Day Nine

Our last day in Alaska. We had to be out of the apartment by 11am so we were not in too much of a rush. Our flight wasn't until early evening so we had an agreement with the owner that we could store our luggage in the garage for the day so we could still get out and about and then come back and collect it before heading to the airport. Ann messaged him this morning to check how to get into the garage and he responded saying that the next people in weren't arriving until really late, so we could leave it in the apartment and keep the key until later. Basically we could check out at 4pm instead of 11am.

With this sorted we eventually headed out. Caught the bus to downtown Anchorage and from there walked to the visitor centre. We then booked ourselves onto the one hour Trolley tour of the city. Got on the trolley. It wasn't that busy. The woman tried to entertain us as she drove us around 'the sights' but in truth there is not much to see in Anchorage. We saw the train depot from which we had caught a train, a statue of Captain James Cook, a house built underground (just someone's house) and then Earthquake Park, so called because it suffered a loss of many homes during the 9.2 earthquake that hit 75 miles southeast of Anchorage in 1964. It remains the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded since the age of modern seismology. Had a look at Lake Spenard which is where people take off and land their water planes. There is a 12 year waiting list to get a mooring spot.

Eventually the trolley ended back at the start. We got out and went in some tat shops. Saw a grizzly bear.

If you are going to bear, bear grizzly!

Decided to have lunch. Walked to a bus stop. Caught the wrong bus. The bus we wanted was actually just behind us. It took us past our apartment so I said to Ann we'll get off there and then get on the other one when it stopped. Got off bus. The other bus overtook us as we stopped. Went back to the apartment to dump stuff. Came back out when another bus was on its way. Got on it.

Had lunch at the samiscitydiner.com I had pancakes and a chocolate milkshake. Ann had something.

50's Diner

Lots of drink

Eventually left when I could finally move and caught the bus back to the apartment. Packed up the final bits and then set out for the airport. Caught the 40 bus to the airport. It smelt of wee due to a couple of the passengers. Another younger guy introduced himself to me. He was Joel. Where was I from? Was I going to the airport? Why was I in Alaska? Is cannabis legal in the UK? Had I sampled some pot whilst in Anchorage? Unlike every other bus ride we had taken, this one seemed to stop at every bus stop due to someone getting on or off. Seemed to take forever to get to the airport. Finally arrived and we got off very relieved to be away from the smell.

Checked our luggage. Took an age to get through security, by far the longest of any of the five flights so far. Went to the gate and waited. Got on plane. It was packed. Flight droned on. No entertainment is provided by Alaska Airlines. Stared at the back of the seat in front for most of it. We took some sandwiches on we had made as you have to pay for food as well. Eventually the five and half hours passed and we arrived in Honolulu.

We celebrated our achievement of visiting all fifty states with a small fist bump as we deplaned. No one was there to give us flower leis as we arrived. Very disappointing. Collected our luggage. Without fail Ann's bag always arrives first. 

Caught an Uber to where we are staying which is the Aqua Palms Waikiki. Odd set up as it is a hotel, but people can buy rooms and then rent them out, so we are in a hotel but not a hotel room as such. Bit odd. It is now very late as it is 12.20am local time, which is 2.20am to us. I think Ann has just fallen asleep. She was talking to me ten seconds ago but now is out like a light.

States visited - 3

Total states visited - 50