"Not that tight, Bruce" Still in there? Back on shore at last and then a short stroll into… Dodging traffic on Talkeetna's main street. Midnight at the hotel Fortunately, the train was just a short, soggy, wa… We made a vain attempt at perky too. Early morning… Day 9: Off the ship at an ungodly hour to catch th… On board the train and striving to look perky. Bye, bye, Island Princess The Cooke Inlet at low tide. They have the second… On our way to Talkeetna Moving inland Denali Brewing Co. log walls are chinked with the… Perking up! Gateway to Denali A delighful lunch at the Denali Brewing Co., Talke… Refreshed, and off to discover new gift shops. Wecome to the MT. McKinley Princess Lodge Before 2008, best known as mile 46 on the Iditaro… We appreciated this sign so we could differentiate… Bruce contemplates the meaning of the Alaska state… Flowers and spruce burls 352 Suiting up Excitedly awaiting the bus that will take us river… There's my happy girl. She's found bear tracks. Fed by glacial run off, the water is a murky gray… Serene birds of prey regurgitate on us. Firm buns of steel propell us Look how long the claws must be, from the toe pads… High walls of slate surround us. 333 Ready to put in Apparently we are! Are we having fun yet? It says "CAUTION: Bears were observed on the hotel… Alaskan rock stars Ta Da!! "I can see Russia from up here." Climbing "picture rock" Let's take a walk. Maybe we'll see a bear. Hey, yo… "Do you think if we just stare at him long enough… Adding to the cairn "Help me!" Bruce is ensnared in a web of tourist-e… 303