ANCHORAGE

The weather for the last couple days has been pretty nice, a really welcome change. Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. Even so, it's pretty easy to get around in. Elmendorf AFB sits right at the north side of the city, and it shares many facilities with the neighboring Army Fort Richardson. The campground here on base is okay at $16 a night. It's got pretty old facilities, mostly 20 amp service, but looks like there are a few 30 amps around. The water tastes awful because of the chlorine the base adds. E finally got my attention today, and I put on a solid charcoal water filter which made all the difference! Haven't seen an on-site sewer hook up since early in Canada.

We accidentally found our way into the Eagle River Nature Center, where 5 bucks got you the clearance to hike their trails. We chose a shorter one of around 3 miles loop. As we were returning on the last leg, a hiker pointed to the "Northern Saw-Whet" owl in the picture. The hiker didn't know what it was, Eloise was able to find it on-line later. No matter how long we watched it, it wouldn't fly away, just look around. The other hiker had a dog with him, but it still didn't leave. The WWW said that that was a defensive trait of this particular owl, that it will just sit still until danger passes. That seems sort of risky to me! It was a good easy-moderate level hike, but it was pretty muddy from earlier rains. We didn't see any other wildlife, but it was a beautiful setting.

Yesterday we went into the city and visited the Ulu Factory (a unique Alaskan cutting device), took a hike up a newly created and really well done walk/bike path the parallels the river where salmon make their run up stream. The first bridge we came to we could see two of the king salmon, whose run is largely over by now. We tried to get pictures of them, but they were too elusive for the camera. They were huge! The silver salmon are running at the moment, but they seem to be smaller. That's them in the picture. I don't think I'd want to be fishing in this kind of situation.

We rode the free trolley through its entire route. It only took about 30 minutes. A visit to the Public Lands Information Center which is on 4th street, not 3rd as shown on the downtown map. They have excellent displays and films. A gentleman from the Seward Mammal and Marine Research Center made a presentation about sea-life and mammals in the Seward area. He was a superb speaker! Managed to get audience participation from just about everyone. We located the post office, but our mail wouldn't be in for a couple more days. Also wanted you to see the visitor's center. The log cabin with sod roof.

Today we went back into the city, specifically to see the largest and busiest seaplane area in the world on Lake Hood. The International Airport is there too, which makes it sort of a noisy location. There is an Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum there that was interesting. I've included a shot of a one of a kind sort of ... something. It has both a rotor and a rear facing prop. I've included the data from the sign on it. E is relaxing next to a beauty on static display. There were three main buildings, and a work building. We were allowed into all areas, even the work areas which I found fascinating. It's one thing to see a pristine restoration all shiny and new looking, but quite another to see the condition that they start out in. We had a 2-for-1 ticket for the museum, regular senior price is $9.00 pp. They also had this jeep on the grounds, outside the museum. Who is that driving? GARY?

Later this afternoon we went to the Wildberry Theatre to see a Charleton Heston narrated film about Alaska. It was really well done with some beautiful calving glaciers. Hope we get to see some of those in the next couple of weeks. The film was listed in the 2 for 1 tour saver book as $10 but they gave discounts in addition so it only cost $6. That left enough for one ice cream sundae but we each had one so the afternoon cost a total of $14.

In the morning we head in the direction of Homer, around 300 miles out on the end of a peninsula. On the way is the Portage Glacier in Whittier, Seward, and Hope. It's goodbye Elmendorf AFB and it's C-17 cargo planes that have been flying over all morning, afternoon and evening! Here's a picture of one. They started about 8 a.m. today and it is now almost 11 p.m. and they are still flying. Guess they are trying to get in a lot of flying to make up for the crappy weather they have been having.