Days 14-19 - May 22-27
Into the Wilds of Alaska
Seward: Scenery, Sea Life, and the Sea
Once settled into our "Windsong" room in Seward
This was not taken with a zoom lens.
I was that close. He never moved a muscle.
Be still, my heart!
Puffins
smooching
Puffins
looking right
Can something this gorgeous be real?
Let us pause here to meet Favorite Folk #7,
John from the post office.
Here's the scoop:
Bob and I walked to the Seward post office to mail a package
and asked a gentleman how far did we have to walk
to the hotel shuttle pick-up place.
"Oh, two miles or so," he said.
"What???" we both blurted in despair.
"Hop in my car, and I'll drop you off," he offered.
"Seriously? You would do that?"
"No problem. It's on my way anyway."
So that's how we met John from the post office.
On the way, we learned that he moved to Alaska right after WWII
and never left.
Strangers offering rides to strangers --
Don't see too much of that this day and time.
Warmed our hearts!
Big time!
May 23
"Let's see -
Davis - Duncan --
DUNKLEE!!!"
Enjoying
the view
from the deck.
A misty scene in Resurrection Bay
For many many years,
Seward has been a major commercial harbor.
Certainly looks that way!
Favorite Folk #8
Meet Braeden from Pittsburgh,
our server for two evenings at the Windsong.
Braeden had a quiet charisma,
was smooth as silk with his "server-ing" skills,
and had a flair for real conversation -
plus he is a writer (who wouldn't adore this guy!).
By the second evening we were swapping favorite reads.
Practically perfect in every way I would say!
Thank you, Braeden!!!
"Somewhere out there..."
All set!
Bob flies co-pilot -
happy as a clam!!
Kage Free ("with a K") and Alyssa
Favorite Folks #11.
Our wildest visions of what might happen to a body on top of a glacier
never included being serenaded.
Not once.
Ah, but that was before we met Kage Free and Alyssa.
We had noticed these two free-spirited gals
wearing screamin' yellow banana outfits and ear-to-ear smiles.
We saw them dancing around on top of Ruth,
BUT THEN
(hold your breath),
right there on top of Ruth,
right smack atop been-here-for-eons ice,
one of the gals (we found out later it was Kage Free - "with a K")
plucked out her banjo and sang
"I'm Sitting on Top of the World."
I videoed it.
Had to.
It doesn't get any better than this.
Cannot leave without a shout-out to our incredible pilot!
Chris,
Favorite Folk #12,
is a born-and-bred Alaskan.
Been flying the better part of his life
(learned from his grandfather).
LOVES what he does.
Gliding over those rivers and darting among those mountains?
Yea, I reckon.
How to describe Chris?
First of all, skilled - really really skilled,
handsome - great smile,
friendly - really really friendly,
down-to-earth - genuine!
Magical combo, Chris!
We lucked out -- again!!!
May 26
May 22
Boarding an Alaska Railroad train,
we began our six-day adventure
with an early morning ride to Seward,
with an early morning ride to Seward,
a quaint coastal town surrounded by those forever
Alaska mountains.
Alaska mountains.
"All aboard!!"
Breathtaking scenes greeted us around every turn.
Once settled into our "Windsong" room in Seward
(perfect name for our woodsy hotel),
we shuttled into town and the
Alaska Sea Life Center.
Never ever saw a puffin, but I've always wanted to.
Adorablest things you ever saw -- let me share a few.
(along with another floating fowl that left me awestruck -
exotic duck maybe?)
exotic duck maybe?)
I was that close. He never moved a muscle.
Be still, my heart!
Puffins
smooching
Puffins
looking right
Can something this gorgeous be real?
Let us pause here to meet Favorite Folk #7,
John from the post office.
Here's the scoop:
Bob and I walked to the Seward post office to mail a package
and asked a gentleman how far did we have to walk
to the hotel shuttle pick-up place.
"Oh, two miles or so," he said.
"What???" we both blurted in despair.
"Hop in my car, and I'll drop you off," he offered.
"Seriously? You would do that?"
"No problem. It's on my way anyway."
So that's how we met John from the post office.
On the way, we learned that he moved to Alaska right after WWII
and never left.
Strangers offering rides to strangers --
Don't see too much of that this day and time.
Warmed our hearts!
Big time!
