Friday, September 19, 2008
It's Still Not Over!
Well, I was just looking at my pictures and dreaming about the beauty of the mountains. I realized that it was four weeks ago today that I arrived back in Minnesota. It's been crazy busy ever since. I still haven't had time to look through all of my pictures and try to narrow down the ones I want to print. It will be a long process, I'm sure, since I took over 2,500 photos. Someday it'll get done.
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Day Isn't Done Yet
Finally left Juneau 90 minutes later than originally scheduled, and it was a beautiful trip to Anchorage. Mountains and clouds were gorgeous. Had a good flight and now I'm sitting in Anchorage, waiting for my last flight to home. Just heard an announcement that one of the flight attendants for this flight is sick, so they're searching for a replacement so we can get going. It's about 12:15 AM and we're finally starting to board, so I guess this is all for now. It will be good to be home. So tired!
Coming in to Anchorage
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Long Day Begins...
I woke up this morning in Wrangell, wondering if I’d be able to get out on the plane today. Last weekend, there wasn’t a plane for 3 days due to the thick fog, and since Wrangell doesn’t have radar, planes can’t land when they can’t see the mountains--something to be thankful for, especially if you’re IN the plane!. Eric came over with the fish box and said the weather looked good, so we went to the airport to check in my bags before the flight. Back to Grandma’s for about an hour, then back to the airport. It seems not too long ago that I was on the other side of security at Wrangell airport, but already it is time to leave. After goodbye hugs, I headed through security and after one last wave was on my way to board the plane.
It was a gray morning, with some rain, but once I got in the air, the view was surprising. The Stikine River flats branched out in many directions, easily in view with the low tide. During the quick 15-minute trip to Petersburg, I saw LeConte Glacier and the many icebergs we meandered around in Safari. The tiny white dots were almost lost from sight in the sea of green water. Leaving Petersburg, the mountains broke through the clouds and their tops looked like tiny blue hills against the layer of cottony clouds. One more landing in Juneau, and I was ready to begin my 6-hour layover in Alaska's capital. I hurried through the airport to the cold weather outside and found a taxi waiting at the curb.
I headed to Mendenhall Glacier, a good way to pass a few hours until my next flight. I mentioned to the driver about the possibility of seeing black bears near the glacier and she said there were a couple of beaver dams being constructed and sometimes the bears hang out where the water pools. As she was saying this, I looked to the left and saw a black bear ready to snag an uncautious salmon from the stream. Once at the glacier, I followed other visitors along the elevated walkways, only to find that they were dead ends. Too much bear activity, I'm told. The sockeye salmon were running in the stream, so that was interesting to see. Remembering that the bear was further up the road, I started walking in that direction, but as I kept going, I saw that there were no other people there, and since I didn't have the "protection" of the elevated walkway, I decided I should probably turn around. I didn't want to be the picture of the front page of the newspaper the next day--mauled by a black bear. Besides, it was getting colder and I thought I should look at the glacier for a while.
As I was walking back along the road, the rain started and I was getting several looks in my direction. I could have had something to do with the fact that I was wearing capris, a t-shirt, and flip flops. I knew it was going to be hot once I arrived in MN, so I didn't want to be too hot once I got there. But in the meantime, it was COLD! I hurried toward the visitor center and spent some time in the gift shop, watched the movie about the glacier, and looked at the interactive displays. Took some pictures of the glacier, but they won't compare to the ones I got at LeConte Glacier. I'm glad I got to see Mendenhall, since it's a very popular place in Alaska. One of the employees at the visitor center said that yesterday it was 74 degrees and beautiful skies, so I guess I missed it by a day. Oh well. Seeing that the weather wasn't about to change anytime soon, I went backt to the airport and had a late lunch. Went back through security and am now sitting at my gate, waiting for my flight in a couple hours.
Mendenhall Glacier
It was a gray morning, with some rain, but once I got in the air, the view was surprising. The Stikine River flats branched out in many directions, easily in view with the low tide. During the quick 15-minute trip to Petersburg, I saw LeConte Glacier and the many icebergs we meandered around in Safari. The tiny white dots were almost lost from sight in the sea of green water. Leaving Petersburg, the mountains broke through the clouds and their tops looked like tiny blue hills against the layer of cottony clouds. One more landing in Juneau, and I was ready to begin my 6-hour layover in Alaska's capital. I hurried through the airport to the cold weather outside and found a taxi waiting at the curb.
