A Bonus Train Journey

Friday July 12th

This was the earliest we have every had to get up.  We had to be in the theatre ready to leave at 6am.

 A last look at the theatre.


  We had chosen to take the Grand View scenic train from Seward to Anchorage and it left at 7am. Celebrity are so well organised.  We were left a letter and form in our room on the second day to let them know what we wanted to do for transfer options at the end of the cruise. Bags had to be packed and outside the room at 11pm the night before.
Breakfast was being served from 5.30 and we really wanted to make sure we were up in time for this.

We had chosen the option of the train over the coach and what a great choice.  It has to rate as one of the world's great rail journeys.  It was really like having another tour on the last day. The train climbed up through the mountains and down the other side.  The gradient was so steep the brakes squealed and smelt!  One part was like the Raurimu Spiral.

We could see the other part of the train in fron of us winding down in a  spiral.

We saw at least 4 more glaciers and many wetlands and silt laden rivers feed by the glaciers.

Lake after lake with mirror images.  Not a cloud in the sky!

Wetlands, forests and mountains.

Signs of life alongside a lake but these were few and far between. 

One of the many glaciers we saw along the way.

The sky was really blue.  the hostess on the train was saying wow this is one of the best days ever on this trip.  She was pointing out things you can't usually see.

Our bags had gone on ahead of the train and were all waiting for us at Anchorage airport.  Everything was organised and ran like a well oiled machine.  The cruise was outstanding in every aspect and the fact that we had 6 out of 7 days perfect weather was a talking point amongst all passengers and crew. There is no guarantee of good weather but apparently this one was particularly good.

And as for me Patariki, I had to wait until they took me to the Anchorage airport to see a real bear!  But I was quite safe, he was in a class case.

A straightforward flight to Vancouver was followed by an encounter with a very grumpy taxi driver.  After  spending a week with the politest, friendliest and happiest people who couldn't do enough to help you, this was a return to the real world I guess.