More blog reading

 I have reached the end of August in the Wishnie's blog, and the next entry will be about Talkeetna where we also spent an afternoon.  I can see some differences between Jo's photos and what I saw just a month ago.  I think the playground in Seward is still the same, and my granddaughters enjoyed it like all the kids do.  The harbor seems to have been greatly enlarged by now and there are a great many more boats moored there.  We took the same Kenai Fjord tour although I'm not sure if it traveled the same route.  The Wishnie's saw the "Exit" glacier which had greatly receded, whereas we saw the Ailik glacier which we were were told is about a mile wide at the mouth.  We actually heard cracks in the ice, soon followed by chunks  falling into the sea.  Standing on the deck of the boat so close to the glacier, plus all the icy sludge in the waters around the boat, made it the coldest place I've been in years! 

I wasn't disappointed in the wildlife seen - and the many birds viewed were impressive as well.  The biggest problem I had is that I could never take a photo because everywhere I tried I had arms sticking out holding cell phones.  They don't just take a few photos and then back off so someone else can do the same - they just stay there prepared for something new to pop up.  I'm too polite to push my way through, which is why I missed photos of the Orcas.

The Wishnies are avid birders as well as excellent photographers, so bird lovers will enjoy their photos.  I don't know how Jo Wishnie found my blog post about hers and Fred's trip to Alaska, but she commented on my last post.  It made my day to hear from her, and she confirmed that they had  moved to Tuscon and no longer have their RV.  I enjoyed reading about their travels for several years.

I asked our hostess on our recent trip to Alaska, Sarah's Aunt Pam,  about how cold it gets in the winter.  She seemed to think 12 below zero was about right, although I'm sure it gets colder than that from time to time.  The thing to consider is the constant twilight in winter.  You can call it darkness if you want, but I reckon it is usually not the pitch black of night we might think it is.
  
I've heard from several people who have been there and of course it is so beautiful you wonder if you could live there year around.   It is a tempting thought, but I don't think I could deal with the lack of sunlight and the extreme cold, although you can dress warmly enough if you plan it right.  I think to be a permanent resident you have to have a sort of "edge" to your personality.  I'm talking about the grit it would take to make it, and to do what you have to do to survive the elements.  Most of us are so spoiled in our everyday lives and the availability of whatever the whim of the hour might be.  Everything is available there, but if you live further out of town it might not be as easy to access during the winter.   I sure would like to spend some more time in Alaska, seeing my favorite (so far) places and discovering new ones.

Jo Wishnie mentioned the Sea Life Center in Seward, and that was one of my favorite places.  There was so much to see, but I was there with my son and his two girls - we took the tour after the boat trip - so i couldn't take as much time to look at some of the exhibits.   Everyone else was out fishing so we had time to kill before we all met back at the duplex.

For weather watchers, this morning when I got up it was 57 in Sacramento, and 67 in Wasilla; it is still 67 in Wasilla but has risen to 91 in Sac.  Dang, I love the Alaskan weather, but things will soon change, both here and there in Wasilla.

 I got my beer today at Costco, and will crack one open about 8:00pm.  (If I drink one earlier than that I'm liable to want a second one before I go to bed.)   I didn't get ice cream though and need to make sure I get some tomorrow.   Costco's ice cream comes in too large quantity packages; I have more self control over my beer consumption than I have with ice cream!