Today, I slept in until 10:45, which I never do, except I am getting over a cold and I didn't get very good rest all last week, so I think I can be allowed one day of sleeping in. Then I went to two garage sales in the pouring, cold rain (that continued all day) with Grandma and Agnes. The first was at the Senior Center, where I found a cute little snowglobe (free), a true story about a horse-trader from Iowa born in 1882 ($1), and a small polar bear statue ($0.50). Then we went into the Arctic Trading Post to say hi to the owner because the second garage sale (right next door to the store) didn't start until noon. I found a small jar of fireweed syrup. Fireweed is purple and grows abundantly all along the road, in fields, on the mountains (we saw some at the peak of Sleepy Dog Mountain), and is apparently very sweet. So I'm interested in seeing how it tastes! After stopping by there for a few minutes, we went right next door to the garage sale...where I found loads of treasure in the boxes labelled "Free". I bought an originally-priced $50 book for $1 (crazy!)...and that was all the money I spent. In the free boxes, I found a box of Alaskan Christmas cards, a stretch band, an Iditarod 2011 mouse pad, and a 1962 Seattle World's Fair collectible plate. All the things are small and easily packed into a suitcase...and besides, when can you pass up totally free and useful items?
After our luxury shopping (I spent a total of about $5 between the books, syrup, and statue), we went back to the apartment to have a late lunch. Leftover potato soup from last night, a roll with butter, chocolate pudding, and milk satisfied my stomach for awhile. After lunch, I baked chocolate-chip cookies for fellowship hour tomorrow. Then Matthew (who was in Teller & Brevig yesterday) came back into Nome because there were some errands that Brian, the pastor from Teller/Brevig, had to do. So he was with us for a few hours; we fed him and I enjoyed seeing my brother. Brian came to pick him up and we visited with him for awhile before they all headed out to go spend the night in Teller at 6:10. After they left, we headed to Airport Pizza, where I had the bacon cheeseburger with a side salad. It was delicious, filling, and tasty. We went to Hansen's to get juice and milk for this week at camp, came back to the apartment to play four games of Skip-Bo, and now I am going to shower, relax, and go to bed nice and early. I hope you're having a good weekend and good-bye for now! I will post Thursday night, after the FINAL week of camp is over...wow, where has all this time gone?! As always, thanks for your prayers, and please continue to pray for our safety and our opportunities to witness. Thanks, everyone!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Week #2 -- 7th and 8th Grade
I can't believe that the second week of camp is already over! That means that this Sunday, when we drive back out to camp, will be our final week before embarking on the second leg of our journey, which I am totally excited about. It's just going by so quickly! Anyway, as I did last Friday, I will provide a quick overview about each day so you can see how camp went. Matthew and I were both counselors, so instead of going to all the sessions and being a camper, we got to be in charge (or assist the leader) of a team. We did cabin inspection each morning and showed the kids how to do the chores thoroughly. The girls were all very nice and wanted to know all about my family, life, this trip, and Missouri. Sometimes it felt like I was being interviewed, but what really excited me was a long discussion with a seventh-grade girl named Lennea. She was so sweet and wondered a lot about me, and a special thing was that I was able to share my faith with her a lot. You never know if it made a difference, but she did seem to ponder my responses about my faith and beliefs. So that was really a highlight, and I had a wonderful week. The weather was gloomy, cloudy, windy (so strong it blew my cabin door open in the middle of the night!), and pelting rain except on Monday. So we enjoyed the sunshine while we had it, and the campers all got to do fun things regardless of the weather. Enjoy my report and have a great weekend!
Sunday -- I woke up at 7:45, got ready for church, baked a goodie for fellowship hour (Funfetti cake), had breakfast (Frosted Flakes, a doughnut, and water), called my parents, iced the cake, and read a bit before heading down to church around 10:50. There was a baptism, so after the service, the family brought many different foods. We just had our meal there -- lasagna, Shepard's Pie, salmon salad on Pilot bread, cupcakes, Hershey-Kiss cookies, chocolate-peanut butter bars, my cake, and juice boxes. So much good food! Then we got everything loaded into the car of one of the church members...he loaned it to us for the week, which was super because then we had flexibility on when to drive out and when to come back into Nome. Once we got out to camp, we got everything organized, and then I was a little maid and cleaned the girls' cabin (the boys' cabin this week) so that it was spotless. I worked on that for a long time before supper -- Tuna Creations pasta, salad, chips, rolls, cookies, chocolate-peanut butter bars, cake, Reese's, and juice. Then, because it was so warm (like 75!), Grandma and I went down and got in the lake! I got up to mid-thigh, but Grandma and I dunked up to our necks one time -- just to prove we did it! Yes, we even have pictures. It was refreshing, relaxing, and so beautiful because it was sunny and all around us were beautiful mountains with the sunshine glowing on them. After cleaning up, we played three games of Skip-Bo before I got ready for bed. Then we all read and relaxed before bed at 12 AM.
Monday -- Woke up at 8:30, had breakfast (Frosted Flakes, a roll with gravy, and milk), relaxed, read, and helped Grandma with some tasks before lunch (tomato soup, crackers, fruit salad, and apple juice). The girls washed dishes; the boys swept the floor. Then everyone went down to the beach to play around. Matthew and I went out in a canoe for a little bit...lots of fun in the sunshine and cool breeze. Then Grandma taught a session on the Lord's Prayer; the kids did papers and a prayer book. Then Karen, the pastor from Nome, welcomed everyone, told camp rules, and allowed the kids to go eat -- hot dogs, chips, fruit mix, and apple juice). Karen taught a session after dinner and chores (I was on the Slippery Salmon team; we hauled water), then all the kids went down to play Capture the Flag. Finally, songs and snacks took place (beautiful songs/music/singing and great peanut-butter-brownie bars) before bed at 12 AM.
Tuesday -- Woke up at 8:45, got ready, went down to the dining hall, and had breakfast (pancakes, oranges, hot dog links, and Tang). My team swept the dining hall floor, then I went with another counselor (Tammy, from Brevig) to do cabin inspection while Grandma taught a session. Next, my team set the tabe for lunch -- chili with rice and cheese, apple slices, and milk. Then all the campers went out to Pilgrim Hot Springs; I stayed at camp and made the snack for that night (M&M bars -- kind of like brownies with M&M's sprinkled on top). The kids got back from Pilgrim at 7 PM...starving, so we had dinner (salmon caught by Brian, the pastor from Brevig/Teller; mashed potatoes; carrots; and apple juice). Yum! My team did dishes before a canteen run and a session by Mark, the pastor from Shishmaref. To occupy the kids before songs and snacks, they all did a balloon stomp, which was hysterical to watch. Finally, we had songs and snacks; also last word by Gilbert, the pastor from Wales. It was short but hit home -- what would you do if Jesus came to your door? Very thought-provoking and good. Bed at 1 AM.
Wednesday -- Woke up at 7:45, got ready, went down, and had breakfast (French Toast, apples, milk) at 9:45. Then Matthew, Tammy, and I did cabin inspection while Grandma taught a session. The kids went back out to Pilgrim again with sack lunches. Once again, I stayed and cooked oatmeal-chocolate chip cakes (very moist and yummy). I also had a sack lunch -- salmon salad sandwiches, Pringles, a Hershey Almond bar, and a juice box. Around 6:15, a tiny bit of sun peeked out while it rained...creating a gorgeous rainbow three times. Pretty! The kids got back from Pilgrim; my team set the table; we had dinner of moose-and-caribou stew with crackers, apple slices, and water; everyone went through the canteen; Karen taught a session; the kids played Capture the Flag (in the blowing wind and rain); and we did songs and snacks. Wonderful songs; a lot of them were ones I knew. Bed was at 12:25.
Thursday -- Woke up at 8:45, had breakfast (oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and apple juice), my team did the dishes, Grandma taught a session, we did cabin inspection (the girls won), and lunch -- Sloppy Joe's, carrots, and water. My team hauled water. After lunch, all the kids went to play Eskimo baseball; I stayed and baked Rice Krispie treats. The kids got back, had beach time (canoeing, swimming, wading, playing around), signed shirts, and did canteen...all before supper (ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, fruit cups, and Kool-Aid). Mark taught a session, the kids played Capture the Flag, and we did songs and snacks. The snack was the biggest ever -- Rice Krispie treats, popcorn, and Tang or Kool-Aid for firsts; then peanuts and Rice Krispie treats cut in half for seconds. Every morsel disappeared; the kids were obviously starving! I cleaned everything up, got ready for bed, and was asleep (exhausted) by 1 AM.
Friday -- I woke up at 8:20, we loaded up, and got into Nome around 11 AM. We got everything situated and started some laundry, relaxed, and had lunch at noon (I didn't even have breakfast!) -- peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, Pringles, applesauce, pudding, and hot cocoa because it's cold and wet here! After lunch, we went to the Arctic Trading Post (owned by Grandma and Agnes' friend) and I found a hatpin (I hadn't gotten one from Nome yet), a postcard, and a small book on the Aurora Borealis...vivid, breathtaking pictures that was worth the small amount I paid for it! Then we all came home, I called some people, I took a nap (two hours!), and had dinner at 7:45 -- potato soup, cheesy garlic biscuits, applesauce, and milk. It was delicious! Now I am going back up to have dessert (ice cream!) and then go to bed. I have a cold and I am just going to take it easy this weekend. Enjoy the pictures, and thanks for reading!
Sunday -- I woke up at 7:45, got ready for church, baked a goodie for fellowship hour (Funfetti cake), had breakfast (Frosted Flakes, a doughnut, and water), called my parents, iced the cake, and read a bit before heading down to church around 10:50. There was a baptism, so after the service, the family brought many different foods. We just had our meal there -- lasagna, Shepard's Pie, salmon salad on Pilot bread, cupcakes, Hershey-Kiss cookies, chocolate-peanut butter bars, my cake, and juice boxes. So much good food! Then we got everything loaded into the car of one of the church members...he loaned it to us for the week, which was super because then we had flexibility on when to drive out and when to come back into Nome. Once we got out to camp, we got everything organized, and then I was a little maid and cleaned the girls' cabin (the boys' cabin this week) so that it was spotless. I worked on that for a long time before supper -- Tuna Creations pasta, salad, chips, rolls, cookies, chocolate-peanut butter bars, cake, Reese's, and juice. Then, because it was so warm (like 75!), Grandma and I went down and got in the lake! I got up to mid-thigh, but Grandma and I dunked up to our necks one time -- just to prove we did it! Yes, we even have pictures. It was refreshing, relaxing, and so beautiful because it was sunny and all around us were beautiful mountains with the sunshine glowing on them. After cleaning up, we played three games of Skip-Bo before I got ready for bed. Then we all read and relaxed before bed at 12 AM.
