August 29

We are so glad for these beautiful sunny days.  But in some ways it would be better if it was raining cats and dogs, easier to leave.  When it’s like this we can’t imagine ever leaving.  Continue packing trying to figure out if we can get it all in the cases.  Brenna was able to go to work today staying on fluids.  We pick Dean up at daycare at noon and take him home for the afternoon. Poor Zach has come down with whatever it is and he is in bed for the day.  We are able to help around the house and keep Dean occupied.  Brenna comes home from work not quite up to snuff.  But we are able to sit under the trees in the backyard catching up on her return after 12 weeks away.  Chuck and Pat decide to take advantage of the day and go for dinner.  Stop of at F Street grill for halibut and crab.  Decide to drive up Arctic Valley on the edge of town,  The ski resort area requires that we travel through the military base.  The road up is steep and twisting and full of potholes and washboard.  It’s also very dusty.  At the top we can see down the beautiful valley the sits behind the front facing Anchorage Chugach Mountains.  The light is golden in the setting sun. It is definitely a fall light.  Anchorage is in our sight but up here it is remote and wild.  We are above tree line and there is permafrost in the area.  People are walking up the side of the mountain, picking blueberries.  We don’t see bears but we know they are around.  This is a very small ski operation compared to the Girdwood Valley.  But it serves Anchorage well and is close by.  The Alaska Range and Denali are very visible.  The setting sun dips above the head of Susitna, the old volcano visible across the Inlet.  We continue to pack and go through two months of apartment living.  Brenna is working from home tomorrow so we will go over and take care of Dean.  We don’t fly out until 11:15PM so we have the day to visit.  Night!

August 28

What the?  More sunshine, clear blue skies.  Warm and all mountain tops are visible.  Denali, Forraker and Hunter are all clearly visible in the north, can’t believe how close they appear.  The Alaska Range is open showing their high elevation with heavy snow cover in the west along with Mt. Redoubt volcano along the inlet.  Brenna has a tummy bug and plans today are cancelled.  It’s Zack’s birthday so we are sorry dinner plans must be postponed.   So we decide to take a last hurrah trip on our fave road. We have wanted to attend the UMC in Girdwood about 40 miles from Anchorage.  We follow the Turnagain Arm once again.  One of the top ten most beautiful drives in the country.  The tide is out.  We can see Beluga whales waiting to follow the salmon into the Arm with the tide. They are medium sized all white whales, looking like ghosts riding the waves.  This particular pod is unique in Alaska, the furthest south and separate from the larger pods in the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean. The Arm and the surrounding mountains are always changing and beautiful no matter what the weather.  There is a very slight change for fall in the trees and undergrowth.  Very different from the 120 mile north trip we took yesterday where fall foliage is in full swing.  We drive up Girdwood Valley to the UMC church.  We were hoping to see Pastor Ward who married Brenna and Zach two years ago.  But she has moved to Washington and the new pastor is David Hall.  He is a graduate of the seminary in Dayton, Ohio.  He and his wife are from Nashville area.  He is ex-military who works part time as pastor awaiting ordination.  He also works part time for the VA . He and his wife have three young girls and they are very friendly.  He provides an excellent sermon and we are able to take communion.  The church is small with open concept.  Open beam and glass construction.  After church we go to Jack Sprat for brunch.  It has become our fave Girdwood restaurant.  We snag a table on the side deck with views of the mountains across the valley.  We sit in sun feasting on eggs benedict with smoked salmon and fried potatoes and a side of reindeer sausage.  Fresh brewed coffee and a carafe of mimosa’s top off a wonderful meal. We walk up to the artist’s coop and enjoy the wares at the old lodge.  Profuse flowers in large ground and hanging pots decorate the area. Then we stop at the Kobuk Jade Factory.  This has long been a favorite stop for us for over 30 years. They bring in Nephrite Jade from the Kobuk valley in the north.  An older couple ran it for years.  Now their daughter has taken over after their death.  It is closing for good next month and luckily we just happened in when it was open.  We have a nice chat and share memories of their years on the site.  The building will be sold along with all the remaining stock and huge jade saws that we enjoyed watching over the years.  Their displays of Alaska artifacts and native art are of museum quality.  A final purchase and we say good bye and good luck.  On our trip back north along the Arm the tide is coming in fast.  We can see the Beluga whales bobbing along, swimming the tide feasting on salmon.  We also see small black whales that we can’t identify.  We overheard a tourist telling a local they saw large black whales along the Inlet shoreline on their way down.  They already lost a humpback that ventured into the Arm.  It’s too shallow for them, so hope it doesn’t happen again.  Although now that we have seen the small black whales, we think they may have seen them instead.  We are able to see three Dall sheep high on the mountainside.  Brenna is feeling a little better.  We stop over with popsicles and ginger ale.  We take Zach his birthday presents and his parents arrive at the same time.  Dean is actively fighting sleep; he is quite the socialite and loves grandparent adoration.  Cute as can be.  We sit in the sun in the backyard and watch Zach open his gifts.  Time to go and let Brenna go back to bed.  She is due to start back to work tomorrow and it is unsure if she can go.  Back at the apartment we begin our packing.  After two months and purchases along the way it is a job to get it all in the bags.  Also we had left clothes from our February visit that have to be packed.  The day remains clear and warm with a beautiful setting sun.  We are now seeing darkness around 11PM, so daylight is fading as winter approaches.  Leaving Tuesday night for home our time is almost over.  Dean has grown from newborn who was unpredictable and unengaged to an active, responsive, bouncing baby boy.  His big blue eyes are endearing and he has captured our hearts.  Night.

