Christchurch, NZ

Springtime in Christchurch, a fantastic time to visit.  I was there for a week waiting for my flight to McMurdo, Antarctica (that never came) and enjoyed the spring like weather, the green, green grass and the friendly fun people who inhabit this beautiful city that's suffered so much.

Tulips everywhere.

Punting on the Avon.

Sign in store window, well said.

Kiwi Hagglunds at the Antarctic Center.

USAP hanger in Christchurch.

The Cardboard Cathedral.

Beautiful place and amazing architecture.

The former Cathedral, damaged in the earthquakes.

Rebuilding.

Fancy Fence.

Re-Start district. Businesses use shipping containers.

More re-building, cranes are everywhere.

Apparently stone masonry reacts badly in earthquakes.

So many churches have been damaged.

The war memorial is being repaired.

Kiwi humor, awesome.

Autumn in Denali National Park

Here are some images from the last couple of days. We've had some amazing clear blue sky days and other days that were overcast, and a couple overnight snowfalls.  It's beautiful and cold here, things are winding down and closing for the season.  And we're anxious to move on to the next new adventure whatever that turns out to be.  The life of a seasonal employee... change and beauty at every turn.

The entrance sign at Denali National Park.

Healy Overlook.

Trees and blue sky.

Southbound Alaska Railroad passenger train.

Riley Creek.

Snow capped mountains.

Autumn colors along the highway.

The entrance sign at Denali National Park

with new snow on Healy.

 

Gumdrop Hill and the Riley Creek trestle.

Autumn colors under a cloudy sky.

More autumn colors under a cloudy sky.

 

Wonder Lake, Denali National Park

I took the Shuttle bus ride into Denali Park, all the way to Wonder Lake. A long 12 hour day going all the way to MP 85 and back, but we picked blueberries, hung out at Wonder Lake, saw the mountain and lots of wildlife, a great trip on a nice day.

Teklanika River.

Teklanika (Take-a-leak-a) Rest stop at MP 29.

 

The views south at Polychrome Pass Overlook.

Denali from the road just past Toklat.

Divide Mountain (5,195') at Toklat.

Our bus at the Eielson Visitor Center.

Our driver stopped so we could pick ripe, juicy blueberries.

We filled whatever containers we had, empty water bottles, sandwich bags, anything.

A Bull Moose just off the road near MP 72.

Wonder Lake.

Wonder Lake.

Wonder Lake.

Wonder Lake.

The nice nurse from Seward,

so excited to see the mountain.

Wonder Lake campground at MP 85.

 

Hurricane Turn, part II

Another Sunday morning drive to Talkeetna for a ride on the Alaska Railroad Hurricane Turn.  The first stop in town is always at the Roadhouse for an awesome breakfast. The next stop is to see Jack at the Alaska Railroad Depot for a ticket and information. A beautiful day and Denali (Mt McKinley) was out and visible all day.  One of the best trips with a great crew and incredible scenery.

The Alaska Railroad.

Denali and the Susitna River

Approaching a bridge (can't remember which one).

The tracks following the Indian River.

Denali looms large over an incredible landscape.

The Hurricane Turn train and the Indian River.

The gang ready for a ride into town on the train.

Loading up their camping and fishing gear.

The baggage car is used for storing all the gear.

The famous Sherman City Hall.  I just read 

Mary Lovell's books about homesteading and raising a

family here, a great read and fascinating story!

Engine driver Steve at the end of the day back in Talkeetna.

The Alaska Railroad.