Arizona Ice Cream Truck

As you probably know, the summer days in Arizona can get rather warm. I borrowed this photo from a friends Blogsite. Thanks, Sue.

Arizona, Our Winter Home

We will leave for our winter home in a few days. Our winter residence is in Casa Grande, Arizona, a great place to enjoy the warmer winter breezes. We are located at the Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort. Included is a Slide Show I entered in a Palm Creek Computer Club competition. I think it will give you a good idea of all there is to do. Sure going to be nice to leave the snow and ice behind!

You may purchase a video copy of "My Winter Home" for $10.00. Postage free in US.

DVD or CD?

DVD CD

To my friends, especially New Zealand!

Looks like you guys are trying to eradicate all evidence of your Beautiful Country. Don't do that, I hope to visit someday. I notice that some of you have been trying to add a comment. It seems difficult, even to me. Suggestion; use "anonymous" in comment profile.

Autumn in Fairbanks

This is what autumn looks like here in Fairbanks, the "Golden Heart City". I might have been a bit too early, but wanted to get these pictures before it snowed, or the leaves fell to the ground. We haven't had our first good hard freeze yet. The geese are leaving, was hoping to include them in one of the shots. No luck, listen carefully maybe you can hear them...

Blogspot Visitors

I began this Blog spot on July 17, 2009. In less than two months we have had a total of 437 hits or visitors. I have to admit, many of those hits were made by me, in effort to better understand the process of building this site. Regardless, it is encouraging to see this visual report which indicates where those visits originated (a mouse click on the map will give an even more detailed view). Thank you for visiting with us, I hope you will continue. It's been a lot of fun!

"A Bridge To Somewhere"

Sitka’s O’Connell Bridge, connects Baranof Island and Sitka, to Japonski Island. Dedicated in 1972, the 1225 foot long bridge is the first cable-stayed girder-span bridge built in the United States. The principal venue on Japonski Island is the "Sitka Rocky Guitierrez Airport". There is a single runway, 6,500 feet that juts off Japonski Island as a paved causeway of sorts. The airport features a single terminal with a jetway that serves the sole jet service provider, Alaska Airlines. Interestingly, safety hazards include boulders from the causeway washing onto the runway during storms, high winds because of its exposed location, and large flocks of birds that live very close to the airport. Also located on Japonski Island are the: University of Alaska Southeastern, Indian Health Service Hospital, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, the port facilities and air station for US Coast Guard, and last but not least a beautifully designed community of ocean front future home lots, ranging in price from $264K to $607K. We liked it so much, Lesley wants to buy, and probably will when she wins the Lottery.

The point I would like to make is recently a proposal was made and funds were awarded to build a similar bridge in Ketchikan, Alaska. The need and opportunity is almost identical. Both communities utilize a nearby island to locate their airport; both airports were assessable only by a ferry. Available Real Estate in Ketchikan, like Sitka, is sparse and prices are high. Hundreds and thousands of cruse ship passengers visit both communities weekly. A description of the areas beauty would be best phrased by a poet, but one thing I am sure of, it’s real. Access to the island would be a developers dream and a new generations promise. My point, I don’t want to ever again hear "a bridge to nowhere".

Last Trip of the Season !

We are leaving tomorrow on our last trip of the season. Leaving early as we need to arrive in Haines, Alaska, for the 9:00 AM sailing of the M/V Malaspina to Juneau, on Wednesday. We will overnight in Juneau, and depart for Sitka the next morning early, again traveling on the Alaska Marine Highway. Haines, Juneau and Sitka are located on the southeastern peninsula of Alaska. To get to Haines, will will leave Alaska and travel a short distance through the Yukon Territory of Canada. Southeastern Alaska contains some of the most beautiful panoramas found within the Alaskan Palette. Sitka rates fifth in the large city category, with only ten thousand inhabitants. Juneau, our Capital, is in third place with approximately thirty thousand people (assuming the Legislature is in session). Haines has less than two thousand year around residents, but still high on the list. We will conclude our two week vacation with a stop in Valdez before continuing home. Have a boat rental arranged and hope to get a few gigantic "Silvers" for the freezer!!

Including some websites for your reference:

Haines http://haines.ak.us/index.php
Juneau http://www.traveljuneau.com/
Sitka http://www.sitka.org/

Out of the Smoke !

We left Fairbanks on Friday morning, July 31st, heading south. The local forecast was for smoke and more smoke! Our first stop was in Denali National Park. The difference in air quality was all that we could hope for, Clear and Sunshine, it had rained the day before. Because I promised the possibility of providing a few pictures, take a look at that mountain. It was out in all its abundance. The picture above was taken at the Eielson Visitors Center, about 80 miles into the park. As for the Wildlife, I didn't go away with an empty camera, exactly!

Enjoy....

Tanana Valley State Fair

http://www.tananavalleyfair.org/

The Tanana Valley State Fair opened on Friday. Here's Marge Meyer, of Fairbanks, with her 43.03 pound cabbage entry. Her secret, "I sing and dance to it, but the sun has to be shining, too." Brad Olson won the contest with a 56.42 pounder. Marge's husband, Roy is the record holder with a 66 pounder in 2006. They did a lot of "singing and dancing" that summer!

The free "Old Timers Luncheon" is on Wednesday. Now that's an event Lesley and I are always ready to share in. Even get to sing and dance!

See You at the Fair....

Stocks in Low Places?

A Friend posted this on youtube. Thought it was cute, so desided to share... More to enjoy at www.alaskansongs.com