Eastern Utah
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Tuesday, August 30, 2016

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!

8 comments:

  1. I saved their blog so I can read it. I was wondering if they still travel but that was answering in your blog. Interesting that they live here in Tucson.

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    1. It is really a good read. They went back in 2008 (I think that's the year) and 8 years later I believe things have changed a lot - more tourists and more & bigger things to attract the tourists.

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  2. Alaska is such a huge state that it has all kinds of climates. I believe I told you that my son was working on the North Shore facing the sea and Russia.

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    1. You are absolutely right, and there is no way to predict anything that covers the entire state, including weather conditions. I think two Texases would easily fit into Alaska with a lot of room to spare. My map doesn't show any roads over in the western part of the state, so I imagine they are rough gravel? There are what look like a few regular roads in the vicinity of Nome, but other than that nothing to speak of.

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    2. By the way, if you read this blog and live in Northern Canada or Alaska, I'd love to get your comments on any part of my posts. Please correct any erroneous info I might give.

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  3. We only spent a few hours in Talkeetna, but was an interesting town:)

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    1. I've probably become a little jaded after all these years and the places I've traveled, and I find that one little tourist town is exactly like the others. I find no joy in walking through gift shops and such, but I will say I loved the meal and the beer at our restaurant in Talkeetna.

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  4. The comparison between Sac and Wasilla temperatures was interesting. I think you'll have fun keeping track of that over the winter. 32 is too cold for me. 12 below is out of the question and all that dark. I couldn't do it.

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