Bob and Ann in Alaska 2009

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Chalet Tram Stop

We slept in until 6:30 this morning. This was almost 3 hours later than yesterday when we had to leave on our Denali Tundra Wilderness tour at 5:20. We went to the breakfast buffet with the Bensons at 8:30 at the Courtyard Cafe. After breakfast we went back to our rooms to finish packing. Then we returned to the main lodge to catch a shuttle to the main Denali Visitors’ Center.

The Visitors’ Center has several exhibits of the development of Denali as a national park. It also has replicas of many of the animals and birds in the park. Several sit-down areas show videos. There is a long video in the main auditorium that is supposed to be very special but we were too late to see it.

From the visitors’ center, we walked over to a large bookstore/gift store. While Ann and Ellen went shopping, Ben and I relaxed in the courtyard next to the book store and snack shop. The weather was turning sunny, so we were very comfortable sitting outside until I sat in a chair that was still wet from the morning’s rain shower.

We boarded our train to Anchorage around 12:30. We sat in the same dome car that we were in on the ride from Fairbanks. We had a panoramic view of the spectacular countryside as we rode past it. Lots of mountains, rivers, forests with their skinny trees, fireweed and dark-to-fluffy clouds.

Lunch was in the dining area under the dome. The food was pretty good and less expensive than in many of the restaurants that we have been in so far. Alaska prices are pretty high. For lunch, Ellen, Ben and I had a crab/shrimp salad sandwich while Ann had a cup of cod-tortilla soup and a turkey half sandwich. Ann and I split a slice of carrot cake.

The afternoon and early evening was spent watching the scenery go by. We went past several remote cabins and towns. Some of them had access only by train – no roads. One of the towns had a population of two. The mayor stood on his porch and waved at us as we went by.

Dinner was on the train. Ben had salmon fettuccini while the rest of us had pork ribs.

Would You Use the Internet Here?

We arrived in Anchorage at 8:00 and were driven to the Anchorage Hilton. Our room is really nice with lots of space and a king-sized bed. After dropping our things in our room, Ann and I took a short walk around the downtown area. Being Friday night, most of the cafes and restaurants were full. We checked out a possibility for breakfast tomorrow.

At 10:00 the sun was still out and the sky was light. Despite this, we went to bed.