Category: Lighthouse

Weekly Photo Challenge: Scale

Posted in Alaska, Lighthouse, PhotographyTagged , , , 12 Comments

The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge this week is: Scale

During our 2013 RV journey to Alaska we took a day cruise on the M/V Fjordland through the Lynn Canal from Haines, Alaska to Juneau, Alaska.

As we approached the Eldred Rock Lighthouse I took this photo which shows the lighthouse dwarfed by to the mountain.

Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal in Alaska
Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal in Alaska

As we got closer we saw a tiny white dot on the top of the tree which turned out to be a Bald Eagle. Now the Bald Eagle is dwarfed by the lighthouse.

Do you see the tiny white dot at the top of the tree?
Do you see the tiny white dot at the top of the tree?

Can you see the Bald Eagle?

Now you can see it's a Bald Eagle
Can you tell it’s a Bald Eagle?

To find out more about our trip through the Lynn Canal click A Day Cruise to Juneau

 

Wandering in South Carolina

Posted in Lighthouse, Road Trip, RVing, South Carolina, State ParksTagged , , , , 6 Comments

After spending the winter catching up with chores at home and dreaming about wandering, we made our maiden voyage of 2014 just one state over from Georgia to South Carolina.

We started our short trip with 3 nights in Columbia watching our grandson play in a soccer tournament. It was so much fun to watch him play and cheer from the sidelines with his parents and sister.

On our way home we spent a rainy night at Hunting Island State Park. Our first visit there  was over 30 years ago in our tent camping days when our kids were little. We have been wanting to return there ever since we got the fifth wheel. Hunting Island is located about 42 miles from I-95 at the end of Hwy 21. The drive takes you through beautiful salt marshes, across rivers and sounds, and through several towns including Beaufort (if you are driving a big rig, take the truck route instead of going through downtown Beaufort).

The campground has about 200 sites, some of them right next to the beach. Our site was located in a loop with the sites surrounded by tall trees and palmettos. A short walk from the RV took us to the dog friendly beach in front of the campground.

The rain let up a little so we drove to the lighthouse to explore. The Hunting Island Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in South Carolina accessible to the public. A short path in front of the lighthouse leads to the beach.

The Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in South Carolina which is open to the public
Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse
Beach in front of the Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse
Dunes in front of the Hunting Island, SC Lighthouse
The Beach at Hunting Island State Park Campground, SC
A narrow paved road winds through the campground at Hunting Island State Park, SC

Day 37: A day cruise to Juneau

Posted in Alaska, Birds, Glaciers, Lighthouse, WildlifeTagged , , , , , , 3 Comments

Day 37: Friday, June 21, 2013. Aboard the Fjordland from Haines, Alaska to Juneau, Alaska

There have been many WOW moments on this trip but our trip to Juneau has them all beat by far.

At 8:30 am we gathered at the dock with our friends Ted and Ruth Ann to board the Fjordland for an all day cruise to Juneau. The boat has comfortable seats inside the cabin and a nice viewing platform in the rear for wildlife viewing and photography. Our captain was very knowledgeable about the area and he and his daughter kept an eye out for wildlife. He would slow down or stop when there was something interesting to watch.

We took the Fjordland to Juneau from Haines
Aboard the Fjordland to Juneau

Our first wildlife came when we saw hundreds of steller sea lions at a rookery along the rocks.

Steller Sea Lion Rookery in Alaska
Steller Sea Lions
Steller Sea Lion
Stellar Sea Lions on day trip to Juneau
He was off by himself on the rock

There were so many whales we lost count. Some were too far off to see very much detail but we were fortunate to see some up close.

Thar She Blows!
We saw lots of whales close to shore
Humpback Whale
Whale dorsal fin
Whale Pectoral Fin on day trip to Juneau
Such an amazing sight to see their tail
Another dive
One last whale tail

We passed by glaciers and waterfalls and even a lighthouse on the way to Juneau.

We went by this waterfall
A whale went by as we got closer to the lighthouse

The boat docked a little outside of town so we boarded a bus to take us downtown. We enjoyed lunch at the Red Dog Saloon before doing a little shopping and sightseeing in the capital of Alaska. Next was a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier to see a glacier up close.

Miner’s Monument in Juneau
Lunch at the Red Dog Saloon
Red Dog Saloon in Juneau
Mural in downtown Juneau
Capital Building in Juneau, Alaska
Mendenhall Glacier
Waterfalls at the glacier
Mendenhall Glacier with the water falls on the right

After touring the Mendenhall Glacier we boarded the bus for our ride back to the dock. We enjoyed a delicious bowl of seafood chowder with smoked salmon while we rested up from our hard day of sightseeing. Whale sightings continued and our captain took us close by the Eldred Rock Lighthouse we had passed on the way to Juneau. Want to buy it? It’s for sale!

The seals came up close to the boat
For Sale – Eldred Rock Lighthouse
We passed close to the Eldred Rock Lighthouse
Another view of the lighthouse
Oystercatcher at the lighthouse
Harbor Seals lounging on the rocks by the lighthouse
Harbor Seals by the lighthouse

Our trip on the Fjordland was the Fjord Express to Juneau cruise offered by the Alaska Fjordlines. I highly recommend it. It sails from either Haines or Skagway to Juneau.