August 27

Awoke to sunshine!!!!!  After 3 weeks of every kind of wet we are getting a reprieve.  Rain, snow, sleet etc. generally do not stop the average Alaskan, they go regardless.  But the incessant rains and low cloud cover have taken a toll on even the most stoic.  We had a great day yesterday and looks like another one today.  Brenna is taking a rest so we are taking our chance to have an adventure.  We set off down the same road as yesterday only this time we take the Old Glen Highway through Palmer and head east.  Denali, the mountain, is clearly seen in the distance, can’t believe it is 165 miles away but clear as a bell. As we travel we see how the Matanuska River is threatening the road.  Glacier river braids change over time with conditions.  They have to build a diversion using rock walls.  We take Fishhook Road toward Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine.  It is an incredible drive following the Little Su River; water color of opal due to glacial source.  We take the dirt road a short way to Summit Lake at 3400 feet. The view is very beautiful with the Alaska Range in the distance.  We are above tree line with fall colors starting on the low growth bushes and flowers.  Hikers are picking blueberries, we watch for bears but can’t see any.  This is their favorite spot too.  We stop at the historic Independence Gold Mine.  Every year they make more and more improvements to conserving the area with more renovated buildings and walk ways.  Everywhere a picture.  We stop down the road at the Hatcher Pass Lodge.  There is a bridal party getting their pictures taken in the fall foliage.  We get a chance to wish the bride and groom best wishes.  Margie and Brian were able to join us up here two years ago.  So we lifted a Free Ride thinking of them. The Lodge is very shabby chic and quaint with little cabins scattered around.  Our view is of the Mat-Su Valley where the fair is going on.  We can also see to the top of Knik Glacier.  Our drive down is equally picturesque.   At the lower levels the birch trees are turning golden with red fireweed plants.  We decide to take advantage of the day so we return to the Glen Highway driving east.  This roadway has been upgraded.  Mostly the very steep areas with no guard rails have been widened.  We follow the Matanuska River up its glacial valley.  It is running swift and very muddy from all the rain.  The silt is very heavy, no fish can live in it.  We can see the Matanuska Glacier below us.  It is a sight that continues to thrill; the long river of ice and moraines showing so clearly.  It is coming out of the Chugach Mountains that have major ice fields, the other side of the road are the Talkeetna Mountains.  They are much lower in elevation but very dramatic in their coloring from erosion showing all sorts of ores and elements in the rock.  Seems we can’t quite escape rain and we have brief periods of it but it always clears quickly. We see a sign for viewing the glacier from the  valley floor which we have never done.  So we take the road that drops to the valley floor.  It is steep, dirt/mud with potholes.  There are signs all along the way saying the road is dangerous.  We have to cross the river over a plank bridge.  A bit unnerving.  We end at a Glacier Lodge.  Mostly it’s a gift shop and privately operated entrance to the face of the glacier.  You must pay for the privilege and sign a waiver saying you don’t hold them accountable for injury.  We decide to do it another time but are glad to take the chance to check it out.  Back on the road we drive another 10 miles to Sheep Mountain Lodge.  It’s a very lovely gathering of central log lodge and log cabins.  This is one of the checkpoints of the Fireweed biking race where Brenna and Seth passed through a few years ago. The restaurant was recommended by Brenna.  The menu is limited.  Chuck gets a hamburger and Pat gets a bowl of chili with a giant yeast roll.  The food is just okay.  Kind of disappointed.  This is as far as we go.  In another 70 miles we would be in Glenallen.  The same town we passed through with Minde.  It’s been another long day but a great day of adventure, beautiful scenery and a few surprises. Make our way back to Anchorage navigating the fair traffic.  Time for quiet and rest.  Night!