“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” — Jawaharal Nehru
I saw my first trumpeter swan in Alaska. — Wikimedia photo by Donna Dewhurst.
2001 Memories of a Non-Wandering Wanderer
Less wild, but just as beautiful, the 275 or so miles from Denali National Park to Alaska, took quite a bit more than the average six hours to drive because of sightseeing stops along the way.
A postcard of the Anchorage bed and breakfast where I stayed for two days.
One of those first sights along the way was a pair of beautiful trumpeter swans on a lake. I immediately did a U-turn for a closer, and longer look. It was a lifer for me. Although looking much like the tundra swan, of which I had seen thousands at Bear River Migratory Bird Refugee in Utah, the trumpeter is much larger. It is, with a wing span of six feet and weighing in at about 25 pounds, North America’s largest waterfowl.
What a great start, I thought, for the day.
Another spot along my drive that slowed my progress was the small and quaint village of Talkeetna, which felt very Alaskan. It was exactly the opposite of how I felt when I drove into Anchorage for the first time. Even the weather here is different, with more moderate winters because of its location in the southern portion of the state.
Talkeetna welcome sigh
Anchorage’s large population, close to half a million residents, and yuppie espresso shops made the city feel more like California than Alaska.
The bed and breakfast I had booked for two nights, however, had the feel of Alaska that I preferred. It was run by two great old ladies, one who cooked and took care of the flowers, and the other who took care of the business.
Yet another great day!
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Bean Pat: Something to keep in mind. http://tinyurl.com/jfrz43y
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