Voyage: Nome

  Nome, Alaska, United States
Sunday, July 20, 2008

"The city of Nome is perhaps most famous for being the end of the fabled Iditarod Trail dog sled race. Every March, mushers make their way from Anchorage across some of the most remote and wild places in Alaska, to end the 1,049 mile race beneath the burled arch on Front Street. The hustle and bustle of this lively event every spring is only an echo of an earlier era, when Nome was alive with the hopes and dreams of adventurers who came north looking for gold.

Gold was discovered in 1898 at Anvil Creek, and one year later, 12,000 people inhabited the area, hoping to strike it rich, either through pprospecting or separating prospectors from their new-found wealth. The first gold was mined in traditional fashion on local creeks, but when gold was discovered on the beaches of Nome, miners staked their claims along the shoreline with rocker boxes and shovels. In 2 short months, 1 million dollars in gold had been extracted from this "gold coast."

Another industry unique to this region was started in 1891, when reindeer were introduced as a means of providing for economic self-sufficiency of the Inupiaq residents of the area. By federal law, only Native Alaskans are allowed to own reindeer herds. Today, you can see the herds roaming the colorful tundra that surrounds the village of Nome. Herders are using radio telemetry to keep track of their herds, which often migrate with their undomesticated cousins, the caribou.
 
Today dredging for gold still is a part of everyday life in Nome. You will see tents set up on the beach and all manner of equipment, dive rafts and vacuums used to separate the gold from
the gravel and sand on the beach and in the water. You will have the opportunities to try pan for gold yourself.
 
The local driver-guide will share his/her stories of life in Nome. You will learn why it is so hard to get rid of anything old how expensive it is to buy a vehicle and ship it here. A stop at the
home of a former dog musher will give you a look into the life of an Iditarod racer. He will hook up a team and take them for a run. You call see and hear the dogs' sheer joy in running as you
watch them take the loop."

Sunrise over Anchorage

Up early and off on one of life's many great adventures. We flew to Nome; then did a tour of Nome.

Bering Sea: Flyin' With Mickey

Unfortunately, Jackie experienced a very rarely seen migraine headache and missed the tour of Nome.

Nome Gold Pan

Iditarod Participant

After a chat with an Iditarod participant, we did a bus tour of Nome taking in the local gold fields,

Swanberg gold dredge

the finish of the Iditarod (Jackie really want to visit this spot!)

Iditarod Finish: 1,150 miles from Anchorage

, and had some lunch at the local church.

Local church

Of course, as we walked around meeting the local colorful residents

First glimpse at The Spirit of Oceanus

walking around the town to view the interesting buildings

Locals

and going to the local museum

Nugget Inn

we kept taking peeks at The Spirit of Oceanus (Jackie was aboard asleep!).

Nome Museum

Oceanus: The excitement builds

Finally it was time to go to the ship and meet the crew

Alastair: Cruise Director

settle into our cabins

Our cabin

participate in the familiarization discussion

Spirit of Oceanus: Familiarization

First day at sea

and spend our first night at sea.





Unfortunately, the first night of the trip was one of the worst nights I have ever spent at sea - and I have spent many many nights at sea. Jackie: migraine plus and sea sickness and a shot in the butt.

The ship was rock 'n roll city; a weather system had rolled in and as a result we did not go across the Artic Circle.


Instead we got very lucky and spent extra days in Russia - much better than crossing an imaginary line.