Beatles Invasion Norwegian Encore October 2024

We enjoyed the Beatles tribute act on our Norwegian Cruise to Alaska!

"True Stories of Bear Attacks: Who Survived and Why" by Mike Lapinski

While on our cruise in Alaska, I saw the book, "True Stories of Bear Attacks" by Mike Lapinski at several gift shops.  I don't know about you, but I love books about bears in the wild.  I have mentioned some other similar books on this blog.  Anyway, I knew this was one to pick up to read while relaxing on the ship.

This book is well written, and interesting.  It is mostly a collection of people encountering bears while in the wild.  Chapters are separated by specific types of encounters.  I particularly enjoyed reading the chapter on photographers encountering bears in the wild, and some of their less than ethical ways to get good pictures.

Mike is very open about the pros of carrying proper bear spray when you go hiking in bear territory.  In fact, at one time I speculated that the book may have been funded by a bear spray company (they could give out copies of the book as promotional material).  He even says in the beginning of the book that the book's purpose is to encourage the use of bear pepper spray, for the safety of the user and for the bear.  He includes lots of stories about hikers and others saving themselves and friends by using the spray.  He also includes stories of epic bear spray fails (the users often picked up cheaper, generic sprays).

Each story is memorable, and Lapinski does include some graphic tales involving death and dismemberment.  He doesn't hold back.

One story that truly sticks with the reader involves a grizzly who becomes the subject of a children's book about a sweet bear tolerant of humans.  A month after the publication of the book, the bear would kill and eat a man (she and her cubs would be killed for the incident).

Sure, there are some dark stories like that one in the book, but this would be a good book for just about anyone with an appreciation for nature and the creatures you might encounter.

 

Bus Ride from Seattle Airport

On our cruise, Norwegian provided a bus ride for us from the airport to our hotel!  It was a very nice ride and arrangement.

Fremont Troll Seattle Washington

I love icon statues that come to define a city.  Well, Seattle has their "Fremont Troll."  I was super excited to get to see this guy!

Bruce and Brandon Lee Grave Seattle Washington

While we were in Seattle, we stopped by to see the graves of Bruce and Brandon Lee at Lake View Cemetery.

"Alaska Sea Stories" by Captain William M. Hopkins

While on our cruise, we stopped in the great Alaskan town of Ketchikan.  Norwegian docks at Ward Cove and then busses cruisers to the main town.

The whole process takes time, but it is a part of the adventure.  And, as you leave your ship and when you return, you go through a warehouse like building at Ward Cove.  The building, as you would expect, is set up selling lots of shirt, trinkets, books, gifts, etc.  Sure, I am certain most of the stuff here is sold by Norwegian, but we found some good deals, and some interesting selections.

As a book person, I was super excited to encounter Captain William M. Hopkins and his wife selling some of his books at Ward Cove.

They had 3 different volumes there.  Each book is small, and you can read each one in one sitting.  They clock in at about 50-60 pages a book.  Each one has 2-3 stories each.

Don't be fooled by their small size though.  Captain Hopkins is good with words, and you won't want to skim these.  He is giving descriptive nautical details that are fun to visualize in your mind and think about at length.  Each story has a purpose and a nice flow, but the reader will appreciate his descriptions of the ship crews, their conversations and what they are experiencing.  You will be able to smell the fish head stew he describes.

The stories often involve a ship getting in to some sort of trouble, often relating to the Alaskan weather conditions.  If you have been on an Alaskan cruise, and appreciate the state and its character, especially from a ship, you will enjoys these fun to read books.

It was a treat getting to buy them directly from the author, and chatting with him a bit about his life.
 

Cherry Street Coffee Seattle Washington

In September of 2024, before doing our Alaskan Cruise, we stopped by Cherry Street Coffee in Seattle!

Ward Cove to Ketchikan Alaska Bus Ride 2024

I know I have similar videos to this one up....  but I enjoyed the ride.

