Alaska

When my husband told me the price of his airline ticket to a conference in Alaska, I couldn't resist tagging along.  I have always wanted to go to the state to see my cousin.  I had never had the desire to go to Alaska as a tourist in my younger years, though recently I thought seeing all the eagles and seeing part of the Iditarod would be amazing.  Well, just two days there, and I really want to go back.  I fell in love and we didn't really have any sun except late Friday afternoon.

I automatically felt at home in Anchorage.  Though three times bigger then my old stomping grounds of Billings, I felt the same homey atmosphere.  The buildings didn't loom over me and make me feel claustrophobic.  The mountains circle the city like a mother wrapping her comforting arms around me.  The bay, Knik Arm, spread out on the fourth side.  I love water, so this clinched my heart.  I adore Anchorage.

My dear cousin and her husband picked me up early the first day and were the best tour guides.   (Really, I am blessed.  All my cousins are the best.)  We started with a delicious breakfast.  Driving around a few areas in the city, in the dark, we stopped at a shop with authentic Alaskan art.  I was enthralled.  They had whale, seal, and a variety of furs, antlers, and leather.  I snapped some pictures and struggled making a decision of what to buy.  I finally settled on a fossilized baby whale vertebrae. I can't really tell you way that is what I bought, but it sits on my writing desk.  Maybe there will be a story that speaks to me.  Many of the art pieces were stunning, but my checkbook would not allow any of those purchases.

This is from a whale's mouth to filter the food and water.

After stopping by my cousin's office and getting a tour, we headed out of town.  We traveled down Highway 1, driving along the Turnagain Arm (another bay like body of water).  The day was grey and misty, but it was still very beautiful.  I really want to see it in the sunlight.  Yep, I want to go back.  We stopped by the Alyeska Resort where I took a few pictures.  They didn't turn out that well.

 Next, we went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  By this time, the weather was horrible.  I chuckled at the thought that the saying is raining cats and dogs.  Well, in Alaska, it was raining moose and caribou!  And yes, it was rain and not snow.  The weather was so warm, warmer then back home in Montana.  The road was a solid sheet of ice.  Between the rain and ice, I didn't get out of the pickup but once and that was to see a moose in a barn.  I still chuckle at that sight.

We continued on up the highway and stopped at the Portage Glacier.  I didn't get to see it, but I saw the lake.  Usually, chunks of the glacier are in the water, but the waves had cleared them out.  You guessed it, I want to go back.  As we pulled out of the area, a small chunk of ice was next to the water that hugged up against the highway.  I couldn't get a picture, but it was stunning.  The turquoise blue was exactly like what you see in the pictures.  I want to photograph that so badly.  The ice was my favorite site of the entire trip.

With the weather being so terrible, we turned around and headed back to the city.  We saw an eagle on the way back.  The entire drive was filled with lessons about the countryside and history.  Thank you, Spook.  We also chatted about family and fun memories of our childhoods.  I loved the entire experience.

We ended the day with lunch at Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria and exploring the Anchorage Museum.  Both were wonderful.  I was very impressed with the museum.  The kids section was the best I remember seeing of all the museums I have been to.

Eustace Ziegler

Sydney Laurance

Probably my favorite by Sydney Laurance

The piece made me unsettled.  I didn't read the plaque, but I feel it is the coming together of Western culture and Native.  It doesn't look healthy to me.

I was returned to the hotel just in time to drop off my purchases and join Jerry.  Thank you, Carol for a perfect first day in Alaska!!!  We went to a social event with the Enlisted Association.  A group of Aleutian Native Dancers sang and danced for us.  Again, I didn't get good photos.  Their native dress was beautiful and the dancers were so fun to watch.  Afterwards, Jerry and I agreed we would like to see the islands.

Sunday was a lovely day of watching football with friends from Oregon, Utah, and Montana.  After the last game, we met Jerry's cousin at the hotel.  He drove us out to his house.  We spent a delightful evening with him and his family.  Jerry told the children stories of adventures on the farm and they enjoyed it.  In fact, one of the girls told her dad that she wanted to come to Montana so Jerry could show her everything.  We would love that immensely.  Thank you, Guy and Anne for the delightful visit.  We sooo love your children.

 Though I can mark Alaska off of my state bucket list, I have added seeing glaciers and the Aleutians to another part of my list.  Yep, instead of getting smaller, the list is getting longer.  I so love to travel.  Oh, I almost forgot.  I did feel disloyal as I looked out of the window on the airplane flying into Anchorage.  The sunlight danced along the white craggy mountaintops.  I realized that Alaska rivals my beautiful Montana in regal beauty.

Here is my fossilized baby whale vertebrae.