Monday -- Woke up at 8:30, had breakfast (Frosted Flakes, a roll with gravy, and milk), relaxed, read, and helped Grandma with some tasks before lunch (tomato soup, crackers, fruit salad, and apple juice). The girls washed dishes; the boys swept the floor. Then everyone went down to the beach to play around. Matthew and I went out in a canoe for a little bit...lots of fun in the sunshine and cool breeze. Then Grandma taught a session on the Lord's Prayer; the kids did papers and a prayer book. Then Karen, the pastor from Nome, welcomed everyone, told camp rules, and allowed the kids to go eat -- hot dogs, chips, fruit mix, and apple juice). Karen taught a session after dinner and chores (I was on the Slippery Salmon team; we hauled water), then all the kids went down to play Capture the Flag. Finally, songs and snacks took place (beautiful songs/music/singing and great peanut-butter-brownie bars) before bed at 12 AM.
Tuesday -- Woke up at 8:45, got ready, went down to the dining hall, and had breakfast (pancakes, oranges, hot dog links, and Tang). My team swept the dining hall floor, then I went with another counselor (Tammy, from Brevig) to do cabin inspection while Grandma taught a session. Next, my team set the tabe for lunch -- chili with rice and cheese, apple slices, and milk. Then all the campers went out to Pilgrim Hot Springs; I stayed at camp and made the snack for that night (M&M bars -- kind of like brownies with M&M's sprinkled on top). The kids got back from Pilgrim at 7 PM...starving, so we had dinner (salmon caught by Brian, the pastor from Brevig/Teller; mashed potatoes; carrots; and apple juice). Yum! My team did dishes before a canteen run and a session by Mark, the pastor from Shishmaref. To occupy the kids before songs and snacks, they all did a balloon stomp, which was hysterical to watch. Finally, we had songs and snacks; also last word by Gilbert, the pastor from Wales. It was short but hit home -- what would you do if Jesus came to your door? Very thought-provoking and good. Bed at 1 AM.
Wednesday -- Woke up at 7:45, got ready, went down, and had breakfast (French Toast, apples, milk) at 9:45. Then Matthew, Tammy, and I did cabin inspection while Grandma taught a session. The kids went back out to Pilgrim again with sack lunches. Once again, I stayed and cooked oatmeal-chocolate chip cakes (very moist and yummy). I also had a sack lunch -- salmon salad sandwiches, Pringles, a Hershey Almond bar, and a juice box. Around 6:15, a tiny bit of sun peeked out while it rained...creating a gorgeous rainbow three times. Pretty! The kids got back from Pilgrim; my team set the table; we had dinner of moose-and-caribou stew with crackers, apple slices, and water; everyone went through the canteen; Karen taught a session; the kids played Capture the Flag (in the blowing wind and rain); and we did songs and snacks. Wonderful songs; a lot of them were ones I knew. Bed was at 12:25.
Thursday -- Woke up at 8:45, had breakfast (oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and apple juice), my team did the dishes, Grandma taught a session, we did cabin inspection (the girls won), and lunch -- Sloppy Joe's, carrots, and water. My team hauled water. After lunch, all the kids went to play Eskimo baseball; I stayed and baked Rice Krispie treats. The kids got back, had beach time (canoeing, swimming, wading, playing around), signed shirts, and did canteen...all before supper (ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, fruit cups, and Kool-Aid). Mark taught a session, the kids played Capture the Flag, and we did songs and snacks. The snack was the biggest ever -- Rice Krispie treats, popcorn, and Tang or Kool-Aid for firsts; then peanuts and Rice Krispie treats cut in half for seconds. Every morsel disappeared; the kids were obviously starving! I cleaned everything up, got ready for bed, and was asleep (exhausted) by 1 AM.
Friday -- I woke up at 8:20, we loaded up, and got into Nome around 11 AM. We got everything situated and started some laundry, relaxed, and had lunch at noon (I didn't even have breakfast!) -- peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, Pringles, applesauce, pudding, and hot cocoa because it's cold and wet here! After lunch, we went to the Arctic Trading Post (owned by Grandma and Agnes' friend) and I found a hatpin (I hadn't gotten one from Nome yet), a postcard, and a small book on the Aurora Borealis...vivid, breathtaking pictures that was worth the small amount I paid for it! Then we all came home, I called some people, I took a nap (two hours!), and had dinner at 7:45 -- potato soup, cheesy garlic biscuits, applesauce, and milk. It was delicious! Now I am going back up to have dessert (ice cream!) and then go to bed. I have a cold and I am just going to take it easy this weekend. Enjoy the pictures, and thanks for reading!
The beautiful rainbow on Wednesday.
Shirt signing on Thursday.
On Thursday night, the rain stopped, the clouds went mostly away...it was beautiful. I just had to put this picture of Sleepy Dog Mountain (that Matthew and I climbed last Thursday) -- it was breathtaking!
~Anna~
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Relaxation, Rest, & Excitement in Nome!
Today I woke up at 7:30 but stayed in bed until 8:30 (hey, I didn't get nearly enough sleep last week and I was exhausted and the bed was cozy...I know, so many excuses!). We had breakfast (bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits/toast with raspberry jelly, and orange juice) and then I washed the dishes from last night and this morning before heading out at 10 AM. I mailed some postcards, ran into Hansen's and looked at some items in there (another part of the store; I had looked at all the food items but I hadn't looked at the other part -- clothing, toys, movies, etc.). Then I went back to the apartment, relaxed/read a little, and then we all headed out to the farmer's market. There, many booths were set up selling sweet treats, clothing, necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and more. There was a man singing and playing the guitar, and there was a children's play area with a sandbox and bubbles. It was a great place and I found some beautiful dangling earrings with a carved polar bear, a small stone, and a bead ($16); a red-white-and-purple beaded bracelet ($10); and a vanilla cupcake with pink frosting ($2). The cupcake disappeared in four bites...that's 50 cents per bite! It was excellent, though, and I'm glad we went. After browsing there for awhile, we went to lunch at Milano's Pizzeria, an Italian/Japanese restaurant that was wonderful pizzas. Grandma and I shared a small Hawaiian pizza, which did not disappoint us; it was loaded with Canadian Bacon and that sweet, juicy pineapple. Mmm! After that, we went back to the apartment and rested for awhile. We read some, played four games of Skip-Bo (Grandma won three; I won one), and then Grandma and I headed out to the Nome Trading Post (which is like a country store). It has home supplies (from couches to tools), but also lots of groceries. There was a bag of 10 rolls half-price (I got them for $3.50) and I figured we could take them out to camp so if we were hungry for a snack, we'd have something. Walking back to the apartment, somehow two of them disappeared, so now there's just eight...haha, Grandma and I were hungry! So then we had supper (crab and Ramen noodles). Eating the crab was so much fun -- you know, taking it apart, scooping the meat out, and then finally getting to eat your hard work. It was a blast; we were laughing so much!
I had a wonderful day and I hope you did, too. As I said last week, this is my final blog post for this weekend. Next Friday, I'll post about how the seventh- and eighth-grade week went. I know I can be a light to them as well (I will be a junior counselor), so I just ask you to continue to pray for all of us. Thanks, everyone; I appreciate it! God bless you all this coming week and stay cool!
Enjoy the pictures from last week, too, and sorry I didn't post them last night. I had a wonderful time!
I had a wonderful day and I hope you did, too. As I said last week, this is my final blog post for this weekend. Next Friday, I'll post about how the seventh- and eighth-grade week went. I know I can be a light to them as well (I will be a junior counselor), so I just ask you to continue to pray for all of us. Thanks, everyone; I appreciate it! God bless you all this coming week and stay cool!
Enjoy the pictures from last week, too, and sorry I didn't post them last night. I had a wonderful time!
The boys (and two men!) play Capture the Flag Monday night.
Pilgrim Hot Springs; we went there Tuesday afternoon.
The boys play Eskimo baseball on Wednesday afternoon.
Sleepy Dog Mountain on Thursday morning. That afternoon, the clouds had lifted and we climbed to the tallest point!
Matthew and I have climbed to the top of Sleepy Dog Mountain!
Salmon Lake from on top of Sleepy Dog Mountain...it looks so small, but it's really a huge lake!
Snow in July?! Yes, I'm holding a snowball just after we started climbing down from the top. Fun!
~Anna~
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Week #1 of Camp -- High School
Hey, everyone, I am back to beautiful, thriving Nome after the first week of Salmon Lake Bible Camp, which was high school-aged kids. Matthew and I were both campers and we had such a great time. The camp is primitive -- no electricity, no running water, no air-conditioning or heat, and no signal for TVs, computers, or cell phones. All in all, it's a place where you have no choice but to enjoy the beautiful setting, which was perfect for me! We didn't need electricity because it is light all the time, they have a spring where you can keep things cold, there is a pipe coming out of the side of the hill for water (a nice little hike down to it), you certainly didn't want air-conditioning (it got up to about 55 or 60 at the most), they have wonderful stoves that keep the room warm and toasty, and the signal problem is not a problem for me. I didn't need to spend any time on my phone or on a computer; we had so much fun stuff to do! Below, I have compiled a short overview of each day...I could write way more, but I knew I had to condense, so enjoy!
Sunday -- We went to church (the apartment we're staying in is attached to it), had a potluck/blessing out at camp, and got all settled in. I was a little bit shocked at first...I mean, to go a week without a shower (I have never done that before) was disturbing, and the buildings are not perfect. They are dirty (inside and out), and the beds are just wooden bunks where you lay your sleeping bag and a foam pad on. I was startled, and actually a little bit scared just because it was so different. But I prayed and guess what? I went through this whole week and I didn't even miss showering or anything. Went to bed at 11:45.
Monday -- Finnish oven pancakes, cereal, and milk for breakfast, YUM! After breakfast, everyone went out for a canoe ride on Salmon Lake. That was cool, except we got stuck on the bottom a couple times and we had to push with all our might (the man in our boat actually got out and pushed us...and the water was really cold!) We were out in the canoes for awhile, then came back for a lunch of tomato soup, cheese-and- crackers, a pear-and-banana mix, and milk. After lunch, we had our first session about baptism and drew pictures of baptism. The session took awhile (all of them did), but afterwards, we had a break, and I helped Grandma with some tasks. We also did the first canteen run; the canteen is a little "shop" that sells beef jerky, juice, and assorted candies. I got a Reese's. Then supper -- hot dogs, chips, apples, and orange juice -- and chores. We were all assigned to teams (mine was the Happy Halibuts) and our teams had certain chores at every mealtime. My team hauled water. After chores, we had another session about the 10 Commandments and drew pictures of a church. Then another canteen run; I got a Hershey's. The boys played Capture the Flag after that, which was fun to watch! They were splashing in the water and just having a great time. I went to bed at 11 PM, but songs and snacks (which happen every night) were just starting and didn't end until 12:30 or so. I did not go to any except the final night; I need my sleep!
