Continuing to Fairbanks 7/8 Monday

From the train window we see a Native American long house, a traditional hub for this community.

As the train rolls along, I have a Bloody Mary from our private bartender, who happens to be the husband of our car rep. Kelly, our tour director, gives each of us a list of people on our tour with their home states. We discovered earlier that we are the only ones from Texas. She also circulates an extra sheet for our email addresses if we want to share that information.

For dinner we go downstairs to the dining area. Pawpaw has the prime rib, and I choose the salmon, both prepared well and delicious.

Closer to Fairbanks, we pass homes with extensive gardens thriving in the long days of Alaska's summer. Even closer, the University of Alaska comes into view.

At the Westmark Hotel, we settle into our rooms, go downstairs, locate the bar off the main lobby, have Kelly and other friends join us, and rehydrate.

Train to Fairbanks 7/8 Monday

The train from Denali to Fairbanks follows the Nenana River, same river we rafted yesterday. That means we can see our watery journey from a different perspective and you can see the photo again : ). Strange how it all looks less threatening from this distance and with raindrops sprinkled throughout.

The train goes under the bridge that marks the halfway point of our raft trip, and we see the support structures marked by pitons when climbers have practiced their skills.

When we see the power plant, the point where we left the river yesterday is near. Matt told us that last weekend some of his friends climbed to the top of the tower just for fun. Lots of adventure to be had on the Nenana!

Denali Visitor Center 7/8 Monday

Since the Visitor Center is across from the train depot, we make that our afternoon activity. Exhibits tell the story of our experiences, and we trace our travels. The writers serving as artists-in-residence especially interest me.

Inside the theatre we watch a PPt of gorgeous and dramatic park scenes accompanied by music. At 2:00 a park ranger comes in to give the audience a safety talk and orientation to the park, ironic to hear on our last day. Following a recommended protocol when coming across a grizzly bear gives a human better odds of successfully escaping. If only we had been able to see a grizzly!

The train arrives right on time and we board to find our reserved seats in the Eklutna car. With rain falling on the observation glass, we pull away from the depot and leave Denali behind.

Farewell to the Resort 7/8 Monday

For our last morning in the Denali area, bags out at 9:00 and check out at 10:00, much later than previously. Pawpaw and I take full advantage and relax in our room until 10:05. Not caring whether we have breakfast or lunch, we arrive at the resort's smaller restaurant at 10:30 and learn that their breakfast service has just ended and lunch will begin as soon as they switch over. Decision made.

I have the salad bar and he has a hamburger, homey and satisfying. I also have a bowl of chunky black bean soup which I garnish with ripe olives, ranch dressing, and croutons.

Wall decor reminds us of fun days we've had here.

We have this day to ourselves until time to board the train at 4:00ish. (All time on this tour is "ish.") As we pass through the grand lobby once more, I look at the model of "the tall one" and smile at the idea of Mount McKinley.

Rafting the Nenana River 7/7 Sunday

Along and beside our resort runs the Nenana River. After our wilderness tour we have just enough time to go to the bar and drink some courage in the form of Alaskan Amber beer. We look at the river from the big bar windows with a new attitude. View of the landscaping is nice, too, but we are all about the white river rapids.

Having read the description earlier of a certain rafting excursion, we accepted our destiny and booked the trip.

At the headquarters, we listen to safety instructions and meet our guide Matt. We pick up a dry suit, boots, gloves, and cap. Workers help us to dress, certainly aware we are not able to do so on our own. Once we are all zipped and gasketed inside, they tell us to bend over to expel excess air through the neck hole, and I realize how a ziplock bag feels to be burped before the seal.

Down to the river we go, the water milky gray from glacier melt and runoff, a comfy 38 degrees. Pawpaw and I volunteer to take the front positions in the raft. Another couple from our tour group goes in the boat with us.

And we're in our way! Lots of waves and splashes, twists and turns, boulders and swirls! During the calmer sections, Matt gives us history and geology of the Nenana River, stories of rafting adventures, and his personal background. Born in Alaska, he graduated college with a degree in Parks and Wildlife Management, but he plans to raft and ski as long as his body can. Winter goal is to guide helicopter skiers; longer goal is to be a park ranger.

After more than eleven miles on the river, we pull over to a sandy takeout point where a bus for us and a trailer for the boat and gear waits. On the river I was warm and dry enough, but in the bus, brrrrr.

Back at headquarters, I find a shirt that shows our trip, and I add it to my souvenir collection. By now the clock shows after 9:30, but we go back to the bar for a celebratory Alaskan Amber and a bowl of chowder. What a memorable day!

Exiting Denali Park 7/7 Sunday

First picture this post is a welcome to the park that didn't go in earlier posts. Our bus driver makespreservation of fragile tundra an issue for anyone planning to hike: spread out and never follow in same footsteps. At the Quonset tent bookstore deep in the park, I see a book about the Fannie portrayed in Cabin Nite who also served our table.

Finally, we spot a Dall sheep high in some cliffs. Just as we are about to drive away, up comes a second one from down and to the right. Quite a thrill!

As we continue our way out of the park, we see more mountains and caribou and rivers. The ponds looking so small in the photos are actually large holes dug out by glacier movement, and over time ice melted to fill them.

The tour ends, we unload at the lobby, and we wonder if we will return someday to make another attempt at viewing the elusive Denali.