Day Five

Another early start. Out the door by 7.10am. Have downloaded two Anchorage bus apps. One is a ticket app and one is a map and bus updates. We've bought a week's pass so we can hop on and off whenever we like. Used the other app to watch a bus approach. Walked out the house to the bus stop 20 yards away and got on the bus that arrived within 3 seconds. Rode it all the way to the airport. Got off and walked to the Enterprise car rental desk. Collected the car we had booked for the day. We had booked the cheapest one possible but were given a Toyota Camry. 

Candid Camry

Got in and drove off. 

Our first stop of the day was to go back to the ATV tour company and retrieve Ann's phone. Drove north up Alaska 1 to Butte. Collected phone. They had found it down the side of the seat in the minivan. 

Here are yesterday' videos to prove it!

Ann said she was hungry so we Googled diner's on our journey back south and found one. Stopped at it. Bobby' Cafe and Bakery in Chugiak. I had pancakes. Ann had something.

Stopped at a garage to get some drinks and then headed all the way back to Anchorage and then south to our first proper scheduled stop.

Arrived at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center - Animal Sanctuary

Parked up and wandered around. Tried to avoid the Insta generation who were just repeatedly taking pictures of themselves in different poses. Saw lots of animals. Here are some.

Moose

Muskox

Brown Bears

Elks just chillin'

Caribou

Mike Bison

Wily Coyote

Bald Eagle

Hairy Wolves

Also saw this new breed.

Apparently they have been bred to go skydiving and white-water rafting hence the name.

Went to the shop and bought the world's most expensive fridge magnet. Then left. As we were driving out we saw a black bear, but Ann said she couldn't be arsed to stop and look at it. Racist.

Headed not far to the Portage Glacier Cafe for lunch. The less said about that the better. Let's just say if you ever visit the area, don't go there. From there we headed a couple of minutes to Portage Glacier Cruises. Arrived a bit early for our 3pm departure, so stood around a bit in a queue so we could get a good seat up top.

Boat

As we had an online booking, when they let us on they made us go to some bloke who didn't know what he was doing. By the time he had sorted absolutely nothing out, everyone else had boarded meaning we didn't get an upstairs seat. So we just had to stand which worked out really well as we got cracking views of everything.

Cruise was an hour long. Took us down Portage Lake and up to the Portage glacier.

Another day, another glacier

Panorama

V shaped Valley

Whilst we were close to the glacier the crew dragged some broken bits of it onto the boat. They had been floating in the water. People could then be photographed holding it. One got broken up into pieces so people could eat it. Needless to say Ann and I didn't. We just spent the time drinking in the stunning scenery. It was absolutely staggering to be so close to something so awe inspiring. We did see a large lump of the glacier break off and fall into the lake. This is called calving.

Eventually the boat headed back to shore and we deboated. Got in the car and drove back to Anchorage. As we still had a bit of time left we went to Walmart and bought some food. Noticed this oddity in the shop.

What the hell is that?!

Apparently made with nitrogen for a smother feel!

Drove the shopping back to our place and dumped it before driving the car back to the airport. Topped up the gas before we did. For the first time ever we could pay at the pump without having to go inside as they now use chip and pin!! No need for a zip code. We have even been able to use Apple pay at most places to tap and go, it's like the USA has nearly caught up. Some places still require the pointless signature though.

Dropped the car back and hopped on the bus back home. Had some tea. Ann made me sign a waiver for tomorrow's activity so she could send it back online. It promises to be another exciting day. Ann was almost still awake as I typed this although that didn't last long.

States visited - 2

Bear watch - high

Moose watch - high

Wolf watch - high

Danger Bison watch - high

Phones recovered - 1