Got back to Camano Island Friday night so will try to catch up on the most fabulous trip ever!!! We could not get a signal north of Fairbanks, or all the way down through Canada! (which took 7 days of driving)
Okay, left Denali and headed north to Fairbanks. On our way, (while Laurie was looking in the coupon book for a place for lunch) she found this coupon for a river raft ride down the Kenai River. Two for one!! "Hey lets call" We were 200 yards from the rafting place...............must be fate! After being outfitted in rain gear, big ol' boots, and life jackets, we climbed into a rubber raft with 4 other people and the guide and drifted down the river. Saw tons of eagles and some of the most peaceful nature. It was a delightful spur of the moment adventure!!
Then off to our bed and breakfast in Fairbanks. I had not told the girls because I wanted to surprise them. These folks had bought several train cars from The Alaska Railway and turned then into the most delightful b & b. We had an 80 ft. long Pullman car with 4 berths (I was too long....I think people were shorter back then) They had rehabbed it back to its original glory, right out of the 20's. The diner car was down the track a few cars and was so cool. Susan and Mike were great innkeepers and took such good care of us. It was so cool at night, we stretched out in our berth and looked down the mountain to the lights of the city!!! Course, it never did get dark! On our last day there we went up to the house to pay our bill and walked in to a stuffed polar bear standing on it's hind legs to about 12 feet. Well out came the pictures and story! Back in '98 Susan and a friend were up in Barrow, Alaska when her friend was charged by this bear. He could not get to his rifle in time and the bear picked him up and threw him around like a rag doll. Susan was able to get the gun and started shooting, but now before the bear swiped his paw across the top of her head. The bear finally dropped, but he had laid the top of her head open. Some nearby folks called 911 and got a helicopter in and they flew her to Seattle where she remained for a month. It was a miracle that she even lived. Unfortunately her friend did not make it. Alaska is FULL of stories.
I will continue this tomorrow.....my signal if failing........more to come later!
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