Hello From Alaska!

Hello from the Far North!

The Road Show has taken off for the 49^th state! Alaska is huge and wonderful! We started out in Anchorage, where we enjoyed some of the downtown area –especially Humpy’s for lunch and Artique for art-and stayed with a new friend who lives in the hills east of the city. The views are spectacular-far off and close up!

I saw a moose on my morning walk, which was quite exciting. She was checking me out, so I moved on rather quickly!

We then drove down the Seward Highway stopping at Girdwood (The Bake Shop and the Double Musky are must do’s here) and ended up in Miller’s Landing, a small community with a boat ramp, camping areas, and several B&B’s and homes, just south of the town of Seward on Resurrection Bay. Bald eagles are easily spotted, and we saw sea otters playing in the water just off the beach.

We stayed at our friend’s cabin on the bay, and once again my Camp Northland years stood me in good stead –the outhouse was just down the path through the trees….This cabin was really lovely!

Although with 19+hours of daylight, we didn’t need a flashlight in the wee hours (hah.)…..

Seward is the farthest north ice-free port in the US, so it was very important during WWII and for shipping. You can see the remnants of the army fortifications in various places around town and in the bay. Now it is a recreational area and cruise ship port, and a site for a maximum security prison if you don’t behave….It is also the terminus for the Alaska Railroad and the traditional start for the famous Iditarod sled dog race. It has a nice main street area and a slightly more commercial port area.

We ate at Thorn’s Showcase Lounge (go for the fried halibut chunks and bar ambience), The Breeze Restaurant for breakfast, got coffee at the Resurrect Art Gallery and Coffee House. Outside of town, on the road to Exit Glacier, we stopped in at The Salmon Bake (“Cheap food and lousy beer”) for halibut, salmon, and Alaska microbrews. It’s in a log cabin building and has some rustic atmosphere.

We took a boat ride through Kenai Fjords National Park, looking at the sea lions, humpback whales, puffins, even an orca who killed a porpoise just off the stern of our boat. We also saw Holgate Glacier from the water, and watched huge chunks calve into the sea.

DH and I took the Exit Glacier hike-through the pine and cottonwood forests up to the edge of the glacier. They won’t let people actually go up to the glacier and touch it any more, as someone did that and was killed when a piece fell off and hit her. The husband was telling her to “back up a little more” so he could get a better picture. Hmm.The winds coming off the glacier were quite strong and very cold. They are called “catabatic” winds.

We had to say goodbye to the cabin and head back to Anchorage.

We stayed one night and got on the road for Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs. It was a long drive (400 mi.) through beautiful scenery: Mountains, forests, marshy bogs, farm land. We stopped at the Musk Ox farm to see those woolly creatures. We looked for Mt. McKinley, but it was hidden in the clouds. Only 30 % of people who come get to see it. We hope we beat the odds. Saw 2 moose on the roadways; We drove by Denali National Park and plan to go back there next week.

Made it through Fairbanks and on to Chena Hot Springs. The springs were discovered in 1905 and there have been camps here ever since. It is now a year-round full-service resort with lots of activities, and of course, the hot springs.

It has an ice museum that is very interesting-and cold! We're here another night and then on to Fairbanks, Denali, and Talkeetna before heading back to Anchorage and home. Hope to get some photos on Flikr soon.