Sometimes the longer way is the best.
Years ago, my dad interviewed for a dispatch job with the Department of Transportation. He was asked how he’d answer if someone asked him how to get from one place to another. (This was before smartphones.) While he was given a stack of maps, he didn’t look at them. He looked at maps all the time just for fun. But he asked a follow up question. “Do you want the fastest route, the most scenic route, or some specific stops along the way?” Because the fastest route between two points is not always a straight line. And the fastest route is not always the best route.
The road distance between two lodges in Alaska was 40 miles. Drive time would have been two hours. Sure, that sounds like a long time for those of us who live in the flat Midwest, but keep in mind, this is an area of mountain ranges and limited roads. There was another option, which is the one we took. It was 120 miles and took around 4-4.5 hours. The time varied because it was on the Alaska Railroad, which was a flag stop railway. While there were no official stops between Denali and Talkeetna, if someone needed to get on or off at one of the smaller communities or homes along the way, we’d need to stop. As it turned out, we needed to stop two times: once on a double track to wait for another train to arrive and pass and the other at another double track so we could pass some items between trains. Oh, and there was another hour by bus once we got off the train in Talkeetna.
Our train had a glass dome, and it was a beautiful journey through some of the most majestic landscapes I’ve ever seen. The clouds and curtains of rain showers skated across the peaks and meadows. The grasses, trees, and clouds reflected on the ponds and rivers. A mama moose waded in the water with her twins. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of branches and danced across the tables. I stood outside and watched the tunnel effect of the distant train tracks. It was chilly, but the air was clean and refreshing. I wondered who lived in the occasional secluded houses tucked into the forest.
I’m sure any route through that part of Alaska is beautiful. It’s a little hard to avoid. I’m glad we took the soak and savor route. Most everyone was ready to get off the train and get to the lodge to settle in, but I wanted to explore some more. I stayed in Talkeetna, perhaps the quirkiest town with the most approachable people I’ve ever walked about. It’s small and very walkable. I scouted a few shops as I walked Main Street on my way to Riverfront Park. Families gathered on the beach, and a few brave people waded into the cold Spring water. I followed the shoreline around the corner and climbed up to the railroad bridge and the path back into town. People were playing music in a campsite, and several people were selling handmade goods under pop up tents. I made my way back to a couple shops that stood out to me and picked up several souvenirs then asked something I often ask locals when travelling, “Where can I get the best tea?” She immediately knew where to send me, and I was not disappointed. I carried it onto the last bus of the day to head to the lodge.
It was a good day. The journey between two points was a meandering one. It was rewarding and gorgeous and memorable. The straightest, fastest route is not always the best.