The adventure begins!!

Arrived Anchorage  at 5am without any sleep.  While I was waiting for the rental place to open I checked out what is apparently the worlds biggest Halibut.  Not only is it huge but how ugly too!

Picked up the car (a JEEP!) and then picked up some essential supplies from Walmart and the headed to Talkeetna.  Some sensational views of Denali (Mt McKinley) which is only like this about 30% of the time during summer. It is the one on the right with the others being Mt Foraker and Hunter

 As the weather was so good I thought I would do the summit flight we couldn't do last time but again I was denied.  Something about safety?  Opted for another glacier landing trip instead.  The pilot, Trent, looked about 12 and the plane has a compliance plate from 1954.  What could go wrong?  Nothing is the answer and it was awesome again.

Exhausted from the excitement I went to The West Rib for dinner.  Made famous on the Man Vs Food show for their Sewards Folly burger, I instead chose the Caribou Mignon and Halibut surf and turf.  Accompanied by a glass of the local "Ice Axe Ale" which comes in at 9.5% alc all was good.

Retired - to recover from it all - to the Denali Overlook Inn.  The best place in Talkeetna for accommodation with views regardkess of whether Denali is visible or not.  View from their back lawn!!

Next day headed towards Cantwell which is the start of the Denali Highway.  Somewhere around there is a derelict hotel in the shape of an igloo.  Probably a good idea when they thought of it but didn't work obviously.

Cantwell itself is depressing and the folk who work there seem sad.  Nowheresville really.  Just short of my mid highway accommodation I was charged by two Caribou.  I think both thought the car was smaller than it looked from the 300m or so where they started their run and by the time they got up close they chickened out and ran into the bush.  The first one is on the dashcam and this is his friend

Alpine creek lodge is at mile marker 68 and is perched high up on a ridge with spectacular views.  Aside from running the lodge they do hunting and hiking tours all year round.  Very tough lifestyle in winter.  They also have an amazing collection of pelts, antlers and various mounted beasties.Their Lynx pelt was extraordinarily soft and the Ermine was cute (but dead)

View from the lodge

The next day I completed the remainder of the Denali Highway which was full of spectacular scenery no photo could do justice.  No wonder National Geographic voted it #2  of the top 10 driver's drives worldwide!!   http://travel.nationalgeographic.com.au/travel/top-10/drivers-drives-traveler/

And finally just before Fairbanks is the town of North Pole which celebrates Christmas all year round.  Just follow Santa Clause Lane to the Christmas shop.

Checked into the hotel, planned my sightseeing for tomorrow and get ready for the Haul Road.

Honolulu

Arrived Honolulu around 10am.  Picked up the car and took a trip around Oahu, stopping for some "shrimp" at one of the North shore towns seafood caravans. Checked into the hotel for a relaxing spa

before heading out for some dinner, a visit to the Duke

 and sleep.  The next day the girls were keen to get on board so they were dropped at the ship at the earliest time.

  I went to the war cemetary which is inside an extinct volcanic cone with great views over the city

and then to the airport for my big Alaska adventure.