Up with the sun (it never really set) around 6AM. Cabin cute and well appointed but bed not great and the light shone through the windows all night. The hot water tank is only 12 gallons, so used nearby bathhouse for unlimited hot water. Beautiful facility all around, very clean, family business since 1970’s. Rained late evening but sunny today around 50 degrees; need more rain. Breakfast at Fast Eddies, still good. Road south to Anchorage is a lot of heaves, etc. This area suffered a 7.9 earthquake a few years ago, besides permafrost, it does damage. Drainage area with numerous rivers and bog; fed by snow melt and numerous glaciers. All of a sudden Mt. Sanford, dormant volcano comes into view, 16k+, glacier covered, sky clear which can be rare for views. These high mountains make their own weather. See the chain of big mountains in the Wrangell Range; Mt Wrangell is an active volcano.
Leave Tok
cutoff Road onto Glenn Highway, starting in Glenallen village. Climb into Eureka Summit nearly above tree
line. Caribou country, no sightings. Entering the Chugach Range with major Tazlina
and Matanuska and other glaciers. Chugach
Range is what borders Anchorage. It is a
tight valley and some of the road is narrow, no guard rails and huge steep drop-offs. Stop Matanuska Glacier photo op. Follow Matanuska River onto the Parks Highway,
pass the State Fair Grounds. Knik
Glacier River joins the Matanuska at this point and empties into the Knik Arm
that surrounds Anchorage.
Arrive Anchorage
around 2PM (6 hours driving time) in heat and sun. Big fines for any outside fires due to
alert. We drive to Wal Mart for some moving
supplies and then drive to the apartment and were surprised by our moving
committee, the Powell’s, Brenna and our friend Andrew (18-year-old). Such a relief to unload the car for three
flights up. We oldsters really given
Andrew a workout, it is very hot; Andrew earns some cash. Powell’s drop ribs and mac salad for our welcome
dinner at Brenna’s. The roof rack took a
lot of punishment. There is a little damage
to the cross bars but held tight. At Brenna
and Zach’s, we meet up with the kids. So
much excitement in our meeting and Huck the dog is part of the greeting! Dean’s two top teeth are missing, he looks
like jaunty pirate. Quinn quickly warms
up. After dinner, Gramma and Papa are tired and drive to the Marriott for a couple
days of R and R, sleeping in. Working at
the apartment for a couple days to unpack all the mailed packages and car contents,
put together the beds. The apartment is
large, with big living room, kitchen/dining room, bathroom and two
bedrooms. Lots of closet, cabinets and
storage. We just need a couple chairs
for the LR and we will have all the basics.
With 20 hours of daylight and Cheryl’s R2D2 lanterns we have light until
we need lamps.
Tomorrow,
stock the apartment, laundry and set up beds.
Family Dean BD dinner Wednesday
and kid party on Thursday. Lots more
excitement and lots of love coming from the Greats, Aunts Kathy and Margie and
Uncle Brian and Uncle Seth.
Tired but
loving not having to get up at 6AM after the last 10 days. Fingers crossed, cooler temps.
Safe travels
and gratitude for it and kindnesses all along the way.
Nighty, night.
Total Miles Driven for Complete trip: 4458
