Have you ever fantasized about traveling to an exotic place? I have and that dream was realized this past summer in the road trip of a lifetime.
Alaska puts everything in perspective. While we spend so much time and energy in our lives worrying and stressing about things, the scale of the surrounding landscape makes it all seem insignificant. The mountains and rivers have been there for sometimes millions of years. We spend, what, about eighty or so years trying to make a living?? Okay, it's not all that bad but, as we whizzed down the bumpy roads of Alaska, I sure felt small...in a good way.
I couldn't help feeling like the whole sensory experience had some kind of spiritual presence. I'm not religious but I certainly sensed some kind of higher power.
Aurora Ice Museum
Made from over one thousand tons of snow and ice, the Aurora Ice Museum is open year-round. Parkas are required for the tour but the ice sculptures inside are masterful.
Aurora Ice Bar
You can order a martini at the bar in a glass made of ice! I didn't indulge but it was fun to watch others trying to hold the glass :)
Ice Martini Glass
A unique part of the museum visit. Otherwise known as the glass that couldn't be stolen.
Ice Sculpture
The amazing pieces found in the museum were created by 16-time world champion ice carver Steve Brice and his wife Heather, a 7-time champ!
Because it generates its own weather system and the weather itself is so unpredictable in Alaska, it was a miracle we got to see Denali at all. Some friends of ours spent time in the park and saw nothing but clouds. Seeing it for the first time as the park bus wound its way through the Polychrome Pass was like seeing an IMAX screen times one hundred. It is massive!! For the three or four times I took the bus through the park, I had the same reaction each time.
Quintessential Alaska
Nothing says Alaska like bald eagles and snow-covered mountains. Here, an adult and adolescent eagle wait by the harbor in Haines for discarded fish guts to emerge from fishing boats.
On the Wing
There are few things more graceful than a bald eagle in flight. There is an abundance of these amazing raptors all along the Seward waterfront.
Black Bears
This was shot in British Columbia. Strangely enough, we saw few bears in Alaska itself. This was a serendipitous photograph. I was out driving around looking for photo opps and was about to turn around when I saw what I thought was a dog running across the road but it was a young black bear!
Willow Ptarmigan
This fascinating bird has a brown plumage during the summer months but that changes to a pure white in winter. This effectively makes the Ptarmigan all but disappear in the snow, helping to perpetuate its survival.
Alaska SeaLife Center
This center is the only facility in Alaska that combines a public aquarium with marine research and education.
Many people who visit this great state want to fish for halibut, of course. My wife Linda really wanted to do it but I was less enthusiastic. I get horrible sea sickness out on the waves. I did it anyway because that's just the kind of guy I am :)
Actually, I spent the entire trip out to sea puking my guts up. Still, we managed to catch some nice big halibut (read: Linda caught everything). It was worth it, though, because now we have a freezer full of delicious fish!
Reflections
Although not located in Alaska, this is a shot of Muncho Lake in British Columbia on the way north. I was stricken by the mirror-like surface in the middle of the day! A rarity, in my experience.
Two Distinct Worlds
Logic tells us that there is only one reality. That may be true but I can't help thinking that the world inside a reflection is equally as real.
We were lucky to have traversed the rocky and gravelly roads of Alaska relatively unscathed. Huge ice heaves can cause significant damage to a vehicle. Our secret was to drive S-L-O-W.
Alaska is such a singular and unique adventure that it's tough to find anything like it in the Lower 48. We hope to return at some point but probably not in our 40-foot motorhome. Next time we'll be a little more nimble.
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