Saturday and Sunday Reflections

As Eddie said, we now know "all we will ever need to know" about taking this RV on the road, so we gave it a test drive to downtown Anchorage and parked it. While I wouldn't have expected our first day in Alaska to be spent at a flea/craft market, it was just about ideal for us, I think. We had sat so much on Friday, that I needed a day on my feet. We explored booths with wooden neckties, ulu knives, fused glass, fur everything, the "Alaska is bigger than texas" T-shirt booth, and food of all sorts! Eddie also mentioned the salmon quesadillas. I am not always the bravest at trying new foods, but in the spirit of shedding those "ridiculous fears", I gave it a try. In my heart of hearts, it made about as much sense as hamburger ice cream. Let's just say that, well…..I loved everything about it--except the look, texture, smell and taste. We agreed to share one, and the truth is that the trashcan got more that its share. One corner of the festival was reserved just for kids drawing murals on the paper covered walls , painting faces, crafting balloon animals, and a large area was reserved for sidewalk chalk creations. They hold this same "thankful for the thaw" market every summer weekend. We talked to a ton of people, all of whom had a story to tell, most of how much they loved Alaska.

Anchorage is about the size of Amarillo and has a lot of the same types of places, Lowes, Taco Bell, Popeye's Chicken and Seafood, the Copper Whale Inn, Once in a Blue Moose…okay maybe it is a little different. The city no doubt covers more square miles than Amarillo, partly to make room for the trees, mountains, moose and bears.

Everything up here costs more than at home. Gasoline is a dollar per gallon more and a head of lettuce at Wal-Mart was $1.66, for example. Housing is higher, I am told, but their economy seem to be secure, and I understand that construction jobs are plentiful.

David Webb has been very kind and helpful to us in making our plans for this trip. What a joy to get to meet him in person, hear of his work and his love for his state. The Rose Street group made us feel like family this morning and even allowed us to crash their "out to eat" fun at a Mexican restaurant. Talking about making you feel right at home!

As I lay in bed this morning, I got to thinking about something I probably won't see in
Alaska—stars. Actually I can see them, I am told, if I want to get up between 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. I am sure that the residents here don't think about missing the stars, as they get an Alaskan share of them in the winter.

As I am typing this, we are on our way to Denali, just passed Wasilla (and no I didn't see soccer mom Sarah). At one point today, we stopped and there were snow topped mountains in almost every direction with frozen streams right in front of us. It is raining and I am supposed to be on moose watch. Apparently these long-legged 2000# creatures think they "own" this place and are prone to wander onto the highway unannounced.

We are scheduled to take the Tundra Wilderness tour in Denali tomorrow, about an 8 hour ride deep into the park, and the wildlife viewing is guaranteed. So watch out bears, moose, and caribou, here we come.

(As I said earlier, WiFi connections are few and far between here, and even telephone was iffy today, so if I don't post daily, that is why.)