Early out first to Jeff King’s Husky Homestead. Jeff won the Iditarod 4 times! He has ran it it like 19 times. That’s a 1000 miles on a dog sled EACH TIME!

He loves his dogs and we got a fabulous demonstration! He invented a dog sled treadmill which was sooo cool! We got to hold the puppies too!

You might have to click on the movie to make it run.

Then back to Denali Park to view the museum and board our dome train to Talkeetna.

I’m hoping to see the golden eagle and a bald eagle.

Boarded the absolutely fabulous train car! Dome roof to see everything! This is touring! Wayyy better than a car drive!

So picturesque!

We were the caboose and had a platform to take photos!

Mt Denali was the showstopper at 20,310′ !!

We saw remnants of telegraph days that still were still complete with the insulators! OLD!!

Mike got to drink beer AND. The train had a full fine dining dinner car underneath us! Was sooo incredible!! What a terrific lunch!

Then ending at Talkeetna where our coach met us to continue for our overnite in Anchorage.

Pooped. Gonna have some wine now.

Started our day off with a short hike along our village property by the river. Amazing the ice is still at the edge in some spots at the end of May.

But first- Mike hit the Starbucks stand !

Lunch at the lodge. Mike had to have another blueberry ale!

Then we board the bus for the park.

54 miles in/out on same tricky high edge of the cliff roads. Our driver a 35 season veteran of that road. Thank god. It was scary at parts.

Four animals to see- moose, grizzly, the state bird (in the grouse family) and caribou.

First up grizzly. And the cool thing. The driver has a camera scope he zooms in on the animal and we can see on screen. Everyone is a spotter and everyone yells stop! We look. We photographed. We moved on.

We saw them and more..

Sheep, their version of the groundhog/ground squirrel/ a gorgeous black fox with white tip tail.

And the river beds from snow/glacier melts. Incredible mountains and scenery

Onto tomorrow.

Early morning start with Riverboat cruise. We were on the outside top deck and it was gorgeous outside. 70+degrees, hard to believe. The water was extra shallow with it rising in about a month when the upper glaciers begin to melt.

We went past world famous dog musher trainers. The folks on shore talked thru connecting microphone to us.

Stopped at a reproduced native Indian village

There we saw how they built their homes. Mike was reminiscent of the log cabin built in the woods. Roofing was similar 🙂

And reindeer!!

Then to the Alaskan pipeline ! It goes in and out of the ground!

Then the beautiful drive to Denali Village lodge.

Mike always has the beer you know!

The buildings are log style and themed like a miner’s village. That’s ice still by the river !

Hope we see animals tomorrow!!

“I can see Russia from my house!” A classic Saturday Nite Live line we feel could be appropriate. Flying over the mountains was indeed enthralling !

Alaska Airlines was super. Pilot announced when we crossed over into Alaska and over marvelous glaciers. We had a surprise in the airline service company! Lived their pinnies!

Gorgeous day to fly. Sunny and warm here. Sunset will be at 11:30 each day while we are here but it never really gets dark- more like twilight.

Onto the adventure!!

So even tho we have been friends FOREVER…. I gotta say it’s really true…. Lori is a great tour guide. Even tho she hasn’t lived here long, we were trapsed again to cool places.

First up. Pittock Mansion

Henry Pittock. Owner of the Oregonian newspaper.

Then the Rose test gardens..

The most impressive trees here.

Snack time at a food truck station.

Then to Mount Hood. It wasn’t till later after dinner we could see the top due to the clouds.

Then a fabulous dinner with Lori and Pete. 🎂 Happy Birthday to Lori and me!

Sad to go..but we’ll be back.

Onto Alaska!

Arrival with lots of hugs and so happy to be here. Portland’s airport is classy, open and beautiful. Lori was waiting and we began the yak fest!

Off this morning to lookout points- Mt Hood was under clouds today but the valleys were beautiful. Scenic to say the least.

Then we stopped at Edgefield. We loved it. Winery/Brewery and more!

And Pete won the golf tournament!! Personalized ball!