As many of you know, my name doesn’t usually come to mind when discussing nature and wilderness. But I’m not getting any younger and now is the time to try new adventures.
My latest was to join a friend on a road trip through Alaska. We planned to spend two nights in each of our destinations. Starting in Anchorage, we drove south to picturesque Homer and stayed at the end of the Spit surrounded by the bay. Then we drove north to stunning Girdwood (including a very long tunnel to Whittier). Our last stop was the immense Denali National Park. Nothing is close in Alaska and it was common to drive three hours to any destination.
My wish for this trip was to see lots of wildlife. My wish was granted. I spotted bears on a river walk in Cooper Landing. The fly fishermen standing in the river were not the least bit worried about them. Moose grazed on the side of the road while bald eagles soared through the skies. From a distance we also saw caribou and seals. Best of all, we visited a dog sled camp and after going on a ride (they use wheels on the sleds in the summer), we got to play with the puppies.
Mother Nature truly did surprise me. The color of the water in the lakes and rivers was beautiful. The glaciers (sadly shrinking) were intense. And as luck had it, warm weather provided us with a clear and rare view of Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley). Speaking of views, it was daylight all the time. The hotels fortunately provide blackout curtains so you can sleep. (You didn’t think I camped, did you?)
Lastly, Alaskan hospitality is huge. Everyone we met had a warm welcome, a story to share about why they lived there, and lots advice on what we should see. If you ever get an opportunity to visit Alaska, you won’t be disappointed.
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The Animals
Mother Nature
