The Turn Again Arm
Our guide for the trip kept updated us on what to see and where to look. He did have trouble with his left and right when pointing things out which did make make for an hilarious commentary at times.
There were places at the side of the tracks were all the trees were dead. Our guide explained that this was from the 1964 earthquake that had generated a tsunami and had put salt water into the roots of the trees.
We passed the remains of a small town, Portage, that had been in engulfed in the tsunami and the area sank below high tide level. The town was subsequently abandoned.
The train crossed over rivers giving views like this.
Or this.
Going down the steps at either end of our carriage I could stand on an open platform and watch Alaska passing by without looking through glass. This was one of many images I took during the day of the train as we slowly passed through the countryside.
We passed by the Turn Again Arm and looked over the mud flats.
It is tidal and the mud flats were created by the silt brought down by the rivers. The mud flats may look innocuous but people who walked out onto them often became stuck. To make things worse the tide comes in quickly and then they have to be rescued quickly before they are drowned.
The Turn Again Arm is so called as when Captain Cook discovered it, his ship had to keep turning around to avoid mud banks, hence the name.
We were lucky to catch a glimpse of the tidal bore on the Arm. The tidal bore arrives upstream quickly and if the conditions are right can reach over 4 feet high. It is strong enough for surfers to ride it. The bore as we past was quite small but was very distinct on the surface of the water.
I did pick up the $6 book about the railway after about 30 minutes into the journey. This was useful as it pointed out the sites referenced by the mile markers at the side of the track.
We passed houses with bush planes parked outside on their lawns.
