09/07/2026
Day 171 of being a full time nomad with no official or permanent home, traveling the world and living mostly on cruise ships. 🌎 🚢
I am still at the Kenai Princess Lodge in Alaska. I arrived yesterday and leave tomorrow to head toward McKinley Lodge. And I am sad I have to leave but also excited to see what's next!
When I arrived yesterday, I decided to book a tour through the excursions desk, which is not something I normally do. But given my remote location and the little time I have here, I wanted to make the most of it.
I chose a boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park.
And boy, am I glad I did!
It was overcast this morning, so I was sure to dress warm and bring my rain jacket. It was about an hour long bus ride to Seward, which is where the boat tour departed from.
A woman named Molly, who is roughly my age, sat next to me on the bus. As it turns out, she's a solo traveler too!
We talked favorite trips, wildlife, birds, photography... all the things. She likes to hike though. And that's where she lost me. 🤣
Seriously though, she's a kindred spirit and I really enjoyed our chat.
The skies eventually opened up, and it made for a very wet and rocky boat ride. But you know anytime there was a wildlife sighting, I was out on that bow. Camera in hand. 📸
After a few hours, I was cold and wet, but I had made friends with Nancy and Dave and saw ALL the wildlife!
Alaska brought her A-game today!
Sea otters, orcas, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, moon jellies, Dall's porpoises and the absolute highlight...
PUFFINS! 😍
Both tufted AND horned!
I even saw a moose, but sadly, no picture. The bus was moving, so it wasn't exactly the easiest photo opportunity. But all the other passengers saw her too, so I am NOT making it up. 🤣
Everything was incredibly difficult to photograph because of the movement of the boat, but I'll share what I feel is worthy.
Oh, and I saw another glacier!
A BIG glacier. 🧊
And because we were on a smaller boat, we could get incredibly close to it.
I am so glad I booked this tour. And while I wish the weather had been better. Regardless, it was still spectacular.
Seeing and photographing puffins was a bucket list item for me. And we saw them FIRST! So honestly, I was ready to go home after that. 🤣
I've seen sea lions, seals, otters and whales before. But to get that close to a glacier AND have a pod of orcas swim under the boat?
Unreal.
Once again, Alaska has left me speechless. ❤️
For anyone new here... I'm living life as a nomad for one year, maybe longer if I can afford it. I live mostly on cruise ships but do some land travel here and there. I do not have a permanent home or apartment with associated bills anywhere.
I went through an ugly divorce and abruptly ended my career of twenty years after a corporate buyout. Now I'm on a journey to discover me again, as well as the world. 🌎
Follow along if you want to see where I wake up next!
