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North to Alaska
North to Alaska
Our Celebration Senior Travel Adventure!
Our Celebration Senior Travel Adventure!
by John Ownby
hen I was 10 years old I read the At one point our train slowed down to
book, Call of The Wild by Jack a crawl. I went out to the observation
WLondon. I was mesmerized. Ever deck, and as the train went around a
since then I’ve wanted to visit Alaska, but curve I could see what the problem was.
somehow life simply got in the way for many A moose was running in front of the train
years. A few months ago, my wife, Pam, between the rails! It was really funny
saw an ad in Celebration Magazine about watching this moose going at normal
an Alaskan tour by train, and we wondered, “moose speed,” and holding up a train!
“What are we waiting for?” The idea of Once we got to a place where the moose
seeing Alaska by train really appealed to us, could get off the tracks, we sped up again.
because we wanted to see the land, meet the
people, and experience as much as we could
in 8 days. The Whales
Thirty of us went on the tour. Initially most In Seward, Alaska we boarded a boat
of us began as strangers, but that didn’t last and went whale watching. It wasn’t long
long! This turned out to be a really great before we saw Orcas (too many to count),
group of people to travel with. Every day several fin whales, and two humpback
was filled with sightseeing, activities, great whales. Our guide said it was the best
food, and adventures -- too many to go into day for whales he had seen in his 20 years
detail about, so I will focus on a few that of experience. I believed him, because
really stood out to us. at one point he actually idled the boat
and stepped out on the deck with the rest
The Train of us so he could enjoy what he called a
“National Geographic” moment with us!
I must admit that I have a fascination with In addition to the whales we also saw dall
train travel. I’ve only traveled once on a porpoises, seals, and a host of sub-arctic
train, and that was many years ago, but I birds.
really liked it. Traveling on the Alaskan
Railroad is an amazing experience. The Rafting
scenery is breathtaking, you get to move
around, and the food in the dining car was I have to admit that Pam has never felt
excellent. We were booked as GoldStar comfortable being on water. She grew
Service (FIRST CLASS) on all but one up in New Mexico, and never actually
leg of our trip, and that meant we were experienced actual water until later in
upstairs on the train and had a domed life. But, I got her to get in a raft! We
glass ceiling which allowed for panoramic boarded some 8-person rafts and got to
views. At the rear of our car was a deck, see the Spencer Iceberg up close and
where you could go and actually be personal. The wind was blowing fairly
outside if you wished. When you travel strong, and if you ask Pam she would tell
by train in Alaska, you don’t miss a thing!
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