk to where our train was waiting was covered.

Once aboard the train, we received an orientation about what to expect during the two hour and thirty minute ride. The train had large windows and a clear glass roof.

Looking out the train’s windows (Photo Bill Pike)

All along the route, employees described where we were and what we were viewing. Early on, we saw two moose grazing. Narrow waterfalls appeared in some spots.

The ride became interesting when the train arrived at the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.

According to the City of Whittier, this tunnel is 2.5 miles in length making it the longest highway tunnel in America.

The tunnel has some additional unique qualities—the tunnel is one way. It is used by cars and trains. The road bed is designed to allow cars to ride over the train tracks.

Two more distinctions for the tunnel, it is designed to withstand minus 40 degree Fahrenheit temperatures and 150 mph winds.

This single lane traffic with an alternating schedule saved taxpayers millions by not having to construct a second tunnel.

As the train continues to push toward Anchorage, we can see Cook Inlet. Train personnel tell us about the dangerous mudflats at low tide.

A section of Cook Inlet (Photo Bill Pike)

Sadly, people have lost their lives in the mudflats. The mud is like a quicksand. That mud will not let a person go. When the cold water tide returns, you know what happens.

We make it to Anchorage. A shuttle bus takes us into the city. A section of the civic center is used as a staging area by Holland America.

We experience a bit of disorganization, but everything works out. We were able to deposit our backpacks in a secure area and from there we walked to the 49th Brewery.

This is a huge facility with a large crowd already in place for lunch. It took us a while to be seated. The Commander and I were crunched for time as we had a 2 p.m. trolley tour of Anchorage booked.

When our lunch arrived, we ate quickly. With a faster pace, we walked toward the meeting point for the tour. Remarkably, we arrived on time.

The tour was good. We saw a lot. A knowledgeable tour guide provided good local stories about fishing for salmon, the devastation and tragedies from the 1964 earthquake, seaplanes, and an assortment of facts about moose and bears.

After the tour, I returned to take a photo of the Anchorage Log Cabin Visitor Information Center. The cabin has a sod roof and is surrounded by stunning flowers.

Additionally, I took a photo of a blue bear statue. Apparently, numerous bear statues are located around Anchorage.

We walked back to the civic center, grabbed our backpacks, and made the short walk to check into the Captain Cook Hotel.

Took the elevator up to our room, oriented and organized ourselves, and reconnected with our pals.

With our friends, we worked to find a restaurant for dinner. There were multiple restaurants close to the hotel, but cruise shippers like us were already in lines waiting to be seated. Eventually, we found a nice place and settled in for our meal.

After dinner, our group made plans for breakfast and our early morning train departure to Denali.

From our hotel room window, we had a nice view overlooking a section of Anchorage. However, I will confess, I miss my nightly view from the porch outside our room on the cruise ship.

Tonight, there will be no watching the ripple of the water from the movement of the ship, no snow capped mountains beyond the shoreline, and no sinking orange light as a setting sun slips behind charcoal clouds.

Glacier Bay National Park

March 12, 2026 Bill PikeLeave a comment

Our day started early.

This morning, we had guests from the National Park Service on board to share their knowledge about Glacier Bay National Park.

With the emphasis on the Margerie Glacier, different forward levels of the ship were open. We started outside of this area, and then moved inside to the crow’s nest.

We were a part of a large crowd of early risers. Three pieces of information were shared—a short introduction of our guests, the plan for viewing the Margerie Glacier, and tips for spotting wildlife.

From here, we left for breakfast and plotted out glacier viewing strategy.

When we returned to the viewing area, my Commander Supreme opted to join a long line for the pop-up National Park Service Store. The outside air was colder this morning, so I went back to the room to add an extra layer of clothing.

We reconnected on the front edge of one of the forward decks. This was a good viewing spot to see the glacier and to hear the ranger’s commentary.

According to the National Park Service, the Margerie Glacier is twenty-one miles long. That length is traced back into the Fairweather Range where some of the elevations peak out at 9000 feet.

Additionally, the glacier is 0.85 miles wide. Its ice face towers at 200 feet above the water.

The glacier of the day (Photo Bill Pike)

The ship’s Captain and his crew are to be credited for positioning the ship for a full viewing experience of the glacier. This included careful navigation through an ice field as the ship moved toward the glacier.

Pretty, but potentially perilous water (Photo Bill Pike)

Eventually, we worked our way back to our room. We sat out on the balcony and continued to view the glacier. This included the excitement of large sections of the glacier tumbling into the bay.

The morning morphed into lunch time and a trek into the overly crowded Lido dining room—asparagus soup and a grilled pear and brie cheese sandwich hit the spot.

