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Category Archives: At the Forge
The Squirrel Relocation Program
How I Spent a Summer Giving Squirrels Rides to the Park The first house we bought was a 1930s fixer-upper with two enormous walnut trees in the backyard. They were beautiful trees. Slightly overgrown, but beautiful, and they shaded nearly the entire yard. It made the entire back yard just a little bit nicer. WithContinue reading “The Squirrel Relocation Program”
“It’s Just Pizza… Right?”
I was eating pizza the other day at Fazzari’s Finest, a local place in Clarkston. The Fazzari family has been running it for years. Super kind people. They can make a mean pizza pie.My pie I order? Large cheese with extra cheese and extra sauce. Tomatoes on the side. I had that thought. Pizza isn’tContinue reading ““It’s Just Pizza… Right?””
You’ve been here for a while, thank you.
Day 8: Disembarkation – Back to Seattle
The final morning arrived quietly — a soft light over Seattle, the kind that feels both calm and reluctant. After a week of laughter, glaciers, and endless sea, the ship no longer felt like adventure; it felt like home. And now we had to let it go.
Day 7: Victoria – A Perfect Finale
Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025Location: Victoria, British Columbia ⚓ Opening HP was already awake, standing by the balcony, watching the shoreline come into view. “We’re here,” she said. I stepped out beside her. The city was quiet in the early light, just beginning to stir — like it had been waiting to greet us. OurContinue reading “Day 7: Victoria – A Perfect Finale”
Day 6: At Sea – Music, Food & Stars
Eric nudged me before the tasting even started, already grinning.“I’m sending this to Spaulding,” he said, holding up his phone like proof we’d somehow made it here. Scott just laughed, leaning back like he’d been waiting for this moment all week. And that’s the thing about this trip — somewhere along the way, it stoppedContinue reading “Day 6: At Sea – Music, Food & Stars”
Day 5: Endicott Arm – Dawes Glacier Unveiled
After several days of open ocean and port adventures, today brought one of the most unforgettable sights of the entire cruise. The ship turned quietly into Endicott Arm — a narrow fjord of ice, cliffs, and waterfalls — leading us to Dawes Glacier. It felt like sailing into another world.
Day 4: Skagway – Trails, History & High Spirits
Mist, mountains, and quiet moments — Day 4 reminded us that Alaska’s beauty isn’t loud; it whispers, and if you listen closely, it stays with you.
Day 3: Juneau – Alaska’s Capital of Wonders
Alaska reminds you what’s fleeting and what lasts. The glaciers melt, the whales move on, but the wonder stays. Somewhere out there, the glacier still breathes, the whales still rise — and Juneau’s lights fade quietly behind us.
Dennis D Montoya 