Alaska - the 49th and biggest State of the USA
By Dottie Willey
Such a magnificent experience of a lifetime. We began our 12 day journey August 29 at 2:00 am on the bus from Anne Tribley's home to Newark, NJ to board the 7:20 am Alaskan Airway flight to Seattle, WA with an overnight stay, then off to Anchorage, AK.
One week by land
To document our magnificent journey would require writing an entire book. However, only highlights are being mentioned, arising at 6:00 am and often times going to sleep at 1:00 am the next morning.
On day 2, we did Rise and Shine to board the Alaskan Railroad from Anchorage to Denali winding along the Sustina River viewing from the vista some car, appreciating the most spectacular scenery and wildlife on earth while listening to the informative onboard tour commentary. On Saturday, we boarded the tour bus for a 7 hour train ride to Denali National Park learning and observing the tapestry and the wilderness of birds including falcons, eagles, terns and the willow ptarmigan (the State bird) and animals like herds of caribou, moose, sheep and grizzly bears. Imagine 39 and 3" of snow where our young ladies disembark to enjoy their first winter snowball fight. Dali sheep live on the highest cliffs even above the clouds. In the State of Alaska there are remote cities and places that can only be reached by dogsled, airplane or snowmobile, this is called the "bush." The "bush pilots" deliver mail, medicine and supplies.
Being that, I had a Siberian Husky for 17 years, my highlight included the day at Alyeska stopping at the Iditarod Sled Dog Musher's home where we had a private visit and learned about the Great Race. The musher owned about 90 dogs. We learned of their dress, breeding and then the actual demonstrations of the dogs practicing and racing.
One Week by Sea - Cruising on the Norwegian Sun
From our first day, on the land tour a young couple (Jacqueline & Tony) from Durham, NC adopted us Thunder Road Seniors and shared with us their expected wedding day, September 4. They'd been traveling from the liner by helicopter to be married on top of the Mendehall Glacier in Juneau. We gave them a bridal shower the night before their important day, while we enjoyed endless delicious foods by world known chefs. Daily we enjoyed classes, comedians, dancing, laughlng and spectacular stardust showtime entertainment. Countless tours were made available to us. I enjoyed and participated in the Tribal Indian Dances including descriptions of the cultural legends. Some people went water rafting and others went horseback riding in the mountains. Another highlight was in Ketchikan, the Totem Bight Park and the trolley tour ride.
Our trip was informative and awesome, so much to see... and so much to do. Today we must remember when new opportunities arise, we should seize them with confidence. Indeed our hearts and minds are open and prepared for every blessing each day may hold.
Sincere thanks to our beloved tour guides - Betty, Sue and Anne.
By Dottie Willey
Such a magnificent experience of a lifetime. We began our 12 day journey August 29 at 2:00 am on the bus from Anne Tribley's home to Newark, NJ to board the 7:20 am Alaskan Airway flight to Seattle, WA with an overnight stay, then off to Anchorage, AK.
One week by land
To document our magnificent journey would require writing an entire book. However, only highlights are being mentioned, arising at 6:00 am and often times going to sleep at 1:00 am the next morning.
On day 2, we did Rise and Shine to board the Alaskan Railroad from Anchorage to Denali winding along the Sustina River viewing from the vista some car, appreciating the most spectacular scenery and wildlife on earth while listening to the informative onboard tour commentary. On Saturday, we boarded the tour bus for a 7 hour train ride to Denali National Park learning and observing the tapestry and the wilderness of birds including falcons, eagles, terns and the willow ptarmigan (the State bird) and animals like herds of caribou, moose, sheep and grizzly bears. Imagine 39 and 3" of snow where our young ladies disembark to enjoy their first winter snowball fight. Dali sheep live on the highest cliffs even above the clouds. In the State of Alaska there are remote cities and places that can only be reached by dogsled, airplane or snowmobile, this is called the "bush." The "bush pilots" deliver mail, medicine and supplies.
Being that, I had a Siberian Husky for 17 years, my highlight included the day at Alyeska stopping at the Iditarod Sled Dog Musher's home where we had a private visit and learned about the Great Race. The musher owned about 90 dogs. We learned of their dress, breeding and then the actual demonstrations of the dogs practicing and racing.
One Week by Sea - Cruising on the Norwegian Sun
From our first day, on the land tour a young couple (Jacqueline & Tony) from Durham, NC adopted us Thunder Road Seniors and shared with us their expected wedding day, September 4. They'd been traveling from the liner by helicopter to be married on top of the Mendehall Glacier in Juneau. We gave them a bridal shower the night before their important day, while we enjoyed endless delicious foods by world known chefs. Daily we enjoyed classes, comedians, dancing, laughlng and spectacular stardust showtime entertainment. Countless tours were made available to us. I enjoyed and participated in the Tribal Indian Dances including descriptions of the cultural legends. Some people went water rafting and others went horseback riding in the mountains. Another highlight was in Ketchikan, the Totem Bight Park and the trolley tour ride.
Our trip was informative and awesome, so much to see... and so much to do. Today we must remember when new opportunities arise, we should seize them with confidence. Indeed our hearts and minds are open and prepared for every blessing each day may hold.
Sincere thanks to our beloved tour guides - Betty, Sue and Anne.