After lunch, we attended a lecture by the ranger and a local indigenous people representative. Each presenter conveyed their areas of expertise with lots of passion.

From the lecture, Betsy, Dan, and I walked to deck three, the designated walking deck. Here we had the opportunity to interact with the Park Ranger.

To our surprise, we also had multiple opportunities to see whales spouting. The whales were feeding close to shore. This included a few tail flops from whales huddling close to the surface.

The cutest view was when a sea otter on its back came surfing by the ship with an infant resting comfortably on the mother’s stomach. Neither appeared to have a care in the world.

After walking, Betsy and Dan played pickle ball on one of the decks with some likeminded passengers.

For dinner, we had signed up for a special treat—a seafood boil. At $35.00 a piece, we had a blast.

We started with a delicious bowl of clam chowder.

This was followed by each of us receiving our own kettle of seafood.

Inside the kettle in a delicious broth were clams, mussels, shrimp, Dungeness crab legs, salmon, corn, potatoes, and a perfectly seasoned small loaf of crusty bread. The bread was perfect for sopping up the broth.

From the staff, we were given bibs, and small bowls for washing our fingertips. We had lots of fun— that included interacting with and asking questions about the logistics of this meal with the staff.

Not that we had room, but dessert was a berry crumb with vanilla ice cream.

After dinner, we needed air and exercise, so we walked the deck.

We came back inside for an outstanding performance of Broadway songs and more trivia. With the trivia, we finished in a three way tie. In the tie breaker, our answer was off by one year.

Next, we took in a set with the ship’s house band.

By now, sleep was calling us, but we didn’t collapse right away.

Sitting on our balcony, a couple of whales teased us, and we were treated to a colorful sunset.

Saturday would bring another day of travel on the open waters with a final look at glaciers in the College Fjord.

Whittier was our destination, the point where we would leave the ship for the land part of our journey.

In truth, I rarely thought about the Fourth Of July today.

I’m not a huge fan of fireworks, but the reality is that Alaska’s beauty and wonder were our fireworks.

This is a precious place.

Juneau

March 6, 2026 Bill Pike2 Comments

I think my old body might be starting to adapt to the long span of daylight.

I think, I slept a little later this morning.

Although, I was up early, but maybe not as early as previous mornings.

The captain and crew are nudging the ship toward Alaska’s capital city, Juneau.

As we work our way toward the dock, I was greeted with by my usual shades of gray sky and gray water. But, that’s ok. There is still a stunning beauty in those shades.

A gray morning heading into Juneau (Photo Bill Pike)

Then slowly, the gray lifts ever so slightly, and the colors along the shoreline begin to appear.

A bit of color along the shoreline (Photo Bill Pike)

After breakfast today, we’ll be heading out to the Tongass National Forest. Our focus will be Nugget Falls, Mendenhall Lake, and Mendenhall Glacier.

From our location, we are about twelve miles away from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center. The center was opened in 1962, and its dedication plaque contains these words: “To The Furtherance Of Knowledge And Enjoyment Of Glacial Phenomena.”

Clearly, there is lots to be learned and much to enjoy visually at this location.

We started with a two-mile round trip hike to capture a better view of Nugget Falls. With a measured length of 377 feet, the falls are spectacular. The sound of the water cascading down into Mendenhall Lake will clearly catch your attention. Another feature here is the beach. It allows visitors to roam toward the falls and the lake.

As we start the walk back to the visitor’s center, there are numerous opportunities to enjoy the beauty around you. Just a few steps to your right or left shows the lushness of the greenery on either side of the trail.

Additionally, a sheltered viewing stand is available to look toward the Mendenhall Glacier. Even on this cloudy day, we are impressed with the depth of its mass as it winds back into the Mendenhall Valley. The glacier is 13.6 miles in length, and as you might guess, the glacier is receding.

And one more tidbit, the glacier was originally named after the Auke Indians, but was renamed in 1892 to Mendenhall. This was in honor of Thomas Corwin Mendenhall.

Mr. Mendenhall was the Superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Under his leadership, the international boundary of Southeast Alaska was surveyed. (US Forest Service/Tongass National Forest)

Soon, we were on our way back into Juneau.

We had lunch at the Twisted Fish. I enjoyed my perfectly grilled halibut sandwich and a well-made local Kolsch style beer. Noted on the menu were King Crab legs. A customer could order two legs for eighty dollars.

We spent the afternoon exploring Juneau.

There is lots of repetition among the shops with jewelry, t-shirts, and assorted trinkets dominating the store fronts.

We took a tram ride that was enjoyable. The cloud cover limited our view a bit.