I headed to Mendenhall Glacier, a good way to pass a few hours until my next flight. I mentioned to the driver about the possibility of seeing black bears near the glacier and she said there were a couple of beaver dams being constructed and sometimes the bears hang out where the water pools. As she was saying this, I looked to the left and saw a black bear ready to snag an uncautious salmon from the stream. Once at the glacier, I followed other visitors along the elevated walkways, only to find that they were dead ends. Too much bear activity, I'm told. The sockeye salmon were running in the stream, so that was interesting to see. Remembering that the bear was further up the road, I started walking in that direction, but as I kept going, I saw that there were no other people there, and since I didn't have the "protection" of the elevated walkway, I decided I should probably turn around. I didn't want to be the picture of the front page of the newspaper the next day--mauled by a black bear. Besides, it was getting colder and I thought I should look at the glacier for a while.
As I was walking back along the road, the rain started and I was getting several looks in my direction. I could have had something to do with the fact that I was wearing capris, a t-shirt, and flip flops. I knew it was going to be hot once I arrived in MN, so I didn't want to be too hot once I got there. But in the meantime, it was COLD! I hurried toward the visitor center and spent some time in the gift shop, watched the movie about the glacier, and looked at the interactive displays. Took some pictures of the glacier, but they won't compare to the ones I got at LeConte Glacier. I'm glad I got to see Mendenhall, since it's a very popular place in Alaska. One of the employees at the visitor center said that yesterday it was 74 degrees and beautiful skies, so I guess I missed it by a day. Oh well. Seeing that the weather wasn't about to change anytime soon, I went backt to the airport and had a late lunch. Went back through security and am now sitting at my gate, waiting for my flight in a couple hours.
Stikine River
Coming in to Juneau
Sockeye Salmon
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
My Favorite Place--Nemo Point
Today is the day before I leave Alaska, and I finally made it out to Nemo Point. Eric and I went for a drive to see what we could see--just like the bear who went over the mountain! It was kind of drizzly, so we really couldn't see much, except some blueberry plants that had a lot of moisture on them. Then we turned around and went to Pat's Lake to see how far the road went. Driving through the rainforest filled with muskeg and moss-covered trees made me feel like I was in a scene in an eerie, scary movie. The winding road seemed to disappear into the misty fog. Not a very great day for shooting pictures, but I'll have to pull out my pictures from the last time I was at Nemo Point to see what the view could have been. Still it was a fun drive.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I saw the #1 Alaska sight!
Today Eric, Joan, Meagan, Tarun, Taleena, and I went fishing. It started out as a beautiful day and with empty memory cards, Mylo (my camera) was ready to work. Well, it turned cloudy once we were out on the water, but it was still a nice day. Hey, any day that isn't raining is a pretty good day in Wrangell. We went back to the place where I caught all the Coho, but we didn't have much luck.
After Eric was said his classic "BORING" comment a few times, he spotted the sight every person who travels to Alaska hopes to see. Sprays of water on the horizon. Yep, it was humpback whales. They looked like they were pretty close to shore. As we neared them, it was obvious that they were coming toward us, although not close enough for Mylo to do any good. :) A couple times, I saw their mouths out of the water, obviously feasting on a yummy lunch. In anticipation, I watched the spray of water, the arch of the back, and knew the tail would be following soon as the humpback dove deep for dessert. (Not that I know this for sure, but I'm just imagining that's where all the good stuff is!)
