Ambling with Annie: WE'RE BACK!

Sorry for the long absence, but we've been internet free for awhile. We picked up our son Michael & grandson Finnegan at the Anchorage airport on June 26 and spent 10 fun days with them. Randy & Michael went on a halibut charter fishing trip out of Seward one day while Finn and I visited the Alaska Sealife Center, walked around town, and then met the guys at the harbor and watched the fish being cleaned. It didn't take too long as they had a less than spectacular day fishing (but had fun!). Finn celebrated his 6th birthday on 6/29 with a trip to Whittier through a 2.5 mile tunnel, lunch at the pier, and back to Seward for birthday cake & candles.

On a beautiful day with great weather we took a 5 hour wildlife tour boat ride in the Resurrection Bay where we saw whales, porpoises, puffins, Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and various other birds and glaciers. On the boat we enjoyed a salmon & prime rib buffet. When we got back to the camper, we grilled fresh fish for dinner.

There are many mountains around Seward, and one is Mount Marathon. On the 4th of July every year, they have a race where people run to the top and back down again. I think the record time is 44 minutes. Michael saw that mountain and had to climb it, so he did on Sunday. It took longer than 44 minutes, but he wasn't racing & had fun.

After our Seward tour, we went to Soldotna for a day, then to Talkeetna where we had reservations for a few days. Talkeetna is the cutest little town, very touristy, with lots of old buildings used for shops and restaurants. We attended the 4th of July parade (down the street to the end, turned around and came back again). There weren't any bands, but there was a guy dressed in patriotic colors playing The Star Spangled Banner on his electric guitar in the middle of the street to start the parade. Our campground was in walking distance of everything there was to see/do so we got to be vehicle-free for a few days. On Thursday, we took the train from Talkeetna to Hurricane, a whistle-stop train where people can get on/off when they choose (hikers, cabin owners, rafters, etc.). It was about 6 1/2 hours and Finn said it was his favorite part of the trip.

On Friday we drove back to the airport & dropped off our traveling companions. :-( This Grandma always hates when her people leave. Since then, we went to Palmer for vehicle maintenance, Denali State Park, Denali National Park (better views of Mt. Denali from Talkeetna), Fairbanks (Pioneer Park, antique car museum, University of Alaska museum), and drove the 130 mile Denali Highway (mostly dirt & gravel but some of the best views we've seen). We're back in Soldotna searching for the elusive red salmon, and it looks like we'll be here for a few days at least.

(I have some great pictures on my phone from the week the boys were here, but for some reason they won't download. Another thing to try & figure out!)