Dating back to 1893, we came across the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. The church has roots to the Russian Mission Society who supported its founding. Its octagonal shape and gold dome make it easy to spot, and in 1973, the church was placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Our wandering continued as we worked our way down the stairs of a steep hillside heading toward the city’s waterfront park. Getting there we came upon a small Veterans memorial, spied a juvenile eagle a top a streetlight, and admired the statue of a life size whale leaping out of the water.

Here we are in this pretty setting on the Gastineau Channel with the Canadian Coast Mountains overlooking the city, and just on the outer fringe of the waterfront park, we come across a singular encampment with a homeless person. Poverty has no boundaries. America, can’t we do better?

We continue our walk figuring out how to make it to the ship’s berth on the dock.

Once there, we re-enter, and then catch back up with our friends for dinner.

Seemed like we curtailed our post-dinner roaming this evening. Or maybe, the busy day, and the long daylight hours were catching up with us.

That bit of weariness seemed to be settling in on Marian. She wasn’t feeling well.

Before committing to sleep, I spent a few minutes out on our balcony. The local time was 9:30 p.m. I took a picture of the shoreline as we were departing Juneau. Back home in Richmond, it would be totally dark.

Ample daylight at 9:30 p.m. (Photo Bill Pike)

I really enjoyed our trip to the Mendenhall Glacier. Lots to take in between the energetic Nugget Falls, the placid Mendenhall Lake, with formidable, but shrinking glacier in the background.

I appreciate the respect that is being shown to preserve this precious land. I just hope we are wise enough to keep respecting and preserving it for our future generations.

My hope is tied to us always remembering the words on the plaque at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center: “To The Furtherance Of Knowledge And Enjoyment Of Glacial Phenomena.”

One more peak at Mendenhall Glacier (Photo Bill Pike)

Ketchikan

March 2, 2026 Bill PikeLeave a comment

Tuesday, July 1, 2025 Day Seven Ketchikan

Ketchikan by Bill Pike

Per usual, I’m up early.

At 5:05 a.m., the ship’s foghorn sounds every two minutes.

A gray fog is trying to conceal the Alaskan coastline. The water is a darker shade of gray.

Foggy morning as we head into Ketchikan ( Photo Bill Pike)

We are scheduled to dock in Ketchikan at 6:30 a.m.

I always enjoy the last few miles of the approach into a port. A few minutes ago, a small, sturdy boat departed from the back of the ship. This is all guessing on my part, but I’m assuming, this was to drop off a local captain to help guide the ship into the Ketchikan harbor.

Our group is excited about exploring and touring around Ketchikan. We have a window from 8:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Closing in on Ketchikan, the visibility begins to improve. The hills and mountains that form the backdrop for the town are still shrouded with fog and low clouds.

Our first bald eagle is spotted. The eagle was resting on top of a singular docking pole.

As we inch closer to our docking berth, I notice a massive yacht complete with a helicopter, Coast Guard station with three ships, and a NOAA ship.

It is interesting to watch the landing crew on the dock doing their final preps. A safety perimeter is set using cones and rope.

For the two gangways, a separate crew is present. With finesse and precision, they connect the ship to the dock.

Looks like some of the merchants closest to the dock are already open for cruise ship traffic. The store fronts look inviting.

The Commander and I hustle to breakfast. A few minutes after 8:00 we are off the ship.

I’m fortunate to be with a savvy tour guide. We want to take in as much of Ketchikan as we can before our scheduled excursion out to Totem Bight State Historical Park.

Our feet push us off, and we quickly come across Ketchikan Creek. This pretty creek runs through sections of downtown.

We skirt through a section of shops on historical Creek Street. Following the creek bed, we notice an emphasis on salmon. A salmon ladder is part of the creek.

With the creek as our guide, we work our way to the Deer Mountain Fish Hatchery. Apparently, we were too early for any peeks at fish or tours.

Near the hatchery is City Park, a very pretty park that is part of the Ketchikan Salmon Walk. This is a very doable 1.5 mile walk that winds along the creek and some quiet neighborhoods.

From City Park, it is a short distance to The Totem Heritage Center. This museum dates back to 1976. While totem poles are the main feature, the museum also has contemporary art that is linked to local culture and heritage.

From the Totem Pole Heritage Center, we walked back into town. We spent time exploring a few of the Creek Street shops and learned a bit about its history. At one time, this was “early Alaska’s most infamous red-light district.”

Before heading back to the ship, we stopped at the Arctic Bar. This famous bar opened in 1937, and it appears to be just as popular today as when it first opened.

We regrouped with our pals and boarded the bus to Totem Bight State Historical Park.

A young lady, a college student was our bus driver and tour guide. She was outstanding.

On the drive out to the park, she provided a trove of local information with facts and humor.

At the park, she capably toured us around with a balance of stories related to the culture and totem poles.

