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  Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Sunday, August 3, 2008

From where it is located on the calendar, July should be smack in the middle of summer - traditionally the warmest time of year in Anchorage. Instead the temps of 08 are producing the fewest days ever recorded that manage to reach 65 degrees. The other night when we trekked out to Potter Marsh after dinner, we all agreed we needed an extra layer, gloves and a hat! It felt a lot like early winter. I've seen a couple of partially sunny days but for the most part it has been cool, cloudy or overcast, and frequently rainy. The beautiful glistening mountains of my first visit have been hidden in layers of low slung clouds. All in all, the dreary weather has made people here pretty grouchy. Snow in the higher elevations on Wednesday prompted the comments of "Termination Dust" which I think means the end of summer! YIKES. I myself have wished I had left the skirt, shorts, and short sleeved tops at home and packed a couple more long sleeved shirts and turtle necks instead. Even with all of this weather reports are that the Northwest Passage might open for the second year in a row due to the melt.

Gas prices here in Alaska are reported as being some of the highest in the US

Low Clouds and gray skies

. A real point of contention for a the people who live in a state that has a good supply of petroleum.


The good news is that the weather and fuel prices aren't stopping we MFLC's or the tourists. We are on the roads and spending as much time as possible out viewing and enjoying the sights and scenery of spectacular Alaska.

After Bruce provided us with some Chinook and King Salmon straight from the river we pooled our resources and put together the great Salmon Cook Out. The clouds parted and the sun shone on the group as we ate our way through some of the best salmon I have had in years. The staff (and some of the patrons) here at the hotel know us by name and came out to supply us with drinks and ice cream for our apple pie. We were still talking about it a week later when I decided it was time to get out and we all headed to the annual downtown Anchorage Block Party. The food didn't compare but the margaritas inspired us to take to the dance floor - or perhaps the dance street - and once again the clouds parted, the sun came out, and we twirled and gyrated with the best of Anchorage. What a work out we had. The censored pictures will not be making the blog.

We have found that when the sun comes out we swarm and head toward the highest, most scenic spot we can find in the shortest time to enjoy the view. None of us have seen McKinley since our arrival but we remain optimistic.

We were so optimistic that last weekend a group of us headed to Seward where we boarded a boat and set out to sea for a 6 hour cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park

The odds are good BUT the goods are odd

. As luck would have it the captain was not only a skilled seaman but he was also a biologist, historian, and naturalist. The hours were filled with glaciers, bears, birds, mammals, and extraordinary scenery. And the weather actually held although last count was a minimum of 5 layers of clothing. Once again I wished I had opted for a camera with a 300 telephoto. If only I could snap a picture through binoculars. At one stop near a resting group of kayakers, the captain pointed out a black bear on the mountain who was making his way toward the group. We all wondered if the kayakers had any idea what was approaching them from the snow capped mountain. Our hopes were that the wind was in the right direction. Two pods of Orcas captured our attention as they dived and breached beside the boat - the adults fiercely protective of several pint sized young whales who stayed close to their sides. There were puffins, harbor seals, sea otters, eagles, etc. All in all a great day. We headed home and didn't hit dusk until around 11:30.

For those of you who are interested, Anchorage daylight is now at 17 hours and 30 minutes. We are losing about 5 minutes of daylight daily. Since my arrival we have lost almost an hour. It is a little strange but I think the overcast weather has made the constant daylight less noticeable. If we had a clear sky my guess is that you would be able to read by windowlight until late into the night.

Unfortunately, although I have seen two full grown female moose grazing and twin mooselets the size of Great Danes by the road, I haven't had the opportunity to immortalize them on film

Nancy and Friends at the Block Party

. I was, however, able to snap a quick pick of the famous wild side striped shrimp. Corney, but I have to tell you they are delicious. Buttery and tasting like lobster they are worth the work.

Ribs are coming along. Jeff has managed to secure some golf clubs for my use while I'm here so with another week or so of Yoga I just might be ready. I'm hearing daily that the triplet bear cubs on the course are growing as I type. GULP. And I used to think dodging water sprinklers on the fairway was tough.

Please note that what the picture of me midway up Alyeska does not show is how steep or death defying the ski area is. I do admit to a momentary desire to strap on skis and take a run. It didn't help that one of the 9 year olds I was with told me she skied down the back of the mountain - on the ungroomed trails - and it was pretty easy. Right. The mouths of babes.

Last week I was privileged to get up close and personal with the F22. Not only was there one on display in the hanger but at the conclusion of the memorial service we were asked to attend they had a 3rd wing flyover. The roar of the jet was deafening and the after burners were so close you could see the flames and almost feel the heat. There wasn't a dry eye or a smooth piece of skin in the group when the pilot turned the plane 90 degrees and headed straight to the heavens vanishing into the clouds. I now understand the full meaning of the term Wingman. On the way out of the hanger I stopped to talk to one of the young soldiers. He told me that the service had given him pause for thought and a renewed perspective. He was planning on going home and spending time with the people he loved.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Wild Side Striped Shrimp	On Alyeska	Alaska Moment	Night at the Marsh
The train	Blue Poppy	Drive	Scenery
seals	Glacier	Calving	Bull Orca
Orca

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