Tuesday -- Pancakes, leftover hot dog links, oranges, and milk for breakfast; my team's chore was to sweep the dining hall floors. The dining hall is where we eat, have sessions, and pretty much do everything. Then a session about the first article of the Apostle's Creed; drew pictures of ourselves with God. Then lunch (my team set the table) of moose soup (excellent), soda crackers, bananas, peanut butter-chocolate treats, and milk. After lunch, we all drove out to Pilgrim Hot Springs. About two-and-a-half miles from our destination, our van blew a tire and we had to walk for about a mile before Bering Sea Gold cameramen picked us up and drove us the path that leads to the hot springs (about a half-mile). There's a "pool", big and circular with warm water; and "hot tubs" which are smaller and about the same temperature. Very relaxing and refreshing! After spending two hours there, we came back and had dinner -- Sloppy Joe's, carrots, a fruit mix, and Kool-Aid. My team washed dishes. I helped Grandma with the canteen (I got a Reese's) before another session on the second article of the Apostle's Creed. We drew pictures of ourselves and Jesus's life. Went to bed at 11:30.
Wednesday -- I woke up at 8:45 and sat around for about an hour before all the kids came down. It was the middle of the week...all the kids were tired. That usually happens! For breakfast, we had French Toast and oranges, then the Happy Halibuts hauled water. After staff meeting, we had a session about the third article of the Apostle's Creed and drew pictures of the Holy Spirit and us. It was over at 1 PM, and then we had PB&J sandwiches, chips, juice boxes, and M&M's. Then we went to the airstrip, where we played Eskimo baseball. Well, the boys did. It was so complicated and confusing! Not at all like regular baseball, but it was fun to watch! We came back and had a session on the Lord's Prayer; we made prayer books. Then supper (my team set the table) -- chili with rice, apples, and orange juice. Then another session on the Lord's Prayer; drew pictures of sin and confession. After session, we were in our assigned teams to go on a scavenger hunt, so I looked the passages up in the Bible and then we figured out where to go. Our journey took us from the dining hall to the spring to the lake to the cross to one of the cabins back to the dining hall. We ran from spot to spot and were so quick...we won! We got a free trip through the canteen for winning. It was so special because all of us were high-fiving each other and hugging and so excited. You would think we would have won the Olympics or something! I went to bed at 11:15.
Thursday -- Woke up at 8:30 and took some pictures of the most beautiful morning of all -- the sun was peeking through the clouds; the mountains were reflecting in the lake; and it was so awe-inspiring! It was one of those moments where you just stop and say, "God, You are amazing!" After marveling at the morning, we had breakfast (oatmeal, eggs, oranges, and milk) and chores (my team did the dishes). Then a session on communion; we drew pictures of the Lord's Supper. Next came lunch -- spaghetti and garlic bread. My team hauled water before everyone gathered for a meeting. The kids went to Pilgrim Hot Springs again, but Matthew and I stayed...to climb Sleepy Dog Mountain. The mountain is across the lake from camp, so we went in a canoe across to the other shore, hiked to the base of the mountain (about 15 minutes), and then climbed all the way to the top. Going up, from the time we left the canoe to when we raised our arms in victory at the top was exactly one hour. We had no trouble with animals or accidents or anything. The climb was tough, very steep, but the view on top is completely worth every bit of it. Oh my gosh, it is GORGEOUS! Words and pictures cannot begin to describe it. Videos can only capture a bit of it; you have to BE THERE to see it. Mile after mile of OPEN land, rivers, mountains, beautiful land that God created! It makes my heart soar; I could have gazed out for hours and never gotten bored. We even got to stand in some snow and throw snowballs at each other...on July 19! I think that's so funny. You know, climbing a mountain is so interesting -- going to the top is the tough test of strength, stamina, perseverance, and determination. Sometimes it was so hard to put my foot forward and take another arduous step. My muscles were straining; I was burning calories! From camp, it doesn't look bad at all; once the climb starts, it looks daunting and the top seems to just continue to go farther away. But suddenly, just when you think you can't go on anymore, you're at the top and so startled by the view you just stop and stare. Once you get over initial amazement, you go on up to the very summit and raise your arms in victory. In my case, I thanked God for safely leading us to the top and for the gorgeous earth that He created. After spending about 15 minutes taking pictures, videos, and resting, we headed back down in about an hour. We canoed back across the lake and ate chocolate (Matthew had a Hershey bar; I had M&M's) to celebrate. We were so happy and thankful that God has blessed us with strong, healthy bodies...and a safe trip up and down. We rested awhile (and gazed at the mountain we'd just climbed) before supper -- ham, mashed potatoes, corn, and leftover spaghetti. My team swept the floor before the final session (on the Office of the Keys and Confession & Absolution) took place. Then some free time before songs and snacks (which I attended for the first time...to celebrate my mountain climbing experience) at 11 PM. Beautiful singing and songs in a beautiful setting. The wonderful day ended at 12:30.
Friday (Today!) -- Grandma came and woke me up at 7:30 AM; I got dressed and got all my stuff together. We were off by 8:15 and in Nome by 9:15. I was so happy to be home (away from home)! After getting all our things in, Grandma and I went to Hansen's (the store just down from our apartment). We got some groceries; I got two doughnuts and a magazine. I needed to replace that sugar I lost climbing the mountain yesterday. Hahaha! After shopping, I called my Mommy and we talked for an hour. I was so happy to hear her voice and talk to her; I missed her a lot (especially after we climbed the mountain...I wished she could have been there with us). Then I had breakfast (Mini Wheats, a doughnut, and milk). Then we all just sat and relaxed; oh, we did some laundry, too! We had lunch at 1:45 -- sausage-and-cheese sandwiches, Pringles, Jello, vanilla pudding, and apple juice. After lunch and a bit more relaxation, we went out and did a bit of shopping (I got some gifts for people back home...I'm not telling, it's a surprise!). I walked on down to AC's, the big store (like a Wal-Mart), where I got some break-apart chocolate chip cookies and baked them for us three ladies. Matthew is in Brevig and Teller this weekend. We had supper of biscuits and gravy, watermelon, and milk. Now I am going up to get ready for bed. I would love to post pictures; I have a ton, but I'm exhausted and I need sleep. Hopefully tomorrow if the Internet cooperates. Thanks for reading, everyone, and have a blessed weekend!
~Anna~
Sunday -- We went to church (the apartment we're staying in is attached to it), had a potluck/blessing out at camp, and got all settled in. I was a little bit shocked at first...I mean, to go a week without a shower (I have never done that before) was disturbing, and the buildings are not perfect. They are dirty (inside and out), and the beds are just wooden bunks where you lay your sleeping bag and a foam pad on. I was startled, and actually a little bit scared just because it was so different. But I prayed and guess what? I went through this whole week and I didn't even miss showering or anything. Went to bed at 11:45.
Monday -- Finnish oven pancakes, cereal, and milk for breakfast, YUM! After breakfast, everyone went out for a canoe ride on Salmon Lake. That was cool, except we got stuck on the bottom a couple times and we had to push with all our might (the man in our boat actually got out and pushed us...and the water was really cold!) We were out in the canoes for awhile, then came back for a lunch of tomato soup, cheese-and- crackers, a pear-and-banana mix, and milk. After lunch, we had our first session about baptism and drew pictures of baptism. The session took awhile (all of them did), but afterwards, we had a break, and I helped Grandma with some tasks. We also did the first canteen run; the canteen is a little "shop" that sells beef jerky, juice, and assorted candies. I got a Reese's. Then supper -- hot dogs, chips, apples, and orange juice -- and chores. We were all assigned to teams (mine was the Happy Halibuts) and our teams had certain chores at every mealtime. My team hauled water. After chores, we had another session about the 10 Commandments and drew pictures of a church. Then another canteen run; I got a Hershey's. The boys played Capture the Flag after that, which was fun to watch! They were splashing in the water and just having a great time. I went to bed at 11 PM, but songs and snacks (which happen every night) were just starting and didn't end until 12:30 or so. I did not go to any except the final night; I need my sleep!
Tuesday -- Pancakes, leftover hot dog links, oranges, and milk for breakfast; my team's chore was to sweep the dining hall floors. The dining hall is where we eat, have sessions, and pretty much do everything. Then a session about the first article of the Apostle's Creed; drew pictures of ourselves with God. Then lunch (my team set the table) of moose soup (excellent), soda crackers, bananas, peanut butter-chocolate treats, and milk. After lunch, we all drove out to Pilgrim Hot Springs. About two-and-a-half miles from our destination, our van blew a tire and we had to walk for about a mile before Bering Sea Gold cameramen picked us up and drove us the path that leads to the hot springs (about a half-mile). There's a "pool", big and circular with warm water; and "hot tubs" which are smaller and about the same temperature. Very relaxing and refreshing! After spending two hours there, we came back and had dinner -- Sloppy Joe's, carrots, a fruit mix, and Kool-Aid. My team washed dishes. I helped Grandma with the canteen (I got a Reese's) before another session on the second article of the Apostle's Creed. We drew pictures of ourselves and Jesus's life. Went to bed at 11:30.
Wednesday -- I woke up at 8:45 and sat around for about an hour before all the kids came down. It was the middle of the week...all the kids were tired. That usually happens! For breakfast, we had French Toast and oranges, then the Happy Halibuts hauled water. After staff meeting, we had a session about the third article of the Apostle's Creed and drew pictures of the Holy Spirit and us. It was over at 1 PM, and then we had PB&J sandwiches, chips, juice boxes, and M&M's. Then we went to the airstrip, where we played Eskimo baseball. Well, the boys did. It was so complicated and confusing! Not at all like regular baseball, but it was fun to watch! We came back and had a session on the Lord's Prayer; we made prayer books. Then supper (my team set the table) -- chili with rice, apples, and orange juice. Then another session on the Lord's Prayer; drew pictures of sin and confession. After session, we were in our assigned teams to go on a scavenger hunt, so I looked the passages up in the Bible and then we figured out where to go. Our journey took us from the dining hall to the spring to the lake to the cross to one of the cabins back to the dining hall. We ran from spot to spot and were so quick...we won! We got a free trip through the canteen for winning. It was so special because all of us were high-fiving each other and hugging and so excited. You would think we would have won the Olympics or something! I went to bed at 11:15.
