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Published: August 30th 2013
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The conductor Warren on the Hurricane Turn Drive to Talkneeta from Anchorage this morning. This about a 3 hour trip. The road to Talkneeta is a good straight highway. The scenery up this way is different from the Kenai Peninsula area. The area is flat and the wooded areas have different trees. Have been told they are mostly alder trees in the area. I guess I will learn more as the days go by.
Arrived at Talkneetna around 11am and checked in for our train ride to Hurricane Gulch. This service is provided by Alaska railroad and is the last flag stop train in North America.
Weather today is overcast, cooland showering but still a good day to be out and about.
This is another one of those days where you just go "wow". a fantastic way to see how Alaskans life in outside of city life. This train is the only form of transport for the locals living in the area. We watched in amazement ad the train stopped along the way picking up and dropping off folks who live in the woods. Families with young children piled their supplies into the train, including their guns and dogs and rode the train to their
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Loading supplies onto trailer after getting of the train homes in the woods.
Most these folks have ATV's at the place where the train drops them so they can pile their supplies on board an attached trailer and drive up to their cabins which are hidden deep in the woods. The children are home schooled. Their is no electricity out here and no roads. If they need any help they have to call the railroad for assistance.
On board the train was a lady named Mary Lovell who has published two books about her life in Alaska. Lots off people on the train recognised Mary and she was happy to chat o us about her life living in outback Alaska. I purchased her books and Mary told us that Discovery have made a documentary about her and it will be screening on pay TV soon. Must keep an eye out for this documentary.
On the way home a young man boarded the train with his catch of the day - a black bear which had been skinned and ready to process. He was happy with his catch and the conductoon of the train and helped him load the bear onto the train. Todays experience was one
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Atv's waiting to load with supplies from train we will never forget!
We didn't manage to see much in the way of wildlife during the train ride - just some swans and salmon in the streams.
Met some people from California on the trip. We exchanged email addresses and plan to keep in touch.
Had a light meal at the Roadhouse in town. This is a very busy place in the town centre serving coffee, meals,bakery items, lodging and wi-fi.
Visited the Talkneeta mayor which in case you didn't know is a cat - that's right a cat. His name is Stubbs and he spends his days being wherever he wants. We found him asleep in one of his hangouts at the Nagley general store. We understand he was elected the town mayor around 2002.
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Tracey Baker
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What a great day u had.
Love reading the blog. So nice when u talk to the locals and get a feel for the life they live.. And meeting the Mayor.. Amazing how people live in such different parts of the world. Great job Judy and Geoff.. Now u are making me hungry for Salmon... Alaska is on the list now..