Back in A'town...

Returned to town (Anchorage) yesterday. Drove from Homer with dinner stop at Double Musky in Girdwood. Wonderful...French Pepper Steak for me, crab stuffed halibut for Nichole and Sarah had fresh white king salmon. Escargot stuffed mushrooms for appitizer and a blueberry cheesecake to die for for dessert. Tonight fresh dungeness crab and potatoe salad with the neighbors.

Am not getting as much chance to write and certainly not as much time to connect. Lots of fun things happened over past couple of days. Just no time to pass it on. Tell you the truth, not even sure if anyone is reading.....motivation is waning! I'm better at writing and describing what's happening "in the moment" but find I start then have to move on to next activity without finishing. Then it's "old news". Maybe will gather notes and just post snippits. Maybe not...

Spit and shine....

The girls are packing up as we prepare to leave the Bidarka Best Western on the edge of Homer. Debate at their free cold egg and congealed gravy breakfast if we are going to stay another day. Decided to head back to Anchorage today rather. Still lots of gift shopping and beer drinking to do here but....we've already been out the Homer Spit and visited the Salty Dawg Saloon, daisy chained in and out of shops, and had a lovely dinner at Fat Olives of seafood stew cooked in one of those pointy topped clay pots after an hour wait to get in. Sun shining bright across the mountains as we walk back to our motel at 10:30pm. Since there are not yarn stores open today I won't have to hang out in some sleazy bar drinking the local brew. Am actually a bit beered out! Am doing some writting and I know all of y'all reading this blog are so very anxious to get the updates of Dale and Sarah's adventures but really haven't had much time to post. Actually a lot of my writing is occurring in pieces as I find down time in yet another tavern while Sarah and Nichole do the knitting/shopping thing. I'll try to get a compilation up to you soon.

Seward and ice...

The Sea Bean Coffee and internet in Seward is hopping this morning. Sent out my last post from here via thumb drive (first time to try that--it worked) and $2 to access their computer. Today, b'fast of coffee and a toasted bagel gets me free access.

Had a bit of stomach upset last night. Hope it wasn't something I ate---eggs, bacon, and homemade biscuts and gravy yesterday and the night before a wonderful halibut cheek with lemon and capers over rice pilaf.

Yesterday we took a 6 hr cruise into the fjord to the Aliak Glacier. Saw lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Actually saw humpback, orca, and gray whales; seals, sealions and otters; puffens, cormarands and gulls; starfish, mountain goats and glaciers calving. A running commentary from the captain except when he had to "pay attention to the road" as he put it when we sailed between close islands or over 1000 yr old glacial morranes where the water depth changed from 400ft to 30ft in the lenght of the boat. Past the only maximum security prison in Alaska, derelic gun implacements from WWII (Dutch Harbor was actaully invaded and captured buy the Japanese!) and of course majestic moutains all around. Fourtyfive minutes sitting with the engines off quietly listening to the cracks, creaks and goans of the glacier as we anxiouly await 300ft high columns of ice fall away into the bay. (hopefull more on this later)

Today to Saldontna to hook up with Sarah's folks and an Uncle Lew who has been gracious enough to put us up on our way to Homer. Oh, and attractive as it can be, I'm not quite yet ready to buy a 30 ft home on wheels. It does beat climbing wet into a tent and having a toilet that really flushes is something I could get used to!

RVing....

RVing….

Sitting in a lawn chair at the back of the motorhome watching the last bright rays of the sun cap the mountains across the bay. It’s 11:30pm. Otters float on their back in the surf eating shellfish and keeping an eye on the tourist. To the left a huge yellow and blue tanker (?) sits at dock. The cruise ship with cabins stacked like so many cages backed out and turned around about 4 hours ago to sail to it’s next tourist port of call. Blogging in the twilight….

Seward. Thinning city traffic out of Anchorage then 3 hours south on the Seward Highway. Sharing the road with an amazing assortment of RVs we cruise along in the Dillon’s 31 footer with emerald green mountains and patches of snow on the left and gray mud flats of low tide of the Turnagein Arm on the right, separated from the same gray of the sky by the black and white mountains of the Kenai interior. The road ends at the Alasska Sealife Center on 4th Ave. We back into space RS37 at the end of a long line of land yachts at Waterfront RV and Campground overlooking Resurrection Bay. For 15 bucks a night we get front row no hoop up seats for the ever changing show of weather across the bay.

(Above the rhythmatic soft pound of the sea onto the shore, I can hear the gnawing and crunching of the otter’s teeth on shell as he effortlessly floats on his back enjoying dinner.)

A short walk up the hill into downtown, lunch is at Cristo’s Palace. Good pizza and friendly service. The waiter with a tongue stud from Utah and the hostess from Turkey with a very cute accent. Afterwards Sarah and Nichole straight stitch it directly to the Flying Skein yarn store. The Seward Alehouse is next door. The Eagles are playing on the juke box as pool balls click. An elderly native woman with a very pale gossak (white man) drinks rose’ and methodically open pull-tab lottery tickets across the bar talking it up with the single native girl across from them. All are smoking as the Aussie bartender keeps patient bored watch.