Thursday -- Woke up at 8:30 and took some pictures of the most beautiful morning of all -- the sun was peeking through the clouds; the mountains were reflecting in the lake; and it was so awe-inspiring! It was one of those moments where you just stop and say, "God, You are amazing!" After marveling at the morning, we had breakfast (oatmeal, eggs, oranges, and milk) and chores (my team did the dishes). Then a session on communion; we drew pictures of the Lord's Supper. Next came lunch -- spaghetti and garlic bread. My team hauled water before everyone gathered for a meeting. The kids went to Pilgrim Hot Springs again, but Matthew and I stayed...to climb Sleepy Dog Mountain. The mountain is across the lake from camp, so we went in a canoe across to the other shore, hiked to the base of the mountain (about 15 minutes), and then climbed all the way to the top. Going up, from the time we left the canoe to when we raised our arms in victory at the top was exactly one hour. We had no trouble with animals or accidents or anything. The climb was tough, very steep, but the view on top is completely worth every bit of it. Oh my gosh, it is GORGEOUS! Words and pictures cannot begin to describe it. Videos can only capture a bit of it; you have to BE THERE to see it. Mile after mile of OPEN land, rivers, mountains, beautiful land that God created! It makes my heart soar; I could have gazed out for hours and never gotten bored. We even got to stand in some snow and throw snowballs at each other...on July 19! I think that's so funny. You know, climbing a mountain is so interesting -- going to the top is the tough test of strength, stamina, perseverance, and determination. Sometimes it was so hard to put my foot forward and take another arduous step. My muscles were straining; I was burning calories! From camp, it doesn't look bad at all; once the climb starts, it looks daunting and the top seems to just continue to go farther away. But suddenly, just when you think you can't go on anymore, you're at the top and so startled by the view you just stop and stare. Once you get over initial amazement, you go on up to the very summit and raise your arms in victory. In my case, I thanked God for safely leading us to the top and for the gorgeous earth that He created. After spending about 15 minutes taking pictures, videos, and resting, we headed back down in about an hour. We canoed back across the lake and ate chocolate (Matthew had a Hershey bar; I had M&M's) to celebrate. We were so happy and thankful that God has blessed us with strong, healthy bodies...and a safe trip up and down. We rested awhile (and gazed at the mountain we'd just climbed) before supper -- ham, mashed potatoes, corn, and leftover spaghetti. My team swept the floor before the final session (on the Office of the Keys and Confession & Absolution) took place. Then some free time before songs and snacks (which I attended for the first time...to celebrate my mountain climbing experience) at 11 PM. Beautiful singing and songs in a beautiful setting. The wonderful day ended at 12:30.
Friday (Today!) -- Grandma came and woke me up at 7:30 AM; I got dressed and got all my stuff together. We were off by 8:15 and in Nome by 9:15. I was so happy to be home (away from home)! After getting all our things in, Grandma and I went to Hansen's (the store just down from our apartment). We got some groceries; I got two doughnuts and a magazine. I needed to replace that sugar I lost climbing the mountain yesterday. Hahaha! After shopping, I called my Mommy and we talked for an hour. I was so happy to hear her voice and talk to her; I missed her a lot (especially after we climbed the mountain...I wished she could have been there with us). Then I had breakfast (Mini Wheats, a doughnut, and milk). Then we all just sat and relaxed; oh, we did some laundry, too! We had lunch at 1:45 -- sausage-and-cheese sandwiches, Pringles, Jello, vanilla pudding, and apple juice. After lunch and a bit more relaxation, we went out and did a bit of shopping (I got some gifts for people back home...I'm not telling, it's a surprise!). I walked on down to AC's, the big store (like a Wal-Mart), where I got some break-apart chocolate chip cookies and baked them for us three ladies. Matthew is in Brevig and Teller this weekend. We had supper of biscuits and gravy, watermelon, and milk. Now I am going up to get ready for bed. I would love to post pictures; I have a ton, but I'm exhausted and I need sleep. Hopefully tomorrow if the Internet cooperates. Thanks for reading, everyone, and have a blessed weekend!
~Anna~
Saturday, July 14, 2012
A Day in Nome!
This morning, I slept in until 8 AM. That felt wonderful! Then we had breakfast (cereal, hot cocoa, and toast with butter and wonderful homemade raspberry jelly made by Agnes, Grandma's friend). I washed, dried, and put away the dishes, we started a load of laundry, and then we headed out at 9:45 to go walk around Nome. There was a garage sale going on (they are apparently a big thing in Nome), and everything was so CHEAP. Matthew and I found a koala coin purse, a clip-on koala (you can clip him to curtains or something similar), Iditarod Sled Dog Race 1987 pins, and a snowman mug...all for $1.60. Absolutely nuts, and a really good way to get stuff you need or like (or don't need). :) We also browsed through the shop of a lady Grandma knows...lots of beautiful Alaska-themed carvings and figurines. We'll be going back to get one later on...and, of course, our Nome hatpins. Then Grandma and Agnes went back to the apartment, while Matthew and I strolled around a bit more. We went into the Nome Visitor Center, where a nice lady at the desk gave us "I Love Nome" pins and was helpful, friendly, and chatty. We talked with her for a little bit about what we were doing in Nome, found some information about Nome and its hot spots (like shops and restaurants), looked at the displays (there was a stuffed muskox!), and looked at the Bering Sea from some rocks. After that, we went back to the apartment and relaxed a bit.
At 1:30, we headed out again for lunch. We ate at the Bering Sea Restaurant (originally Fat Freddy's), which serves sushi, American food, and seafood. None of us like sushi (nor is it good for you!), so I had the Hawaiian Burger, a beef patty with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, pineapple chunks, and ham. It was like Hawaiian pizza; very yummy. As the name suggests, it is right by the waterfront, so Matthew and I walked down and touched it. It's very cold water, but I loved how, as we ate lunch and stood on the rocks, the waves curled over and crashed into shore, leaving white froth behind. Many waves were big enough to surf...I knew I should have brought my (well, actually my dad's, but I "pond surf" with it) surfboard, but nobody would let me! :) We also went to the National Park Service building in Nome, and I got my National Parks Passport stamped. They had a beautiful display of Eskimo dolls!
After that outing, we went back to the apartment and did some more laundry. Then a friend of Grandma's and Agnes's came over, and we visited with her for a little while. After visiting, Agnes and Grandma rested while I chilled (wrote some in my journal, read a little). When Grandma and Agnes woke up, we finished laundry and played two games of Skip-Bo (I lost the first time; won the second). Now I am going up to shower and eat supper, then go to bed. We have church tomorrow, and at 2 PM, we head out to Salmon Lake Bible Camp, so I WILL NOT be blogging tomorrow. Check back next Friday evening to see how the first week goes. Please keep all of us in your prayers...we want to be lights to these teenagers who need Christ so much. Thanks, everyone, and I'm sorry I can't post any pictures (it doesn't seem to want to). Either way, thanks so much for the support, prayers, and reading of my blog. Have a great week, and good-bye from Nome!
~Anna~
At 1:30, we headed out again for lunch. We ate at the Bering Sea Restaurant (originally Fat Freddy's), which serves sushi, American food, and seafood. None of us like sushi (nor is it good for you!), so I had the Hawaiian Burger, a beef patty with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, pineapple chunks, and ham. It was like Hawaiian pizza; very yummy. As the name suggests, it is right by the waterfront, so Matthew and I walked down and touched it. It's very cold water, but I loved how, as we ate lunch and stood on the rocks, the waves curled over and crashed into shore, leaving white froth behind. Many waves were big enough to surf...I knew I should have brought my (well, actually my dad's, but I "pond surf" with it) surfboard, but nobody would let me! :) We also went to the National Park Service building in Nome, and I got my National Parks Passport stamped. They had a beautiful display of Eskimo dolls!
After that outing, we went back to the apartment and did some more laundry. Then a friend of Grandma's and Agnes's came over, and we visited with her for a little while. After visiting, Agnes and Grandma rested while I chilled (wrote some in my journal, read a little). When Grandma and Agnes woke up, we finished laundry and played two games of Skip-Bo (I lost the first time; won the second). Now I am going up to shower and eat supper, then go to bed. We have church tomorrow, and at 2 PM, we head out to Salmon Lake Bible Camp, so I WILL NOT be blogging tomorrow. Check back next Friday evening to see how the first week goes. Please keep all of us in your prayers...we want to be lights to these teenagers who need Christ so much. Thanks, everyone, and I'm sorry I can't post any pictures (it doesn't seem to want to). Either way, thanks so much for the support, prayers, and reading of my blog. Have a great week, and good-bye from Nome!
~Anna~
Nome, Alaska
This morning, I woke up in Anchorage at 7:30. It never ceases to amaze me how, each morning, I'm a little farther northwest, a little farther from home. Well, today my farther-from-home journey has come to a close(well, almost...except for 30 miles farther north to the Bible camp on Sunday night). But first, we were in Anchorage. I got ready and did a little bit of stretching, and then went down to a great breakfast of cereal and milk at 8:15. We got all our bags packed and ready, and then finally drove away at 10:15 to check out Anchorage (our last BIG city for awhile). Finally, a day with no rain...but, alas, we still had clouds and a few sprinkles here and there.
We got gas, parked our car, and then went out and proceeded to walk around Anchorage for about two hours. I got a good taste of the city -- its stores, restaurants, corporate buildings, culture, and people. On the side of the JC Penney's, a man had painted a beautiful mural of sea life...it stretches the whole side wall and is very vivid and well-thought-out. We also ran through Nordstrom's just to see what it was like -- LOTS of shoes and pretty high prices. Of course, I am not a shopper, so who knows? Maybe they were normal prices. :) We also went to the Visitor Center, which is in a cute log cabin and had a nice warm fire to escape to from the cool (45-50 degrees). Grandma got a map so we could see where everything was. We walked through a few fancy hotels; I was struck by how huge and high-class they were, with jade floors, fountains, and valets.
After all the walking, looking, and absorbing, we were hungry, so we headed to La Cabana Mexican Restaurant & Cantina. I had the #7 Dinner -- a beef enchilada, a cheese enchilada, and sides of beans and rice. It was all very delicious, hearty food; fast service; and a parking lot -- Anchorage charges for parking almost everywhere and pretty much every shop doesn't have any parking. It was a really yummy lunch. After that, we drove around a little bit more before going back to Grandma's friends' home. We loaded our bags into the car and went to the airport. We stood in line a LONG time to check our bags because all four desks had people with problems -- like one man thought his flight was tomorrow morning at 2 AM, but it was THIS morning at 2 AM. Yeah, I know...pretty crazy. But anyway, they all had big problems, and we just kept standing in the same place. Finally, we went to a different place (after a lady told us) because we were only travelling in Alaska. It took about five minutes; what a breeze after standing around! Then through security -- no problems -- and to the gate by 4:15, where our plane was getting ready. Now, our flight was supposed to take off at 5:10. We were beginning to board around 4:55, but then everyone turned around as we were walking down to the plane, saying that the plane was broken. I'm still not sure what happened, but they said it was a problem with fueling. We sat around for awhile, until we boarded the plane at 6 PM. The plane took off at 6:15 or so, and they went faster than normal (they also had a small tailwind). We landed in Kotzebue at 7:25, stopped to fuel the big bird up again, and got to sit around for awhile (no reason). Finally, we were back up in the air at 8:15 (the time we should have been in Nome), heading to Nome. We flew right over Salmon Lake and saw the camp buildings...so exciting to see it from above, to get the whole picture! We touched down in Nome at 8:45, collected all our bags, and got to the apartment by about 9:30. We went out to get some groceries, came back, and now we are kind of settled in. I have to go eat supper, get a shower, and figure out where to sleep still.
But nevertheless, we eventually made it to Nome, and I absolutely love it here. All the people are friendly and welcoming (well, at least the few people I've met so far), and it's not some huge old city with nothing but big buildings. I love these small towns with dirt roads. And, an added bonus...the sun is still up, even at 10:40. It's a beautiful town and I hope to share some pictures with you tomorrow. I am going to sleep in! Sunday evening we head to the camp, and what a witness opportunity I have. Next Friday, I'll let you know how it went. Thanks for reading, and I'm sorry there's no pictures. Check back tomorrow, and have a blessed weekend!
