Today was our first real day with the tour group. We started off with a three hour bus ride to Talkeetna. Once we got to Talkeetna we got on a power boat, we road the boat to a little island in the middle of the river. The river was 36 degrees, and was moving very fast. When we first got off the island the nature guide told us why she was carrying a shot gun. She said she was carrying the gun just in case we saw a bear. She then explained that if we did see a bear we should all huddle in a big circle and slowly back away. With that cleared up we began our walk.

The first thing they showed us was a three walled lean-to that the Indians lived in. Then we saw a trapper’s cabin. There was the cabin, where the trapper lived, and a little hut up on stilts to store all the meat and furs. Then we headed back to the boat. As we were heading back to the boat they told us that on the way back we would have some fun and make sharp turns, and go in circles. But once we got to the boat we realized that wasn’t going to happen right then, because one of the three engines wouldn’t turn on. Then to make matters more complicated another boat needed to unload passengers at the dock, but the boat we were on could not move all of us with out the third engine. So we all stood to one side of the boat, and thankfully it moved. Then we got back to shore and called the mechanic. We waited on the shore while the mechanic looked at the boat, and thankfully got it running. Then we took our ride, and got to experience the spinning. Then we drove back to the town of Talkeetna. The town is only about 3 blocks long. Then we checked into our new gorgeous hotel. All in all I think it was a great first day!

-- Grace

The first day the four of us got to Alaska, we went to a see a movie about the Aurora Borealis in Alaska. So, it starts out fine with someone telling us about how very little is known about the Aurora and how no one really understands it, except the fact that is caused by all these particles from the sun flares that get caught up in the earth’s magnetic field. And that’ all I got from the movie, but then he started showing him going out to a lake with his three tripods and three cameras. Then it shows him just waiting for the Aurora to come and put on a show in the night sky. Then he starts talking about……. nothing. He just stopped talking all together. The rest of the movie was just pictures and videos of the Aurora at night in every single possible way shape, way, form, and color you could ever imagine. There would be music playing in the background. This went on, and on, and on, for about a half an hour at the least. The whole show took about half of your life at the least.
-- Marina

Our intrepid guide to the flora and fauna of Talkeenta, prepared to project us from bears with a rifle almost as big as she is.

Marina modeling a fox fur.

"Things happen" in Alaska. Here the mechanic arrives to fix the third engine in the jet boat so that we can get back to the Lodge. A quick jump with a spare battery and we were on our way.

From Donna

We arrived at 1am after an uneventful but spectacular flight over the mountains into Anchorage. Our biggest surprise was how light it was outside when we arrived - the sun was just at the horizon. Apparently, the days are so long here in the summer that they basically just don't end.

Today we explored Anchorage a bit. We weren't quite hitting our stride. First, we tried to go to a museum with a simulated earthquake exhibit, but couldn't find it, only to learn it had been torn down. Then we went to a movie about the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) which was quite lovely and interesting for the first ten minutes but unfortunately went on for thirty more minutes. Then we decided to go to the Native Heritage Center by walking to the bus, waiting fifteen minutes, and then only finding it was full, and refused to take us, with another one an uncertain amount of additional wait. (Taxi to the rescue.) At the Center, we stopped for lunch, where they were out of salmon, out of lobster, and had no milk or OJ. Hmmm ... they're still working on this tourism thing in Alaska!

Things looked up when we explored the Native Heritage Center. They had terrific replica villages of native Alaskans, staffed with articulate young guides. We also watched demonstration of native games and dances.

The weather was spectacular, so we all ended up quite happy with our goofy day. At dinner, we met the tour guide, who seems quite capable, and noticed (but did not talk to) the many other teenagers on our trip.

We have a free day in Anchorage today. The downtown area is architecturally quite bland, except for the occasional decorated salmon.

Donna practicing her hunting skills at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

Our hotel is on the shore of a lake that is the busiest "airport" for float planes in the world.

Donna, Marina, Grace and I are off on another great adventure -- this time to Alaska, on a bus-based family-oriented tour run by Tauck Tours. But it's supposed to be more than just buses; we're looking forward to small planes, jetboats, rafts, ATVs, dogs, bicycles, and who knows what else as transportation. Stay tuned.