Category: Transportation

Ten-Years Ago (30-August-2009) — Alaska

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 09: Alaska Marine Highway on the MV Columbia (Ketchikan, Wrangell, Wrangell Narrows, Petersburg).

Overnight we transitioned into Alaska waters. A little bit of rain for those sleeping on deck. Our first stop was in Ketchikan, where there were already three giant cruise ships. Some passengers got off at this point. The next stop was in Wrangell. I bought a $7 garnet crystal. Apparently, the owner of the mine near the town gave it to the boy and girl scouts so they could  earn money selling the crystals to tourists. We then passed through the Wrangell Narrows Channel, a narrow passage with about 60 channel markers. The final stop for the evening was Petersburg, before continuing on overnight.

Early Morning, Tents on the Solarium Deck. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
Early Morning, Tents on the Solarium Deck. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)


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Seven-Years Ago (29-August-2012) — North Atlantic Ocean

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 07: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

Lone deck chair at dawn and the sun rising through the clouds. I found out that one of the traditions before arriving at a foreign port was a special event for Academic staff and Lifelong-learners (LLL) where we could order appetizers based on the food of the country we would be visiting. I would order two, and skip dinner, because they were always good.

Lone Deck Chair at Dawn. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lone Deck Chair at Dawn. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sun Rising through the Clouds from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 100, 39 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sun Rising through the Clouds from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 100, 39 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sun Rising through the Clouds from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 100, 110 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sun Rising through the Clouds from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 100, 110 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Irish Meal. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
Irish Meal. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.2, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)

Ten-Years Ago (29-August-2009) — At Sea, Inner Passage

Gone to See North America 2009 Road Trip. Day 08: Alaska Marine Highway on the MV Columbia.

Traveling from Bellingham, Washington to Haines, Alaska through British Columbia via the Inner Passage. The day started out foggy. During the night there was a bit of rain and wind. I felt sorry for the folks living rough on deck, but they seemed to be warm and cheerful once they moved under the covered Solarium. We saw a few Orcas during the day. Later in the afternoon, the sun came out and folks living rough moved their chairs back out on the open deck.


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Seven-Years Ago (28-August-2012) — North Atlantic Ocean

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 06: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

It was another rough night with heavy seas. I got a picture of the waves outside my cabin portal. By dawn all of the water in the pool had sloshed out and the deck chairs were all tied down. During the day the wind reduced and the seas had calmed. By early evening the happy students escaping from cabin fever were out on deck for sunset. While shooting sunset, I looked behind and saw some students on the upper deck with the waxing Gibbous Moon in the sky next to them.  I would watch out for this type of moon shot on subsequent Semester at Sea voyages. I am waiting for a camera and telephoto lens combination where both the people and moon are in focus (infinite depth of field, and infinite ISO, with no noise).

Rough Seas at Night from my Cabin Portal. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 25600, 16 mm, f/3.2, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Rough Seas at Night from my Cabin Portal. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 25600, 16 mm, f/3.2, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)


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Ten-Years Ago (28-August-2009) — Washington

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 07: Bellingham, Washington – Alaska Marine Highway on the MV Columbia.

Everyone boarded and we were on our way on the Alaska Marine Highway from Bellingham to Haines. My RV “White Ram” is in the hold, and I have a cabin on one of the upper decks. We had a Coast Guard escort as we left port. The flag was at half mast for the death of Senator Kennedy. I was surprised to see how many folks would be camping out on deck for the trip to Alaska.

Leaving Bellingham to Alaska on the M/V Columbia - Alaska Marine Highway. Image taken with a Nikon D300. (David J. Mathre)
Leaving Bellingham to Alaska on the M/V Columbia – Alaska Marine Highway. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera. (David J. Mathre)
US Coast Guard Escort for the Alaska Marine Highway M/V Columbia leaving Bellingham Washington for Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/7, 1/160 sec). (David J. Mathre)
US Coast Guard Escort for the Alaska Marine Highway MV Columbia leaving Bellingham Washington for Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/7, 1/160 sec). (David J. Mathre)
US Coast Guard Escort for the Alaska Marine Highway M/V Columbia leaving Bellingham Washington for Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/7, 1/160 sec). (David J. Mathre)
US Coast Guard Escort for the Alaska Marine Highway MV Columbia leaving Bellingham Washington for Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 VR lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/7, 1/160 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Passengers on the Alaska Marine Highway MV Columbia camping on the Solarium deck. Composite of two images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 50 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Passengers on the Alaska Marine Highway MV Columbia camping on the Solarium deck. Composite of two images taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1600, 50 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
"The Other Boleyn Girl" Solarium Deck on the M/V Columbia Alaska Marine Highway. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 50 mm f/1.4D lens (ISO 1600, 50 mm, f/4, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
“The Other Boleyn Girl” Solarium Deck on the MV Columbia Alaska Marine Highway. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 50 mm f/1.4D lens (ISO 1600, 50 mm, f/4, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)