Alaska - Day 7, Anchorage

• Breakfast - tried reindeer sausage. Didn't like it; tasted like greasy bologna.
• Bus ride to Alaska Native Heritage Center.
• Cool outdoor recreations of various tribes' homes.
• Heavy descriptions of "boarding schools". 
• Loved the demonstrations of games and dances.
• Bus back to hotel. Walked straight to 49th State Brewing for lunch with Ruth. I had their Pale Ale (Didn't like it much). Grilled cheese/crab sandwich either tots. Very good huge portion. And cheaper than 1.5 pounds of king crab for $165!
• Walked to Anchorage Museum. Impressive. 2 wings, 1 with 4 floors. My favorite exhibits were on the mush dogs and The Cold War.
• Walked back to hotel and it was raining.
• Long, luxurious nap.
• Met the group in the lobby and walked to Glacier Brewing. I had 1 glass of chardonnay sourdough bread, Caesar salad, salmon, mixed desserts.
• Holly had arranged for a local author to speak to us about the history of the Iditarod. Ruth bought her book. 
• Walked back to hotel. Early to bed, due to very early pickup tomorrow. 

5 quick lines:

• Something I saw: 
• Something I heard: 
• Something I smelled: 
• Something I tasted: 
• Something I felt: 

Alaska - Day 5, Denali

• Rain turned to SNOW!
• Breakfast at DEC.
• Lecture - Wildlife of Denali by Toni
• Break
• Lecture - This Land Is Your Land, by  Keith Reimink (Program Director). Great speaker. Interesting subject. I want to read more.
• Lunch
• I was told that all helicopter rides today were CANCELLED. Later others told me their 4:30 flights were going. Just not my 2:35. Asked about tomorrow morning. Put me on the list, but they need at least 2 other people. Will confirm with me by EOD. Didn't call me back until 7:40 pm.
• Karie drove Ruth and I to the Visitors Center. We watched 2 short films, both good, but I liked the one about the mush dogs better. Not much time to see anything else. Caught the bus at 3:30pm. 
• Lecture - Farming in the Subarctic by Tom Zimmer. He was enthusiastic, but the subject matter wasn't that interesting to me. 
• Back to room where I showered and packed.

5 quick lines:

• Something I saw: 
• Something I heard: 
• Something I smelled: 
• Something I tasted: 
• Something I felt: 

Alaska - Day 4, Denali

• Early alarm for early breakfast.
• It was lightly raining. 
• Saw an incredible double rainbow. So vivid. I ran down to the "beach" to get a better view (picture above).
• Lecture - Geology of Pretty Rocks, by Natalie. She wasn't the best speaker, but provided a lot of information. Now I know why the road isn't open yet.
• Back to Riverside Hall where we each packed our to go lunch. Cute "bento box" that I put in my backpack. 
• Loaded onto bus for our trip into Denali National Park and Wildlife Preserve.
• They divided us into 2 groups. I went on the hike with Toni on the McKinley Station trail. Only 1.6 miles and 100 feet elevation. Learned a lot about the park's trees, geology, birds, history, etc.
• Ate our packed lunches on the bus.
• Then drove further into the park.
• Saw 2 moose (female and her calf) right by the bus! On the return trip we saw a single male, with huge antlers. I couldn't get a good picture. I'm sure other people will share theirs.
• Bears - I couldn't really spot them the first time. Saw them very well on the return trip.
• Caribou - huge antlers.
• Dall Sheep - just outlines on a horizon. 
• Wolves - the last of the Big 5. Didn't see any but didn't expect to.
• Saw a bald eagle at the end. No pictures, as we were driving quickly.
• Made a couple of stops. Very windy! Not cold. Light rain on and off.
• Back to the cabin for a few minutes.
• Dinner was excellent (salad, lasagna, garlic bread, tiramisu). I brought my wine.
• We all sang Happy Birthday to my roommate, Ruth (70 years old).
• Lecture - 70 Mile Kid by Tom Walker. Excellent presentation.
• Back to cabin. Turned out light by 10:00 pm.

5 quick lines:

• Something I saw: 4 of the Denali "Big 5" animals.
• Something I heard: 
• Something I smelled: 
• Something I tasted: 
• Something I felt: 

