Sunday in Sitka

Pitching and rolling tonight. But I am TANKED UP on Dramamine. We had to buy more on the ship yesterday and in port today. Never mind about the acupressure bands. HA!

It has been quite a trip since my last post in Kotzebue. The flight to Anchorage Tuesday afternoon was a 3 Dramaminer; unfortunately I had only taken 2. I didn't get sick, but it wiped me out. Tuesday evening my friend Renner from law school picked us up for a personal tour of her new city. We saw the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which is on a hillside overlooking the city. Beautiful setting. Then to the Large Animal Research park to see musk ox and caribou. Then a walk around Pioneer Park before dark at 10:30. Wait 'til you see the pic of Alan riding a salmon.

Wednesday morning we caught the Alaska Railroad for Denali. Riding the train was fun, the first day. We got to the park and took a bus tour of this HUGE park. We pulled out at 3 pm and got back shortly after 11. We saw almost every form of wildlife in the park - moose, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, grey wolves - LOTS more. The geology of the area was fascinating and beautiful. I really enjoyed this day, although you wouldn't have known it by looking. I was so wiped out from Tuesdays travel that I could barely stay awake. Plus a 3-4 hr train ride and an 8+ hr bus ride, while spectacular, were hardly active. But about 10 pm we did see Denali, a gorgeous sunset on the mountain top peaking out above the clouds.

Thursday morning we took it easy, checked out the park visitor center and the beautiful Princess Wilderness lodge (insert photo of A&J w/flowers here). Good thing because our second train ride was a fiasco. We boarded about noon-thirty, and the afternoon was one spectacular view of Denali (Mt McKinley 20,320 ft) after another. Until the crossing at Willow about 5:30, where the train came to a screeching halt. Somehow, we will probably never know the details, a car hit our train and a woman was killed. We sat there 5 1/2 hours. Finally, when the authorities released the train, we inched forward about 3 miles to another road, where 20 tour buses met the train and took us the final 1.5 hrs to Anchorage. We got in after 2 a.m.

SHORT night. Friday we left at 6:45 a.m. from the depot in Anchorage for the final train trip, to Seward. We had booked the upgraded domed viewing car and again, spectacular views of Denali, rivers, canyons. It seemed my eyes were tired of looking at all the natural beauty.

We walked around Seward just a bit before embarking to our Holland America ship - the ms Ryndam. This is my first cruise, so just getting oriented to the ship and shipboard life has been interesting.

Saturday we cruised all day, with a stop by Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay. Today we were in Sitka, (insert photo from National Historical Park here).

We are on the cruise with Wayne & Sarah's friends Jim & Cheryl Rawlings, who we met camping in July, and their friends Tommy & Dorothy. Tommy is hilarious. We are having a good time being together, getting to know them, and just relaxing together.

Bears and Berries

On Alan's trip to camp, he took these shots of his foot beside a bear track and the toe of Doug's boot near some blueberries. He didn't see a bear, only this track, which Doug said was from a small, young bear. A full grown bear will leave a track that is as wide as Alan's foot is long.

We picked berries too and were likewise amazed that they grew so close to the ground. I used a yoga position, on my knees, to get down on the tundra and find them. They are delicious and plentiful, but tiny and low. Also saw huckleberries and cranberries. Yummy!

Rainy Monday in Kotzebue

So happy that we had good weather this past weekend. Today is rainy and in the high 40s. Josh loaned us his "wheeler" today so we showed Alan around town a bit, ate lunch at the other restaurant in town (only 2 places). To the hardware/Napa/gas store and then "the AC" for more expensive groceries. Milk is $10.50/gallon. ChipsAhoy $7.50. Going out in the rain again soon to pick up Wanda from work, see the dental clinic, and then to dinner at Doug's. That is Doug, below, holding open the tent and sitting, watching the boats. Expecting to eat moose, goose, and musk ox. Too much meat for me and too much fish for Alan on the "subsistence" diet here.

Camp

Alan's fish

Alan's departure

Alan's birthday

Wow! What a weekend. I had a fun in Kotzebue and Alan had a even more fun "at camp." Hopefully he'll get some pictures and comments posted soon. They are amazing. Saturday was a LONG and wonderful day. The daylight is just amazing. I met the nicest people - co-workers, neighbors, friends of Wanda's. Sunday was fun too, at church, more nice people, then berry picking in the afternoon and a huge, long walk before dinner with Josh & Amber, a young couple from SC who moved here 2 weeks ago.

The weather this weekend has been nice. In the 50s and clear. Windy, tho'. But that keeps down the bugs. I hear the mosquitos rise from the tundra in swarms, but we didn't see a one. Tundra is amazing, spongy/dry stuff. I am bundled up each time we go outside. At "the AC" grocery, I was standing, my 4 layers, beside a girl in a tee shirt, shorts and flipflops. It's whatever you are used to, I guess.

Good morning from Kotzebue

It is incredible just to be here. Friday's travel was completely uneventful, except we were in the Anchorage airport less than 1 minute. They were holding our flight to Kotzebue, waiting on us 2 gates down.

Kotzebue is like the BEACH. I forgot it would be a coastal town. Buildings are on pilings. There are boats and junk all around. An Alaska phenomenon is that once you get something here, you wouldn't pay to dispose of it elsewhere, so it just stays here and rusts. Dog sleds are stored on top of storage containers, because the snow gets that deep. There is water on every side, it seems. Wanda's place is a second story apt, much like a beach rental condo in SC. Plus it has a view of the runaway, which is a mere slip surrounded by water. People get around town by walking, car or fourwheeler. Snow machine in winter.


It IS daylight a long time. Here we are after dinner at the Bayside Restaurant. Despite the light, none of us had trouble sleeping after a long day of travel.

Alan is packed, with many borrowed clothes from Wanda, for his camping/fishing adventure, which starts in about 1/2 hour. It is cloudy and 50ish this morning. More later from the Far North.

Ever Wanted to Mountain Bike with Alan?

Well here's your chance. With his trusty helmet cam and nerves of steel here is a ride down Big Rock trail in Dupont State Forest. Dramamine may be necessary.

Dupont Forest - Big Rock Trail from Alan Burkett on Vimeo.