Sept 2023 Alaska

We didn’t have the best start to Alaska as it was a 10 hour journey and Delta only provided snacks. We arrived at 1am to our destination and the next morning when we arrived down to breakfast ‘weak with hunger. ‘ there was no breakfast left. This was at 8.40. The owner tried to blame us for being so late and he didn’t know where his wife was. NOT HAPPY! We went out to get breakfast. We’ve decided to stay in the place nevertheless.

We putzed around Fairbanks. I think the above moose is the only good picture I’ll get. A lot of log cabins around and the other picture is of the masonic lodge. A lot of the attractions are closed for Winter so decided to see what was in the North Pole. As we were taking the photo the Mayor of the North Pole walked by (Mayor Mike) and brought us in to show us around the city hall and into the city council chambers. He is charming. The North Pole was so called because years ago they thought that they would be bringing the toy industry here and it would be cool to have them ‘made in North Pole’. Santa was just up the road. The mayor told us how to trek up there which was pleasant but, me oh my, I didn’t reckon for four tour buses to be outside. It was full of adults from cruises lining up to sit on Santa’s knee and not a child in sight! I couldn’t think of anything worse than spending a day doing that.

Later that night we chased the Northern Lights and weren’t disappointed. The next morning however, we met a couple who said that you have to go in January to see the really great colourful lights. I won’t go into the conversation too much but lets just say they would do well in one of Louis Theroux’s ‘unique America’ shows

We drove up to Denali and the B and B (Primrose) we stayed in there was as good as the 7 Gables is bad. Right beside the park, clean with a charming hostess. There are lots of warnings about the moose being in rutting season and anytime we saw someone stop, we jumped out to check what they were looking at. Sure enough in the far distance you could see a blob that might move and you’d know it was a moose! So many times you’d see a pipe or container and watch it for 15 minutes to realize it wasn’t a moose and then when you’d see a pipe and turn away from it and the bloody moose would walk out of view . Its possible we came too late but then again we were in Ireland at beginning of Sept.

There is a moose in those trees somewhere and I did capture the two red squirrels. ( I like to insert a bit of danger and sex in these stories.)

Even out of season Denali is stunning and at one stage as I was walking I got a really strong scent of a bear. I looked all around but couldn’t see it. The small area that I could smell it in implied it was close. Exciting, but as they say ‘don’t waken the bear’

This guy ( I can only assume was a photographer) was 29 miles into the park and waiting for the tow truck to come and rescue him. (See the flat tire? and I don’t know how the ladder helps the photographs). There is no phone range and the guy in front of us was driving down to get help. I had the feeling he didn’t want to chat. We saw a tow truck an hour later at the start of the park and can only assume it was his rescue.

The food has been pretty bad. The high end restaurant that was recommended with Lobster at $105 dollars had over cooked shrimp and disgusting mushrooms in gravy that the waitress said was popular with all the other customers. In Denali I was worried that all restaurants would be closed and yet we went into the Totem Pole a divey looking restaurant and had an excellent pizza. You had to go to the bar next door yourself for accompanying drinks. Later we joined the locals at the bar and had a great night’s craic with Peggy, Mark. Peter and Ryan. They told us that it was a load of nonsense re the Northern lights being better in January. Mark showed us his app and we knew not to chase the lights tonight. I hope to get better pictures for next blog. It may not be a great season for wildlife but meeting the local Alaskans is making it a wonderful trip.