Alaska - Day 2, Fairbanks

• Only 30K people in Fairbanks. 
• Alaska Natives, not First Nation.
• Most extreme weather in the states. Up to 100 down to -40
• Cross heaves (bumps in road from permafrost)
• Dry cabin = no plumbing
• 800 mile oil pipeline from Pruhoe Bay to Valdez.
• Thermo segments to keep ground frozen.
• North America caribou. Asia reindeer. 
• Same species.
• Solid animals. Biggest: Kirk, had personal space issues.
• Lots of flies. I pulled down my mosquito net. Boy was I glad I had it.
• Cute gift shop in the yurt.
• Waited for our 2nd group to finish.
• Bused back to Fairbanks, to Golden Harp Square.
• Disbursed for lunch.
• I went to big Daddy's BBQ with Sue and Carol.
• I had 1 beer, 3 sliders (pulled pork, brisket, chicken) with a slide of tater tots. All good.
• Back to square.
• Jordan drove me, Sam, and Diane to the Fountainblue Automotive Museum.
• Look forever to get in as the person selling tickets was also in charge of the gift store.
• Museum was incredible. Meticulously restored cars and period costumes. Highly recommended.
• Waited a few minutes for Jordan. She drove us to Fred Meyer. I got a bottle of wine (expensive) and walked back to the hotel. Further than I thought, but I enjoyed the walk.
• Showered.
• Bus pickup 5:45pm. 
• Dinner at Bobby's downtown. 
• We had a room to ourselves. A little dark and loud. Service was good.
• Share appetizers (calamari & saganaki). Caesar salad. Filet Mignon. Misc desserts.
• Bus back to hotel.
• Packed for early checkout.
• Turned out light at 10:10 pm.

5 quick lines:

• Something I saw: reindeer!
• Something I heard: reindeer grunts
• Something I smelled: 
• Something I tasted: 
• Something I felt: soft pelts

Alaska - Day 3, Denali

• Early wakeup and breakfast.
• On the bus by 7:00 am. 
• Drove to Fairbanks train Depot.
• Plenty of time to receive tickets from Karie, saw model train set, shopping (Mile marker guide).
• Got on train, car C Adventure class.
• Karie told us that this segments will be the least interesting. Pretty, but nothing major to see. Lots of boreal forest. The only wildlife I saw were some white swans. We won't see much wildlife as they run away from the sound of the train.
• I had a coffee on board.
• Spent a little time in the dome car. No outside access on this leg.
• I may have caught a small portion of Denali.
• Very smooth ride.
• Arrived on time.
• Bus was waiting. New driver: Jan.
• Stopped along the way for individual photos. Started raining so we didn't get a group photo.
• Arrived at Denali Education Center (DEC). 
• Went to our cabin (last one in the row) and bags were waiting as promised.
• Our cabin overlooks the fast-moving river with the National park right across it. But it smelled of sewage! We submitted a maintenance request and sprayed air freshener.
• Quick rearranging, then went to Riverside Hall for lunch. Salad, grilled cheese sandwiches chunky hearty tomato soup, cookies, strawberry-rhubarb infused water. All excellent.
• Short walk to beach with commentary by Toni.
• Lecture by Toni on the Sub-Arctic in the Sheldon Center. Learned a lot. 
• Back to the Hall for sign-up for optional activities on Friday afternoon 2:45. I put myself down for the helicopter/glacier ride. They'll confirm tomorrow and get payment. 
• Went back to cabin to repack and get wine. 
• Dinner in hall: salmon, roasted root veggies, potatoes, rolls, bread pudding with ice cream. All excellent.
• Back to cabin. Showered, packed for tomorrow. 
• Turned out my light before 9pm.
• Rudely awoken in the middle of the night by my wine's "ice bucket" falling off the window sill.

5 quick lines:

• Something I saw: boreal forest.
• Something I heard: crashing of wine bottle, water, ice.
• Something I smelled: sewage. 
• Something I tasted: Alaskan salmon!
• Something I felt: surprise at how good the food is at DEC.

Alaska - Day 1, travel and Fairbanks

• So excited to finally go to Alaska. For years I've dreamed of visiting, but never had the time. Yay for retirement!
• Woke up before my 4:30 AM alarm clock.
• Lyft driver was early but patient.
• Finished my last minute things (including a protein drink) and said goodbye to the kitties.
• Had a latte and hard boiled egg in the airport.
• First flight from SAN to SEA was full, but I had no one in the middle seat next to me, which was nice.
• Napped a little. 
• Had an awful tuna sandwich at SEA.
• Next flight was also full. Woman next to me had a fat ass and wouldn't quit squirming. Tried to sleep.
• Got to FAI and had to use the restroom urgently. The closest one was closed. Had to sprint to the next closest one. Put in my contacts and brushed my hair.
• Bag was already on the carousel. 
• Called River's Edge Resort to shuttle pickup. He seemed flustered. Told me to take acsb and they'd pay for it.
• Waited a long time and no cabs came. Hotel shuttle bus ended up coming. Short drive to hotel. 
• Had to wait behind several fellow Road Scholars to check-in. 
• Orientation was starting so I parked my bags.
• Kari abd Jordan gave Orientation. 
• I had been sweating all day and felt very dirty and stinky.
• My roommate, Ruth, from Indiana introduced herself.
• Back to the room and we chatted a bit.
• Walked back to lobby to catch our bus to the restaurant, The Pump House (was on my list).
• Cool decor.
• I had blackened halibut (not very blackened) that was good. Also had a glass of J. Lohr chardonnay.
• Bus back to the hotel.
• I showered and organized a little. Then straight to bed. 
• Can't wait to meet the reindeer tomorrow!

5 quick lines:

• Something I saw: trees. Lots of trees.
• Something I heard: 
• Something I smelled: no perfume on my roommate!
• Something I tasted: utterly tasteless tuna sandwich at SeaTac.
• Something I felt: gratitude for being in this beautiful place.