Alaska Day #3 - July 22nd, 2013

We got up early and took a taxi to the Alaska Railroad. It was almost 4 hours riding through some very pretty country. We saw several glaciers, waterfalls, and beautiful coastlines. The only wildlife we saw was a Bald Eagle. We got to wander all over the train, and we went to the rear car,  and stood on the back steps. The only problem is that I took a Bonine for travel sickness, and it knocked me out. I am still in a fog 12 hours later. After the train arrived in Seward, we took a shuttle to our Bed & Breakfast, and then went to lunch. We shared a table with a nice couple from Alabama. After lunch we went to the Sea Life Center. I actually don't remember much about it, because I had to keep finding places to sit and fall asleep in. Then we took the city shuttle and rode to the Safeway store and stalked up on groceries for the next 3 days. Now tonight we are going to cook dinner and just relax in out cute little house that we are staying in.

 Doug standing near an original steam engine!

 Cynthia waiting for the train!

 View from back of train!

 Dining Car!

 One of the mountain Glaciers!

 The front of our train as we rounded a corner!

 Wall mural(they have them all over town!

 Salmon at the aquarium!

 Our room at the B&B!

Kitchen etc.

Alaska Day # 2 - July 21st, 2013

It was nearly impossible to go to sleep last night. I tried, but it was so hard when the sun is still shining at 11pm. This picture was taken from our hotel window at 11:15 pm. When I woke up it was 4:30 and the sun was already up again!! It will take some getting used to.

Sunshine at 11:15 pm!

We just got back from a 1 hour bike ride around Knik Arm (one of the bodies of water by Cook Inlet in Anchorage) It was fun. If my knees hold out for the rest of the day, we might come back tonight for a sunset bike ride. Of course we both want to come home and buy some bikes for out on our trails!

We took the shuttle to the Native American Cultural Center. There are 11 different cultures represented here. We toured their huts, and watched some traditional dancing, and learned all about their history. It was vey interesting. While there we went on a short dog sled ride with the trainer's family that won the 2011 Iditarod. Then we walked to a downtown bazaar, and shopped and had an ice cream. They are having a heat wave here (it is in the mid 70's) Downtown has over 1100 hanging flower pots all over town. They water them each twice a day!!! We toured a gold/coin jewelry store and saw a nugget worth $17, 500.00. It was huge. We went to the Ulu factory where they make the famous Ulu knife. We have had a great time here in Anchorage, but are excited to take the train tomorrow to Seward and see the Glaciers!!

 Thatched roof on the Visitor Center!

 Flower Pot!

 Doug near Tiulana Lake!

Gray Whale Ribs!

 Sunglasses made form bone!

 Gray Whale!

 Unangax Village!

 Totem Pole!

 Train Depot!

Yummy Treats!

Doug wearing sunglasses!!

 Alaskan Huskies!

Alaska Vacation - Day #1 - July 20th, 2013

For 14 years we have been trying to get to Alaska, and we finally made it. (Thanks to Brad for the flights) We drove to Brad and Steph's Friday night and slept at their house. When we drove into Vegas, we were greeted by one of the most fierce thunder and lightning storms we have ever been in. Lots of hail and sheets of rain. We saw a few strikes hit the road near us. Stephanie drove us to the airport at 5 am. We flew on Alaska Airlines to Seattle, and then to Anchorage. We flew over Mount St. Helen's (and a couple other large mountains) Total flight time was almost 7 hours. After we checked into our hotel, we walked around downtown to see what there is nearby. We took a shuttle to the Alaksa Zoo. It was a very sad looking Zoo. It needs a lot of upkeep and care. There weren't many animals, and what was there were all sleeping. We came back to the hotel restaurant and ate a bowl of yummy chili. It is 8 pm at night and the sun is still high in the sky. Sunset tonight is after 11 pm. We were going to rent bikes and ride them on a path near the bay, but we are exhausted, and I doubt we can stay up that long. Too bad we are too tired to watch the sun setting on the ocean. It is a good thing we brought eye masks and have blackout curtains. The weather is sunny and 70 degrees. The flowers here are gorgeous!! We didn't take many pictures today!

At Airport! (sorry it is blurry)

Our Plane!

View from plane!

Mountain Range!

Mount St. Helen's

Visitor Center (I love all the flowers)

Big Horn Sheep!

Alpaca!

Mandi's 8th Birthday - July 9th, 2013

Mandi turned 8 today. She has such a smiley personality. She loves to play with dolls like Disney Princesses, etc. Her newest is " Monster High." Jessica made her a Monster High Birthday cake. It was so cute. They came here for cake and ice cream, and then they went to a movie, and came back and opened her presents. She is excited to be Baptized in a few weeks!

 Mandi & her #8 Doll!

 Monster High Cake!

 Opening her Stompeeze!

 Monster High Doll!

Present from Ali! (Monster High Doll!

Lilly & Grandpa!

July 4th, 2013

We took Izzy & Ali and went camping for 4 days to Duck Creek. It was one of the best camping trips we have had. We had so much fun. We fished and caught over 200 fish. (they were having a contest to see who caught the most) The girls were catching them as fast as they could throw their line in. People were coming up and asking us what we were doing different than them... We were in a different place each day, so I guess we just have the right touch. They got real good at taking the hooks out and throwing the fish back in. We also spent one day at Bryce Canyon. The sky was smoky from some forest fires the wind brought in, but it was still beautiful. We stopped in the little town and bought Dream Catchers, and goofed around for awhile. Back at camp, we hiked up the trail behind our trailer and found their "name" trees again. We went to Duck Creek Village for ice cream, and watched the parade. It was mostly 4 wheelers and jeeps, but the girls had fun getting lots of candy thrown at them. We got poured on one afternoon so we stayed in the trailer and played lots of fun games. The weather was 45 degrees cooler than when we left home. It was so refreshing. The girls and I went for walks each morning (well, they followed on their bikes) I would go camping every week if I could!!!!

 Sunset on Duck Creek!

 Bryce Canyon!

 4th of July!

Fishing at Aspen Mirror Lake! 

 Bryce Canyon!

 Ali!

 Doug & Izzy!

 Our Camp!

 Learning about trees!

 Izzy!

Ali!