Blogs from Alaskan Highway, Alaska, United States, North America

Click here for photos from this ride The 9-and-a-half-hour train ride from Denali to Whittier was also an excellent choice. In fact, Barb still says it was the most fun part of the trip. We stood outside the Princess Denali in a cold rain waiting for bus 8 to take us to the train. And, yes, I think every car on that train had the Princess name on it. Before we even landed in Alaska, Maureen mentioned her brother coaching her from past experience to make sure to get a seat on the top of a train car that had windows. Maureen and I were both ready to fight our way to the top, but were relieved (we’re both kind of pass-the-fists pacifists) to see that every car had windows and everyone had assigned seats that ... read more

So, jetzt bin ich wieder bei heute: Nicht viel zu sagen: Delta ist ein Ort, den man kaum bemerkt, nur dass halt etwas mehr Autowracks rumstehen - daran erkennt man eine Stadt. Ansonsten zieht sich alles ewig lang der einen Strasse entlang. Es gab im Motel kein Fruehstueck, also fuhren wir erst mal 160 km bis Tok, dort Fruehstueck. Dann nach N abgebogen, nach Chicken. Dies ist eine ehemalige Goldgraeberstadt, im Sommer hat sie die riesige Menge von etwa 30 E, im Winter nur 15. Es steht noch Maschinenzeugs rum aus der Goldabbauzeit, und in den Fluessen der Umgebung sitzten Maenner mit kleinen Wannen und sowas, um doch noch ihr Glueck zu machen. Chicken ist der einzige Platz auf einer Strecke von 200 Meilen (360 km), wo etwas los ist (jedenfalls im Sommer). Die Strasse wurde ... read more

July 11, 2011 – TESLIN, YK TO SKAGWAY, AK “ALASKA ISN’T JUST A PLACE YOU VISIT, IT’S A FEELING YOU EXPERIENCE, AND REMEMBER FOR A LIFETIME.” This was one of the most beautiful days on our trip thus far. The scenery was so dramatic words cannot do it justice and the camera just cannot capture the scope of its majesty. Once again we were blessed with beautiful weather – warm and sunny with clear skies, so we were able to see all the mountains along the way. Driving by the lakes the water was not only an interesting green colour from glacier water – but also still enough to capture some lovely reflections as well. Coming down into Skagway the highway has a long 9% grade for 11 miles. Halfway down we cross into Alaska and ... read more

Americans like to chat. It is not uncommon for them to strike up conversations with complete strangers. In Britain or Australasia you would be considered somewhat abnormal to behave this way. I like it. I suppose the theory goes that if you're still conversing after 5 or 10 minutes then there is a mutual agreement that neither of you are crazy?! Or possibly that both of you are crazy in which case you'll be lifelong buddies. Americans love to socialize. It is an endearing and largely inherent American character trait in the Yankee makeup. The problem I have with Americans abroad, and for that matter any nationality who speak English as a first language, is their general expectation of foreigners to automatically speak and understand English regardless of where they are in the world. Yes, it ... read more

Waiting on the ferry dock in Petersburg was a slim young woman and two little girls. We identified ourselves, hoisted our bags into her SUV and drove to the Nordic house B&B ( try to google them). Oh, it is so sweet! Beautifully decorated, with an enormous kitchen stocked with anything you might desire for breakfast. On the table was a plate full of homemade chocolate chip cookies( much better than the Doubletree Hotel), and a note book with all sorts of info about the town complete with menus from several restaurants. There was a comfy living room with two sofas and a well stocked library. The dining room table and the sofas looked out of large picture windows over a harbor. There are two telescopes for closer viewing of the eagles that soar all around. ... read more