Points of emphasis were made about the location. Basically, we’re in a rainforest. Five species of trees make up the core of this region, and we also learned about the skunk cabbage, and salmon berries (similar to raspberries).

Created in 1959, the park consists of 33 acres in Tongass National Forest. The park also presents views on the Tongass Narrows waterway.

Tongass Narrows Waterway (Photo Bill Pike)

A variety of totem poles are on site. The park also includes replica of a traditional chieftain’s house. The low, oval entrance will catch the attention of visitors.

Inside Chieftain’s house (Photo Bill Pike)

For me, my takeaway on the totem poles is that each one tells a story. Woven into those stories and the carved displays are the eagle, frogs, the mystical thunderbird, ravens, bears, beaver, watchman, and blackfish or killer whale.

With an eye on the clock, our guide gave us time to work our way back to the bus before our departure.

We made it back to the ship on time. Facial recognition was used to speed up the pace for getting us back on board.

After a late lunch, we watched the pushing away from the Ketchikan dock. Lots of activity was waiting for us during this departure.

From the top deck of the ship, we had a good observation spot.

Our main point of interest was the Ketchikan airport. Access to the airport comes via a ferry that runs every thirty minutes.

This afternoon, we were treated to float planes landing and taking off, and commercial jets landing.

From the top deck, we departed to attend an information session about our upcoming transition from sea to land.

After this, we regrouped and made ourselves ready for dinner. The dinner hour on the ship amazes me as the staff works to meet the needs at every table with perfection.

With dinner over, we tried our luck in trivia with 80s music, attended an Irish sing-a-long, took in a comedian, and spent a bit of time with a jazz trio.

Maybe to try and rejuvenate ourselves, we took one walk around the ship with a cold, brisk breeze hitting us. For some reason that walk pushed us to needing some sleep so, we headed to our rooms.

I enjoyed Ketchikan.

It was interesting to experience the pride from the original Alaskans related to their culture and heritage. Like the stories found in a totem poll, the stories in the history of these people is fascinating too.

And yet, here I am, far away from the troubles of the world.

I wonder if the troubles of the world could be solved by revisiting the stories of our troubled pasts? Might we be able to say to ourselves— we’ve been down the tragic road before, why do we want to go again?

Looking forward to Juneau tomorrow and a visit with a glacier.

Sun setting after a good day (Photo Bill Pike)

Alaska Sailing The Inside Passage

February 27, 2026 Bill PikeLeave a comment

I think I could be dead and still wake up early.

My internal clock has me pegged as an earlier riser. No alarms set. I just wake up.

Today, Monday, June 30, 2025 is no different.

Overnight, our Holland American ship has been sailing the Inside Passage. On Tuesday, July 1, we are scheduled to arrive in Ketchikan, Alaska at 6:30 a.m. That will be our first port stop.

Today, all of our activities will be focused on what the ship offers.

Out on our balcony, I’m surprised at how close we appear to land. Scattered low clouds and a speck of color from the rising sun make for pretty scenery.

Quiet start to the day. (Photo Bill Pike)

This morning, I’m going to the gym to workout. My goal is to ride a stationary bike and use some light weights.

With a couple of wrong turns, I make it to the gym. The equipment is nice and available for me to use. The room is equipped with good windows perfect for watching the water and the coastline.

After the workout, we gather for breakfast. The options are overwhelming. So, I keep it simple—oatmeal and the European spin on muesli. I love the muesli.

At some point after breakfast, we were notified that the Captain of the ship had made a navigational shift pushing the ship out into the open sea. Not sure of his reasoning, but he knows more about these waters than I do.

At some point, we lose the snips of fog and gray cloud cover for blue sky.

We took another stroll along deck three, and as the morning progressed we immersed ourselves in the following: a cooking demonstration, a stringed duo who perform on viola and cello, general knowledge trivia, stretch class, lectures about upcoming stops.

Had a hotdog for lunch. Then took it easy for a bit.

The guys regrouped and attended a beer tasting session. For the beer tasting, Peroni from Italy, Guinness from Ireland, and an amber ale and an IPA both from the Alaska Brewing Company in Juneau were featured. Butch, Dan, and I enjoyed the tasting and the comments from the staff.

Also in this afternoon rotation was a Dutch tea. There was quite an offering of food with this event.

After the tea, the remainder of the afternoon passed quickly. Before we knew it, we were working our way back to the dining room for dinner.

Stuffed from the dinner, for the remainder of the evening, we roamed around the ship.

We walked through the casino. This seems like a waste of space to me.

Music attracted us to a solo pianist and then a cover band. It was clear these musicians had a real passion for music.

At some point, our collective body clocks reminded us that sleep was important. Roaming stopped. Our rooms were calling. We said good night.

Before drifting off, I think about the Inside Passage.

