Coach journeys

We arrived home Saturday, August 12. Our trip mileage was 15, 287. I did all the driving, navigating, planning and reservations. We were gone 82 days. The trip was as close to perfect as could be, and much better than expected. Much better in weather (hardly any rain), and very comfortable temperatures until we hit the heat wave in the lower 48 (except for the CO rockies).

Much better in expenses. Gas, of course was expensive, especially in Canada when converting liters and Alaska, except for Anchorage and Fairbanks, which were less than here in FL. The extreme increase in FL gas made the rest of the country look better for gas prices than here.

Hotel rooms were less than we planned, because of discounts for military, seniors or AAA. Having made most of the reservations in Feb, 2006 ensured us a room that we needed and a lower rate. Also seasonal offers for extra points, online points, and AAA extra points was a great surprise. Enrolling in the points plan at the major chains gave us a few free nights and more to come.

We saw lots of animals, mostly along the road or by the hotels, as in Valdez when the sea otters were swimming in the harbor out of our window. Hardly any animals in Denail NP, the sheep on the hillside were tiny dots (that to me is not counted as an animal!). The surprise was the great number of large rabbits.

We need to think about our favorites, what we missed that we would like to have done (so far none, thank goodness), maybe even the worst (to us), etc.

We both agree that the sled dog ride in Seward was the greatest! Real Iditerod dogs and mushers. Sitting in the "sled" and watching those dogs running and leading it was unbelievable to experience.

We also agree that the worst to us, was the Northern Lights show in Watson Lake, YT. I had heard it was a waste of time and money, but we needed to see for ourselves! I do not know what it had to do with Northern lights! I surely learned nothing about them from the show.