Seward Rainbow

Ron Niebrugge Alaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 5 Comments

Rainbow over Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska.

Rainbow over Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska.

I spotted this rainbow Monday – it had to be one of the brightest, most vivid rainbows I had ever seen.  Judging by the reactions of my neighbors, as they emerged from their homes with cameras in hand, I wasn’t the only one who thought so.  The best reaction came from an 8 year old boy riding by on his bike who looked at his buddy and said “Dude, look at that sick rainbow!”

Private Alaska Photo Tour

Ron Niebrugge Alaska, Kenai Fjords, Photos, Travel 17 Comments

A portion of a pod of ten orcas, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

A portion of a pod of ten orcas spotted during our tour last week in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

Nice timing – after going three years with regular updates to this blog, I missed this entire past week!  Now I can explain.

I just finished a very interesting week accompanying one of the wealthiest Americans (according to Forbes) around Alaska on a private photo tour.  Well I say private, but he did have two non photographer friends with him, along with a highly capable staff member who took care of any logistical issues that arose during the trip, and 3 full time body guards!  Needless to say I received a lot of funny looks and comments.  Try walking around a town of 350 like Hope, Alaska – while surrounded by 3 very fit looking young men each sporting one of those curly corded  ear pieces – you know, the ones you see the Secret Service wearing in movies.

I gotta say I was a bit spoiled.  It was nice being able to  pull up to the nights hotel and have someone hand you a key to your room as you step from the car, while explaining you were checked in and your bags were already in the room!  And the meals – wow!

So now I’m back to my tent and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but that is ok – those trips are really fun too!

I should add, I signed a confidentiality agreement, so don’t look for me to be naming names – and sorry, I can’t even give hints.

This was the first time I have ever participated in a photo tour, and I gotta say I had a lot of fun.  I have received many requests for tours in the past years but have always explained I didn’t offer tours.  Well this one came together at the very last minute while I had a gap in my schedule, so I decided it might give me a good preview and gave it a try.  Since I did have such a good time, I’m thinking I might offer an occassional tour next year so stay tuned if interested.

P.S. We have now begun offering photo tours, go here to read more about our Alaska Photo Tours.

3 Years and Counting!

Ron Niebrugge Alaska, Photos, Travel 19 Comments

Muskrat.  I photographed this guy much earlier this summer in Wasilla, Alaska.

Muskrat. I photographed this guy much earlier this summer.

It was three years ago today that I started this blog.  Back then I feared I would run out of things to post about, but as time goes on, my list of blog topics has actually gotten much longer – I just need to find the time to write!

Since I started the blog three years ago I have made 803 posts, received 10,209 wonderful comments, and had to block 152,705 spam comments!

Acknowledging my blog anniversary is probably the wrong time to also be announcing a decrease in activity, but I’m going to be on a week long assignment where I probably won’t have Internet, so there may not be much going on here outside of maybe one or two scheduled posts.

Cruise Ship Leaving Vancouver

Ron Niebrugge Canada, Photos, Travel 8 Comments

Carnival Cruise-Ship Carnival Spirt leaving Vancouver, Canada.

Carnival Cruise Ship Carnival Spirit leaving Vancouver, Canada.

It is only 6 months until Vancouver hosts Winter Olympics!  I understand they are going to bring in a couple of cruise ships to help meet the demand for lodging.

We rented a small boat and followed two cruise ships as the departed Vancouver and passed under the Lions Gate Bridge.  It was fun even though the light was only so so.

Go here to see more of our Vancouver Canada photos.

Whistler Village

Ron Niebrugge Canada, Photos, Travel 2 Comments

Whistler Village, British Columbia, Canada.

Whistler Village, British Columbia, Canada.

One of the great things about Whistler is the lack of automobiles.  The stores and restaurants in town don’t face the roads, but instead, they front a large network of walkways known as the Whistler Stroll.  That coupled with a convenient bus service make having a car not only unnecessary, but almost a liability.  We were sure glad we hadn’t rented one!

The gondolas leading up either Whistler or Blackcomb mountain are found at the end of this walkway, so even if you are skiing or downhill biking, you can still walk from most hotels.

See more Whistler photos.