We were looking for the whales ahead of the boat, and as Joan sat out on the deck with Taleena, she said, "I see steam! It's the whales!" Well, we all rushed out to see them, and I did get a few pictures, but once again, they weren't anything like the whales we saw in 1990. Still, it was fun to see them. In the midst of all the excitement, we heard the whirring of the fishing line and knew there was a "fish on" (this is the appropriate thing to shout). Tarun got to reel in the first (and only) fish, and he sure was excited. Hi eyes got huge when he saw the fish coming to the surface. It was a big Coho and he put up a good fight for Tarun. With the disctraction of the fish, the whales escaped our view and traveled further away from us, but it was a fun to see them. After the fish was in the cooler, Tarun said, "Are we going home now?" We fished on our way back to Wrangell, but that was the only fish we got. Sometimes you find them and sometimes you don't. But we hit it just right to find the whales!
After Eric was said his classic "BORING" comment a few times, he spotted the sight every person who travels to Alaska hopes to see. Sprays of water on the horizon. Yep, it was humpback whales. They looked like they were pretty close to shore. As we neared them, it was obvious that they were coming toward us, although not close enough for Mylo to do any good. :) A couple times, I saw their mouths out of the water, obviously feasting on a yummy lunch. In anticipation, I watched the spray of water, the arch of the back, and knew the tail would be following soon as the humpback dove deep for dessert. (Not that I know this for sure, but I'm just imagining that's where all the good stuff is!)
We were looking for the whales ahead of the boat, and as Joan sat out on the deck with Taleena, she said, "I see steam! It's the whales!" Well, we all rushed out to see them, and I did get a few pictures, but once again, they weren't anything like the whales we saw in 1990. Still, it was fun to see them. In the midst of all the excitement, we heard the whirring of the fishing line and knew there was a "fish on" (this is the appropriate thing to shout). Tarun got to reel in the first (and only) fish, and he sure was excited. Hi eyes got huge when he saw the fish coming to the surface. It was a big Coho and he put up a good fight for Tarun. With the disctraction of the fish, the whales escaped our view and traveled further away from us, but it was a fun to see them. After the fish was in the cooler, Tarun said, "Are we going home now?" We fished on our way back to Wrangell, but that was the only fish we got. Sometimes you find them and sometimes you don't. But we hit it just right to find the whales!
Taleena
Tarun--the proud fisherman
(thanks for the picture, Meagan!)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A Night at the Opera--in Wrangell?
Yes, it's true. I never imagined my first opera experience would be in Wrangell, AK, but tonight Grandma and I went to a concert at the Nolan Center. The singer was a lady who recently moved to Wrangell and she performed several selections from various operas. I think the highlight of the evening was people-watching. As people were finding seats in the auditorium, a flash caught my eye. I saw a lady entering the room and she sure was dressed to the nines. Her long jacket was COVERED in sequin flowers and beads, bright red in color. Someone made a comment to her, and she said people told her to wear her diamonds, which she revealed on bracelets as she pulled up her sleeves. She also had long, dangling earrings and big rings on both hands. Somehow she looked a little out of place. And guess where she decided to take a seat? Right in front of me! I thought Grandma was going to lose it when she got a closer look at the apparel of this lady.
She choked back her laughter and was able to compose herself before the next lady entered. She was part of the group ahead of us and she made her way to the seat directly in front of Grandma. And she was sporting a fur coat, not a long one, but a fur coat no less. Once again, we had to hold in our smirks. I suddenly felt very underdressed, but I felt a little better when I saw a lady come in with bright orange rain boots with her pants tucked into them! I guess you see all kinds, no matter where you go. It was a fun evening, and I can now say I've been to an opera, although it probably wasn't the music that stood out tonight! :)
She choked back her laughter and was able to compose herself before the next lady entered. She was part of the group ahead of us and she made her way to the seat directly in front of Grandma. And she was sporting a fur coat, not a long one, but a fur coat no less. Once again, we had to hold in our smirks. I suddenly felt very underdressed, but I felt a little better when I saw a lady come in with bright orange rain boots with her pants tucked into them! I guess you see all kinds, no matter where you go. It was a fun evening, and I can now say I've been to an opera, although it probably wasn't the music that stood out tonight! :)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Flower, flowers, and more flowers...
I took some more flower pictures in between raindrops today. I love seeing the water on the plants. There's not much to really say about them...I'll just let the pictures do the talking.
Astibile
Daisy
Day Lily
Mountain Ash
Geranium
Hydrangea
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)