Anchorage, Alaska

Getting to Anchorage included two delays, one for traffic.  Held up about 10 minutes going 5-10 mph just trying to make a turn onto another highway and the second was for a medical emergency.  Watched the helicopter come in with their basket down and then leave with basket up.  The parking lot rimmed in yellow tape and police standing guard.  Nearby saw young guys rock climbing right along the highway so wonder if someone fell further back in the mountain??  Sad, hate to see anyone hurt.  

 The cars pulled over on the side of the road in this picture were not part of the "incident", they are getting water out of a spring that comes off the hillside right there.  We saw this several times.  You can tell it is the locals as they have five gallon containers to collect their water.. 

Love fireweed..  the tour guide said that it flowers from the bottom up and when it is completely to the top like this picture, then it does like the dandelion with the puffy stuff and then winter is here ! !  About six weeks from this stage! ! 

We had a tour of Anchorage and lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.  Very interesting. We haven't seen much wildlife in the past several travel days BUT on the outskirts of Anchorage, we see a moose munching grass along the road.  The city puts up very strong, chain link fencing all along the highways to keep moose away from the traffic.  They are so big that the damage is horrible if you hit them. Our guide said that when a moose is killed on the roads, the next person who signed up is called and given the free meat.  They don't let any go to waste.  If they don't locate someone fast enough then the meat is given to food banks or shelters.  Never see roadkill here on the highways. 

 Funny, they use lots of stuffed animals for decoration in Anchorage and I am not talking taxidermy either ! ! !

Another interesting thing we learned is that Anchorage has the fourth largest tide change of any port in the world.  It can be 30 feet, twice a day.  Amazing again ! !