It’s been one week since Mr. Gossett and I got home from our Anniversary Adventure to Alaska. Our 20th wedding anniversary comes up in September and it seems we’ve chose to do a special trip every five years. That’s the current trend we happen to be on. I didn’t get to blog any while we were in Denali even though we were there three days. We didn’t have internet access in our room and if I wanted to do any internet surfing, blogging or Facebook posting via computer, I had to go to the main lobby which wasn’t an easy walk for us to get to. There was a shuttle that circled the property where people were staying along with Denali Square where there were two restaurants and several shops for purchasing all kinds of Alaska related items. Our hotel was really nice, especially for a National Park and there were a lot of people staying there as well as at many of the other rooms available in other locations. While were were in Denali, we took a tour inside the park on a Blue Bird Bus. We were able to see many of the animals that live in the park. I was amazed that Denali takes up 6.1 million acres. That’s a lot of opportunity for animals to have really good time roaming, looking for food and do whatever else the do. We saw Caribou, Moose, Foxes, Sheep and Squirrels that don’t look like the ones we’re accustomed to seeing. It’s a known as an Arctic Ground Squirrel. They are cute little animals and we saw many running across the road during our tour. What was amazing was on our trip down the mountain. We saw 3 foxes who had just taken down a caribou and were taking advantage of their catch. While they were in a vein of the lake they were in, another fox came along on a sand bar wanting to join in. Sadly, he didn’t get to. We saw him going back the way he came with his tail tucked in defeat.
On Sunday, Mr. Gossett and I went to “Husky Homestead” to learn about Jeff King and his Alaskan Husky’s. Mr. King is a multiple Iditarod winner. The dogs are bred and love to run. They are a breed that’s full of energy and ready to do what they do best, run. Each spring, a new liter of pups are born and those who tour the Homestead have an opportunity to interact with the puppies. Many people want to take one home, including myself but we are unable to do so. They are pups in training so to speak but human interaction is part of their training as it is when service dogs are trained. The main difference is that the dogs are being trained to do different things. One thing that I found interesting was the fact that mushing dogs like in events like the Iditarod is not a money making event. The average cost is $50,000 per year to run a race which includes training, food, staff and actual prep that happens days in advance of the races which includes putting out directional sticks in the ground and dropping off 50+ pounds of food every so many miles for the dogs just for starters. There are many reasons for why a person would want to run a race with a pack of dogs in below zero cold which is as individual as each person who participates. I like cooler weather but not sure I could handle the freezing temps that go as low as 40 below zero. I now have a new admiration for those who brave the cold and all that encompasses running the Iditarod.
We left Denali and got on a train headed for Anchorage. It was an 8 hour ride and we totally enjoyed the train ride. I couldn’t help but think that my father, Charlie Fuller and grandfather, Sloan Fuller were smiling, knowing that I was riding a train and enjoying the opportunity via their influence. Both were engineers for Norfolk Souther RailRoad. There’s nothing sweeter to me than the sound of a train whistle. When I hear one, I feel safe and I am very grateful for a father that was as wonderful as mine was. Once we arrived in Anchorage, we said goodbye to our Tour Guide, Billie. We stayed the night and headed for the airport for what seemed like forever to get home via Delta Airlines. Our flight was 16 hours long and we had 2 layovers – one in Seattle and the other in Detroit and each lasted roughly 3 hours. We left Anchorage at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday the 13th and go home around 11:00 a.m. on the 14th. Thank goodness for 1st class seats. Needless to say, Mr. Gossett and I were tired and grumpy when we got home but we were grateful to see Birmingham once again. As Dorthy Gail said in the Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.”
Both Mr. Gossett and I are back at work and we’er still talking about the food, the sights and the people we met during our trip. Maybe it won’t be 5 years before our next trip.
As always, God bless and Happy Travels!
