Day 10: Seward to Anchorage

Today is MY day!  Okay so everyday is partially my day but today I treated myself to a special tour.  But first we stopped by the original start of the Iditarod . . .

The race now starts downtown Anchorage instead of Seward.  Our big stop of the day was the Alaska SeaLife Center.  It is here that I will go on a behind the scenes tour with the Puffin Encounter.  It was my lucky day because I was the only person in the group so it was a private tour!  Colin was bummed he could not go with me but you had to be at least 12 years old.  He did get to watch me from a distance which I think might have made it worse.  The tour started with a tour of the research labs and with a presentation all about Puffins.  It was good and very educational.  The best part was getting the enter the puffin area and feed all the birds!  It was one of the best vacation experiences ever!  Colin snapped this from a distance.

I gave my camera to the tour guide and she was snap happy too!  I told her to take as many as she could!  She sure did, and I am glad.  Before we headed out to give them a snack she told me that they each had certain fish they preferred to eat.  I thought it was funny that this puffin had fish at his feet and just sat there waiting for his favorite.

I was amazed that I sat there with a bucket of fresh fish and not once single bird tried to get in the bucket.  They were all so patient and just stood there waiting their turn.

I only had my finger snipped once.  They really are beautiful and much smaller than expected . . .

I don't think I could have enjoyed myself any more!  Best money spent on this trip.

And while I was enjoying myself, Colin snapped this photo . . .

. . . too cute!  The puffins hanging out at their nesting box.  There are times that a child with a camera will snap something that I did not even notice.  I love it!  I did learn that both male and female puffins take turns with the eggs and/or chicks and at no time are they ever left alone.  Once stays with young and the other searches for food or gets away from the nest.  After my hour tour was over, we continued to explore the SeaLife Center and visit the other exhibits too. 

I think we could have watched the harbor seal for hours.  I think someone would have loved to swim with him too!  It was time to get back on the road to Anchorage but before we left town had to stop and see the Benny Benson monument.  Benny Benson was the 13 year old boy that designed the Alaska state flag.  Benny had a very difficult childhood (mother died, house burned down, dad sent him to orphanage).  Benny entered the contest and described his design to judges as this;  "The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaska flower. The North Star is for the future of the state of Alaska, the most northerly in the Union. The dipper is for the Great Bear - symbolising strength." 

. . . and the rest is Alaskan history!  Pretty smart kid.  We got back on the road with our final stop tonight being Anchorage!  We made a stop along the way at Bird Point to enjoy the view . . . 

 

As we were driving, I noticed two medical examiner vans heading the opposite direction and wondered what had happened.  Later that night we would learn about the terrible plane crash in Soldotna that took the lives of ten people include two entire families (4 adults and 5 kids) from South Carolina.  So sad.  I am glad we are not getting on any more of those little planes this trip.

We arrived in Anchorage around 4:30pm which was the perfect time to head to Moose's Tooth for some yummy pizza for dinner!  I love this place.