Anchorage on my mind

I usually fall in love with the places I visit. Anchorage is no different. Remember this song??

The Slow Drive South

We took our time driving home (the drive to Anchorage was fast with a destination in mind). We stopped wherever we wanted and found it most enjoyable. The scenery was lovely, the fireweed painted bright pink against the greenery and the mountains, of course, magestic.

The Matanuska Glacier is easily seen from the road. It is apparently 27 miles long and 4 wide.

We stopped everywhere ... drove around Beaver Creek and Burwash Landing (population 84), something probably very few people do as they whiz past these towns on their way north or south. Stopped at sheep mountain (saw only two sheep). All in all, a very enjoyable trip home. The temperature kept getting hotter and hotter as we drove. Had to stop and change our jeans into shorts and our sweaters into t-shirts.

Now home, we're almost breaking record highs (perhaps we will this week as it will continue to get hotter as the week goes on). We are surely having summer this year - and we deserve it!

The Drive Home

No, we didn't camp here. We also didn't see any bears when we drove through the camping area. This always reminds me of Lisa who didn't sleep a wink for fear of bears when she camped with me at Kathleen Lake - she certainly wouldn't have camped here - neither would I!


I did get close to a bear, but this one was friendly and standing in the Burwash Landing Lodge.

Still Anchorage

Sorry, but you have to turn your head to the right to see this photo. Went to the Saturday Market today. Here is a photo of the radishes that they sell ... the biggest I've ever seen in my life!! They are the size of potatoes.

This is the vegetable stand (see the radishes on top??) As you can tell, I was impressed. The market was huge. Lots of locally grown food,honey, food stands and lots of crafts and artisans. It was not only impressive, but the prices were all so reasonable. Unexpectedly, we spent more than three hours there. We also wanted to see the artists fair on two blocks of closed streets downtown so had to leave. The artists fair was also fabulous. These Alaskans are so original it was difficult not to buy everything in sight.

We heard that Sarah Palin was holding a bar-b-que in Delaney Park Strip so, in the pouring rain, and after visiting two fairs, several art shops, a quilt shop and of course a stop for food and beer, we headed to the park in the rain. Above is what was left of Sarah Palin's party - the one at which she was retiring from her post as Governor of Alaska. Oh well, you can't be everywhere at once.


This is our favourite restaurant - Phyllis' Salmon Bake. We met Phyllis' daughter-in-law, Sarah Dickinson. She has been our waitress since we arrived (we eat there all the time - the food is soooooooooo good). Phyllis is a First Nation from Champagne Yukon as is her son William Dickson (Sarah's husband) and has relatives living in Whitehorse. She is so cute and looks about 30 years old but when we found she had two children in university found out she was actually 52 years old. She is originally from North Carolina. We know her so well now, she brings us food to eat while we are waiting for the food we ordered. As you can tell, we will be about 50 pounds heavier by the time we leave this city.

We love Anchorage. The people are so friendly, the sales are so great ($134.50 sheet set purchased for $32!!), the art work is so unique, and the mountains are so great to see when it is not raining. Unfortunately, we must bid farwell to the city tomorrow.

Anchored down in Anchorage

Sales, Sales, Sales. How can you not purchase things when they are up to 75% off!!! And considering where we live, and there is very little to purchase there, we are having a hey day!

Stopped at Nordstroms for a quick refreshment, then went on to the stores once again...

Oh yeah, there's an ulu factory here, so went to visit that. At day end, went into a small wine bar called Crush and met the nicest people. They told us about some restaurants and activities to do, so instead of leaving tomorrow, we will stay on - but I think we are now shopped out so will start to live like the locals a bit.

North to Alaska

I'm off to Alaska with my friend. Our first stop was to eat only 2 hours outside Whitehorse ... Haines Junction bakery cannot be passed up if you are ever on that road.