This thousand mile route runs from the coast of Washington state to Skagway, Alaska.

By comparison, back home the Intracoastal Waterway runs from Massachusetts rounds the tip of Florida, and meanders along the Gulf of Mexico coastline ending in Brownsville, Texas.

Both the Inside Passage and the Intracoastal Waterway provide cruise and commercial ships, and pleasure boats some protection from the open ocean waters.

I wonder what the early explorers of the Inside Passage thought as they traversed these beautiful waters?

Did they think it would ever have an end point?

I wonder how tempted they were to pull ashore on any of the remote islands or coastlines on either side and explore.

As they progressed did they stare in amazement at a soaring eagle, the sighting of a whale, or a ginormous grizzly bear feasting on the shoreline?

I’m not sure, but I know my old eyes have enjoyed the stunning scenery today, and I look forward to more as we come into Ketchikan in the morning.

Churned up waters from our ship (Photo Bill Pike)

More Exploring Vancouver

February 21, 2026February 21, 2026 Bill PikeLeave a comment

We gathered for breakfast at 8:15.

However, it wasn’t long before our Uber arrived to drive us out to Lynn Canyon Park.

Vancouver has many options for tourists, but while you are visiting do not turn down the opportunity to visit Lynn Canyon Park. This is one special place.

You will take lots of pictures in Lynn Canyon (Photo Bill Pike)

For sure the highlight of the park is the suspension bridge, but that bridge is only part of the story. The park is stunning from the tops of its massive canopy of trees to water running through creek beds—visitors are in for a treat.

The original suspension bridge dates back to 1912. That version of the bridge featured no railings to hold on to as a person passed over Lynn Creek. Not to worry, now the bridge has all the required safety features including hand railings.

Some of the cabling for the suspension bridge (Photo Bill Pike)

No matter where our feet took us on the well maintained trails, we saw nature at her best in this coastal temperate rain forest. A variety of trees, assorted mosses, large ferns, and unique birds make up the park.

Good growing environment for ferns (Photo Bill Pike)

At some point, the trail will bring you to the edge of a neighborhood, and you will want to make a stop at The End Of The Line General Store.

Looping back to our point of entry, the scenery did not disappoint us.

From Lynn Canyon Park, we took a Uber to Queen Elizabeth Park.

Some of the well-maintained grounds at Queen Elizabeth Park (Photo Bill Pike)

Queen Elizabeth Park is 130 acres of more beauty. The park was formally dedicated in 1939 by King George VI.

The park offers much for visitors to see from the Arboretum, the Blodel Floral Conservatory, fountains/plazas, and statues.

One of the stunning flowers (Photo Bill Pike)

On this Saturday, the park was host to multiple weddings.

Additionally, we had the good fortune of eating lunch at the Seasons In The Park restaurant.

Back side of Seasons In The Park (Photo Bill Pike)

Back in April 1993, Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin dined here during the Vancouver Summit.

After lunch, we continued to explore the grounds. Again, no matter where we walked, we enjoyed the displays and the landscaping.

At some point, we requested an Uber.

The driver showed up in a Tesla. Nice car, but there was no way six adults were going to fit in this car comfortably.

Butch and I made the sacrifice and squeezed ourselves into the very back of the car. We were as tight in that space as vacuumed packed Vienna sausages in a can.

We laughed all the way back to the Hotel Sylvia. Maybe the laughter covered our fear. We knew if the driver made a mistake, this might be our last ride.

This was a beautiful day in Vancouver. Lots of people were out and about around the beaches and open vistas along English Bay.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon prepping for the transition to the ship on Sunday.

Before dinner at the hotel, some of us took a short walk along English Bay.

I loved my grilled halibut for dinner. Fresh and perfectly cooked, I’ll remember and miss this meal when I return to Virginia.

After dinner, with lots of others we were able to see a very pretty sunset.

Before drifting off, I thought about Boris Yeltsin and Bill Clinton dining at Seasons In The Park.

I wonder if the chef prepared a special dinner? Maybe Boris gifted Bill with a case of the best Russian vodka.

That was thirty two years ago.

Regrettably, America and Russia, still struggle

Too bad we can’t trust each other and become friends.

Exploring Vancouver

February 18, 2026 Bill PikeLeave a comment

On the morning of Friday, June 27, 2025, I was up early. I planned to go for a run.

Prior to our trip, I purchased a pair of Hoka trail running shoes. As much as I love my Brooks running shoes, I wanted to have one pair of shoes that I could go for a run in and use on a variety of terrains in Alaska. Additionally, the Hokas were GoreTex to reduce possible water intrusion.

Out at the Vancouver airport the temperature was 55 degrees. It was mostly cloudy with an east southeast wind, dew point 53, humidity 96%, and visibility was at twenty miles.

