The Record Goes to Alaska
by Ralph C. Johnson
After many trips to our 49th state Carol and I took the Renovo Record along this past August. Over the years we have come to enjoy all the venues Alaska has to offer, from urban to the vast wilderness areas it encompasses. We have seen many different animals that we don’t have in the lower 48 states and enjoy their pristine habitat.
We have successfully fished for halibut and sent home our catch to enjoy over the summer, viewed Mount Denali and many glaciers too numerous to list.
As pictured with The Record in hand, Carol and I visited Kodiak Island, which is at the beginning of the Aleutian Chain. These remote islands are the home base for the t.v. series Deadliest Catch. It is always exciting to see the majestic fishing vessels from the show up close in real life.
This past trip we visited Homer Spit where we were lucky enough to view nesting black-legged kittiwakes. They had placed nests on every available ledge on the dock where we tied up. The raucous noise they made caused excitement and joy to the many birders that were on board the Maasdam, our Holland America ship.
One of the highlights of this last trip was a float plane ride to Taku Glacier. While enroute I had the opportunity to sit in the copilot seat and view the many glaciers we flew over. We landed on the Taku River and went into a lodge that was built in the early 19th century. While there we learned about the remote area while the owners cooked fresh-caught salmon on the outdoor grill. When it was time to serve the salmon a black bear came out of the woods and licked the juices off of the grill! It was a great pohoto opportunity. We were informed that the bear comes to lunch every time they cook. After lunch we toured the area and then flew back to Juneau. Other than fishing excursions, this is perhaps the most exciting adventure we have had.
It is extremely difficult to explain the wonders of Alaska in a short article accompanied by a few snapshots; however it is a destination which draws you back.
I am sure in the future we will return to Alaska for more adventures as we continue to travel this wonderful planet and enjoy its splendor.
