Last view of Home, till end of Sept 2011
5/4/11: Happy Birthday to our Brother Craig
* Finished cleaning the house
*Last minute things in luggage
*Delivered our Amrican Legion's Post 164's Valdalia onions to the Claxton-Hames Wellness Center
* Sorry I messed up the order and shorted our intrepid leader Bill, and the vivacious, energetic Joyce.
*Ginger tearfully hugged and said goodbye to our friends.
*Ate biscuits and gravy, and eggs over-easy at Mrs Rogers
*Stopped by the Ace Hardware. We discussed our upcoming adventure with Derek Mitchell, the Manager. He told us he'd been on several cruises with Princess. He said would definitely be coming up this summer to see us.
*Went home and closeed up the luggage, waiting in the cool clear air, on the front porch. Best friends Marsha and BJ Clark (Retired Senior Chief) arrived to take us to the hotel by the airport. Stopped in Pembroke for our last meal, at the Whistle Stop Cafe. It was court day, so there was a crowd. Friends from church were there; Mark, Noah, Bob, Mr Bacon, and Pastor Jim. Said final good-byes. Pastor Jim's parting words were; "Don't forget to come back to beautiful Pembroke, it'll still be there" Other comments we heard were:
"Don't forget to ship me some salmon"
"Ginger, just trip Ernie when the bear chases you"
"Remember, those skeeters in AK eat GA skeeters for snacks"
After lunch we went to BJ's to chillax, and watch the movie Long Way Out . Three of us read the book.
I recommend highly the book and the movie.
Early to bed in hotel, after a steak dinner.
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5/5/11 Up at 4:00 am. Anxious to get going!
Hotel front desk clerk had been on a cruise to AK in late September. Greatest memory was seeing the Salmon run, and having them jump over the guide wire on the bridge they were standing on. Also being in a small boat, and watching a whale breach completely out of the water.
6:30am Delta flight departs. Clear blue skies
7:44am Arrive in Atlanta. Our next gate was T08, a long long way! Poor Ginger was exhausted. We got to the plane as the last were boarding.
8:20am Depart for Seattle-Tacoma. About 1/2 the flight had cloud cover, but some significant viewing was:
* Midwest flooding over farm land
*Farm land, farm houses, long straight roads leading to small towns, Ohhh, the best of Americana
*Several farm areas had pods of large, power generating windmills
* Big river in South Dakota, near Pierra, and Mitchell
*The Black Hills???
*NW corner of SD, very barren. Spotted first snow on peeks and ridges
* Rocky Mountains majesty; snow covered, snow clouds depositing even more snow
*More wind mill pods
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Arrive gate S01, going to gate N06, required riding on 3 different trains, and 3 escalator rides. Nice long lay-over to relax.
1:50 pm Seattle time depart aboard Alaska Air Flite 123
Our seat row mate is a 35 year resident of Healy, AK. He lives right behind Rosie's Cafe, "best place in town to eat" He served in the delta area of Vietnam with an Army Engineeering company, aboard a Navy LCM. He provided us some info on fishing. But stated he let his pistol to his buddy who found the best place to catch trout, but the bears had too. One got within 8 feet, before he wondered away.
Said to catch salmon you need to go about 100 miles. The Princess McKinley has them. (We plan to make a trip there) Did state that Lake Otto near town has rainbow trout and grayling, and is not visited by bears.
He told us how back in the 50's his Dad had bought some land in Paisley, FL (near Deland) in hope of making money. He didn't.
*Cloud cover for most of the way. Then at 3:45 we see the forst Big mountain through breaks in the clouds.
The pilot comes on and says we justed passed over Sitka, and are heading a little more to the right.
*WOW!! A break in the clouds, look at all those huge mountains, the deepest snow I've ever seen, look at that river valley..Ginger gets mad at me for poking her to see the sights.
* As we are beginning our descent, about 20 miles from Fairbanks, the skies completely clear. Flat, marsh likesome pines, many good sized rivers, some frozen. Landing, there is a pond that parallels the runway. Along its banks are dozen of seaplanes.
*Praise God, all of our luggage arrive. Meet several going to the Fairbanks Princess for the night on the way to Denali. Seveal are from the south, Columbus, GA, Alabama, Louisiana, Salt Lake City
*Met 2 who will be working in the warehouse. They are returning employees.
*Checked into room. Tired. ate in Lodge; me Grilled Salmon, Ginger: Salmon Chowder. The Best!
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5/6/11
Woke up on our own at 4:45 local time. Its bright out! Sun comes over the horizon at 5:30 am
* Theres all kinda of big time security in the hotel. Find out its for a debate there before the Alaska Bar Assoc, of John Woo of George Bush's Admin who promoted the harsh interragations (hey you libs, it paid off, caulk one Osama Bin Laden) and some lib attorny who is defending terrorists. As I walked out I spoke to a State Trooper, and asked him if he had been on the tv show, Alaska State Troopers. I told him I had recorded all of them. He said yes, and told me about the episode. I remebered. He gave me his card, and told me to email him, and he would send me a DVD of the new season that wasn't realeased yet. He is LT Lonny Piscoya, Deputy Commander.
*Took Ginger for a walk. Will add photos of some of the neat stuff right by the lodge.
*Including some animal drops that I thought look like Liy's little tootsie rol sized ones, but in a big pile. A local told me those were from a moose. I figured they would be more like cow pattied.
*Killed my 1st AK mosquito. Yep, they are big!
4:00 pm Princess Denali motor coach arrives to drive the 30 of us to our new homes. Barely fit all the luggage. Diane was the driver. Been working here 12 years. The 2 hour drive was uneventful. Some nice scenery, but gray skies. Then about 5 miles from Healy, slight rain turned to slush, then heavy huge snowflakes. Windows fogged up. Poor Diane! A near white out. Pulled into the Homestead parking lot. Trees looked beautiful! Covered with wet snow.
Helped unload all the luggage. Managers looking sharp in their Princess Cruise windbreakers greeted us. Sack lunches, rom assignments.\
Our Manager Tad greeted us warmly. Helped us with our bags. Got a quick tour of the facility by Ken, the husband of the General Manager of Denali Princess. He stated this facility was moved to the North Slopes in the 70's for the pipeline construction. He worked on it too. Then when complete, and available Princess bought and brought them here for employee housing.
Ginger and I are very pleased. Its cozy. Plenty of hang up, and drawer space. Our own bathroom, enclosed shower, heaters, laundry machines and soad are provided and right down the hall.
And now it Begins!!!
Wow, it sounds like the adventure began on May 4.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to your updates during the entire period of your Alaska stay. Stay clear of those hungry brown bears. Send pics if you can.