August in Anchorage

This has been the best weather in August in the 5 years that we lived here - I usually tell people not to come in August - it's cool and drizzly - but this month has been glorious for the most part. And we had good friends visit from upstate New York - Barb & Fred - as they prepared to go out on a cruise. Always good to see old friends, and I've known Barb & Fred for more than twenty years -- it made me miss them and all of my old friends!

We loved coming back to the hiking in Alaska - Baldy Mountain soon after our return and picking blueberries - Near Point and more blueberries.  Raspberries first at Lance and Mary's for eating off the bush, and then picking at Diane and Carl's - getting enough to put some in the freezer there too!

We tried for an overnight on Kakwick to go out on Prince William Sound, but a very bad accident blocked the Seward Highway, and we went hiking in Girdwood instead - a very hot one, as it turned out, up the "road" to the top of Alyeska.  

We did go out for a day on the boat the next day and got our last shrimp - and pulled the pots for the year.  I think we have enough in the freezer to last til next April, but boy, oh boy, those shrimp are good!

I bought reds for the freezer as Brian didn't go dip-netting again this year - and no silvers in the freezer yet either.  We were waiting for a confirmation on a halibut charter for this weekend that didn't come, so we hiked from Whittier up to Portage Pass and then down to the lake - lots of glacier ice chunks in the water and close to shore.

Portage Glacier & Portage Lake 

Brian with Glacier Ice 

Today was live music on the lawn of the museum and a couple of exhibits that I wanted to see inside - Arctic Ice especially before it leaves.  President Obama is coming to Anchorage tomorrow, and the whole city is gearing up!  Back to work tomorrow - it's been an intense few weeks as the semester gears up!