Alaska - Day 10, Seward & Anchorage

• I didn't want to eat the super bland breakfast at the hotel, so I walked down the street to the Sup... Bakery. Not a big selection. But the strawberry muffin and latte were wonderful. Ate outside and chatted with another visitor. 
• Stopped at the Ace Hardware (Seward's "Walmart") and bought DayQuil for Ruth. She took a turn for the worse overnight.
• Took bags downstairs to the bus. 
• Drizzly out, but not cold.
• Dropped us at the Alaska Sealife Center. Had 1.5 hours on our own to explore. Like a mini Monterey Bay Aquarium.
• Ate our pre-ordered lunches while we listened to a lecture on cephalapods. He dissected a squid which made some people squeamish, but I found it cool.
• Bus to Anchorage. 2.5 hours, including 1 stop.
• Took group photo at a restaurant area.
• Checked into hotel. Arranged for early breakfast and shuttle pickup.
• Ruth and I walked a little to see the seaplanes landing and taking off. Neat!
• Rested a little.
• Ruth received a note from Kari, asking her to isolate. So she skipped dinner.
• Bus to 49th State Brewing (where I ate lunch a couple of days ago).
• We had our own dining room.
• Had 1 beer (blonde ale). Pre-ordered salmon (the best I had this trip). Amazing blueberry pie! 
• Kari recited a super cute poem. A few of us spoke. 
• Bus back. Said all our goodbyes. 
• Ruth was awake, so she ate her dinner that I carried back.
• Said our goodbyes as she'll be getting up at 1:15am for her flight. 

5 quick lines:

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Alaska - Day 9, Seward

• Breakfast at hotel.
• https://majormarine.com/tour/6-hour-kenai-fjords-national-park-cruise/
• Bus to boat launch. Waited for a few minutes in their waiting lounge.
• Efficient boarding.
• Saw a bald eagle before we even left Seward.
• LOTS of wildlife. Add more notes here ... Bald Eagles, Sea Otters, Harbor Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, Puffins, Cormorants, mountain goats, ORCAS. Glacier.
• I had an iceberg ice "margarita". Waterfalls. Calm seas, no sun, no wind. 
• Early lunch on board.
• Walked back to hotel, stopping at Ace Hardware, the "Walmart of Seward".
• Drying off and nap. Ruth thinks she's gotten a cold.
• Met Carol in lobby for dinner.
• Walked to Chinook.
• I had 2 glasses of Kendall-Jackson chardonnay, snow crab claws (a little tough), crab cakes (very good).
• Walked back to hotel. Early to bed.

5 quick lines:

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Alaska - Day 6, Denali & Anchorage

• Breakfast at DEC.
• Walked to Village lobby. Waited for a few minutes. I was the only one in the van. 
• Got to heliport, checked in, weighed. Ice boots over mine. Had to store backpack. 
• Had to wait a little while for fog to clear.
• Asked us to sign a waiver, allowing them to use my image in future brochure. They filmed our entire flight.
• Pilot Marco from Austria. 3 other people. I got to sit in front!
• https://temscoair.com/denali-glacier-landing/
• We did 2 landings! West Fork Glacier and an Alpine lake. 
• Both spectacular. 
• I was a little nervous when we got close to some of the peaks, but I got over it. 
• I was unable to drink glacier water (none easily accessible/drinkable due to silt). 
• Glaciers were less blue than I expected, as yesterday's snow covered it. 
• Total flight time about 2.5 hours. Supposed to be 1.5 hours
• Had a van/driver waiting for me. Drove me to train depot.
• Lunch (burger) & dinner (cod) on board. 2 free drinks (Alaska Brewing Amber Ale).
• Very slow for a while due to yesterday's snow.
• Beautiful views except no Denali.
• Arrived at Anchorage after 9pm. 
• Got bags, short bus ride to Captain Cook Hotel. 
• Reorganized bags.
• Turned out lights 11:00 pm.

5 quick lines:

• Something I saw: 
• Something I heard: loud helicopters
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Alaska - Day 8, Anchorage to Seward

• Really early wakeup.
• I got coffee in hotel.
• Bus to Anchorage Train Depot. Lots of people there, but very organized.
• 4.5 hour train ride. Best leg of the ride, based on the scenery.
• Watched the sunrise from our breakfast table.
• I had a mimosa (why not?) And biscuits/gravy. 
• Went back up and admired the scenery the whole way.
• Got into Seward, took our van to the hotel. We dropped off people who weren't feeling well.
• Took a walking tour of some of Seward's 35 murals. Paintings are done by community members.
• Had lunch with Ruth at Seasalt Alaska Bar & Grill. Good beer. OK cod fish & chips. 
• Walked a little of the seaside trail, admiring the statues commemorating the Iditarod dogs and gushers.
• Went back to the Sealife Center.
• I bought seaglass pendant and earrings.
• Got on bus and drove to Bear Creek where salmon were running. They had an "elevator" for them to get higher. Very interesting. LOTS of fish.
• Back to hotel and took a nap.
• Bus to dinner at Zudy's. It was the original train station. They opened just for us. Delicious halibut with macadamia nut crust, risotto, asparagus, salad, rolls, berry cake, chardonnay. All delicious. 
• Back to hotel, early to bed.

5 quick lines:

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