This day started slowly. We "slept in" until 8:00AM before breakfast in WJ.  We went down to Schooner for the 10:00AM trivia but, for once, no one was there.  So we (D, E, R, A, J) went ashore.  (M,C,H,N were off independently today, as were S&W).  We spent about 90 minutes ashore, working through the Cannery museum (pretty good) and then taking the very short nature trail hike.  I took a total of 2 pictures onshore, and W took only about a dozen.  I'm using some of his photos here.  The dearth of photos is kind of representative of what we all felt about this port.  To E and me (now on our 3rd Royal cruise) this port is one of those "if you build it, they will come" places.  It offered nothing of serious interest to any of us.

Radiance at the new dock that just opened in May of this year.  This photo is taken from the Nature Trail.

This sign kind of encapsulates the whole port to me.  "There's nothing over here....so go over there and maybe you'll get lucky."

The major attraction of ISP: the six person zipline.  It certainly looks dramatic.  Given the choice between this and the multiple line trip we had in Seward, I'll take the variety of Seward.  I'll also take the lower price and the fact that the ride isn't over in under 90 seconds.

A bald eagle sighting.  This is one of W's photos - not sure where he saw this.

A typical view on the Nature Trail.

M, C, H & N did make the walk from port into Hoonah where they observed some local totem pole artisans at work on something that will later be installed at National Park HQ at Glacier Bay.  They enjoyed the chance to stretch their legs on the walk but otherwise didn't find much to inspire them.

We were all back onboard in time for lunch at WJ.  D, E, R, A & J went down for Flags of the World trivia where the boys did all the work!  DEJ could all ID Brazil, but every other flag was a mystery to us.  The boys, however, rattled off all the rest of them, ultimately placing 2nd with 11/15.

We all (sans S and W) then gathered back at Radiance Links for a family minigolf tournament.  I squeaked out a one stroke win (with +3 for nine holes).  I'm not sure that's worth bragging about!  From there, S,R&J went off to a presentation by someone from the RCMP, E&A went to play ping pong, M&N went to the climbing wall, and I went to grab a drink and read on the balcony.  To each his own...

N takes on the climbing wall.  An accomplished climber, she took the most difficult route, using only the limited number of blue steps and the wall contours.

We all met again for a pre-formal dinner drink in the Centrum.  After dinner, we went to the 2nd headliner show, this time featuring a acapella doo-wop quartet called The Alleycats.  This was a typical mix of music and comic banter that was quite good.

Finally, we all went over to Schooner to the piano bar of Derrek Wayne.  He was fantastic!  The whole room was really into things, no one more than N&H who were both (very) well lubricated and ready to sing.  At one point they grabbed Derrek's tip jar and canvassed the room on his behalf.  He couldn't have asked for better advocates.  The room finally broke up about 11:40PM.  That might have been because it was the end of Derrek's normal time...or maybe the bar ran out of booze.  Either one is plausible.

"Hands.....touching hands....reaching out....touching me, touching you!!!"

Thanks for reading!  

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