A great big thank you to Greatland Adventures and Anchorage AWE for an amazing time north of Anchorage seeking out the Aurora Borealis! This was a fabulous familiarization trip to Alaska, and I am so grateful to have experienced it for myself. Wonderful memories of that late-night trek will be cherished for years to come!
Every meal on this trip has been delicious and locally sourced yummies. Last night's dinner was just beyond delicious!
Iditarod48 has kicked off with the ceremonial opening! The 50th running is in two years... Who'd like to experience it? I'd love to come back!
Not my pictures since I flew overnight, but these are from one of my FAM colleagues who arrived in Anchorage this morning. Such amazing beauty when you come to Anchorage in winter. And the Iditarod is a great reason to come in winter!
It's ADVENTURE time! I'm heading out to make another bucket list dream item come true, and enhance my knowledge of the destination for my guests. Always be learning. And having fun. I'm headed to Anchorage and the start of the Iditarod. I'll be sure to share some of my adventures along the way.
Our chariot is here, ready for the nice, long flight home. See you all tomorrow (though for us it'll be a repeat of today! 
). ADVENTURE!
Seeing Sydney was not part of our scheduled agenda, just dinner upon arrival...but this adventurer led the rebellion. Our hotel was an airport hotel and just a short drive to Circular Quay, and most of us had not been to Sydney before. We HAD to see the Opera House and the bridge at the very least! Most of our group made the quick trip and it was awesome!!
During my walkabout in Darwin, I came across this fun, big, yellow box. Inside were some fun games. What a great way to spend a lunch break!
On Thursday, we enjoyed a slower morning with a full circuit on the Hop On Hop Off bus around Darwin. Following that, we separated and walked around the CBD (central business district) and did some shopping, or dining, or exploring as we saw fit before heading to the airport for our flight to Sydney. More street art, and some nice views of the water and some historic buildings. Darwin is a nice, and easily navigable city.
Living in the land down under... it's just another condiment option at every hotel's breakfast bar! Spread it THINLY on toast. Never overdo it!
It's another warm one here in the NT, and at 4pm we're still not to the day's top temperature. But it's a dry heat so it's tolerable. Add the humidity that comes in the summer and it would just be miserable. For now, we're all staying hydrated and are as clear and copious as possible, moving into the shade whenever possible, keeping our sunnies on, and regularly applying the suncream. This Scouter has been helping ensure that we've all been just fine.
And below is a compilation of signs from our hike yesterday in Maguk... ALWAYS pay attention to your surroundings! Crocs can be anywhere. And most important...whatever you do...
♫ never smile at a crocodile, no you can't get friendly with a crocodile... ♫
In the afternoon we arrived at Nitmiluk National Park and our Lodge for the night. We went over to the boat launch to enjoy a cruise and hike between two of the 13 gorges that make up Katherine Gorge (two cruise experiences with a hike between each gorge to get from boat to boat). It was a nice and relaxing time after much go, go, go the past few days. Not much wildlife but we did see our first freshwater crocodile.
After our two-gorge cruise and hike, we hiked back to the first gorge and were picked up by the dinner boat and then enjoyed a nice, three-course candlelight dinner cruise back through the first gorge. What an amazing adventure that was! Our own real-life "jungle cruise" has happened multiple times and in multiple ways this week. I love it. Plus, while I couldn't get great photos of them, last night was our first time to be in total darkness, and enjoy a beautifully decorated starry sky! It was simply stunning. So many wonderful experiences that you too could enjoy here in the top end of Australia's outback. And at the end of the evening, though my camera didn't capture them very well, the starfield was incredible as there was absolutely zero light pollution in the gorge. Stunning to enjoy looking at, for certain!
It's warmed up a little more, on its way to 103 this afternoon.
Our first stop after leaving Darwin took us to the Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River, where they truly aren't kidding about keeping your hands, arms, feet, legs, and heads inside the boat at ALL times!
