Memorial Day in Anchorage

The Pioneers of Alaska honor and remember all the loved ones lost over the past year at services in the downtown cemetery. While we have a tract here, other organizations have similar tracts. The American Legion tract is next to ours, and Post 1 has put out white crosses with poppies at all of their marked graves. It’s a very touching ceremony there and after this comes a pot luck at the Pioneer Hall and a barbecue at the Legion. This marks the start of tourist season and friends have already arrived on some Princess Cruises, which now dock in Whittier. This makes the drive to Anchorage a bit shorter than the former docking station in Seward. The mileage is less, but the trip takes a rather extended time because there is a one way tunnel from Whittier, which changes direction every half hour. This was formerly only a railroad tunnel, and they even have some fun runs thru the three miles, as running is big in the Anchorage area. Downtown in Anchorage has blossomed into a huge flower garden, and local businesses grow every year. The showcase of businesses was held by Visit Anchorage (formerly the Convention and Visitors Bureau) to familiarize locals with where to send our guests. I think the most clever booth at the Spenard Farmer’s Market is the Mobile Mender. If you haven’t figured that out, a lady sits at her sewing machine and does just that . .. great for bachelors and some of us lazy ones. Well, talk to you later. . .

by the way - I posted a salmon painted Alaska Air plane, since the flying butterfly on my other blog didn't fly on this one . . . sob . . .

Signs of a Beautiful Summer in Anchorage

Glad that you found this page, and I hope to update you with the summer activities around my place. Now that the tops are down on convertibles, my choice of a good on is this.

click here I don't know exactly what I've done here -- guess I should study this a little more. Well, I'll sign off faster than I had hoped because this is really a test to see if I can show you the neat red 'car' but it's a pdf file and I can't figure out how to post it, so I'm sending you to my webpage!

Sure enough, this is me making an exit - from the long winter (Note my heavy winter coat>

Beautiful Anchorage

Looking around Anchorage, if you just ignore a few remaining dirty mounds of snow, you’d never know it was a very long, cold winter. Bike races have started and the trails are full of families walking, and running! It’s just great and you’d best come and visit us soon! Oh, the lake pictured here is about 50 miles south of Anchorage on the beautiful drive heading south to Seward. I will let you know that it’s always cold and windy here, but it does make for a beautiful pristine image.
One thing I’m thankful for is that our roof didn’t cave in from the weight of the snow on it . .. many homes could not withstand the heavy weight of over 4 feet, and it’s also dangerous to climb up and shovel it!

I am looking for an image of our Dome to post, as that’s where most of the school sports like soccer and track take place because the ground is still pretty wet. This dome is just huge — picture two football fields, and you get an idea of its size.

Anchorage Springs Spring

We thought it would never come, but it is the beautiful season in Alaska. Trees are budding out, and sun is warm and moods are good. Just remember to not look down, because the puddles this year are bigger than usual, what with the record amount of snow.

Surely we have to accept some sadness along the way, such as some house fires, roofs falling in with the weight of the snow, and the recent find of a missing barista who disappeared two months ago.

But spring is also the season for birthing of new pups for future Iditarod Races, and also the moose calves will be appearing out of nowhere with their offspring, as well as the 'city' bears.

The new baseball season will be upon us shortly, and the Anchorage Bucs are moving their offices to the former gym on the park strip. (City-owned) That will make them lots closer to the Ball Park, and it's a new ball game without the founder/manager with us . . . he passed away over the winter.

One blunder I feel the city made was their choice of a 'statue' outside the newly expanded museum.

Note this picture, oops, it's upside down, too . . .which I scanned from a magazine, so it lacks quality, however, you can see that it is a bunch of blocks sitting on the grass (no foundation), on the far corner of the museum property. You might think it was created by a nursery school in their tinker toy class, but no . .. the half million dollar structure was designed by a Brit, who supposedly had great credentials. Oh, well, it's still a beautiful city and it's MY city. I'll try to update my posts a little more often, really!

Winter Wanes in Anchorage

It’s almost spring on my calendar, but the weather hasn’t caught up yet. As the Iditarod is probably ending today, it completes the big races of Fur Rendezvous, Iron Dog Race, Iron Dog and Yukon Quest.

The weather didn’t deter the arts, which thrive in Anchorage. The performing arts had a full schedule of concerts, symphonies, operas, and Broadway shows. The visual arts are hosted not only galleries, but most downtown restaurants, and First Fridays are very popular, where you can stroll, walk, or run between the galleries.

Outdoor sports draw younger ones even in below zero weather, and the schools have a full program that is seldom cancelled due to temps, and there is also a full schedule if indoor sports to participate in, or view at our many sports bars.

So it’s a good time to “Visit Anchorage”, which is the new name of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. I haven't even mentioned the peripheral pleasures of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, as they've been putting on a display more beautiful than ever. You have to be patient and hope they are 'out' and it's not to cloudy to obscure your view, but what else is there to do at 3:00 a.m.?

Fur Rendezvous Time in Anchorage

February is our transition month, because it's time for Fur Rendezvous. This helps us to put the below zero weather behind us, and enjoy being outdoors for all the events of "Rondy". We have dogsled races locally, which precede the big Iditarod Race to Nome which follows the 2 week celebration. We have mushers from all over the world who have come to race.

But we have many other events. The Miners and Trappers Ball is always a good one for costuming, and the Run with the Reindeer rivals Pampalona's Running of the Bulls. A long time tradition of the Pioneers of Alaska Pancake Feed, where we serve over a thousand breakfasts at our downtown Pioneer Hall, and a parade follows this on Saturday. There is a great melodrama which is always sold out, run by the Sourdough Sweethearts (I think it's them) and you can even ride in the sled of dogteam on the Park Strip . . . yes, there's something for everyone. Come visit Alaska! We have a lot going on.

Freezin' in Anchorage!

This is the coldest January on record. Perhaps you think I've dropped this blog - well, I haven't. I just have a problem posting it, so I have several blogs sitting my my draft box. Well, it's okay because I have nothing to say except, "Br-r-r".

I will admit, it's beautiful looking out from my warm condo, but I've been running to and from my car, and wherever. Unlike most 'real Alaskans' I don't have a remote start, so it takes a mile or so to get warm. The other beautiful part of Alaska is watching the Aurora Borealis, which I'm including on my post for you to enjoy. There are some websites that actually show the movement of the beautiful colors, and there is even a hum - m - m that goes along with the view.

Activities do not stop altogether, as indoor sports mostly in the schools and 'the Dome' continue. The Dome is a big bubble next to, but separate from, the Crosspoint Church/Fellowship. It's really big, like 2 football fields, and the schools rent it a lot for the outdoor sports programs.

Like I said, it's just too cold to do anything, but then I'm a senior citizen. There were days when I actually liked it cold. But think of all the jobs that require being outdoors.