I walked through the quiet lobby of the Sylvia Hotel, and headed toward a concrete base trail along English Bay. The trail was a connector into Stanley Park.

I wasn’t the only early riser. I came across four herons. One was disrupting the quiet of the morning squawking from a tree.

Some type of filming was taking place in this location as there were several production trailers lined up.

Along the edges of the trail, I noted that the water near the shoreline of English Bay was translucent. I could see the bottom in the shallows.

Around one bend, I came across a very nice municipal pool complex. Someone put quite a bit of thought into its development. Every amenity seemed to be included in the design.

The runners I encountered were friendly. Numerous good mornings were exchanged.

A cruise ship was getting an early start maneuvering through the pretty harbor.

I discovered a beach that was covered with fragments of cracked purple from the inside of mussel shells.

The trees in Stanley Park form an appealing backdrop along the trail.

And woven into that beauty are some homeless souls sleeping in sleeping bags on secluded park benches. I don’t know how lucky I am.

At some point, I turn around and retrace my steps to the hotel.

After cleaning up from the run, we gather for breakfast. I had the perfect bowl of oatmeal with a smidge of brown sugar and a variety of fruit to top it off.

Our plan for today was to take a Uber out to the University of British Columbia.

This well maintained campus kept us busy as we enjoyed a Japanese garden, a rose garden, and the stunning Museum of Anthropology.

Part of the Japanese garden at the University of British Columbia (Photo Bill Pike)

Some of the roses on display (Photo Betsy Pike)

On trips like this, I always wonder about the vision of the people who planned and put this wonderful Museum of Anthropology together.

Every display was intricate and thoughtfully designed.

Most impressive were the totem poles. No doubt it takes a lot of skill and patience to create a totem pole. But one can feel the passion and soul from the artisans who created them.

One of the colorful totem poles inside the museum (Photo Bill Pike)

I learned that red cedar is the favorite choice for carving totem poles. Red cedar has a “straight grain and soft tissue—ideal for carving.”

Cedar is also the choice for crafting a canoe. A massive single cedar log can be used to form a canoe.

One of the hand carved canoes on display (Photo Bill Pike)

At some point, we walked outside to grounds at the back of the museum. This gave us a different look at how the architect developed the backside of the building.

Museum of Anthropology from the backside (Photo Bill Pike)

It looked like the grounds in this area had just been recently completed. Once this area is fully developed, it will add another dimension to the museum.

We had a light lunch at a Tim Hortons located at a food court on campus.

As we planned our way back to the hotel, we opted to take a Uber tour through Stanley Park. The park is massive. I understand why the park is always in motion— the people of Vancouver love it.

After the tour of Stanley Park, we stopped at Three Brits where I had a birthday beer.

From Three Brits, we walked through the shopping district near our hotel. I was amazed at the ethnicity of the restaurants and fruit stands on every block.

With my pals being nice to me, we had dinner at Craft Beer. It was an ok local spot, but it was loud inside—too loud for an old geezer like me.

After dinner, we walked through a display of human statues that were made of metal. The exhibit is called A-Maze-Ing-Laughter. Fourteen patinated-bronze figures are featured. The statues were created by Chinese artist Yue Minjun.

After the statues, we continued our walk to the hotel. I noticed a lady stopping at every trashcan. She was rummaging for aluminum cans.

Multiple high rise buildings make up the neighborhood. On this fading afternoon, we noticed on the rooftop of one of those buildings a large tree growing.

Back at the Sylvia Hotel, we opt for a nightcap before catching some sleep.

I’ve had a nice day, a good birthday.

My parents were really good parents.

I’m thankful that they opted to have children.

My sister and I were lucky.

I like to think that Louise and Bill would like the way we landed on our feet. This is despite the ups and downs the old world often hurls at people.

I have been so fortunate my whole life. That good fortune comes from my parents. They loved me despite my many, many faults.

That good fortune comes from my wife too and the dear friends we are traveling with on this trip.

And deep in my old soul, I know from watching the homeless sleeping on benches in Stanley Park to the lady going through every trash can this evening—one wrong move, and I could be in their shoes.

Richmond to Raleigh to Vancouver to Alaska

February 15, 2026 Bill Pike2 Comments

On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 25, 2025, we left Richmond driving to Raleigh.

Later that afternoon, our friends, the Sherrills, left Greensboro heading to Raleigh.

And on Thursday morning, June 26, further north in Maryland, our friends, the Callows, would be up well before dawn and drive to the Baltimore airport.

The Callows were booked on a flight from Baltimore to Chicago.

After a night of rest in a Raleigh hotel near the airport (RDU), the Pikes and Sherrills would also be early risers to catch a shuttle to the airport. We had an Air Canada direct flight into Vancouver.

