North to Alaska -one more time

Alaska

North to Alaska

Friday  May 20.

Left MCI in the late afternoon.  Stopped over in Denver to change planes and took a direct 5 hour flight to Anchorage.  Arrived Anchorage at 10:00 pm, Anchorage time.

Took a cab to Ft. Richardson, checked into guest housing.

Saturday  May 21.

Rose early to eat in the consolidated mess hall or what they now call the Dining Facility. It was closed.  Asked at the desk where we could get something to eat and they said nothing was open until 8:30.  We called a cab to take us to the adjoining air force base, Elmendorf to catch their Dinning Facility that was supposed to be open.  The cab driver was confused on how to get there so I just told him to take us to The Captain Cook.  The Captain Cook is the premier hotel in Anchorage.  We ate breakfast and I was able to eat my first reindeer sausage in two years.

 

We started walking up and down the streets of Anchorage stopping in every souvenir shop along the way.  We ended up at a Tourist facility that provided us with a shuttle to the Alaskan Native Culture Center.  Took a two hour tour of the place.  We returned to Anchorage and sought out the one eating establishment I wanted to have lunch at, a place called Humpy’s.  We ate a Halibut sandwich.

Walked down to the farmer’s market that was held every first weekend and walked around.  Went to the Ulu Factory where Jerry bought an Ulu Knife.  Drank a beer at a local brew house.  Walked around the shops again.  Stopped by an Earthquake exhibit and watched a film about the 1964 Good Friday earthquake...  Went back to Ft. Richardson by cab.  Went to a movie, bought some hotdogs for half price that were left over and took them back to our room.  Went to sleep.

Sunday  May 22

Had coffee at a Starbucks on Ft. Richardson.  Took a cab and met the Gilliam’s and Marta Cobb for lunch at a place called Guinneys.  They were people I use to teach with at Hooper Bay.  Marta took us on a car tour of Anchorage.  Ate a pizza at the Mosses Tooth and then Marta took us back to the post.

 

Monday  May 23

Checked out of our unit and took a cab to the car rental place.  Headed towards Seward on the only highway to the Kenai along Turnagain Arm.  Stopped along the high way once at Beluga Point and Bird Point to take some pictures.  Arrived in Seward and checked into the Department of Defense run vacation lodge.  Ate dinner that night in a restaurant over looking the harbor.  We walked around Exit Glacier for an hour or so and spotted a black bear high up on a hill.

 

Tuesday  May 24

Ate breakfast in a dinner converted from an old trolley car.  Caught our boat for the Resurrection Bay tour.  Stopped on Fox Island for lunch consisting of Salmon and Prime Rib.  While on the boat we saw a few whales, otters, mountain goats, sea lions, dolphins, Puffin and all sorts of other birds. 

We drove around Seward, had a glass of wine in a joint and then ate in an Italian-Greek Restaurant. 

 

Wednesday  May 25

Started on our way back to Anchorage but stopped off at Girdwood and drove around town.  Also went into see a very up scale lodge called the Alyeska.  Continued on back to Anchorage and Ft. Richardson where we were able to get a room again.

Thursday  May 26

Drove north toward Denali National Park.  Stopped by a fellow I had met on facebook named Mac McAnally at Willow.  Mac his fiancé, mother and father made us breakfast.  We had a nice visit.  He gave us some smoked Hooligan, which I tried but did not like.  Mac also kept a .45 on the table to take with him went he went out side in case he ran across any bears.  He was building a cabin along a river and the place was kind of remote.

We continued on to Talkeetna walked around town.  Saw Mt McKinley and headed back towards Anchorage.

 

Friday  May 27

Drove town to Girdwood again but stopped by a BBQ place over looking Turnagain Arm and drank a couple of beers.  Ate dinner at a place called the Musky Ox.

 

Saturday  May 28

Went to the Anchorage Museum and a movie that night on the post.

Sunday  May 29

Drove to Palmer and Wasilla and saw part of Pailins house.  Took Marta to dinner that night.  Walked around Cook Inlet near down town Anchorage.  Went to Flat Top where you cold see all of Cook Inlet, Turnagain Arm, and Anchorage.  Also went to the Anchorage Zoo and saw all the animals indigenousness to Alaska.

Monday  May 30

Drove around town, had a deer hotdog from a street vendor, bought a couple of things, headed towards the airport, turned in the car, hung around the military lounge until our flight left late that night.