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After 3 hours sleep, we reluctantly arose to face the first proper day of our adventure and the other travellers with whom we will be spending our time.
We went for breakfast in the Slippery Salmon next to the hotel. It was quite pleasant except for the paper plates, plastic cutlery and polystyrene cups! Still, it was complementary and we weren't expecting it so we enjoyed it. We met Jen and 'Young Al' at breakfast. It had taken them less time to travel from Australia than it had for us!
Next we boarded the coach and proceeded along the side of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. Apparently named by named by William Bligh (HMS Bounty) who served as Captain James Cook's sailing master when searching for the 'Northwest Passage'. Cook ordered a party be sent up the Knit Arm only to find that it was the mouth of a river. A second party was then dispatched Jo the Turnagain Arm with the same result, hence they had to 'turn again' and so it was named.
In 1964, the second most powerful earthquake recorded in the USA hit Anchorage. We passed the resulting 'Ghost Forest' of trees that died as a result of salt from the ensuing tsunami inundating their roots.
The Bore Tides
The bore tide is a huge wave or series of waves that advance down Turnagain Arm in a wall of water up to 10-feet high. It is a rush of seawater that returns to a shallow and narrowing inlet from a broad bay. Bore tides come in after extreme minus low tides created by the full or new moon. Every summer, surfers flock to Turnagain Arm to ride the bore tide.
We were advised to watch out for Dall sheep, bald eagles and beluga whales but we didn't see anything. The scenery was breathtaking with the Chugach and Kenai mountains patched with snow and one or two glaciers. We continued through the Chugach National Forest to Portage Lake where we boarded the MV Ptarmigan (national bird of Alaska) for a cruise to the terminal of Portage Glacier. The water is a dull, grey colour due to the suspension of glacial silt. This prevents the sun from penetrating and so the lake is devoid of life. It was hard to believe that only a few weeks ago, the lake was frozen solid and we could still see big chunks of ice floating around the base of the glacier. The glacier itself is awesome, especially the intense blue caused by the density of the ice causing every colour but blue to be absorbed.
We stopped for a delicious clam chowder on our return to Anchorage. We ate with Sheila and Ric************ly other British couple on the trip with us. Originally from Preston, they now live in Edinburgh.
We spent the rest of the beautifully warm and sunny afternoon wandering around the shops. We visited the 'earthquake experience', which was a short documentary film about the events in 1964, enhanced by shaking seats to make it feel more authentic.
After sampling a reindeer sausage, we decided to head back to the hotel and succumb to the jet lag that had been taunting us all afternoon.
We went for breakfast in the Slippery Salmon next to the hotel. It was quite pleasant except for the paper plates, plastic cutlery and polystyrene cups! Still, it was complementary and we weren't expecting it so we enjoyed it. We met Jen and 'Young Al' at breakfast. It had taken them less time to travel from Australia than it had for us!
Next we boarded the coach and proceeded along the side of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. Apparently named by named by William Bligh (HMS Bounty) who served as Captain James Cook's sailing master when searching for the 'Northwest Passage'. Cook ordered a party be sent up the Knit Arm only to find that it was the mouth of a river. A second party was then dispatched Jo the Turnagain Arm with the same result, hence they had to 'turn again' and so it was named.
In 1964, the second most powerful earthquake recorded in the USA hit Anchorage. We passed the resulting 'Ghost Forest' of trees that died as a result of salt from the ensuing tsunami inundating their roots.
The Bore Tides
The bore tide is a huge wave or series of waves that advance down Turnagain Arm in a wall of water up to 10-feet high. It is a rush of seawater that returns to a shallow and narrowing inlet from a broad bay. Bore tides come in after extreme minus low tides created by the full or new moon. Every summer, surfers flock to Turnagain Arm to ride the bore tide.
We were advised to watch out for Dall sheep, bald eagles and beluga whales but we didn't see anything. The scenery was breathtaking with the Chugach and Kenai mountains patched with snow and one or two glaciers. We continued through the Chugach National Forest to Portage Lake where we boarded the MV Ptarmigan (national bird of Alaska) for a cruise to the terminal of Portage Glacier. The water is a dull, grey colour due to the suspension of glacial silt. This prevents the sun from penetrating and so the lake is devoid of life. It was hard to believe that only a few weeks ago, the lake was frozen solid and we could still see big chunks of ice floating around the base of the glacier. The glacier itself is awesome, especially the intense blue caused by the density of the ice causing every colour but blue to be absorbed.
We stopped for a delicious clam chowder on our return to Anchorage. We ate with Sheila and Ric************ly other British couple on the trip with us. Originally from Preston, they now live in Edinburgh.
We spent the rest of the beautifully warm and sunny afternoon wandering around the shops. We visited the 'earthquake experience', which was a short documentary film about the events in 1964, enhanced by shaking seats to make it feel more authentic.
After sampling a reindeer sausage, we decided to head back to the hotel and succumb to the jet lag that had been taunting us all afternoon.
- comments
Hicster How much? You'd need fur to swim in that ice!
Hicster Not good for swimming then
Hickster I assume you bought two. R
Hickster It looks beautiful. Good choice for a cruise. And everybody speaks English.
Jean Hudson That's a cheeky comment, Mr Hickey!
Jean Hudson Pleased you arrived safely! Looks and sounds fab!
Jenny 7 Phil Glad you finally made it. Journey sounds horrendous - thought the San Fran crash would affect you. Now you're there, the scenery sounds beautiful so well done for keeping awake to enjoy it! Still very hot here but guy coming tonight about fitting conservatory roof, so maybe we'll have a room we can use soon.
Jackieshaw Fabulous photo