AK Day 6

Written by Lindsay Korst
gngoat@gngoat.org

Alaska by Rail 2025
Special Interest Tours - Trains Magazine

Tuesday, September 9th
Day Six
Talkeetna to Anchorage

A leisurely breakfast at the "Base Camp Bistro" chow line. Bags outside @ 10am. Ya-hew!  Have I mentioned how much I enjoy having my luggage schlepped from place to place?

From the back of the lodge, you can get a partial view of Mount McKinley (partial being the lower part) with the top hidden in the clouds.  Okay, let's go look at this here, Talkeetna town!

We are standing in a long line out front for the shuttle over to town. Out of the corner of my eye, I see this nice maintenance worker fumbling around with a large, green, flexible hose. He's hooking it up to something. A soft rumble, and there comes forth the most horrendous smell, wafting our way.

Yes, they chose this moment to pump out the hotel's septic tank.

The shuttle pulled up to board passengers, who hurried to escape the stench of human ordure....leaving us standing outside without a seat. Sigh. Another 15 minutes to wait for him to return. Like clockwork, the sewer guy started packing up just as the shuttle came back.  Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, YOU STINK!

Talkeetna itself isn't very large, so it was an easy stroll from the shuttle lot to "downtown".

First item of business, locate Nagley's Store and seek an audience with the Mayor, a cat named, "Aurora". The mayor wasn't in (normal domicile is an old dogsled suspended from the ceiling), but the folks inside said she probably took a stroll in the back alley. Off we went in pursuit.

Aurora is a very pretty kitty and talkative, too. She let me scratch behind her ears, then set off on her morning rounds.  Note her tracking collar, so they have a rough idea where she is.

Next door to the Fairview Inn we found some chainsaw art, one of which really caught B's eye. I had to have the moose head, of course, and as of this writing, both are prominently displayed on the premises.

From there, we walked up and down Main Street, taking in all the kitsch and gift stores and schlock in this historic tourist trap. We lunched at the Fairview Inn on Halibut and Chips washing it down with a couple adult beverages.

Let's see, two hours until we board the train to Anchorage. Why not just foot it back to the Lodge? 1.7 miles isn't too far. 

The Hurricane Turn is parked on a siding; I like this guy's license plate; yet another tourist train loading passengers and whistling for the road crossing.

From town to train station to main road was easy. From there, not so much. I had neglected to notice it is STEEPLY UPHILL back to the Lodge.

Baolu is in great shape from tennis/yoga/pilates. I am not. I lowered my head and plodded upward. Gasping for breath, I finally made it after several rest stops, whilst B was fresh as a daisy. That was one serious climb.

B had plenty of time to take pictures of the local flora on the way back.

At the depot, it was pouring outside, so we stayed on the bus until the last minute before boarding.  Red and green signals lit our way as we rolled south towards Anchorage.

Back on the Denali Star for dinner and drinks (including de rigueur) second seating, BUT I requested and got forward-facing seats this time.  So there!

There was a problem with the signal system, so the dispatcher was walking us past each red block. We finally arrived at Anchorage Depot a 1/2 hour late and after dark.  Trusty ol' Ben was there to greet us and got us to the Downtown Hilton (a neat, old circular concrete pile) around 9pm. Bags delivered to room were never so welcome.