Fairbanks to Seward

 We walked around Fairbanks and picked up sandwiches for the coach ride. The area we walked in was full of brewpubs, art galleries and souvenir shops. 

At 11 am we boarded the coach with a new bus driver. His style was grating and he kept yakking and telling dumb jokes. We drove along a coastal road and saw some beautiful scenery. We caught another glimpse of Denali in the distance. 

We passed where Beluga whales have been spotted but did not see any. We saw the Turnagain arm, one of two narrow branches of the Cook Inlet. The tide was out so it mostly looked like mud flats. 

We noticed an area of dead trees and learned that during the earthquake the ground had dropped 10 feet, and the trees went from having their roots in fresh water to salt water and could not survive. 

About an hour from Anchorage we arrived for our Portage Glacier tour. We boarded a boat and rode to near the glacier. We were told that a glacier is compacted snow and  is blue because of the way the UV rays are refracted back. All the air is compacted and light bounces back. The water is blue because of the silt.  The Portage glacier goes 4 miles back, 1/2 mile wide, 150 feet high. It was another beautiful day, and we enjoyed looking at and learning about the Glacier. 

Back on the coach, we entered the Kenai Peninsula. Our home for the next two days is the Windsong Lodge in Seward. There are a number of two-story buildings making up the lodge. We are in the Calypso building. The rooms have sinks in the bedroom - not in the bathroom. 

We had a beverage and charcuterie board in the Resurrection Roadhouse then boarded a van for our Ididaride experience. We were greeted by Hunter who lives in Green Bay and gives Lambeau Field tours in winter. We saw the Alaskan huskies that are scrawnier looking than Siberian Huskies. We boarded a large golf cart type vehicle, and our guide, Travis, hooked up 7 pairs of dogs. One of the lead dogs was on the winning Iditarod team. Travis told the lead dogs “Let’s go!” and off we went. At one point the leaders were not going fast enough for Travis so he got off the back of the cart and whispered to them. Not sure what he said but they picked up the pace. He explained that some of the dogs were 9 months old and 18 months old, and were just learning how to run with the dog team. Around a bend one of the younger dogs tripped and got tangled up with the other dogs. He was upside down and it looked dicey but Travis just jumped down and untangled them and said it was fine. After our 20-minute ride, we all got to pet the dogs and then hold a small puppy. Then there was a presentation about how the dogs and mushers are geared for the Iditarod and a history of the race and its rules and customs. The Seavey family has an impressive record of top finishes and a speed record. It was a fabulous experience. 

Back at the Lodge, we had an excellent dinner at the Resurrection Roadhouse - choosing to sit at an outside table. The weather has been spectacular. Tomorrow we will take a boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park.