Alaska Days 28/29, All Good Things

Day 28

 Friday June 29

      With one day in Anchorage, I chose a popular destination known as Flat Top Trail.  It’s only a mile and a half up to the top of a butte.  But, it’s a mile and a half you earn.  The climb starts from the parking lot and just goes up. 

     The wood stairs were plentiful and actually welcome.  It beat walking up on loose gravel.

      After a nice scenic overlook, it starts getting interesting.  There once was a clearly defined trail to the top.  A big storm caused chunks of the trail to be washed out.  Now, there are ill defined “trails” in between these segments.  Some were steep and easy, others steep and slippery and others left more than just me scratching our heads.

     Eventually, I got high enough to pause and take a few photos.   

     I was also watching a group of three young women coming down the trail from the top.  Based on their slow speed and how much time they spend shuffling sideways while hugging the rock face, I decided perhaps I had gone far enough.  

    From the loop trail back to the car.

    On the other side of Anchorage is a city park with long walking and biking paths and great views.  I drove out and started in a section they call Earthquake Park, dedicated to the earthquake of 1964 that did so much damage across the state.  The memorial.

     I wandered about for an hour or so on the walking trails.

    Later in the day, I went looking for some dinner.  I had luck at 49^th State Brewery in Healy, so I went to the one in Anchorage.  I asked Mo, the bartender if he had any of their Smoked Porter Ale.  He said no, but suggested  something called a Smoked Mazen.  He offered me a sample and I really liked it.  It wasn’t nearly as heavy as a porter, but definitely more flavorful than a lager.  
    This was also the first place I've seen parking meters that took coins, credit cards or a phone app.

     With the motel’s wifi being a bit sketchy(it kept cutting out) I eventually found myself in a coffee shop.  That’s where I met Gretchen.  Her family moved here when she was six and she never left.  Now she works for the state and does unannounced spot checks on state facilities.  She gave me some interesting advice on out of the way places for future visits.  We would have kept talking, but the staff kicked us out. They just wanted to close. 

     Facing the inevitable, I went back to the room and started organizing my stuff for the trip home.  All good things do indeed come to an end.

Day 29

 Saturday June 30

     I don’t know how I missed it, but this polar bear is right in the north terminal of the Anchorage airport.

      I left the car with Alaskan 4X4 and walked across to the south terminal for my flight.  Seen in the south terminal.  Some of you will get this…

     The flight to Portland was easy enough.  I had a layover before the red eye to Atlanta.  It was long enough to get restless in the airport, but not long enough to suggest meeting my friend Risa for dinner, especially with the time involved with a return through security. 

     Instead, I had dinner in a place called Henry’s Tavern, just up from my gate.

   I met a couple from Philadelphia who were just back from a cruise in Hawaii.  They showed some photos they took from the cruise ship of the erupting volcano.  Pretty cool!

     Back at the gate, I saw something I hadn't see in a month... Darkness.

      The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful and for once the flight home was only half full.  A little elbow room is a wonderful thing.

Dave
July, 2018


PS: Next up for the road?  Good question.  The trip I had been pondering to the Bering Land Bridge Preserve in western Alaska for September, doesn't look like it will be happening.  The flight from Atlanta to Seattle to Anchorage to Nome is pretty steep.  I did talk to a charter pilot in Nome.  Considering the plan would be to drop me off and pick me up a couple of days later, that would be considered two separate flights.  Depending on how fuel prices go, it would be at least $1,500.  Add to that the uncertainty of when autumn would actually hit within the preserve.  It's a very short window for colors.  Spring came late and the salmon are spawning late.  I'd hate to go all that way and be early.  So, I'll be looking at alternate ideas.
    I'll be in northeaster Pennsylvania in late October for my nephew's wedding.  I have the week prior and the week after.  So, I'll be making an excursion out of it.  Route to be determined later.  I'm also trying to negotiate with my supervisor for a couple more days tacked on the front or back.  The vague plan is to make a big loop and try to catch as many of you as possible, even if we can only manage lunch.
    So, travel plans are pretty fluid right now, and it feels a little weird.
PPS: Thoughts of Uber vs. Lyft?  I've been using Uber.  But, twice I've been completely "unable to connect to network."