May 23
Boat trip out of Seward was meant for the glaciers
in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Wind and rain denied us that delight (sigh),
BUT
we took a shorter trip and saw cool sea stuff anyway.
With or without a boat ride, Seward harbor is Just! So! Lovely!
With or without a boat ride, Seward harbor is Just! So! Lovely!
"Let's see -
Davis - Duncan --
DUNKLEE!!!"
Enjoying
the view
from the deck.
A misty scene in Resurrection Bay
For many many years,
Seward has been a major commercial harbor.
Certainly looks that way!
Favorite Folk #8
Meet Braeden from Pittsburgh,
our server for two evenings at the Windsong.
Braeden had a quiet charisma,
was smooth as silk with his "server-ing" skills,
and had a flair for real conversation -
plus he is a writer (who wouldn't adore this guy!).
By the second evening we were swapping favorite reads.
Practically perfect in every way I would say!
Thank you, Braeden!!!
May 24
The Talkeetna Alaska Lodge
The Talkeetna Alaska Lodge
and
The Holy Grail
Mt. Denali
Formerly Mt. McKinley
Tallest mountain in North America
Over 20,000 feet of unspeakable splendor
"Somewhere out there..."
Only 1 in 10 visitors
ever catches this grand lady
unveiled from the mists and clouds.
We looked -- and looked -- and looked --
saw swirls of grey.
"Is she there -- or over there?"
Then - in a flash - invisible hands lifted the last clouds, and
We looked -- and looked -- and looked --
saw swirls of grey.
"Is she there -- or over there?"
Then - in a flash - invisible hands lifted the last clouds, and
there she was, rising free and clear,
embraced by clear blue skies.
No words.
From the deck of the
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge,
a toast to
Mt. Denali.
Just out there ...
in the distance ...
yes ... over there ...
somewhere ...
see ...
behind those clouds ... maybe?
That's better ---
almost ---
Ahhhh. Yes.
Still struttin' her stuff the next morning!
One last glimpse.
20,310 feet.
Shining in the sun.
We watched and waited for Denali to emerge
with Rick and Pam,
Favorite Folks #9.
(Notice the glow of the late afternoon sun
-- oh wait --
I mean the 10:00-at-night-sun.)
It all started when Pam asked us to take their picture.
We did - and then they took ours -
and so we just went on ahead and had drinks and dinner together --
and watched for Denali
---
and waited
---
and at 10:00 P.M. (still bright as mid-day),
the miracle happened,
and we cheered and toasted the splendor.
What a total blast!
(When you think of Rick, think Jeff Foxworthy!)
Pam wants to see Vermont.
We plan to host them.
It's in the works.
Cool!!!
Next morning, watching from the rocking chairs
- Denali still showing off in the clear blue skies -
we met Mary and Rosie,
Favorite Folks #10
You meet the nicest people in rocking chairs -
at the Talkeetna Lodge -
watching Mt. Denali.
The four of us - Bob and Marilee, Mary and Rosie -
just sat and rocked and watched;
talked about most everything -
like how Mary trained nurses in remote Alaska
and I train teachers in not-so-remote Maine -
and how Rosie's daughter went to Marlborough College
quite near Brattleboro, Vermont.
Yep, that would be Bob's Brattleboro.
Then Mary offered to pick us up off the train in Anchorage.
Kind deeds to strangers.
Again.
Warm connections and a special time together.
May 25
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge,
a toast to
Mt. Denali.
Just out there ...
in the distance ...
yes ... over there ...
somewhere ...
see ...
behind those clouds ... maybe?
That's better ---
almost ---
Ahhhh. Yes.
Still struttin' her stuff the next morning!
One last glimpse.
20,310 feet.
Shining in the sun.
We watched and waited for Denali to emerge
with Rick and Pam,
Favorite Folks #9.
-- oh wait --
I mean the 10:00-at-night-sun.)
It all started when Pam asked us to take their picture.
We did - and then they took ours -
and so we just went on ahead and had drinks and dinner together --
and watched for Denali
---
and waited
---
and at 10:00 P.M. (still bright as mid-day),
the miracle happened,
and we cheered and toasted the splendor.
What a total blast!
(When you think of Rick, think Jeff Foxworthy!)
Pam wants to see Vermont.
We plan to host them.
It's in the works.