Victoria BC while on our Alaska Cruise 2024

We made a brief stop in Victoria BC while on our Alaska Cruise!

Juneau Alaska 2024

We were able to visit Juneau Alaska for a second time!

Driving Around Seattle Washington 2024

Before we got on our recent Alaskan Cruise, we were lucky enough to spend some time exploring Seattle!  Here is a quick drive around the great city!

"In Search of the Kushtaka: Alaska's Other Bigfoot" by Dennis Waller

While visiting the well stocked book store, "Skaguay News Depot & Books" in Skagway Alaska, I found several interesting books on Alaska, the goldrush, trains, and other related topics.  Its a great bookstore.

Well, for $10 I picked up "In Search of the Kushtaka" by Dennis Waller.  I was also looking at another book on bigfoot in Alaska.  The other book was larger print, seemed pretty basic, AND it had a $20 price tag.  The Waller book was the easy choice.

And I made the right choice.  This is a great, jam packed book.  The author really gets in to some strange topics, not just bigfoot.  In fact, the book is about the "Kushtaka" or the "land-otter people" that have been seen/experienced in Alaska.

Waller is actually all over the place in this one....  he covers giant skeletons, reptilians, how the brain perceives things, and all sorts of other weirdness.  He digs deep.  He isn't shoveling the basics.....  he is connecting things and making sense.

I really liked this one.  It is a slim 150 pages, but the stories and information are thick.  This was a great value and just a darn good book.

 

Beneath The Streets Underground Seattle Tour Sept 2024

We did the very fun and weird "Beneath the Streets" tour while in Seattle!

Choir of Man Norwegian Cruise to Alaska 2024

We got to see a performance of the musical "Choir of Man" while on our Alaskan Cruise!

"Strange Stories of Alaska and the Yukon" by Ed Ferrell

You know me....  when I have a trip planned somewhere, I like to read a lot of books relating to the area...  especially weird ones.

I found "Strange Stories of Alaska and the Yukon" by Ed Ferrell for a couple of bucks at a thrift store and it was a great bargain!  It is a slim, and easy to read book clocking in at just over 150 pages, but the stories are fun, and you have to read them slowly and pay attention to take them in.

The book is pretty much a collection of strange and hard to believe stories collected from old papers, many going back into the late 1880s, but there are some mentions of more modern times.  A sonar image of a lake monster from the 60s comes up.

Cryptids, mysterious characters, ghosts, lost mines (this is Alaska) are in the volume.  I particularly enjoyed the stories of locals reporting encounters with mammoths!

I also enjoyed a strange story about a very detailed mirage city.  Of course, there are some stories of miners who are never heard from again.  There is a story of a captured young sasquatch.  And a verifiable story involves a frozen mammoth that is discovered!

Ketchikan to Ward Cove Bus Ride October 2024

And we took a little bus ride!

"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Getting ready for our second trip to Alaska in three years, I wanted to read some classics related to the state.  I found a copy of Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild" and dove in.

This is one of those books that just pulls you right in.   The story- and the author- insist that you stop what you are doing and follow along.  

Making that demand even more impressive is the fact that you are informed from the beginning that Chris McCandless dies.  You know that pretty much immediately.  Of course, most people that pick this volume up are probably already aware of that.

In fact, as the author acknowledges, if he had made it...  if he had survived, this wouldn't be a story.  Interest in the young man's adventure would be nil.

Krakauer also acknowledges that some will relate to Chris, and understand where he was in life, and his desire for isolated adventure...  and some will feel that he was foolish.

As for me, I could relate.  In fact there were a few moments in the story that I really felt a connection to Chris.  Especially when I was younger.

I could go on and on about this one.  This IS a great book, and if you like to read books about travel and adventure.....  You need to pick this one up.

 

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise October 2024

And we got to take a SECOND cruise to Alaska!  Here is the first of several videos about that wonderful trip!