~Anna~
We got gas, parked our car, and then went out and proceeded to walk around Anchorage for about two hours. I got a good taste of the city -- its stores, restaurants, corporate buildings, culture, and people. On the side of the JC Penney's, a man had painted a beautiful mural of sea life...it stretches the whole side wall and is very vivid and well-thought-out. We also ran through Nordstrom's just to see what it was like -- LOTS of shoes and pretty high prices. Of course, I am not a shopper, so who knows? Maybe they were normal prices. :) We also went to the Visitor Center, which is in a cute log cabin and had a nice warm fire to escape to from the cool (45-50 degrees). Grandma got a map so we could see where everything was. We walked through a few fancy hotels; I was struck by how huge and high-class they were, with jade floors, fountains, and valets.
After all the walking, looking, and absorbing, we were hungry, so we headed to La Cabana Mexican Restaurant & Cantina. I had the #7 Dinner -- a beef enchilada, a cheese enchilada, and sides of beans and rice. It was all very delicious, hearty food; fast service; and a parking lot -- Anchorage charges for parking almost everywhere and pretty much every shop doesn't have any parking. It was a really yummy lunch. After that, we drove around a little bit more before going back to Grandma's friends' home. We loaded our bags into the car and went to the airport. We stood in line a LONG time to check our bags because all four desks had people with problems -- like one man thought his flight was tomorrow morning at 2 AM, but it was THIS morning at 2 AM. Yeah, I know...pretty crazy. But anyway, they all had big problems, and we just kept standing in the same place. Finally, we went to a different place (after a lady told us) because we were only travelling in Alaska. It took about five minutes; what a breeze after standing around! Then through security -- no problems -- and to the gate by 4:15, where our plane was getting ready. Now, our flight was supposed to take off at 5:10. We were beginning to board around 4:55, but then everyone turned around as we were walking down to the plane, saying that the plane was broken. I'm still not sure what happened, but they said it was a problem with fueling. We sat around for awhile, until we boarded the plane at 6 PM. The plane took off at 6:15 or so, and they went faster than normal (they also had a small tailwind). We landed in Kotzebue at 7:25, stopped to fuel the big bird up again, and got to sit around for awhile (no reason). Finally, we were back up in the air at 8:15 (the time we should have been in Nome), heading to Nome. We flew right over Salmon Lake and saw the camp buildings...so exciting to see it from above, to get the whole picture! We touched down in Nome at 8:45, collected all our bags, and got to the apartment by about 9:30. We went out to get some groceries, came back, and now we are kind of settled in. I have to go eat supper, get a shower, and figure out where to sleep still.
But nevertheless, we eventually made it to Nome, and I absolutely love it here. All the people are friendly and welcoming (well, at least the few people I've met so far), and it's not some huge old city with nothing but big buildings. I love these small towns with dirt roads. And, an added bonus...the sun is still up, even at 10:40. It's a beautiful town and I hope to share some pictures with you tomorrow. I am going to sleep in! Sunday evening we head to the camp, and what a witness opportunity I have. Next Friday, I'll let you know how it went. Thanks for reading, and I'm sorry there's no pictures. Check back tomorrow, and have a blessed weekend!
~Anna~
Friday, July 13, 2012
Anchorage, Alaska!
Today we woke up at 7:15, had breakfast in the cabin (cinnamon rolls, cereal, milk, and hot chocolate), and then I took lots of pictures and a video of our cabin. It was so adorable; I wish we could have stayed longer! We also went out and met the llamas; one of them came to the fence and I petted it. His fur was so soft and I loved how he held his head up so proudly. By 9:30, we were all packed up and headed out, sadly bidding farewell to our wonderful hostess and the beautiful little cabin.
We arrived at Kenai Fjords National Park just in time for a guided hike up to Exit Glacier. It was about a mile-and-a-half and the ranger stopped several times to tell us about glaciers and the plants surrounding us. We walked back down on our own; in all, it was about two miles of walking. I loved it! When we got back down to the Visitor Center, I got my National Parks Passport stamped, and we bought hatpins and postcards. There had been many bear sightings recently, so I definitely believe it was a good idea to go in a big group of 20 or so up to the glacier. I don't want to be attacked by a bear. The glacier was so interesting, and although we couldn't touch it, we could get very close and take plenty of pictures. It rained/drizzled the whole way up and down...what a bummer. That makes three straight days of rain!
Then we went to Alyeska Ski Resort. We rode the tram up to the top, had lunch (hot chili on a cold mountaintop day...there were even a few snowflakes falling!), visited the museum (it had some old Ski Patrol-related items, my favorites), got a few items in the gift shop (two postcards and a book), and touched the mounds of snow. You could have skied in several places, and if I'd had my skis, you can be assured I would have! Instead, I had to do "boot skiing," which is not as fast nor as smooth as downhill skiing. But, nevertheless, I did get to "ski" somewhere besides Hidden Valley in 2012, and I was happy. I wish I could have taken some snow with me because I loved it so much. We rode the tram back down after all that, walked around the resort at the base and took some pictures, and rode it one more time up and down because we had unlimited riding for the day. Riding the tram was great; boot skiing was even better. I just love snow, skiing, and mountains, and I definitely want to go back to Alyeska someday...to actually ski! :) It has some really awesome-looking runs.
We are staying with friends of Grandma's; they are very nice, welcoming, and friendly people. They fixed us a terrific supper of marinated flank steaks, baked potatoes, salad, and watermelon, which made a delicious end to yet another really wonderful day. Enjoy the pictures!
We arrived at Kenai Fjords National Park just in time for a guided hike up to Exit Glacier. It was about a mile-and-a-half and the ranger stopped several times to tell us about glaciers and the plants surrounding us. We walked back down on our own; in all, it was about two miles of walking. I loved it! When we got back down to the Visitor Center, I got my National Parks Passport stamped, and we bought hatpins and postcards. There had been many bear sightings recently, so I definitely believe it was a good idea to go in a big group of 20 or so up to the glacier. I don't want to be attacked by a bear. The glacier was so interesting, and although we couldn't touch it, we could get very close and take plenty of pictures. It rained/drizzled the whole way up and down...what a bummer. That makes three straight days of rain!
Then we went to Alyeska Ski Resort. We rode the tram up to the top, had lunch (hot chili on a cold mountaintop day...there were even a few snowflakes falling!), visited the museum (it had some old Ski Patrol-related items, my favorites), got a few items in the gift shop (two postcards and a book), and touched the mounds of snow. You could have skied in several places, and if I'd had my skis, you can be assured I would have! Instead, I had to do "boot skiing," which is not as fast nor as smooth as downhill skiing. But, nevertheless, I did get to "ski" somewhere besides Hidden Valley in 2012, and I was happy. I wish I could have taken some snow with me because I loved it so much. We rode the tram back down after all that, walked around the resort at the base and took some pictures, and rode it one more time up and down because we had unlimited riding for the day. Riding the tram was great; boot skiing was even better. I just love snow, skiing, and mountains, and I definitely want to go back to Alyeska someday...to actually ski! :) It has some really awesome-looking runs.
We are staying with friends of Grandma's; they are very nice, welcoming, and friendly people. They fixed us a terrific supper of marinated flank steaks, baked potatoes, salad, and watermelon, which made a delicious end to yet another really wonderful day. Enjoy the pictures!
Moosewood Guest Cabin, where we stayed last night. It was great!
Hiking up to Exit Glacier.
Exit Glacier
Looking down the tram cable.
Just so everyone knows, tomorrow evening we fly into Nome. Then, for three weeks, we'll be at Salmon Lake Bible Camp...BUT, I will be posting on the weekends. I will post tomorrow night, Saturday night, and hopefully Sunday afternoon. I'll let you know. Thanks for reading, everyone!
~Anna~
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Valdez to Seward
Today we woke up at 7:15 and had breakfast in the hotel -- bagels and cereal. It took awhile to get breakfast because there were a couple of tour groups all eating at the same time, so it was a madhouse! But by 9:15, we had eaten, loaded everything up, and were out looking at Valdez. Our hotel was surrounded by mountains -- snow-covered and soooo pretty! We read four signs telling about the 1964 earthquake, then headed to the ferry that would take us from Valdez to Seward. We were on it by about 11:15 and walked on up to the passenger deck. We had a great time on the ferry! It had really nice seating areas with reclining chairs and small tables, windows all around so you could see the views without freezing outside (it was 40-45 degrees), and a cafeteria/shop. They also had a solarium where we could walk out and not be rained on (yes, in rained the whole way) yet be outside and get some snapshots of the mountains. Not one mountain is alike, so there is an incredible urge to take a photo of every beautiful one! We spent some time out on the deck, but like I said, it was raining and cold, so we mostly stayed inside and explored the ferry! There was a whale spotting; I didn't see them, but Matthew got a picture and Grandma saw them. We ate a lunch we had made the night before on the ferry and Grandma bought us Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, which made it a perfect lunch! In the shop, Grandma and I found a few things to remember our wonderful ferry adventure...I got a few postcards telling about the ferry we were on (called the M/V Chenega), a map for Matthew, and a snow globe with two ferries meeting and the words Alaska Marine Highway...all for just $7, which was good. I like to remember these special events, because how many other times will I be on a three-hour ferry ride?! Yes, we landed in Whittier at 2:30, drove around the town for a little bit, and then went to the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. This tunnel is 2.5 miles long and the vehicles share the tunnel with trains! We drove on the train tracks, which was pretty cool. Don't worry, though...it is well-controlled, so there's no danger of trains and trucks meeting in the middle!
At 5:30, we arrived at the Moosewood Cabin, which is about five miles from Seward. It is owned by a husband and wife. The wife, Jackie, was very welcoming and kind. She made sure we liked everything and had everything we needed. The cabin is kind of like the Little House on the Prairie cabin...there's a loft that you climb up to on a ladder. I claimed the left-side bed because Laura always slept on the left side in the show...and I admit, I am like Laura -- high-spirited and a tomboy. Anyway, this cabin is awesome and we all agree that we wouldn't mind living here forever...seriously!
After getting our bags and everything in, we went into Seward to look around and eat dinner. We chose Apollos, a Greek/Italian/seafood/pasta restaurant that had wonderful food. Matthew and I had breaded halibut stuffed with crab, scallops, and shrimp, with sides of carrots and pasta. They also brought out breadsticks with garlic on top...yum. The meal was excellent but the service wasn't so great. They were okay bringing the food out (could have been a bit faster), but took FOREVER to take our bill. Finally, we walked up to the counter and were finally able to leave.
Overall, it has been a terrific day! I really enjoyed the ferry ride, especially since I got to see more mountains. Once again, another day full of memories that will last a lifetime.
