Greetings From Alaska

The wife and I are on vacation in Alaska; we arrived Sept 1 and are here through next Tuesday, Sept 11. Having a great time. I thought I'd have the time (and required tools) to update on our trip in this space, but we haven't had the internet connections as frequently in our accommodations as we would have hoped. But here is Part 1 anyway.

Saturday 9/1: Rise at 5 am, on a plane from DC at 7:45 am, fly through Chicago and land in Anchorage at 1:15 pm local, which is 5:15 pm DC time. We ate and walked around Anchorage after dinner, then back to the B&B we were staying, and took a soak in our private outdoor hot tub and enjoyed a bottle of champagne. Lights out at 9:30 pm.

Sunday 9/2: Rise at 8 am, breakfast from the innkeeper (fritatta and omelet) and on the road at 10 am for the trip to Seward in the Kenai Peninsula. The drive down was awesome-we checked out the ski resort and took the tram to the top of the mountain. Ridiculous view. Stopped several times at pull-outs on the road to just check things out. Saw a dall sheep ewe and calf on a rock ledge above the highway. Got into Seward around 3 pm and went straight to the fish cannery for a tour. A friend of Cheryl's used to work on a fish boat. After the tour, we checked into our B&B and had dinner on the water.

Monday 9/3: Rise at 7 am, report to the tour company at 8 am and on the tour boat pulling out of the marina at 9 am for our all-day cruise around the Peninsula, out into the Gulf of Alaska, and back in to Northwestern Fjord to see a glacier close up. The trip was indescribably incredible, and we saw whales, orcas, otters, sea lions, seals, bald eagles and dozens of other birds. When we made it to the glacier, we saw a big chunk calve off into the bay. The boat captain actually started the engines to high tail it out if he'd had to. Again, words can't do it justice. Back to the marina at 6:30 pm, and we freshened up at had dinner at The Salmon Bake, a place so cool I had to buy a sweatshirt.

Tuesday 9/4: Rise at 7:30 am, headed back up to Anchorage for provisions, and across the state to Copper Center, in eastern AK. Saw the Matanuska River and mountain range, Matanuska glacier, which is a valley glacier so we got to walk up to and ON it, and Sheep Mountain, where we ate at the lodge owned by one of the top Iditerod sled dog mushers. The rest of the drive was made in the dark, but we got to see eastern AK in the morning. Got into Copper Center around 10 pm and checked into the resort we got for half price.

Wednesday 9/5: Rise at 8:30 am and after breakfast checked out the view at the resort. WOW. Four of the six highest peaks in a Alaska were practically staring at us in the back of the resort. These mountains are part of the Wrangell-Elias National Park. After pics we loaded up for the drive north to Fairbanks. Several hundred miles later and more mountain and river views we go through a small town and come upon several cars alongside of the road. A MOOSE!!! We had out first terrestrial wildlife sighting! We completed the drive and met up with Cheryl's college friends, where we're staying for the next couple of days.

So that's the quick and dirty version. I'll update and add pictures later. And maybe we'll come back. It's going to be difficult. Not like I'm missing out on anything with the O's and Nats.