What a rude awakening! We had to be at our disembarkation point by 7:15. We ate a quick picnic breakfast, packed the last few things, and joined the crowds on the elevator and in the hallway near our exit.
Actually, the disembarkation was a marvel of efficiency. Heavy luggage collected the night before had tags. Passengers and their departure times were organized by transportation mode and times. When we descended the ramp (into a very strong wind), we walked along a structured route into a building, where we found our luggage and lined up for airport
Whittier was hardly a town – residents lived in one built for the military installation that used to be here. Now the port facilities had been upgraded by the Alaska government to attract cruise ships. As we drove off on schedule, the bus driver explained that the tunnel through the mountain directly east of the port had been enlarged for civilian use. Even so, traffic was strictly controlled. A train track ran through the middle and had priority. Vehicles entered from one end and then the other on a schedule, i.e., one way travel. Civilian improvements included escape rooms every mile in case of fire or other major troubles.
Once on the estuarial plain at the east side of the tunnel, we settled down to enjoy the pastoral scenery. The climate must be generally mild in the summer, although the snow must be quite deep in the winter, as there were lots of deciduous trees, which were not particularly tall. Turning onto the main highway to Anchorage , car traffic picked up.
Although technically in Anchorage, we saw very little except a few suburbs that would be at home in Lethbridge. The airport was undergoing improvements. Since we had lots of time, we wandered all over, even viewing an exhibit of aerial photographs and explanations that showed the growth of the airport and the city. This hallway led to a train station that was being incorporated into the airport, although it wasnt open on this day. After a good breakfast at a caf, we did some minor buying in the shops and took a walk outside on the concourse. Eventually, we took off for Vancouver.
Our hotel for the evening near the Vancouver airport was an internet cheapy, recycled from better days. After I had a swim in its tepid little pool (a good stretch, all the same), we walked around the block, looking in vain for a place to eat. Thus, we understood why the hotels pubs were so The beer was good, the service cheerful, and the food good for the price.
I had arranged my flight home to quite closely coincide with Ruths, about 10:30 a.m. Rather than fuss with whatever breakfast the hotel could provide, we caught the free shuttle to the airport and checked in. My process went fine. Ruths plane was cancelled, and they had to book her into a flight at about 2:00. This was so distant in time that WestJet wouldnt even take her luggage. So much for our plan to be free of bags while eating breakfast; nevertheless, we ate a good breakfast at a table close to our selected restaurants luggage park. We parted with good wishes.
One good thing about Ruths delayed flight: the originally booked flight was a but the new flight was a direct one. By this time, Ruth was a few days into a cold, so one less landing was a blessing. The best part of this travel hassle was that WestJet eventually sent Ruth a credit for the flight – a huge surprise.