At 5:30, we arrived at the Moosewood Cabin, which is about five miles from Seward. It is owned by a husband and wife. The wife, Jackie, was very welcoming and kind. She made sure we liked everything and had everything we needed. The cabin is kind of like the Little House on the Prairie cabin...there's a loft that you climb up to on a ladder. I claimed the left-side bed because Laura always slept on the left side in the show...and I admit, I am like Laura -- high-spirited and a tomboy. Anyway, this cabin is awesome and we all agree that we wouldn't mind living here forever...seriously!
After getting our bags and everything in, we went into Seward to look around and eat dinner. We chose Apollos, a Greek/Italian/seafood/pasta restaurant that had wonderful food. Matthew and I had breaded halibut stuffed with crab, scallops, and shrimp, with sides of carrots and pasta. They also brought out breadsticks with garlic on top...yum. The meal was excellent but the service wasn't so great. They were okay bringing the food out (could have been a bit faster), but took FOREVER to take our bill. Finally, we walked up to the counter and were finally able to leave.
Overall, it has been a terrific day! I really enjoyed the ferry ride, especially since I got to see more mountains. Once again, another day full of memories that will last a lifetime.
The M/V Chenega, which we rode on from Valdez to Whittier.
Inside the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel...2.5 miles long!
~Anna~
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Dawson City to Valdez
First, some pictures from yesterday.
Queen Street in Dawson; our hotel was on that street.
The SS Keno.
On top of the Midnight Dome Road looking down at the Yukon River and Dawson.
Dolls at the Danoja Zho Cultural Center.
Now to today! We woke up at 5:45, ate a quick breakfast in our room, and loaded our bags in the rain. Last night, the town was bustling with activity, and early this morning, it was all deserted...the streets were quiet. Anyway, we got our stuff in the car and got on the ferry going across the Yukon River at 7 AM. About 20 miles up the road, we remembered we had forgotten to get gas (sounds funny, right?). So back to Dawson, across the ferry, to the gas station, filled up the car, then back across the ferry for the THIRD time. We just loved Dawson so much, we couldn't stand to leave it, so we had to go back one more time. Great excuse, right? :)
So then back on the Top of the Road Highway -- bad visibility and cold (45 degrees). It was drizzling and just kind of dreary all day, but we did get to see lots of snow. The highway was very bumpy and mostly gravel, so it wasn't exactly comfortable...but we did get to go high up, even though we couldn't see very much!
At 9:50 AM (Alaska time; 10:50 Pacific Time), we crossed the border. No problems, they just asked if we had any weapons or alcohol and stamped our passports. Five minutes at the most! We were still in the fog, but when we got on the Taylor Highway, we finally got out of it. It was still cloudy and sprinkling, though.
At 11:20, we pulled into Chicken, Alaska! "Downtown" consists of a liquor store/saloon, cafe, and store. We enjoyed lunch at the cafe, called the Chicken Creek Cafe. Matthew and I had the BBQ chicken sandwiches with a side of potato salad, and Grandma had the chicken pot pie. Excellent food; very generous portions, too! After lunch, we all shared a piece of cranberry-apple pie. The flavors mixed well and it was very sweet and the crust -- whole wheat -- was superb. After lunch, we visited the Chicken Mercantile Emporium. It's actually quite a nice-sized store selling books, chicken-themed trinkets, jewelry, and postcards. Matthew and I got hatpins to add to our fast-growing collection, a postcard, and a little rubber chicken keychain. She's so cute! I named her Bawk, and don't you make fun of her. I love her. :) Chicken also is home to (what else?) chickens! There are about 20 of them between the saloon/liquor store and the cafe in a small coop. They were beautiful and happily pecking away.
Our hour at Chicken was great. It's such a funny town. After our adventure there, we drove back into clouds and snow. We must have seen 100 mountains with snow covering the peaks and clouds shrouding the top. I'm sure that some of those mountains were getting snow at the summit, since it was 38 degrees in one place! Ah, such a nice time to leave 95-degree St. Louis. On one mountain, we could see the summit and fresh snow -- just like frosting on a cupcake!
We arrived at our hotel in Valdez, Alaska, at 7 PM. We are surrounded by mountains and it is so nice and cold. Grandma and I are going swimming now, so enjoy these pictures of yesterday (above) and today (below). I had a great day seeing God's BEAUTIFUL mountains, and I hope you enjoy seeing them!
Inside the Chicken Street Cafe.
Some of the chickens in Chicken, Alaska.
A cloud-covered summit (with plenty of snow) on just one of the MANY mountains we saw.
~Anna~
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Dawson City!
Last Monday, we were leaving Missouri, and now we are in Dawson, Yukon! It's amazing how much we have seen. This morning, we woke up at 8:30 and were ready by 9:00. It felt so good to sleep nine full hours; I needed it after all this travelling. We ate breakfast in our hotel room again with stuff we had. We headed out to explore at 10:20.
First, we visited Lowe's Mortuary. It has had six renovations and is quite old. They had two window displays which especially told about the gold rush deaths (a lot were diseases -- when a plague started, it raged like wildfire and struck anyone). We also went into the Yukon Territory Visitor Center, which has a few displays (like moose antlers locked together) and brochures. They also have short movies showing, mostly about the gold rush. At the visitor center, we purchased Cheechako Passes ($13.70 per person), which allowed us access to any three Dawson attractions. We chose the SS Keno, Dredge #4, and the Danoja Zho Cultural Center...all excellent choices.
Before starting out on those expeditions, though, we visited the Fire Department Museum, which housed lots of cool old fire trucks. They even had two horse-drawn engines! They also had a few signs and pictures. There was an 18-year-old boy there who was very friendly and knowledgeable...he was quick to answer our questions and explained a lot about each fire truck. They had some postcards available that had old pictures of the Dawson Fire Department (started in 1898 after a bad fire almost destroyed the town). I got three.
Then we went to the SS Keno, a wood-powered paddleboat. It only needed 18 inches of water to float! It was built in 1922 and operated (pushing barges a lot of the time) until 1951. We got to walk all over, read great signs, take a short tour with a historically-dressed interpreter, and see quite a few of the rooms. The sleeping rooms consisted of one bunk bed and a few hooks to hang clothing on; it was so tiny! The kitchen was pretty large. There was also a video of the Keno's last voyage that we caught the tail end of.
Following the Keno, we drove about seven miles out of Dawson to Dredge #4, arriving for the 1:00 PM tour. We had an energetic tour guide who told us about all the parts of the ship and then took us to all those parts on the actual dredge. It took five months to build this $400,000 beauty...and that wasn't recent! We saw the motors, crane, and main control room. The main control room has a long row of levers that all have a purpose, whether turning, moving, or braking. The controller of all those levers was paid $10; most others were paid $5. It was the job everyone wanted to work up to. Following the hour-long tour, we watched a 10-minute video telling about the relocation and restoration of the dredge...it wasn't an easy task. There is a small visitor center selling a few postcards, maps, and books. We signed the guestbook inside, too.
After the dredge, we drove up the Midnight Dome Road (three or four miles one way). It is paved, quite safe (much less scary than the Mt. Washington Auto Road...refer back to a previous blog!), and well worth it. Once you reach the top, you have a beautiful panoramic view of Dawson, mountains, the Yukon River, and more. It's breathtakingly beautiful and a perfect picture/video opportunity.
Finally, about to die from hunger (haha...just kidding!), we had lunch at the Riverwest Bistro, Restaurant, & Coffee Bar. They have good menu and wonderful-looking desserts (we didn't try any, but they looked scrumptious). Grandma and I had the bison burger ($8.50), which may sound expensive, but it is HUGE! It has lettuce, tomato, a huge bison patty, pickles, and mayo all crammed in between a large bun. It is literally the biggest burger I ever had, and I'm not joking. Matthew had a chicken-peppercorn wrap.
Finally, we visited the Danoja Zho Cultural Center, which had an amazing doll display. A few dolls were two feet tall! They had beautiful beaded dresses on, and it was just really amazing to see those works of art. There was also a regular display about the tribe in Dawson and some struggles they faced during the gold rush, such as not enough food. An excellent 15-minute video in a real theater with squishy theater chairs also told about that through elders speaking, photos, and videos. There was a nice gift shop with Native American products; I got some antler earrings with a buffalo etched into them for just $10. They are pretty.
After the museum, we enjoyed ice cream (I had mint chocolate chip) looking out at the Yukon River as we sat on a park bench. The ice cream was a huge, generous scoop in a homemade chocolate-encased cone, and was perfect for the warm, sunny afternoon.
Back at the hotel at 6:30, we showered and got ready for bed. Tomorrow, we say hello to Alaska and good-bye to Canada (for a little while!).
I will share my pictures of today with you tomorrow because I have awfully slow Internet. Check back later!
~Anna~
First, we visited Lowe's Mortuary. It has had six renovations and is quite old. They had two window displays which especially told about the gold rush deaths (a lot were diseases -- when a plague started, it raged like wildfire and struck anyone). We also went into the Yukon Territory Visitor Center, which has a few displays (like moose antlers locked together) and brochures. They also have short movies showing, mostly about the gold rush. At the visitor center, we purchased Cheechako Passes ($13.70 per person), which allowed us access to any three Dawson attractions. We chose the SS Keno, Dredge #4, and the Danoja Zho Cultural Center...all excellent choices.
Before starting out on those expeditions, though, we visited the Fire Department Museum, which housed lots of cool old fire trucks. They even had two horse-drawn engines! They also had a few signs and pictures. There was an 18-year-old boy there who was very friendly and knowledgeable...he was quick to answer our questions and explained a lot about each fire truck. They had some postcards available that had old pictures of the Dawson Fire Department (started in 1898 after a bad fire almost destroyed the town). I got three.
Then we went to the SS Keno, a wood-powered paddleboat. It only needed 18 inches of water to float! It was built in 1922 and operated (pushing barges a lot of the time) until 1951. We got to walk all over, read great signs, take a short tour with a historically-dressed interpreter, and see quite a few of the rooms. The sleeping rooms consisted of one bunk bed and a few hooks to hang clothing on; it was so tiny! The kitchen was pretty large. There was also a video of the Keno's last voyage that we caught the tail end of.
Following the Keno, we drove about seven miles out of Dawson to Dredge #4, arriving for the 1:00 PM tour. We had an energetic tour guide who told us about all the parts of the ship and then took us to all those parts on the actual dredge. It took five months to build this $400,000 beauty...and that wasn't recent! We saw the motors, crane, and main control room. The main control room has a long row of levers that all have a purpose, whether turning, moving, or braking. The controller of all those levers was paid $10; most others were paid $5. It was the job everyone wanted to work up to. Following the hour-long tour, we watched a 10-minute video telling about the relocation and restoration of the dredge...it wasn't an easy task. There is a small visitor center selling a few postcards, maps, and books. We signed the guestbook inside, too.
After the dredge, we drove up the Midnight Dome Road (three or four miles one way). It is paved, quite safe (much less scary than the Mt. Washington Auto Road...refer back to a previous blog!), and well worth it. Once you reach the top, you have a beautiful panoramic view of Dawson, mountains, the Yukon River, and more. It's breathtakingly beautiful and a perfect picture/video opportunity.
