Linda's Alaska Adventure

Sorry to leave sweet Talkeetna! But we got to ride the Alaskan Railroad again through such beautiful country. Still no bear sighting, but plan B is to take a morning jog without bear spray just outside Anchorage. That seems to be where people run into them😂.

Found a new hometown! Talkeetna is the sweetest place. People are super friendly and funny. Visited the local museum- so many interesting stories around here. Our cabin is historic and very cozy. Red John's cabin is on the national historical register.

Reluctantly left unbelievable Denali. With the current fires, we never did get to see the mountain, but, like Everest, everyone knows what it looks like. On the train ride to Talkeetna, got to check another box on my Alaska bingo game- a bald eagle looking like one of them cool kids on top of a spruce. And just for Jon, a couple pics of the river from the train. Straight down😬. Talkeetna is the sweetest town, and our cabin is charming. Had dinner at an old pub where the owner is the only employee right now! Felt so sorry for the poor guy. Anyone who wants to spend the summer in paradise can get a job here in a heartbeat! Also, I want to live here. Their mayor is a cat, and has been different cats over the years. There's a brewery that make this amazing IPA just for the pub. I tried, but they won't bottle it just for me☹️.

Visited the park again and saw Dall sheep, more moose and Caribou! We took a bus today deep into the park. Not as far as usual - we could only go about 42 miles into the park due to a rock glacier that took out the road (quickly, for a glacier, anyway). Ken managed to find a Serbian restaurant for lunch then we hiked about 10 miles back to our cabin. It poured rain on us and we had a little thunder and lightening. Best part was that except for one other lunatic going in the other direction, we had the wilderness to ourselves! 

Our first day seeing Denali Park (not Denali Peak though. There are fires nearby whose smoke is obscuring the mountain). But the visitors center has great displays and information. Most fun today was the dog sled demonstration. It was heartwarming to see the dogs SO excited to run. I've never seen such happy puppies!

At Denali, we are staying in a cute little cabin (aptly named, lol) along the Nenana River. Went to a dinner theater nearby that was the Alaskan version of our Melodrama. Delightful! Food was delicious and the performers so friendly and talented. Just like at our Melodrama, they did everything but cook! Sat between a family from Germany and a couple from Colorado- but the husband went to CalPoly😂. Went on a short hike after dinner and saw more moose!! A momma and baby. They are too fast to get pics though 😥