Cool!!!
Next morning, watching from the rocking chairs
- Denali still showing off in the clear blue skies -
we met Mary and Rosie,
Favorite Folks #10
You meet the nicest people in rocking chairs -
at the Talkeetna Lodge -
watching Mt. Denali.
The four of us - Bob and Marilee, Mary and Rosie -
just sat and rocked and watched;
talked about most everything -
like how Mary trained nurses in remote Alaska
and I train teachers in not-so-remote Maine -
and how Rosie's daughter went to Marlborough College
quite near Brattleboro, Vermont.
Yep, that would be Bob's Brattleboro.
Then Mary offered to pick us up off the train in Anchorage.
Kind deeds to strangers.
Again.
Warm connections and a special time together.
May 25
Glacier Grandeur
Just when you think you've seen it all --
Just when you think you've seen it all --
enter
Ruth Glacier!
By bush plane we flew over the Nenana River
and into the mountains,
threading razor cliffs,
close-watching their snow-edged faces,
spotting turquoise glacial pools on the white below,
and finally gliding onto Ruth,
where sharp peaks rose around us,
sharp winds stung our faces,
and
4,500 feet of ancient ice stirred beneath our feet.
All set!
Bob flies co-pilot -
happy as a clam!!
Me?
I'm just flying high!!
Into the mountains we go!
Bob catches the mountains
right through
the propeller ---
--- not to mention a shot of Mt. Denali in the distance.
Ravines plummet to forever.
Those walls get pretty
up close and personal.
(Notice the tip of the plane in upper left corner.)
Pictures do not begin to capture to the beauty of
turquoise glacial pools
turquoise glacial pools
crawling below us.
Passed over several glaciers.
Did you know that Alaska has over
100,000 glaciers?
Think about that.
Here comes Ruth - OUR GLACIER.
Just seconds now, and we will be down!
Surreal is the only word that comes close.
The wan sun finds its way through the still grayness.
The only sound is the wind.
We watched two other planes leave the glacier.
Bush planes take mere yards to become airborne.
Pretty happy campers!
Notice our special glacier shoes!!!
Kage Free ("with a K") and Alyssa
Favorite Folks #11.
Our wildest visions of what might happen to a body on top of a glacier
never included being serenaded.
Not once.
Ah, but that was before we met Kage Free and Alyssa.
We had noticed these two free-spirited gals
wearing screamin' yellow banana outfits and ear-to-ear smiles.
We saw them dancing around on top of Ruth,
BUT THEN
(hold your breath),
right there on top of Ruth,
right smack atop been-here-for-eons ice,
one of the gals (we found out later it was Kage Free - "with a K")
plucked out her banjo and sang
"I'm Sitting on Top of the World."
I videoed it.
Had to.
It doesn't get any better than this.
Cannot leave without a shout-out to our incredible pilot!
Chris,
Favorite Folk #12,
is a born-and-bred Alaskan.
Been flying the better part of his life
(learned from his grandfather).
LOVES what he does.
Gliding over those rivers and darting among those mountains?
Yea, I reckon.
How to describe Chris?
First of all, skilled - really really skilled,
handsome - great smile,
friendly - really really friendly,
down-to-earth - genuine!
Magical combo, Chris!
We lucked out -- again!!!
May 26
Into the Heart of the Park
Day 18 took us 25 miles into Denali Park -
along with 50 other folks -
in a converted school bus.
This one had bucket seats.
For real!
They helped.
This one had bucket seats.
For real!
They helped.
The land was hilly and veined with many rivers.
Animal residents were plentiful but mostly hidden or distant.
BUT
we saw our first-time-ever
grizzly bear, spruce grouse, caribou, and dall sheep.
Our FAVORITES were the dall sheep.
The way life should be -
just hanging out in the park,
waiting for some tearful tourist to drop by and take a million pictures.
After the safari, I had to do just a teeny bit of shopping
in downtown Denali.
That is where I met
Jenny,
Favorite Folk #12.
Jenni owns the Karibu Gallery,
where I found Alaskan art prints I could not resist.
And then there was
Eli,
Favorite Folk #13.
Our server for two evenings at the Denali Bluffs Lodge,
Eli! Is! Undeniably!
Off-the-charts wonderful!
You want - I'll get it for you.
