August 18

August 18, 2010


Waking up in my extremely soft and wonderful bed, I got up and ready for the day. The sun was out and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. Checking out of the hotel at 9:30, we realized that the drive to Anchorage was not as long as we though and we had time to spare. So we wandered back through the resort to settle on the back patio. In the warm sunlight, we ate our cold pizza for breakfast.

Getting on the road, we enjoyed the scenery that we were leaving in our rearview mirror and the scenery in front of us clothed in sunlight! Aunt Pam said that just when you think you have seen it all in Alaska, you see something new and beautiful.

In Anchorage we passed a sea plane lake. Driving around it and getting out for pictures, we took in the little sea planes with their little houses. (much like boat houses). They were so cute. Arriving a short second away at Rust’s, we checked in for our bear trip. We explored while we waited until it was time to leave.

At 12:30, we boarded our plane that seats four besides the pilot. I was the co-pilot since we were worried I would get sick. Taxiing down Lake Hood, we took off from the water. What an amazing experience! Since it is such a small plane, we flew lower and got to see so many beautiful sites from the sky. Throughout the flight, I watched the pilot do all the plane stuff (very technical term) and I took pictures of the view at about 115 miles per hour.

I started not feeling good toward the end as the plane swayed and shook in the wind, but then we landed. Going up to the lodge, we ate lunch of chicken salad on bread and lettuce with delicious halibut, tomato soup. We ate with the Paul’s (father, mother, and son), Marcos (Italian) and Bella (Brazilian-and we can’t remember her full name), and Jone (older lady visiting Alaska).

After lunch we boarded a boat with our guide, Brian. Touring Redoubt Bay and Wolverine Lake, we saw a beaver dam, beautiful trees and mountains, and fishing boats. We sat by two streams where salmon go up and bear come down to eat. As the day progressed, we got worried that we would see no bears. Brian still wanting the trip to be fun took us to one of the many bogs and let us get out on it. Taking off our shoes and socks, we stood on the floating moss and grasses and bounced on it. It was so cool to see how it moved almost like a trampoline.

Brian got a call on his radio about a bear siting at the fish table (where they clean the fish) so we headed over. He spotted the grizzly bear way back near the forest on the back of another bog and Aunt Pam pointed out to me. It was walking back toward the fish table and Aunt Pam spotted a little cub bouncing along behind it.

We watched them swim across the water to the table. The momma bear went fishing and gave what it caught to the baby. While the cub ate beneath the table, the mom went in for more. They hung out around the little table island and on the bog bank eating fish. She must have caught at least four. It was so amazing to sit and watch wild bear fish and eat. Then another boat scared them off and they made their way back to the woods.

Finishing off out tour, we went back the lodge for a quick regroup and then our plane was there. With the same seating arrangements, we began our hour plan ride back. Flying back was even more fun and amazing and wonderful than flying there. It was an awesome feeling being so high and seeing all the scenery. We saw half a rainbow and were flying towards it. We saw at least forty beluga whales at the base of the fresh water rivers eating salmon. When we circled back to see them, we were at at least a 75 degree angle and it was so cool looking out my window at the ocean or land below.

At the dock, we went to eat at our favorite diner, The Lucky Wishbone. I ate a burger and hot fudge malt with onion rings. Aunt Pam ate fried chicken and hot fudge malt.

Then we hit the road to Talkeetna for a two hour jump on our trip to Denali on Thursday. Passing homemade sign after homemade sign, we went on our way. A construction site slowed us down slightly, but we had good attitudes and the guy stopping us appreciated that since he had been working for 15 hours. To our complete delight, we saw most of a brilliant sunset over a lake while we were behind a pilot car. It was glorious! We were really tired and didn’t talk much.

Thankfully, we made it to Talkeetna before dark because we didn’t know where to stay and it took a while. Finally, we settled in for our one rustic night. At the Latitude 62 we switched rooms once to get clean sheets and then got ready for much needed sleep. They tried to make it nice, but it was lacking. With one double bed and one twin, there was limited room especially with the small desk and cardboard chair. Despite the guy snoring next door and passing trains, we slept sound and long.