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.