Alaskan Cruise - Day 10

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Yesterday we traveled by train to Denali. Jenny, our tour guide, & Adam, our bartender, entertained us on the 8 hour trip from Anchorage to Denali. A train trip would not be complete without some music. With my trusty iPod & headphones, I listened to the Soundtracks from A Charlie Brown Christmas, (I couldn't resist after seeing so many Christmas trees!) Hitchcock's North by Northwest (I expected Cary Grant & Eva Marie Saint to join us in the dining car for some Reindeer Chili any minute.) & Planes, Trains & Automobiles (What travel would be complete without Steve Martin & John Candy!)

Along the way we saw a moose & later a baby bear. We stopped at the Talkeetna Depot to pick up some passengers. Talkeetna is the town that the TV show "Northern Exposure" was based on. Near the end of our trip, Adam told a story about a retired railroad employee named Harold who came up with the idea of how to guarantee "moose sightings" near Denali as the train pulled into the depot. He would dress up in a moose costume & make sure the passengers could see him as the train approached. He took the idea to "management" & they agreed. On Harold's first day on the "moose job", he got close to the tracks to assure a sighting. A black bear appeared from nowhere behind him & Harold got up on his hind legs & took off running. Before he knew it, a bear paw appeared over his shoulder & wrestled him to the ground. The bear said, "Harold, you damn fool. You are going to get us both fired!" The bartender set the joke up perfectly & I laughed till I cried. (I really enjoy bad jokes!)

We finally arrived at our lodge & I was thinking a nap would sure be nice. Kay thought a hike in the mountains would be appropriate so we went on the hike (I didn't want Kay bothered by Harold & the bear!) We saw more beautiful scenery & worked up an appetite for another great meal!

More tomorrow.

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Photos

Talkeetna
this was the town that the TV show "Northern Exposure" was based on

Talkeetna
another view of the town

inside the train
Adam, our bartender & Jenny, our guide

Butch & Kay on our hike
If we look tired, we are. We hiked for 3 1/2 miles in the mountains on some steep but beautiful terrain

a beaver lodge on the lake
We saw a beaver in the lake but he disappeared we he saw us!