Alaska -- Day Seven -- Boarding the Zaandam

Today is the day we headed to the boat. We could have spent the day wandering around Seward but I needed to do laundry and the easiest place to do it seemed to be the self service laundry on board the ship. The only problem with that idea was the four hours it took to get our luggage. So we had a lovely lunch and watched a bald eagle fly around outside the window. We acquainted ourselves with the ship -- exploring every nook and cranny we were allowed to look in.

I got our laundry done just in time for our dinner. I have heard about food on cruise ships and I was not disappointed. After dinner there was a raffle in the gym for spa services. I have had one hot stone massage and I was willing to join the masses for a chance to win a free one. I did win a Ionithermie revitalizing leg therapy... Whatever that is....

Alaska -- Day Six -- Kenai Fjords National Park

We got up early this morning and went into Seward to have breakfast at the Smoke Shack restaurant in an old railroad car. Bryan tried the grits with cheese, bacon and jalapeño peppers. As we were walking over to check in for our 9 hour boat trip to the Kenai Fjords, Bryan realized that his spicy breakfast might have been a bad idea. We both ate some ginger to try and fend off sea sickness.

There were 101 of us who took this first of the season trip to the Northwestern Glacier. Only one boat goes there a day, during the summer season. It was freezing cold and yet considered a beautiful day. We saw Dall's porpoise, humpback whales, fin whales, mountain goats, harbor seals, sea lions, black bear, puffins, and otters. We also saw glaciers, waterfalls and an icefall. It was nine hours of beauty. Did I mention it was bitterly cold? Early in the day I went down to the bottom level to get some coffee and missed the huge sign that said, "Watch your step." I went completely down and hurt my knee and ankle...and my pride.

When we finally returned to the harbor we went in search of food. We hiked 12 blocks on pavement that seemed to be rocking like the ocean! We were scheduled for a guided hike to Exit Glacier tomorrow but I think my knee and ankle need a rest.

Alaska -- Day Five -- Kenai

It was hard to leave Talkeetna. I posted a picture of the view from our room. We left about an hour later than we planned just because we kept staring out the window.

On the road we found that construction slowed us down. Because of time constraints I only asked Bryan to stop for one picture -- by a lake in Wasilla, home of Sarah Palin.

I wanted to stop in Palmer to see muskox. We were worried about time but we made a quick stop. We saw the babies, mommas, bulls, steers and yearlings. We spent time feeding them before we got back on the road.

We dropped our car at the rental place in Anchorage and went to the bus stop for our ride to Seward. There were four young men who took our luggage and told us we had an hour and a half to find some lunch. We went inside the Anchorage Museum and had a nice meal. When we returned I noticed that my bags were missing. I asked the young men if I should be worried that my bags were not there. It turns out that the answer was, "Yes"! They had sent them to be loaded on a cruise ship. They had that bus turn around and return with our luggage. We left a few minutes late while our whole bus waited for our stuff.

The drive to Seward from Anchorage was breathtaking. Construction put us even further behind. As soon as we arrived we took a shuttle into town to find some dinner. When we returned to our hotel we decided to take a little walk. A jogger stopped us to say that there was a moose down the road. We decided to walk down a little ways so I could use my zoom to get a picture. Before we could get close enough it turned and went back into the brush but moments later it crashed back out and started running towards us. We had read about them last night and learned they were 7 to 8 feet tall and could weigh as much as 1800 pounds. While in Denali our bus driver/guide said that if a moose ran at us we should run fast in a zigzag motion because they really are awkward creatures. We took off but when the moose passed us we quit running. I took this picture of its backside when I came to a halt! I don't need anymore frightening wildlife encounters.

Alaska -- Day Four -- Talkeetna

I woke up around 4 am and peeked out the window. The sunrise in the other direction made for a beautiful hue on the mountains outside my window. (I snapped a picture).

We headed to Talkeetna today. We arrived in time for a delicious meal at the Roadhouse restaurant. They are known for their sourdough hot cakes that are so large they exceed the plate and touch the tabletop. (Somehow that didn't sound very appetizing to me). We wandered around the quaint tourist town. Bryan discovered that the raven is a symbol of rebirth for native people of Alaska. I am rethinking the whole Noah's Ark story based on that new information. (Bryan is sure it will end up in a sermon in the near future).

