[Travelandtourism] Ted Shelly response

Mon Jan 5 02:18:40 UTC 2009

I've also done the Alaska cruise.  We did it twice; once stopping in 
Ketchikan, Sitka and Juneau, the first time, and Ketchikan, Juneau and 
Skagway, the second time.  Glacier Bay is really amazing.  We heard a chunk 
of ice break off the glacier.  Another passenger just happened to be 
videoing the glacier, at that moment, and caught it on film.  He said it was 
beautiful...with all the colors flashing from the ice.  We're going to 
Alaska again, next August.

Cindy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Ted Shelly response

Thanks for your descriptions.  It is only minus 1 here today (I am in
Minnesota.)

I did the Alaska cruise thing, Scagway, Juneau, glaciers etc., and
thought it was awesome.  I was really impressed, and want to do it
again before global warming gets glaciers.  I also realize very
different from your part of Alaska.

Dave

At 02:16 PM 1/4/2009, you wrote:
>Hi Ted,
>
>I'm hoping this response back to you is done correctly, my apologize if 
>not.
>I actually live in Fairbanks, and have been here for almost 13 years now,
>making me what's known as a "sourdough", one that has survived more than 
>one
>winter season in the Interior. It is definitely winter here in the 
>Interior,
>with temps yesterday of -62, and airlines having difficulties with
>freeze-ups. My wife had her flight to New York delayed until last night
>because her plane froze up on her. The highs today may reach -44, but with
>ice fog, and less than 4 hours of sunlight, I'll bet against it.
>
>I came to Alaska back in 1995, just like all those "crazy" people who just
>packed everything up one day and headed out to the Great White North. I 
>came
>with my wife at the time, and four kids in a conversion van filled to the
>gills, traveling from Wisconsin up the Alcan Highway and into Anchorage. On
>the way we hit deer, figuratively speaking, in Wisconsin, snow in Edmonton
>on the last day of summer, and sub-zero temps in the Yukon before we even
>got to Alaska. Anchorage was a nice place to live for a year, but we came 
>to
>Alaska not to live in a big city, so in 1996 we moved to Fairbanks, and 
>have
>stayed since. We have survived +90 degree temps, mosquitoes that could 
>carry
>you away (exaggeration), the sun all day long in the summer, cold that 
>would
>make the heartiest of men freeze up, and the most beautiful Northern Lights
>ever to behold. I firmly believe that God has blessed this land.
>
>I own an assistive technology business, and do quite a bit of traveling,
>including to Anchorage, Bethel, and to Barrow. Bethel and Barrow are
>classified as "the bush"  because there are no roadways that connect to
>them, so the only way in to them is via rivers or by plane, when they are
>able to fly to them. Travel is difficult at times, especially in the bush,
>because you may not catch a plane out for a day or two because of the
>weather, winds, snow, or anything else, so getting stranded does occur, but
>the generosity of the bush communities is just awesome, and they take you 
>in
>until you can leave. Travel often times involve a one or two seat single
>prop plane, so when you fly over the mountains, or over the flats, it is
>like you are flying yourself, and is truly a unique experience.
>
>The Iditarod is quite a big thing here, but only once did it start here in
>Fairbanks, and that was because of the lack of snow in Anchorage and the
>trails out . It was so big, that schools closed, and a lot of businesses as
>well to get out to the starting spot, and on the outlying trail. We have 
>the
>Yukon Quest here in Fairbanks, where the racers start or end , they
>alternate yearly, and end up in Whitehorse Yukon. The race starts/finishes,
>downtown on the frozen Chena River, and is lines with fans as far as you 
>can
>see. I have seen the start only once, and have seen some of the late
>finishers when they have come in as I have crossed the river, but I haven't
>made it a point to see every year, the weather plays a big factor in that.
>
>My parents, who live in Milwaukee, treated myself and my wife, as well as 
>my
>other family members to an Alaska Cruise last summer, and hit the Inside
>Passages. If you have the opportunity, this is something that should be
>done. The cruise was great, the sights were great, according to my wife, 
>and
>to visit the other parts of Alaska that we cannot get to was a big bonus 
>for
>us as well. The cruise line we were on, Princess, were very accommodating
>with myself being blind, and with aiding me with the needs of my seeing eye
>dog, even setting up a "litter box" for her in one of the crew areas, that
>was cleaned out twice a day. I had people bending over backwards for Rio 
>and
>whatever she needed. Once on the land tours, the staff was just as
>accommodating to our needs as well, helping us with the train, walking on
>and off the boat, setting up rides to and from attractions if we needed
>them, and anything else we needed. So, yes, take the Cruise if you can, but
>take a couple of extra days to get to Fairbanks in the Interior to enjoy 
>the
>real Alaska, and Alaskan hospitality.
>
>Thanks for your questions, please let me know if I can help you out any
>more.
>Bill
>
>
>
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