Alaskan Grandparenting 101 & Minde's Great Adventure 2016: July 8

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Rambler’s Blog – Alaskan Grandparenting 101 & Minde's Great Adventure July 8 - August 31, 2016

A word about this blog…. It has been our goal in recent years’ lengthier travels to record for posterity a diary of travel stats, pictures, and personal reflections. So, when we can no longer indulge in trains, planes and automobiles we may relive fond memories. We have invited a few friends and family to ride along through this travel blog (a combo of blather and log), risking exposure to bad puns, spelling errors and sore feet complaints.

This is our first trip to Alaska as Grandparents. We sure hope we do it right! There are majestic mountains and valleys, mighty glaciers and roaring rivers but they pale in comparison with the power of baby Dean. He has filled our hearts to bursting with love and makes us speak gibberish. He is very patient with us and we're sure he thinks we're 'special' already.

Another first born, niece Minde from Buffalo, is joining us during our stay. She is celebrating high school graduation and taking a break before starting at Erie Community College in the fall. We have assured her parents, Wende and Pete, that we will take good care of her. She is already refusing to carry the bacon on hikes. Way smarter than us!

We will blog off and on. You are welcome to join us as you will. Glad to know you're out there!
Grandma and Grandpa Simons

* We may not have daily access to Internet so updates may be delayed, but once they appear they will be in sequence
* The blog includes pictures based on the day’s blog, sometimes delayed depending on schedule and access.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

July 8

Up at 3:15AM, left in limo at 4:15 with Seth waving good-by. The flights went well, econ on United to Chi and an empty seat between us, always nice. Had to pick up our luggage after landing, get new ticket on Alaska and resend our luggage. Chuck over 50 pounds in one bag, removal of Chaveta’s into the duffle bag kept us from fine. We had Pre check TSA which worked well in CLE but in Chi people in front of us had large shampoo and water bottles and didn’t want to give them up, than another person was carrying a 6 inch screwdriver, saying he didn’t know how it got in there. Then they went through Pat’s carry on because the bank for the baby looked suspicious. So pre check in CHI was a fiasco! Alaska ‘first class’ had no divider, we were just part of the whole plane, bigger seats, better foods. Ak cod was very good and the steward scared up one bottle of Chardonnay, almost made up for the heat in our area and uncomfortable seats. Traveled over cloud most of the way and then it opened up and we were flying along the coast of Prince William Sound, huge glaciers spilling into the sea. Flew over Copper River, Cordova, Valdez, Portage Glacier and Whittier. We are traveling via RV to Whittier where we will take the ferry to Valdez with Minde, always fun to see it from the air. Landed in bright sunshine and warm temps. The Chugach mountains in town have no snow on them. We are reminded we have not been in Anchorage in July for a very long time. But the best thing about the trip was sleeping Dean in the backseat. Grandma Pat tried to wiggle him awake, even the slamming doors didn’t do it. He was out! Back home we got some face time in between feedings and a little temper. His little bright eyes peering into our faces trying to figure out who the heck we are. His eyes are very blue, but we’ll see. We went to our apartment in midtown. Small one bedroom with full kitchen. Very clean, on the second floor, via open stairway. It’s quiet here as we set back from the roadway. So tired, we have been up for 24 hours and a four hour time difference. Time for sleep. Night baby Dean, sleep tight, more fun tomorrow as we feed you, change diapers and other fascinating infant activities.