So that there is no unfounded lingering " eager anticipation" here, our lucky numbers did not come up in the onboard Paradise Lotto so Mac's investment of $8 paid no dividends.

But, we still had the winning feeling because today was Ketchikan shore day . There were so many adventures and activities to choose from: kayaking, hiking, rope challenges, zip lining, snorkelling, canoeing or sport fishing. All the activities are rated for physicality from Level 2 through to Level 3. For our first foray we chose a Level 1 "Active and Adventure Tour" and "just because" we haven't eaten enough on the ship our adventure was The Wilderness Exploration and Crab Feast.

The tour began with a narrated bus tour and our driver and guide was Kevin, a native of the Bear and Raven clan. This little trip gave us some insights into the history and growth of Ketchikan through its timber and salmon days as well as some cultural insights.

We then boarded a crab boat with tall Mike (6'7") and headed out to the crab pots. On the way, Captain Gill stopped to feed Agatha the bald eagle and we dropped in to watch some sea lions and harbour seals. The crab pots were pulled in and the crabs were sorted and then it was off to The George Inlet Lodge .

OMG as much as you can eat Dungeness crab. It was served hot from huge silver bowls, with a butter dipping pot of sauce and wedges of lemon,  And it just kept coming. It was fortunate that we shared the table with an American couple Job and Yolanda because Yolanda loved crab as much as I did. And who knew, so does Mac! He has spent 30 years letting me have the lion's share of any crabs we bought. But he made up for it today. We were like crab eating machines. There were games and competitions to play but Yolanda and I declared that we did not want that side show to distract our eating rhythm.

I believe the view of the harbour was beautiful and that there were some great decorations in the dining hall. Apparently there were hummingbirds feeding on nectar around all of the windows. I missed it all. The only thing that caught my attention was crabmeat.

Mac was very creative and started the trend of using your glass of drinking water as a finger bowl . It caught on very quickly. Needless to say our table group lost all of the team games but we won our own "who can eat the most" competition. Well done us!

I wish @GrantS could have been with us - he would have been in his element.

When time was eventually declared the last hurrah was a slice of blueberry cheesecake. It was the perfect full stop to this eating extravaganza.

The tour was classified Level 2 because there were 79 steps to get to the restaurant - they even had a courtesy bus for those who didn't think they could make it. Mac and I agreed it should be reclassified a three because of the strain of eating!

Once back on board we had to have a nap before the 7 pm show which was with Eric Buss the inventive magician. He was very funny. There were the usual guess the card and get your money back tricks and served as a perfect prelude to dinner!

I know it is impossible to believe that we needed dinner but we fronted up for Teppanyaki which was a special 12 person restaurant where the chefs prepared your dinner choice in front of you combined with a dazzling knife juggling routine . It was more seafood and steak washed down with green tea ice cream.

Seriously, this cruise is a marathon of eating. But we love it.


Wednesday
Temperature: 11
Pedometer: 7 476
Bear Sightings = 0

Total Bear Sightings = 12


Things @AuntyGail and @Paul forgot to tell us about cruising:

1. Always complete your exercise walk before your first meal of the day.

2. Your clothes shrink on a cruise just hanging in your cupboard.

3. It is embarrassing to be the last person in the lift when it beeps to say "overloaded".

4. It is really embarrassing in an overloaded lift if, when you get out, it stops beeping.

5. It is over kill to take an on shore tour that includes the word "feast".

6. @JovialJack would have made a sales killing on any deck of any cruise.