Southward migration

Thursday, August 28, 2008
Woke up around 9:45 hungry. Meandered downstairs and to the lobby to take advantage of the continental breakfast, and to write down the notes for our time in Skagway. Somewhat later, mom came down to join, and we wandered outside to finish off our coffees.

There were a couple local Tok(ians?) / Tok-folk around drinking coffee as well, so I started chatting with them about stuff. Again, I got the story of a wet rainy summer. Also, about the fires from long ago, that nearly took the town. and how --even though there was 24 hrs of daylight-- the crews only fought the fire on a somewhat 9-5 schedule. I also got the back story for the lady who was working the hotel; up from a small town in WA. Semiretired. Lovin' Tok. While we talked a couple little planes zoomed overhead, each wearing those really large tundra tires that make them look like toys.

We finally left the hotel about an hour after checkout time, and started off for Seward. When we had arrived last night, it was with the idea that we'd march off to FBX and be done. However, lying in bed before breakfast, I started to recall the days ahead. We still had 4 days before the weekend was over and I was due to start school. Once I start up again, I really won't be able to do any lengthy trips, so... the plan changed.

The Morning's working plan is to drive to Seward, spend a couple days poking around there, and then drive back home. (Ignoring Denali in the process 'cause Mom can get there whenever she wants, while she's in FBX. En route to Seward, we'll check out the bore tide (if favorable), maybe see Beluga whales, check out the museum, go on a wildlife float, and hike to Exit Glacier.

We didn't hit the road until noon. We drove down the Tok Cutoff, with the vegetation around us going absolutely nuts with fall colors. The weather was pretty rainy, with just enough patches of sunlight to really make mountains "pop" here & there. We dropped in briefly at the visitor center in Slana, where mom learned that porcupines climb trees, but not well. Most have taken a fall or two, breaking stuff in the process. :(
Lunch was at the Caribou in Glenallen (good fries). We then proceeded down the Glenn with many a backwards glance toward the Wrangell mountains--which never appeared owing to the low cloud deck. More gorgeous scenery, and a couple glaciers escorted us to Palmer, where we picked up the Anchorage newspaper. Headline? "Lovelorn musk ox gores prized sled dog". Ah, Alaska.

Then, Anchorage. The sunset and rain made for some spectacular rainbows along the way.

Once in Anchorage, we met up with Katie, who works there in the Imaginarium, a cool hands-on museum. We ate and drank and caught up over pizza at the Moose's tooth. I pawned off my broken chainsaw to Katie, who would get it fixed in town, while mom plied her with some of her home-made jewelry.

Once dinner was over, we headed over to Visit / stay with Chloe, who is finishing up an internship in AK. She put us up for the night, and let me in on the speech that Obama had just given. Damn, It's good to see my buddies again.

SO... Tomorrow, we head towards Seward after making a stop to get rain gear.