http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Alaska , Anchorage en-us Fri, 04 Dec 09 09:23:20 +0000 Fri, 04 Dec 09 09:23:20 +0000 Having arrived safely in Anchorage at 11pm on 22nd July and greeted the bike who was waiting for us in the hotel car park with a new battery as she had refused to start when uncrated at the airport we immediately went off to sample the wares of the local microbrewery with a couple of other midnight arrivals.Next day we went off for a pootle around to get used to being back on the bike and driv http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-435529.html They've been predicting rain for the past two days but it still hasn't arrived yea. At 16 days into my trip I've only had rain for two of those days and both of those were traveling days when I had no plans to hike or do anything outdoors. Pretty amazingI went to Anchorage today a city that some folks avoid and speak disparagingly of. Anchorage is to Alaska as Honolulu is to Hawaii a t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-435331.html Irsquom not sure whether it was because I lived 3 years in Alaska from 19511954 or because my sister was born there at Elmendorf Air Force Base in 1953 or that it was one of my Dadrsquos favorite places but we felt a calling to visit this wilderness area on its 50th anniversary of becoming a state. So the 4 of us Chuck and I and my sister Patti and my brother in law Butch all came to Alask http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-433619.html Yesterday we spent a full day in Anchorage. We ate breakfast at a great little place called The Snow City Cafe. What amazing food After breakfast Kay I were off to the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum and the guys made plans for an extended bike ride. I really enjoyed the aviation museum Kay was a good sport didn't complain. They had a nice collection of planes some helicopters that were http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-433170.html Yesterday we spent our first day back on dry land. Kay said she felt wobbly like we were still in rough water The shipped docked at Whittier early in the morning. We then disembarked around 800 a.m. after a light breakfast boarded a bus for Anchorage. We passed through the longest tunnel in North America 2 12 miles long on our way. The driver stopped at a little park so that we could look at http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-433022.html You Wailer's out there will recognize Noel and Sue they haven't changed much. We headed back to Anchorage one last time. We regrouped and reorganized shopped and cleaned. But mostly we squeezed every last moment we could with Noel and Sue and Mitch too. It was so great for Ed to spend time with old friends and I really enjoyed making new friends. The Janda's have a beautiful home and we http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-429074.html We went to zoo here. It was pretty cool. Not as good as St. louis though. Pics are up. Enjoy. Videos will be posted to our youtube account. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-428773.html Today we decided it was about time we actually did some Alaska stuff. So we decided to hike a trail called Flattop Mountain. I Anna am ridiculously out of shape. I seriously thought I was gonna die. It was so hard but David pushed me the whole way. He and Griffin were running up the thing like it was nothing. Up near the top we actually had to rock climb hand over foot. It was hard b http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-424839.html We are on the last of four days getting set in Anchorage Alaska before setting off on the journey. Three things stand out1. Unexpectedly superb food and microbrewery beer in the downtown bars and restaurants.2. Fantastic hospitality from our hosts Larry and Allan at the Wildflower Inn BB.3. Spending an afternoon in the company of the fine gentlemen of the Alaskan Machine Gun Association AM http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-422043.html Glenn Highway was bumpier than we would have liked. Frost heaves caused ldquoroller coasterrdquo conditions in some areas and had to be taken slowly to avoid damage to the bus as well as damage to our stomachs. The sky was quite hazy due to a couple of wildfires so we missed some great views along the way. Hopefully we'll make up for it later on. Almost half the statersquos populatio http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-421160.html Spent last weekend with friends in Anchorage. Stayed with some great friends on the hillside attended the wedding of a wonderful couple went on a bike ride with Gabi and some friends and an epic mountain bike ride with a great friend. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-418355.html On June 28 in the afternoon we went to the zoo. It is a small zoo with limited animals but we enjoyed it and would certainly go again. Being afternoon we missed some of the animals like the polar bear who were sleeping.My favorite was the snow leopards they cooperated so nicely for pictures We also got to see a baby musk ox but the pictures didn't turn out because they were in the shade. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-416966.html On Sunday June 28 we went to Powerline Pass in the morning. We parked in the Flattop Mountain parking area and Deb Mark Mandy Katie the dogs Leah and I all went for a walk. The weather was perfect I guess this is a good place to spot moose but we didn't see any. There were people hiking up many of the mountains. I guess hiking up Flattop is one of the most popular hikes in Anchorage. Th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-416945.html It has come to an end and I must say that I have enjoyed and been awed by Alaska. The mountains and glaciers are spectacular and the wildlife and flowers are beautiful .I will send photos from home. Travelling in an RV was great. We took advantage of the ability to pull over for lunch or siteseeing or even sleeping whenever we chose.At one state park it was only us and the ranger Travel is slow http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-414987.html Ok everyone sorry it took so long. finally getting a long weekend from work for the 4th. Too bad we cant enjoy the fireworks the whole 2 hours of dimness doesnt work out too well. Anyway I put some pics up with this post of our apartment. It is small but it works for us. Enjoy.. Ill try to put up some videos but last time would take way too long to upload somewhere in the 24 hour range. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-414661.html Our first place to explore in Alaska was the Alaska Native Heritage Center. There was a loop trail around a pond where there were examples of different tribal homes. Inside of each was someone representing the people who would have lived there and explaining there lifestyle. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-412639.html We have spent the last several days with Noel and Sue at thier home in Anchorage. We have enjoyed taking the time to unwind from the road trip. After our fishing trip we have decided to rearrange the trip. We are going to leave here and head towards Inuvik. That is at the end of the Dempster Highway 500 miles of dirt road1000 if you count round trip. We went Downtown the other day and vis http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-412358.html We get to move in to our apartment today Finally I can't say that I'll never go camping again but it's definitely gonna be awhile lol. So the apartment is really tiny and we had to pay a ridiculous amount of money to get it bad credit but at least we have a roof over our heads now. No more being homeless Yay The apartments have a fitness center that's right next to our building http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-409075.html June 12thWe left Chicken after a hearty breakfast sandwich at the camp cafe. Only a few miles of dirt road remained to be negotiated until the pavement reappeared. The night before I had spent a considerable amount of time cleaning and adjusting the drive chain on my motorcycle. The succession of rain and dust and various other dirt had made quite a mess of it. Normally I have a gadget to make http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-408970.html I am going to talk to the lady at the Alpine Apartments at 9. Hopefully we can move in tonight or tomorrow. REALLY hopefully lol. I love camping but you can only handle so much of a good thing ya know We went to Petco and got Griffin a new harness and leash yesterday. This one was supposed to stop him from pulling when he walks. Lol guess how that turned out Yeah not so much. That li http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Anchorage/blog-408796.html