Aussie Dawson's Holiday Adventures: Day in Seward then train to Anchorage

Saturday 8th June 2013
Weather fine blue skies and 20C.
Sleep in this morning up at 7am breakfast in the hotel lobby and checked out at 9am.

View from our room in Seward - Murphy's Inn

Walked down to the wharf area to be collected for our Iditarod Dog Sledding Kennels. A short drive to the kennels. Our guide today is Matt Gibbon - he has done the race a number of times and his whole life is devoted to the dogs. We got to see the dogs had a ride on the summer carts, as no snow for a sled ride. Sled on wheels with 6 people and the driver on board and pulled by a team of 14 dogs. Following the rise we got to hold the puppies from their first litter of the year they are about 3 weeks old, so cute!! More litters due within days so lucky to see some puppies.We all got our dog fix this morning as our beautiful girls Milly & Macy are at home. Great experience, learnt about the dogs, sleds and details of the Racing equipment used in the Iditarod Sled race a 1049 mile race from Anchorage to Nome, with the winner taking home $50,000 run in early March in the darkness and freezing temps.They start with a team of 16 dogs and have mandatory stops every 50 miles. This race was won this year 2013 by Mitch Seavey in 9 days 7 Hours and 34 minutes. He is the owner of the kennels we are visiting. Shuttle ride back into downtown near the Sealife Centre. Lunch first in a Burger Cafe in the main street.

The Kennels

Rest time - Summer Cart & Dog Team

View from Cart track

Spent a couple of hours visited the Alaska Sealife Centre a fitting legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement, costing $56M to build. The only cold water marine science facility in the Western Hemisphere. Viewing their displays, tanks and short films. Large Sea Lion 1200lbs he was huge. Outdoor viewing platform with views of Resurrection Bay.

Outside and at the top of the walking/bike river walk back to Seward Harbour, stands the Mile "0" Start of the National Historic Trail of the 1200 mile Iditarod Race (it is now only 1000 miles) in 1995 legendary Mitch Seavey mushed from Seward to Anchorage for the start of the race. He finished in 20th that year. We walked back along river with many people in the parks swimming and flying kites. The track pastes the camping and RV Parks = Caravan Parks Australia , (Recreational Vehicles - buses some of them are huge, 5th wheelers which are large vans hooked onto the back of a large ute, truck size) many people in town for the summer holidays to enjoy the long daylight hours. Approx 19 hours of daylight.

Mile "0"

View along River walk in Seward

RV's in the RV park along the River

We ended our walk at the Ice Cream shop for a well earnt Ice Creams as it is sunny & hot now. Walked back to our hotel to collect our bags and catch a taxi to the Railway station ready for our 6pm depature on our 4 hour 114 miles Train Journey to Anchorage. It took 8 years to build this railway and travels 470 miles from Seward to Fairbanks. We are traveling in a Gold Class Dome carriage with open viewing decks. This is another of the worlds best Train Journey's and one of the most famous rides in Alaska and boy did we find out why! The scenery was just Breathe taking Spectacular with Lakes, Step Gorges, Snow capped Mountains all around, Glaciers, sightings of Moose, Bears and even a Porcupine. On the approach to Anchorage Turnagain Arm which is an inlet with views out to the Gulf of Alaska. Sun low in the sky as we arrived. sunset Arrived in Anchorage at 10.15pm, finally have our luggage last ones to be moved closer for collection. Free shuttle to our Hotel arriving about 11pm. Showers and Bed at midnight and it is still light outside. Wow what a full on day! Think we will be coming home for a rest!