Finally, about to die from hunger (haha...just kidding!), we had lunch at the Riverwest Bistro, Restaurant, & Coffee Bar. They have good menu and wonderful-looking desserts (we didn't try any, but they looked scrumptious). Grandma and I had the bison burger ($8.50), which may sound expensive, but it is HUGE! It has lettuce, tomato, a huge bison patty, pickles, and mayo all crammed in between a large bun. It is literally the biggest burger I ever had, and I'm not joking. Matthew had a chicken-peppercorn wrap.
Finally, we visited the Danoja Zho Cultural Center, which had an amazing doll display. A few dolls were two feet tall! They had beautiful beaded dresses on, and it was just really amazing to see those works of art. There was also a regular display about the tribe in Dawson and some struggles they faced during the gold rush, such as not enough food. An excellent 15-minute video in a real theater with squishy theater chairs also told about that through elders speaking, photos, and videos. There was a nice gift shop with Native American products; I got some antler earrings with a buffalo etched into them for just $10. They are pretty.
After the museum, we enjoyed ice cream (I had mint chocolate chip) looking out at the Yukon River as we sat on a park bench. The ice cream was a huge, generous scoop in a homemade chocolate-encased cone, and was perfect for the warm, sunny afternoon.
Back at the hotel at 6:30, we showered and got ready for bed. Tomorrow, we say hello to Alaska and good-bye to Canada (for a little while!).
I will share my pictures of today with you tomorrow because I have awfully slow Internet. Check back later!
~Anna~
Monday, July 9, 2012
Dawson City...Very Interesting Town!
Today we slept in until 7:40, which felt SO good. We had breakfast in our room because the hotel didn't provide it...but that was okay. We had oatmeal, juice, and doughnuts, and then headed out. We went up a mountain overlook road, which looked out over the city of Whitehorse. We also drove through the cemetery on the road...it had many beautiful crosses and gravestones in it. We looked at a steamboat and touched the Yukon River. Following that, we went to Wal-Mart for pitas, ham, summer sausage, cheese, and chips because we completely ran out of food! Grandma and I went into a dollar store because she was wondering if she could find some little tuna-and-cracker meals. They didn't even know what they were! Ah, yes, we are not in Missouri...things are different! We were on the Alaska Highway at 11:10 AM, and shortly after that, we got on the Klondike Highway. Good-bye for now, Alaska Highway, and hello Klondike Highway!
We had lunch at a rest stop right before Carmacks. It consisted of a small visitor information center (closed), two outhouses, and a picnic table. That was it, but our lunch was yummy and it was a very peaceful, pretty setting. Following lunch, we put some patriotic music on, and it certainly was the right music as we passed through gorgeous mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests.
By 6:15, our real adventure started. We arrived in Dawson City! We checked in, and our clerk was very helpful with getting us a nice room, Wi-Fi, and more towels. Our room is not incredibly large, but it's a nice size. It has two double beds, a bathroom with an old-fashioned sink, and some glass cups and ceramic mugs. It is called the Downtown Hotel and it's like an old-West hotel, really. It also has a grill with Western saloon-type doors and a live piano player/singer. He was playing a Christmas song! The streets are gravel, and there are boardwalks! There are many characters, too, including mountain men! The whole town in general would be a perfect setting for a Western movie, minus the cars. Grandma and I were hoping John Wayne would come riding down the street on his horse, but alas, no such thing happened! :)
We had dinner at Sourdough Joe's Restaurant, which has great AMERICAN fish items. I tried the Alaskan Burger, a fish fillet with tomato, lettuce, tartar sauce, and a side of excellent-tasting fries. At the restaurant, we struck up a conversation with a grandfather and his grandson from Ontario. They were interested in our travels and wished us luck. The grandfather even took our picture to show his wife! It's amazing how people are interested in our trip and are so kind to us!
After supper, we walked along the Yukon River, touched it, saw some boats/canoes, watched the ferry, and scoped out what to see tomorrow. I am sure we will have an awesome day looking around tomorrow; there is plenty to see! I'll let you know, so check back later. For now, enjoy the pictures.
We had lunch at a rest stop right before Carmacks. It consisted of a small visitor information center (closed), two outhouses, and a picnic table. That was it, but our lunch was yummy and it was a very peaceful, pretty setting. Following lunch, we put some patriotic music on, and it certainly was the right music as we passed through gorgeous mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests.
By 6:15, our real adventure started. We arrived in Dawson City! We checked in, and our clerk was very helpful with getting us a nice room, Wi-Fi, and more towels. Our room is not incredibly large, but it's a nice size. It has two double beds, a bathroom with an old-fashioned sink, and some glass cups and ceramic mugs. It is called the Downtown Hotel and it's like an old-West hotel, really. It also has a grill with Western saloon-type doors and a live piano player/singer. He was playing a Christmas song! The streets are gravel, and there are boardwalks! There are many characters, too, including mountain men! The whole town in general would be a perfect setting for a Western movie, minus the cars. Grandma and I were hoping John Wayne would come riding down the street on his horse, but alas, no such thing happened! :)
We had dinner at Sourdough Joe's Restaurant, which has great AMERICAN fish items. I tried the Alaskan Burger, a fish fillet with tomato, lettuce, tartar sauce, and a side of excellent-tasting fries. At the restaurant, we struck up a conversation with a grandfather and his grandson from Ontario. They were interested in our travels and wished us luck. The grandfather even took our picture to show his wife! It's amazing how people are interested in our trip and are so kind to us!
After supper, we walked along the Yukon River, touched it, saw some boats/canoes, watched the ferry, and scoped out what to see tomorrow. I am sure we will have an awesome day looking around tomorrow; there is plenty to see! I'll let you know, so check back later. For now, enjoy the pictures.
Looking out at Whitehorse on the Mountain Overlook Road.
The Yukon River; we saw it in the morning and in the evening!
~Anna~
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Lots of Wildlife!
Today we woke up at 6 AM, took some of our stuff down, and had breakfast -- eggs, bacon, cereal, yogurt, muffins, bagels, bread, juice, and milk. I had a bit of scrambled eggs, a few pieces of bacon, a small bowl of cereal, a peach yogurt, and apple juice. The breakfast was very good.
Then we finished loading up, got gas, and were on the Alaska Highway again by 7:35. At 8:30, there was road construction, so we waited for about 20 minutes. It wasn't too bad because we had great views of the beautiful snow-covered mountains. It was so funny because it's July 7, and we were seeing snow. I still marvel at God's immense power to do things like that. Of course, we also saw beautiful streams, lakes, rivers, and tiny settlements...I really loved it when the mountains would reflect in the lake.
So then, all of a sudden, we were around a corner and there were some caribou! There was one with small antlers, and the others didn't have any. So that was exciting, of course! Then, later on, around 12:30, we saw a bison herd with about 30 bison in it. There were several little babies, some lying down and others just staying close beside their mom. They were so sweet! Then, after that, about 10 minutes down the road, we saw a black bear! He was small, probably pretty young, and just crossing the road. We were taking pictures and he was happily eating grass and looking cute and harmless (haha, yeah right!). He was just curious, though; he wasn't trying to hurt us. Then, at 1 PM, we saw a few more bison and an even smaller black bear. And after that, five minutes later, we saw a really small black bears...he looked like he had just left his momma! And to conclude the gigantic wildlife display, at 1:30, we saw four horses alongside the road. They had gotten loose from someone because one had a halter on, but still, it was a great ending to our "wildlife show"!
We had lunch at Watson Lake, which was very pretty as we ate by the lake. As we finished, it began sprinkling and did for about a half-hour after that. We really can't complain...up to then, we had had gorgeous sunshine and perfect temperatures; a real blessing!
We are staying at a Best Western in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. We pulled in around 7:20 PM and went to supper at Giorgio's Cuccina, an excellent Italian restaurant. I tried the Italian Sausage & Penne, which also came with a generous piece of bread. It was a great meal to end another day on the Alaska Highway!
Then we finished loading up, got gas, and were on the Alaska Highway again by 7:35. At 8:30, there was road construction, so we waited for about 20 minutes. It wasn't too bad because we had great views of the beautiful snow-covered mountains. It was so funny because it's July 7, and we were seeing snow. I still marvel at God's immense power to do things like that. Of course, we also saw beautiful streams, lakes, rivers, and tiny settlements...I really loved it when the mountains would reflect in the lake.
So then, all of a sudden, we were around a corner and there were some caribou! There was one with small antlers, and the others didn't have any. So that was exciting, of course! Then, later on, around 12:30, we saw a bison herd with about 30 bison in it. There were several little babies, some lying down and others just staying close beside their mom. They were so sweet! Then, after that, about 10 minutes down the road, we saw a black bear! He was small, probably pretty young, and just crossing the road. We were taking pictures and he was happily eating grass and looking cute and harmless (haha, yeah right!). He was just curious, though; he wasn't trying to hurt us. Then, at 1 PM, we saw a few more bison and an even smaller black bear. And after that, five minutes later, we saw a really small black bears...he looked like he had just left his momma! And to conclude the gigantic wildlife display, at 1:30, we saw four horses alongside the road. They had gotten loose from someone because one had a halter on, but still, it was a great ending to our "wildlife show"!
We had lunch at Watson Lake, which was very pretty as we ate by the lake. As we finished, it began sprinkling and did for about a half-hour after that. We really can't complain...up to then, we had had gorgeous sunshine and perfect temperatures; a real blessing!
We are staying at a Best Western in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. We pulled in around 7:20 PM and went to supper at Giorgio's Cuccina, an excellent Italian restaurant. I tried the Italian Sausage & Penne, which also came with a generous piece of bread. It was a great meal to end another day on the Alaska Highway!
The caribou herd -- there were four of them.
The beautiful mountains reflect in a lake.
A momma bison with her cute little baby!
The first black bear we saw.
Four horses that had escaped...right along the road!
Beautiful snow-covered mountains!
~Anna~
Saturday, July 7, 2012
The Alaska Highway!
This morning we woke up at 6 AM and got ready. We took some of our bags down before going to enjoy the delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage, pastries and baked goods, pancakes, waffles, yogurt, cereal, lots of things to put on top of pancakes and waffles such as strawberries, juice (apple, orange, cranberry, and pink grapefruit), and cocoa. It was such a fancy breakfast! I had one sausage, a strawberry yogurt, a croissant (yaay...I love them!), cereal, juice (orange), and cocoa. The lobby of our hotel was very fancy with a fancy glass partition wall, comfy-looking chairs, a bowl of apples, and friendly, helpful staff. Our room had two wonderful queen beds with four pillows per bed. We had a small kitchenette with a refrigerator; some plates, bowls, cups, and silverware; a nice big kitchen sink; a silver platter with wine glasses and a nice glass cups; and then the bathroom -- a nice clean tub-shower; and a whole kit with shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, lotion, and other end-of-day/shower essentials. It was a really great hotel!
After breakfast, we finished loading up and were heading toward Fort Nelson at 7:30 on 43-West. In Valleyview, we stopped for gas, then back on 43, heading toward Grande Prairie (population 55,032). Once we got there, we went south for a short bit on 2, until we were back on 43-West.