Spent yesterday with Sarah’s dad, Wayne, getting lined out on the motorhome; generator here, fresh water tank drained and refilled, gray water drained there, black water drained--all over Wayne’s hand!, airbags checked, refrigerator on/off, inverter access, spare tire access crank, awing crank, stabilizer crank, emergency slide-out crank, check, check and check. Spent the evening with Nichole. Dinner at Humpies: a huge bowl of steamer clams in a rich cream broth with lots of fresh bread for me and perfectly cooked halibut dribbled with a delicate jalapenio sauce for the girls. Spinning lessons at Nichole’s apartment as her dog crunches noisily on a nylon bone and I nap on a too small couch procured from the local dumpster. This morning bags are packed and stowed, emergency rations purchased, mirrors adjusted and the rig gingerly backed out to the street. The adventure begins…………

S and N bounced down the street into the Sew’n Bee Cozy Fabric store. I bounced into the Yukon Bar. A lukewarm Alaskan White Ale from Juneau under a ceiling covered wall to wall with signed dollar bills. A fire hazard for sure, a custom started during one of our great wars--sailors about to ship out would tack a greenback with their name on it to the ceiling assuring their return and guaranting a pre-paid drink. A more somber local crowd here. The Rolling Stones playing “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. Bathroom lined with worn rough hewn lumber with graffiti on every available surface. I’m impressed with the motivation of the guy who got on his hands and knees next to the urinal to fill in space there. Sitting next to the sink is a ½ gal. of Gojo pumice hand soap available at all fine Knecht’s everywhere!

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Land of the Midnight sun...

Land of the Midnight Sun…

Into Anchorage at midnight. Sun shining as we drop thru the clouds gliding over moss like tundra until wheels surprisingly strikes concrete. Deposit luggage in the basement bedroom we join Sarah’s parents for a nightcap at 1am as we watch the mist drift across the Chugach range in the distance.

Saturday spent “visiting”. With the in-laws. I took 2 naps and poached internet access from the neighbors. Damn Microsoft! Lost the spellchecker for Works. Have to reinstall a program I don’t have an instillation for! That would never happen with a Mac. Bedtime at 10 with blinds closed to block the light.

Jet lag resolved, we’re up at 7. Breakfast of eggs, sausage, pancakes and fruit then, after multiple phone calls and “accomodation of over accomodating pathology (I forgot my mantra: “Yes dear. Whatever you want to do, dear.”), Sarah and I head into downtown to meet Nichole, Sarah’s daughter, at the Sunday‘s, “Saturday” Market. Sarah and Nichole wander in and out of booths selling everything from Husky dog puppets to oolisks (Walrus penises). I drink coffee and watch the tourists. Later, while Nichole meets up with a friend from out of town, Sarah and I split a lovely breaded salmon, tender thick slices of calamari with spicy mayo and a rich fish chowder for lunch at Glacier Brewhouse. Sarah pays---Happy Father’s Day to me!

Now at the Sleeping Lady Brewing Co. a short walk down the hill overlooking the container port of Anchorage. Yep, I do intend to drink my way across southern Alaska! The 49er Amber Ale here has more body than the amber at Glacier but Glacier’s is more drinkable. The salmon are reported to be running. The banks of the ship canal are lined with fishermen. Dark ceiling of overcast is breaking up to reveal robin’s egg blue sky.

Continuing on….Sarah and Nichole are at the Far North Yarn Co. while I sit and type and drink yet another amber at the Bear Tooth Grill across the street. You thought I was joking about drinking my way across southern Alaska?? The amber, a compromise between the two previous samples. Quite drinkable. Nichole’s driving!

North to Alaska...

NORTH TO ALASKA…

Tomorrow we fly out to the land of tundra, arora borealas, Sarah Palin, and Sarah’s (mine, not Palin’s) parents and daughter. The stress and anxiety of packing at an end. It’s tough when two control freaks try to take charge of all the details. Actually, one control freak with procrastination tendencies and an obsessive compulsive with a prepencenty to over plan way too far ahead! We’ve survived the coordination of dog care, house sitting, luggage selection (revised 3 times), last minute vet visit for a cat with an abscessed paw post cat fight, finding time to visit with Sarah’s son who arrived for a welcomed impulsive visit from L.A. where he is going to Musician’s Institute, and pre-planning events that will occur quite quickly immediately upon our return.

Now, drinking expensive airport coffee as we wait at the Eugene airport. I think we are the only people that actually paid attention to the proscribed 2 hour pre-flight arrival time. Airport security is a snap when you are the only ones in line. At the house, Sarah was into last minute nervous cleaning mode and I was simply bored. Now, we are actually in “travel mode” and relaxed.