The highway to the border was not very good. The frost heaves continued on from just outside Destruction Bay through to Beaver Creek. Made the driving a bit slower than I would have liked but it was interesting never the less.
Considering I've never been north of Sheep Mountain, this was an exciting trip for me. Here is Burwash Landings giant gold pan.


In actuality, Alaska was much like the Yukon. Don't quite know what I expected, but for some reason, thought it would be different. About 11 hours into our jouney, we saw some small log cabins which looked cute, so pulled in and rented one for the night. It was in Gakona, Alaska and was originally a coach house in days of yore with a hotel along with small accommodation cabins for guests. Our cabin was built in 1915. Of course, it did have some modern ammenities added (like indoor plumbing!!).

The official animal for Alaska is Moose, as I can see why. We saw five our first day out. Above is a mother with 2 calves just munching the vegetation. They are always so much fun to watch.

It is overcast in AK but the mountains are still beautiful. The scenery must be spectacular with blue blue skies overhead. Perhaps in a few days ... We are currently in Anchorage, the big city of the north. Spent the afternoon in JC Penny with their 75% off sale. We'll shop for a few days, then carry on. Till tomorrow ...

Garage Sale

I love holding garage sales - get rid of all the useless things in my house and actually get money for them. We had a 4-person sale this morning. As usual, we advertise a 9 AM start and they start coming a 8 AM. This photo is at about 9:30 with a couple of "rushes" already done and half of the things already sold. Sold almost everything to my delight by noon.

Here's little Gwen, taking care of Ginny while the sale goes on.
As you can see, it's still summer in the Yukon. We love it!!!

IT'S HOT HERE

Whether it's winter or summer, we can always talk about the weather. Yup, this is the Yukon, and above is the temperature. I hate to say this but it is toooooo hot!! The sun literally burns your skin. I have dug out my trusty old fan from the crawlspace. It hasn't seen the light for two years now but is working double duty this week. And the smoke is getting pretty thick here from the forest fires around us. I believe the closest is 60 kilometers north. The wind has just picked up tonight - lots of gusts - which doesn't bode well for the fires. They brought in two dozen extra firefighters from outside, in expectation of things to come.

Weather forecast Whitehorse this week

	Friday 10-07	Saturday 11-07	Sunday 12-07	Monday 13-07	Tuesday 14-07	Wednesday 15-07	Thursday 16-07
Min	13 °C	10 °C	11 °C	10 °C	11 °C	9 °C	7 °C
Max	24 °C	25 °C	26 °C	27 °C	25 °C	24 °C	23 °C
The amount of sunshine is proportional to the amount of expected daylight. Sun	50%	40%	55%	55%	40%	50%	65%
Precipitation chance the coming 24 hours. Precipitation	40%	10%	15%	10%	10%	15%	10%

And, if I complain (I can't believe I am complaining about "summer" weather considering we didn't even have summer last year), SR is working about 500 Km north of me and he works outside. Here is his weather:

Weather forecast Dawson City this week

	Friday 10-07	Saturday 11-07	Sunday 12-07	Monday 13-07	Tuesday 14-07	Wednesday 15-07	Thursday 16-07
Min	10 °C	7 °C	6 °C	7 °C	9 °C	8 °C	7 °C
Max	26 °C	24 °C	28 °C	29 °C	29 °C	27 °C	26 °C
The amount of sunshine is proportional to the amount of expected daylight. Sun	60%	70%	85%	90%	70%	80%	80%

On another note, Caleb has found a new home in the shelter of the plants. He is much happier there and I am much happier since I took out his whistling batteries (he whistled non stop the other night and I could only take so much of "whistle while you work"). Sorry I silenced you Caleb but we can now live in harmony.

Got this photo of Johnny Depp from my friend and couldn't help but share it. He will be the Mad Hatter in the Disney remake of Alice in Wonderland due in March of 2010.
Just saw him in Public Enemies. Movie didn't get great reviews, but I loved it. I think Johnny played John Dillinger very well and although a little long, hey, you're looking at Johnny Depp which makes it all worthwhile!