Day 33 - Anchorage, Alaska

Marlene and Nelson Cahill Rig#15                                         July 11, 2010

Our day, in Anchorage, began with cool temperatures and cloudy skies. An optional trip to the Anchorage Market And Festival was suggested by our Wagon Master and many of us went downtown to examine the crafts and sample the various foods. Items offered ranged from Ulu knives (pronounced “oo-loo”) and jewelry to craft items and leather goods. Food items included reindeer and buffalo meats to giant cookies and corn – on the cob or from a kettle.

Nelson and I purchased an original, hand-signed, spray-paint whale picture, created while we waited, by artist, Chaz, for only $10. The spray paints he uses for his art are obtained from the Anchorage land fill. When cans are disposed of and still have paint in them, the cans are removed from the dump and offered for free to anyone who will agree to use and dispose of them in an “Earth friendly” manner. More of Chaz’ art can be seen at http://www.billikenstudios.com/.

In the later afternoon, we gathered and boarded our elegant bus for a downtown tour in which we saw many significant buildings and learned much Anchorage history. We saw the area where the earthquake on Good Friday in 1964 occurred and the measures that have been taken to help ensure that buildings and areas will be better protected in the future from such disasters.

We spent time at the Ulu Factory and some of our group walked over to the river to see salmon spawning.

We visited Lake Hood Float Plane Base, the busiest float planes base in the world. We watched and photographed two planes landing before we had to return to our bus and continue our tour.

 Our next stop was Wild Berry Farm where we watched a magnificent movie about Alaska and had a wonderful buffet dinner.

After dinner, we stepped outside to meet an eagle and his handler. The eagle, injured at age five, had been with his handler for four years. Due to his injuries, he had part of his right wing removed and was no longer able to fend for himself in the wild. He is now used for educational purposes.

We then went over to the reindeer pen to meet and feed three reindeer before heading to the gift shop to do some shopping and view the world’s largest chocolate fountain. The sign by the fountain requested that we not sample the chocolate there. In the adjacent candy store, samples of chocolate could be obtained. Our day in Anchorage was both full and memorable.