The luggage scene settled out to “screw it” just add another checked bag, pay the extra $15 and don’t worry about all the crap we’re taking. Baggage is always a challenge. (literally and metaphorically it always is!) We originally went with the large Eagle Creek bag and the smaller carry-on piggy backed so I can manage it all. Ended up with the carry-on becoming just that and a soft sided with hidden backpack straps as extra check-in. I can still manage it all but do have to wonder why the wife needs 4 pairs of shoes, 2 different rain coats and 6 knitting projects in various states of completion!

Had spent an inordinate amount of time over the past months trying to “plan” itineraries, make suggestions for Alaska adventures, research options on the net, participate in conference phone calls with Sarah’s folks or daughter only to finally decide the obvious approach to take is, “Yes dear. Whatever y’all want to do.” Am actually looking forward to this trip. Haven’t been to Alaska in quite some time. Last time was before Sarah and I was married and we made Sarah’s folks clear out all the stuff out of their storage closet/sauna so we would have somewhere to go alone and private! Did get some pretty intense skiing in at Aleaska that trip. Spent a summer years ago in Dillingham on Bristol Bay 350 miles west of Anchorage. Don’t remember much about the nursing aspect of that job but did enjoy helping them move the entire 12 bed hospital from a Quanset hut into a brand new high tech government financed facility which basically closed when the salmon was running (we’re talking 4 ft fish weighing 20 lbs net caught in surf). Camped next to steaming bear scat with dusk at midnight, pulled a couple of boaters out of freezing water and stripped them down to shove them into sleeping bags to treat their hypothermia, and spent 3 days on a salmon fishing boat gill netting (not kind to the fish!) when the teenage owner of the boat wasn’t threatening us with a filet knife or we weren’t being boarded by armed Coast Guard personnel because we somehow drifted out of the designated fishing area when our brilliant captain backed up on our net entangling it in the propeller. Yep, been a while…

Sea to Snow...

Awoke this morning to crystal clear blue sky with Mt. Hood perfectly framed by our window. Huge buffet breakfast in the Cascade dining room watching the wedding party from last night nurse hangovers and herd children. Geared up and a brief climb on my new backcountry 10th Mountains to see how they do. Sarah easily walking along. A few effective turns and it's time to trade up to "real" skis and pay to be hauled up the moutain. A morning of turns on perfectly groomed runs with sunshine and a view of a looming Mt. Hood that can not be beat by the best postcard. Lunch of salami, cheese, and bagle with Sarah in the lodge as I attempt to cool off burning thighs. Back to the slopes as fog floats in from the valley. One run down from the Magic Mile lift on burning legs, visability dropping to 60 ft, and a meet up with Sarah in the lounge. Water and a beer and time to write as the mountain comes and goes thru the haze just beyond the giant windows reinforced with an iron bar against the occurance of gale force winds from above.

This "near-cation" started 5 days ago in Yachats on the coast. A gathering of frinds at the Yachats Inn for two days of watching Pacific storms, eating good food and making much merryment (it is Mardi Gras weekend, after all!). Sarah and I enjoyed fresh crab and potato salad for lunch before all the revelers arrived then dinner for 8 at the River House (?) Inn. Bread pudding complements of Sarah back at our room, party central. Saturday we hiked the 1/2 mile Hobbit trail to a beach surrounded by haystack rocks all the while mindful of the tide hoping we don't get trapped requiring a hard climb up the sandy cliffs. Our much anticipated potluck began with decoration of the motel's common room in the theme of Valentine's Day mixed with shades of New Orleans. Hot appetizers accompanyed cocktails as pasta cooked for Crawfish Monica. Dinner leasurly, loud and fun included salad and home made bread with a finale of delicate creme brule. More stories and lies prepared us for bed as darkening waves crashed upon the rocks and wind howled among the timbers.

On Sunday, Valentine's day, after an exchage of cards, gifts and expressions of romance, Sarah and I followed our friends, Jim and Kristy, to Portland allowing them the opportunity to play the perfect hosts after we had invited ourselves to their place for lodging enroute to the mountain. Valentine dinner was at 50 Plates in the Pearl District. Nouveau cousine of Mom's comfort food (an oxymoron there!) with a twist. Interesting concept. I'd go there again. Monday involved our usual pilgramage to Powell's Book Store, lunch at Larry and Zukes (?) Deli joined by a long lost friend from the Oregon Country Fair; a bit more shopping in "the Pearl" until it was time for cocktails with another long lost friend, this time from my ER days. Breakfast for dinner back at J & K's and an early bed time.

On the mountian and checked- in to Timberline by noon yesterday and on the slopes to ski with my friend John, who just happens to be a "Ski Host" with required knowledge of the entire terrain. It was good to get back on the boards and snow after a year's hiatus. Reminded me why skiing is such an enjoyable sport. A nap at 5:00 was followed by dinner in the Cascade Room of seared elk on savory french toast. Later a little internet action (a Skype call to Herman the wonder dog and his care giver, Sarah's son, Jesse) in the lobby while sipping expensive cheap brandy as the kids from the wedding party watch Monty Python in the room made famous by Jack Nicholson in the "Shinning". Early to bed again, as this old monster of a lodge creaks and groans with age and spirits.