Of course I will choreograph our little photo-shoot
under that dog sled wine glass holder just for you, Marilee!
You want to see pictures of Kota,
my a-DOR-able French bulldog?
But of course!
(OMG - those ears!!)
It didn't hurt that Bob about jumped over the table to shake his hand when Eli said he comes from Salem, New Hampshire.
(There MUST be something special about New England people!)
We loved that Eli hung out at our table just chatting -
a lot!
We are so very glad we met you, Eli!
Miss you already!
May 27
River Rafting with Richard
Monday took us down the river in a raft -
just Bob and me with
Richard,
Favorite Folk #14.
Now, while Richard is the totally awesomest
skiing, fishing, rafting, hiking, camping
outdoors sorta dude --
And while Richard comes from Franconia, New Hampshire
and knows all about the mountains
in our New England neck of the woods -
like Cannon and Loon and Cranmore and Sugarloaf --
And while Richard is clearly the best rafting guide
west of the Mississippi --
That's not the best thing about Richard.
The best thing about Richard is that he
listened to DUNKLEE STORIES -
story - after story - after story -
smiling -
right there in that raft -
on that river -
stuck -
with us!
That's why we double-tipped him!
FINE fella, that Richard!
We will not be forgetting him and that ride
on the river in Denali.
As for the rafting ...
Ready for the ride!!
Pretty spectacular way to end our 6-day adventure.
Immediately after rafting,
the Alaska Railroad took us (8 hours) back to anchorage -
this time in the Gold Star dome car
- first class all the way -
free drinks, two seated meals
(I had never eaten in a dining car - smile!!),
and 180 degrees of Alaska mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests
above and around us.
The ride also brought us
Favorite Folks #15,
Bryce and Chloe,
the classiest two tour guides you ever want to meet.
This rising senior and college freshman
were chosen from SCORES of applicants
to participate in the Tour Guide Training Program.
After training intensively for ELEVEN WEEKS,
they now narrate tours for the Alaska Railroad
with poise, polish and professionalism,
and they just happen to be fun to talk with, too!
Got concerns about the "next generation?"
Then channel Bryce and Chloe
and myriads of other young people like them!
We are in good hands.
For sure!
There is something about a train --
the whistle screaming,
the massive wheels steaming to a stop,
the quiet clickecty-clacking,
the gentle rolling,
fields and forests sliding by,
children waving --
that calls up
visions from another time -
of a little girl riding the train across South Georgia
to visit Granny Hatcher and Grandaddy.
It felt good to ride the train again.
Day 20 - May 28
Today we leave,
and, as our wagon turns again southward,
Bob and I agree that
Alaska has sunk her heart hooks deep within our spirits.
This land on top of the world is a place rooted in wildness
and cultivated through struggle and strength and survival against odds,
a place changing
yet
imprinted with ancient cultures
that still define
what it means to be Alaskan.
We have stood amid some of God's mightiest creations
and walked a breath away from creatures who have roamed here
almost forever.
We have met kindred souls -
those from Alaska always and
those who are drawn - again and again -
to the strength and challenge, the beauty and peace of this place.
and leave, in our wake,
majestic mountains and ancient glaciers,
meandering rivers and mirror lakes,
salmon,
penguins and puffins,
spruce grouse and trumpeter swans,
caribou and dall sheep,
grizzlies and moose calves,
dandelions early blooming and forests freshly greening;
we are travelers, and
- like the sandhill crane and trumpeter swan -
we will return.
Animal residents were plentiful but mostly hidden or distant.
BUT
we saw our first-time-ever
grizzly bear, spruce grouse, caribou, and dall sheep.
Our FAVORITES were the dall sheep.
The way life should be -
just hanging out in the park,
waiting for some tearful tourist to drop by and take a million pictures.
After the safari, I had to do just a teeny bit of shopping
in downtown Denali.
That is where I met
Jenny,
Jenni owns the Karibu Gallery,
where I found Alaskan art prints I could not resist.
She hails from South Africa;
came to Alaska and stayed.
(How many times did I hear that same story?)
I knew Jenni for maybe 20 minutes,
but, in those mili-moments, we made such a warm connection.
She is friendly, sincere, open -
a friend in the making.
Life places gemstones in your path sometimes.
I found one in Jenni
and left wishing I could really get to know her better.
