Alaska. Ice sunsets and real moose

We had almost given up on seeing Moose close up when we were returning from a trip to the Hot Springs and Ice Museum. The Ice Museum was awful, they packed about 40 of us into it and there were only a couple of sculptures and I felt like we were being herded through. I was also under-impressed with the Hot Spring as it was very sterile with disinterested staff telling you what to do and the decor around it was too built up. I figured I’d rather a hot bath in the privacy of my home.

While driving home I saw the moose by the side of the road and stopped to discover ( I think) a cow with her calf. The male has antlers. We stopped to watch for a while and as Ko we were leaving they crossed the road which made the experience even more magical.

You can see even when you’re close up they are hard to spot. The sunsets added to the trip home. They are so beautiful as they are much slower than in Florida. More like Ireland.

And there are so few cars on the road you can drive for 30 minutes before seeing one! Which is probably as well as Pat is an unreliable back seat driver. He’ll tell you when the lights go green but get distracted and forget to tell you to turn off for the exit. Fortunately you can reverse down the highway as there are no cars in sight,

We had arranged a mushing tour this morning and I was anxious because of the snow. It was so beautiful we forgot about the cold. Chase, our guide was fantastic. He has done the Yukon Dog Sliegh race a number of times. The race is 1000 miles, just him and the dogs. His girlfriend keeps Yaks. He said they are from Tibet and we said we knew because I still have the picture of me on one in Tibet. I’m guessing there will be Yak rides in the future in Alaska.

Thought I’d throw in that pic from then. I hope Chase sees this. The dogs were barking and whupping they were so keen to get going and I felt like a cross between Anna Karenina and Lara from Dr Zhivago. We went deep into the woods and Robert Frost’s poem kept coming to mind. “These woods are lovely dark and deep”. …. He brought us to where the beavers live and build their damn. Last night, he said, he went down there and they were chattering away to themselves as they stockpiled the food on another bank away from their lair.

https://videopress.com/v/jBTETDf7?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Would highly recommend it. BTW. Chase said it can get down to – 60f. In Winter. I like to dream of being Lara but I don’t think I’d be that keen on the reality.

We had to get a back for my earring which had come off so we popped into a jewelry store in the Mall. Not only did they spend time finding the right sided back. Checking with with the microscope type thingy jewelers use but she also showed me a nugget of gold that was brought in. The dark area in the middle of it is quartz. I love the Alaskan people.

We also made the trip to the University of Alaska museum and decided how to spend our last Saturday night. …. Watching an Ice hockey game. These are pics from the museum.

Oh and our last nights dinner was over cooked shrimp. Once again. Charming service. Woeful food !