Finally, we arrived at the start of the Alaska Highway...a very momentous occasion! We drove through the official roundabout, took pictures of the sign and Official Mile 0 Marker, and went into the Visitor Center. It is the old train depot with historical displays such as the baggage depot and ticket booth. There were some signs to read, but we didn't spend much time in there. We just went in the gift shop and browsed through the shirts, postcards, magnets, hats, stuffed animals, maps, hatpins, DVDs, and more. I got a hatpin (to add to my ever-growing collection) and a red cedar postcard -- very authentic with the actual wood as it is. I paid American cash for that and received Canadian cash back...which was funny because I keep forgetting that I am in a different country with different money, so I was kind of startled at first! :)
We had lunch at Tim Horton's, which sells sandwiches, coffees in various forms (like lattes), donuts, and ice cream. I got the egg salad doughnut combo, which contains a nice-sized egg salad sandwich, an apple juice, and a Canadian Maple doughnut. It was glazed with maple and had a sweet cream cheese filling. Very yummy! After that, we stopped in Fort St. John for gas again. While we were there, we met a man who was from Fairbanks, Alaska, and was moving his mother there. His mother was from St. Peters, Missouri, which is near us. How weird is that?!
As we drove on the Alaska Highway, we enjoyed seeing little tiny towns such as Wonowon, Pink Mountain, Sikanni Chief (unincorporated), Buckinghorse River, and Prophet River. They may be small, but they usually have a cute little bed-and-breakfast or church. From small towns come big dreams and people, so don't ever count them out! We arrived at our Super 8 in Fort Nelson at 6:20. It has a small kitchenette, two queen beds with four pillows, a nice bathroom, and a pool with a slide. We had dinner at the hotel with food we had.
We finished the evening by having a nice 45-minute swim. I did some "water ballet," which is kind of funny because all your movements are slower. Still, it was lots of fun to try pirouettes (just getting a single outward turn was an accomplishment in five-foot-deep water)! I also went down the slide three times. I normally don't like slides all that much, but so far on this trip, I have gone on two slides three times each...that's six times. I am getting braver!
Have a great weekend!
After breakfast, we finished loading up and were heading toward Fort Nelson at 7:30 on 43-West. In Valleyview, we stopped for gas, then back on 43, heading toward Grande Prairie (population 55,032). Once we got there, we went south for a short bit on 2, until we were back on 43-West.
Finally, we arrived at the start of the Alaska Highway...a very momentous occasion! We drove through the official roundabout, took pictures of the sign and Official Mile 0 Marker, and went into the Visitor Center. It is the old train depot with historical displays such as the baggage depot and ticket booth. There were some signs to read, but we didn't spend much time in there. We just went in the gift shop and browsed through the shirts, postcards, magnets, hats, stuffed animals, maps, hatpins, DVDs, and more. I got a hatpin (to add to my ever-growing collection) and a red cedar postcard -- very authentic with the actual wood as it is. I paid American cash for that and received Canadian cash back...which was funny because I keep forgetting that I am in a different country with different money, so I was kind of startled at first! :)
We had lunch at Tim Horton's, which sells sandwiches, coffees in various forms (like lattes), donuts, and ice cream. I got the egg salad doughnut combo, which contains a nice-sized egg salad sandwich, an apple juice, and a Canadian Maple doughnut. It was glazed with maple and had a sweet cream cheese filling. Very yummy! After that, we stopped in Fort St. John for gas again. While we were there, we met a man who was from Fairbanks, Alaska, and was moving his mother there. His mother was from St. Peters, Missouri, which is near us. How weird is that?!
As we drove on the Alaska Highway, we enjoyed seeing little tiny towns such as Wonowon, Pink Mountain, Sikanni Chief (unincorporated), Buckinghorse River, and Prophet River. They may be small, but they usually have a cute little bed-and-breakfast or church. From small towns come big dreams and people, so don't ever count them out! We arrived at our Super 8 in Fort Nelson at 6:20. It has a small kitchenette, two queen beds with four pillows, a nice bathroom, and a pool with a slide. We had dinner at the hotel with food we had.
We finished the evening by having a nice 45-minute swim. I did some "water ballet," which is kind of funny because all your movements are slower. Still, it was lots of fun to try pirouettes (just getting a single outward turn was an accomplishment in five-foot-deep water)! I also went down the slide three times. I normally don't like slides all that much, but so far on this trip, I have gone on two slides three times each...that's six times. I am getting braver!
Have a great weekend!
Here I am at the official start of the Alaska Highway!
~Anna~
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Scary Roller Coaster, & More!
Today we slept in until 6:30, which felt good, and then we had a great breakfast of hash browns, eggs, bacon, cereal, juice, and hot cocoa on a cool morning (about 50 degrees). Then we loaded up our bags and headed out. By the way, the Calgary Stampede starts July 6 -- tomorrow -- so there were all kinds of advertisements. As we drove on to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, I did take note of a few things I had noticed in Alberta -- they only have back license plates, the people are from all different races from Chinese to French, and they tend to stare quite a bit at us (hmm...I wonder why?). As Grandma has joked, it's like the United Nations!
Here in Canada, I notice it isn't like Montana with nothing but emptiness. Sure, I have seen lots of grassy fields with cattle grazing, and there is plenty of openness, but there are many more vehicles on 2, and more towns (some bigger). Even between towns, there are plenty of farms and homes. Yesterday we drove by so many big horse farms with large barns, sleek horses, miles of fence, and nice big rings and pastures.
We got off of 2 and went on 13 to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, arriving at 10:15 AM. It was excellent and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical equipment/automobiles...even just a little bit. It shows the progression of farm machinery and automobiles through the years. I especially enjoyed the really old cars from the 1920's. We saw a 1923 Ford Model T Sedan, just one year younger than our smaller Doctor's Coupe. So many of the cars are in pristine condition with dazzling paint and perfect interiors. There were also some short videos throughout the museum, demonstrations, many informative signs, a children's play area, and opportunities to sit in cars and tractors. I sat on a 1946 Ferguson 2-N (very much like our 1949) and a Model T race car...that I could have driven because everything was the same as ours! We enjoyed watching photos and a commentary from an old Model T race...so funny!
There was also a "drive-in" movie theater with four cars from the 1960s and '70s, little seats, and ads for cars from the past showing on a large screen. Following exiting the museum, we enjoyed lunch in the shade as we looked at airplanes from the past and historical construction equipment. Small airplanes also took off and landed, as it is a "fly-in museum". Old car rides were also taking place.
The museum is really very wonderful and we went through it in about two hours. We definitely could have spent more time, since there are more signs, documentary movies, and demonstrations. We did participate in a grain elevator demonstration, which was well worth the 15 minutes.
We drove through downtown Edmonton after that to see the ornate capital and many more tall buildings. Then we proceeded to the West Edmonton Mall, where we went to Galaxyland, the indoor amusement park. We rode many rides, including Mindbender, a scary roller coaster with dizzying sudden turns and drops. We rode it twice and I survived both. Just kidding! We rode the Carousel; I rode a high-spirited palomino. Then Quirks in the Work, a very silly laser-gun space alien ride. Also Space Shot, an exhilarating tower that shoots you up and down at 40 miles per hour. Next, Swing of the Century, a chair swing that tilts back and forth as you swing around at about 35 miles per hour. Also, Autosled, which was a small roller coaster with just some really little hills and turns. We concluded with the 3-D Turbo Ride -- which was showing a Happy Feet short film as you wore 3-D glasses and sat in a chair that tilted, tipped, and shook. Quite a ride!
Supper was at Boston Pizza, where we had quick service, a nice waitress, and really yummy food. The Super Novice Hockey Championship was going on while we were there, so we watched 10-year-olds from the USA and Canada battle against each other. They were good! Finally, we arrived at our hotel at 7:30. We had a nice swim in the amazing pool, which was long, had a mushroom spouting water, and a fun twisting slide that I went down three times. What an awesome day!
Enjoy the pictures!
Here in Canada, I notice it isn't like Montana with nothing but emptiness. Sure, I have seen lots of grassy fields with cattle grazing, and there is plenty of openness, but there are many more vehicles on 2, and more towns (some bigger). Even between towns, there are plenty of farms and homes. Yesterday we drove by so many big horse farms with large barns, sleek horses, miles of fence, and nice big rings and pastures.
We got off of 2 and went on 13 to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, arriving at 10:15 AM. It was excellent and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical equipment/automobiles...even just a little bit. It shows the progression of farm machinery and automobiles through the years. I especially enjoyed the really old cars from the 1920's. We saw a 1923 Ford Model T Sedan, just one year younger than our smaller Doctor's Coupe. So many of the cars are in pristine condition with dazzling paint and perfect interiors. There were also some short videos throughout the museum, demonstrations, many informative signs, a children's play area, and opportunities to sit in cars and tractors. I sat on a 1946 Ferguson 2-N (very much like our 1949) and a Model T race car...that I could have driven because everything was the same as ours! We enjoyed watching photos and a commentary from an old Model T race...so funny!
There was also a "drive-in" movie theater with four cars from the 1960s and '70s, little seats, and ads for cars from the past showing on a large screen. Following exiting the museum, we enjoyed lunch in the shade as we looked at airplanes from the past and historical construction equipment. Small airplanes also took off and landed, as it is a "fly-in museum". Old car rides were also taking place.
The museum is really very wonderful and we went through it in about two hours. We definitely could have spent more time, since there are more signs, documentary movies, and demonstrations. We did participate in a grain elevator demonstration, which was well worth the 15 minutes.
We drove through downtown Edmonton after that to see the ornate capital and many more tall buildings. Then we proceeded to the West Edmonton Mall, where we went to Galaxyland, the indoor amusement park. We rode many rides, including Mindbender, a scary roller coaster with dizzying sudden turns and drops. We rode it twice and I survived both. Just kidding! We rode the Carousel; I rode a high-spirited palomino. Then Quirks in the Work, a very silly laser-gun space alien ride. Also Space Shot, an exhilarating tower that shoots you up and down at 40 miles per hour. Next, Swing of the Century, a chair swing that tilts back and forth as you swing around at about 35 miles per hour. Also, Autosled, which was a small roller coaster with just some really little hills and turns. We concluded with the 3-D Turbo Ride -- which was showing a Happy Feet short film as you wore 3-D glasses and sat in a chair that tilted, tipped, and shook. Quite a ride!
Supper was at Boston Pizza, where we had quick service, a nice waitress, and really yummy food. The Super Novice Hockey Championship was going on while we were there, so we watched 10-year-olds from the USA and Canada battle against each other. They were good! Finally, we arrived at our hotel at 7:30. We had a nice swim in the amazing pool, which was long, had a mushroom spouting water, and a fun twisting slide that I went down three times. What an awesome day!
Enjoy the pictures!
Here I am on the 1946 Ferguson.
The "drive-in" movie theater featured old ads for cars.
The Capital building in Edmonton.
~Anna~
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