Sunday, June 30, 2013

Day 17 - Anchorage

Sunday, June 30

Well, it's been 15 days since I attended church and my spirit has been craving a gathering with other believers.  If you remember, on Friday we met friends of Anna's family for lunch at Benihana.  Those friends just happen to be a minister and his wife.  They extended an invitation to join them on Sunday and I immediately jumped on the invite whether anyone else was going or not.

After talking with Anna, we decided we would leave our RV park around 9:45am, Sunday School started at 10:30 and as usual, I prefer being early than right on time or late.  Anna took a deep breath and said OK.  Then she turned to Frank and said, "I have to set my clock to get up at 5:45" so I can have everything that needs to be done done.

I'm not sure what time she actually got up this morning, but we were right on time leaving the park.  We arrived 15 minutes early which was good to visit before service.  Others joined us for Sunday School and one of the pastor's daughters was the teacher, who as a professional, teaches kindergarten in Anchorage.  Alright some of you, no she did not talk to us like kindergarteners.  She talked big people talk, I think.

We had about 1/2 hour between Sunday School and regular church service.  One thing about God, you take what God gives you.  And with God you have a choice to reject or to flow on.  The church may have been small but the spirit was gigantic.







Whether you call it Sunday School, Bible Study, Fellowship, or whatever, it all should lead to Christ our Lord.

After the Word, prayers and testimonials, we all hugged and they said "We'll meet you at the RVs."  For you see, they wanted to see the RV's that had traveled from Kentucky and Washington.  They were surprised that we could not drive them to the cul-de-sac and turn them around at their home.




Our final hugs and good-byes at last came and off down Alaska Highway 1 we went.  Going to Trapper Creek RV Park for the night.  Tomorrow to Denali National Park just hoping that the cloud covering is gone or maybe we'll wait a few days just in case.  

Day 16 Anchorage

These are pictures taken on Friday.  The Alaskan railway is one continuous track.  Tracks have been welded in quarter miles section so there would be no clickety-clack, a much quieter ride for passengers.  Maybe the State of Washington can follow suit.  Having rode the trains from Seattle to Birmingham, AL, Seattle to California and Seattle to Portland, OR a more quieter ride would have been welcomed.

Alaska Railroad Monument

Eisenhower Alaska Statehood Monument





In 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a Bill that made Alaska the 49th State of the Union.  This monument commemorates that history.   

This is how Anchorage rolls with their Saturday Market.



Burl wood carvings (knots from the burl tree are a wood carver's heaven)

Bowhead whale baleen(filter system inside a whales mouth)

Carved image on baleen

Carved image on baleen

Carvings made from Moose antler


And YES, they have musicians, but take a look at the group.  Makes you feel right at home, no tuks and ties here, but lots of fun.

You have to admire the young people in Alaska.  They'll do whatever they can to help family with money.  Here a young man is crocheting hats for the coming winter months.  I should have bought a hat just to help support his initiative and his cause.  I guess I was too busy just taking pictures.  I won't let that opportunity pass again.  We just have to give our kids all the encouragement while they are making an effort.

You probably saw the ULU Factory that we visited.  Well, here are the products.  The handles have been crafted in varies shapes to represent animals. 


Our final stop for the day was the Alaska Native Heritage Center.



Inscription on sculpture at entrance to Heritage Center


Alaskan Native Children Games

Once a year, children compete in games similar to our Olympic games.  They don't have to be Alaskan Natives.  It is open to all children.  Although they are called games, the skills they must perform are actually life survival techniques.  Tribes come from  Alaska, Canada, Siberia and more.  Of the three youths demonstrating their games, one started at age 7, one at age 11 and another at age 14.  So there is no set age.  With long winter nights, parents encouraged these games.  In the lower 48, parents could take lessons.  I was amazed at the strength and accuracy each youth performed.  They used simple equipment, large rubber bands, a scaffold shaped thing-a-ma-jig and their bodies.  SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE stuff.  And we pay $1,000 of $$$$ for our equipment that usually end up being a clothes rack or a place to store boxes.








Native Olympic game - kick the ball with two feet and they must land and be in balance.  No stubbling or falling or else you are marked down.  They get three chances to achieve their chances of winning with the highest score or height.

Here is a young lady trying the same two feet kick the ball.  Girls compete with girls and boys compete with boys.

Here the boys are trying to pull the other one up as they hold onto a dowel.  Similar to our tug of war except notice their feet, they are matched up against one another.  Usually the one who has the grip in the middle of the dowel has the advantage because of the science of the fulcrum.  Once again, I would like to remind you that their games are really survival techniques, strength building, endurance, survive.

A Native Tlingit narrator explains areas in Alaska where the different tribes live, the area's conditions such as frozen tundra, area so small you can't find it on a map and over 200 dialects.