After lunch and a stroll we headed to K2 Aviation for a flightsee to Mt. McKinley. (While we waited for our flight four men returned from a successful trip to the summit. They were so proud!)

We boarded a 10 passenger twin engine plane. I am a fearful flyer but this whole adventure was my idea. I was not the slightest bit afraid until we were in the air headed for the mountain range. We could see the rain headed our way and I began to wonder what would happen if our pilot suddenly had a heart attack. I knew the tourist sitting next to the pilot wasn't going to save my life. Then I thought, "Oh well, I left the house clean; my children know where to locate important papers; there is nothing I can do now; and I won't have to live without Bryan." I relaxed and enjoyed a spectacular flight. Heavy clouds rolled in while we were flying toward the mountain and so we did not see Mt. McKinley. It did not matter because it was fabulous anyway. It was hard to capture it with a camera because everything was so white it is hard to see the definition. We flew over Ruth Glacier. I was amazed by the tunnel in the glacier. The pilot said the ice was 4,000 feet deep and there was 5,000 feet of mountain above the ice. He said if the ice ever melted it would be deeper than the Grand Canyon. As we headed back to the airfield the rain hit us. The landing was a bit bumpy and we deboarded in the rain.

We are staying in Talkeetna tonight in a lodge with a spectacular view of the mountain range. We took a mile hike around the hillside. Written signs and piles of dung warned us of moose in the area. We were told to be sure to make plenty of noise so that we did not encounter one. When we got back to the lodge we looked up facts on moose and learned that they weigh 1800 pounds. I don't think I would want to run into one while I am on foot.

Tomorrow we head to Seward.

Alaska -- Day 3 -- Denali

As we were in our hotel room today getting ready for our 8 hour bus tour of Denali National Park the phone rang. It was the front desk, informing us that a bus had been waiting for 1/2 hour for us to show up for our 6:30 am bus tour. When I explained that I had a ticket for 8 am in my hand she apologized. I was worried that it would be an omen for our day. But it was a perfect day. We are part of the 30% club of people who actually come to Denali on a day that Mount McKinley shows her face. It was a cool, windy day and so the animals were out. We saw three grizzly bears, dozens of Dall sheep and caribou, Harlequin ducks, four moose and one calf and a snowshoe hare. It is amazing how exhausting it is to ride in a bus all day!
Tomorrow, weather permitting, we hope to go on a plane ride around Mount McKinley.

Alaska -- Day 2 -- Driving North

We had tea this morning with Bryan's sister and then headed for Denali. Bryan's family had warned us that we might have a hard time finding food along the road. I have the Alaska Milepost book and it mentioned a little restaurant off the road in Willow. It was a little hole in the wall. There was a handwritten sign on the wall that said: "I'll take my guns, my money and my God. You can keep the change." I thought, "I'm not in Southern California anymore."

The trip took about 5 hours and was filled with lots of oohs and aahs. The scenery was so amazing. We have a rental car and so we stopped repeatedly to take pictures and try to see Mt. McKinley/Denali...which never peaked above the clouds.

We arrived at our hotel only to learn that the renovations they were making were not finished and we had been "upgraded" to the Grand Denali Lodge. I was skeptical but the room is nice and the view is breathtaking. Tomorrow we take the 8 hour Tundra Wilderness bus tour into Denali.

Alaska -- Day One -- Family

We left for Alaska last night. We arrived this morning around 2 a.m. It is a long way to Alaska! We took a shuttle to the motel. It was the middle of the night but it was not completely dark. Our room leaves a lot to be desired but it is an inexpensive place to sleep.We got up at 8 am so that we could meet Bryan's sister, Sandra, who is in Anchorage visiting her daughter's family. We went for a brief stroll to see some of the beauty...
...then had a delicious breakfast at Snow City Cafe, voted best breakfast restaurant in Anchorage.

We spent the afternoon on the deck at Bryan's niece's house. Another of Bryan's nieces is also visiting Anchorage right now. She and her family joined the gathering. There were eleven Boyers in one location...a fairly unusual event.

Tomorrow we head for Denali.