North to Alaska: Day 22

Welcome! Day 22 (Aug 30) of North to Alaska

Quote. “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” Gilbert K. Chesterton

Today we started our day with breakfast at 9:00 AM. Today’s agenda includes a ride on the Girwood-Spencer Whistle Stop train and a Spencer Glacier Iceberg Float trip, before heading back to Anchorage by bus for the end of Train Trip Phase 1.

After breakfast we packed up and headed out to the train station. We had a close call getting to the train on time since the hotel staff was concentrating on getting people ready to depart on a cruise. But we made it. This was a different train than the one we had ridden earlier in the week. It did take the long way to get to the Iceberg by taking a trip thru Whittier which we plan to explore next week. Once at the whistle stop we took a short but very bumpy bus ride to the lake. There were twelve total for the float trip, we each go a PFD. Our raft was truly a float trip as we did not have to paddle. Our guide who is one of the owners of the company did all the paddling. Normally we would circle some icebergs and then head down the river but today the water was calm so we did the icebergs and then headed up to the glacier even touching it. We did have one anxious moment, as we got stuck on an iceberg. 90% of an iceberg is below water and the part below water spreads out more than what is on top. We were very close to the top part and drug bottom in the center of the raft. We moved around and jumped up and down and finally broke loose. By the time we broke loose the other raft got to us, I yelled “next time I float with you” of course we all laughed. We learned a lot as our guide was very knowledgeable about glaciers and icebergs as he is a native Alaskan and has done this job for 12 years. Before he and his wife bought the company.

After the float trip we again boarded the train for a short trip to Portage where we boarded a bus (Motor Coach) and arrived back in Anchorage around 7 PM. Cassie again had wings from Pizza Hut before ending the day.

Tomorrow brings more adventure as the mountain is calling.