The Journey Home

After arriving in Vancouver, which is a beautiful city to see, we headed for the airport. Had we known that going through customs and security would be it's own excursion I think I would have packed a lunch. Finally we made it to our plane and headed home-arriving at night (hey it's dark in Houston) and with only part of our luggage. At least I can be grateful it wasn't lost until now. Our families were glad to see us home again- happy and healthy and ready to hear all the great stories. The newest photos will be posted today and with any luck the swaying motion I feel from the ship will pass soon. It's a bit strange to be standing in my kitchen and feel like I'm still in the Gulf of Alaska. Driving ought to be really interesting!! Anyway- we had a blast! I learned so much about the history and nature of Alaska I almost can't process it all. Thanks to all the tour guides who told so many jokes about Texas being only the second largest state. The most popular one seems to be that if they split Alaska in half, Texas would still only be the third largest state and still have less oil than Alaska. Can't really argue with that, but it feels good to home nonetheless. Compared to Alaska, Houston feels like it's about a mile from the Sun- HOT!!! It was 102 degrees yesterday so already I'm missing the cool mist and the smell of the millions of Spruce trees. My most sincere wish would be that the pictures and videos would even begin to show the wonder of the places we have been, but they can't even come close to expressing what it was like to really be there in those mountains and fjords. It's like you can feel just how old the Earth really is when you stand there. I'll never forget it.

Colleen