When we left Richmond on Wednesday afternoon, the heat and humidity were brutal. As we worked our way down Interstate 85, just north of Henderson, North Carolina, we encountered a fairly strong thunderstorm.

The storm featured some sharp cloud to ground lightning. Plus, it was interesting to watch, the temperature take a downward plunge from the rain.

Not sure how much we slept, but we made it to the hotel lobby to catch the shuttle to RDU. We had a very good shuttle driver.

With our TSA approval, the initial check-in with Air Canada was seamless. Of course, traveling is much more complicated now. My backpack scan failed as my body lotion bottle was considered oversized.

We had a good flight to Vancouver. I was able to watch two movies, plus, we had a bonus—an empty seat between us.
The Callows also had a good flight from Baltimore to Chicago. But getting out of Chicago was a challenge.

They were forced to change planes because of a hydraulic problem on the plane. Of course, this caused a delay.

On our approach coming into Vancouver, I immediately was taken by lots of water.

Final approach into Vancouver (Photo Bill Pike)

The airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia.

Strolling through the airport, I was taken by its open design. The architecture features water, nature, and an emphasis on the heritage of the Pacific Northwest.

Colorful canoe display (Photo Bill Pike)

I wanted to stop and look more carefully, but we needed to keep moving toward customs.

Stunning wood carving with water moving behind it. (Photo Bill Pike)

Because of enhanced technology, we cleared our entry into Canada easily.

We took an Uber to the hotel. The Uber driver was a talker. He kept yakking. He shared lots of tourist info, but ultimately he was trying to book us for a long ten hour day of driving to the sights outside of Vancouver

My ears were relieved when we arrived at the Hotel Sylvia.

We checked in, made it to our rooms, and headed to their dining room.

The Sylvia Hotel is a survivor. It is a classic old hotel with lots of charm. Our rooms featured no air conditioning, just open windows with a pleasant breeze

We worked our way to the dining room for lunch. Lunch was a hit with humus, seafood chowder, beet salad, and ahi salad. I loved my chowder, and I had the local Red Truck lager to sip on too.

My delicious seafood chowder (Photo Bill Pike)

It wasn’t too long before the Callows arrived, and we made plans for the afternoon.

We left the hotel and walked toward Granville Island. At some point, the braintrust figured out how to take a small ferry shuttle to the island.

Located on thirty five acres, the island is in the Fairview neighborhood of Vancouver. In its previous life, Granville was an industrial manufacturing area.

Today, its main feature is a public market. Fruits and vegetables are attractively displayed on every aisle. An amazing variety of food from local vendors weaves in and out of assorted food stalls and restaurants.

Assorted cherries further down the table top and other fruits in public market (Photo Bill Pike)

Gradually, we worked our way back to the mainland.

Light rain showers didn’t slow us down, and we had another good meal at Hook for dinner.
We walked back to the hotel, had a night cap while listening to a local singer performing solo with an acoustic guitar.

By now, sleep was starting to pull on us. It had been a long day of travel.

Before snoring off, I thought about the marvels of traveling, and all of the behind the scenes stuff that takes place every day.

No doubt, the plane’s pilots and crew are important, but think about all of those people working behind the scenes to ensure that you and your friends arrive at their destination.

It is all about people. An endless stream of people doing all kinds of work. Traveling, depends upon them, and I need to be more appreciative of the critical role they play.

Boo winter!

January 25, 2026 Bill PikeLeave a comment

I’m not sure about where you live, but here in Richmond, Virginia since Sunday, January 18, the pending winter storm has been pounding incessantly through all forms of media.

The relentless, repeating blabber is as bad as back to school and political ads.

Even my wife, my commander supreme, from the jabbering of a local television weather forecaster has asked me where the shutoff valve is for our water line.

Grocery and hardware stores are elated.

Milk, eggs, bread, snow shovels, snow melt, and batteries are gone. Gleeful managers admire their empty shelves as they scramble to restock before the monster storm arrives.

The state’s highway department is already treating road surfaces with a spray concoction of chemicals designed to melt snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The road surfaces are left streaked with wobbly white lines of the drying chemicals.

Power companies are monitoring the developing storm with deep concern as forecasts shift from snow to sleet to the most dreaded—freezing rain.

Parents with school age children are trying to figure out how they will survive if this demon storm shuts down school systems for multiple days.

And then we have the robins.

A robin on frost bitten grass on a January afternoon. (Photo Bill Pike)

Long thought of as a sign of the return of spring, I’ve seen robins darting around our neighborhood since early January. Sorry, but there is no spring in this predicted winter storm. I hope the robins survive.

