Saturday, September 22, 2001

Hello from Anchorage, Alaska!

Start time: 1030

Start odometer: 13771

Weather: Mostly cloudy day, temp at 46 degrees, temperature 46 F.

Highlights:

Drove back to the Flattop parking area, took a short trail to an observation area overlooking Anchorage. An incredible view, I was again amazed at the size of the city. The Alaskan Mountain range was visible beyond Cook Inlet providing a beautiful backdrop of snow capped peaks.
I visited a Russian store I saw the previous day and picked up some Russian tea and Hungarian sausage!
Stopped by the Anchorage Home and Garden Show. Typical show, with an area set aside where local craftspeople sold their wares
At the show, met Susan Brenner of the Alaska Job Center Network. Picked up some literature and web address for jobs in Alaska. Never know where I will end up!
Returned to the Anchorage Visitor Center to say good-bye to Mary Ann and Elliot, the people working there who helped me when I arrived.
Walked to the Alaska Experience Center which has two options for entertainment. First, they offer a fifteen minute production where you view a movie about the 1964 earthquake. As with similar earthquake displays I have seen in other cities, the seating area is moved by hydraulics to simulate an earthquake. I know what they had to offer was no comparison to four minutes of the 9.2 earthquake that hit this area. The second feature was in a movie theatre with a 180 degree screen presenting a movie about Alaska.
It was getting late in the day, and I planned on visiting a few places as I headed northwest out of Anchorage. Since I was not sure they would be open late, I decided to stay in Anchorage one more day. (I am enjoying myself here!) This also allowed me to do a few more things in town, which included taking a drive along the Port of Anchorage
I made a reservation for a show, and checked yet again into the Northern Lights Inn!
Called my friend Cheryl to let her know I found myself staying in Anchorage again. She has been watching the Help Wanted section of the paper for me, and found some interesting possibilities. Keep looking, and thanks again to Guy and you for entertaining me during my visit to Anchorage! It was great to see you two again.
Tonight I saw a performance of the "Whale Fat Follies" at the Fly by Night Lounge. It is a musical-comedy that pokes fun at Alaska, as well as other topics. It was the final show of the summer season, and I was very pleased to be able to see this very funny production. There was a band playing, and I met the drummer, David Fitzgerald, who has a sister from North Canton, Ohio, a town next to the city where I was born and raised.
Tomorrow I head out of Anchorage, and will take with me many nice memories.
Thanks for looking at the page!

Click on picture for larger image, hit back button to return to this page.

Anchorage from Flattop Mountain.

Another look towards Anchorage.

Downtown Anchorage, looking west.

Looking east along the same street.

Fourth Avenue in front of the Anchorage Visitor Center.

This is the east side of the Anchorage Visitor Center, where I met Mary Ann and Elliot. Thanks for your great assistance!

Mileage post

The west side of the visitor center. I liked the sod roof!

Catty-corner from the visitor center is the Alaska Public Lands Information Center. They had interesting displays, information, and movies about the state. I visited this place when I was in Anchorage in 1989.

Routes traveled today: Anchorage streets

Hotel: Northern Lights Inn -

This page accessed times.

Page created by: igorn@igorn.com

Pictures may be used with permission.