Well, my friends, my 2014 Alaska
aurora adventure is nearing an end. I'm sitting
in the hotel and will be heading to San Diego tomorrow afternoon, and on to my desert home on Monday. Seems like ages ago that I stood under the dome of Juneau’s Marie Drake
Planetarium speaking to several groups of wide-eyed stargazers and night sky photographers… but all good things must end, and so must my
journey. But I’ll be back, as I have
every year for the past 15, because there’s something about Alaska that draws me.
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| How big is Alaska? Very big! |
If you asked me to describe Alaska in just one word, that word would be "majestic." No question about it. Majestic.
Whether it’s the towering, rugged snow-covered mountains or the delicate
wisps of the northern lights, whether it’s the thunderous crash of glaciers
calving before our eyes or the silent glide of bald eagles in search of prey…
this is one majestic state. More
volcanoes and earthquakes here than the rest of the U.S.
combined; it’s so huge that one could cut it in half and Texas would go from the second largest to the third
largest state!
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| Northern lights over Fairbanks |
But perhaps the most wonderful part of Alaska is its people. Regular folks. No pretension here. I doubt there’s a tuxedo or evening gown in
the state. Regular, good-hearted folks
who are friendly, generous, strong, resilient and, yes—when they enjoy outdoor
activities at -40F—perhaps a little nuts. But they’re my kind of people, and I’m proud
to call them my friends. And, while I was
born and raised in Pennsylvania and now live in California, I am, in my
heart of hearts, an Alaskan!
Thank you all for your kind hospitality and friendship;
as always, I’m counting the days until I return next February. And to all my Facebook
friends and fans around the world… thank you, too, for joining me along the way. I hope that, through my photos and words, I’ve
been able to share with you my amazing adventure, and that you one day will discover the
same excitement and wonder—the same majesty—that is Alaska.
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| Eight stars of gold on a field of blue... |
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