I am almost back to Port Townsend.I have experienced a rock slide, the loss of a hiking shoe sole,rain,National Park closure,an unexpected night in a hotel because of the road closure, and now, in the train ride from Denali to Anchorage, the train
had to be joined by a pilot train to take us through a fire that was still burning up to the tracks. It must be exciting to live in Alaska. On the 90 mile,6 hour drive to the train depot, we counted 13 grizzlies that we saw, a red fox that would not move off
of the road and ran in front of the bus for at least 1/4 of a mile, caribou, one bald eagle and a ground squirrel. We were so lucky with the weather. We actually got to see Denali for several days before the rain and grey skies came. I learned so much about
the ground cover,permafrost, rocks,trees,mining,lost dreams of the gold rush and how difficult life can be in the Yukon, and out door toilets. I am in the not so warm airport but there is running hot water and toilets that flush. My traveling companion grandson
is at another gate and soon we will all be back where we started. What an adventure! I hope that Noodle remembers me.