The Westward Game

natural beauty

Well, I am finally back in Ohio, where I have access to my computer and thus have the ability to update you all on my cross country journey.  One trip at a time I shall share with you all that I learned, some funny experiences, and of course provide you with the ability to track where I traveled.  So to start it all off, I will take you to the wonderful land of Alaska.

Glacier in the distance

Together at last!

Kara the berry expert found red
raspberries on the way to the top

  First I need you to close your eyes and picture landing in Anchorage at sunset.  The sky is radiant but only on the horizon, the rest is simply a lavender, gray, blue color.  There is water and mountains out all the windows.  Simply breath taking.  I can honestly say that I have never experienced a cabin full of people who clapped when the flight crew announced their "welcome to Anchorage."  Perhaps the only time I have heard clapping on a landing is if the pilot did a really good job despite bad weather, but no, these people were simply glad to be in Alaska!  (oh yes, just a heads up, this portion will be primarily me sharing the pictures of unbelievable views with all of you.)  I too was excited to be in Alaska, because my dear friend Kara was waiting for me outside of baggage claim!  That evening we drove to her home in Wasilla and I got to try her sweet potato date muffins which were delicious...which reminds me, I should get that recipe (or perhaps she will share with all).  The following day, I got to see a bit of life just outside of Anchorage.  We went to Palmer (a town started as a farming community).  We saw the tiny downtown, I got to see where Kara worked, we went to a u-pick farm, and even climbed the butte (which Kara doesn't really like, but she did it just for me.)  All this action in my first full day of visiting Alaska.  More to come in the next post, because I was in this beautiful state for a whole week.  (By the way, I got to read the childhood classic The Westing Game.  It always feels good to re-read some of those favorites!)
  Oh yes, here is the funny story of the day.  So Kara and I were harvesting vegetables from the fields.  We picked what we thought would be just the right amount. We got broccoli, cauliflower, peas, and kale.  When we got to the register to pay for our bounty, we had to wait in a line.  Do to the extra time we started reading the rules....one of which stated that cauliflower and broccoli had to be at least a foot in diameter in order to pick.....well ours were a bit on the small side.  Oops, no wonder the few heads we found were still in the field.  They were still very delicious, but I learned that day to read the rules before picking.

"Strike and Alaskan pose"

Kara broke my camera (just kidding)

At the top of the butte