Speaking of survival, I wonder how the homeless will survive? The predicted low temperature for Monday night, January 26 is 3 degrees. That doesn’t include wind chill.

If we are the greatest country in the world, why are we unable to permanently solve this longstanding problem?

My love for winter precipitation is gone. I’m too old. That love for a snowflake has been passed on to our four grandchildren.

I hope we all survive the ferocity of this predicted winter storm.

As mighty as man pretends to be in out smarting the weather gods, I’m not sure we will ever out think a riled up mother nature.

In the post-storm days, there will be lines at car washes. Auto body shops will be giving non-stop estimates for repairs, and the noise of chainsaws and wood chippers will cascade in neighborhoods where trees have taken a tumble.

Those responsible for clearing parking lots will build mountains of snow that are piled high in out of the way corners of the lot. Like school children, these snow clearers quietly pray for another winter storm to help their seasonal bank accounts.

In the back parking lot of the Village Shopping Center, I’ve been keeping my eye on a shrinking mountain of snow. Tucked away in the back corner of the lot, this mound is leftover from our two December 2025 snowstorms.

The pure white color of the snow is gone. Its icy surface is now a dark charcoal gray with a layer of fallen leaves on top. I wonder what that graying, the darkening of the snow really tells us about ourselves and how we treat our world.

This time last year, we were in Marathon Key, Florida. If we had opted to return this January, we would have missed this winter madness.

And despite my curmudgeon whine against winter weather, I do find beauty in this season.

I love how the still water in the creek bed frames the reflection of the sky and the surrounding vegetation.

When driving on a country road, I admire how winter opens up the landscape. My eyes can peer deeply into roadside farms and stands of bare trees.

The stark bareness of those trees, lets me see the sculpting of their limbs contrast against an early morning sky.

Bare tree towers against the sky (Photo Bill Pike)

I appreciate the tenacity of a youngster shooting hoops on a nippy winter afternoon.

On the campus of the University of Richmond, in the Westhampton Lake, brazen ducks go for an early morning swim in water too frigid for me.

At the Trinity UMC Preschool, I’m captured by the wintry artwork of the students.

Student art work Trinity UMC Preschool (Photo Bill Pike)

And late in the afternoon, there is nothing like the colors found in a sunset as the sun closes out another winter day.

Colors of a winter sunset (Photo Bill Pike)

Perhaps in your boo to the harshness of winter, you too can find a bit of its beauty.

And who knows, maybe that will help you endure this latest round of winter weather.

When angels revisit

August 31, 2025 Bill Pike1 Comment

I love the movie It’s A Wonderful Life.

I especially like the scene when Clarence, a want to be angel, is sent back to earth to save George Bailey.

Through his diligence and understanding of human nature, Clarence redirects George Bailey to reclaim his life. With this success, Clarence finally earns his angel wings.

On the morning of Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 6:29, I came upon a sign that showed me two angels had graced our home on Sweetbriar Road.

A gardenia bush on the west side of our yard had a singular open bloom at the top.

The August 28 gardenia bloom (Photo Bill Pike)

This gardenia had previously been full of blooms earlier during the summer. While I’m no expert on gardenias, I think it is rare for a gardenia to offer up a singular bloom after its traditional full summer blossoming.

This gardenia is a special shrub. It originally came from a cutting from my parents yard in Burlington, North Carolina.

I took this cutting and planted in the yard of our first home in Richmond.

I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to do this, but when we sold that house, I dug up that gardenia and transplanted it in our yard on Sweetbriar.

Despite some challenging winters and uncomfortable summers, the gardenia has thrived.

The gardenia was a favorite flower of my parents. I believe my father really loved the sweet fragrance from its white bloom.

I’ve written about this before, but I never forget the last week of August. On August 31, 1992, we lost my mother. Ten years later on September 1, 2002, we lost my father.

For some reason, on the day of my mother’s funeral, a singular gardenia bloom blossomed on the large shrub by the front door of the home of my sister, Lisa, and her husband, Eric, on Parkview Drive in Burlington.

On August 28, when I came across that singular gardenia bloom in our yard, I immediately thought of my parents. Perhaps, a horticulturist could explain why that perfect bloom appeared.

While there might be a perfectly logical science based answer, I have my own reasoning—two angels, Louise and Bill.

I still struggle to comprehend how my parents tolerated me. At times, I was a worthless disappointment.

Fortunately, I sense some of their better qualities did rub off on me.

Part of me believes that at 72, I’m still around because they continue to keep an eye out for me.

My old brain believes the appearance of that singular gardenia bloom on August 28 was their way of reminding me that despite the heartburn and the sleep deprivation I caused for them—they still love me.

As they glide around in that blue yonder, I still cherish and love all they did for me.

And yes, my old heart continues to cherish and love them.