Bowhead whale skeleton (nothing is wasted on any animal) - food, clothing, crafts, oils, weapons, etc.


Conne the Musher!

Conne gets her Iditarod sled dog ride (sort of)

River fish trap

Carving bentwood boxes

Native Unangax narrator


Native dance routine
Whale jawbone

Seal intestine rain parka

Friday, June 28, 2013

Day 15 Anchorage

Friday, June 28

We are on our way to meet friends of Anna for lunch at Benihana.  On the road, I spot a sign that reminds me of someone very special.

Clifton and Gale, who have lived in Anchorage for 20 years, with Anna in the middle. 

Everyone arrived before the restaurant opened so we decided to wait in a hotel lobby next door.  It was an opportunity for Anna and friends to reacquaint each other with family back home as well as meet June, John and I.   We were the first to walk in the door so we received the best seat and what may appear to be the best chef.  Another couple, residents in Anchorage, joined our setting to complete the table.

Can you see I LOVE YOU!
Our meal was more than anyone anticipated.  Several had to-go boxes.  As we said good-bye, we have another great memory, new friends and good food.

Our next stop was the Alaskan Museum of Science and Nature.  We spent about an hour just strolling and seeing all the artifacts.

A meteorite found in Alaska and preserved in peanut oil
Claws from various animals

A parka made from gut and lining from a whale.

Are you getting tired yet?  Everyone is slowing down here, but we must keep going.  A big day is planned tomorrow and we are thinking about leaving on Sunday.  Two more stops before touring is over for this day.  We are on our way to ULU Factory.  ULU, pronounced "oo-loo", is a round blade knife/chopper/slicer/cutter.  It is multi-functional tool that has been used by native Alaskans for over 3000 years..





And of course, we had to see what it feels like to ride in a musher sled except no dogs to guide.  Probably a good thing, if you know what I mean.

A street vendor selling hot dogs, now that feels like the lower 48.



Log Cabin Visitor Center with real grass growing on roof

Well, we thought we would see a fish ladder near the ULU Factory but no such luck.  Our last stop of the day would be the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT.  We found it - in the mall - at a small kiosk - and the chocolate is made in Durango,Colorado!  So our trip wasn't in vain, I purchased two pieces of dark chocolate with nuts. 

At home at last.  Today was an overcast day and it actually is darker tonight.  This is the very first day that we did not see the sun come out since we started this adventure.  Maybe tonight I don't have to use aluminum insulation to darken the windows from light and heat. 


Thursday, June 27, 2013

Day 13 & 14 Homer to Anchorage


Wednesday, June 26

Today, we have to say good-bye to Arve and Ida.  What a great time and memories etched in our memory forever.  I hope this memory becomes part of my long time memory and I can re-tell the stories to my grandkids over and over.   When you tell your adventures you want others to feel what you felt, so words have to be vivid so much that you can hear the wings of ravens, see the Alaskan animal kingdom and taste the delicacies known only in Alaska.




Heading to Homer.



Homer, with their boardwalk and fishermen coming and going on their charters - we were at the right place and the right time.  A charter boat had just arrived and their catch was being processed right there on the dock.


Would you believe the fishermen ate a small sampling of  
salmon eggs raw?  YUP! what you see is what they ate. 


Leaving Sterling and heading back to Anchorage where we'll spend several days.  On our way, the road to Anchorage is surrounded by the never ending mountains that still hold on to their snow flakes that have caressed their sides and tops.  As your eyes wander down the mountain sides, they fall on the majestic water from the glaciers, some cascading down while others are hidden by the terrain but they come together in rivers and lakes.  The waters can be a light jaded green or a murky mocha brown.  Rivers are very fast moving waters yet they bring fishermen from around the world, looking for their pot of gold.

On the way, our RV kissed a guard rail.  Very little damage.  Roads vary in width so judgment can be misjudged.

We are spending a day planning our attack for the next several days.

It feels really great to be in touch with friends and family again.  We were in the wilds with no internet service.  It's amazing how electronics have taken over our lives.


Anna’s Musings

We left the cabin on Dow Island and headed to Homer. We had two sightings of moose along the way. One was a young bull with small antlers and the other was two cows standing in a clearing by the road.
There were many spectacular views of glaciers and Cook Inlet, which opens into the Pacific Ocean. I walked along the shoreline gathering stones and shells. I was asked if I took my shoes off and dipped my toes into the icy water and I told them no. They were very disappointed because I did not drink any of it either. Oh well, I was satisfied with the VIEW!

Homer's Spit

We took pictures at the Lands End sign which is the farthest you can drive your car.


There is a passenger ferry that takes you across Kachemak Bay, which is a small community with boardwalks along the beach. We had lunch at Captain Patties, the most talked about eatery on the Spit. I ate halibut and chips – delicious.

Tomorrow we are heading back to Anchorage for a 2/3-day sightseeing and exploration adventure.