Alaska - Day 10

Departure day from Alaska meant one last look at the hanging baskets of flowers at the hotel, an early breakfast and our last look at the city of Anchorage and Cook Inlet as we drove to the airport. After traveling 2,128 miles together, we said goodbye to Don Hazelwood, our Premier Coach driver.

We flew from Anchorage to Seattle on Alaska Airlines, then from Seattle to Minneapolis on Northwest. It was still light out when we landed, but by the time we were on the Southwest Tours bus, we saw the moon and stars for the first time in ten days.

On the way home we talked about how we have changed or what we had learned on our tour. We agreed that we are all now gold miners. We know about the midnight sun. We know that gas prices are much higher in a state where it is drilled and refined. We have discovered that at least two of the people are capable of repair work on bar tables and that one is a prospective marathon runner, especially when a possible photograph is the goal. We have discovered that there is such a beautiful world out there and that the people you meet in the North are probably the friendliest people anywhere. Finally, we have made many new friends after spending these 10 days together. - Laurel Johnson, Tour Director