Bingo! Come Fall into 50 with us: Alaska news brief September 2024
I spent 16 days at sea in August, starting in Southampton, England, where the Titanic began its voyage and stopping in Ireland, Greenland and Iceland.
Vicki and her mom in Nonortalik, Greenland
The landscapes felt like home at times. It was the perfect weather (for me), and we passed mountainous terrain and waterways speckled with icebergs. The captain had to alter the itinerary to avoid storms while locals with wares to sell waited for the throng of cruise passengers to disembark, much like summer in Alaska for southeast coastal communities.
In Nanortalik, Greenland, a girl sold earrings, and some looked the shape of ulu knives. Her mother told me these knives were used there long ago, and I let her know that in Alaska people still use similar shaped blades. Those conversations helped create connections across continents.
Ulu-shaped earrings Vicki bought in Nanortalik
At the same time, the journey also felt strange to me. I mean, how many bars can a ship contain? And how many ways can a company figure out how to extract cash out of its ship-bound audience? Why go to these remarkable and remote places only to get trapped in a casino and swaying ship of consumerism?
I guess that’s what happens when on the open sea waiting for the next stop. And, wow, walking off that boat with a mass of others felt unnerving when going into a village of 1,500 people.
But you know, my mom and her friends love traveling this way, and it was great to have the time with my mom. You certainly get a different perspective when at the whim of the ocean and the many ways it shapes your days.
I grew to love some of the weirdness of cruise life, too, like the foghorn going off every two minutes on foggy nights. The food was surprisingly good as well and the northern route suited my nature. I love mountains and water and do better in cooler weather than hot. While others, including my mom, put on layers, I often stripped down to my shirt sleeves.
The town of Qaqortoq, Photo by Vicki Clark
True, I’d have to give zero stars for the excursions offered during the trip, because they were so expensive, and the only one I signed up for got cancelled. Why wouldn’t folks sign up for snorkeling in such remarkable Icelandic waters?
When it comes to having fun with the ones you love, though, who can beat hanging out, having a few drinks, and doing things you don’t normally do? Like playing bingo. I started out playing with my mom’s friend and had so much fun that I went once or twice a day. In the first sessions, just ten or 12 of us showed up, but by the end of the cruise, 50 people vied for the jackpot.
When I heard “B14,” I shouted “bingo” with gusto, because yes, I had won in the last game of the cruise. The cash prize certainly helped with covering some of the expenses of the trip!
Which brings me full circle in a way to what we’re doing this weekend here in Alaska. There won’t be casino noise or sea sickness or foghorns at our Trustees for Alaska Fall into 50th anniversary party this Sunday, Sept. 22, but you’ll have
Bingo night on the Cruise with Fortuna Luck and Colby, Photo by Vicki Clark
a chance to hear our beloved auctioneer while bidding on Carl Johnson photos and outdoor gear (learn more about the auction here), and maybe win a great door prize in between lawn games and listening to live music by Witty Youngman.
It all happens at 4 pm at the Kincaid Chalet. The ocean won’t be far away, beauty will be all around us, and we’ll be calling out names for prizes. Buy your tickets now! Tickets include food, drinks, music, and more, and proceeds from the auction and all donations will help us continue to protect Alaska’s lands, waters, and communities for the next 50 years.
See you there!
PS. Thanks to supporters like you, we can continue fighting to protect Alaska’s land, water, air, wildlife and people.
Lower Noatak Region, Photo by J Schoen
D1 stands for doggone good news for Alaska!
Gates of the Arctic, Photo by Carl Johnson. Come bid on this beautiful print!
We all win big at Fall into 50! An art photo auction, live music, and bomber door prizes, too
Margaret packrafting with her dog