Maybe next trip!
Eli,
Favorite Folk #13.
Our server for two evenings at the Denali Bluffs Lodge,
Eli! Is! Undeniably!
Off-the-charts wonderful!
You want - I'll get it for you.
Of course I will choreograph our little photo-shoot
under that dog sled wine glass holder just for you, Marilee!
You want to see pictures of Kota,
my a-DOR-able French bulldog?
But of course!
(OMG - those ears!!)
It didn't hurt that Bob about jumped over the table to shake his hand when Eli said he comes from Salem, New Hampshire.
(There MUST be something special about New England people!)
We loved that Eli hung out at our table just chatting -
a lot!
We are so very glad we met you, Eli!
Miss you already!
May 27
River Rafting with Richard
Monday took us down the river in a raft -
just Bob and me with
Richard,
Favorite Folk #14.
Now, while Richard is the totally awesomest
skiing, fishing, rafting, hiking, camping
outdoors sorta dude --
And while Richard comes from Franconia, New Hampshire
and knows all about the mountains
in our New England neck of the woods -
like Cannon and Loon and Cranmore and Sugarloaf --
And while Richard is clearly the best rafting guide
west of the Mississippi --
That's not the best thing about Richard.
The best thing about Richard is that he
listened to DUNKLEE STORIES -
story - after story - after story -
smiling -
right there in that raft -
on that river -
stuck -
with us!
That's why we double-tipped him!
FINE fella, that Richard!
We will not be forgetting him and that ride
on the river in Denali.
As for the rafting ...
Ready for the ride!!
Pretty spectacular way to end our 6-day adventure.
Immediately after rafting,
the Alaska Railroad took us (8 hours) back to anchorage -
this time in the Gold Star dome car
- first class all the way -
free drinks, two seated meals
(I had never eaten in a dining car - smile!!),
and 180 degrees of Alaska mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests
above and around us.
The ride also brought us
Favorite Folks #15,
Bryce and Chloe,
the classiest two tour guides you ever want to meet.
This rising senior and college freshman
were chosen from SCORES of applicants
to participate in the Tour Guide Training Program.
After training intensively for ELEVEN WEEKS,
they now narrate tours for the Alaska Railroad
with poise, polish and professionalism,
and they just happen to be fun to talk with, too!
Got concerns about the "next generation?"
Then channel Bryce and Chloe
and myriads of other young people like them!
We are in good hands.
For sure!
There is something about a train --
the whistle screaming,
the massive wheels steaming to a stop,
the quiet clickecty-clacking,
the gentle rolling,
fields and forests sliding by,
children waving --
that calls up
visions from another time -
of a little girl riding the train across South Georgia
to visit Granny Hatcher and Grandaddy.
It felt good to ride the train again.
Day 20 - May 28
Today we leave,
and, as our wagon turns again southward,
Bob and I agree that
Alaska has sunk her heart hooks deep within our spirits.
This land on top of the world is a place rooted in wildness
and cultivated through struggle and strength and survival against odds,
a place changing
yet
imprinted with ancient cultures
that still define
what it means to be Alaskan.
We have stood amid some of God's mightiest creations
and walked a breath away from creatures who have roamed here
almost forever.
We have met kindred souls -
those from Alaska always and
those who are drawn - again and again -
to the strength and challenge, the beauty and peace of this place.
We have felt small beside hugeness
yet sensed our unique place in life's game plan.
We have grasped anew what the First Alaskans have always known -
that living a full life means
being kind,
caring for one other,
and living in concert with the earth around us.
And so,
although we bid adieu to The Land of the Midnight Sunyet sensed our unique place in life's game plan.
We have grasped anew what the First Alaskans have always known -
that living a full life means
being kind,
caring for one other,
and living in concert with the earth around us.
And so,
and leave, in our wake,
majestic mountains and ancient glaciers,
meandering rivers and mirror lakes,
salmon,
penguins and puffins,
spruce grouse and trumpeter swans,
caribou and dall sheep,
grizzlies and moose calves,
dandelions early blooming and forests freshly greening;
we are travelers, and
- like the sandhill crane and trumpeter swan -
we will return.
Hi Bob and Marilee. Great to see you both yesterday. I really enjoyed viewing all your AWESOME pictures on this blog! It looks even more amazing than Bob described it!
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