From the Diary of H.H. Uible [lightly edited by Catherine, publishing this Alaska trip separately but daily entries will also be included in each day's blog.]
Friday July 19 - [New Vienna to Anchorage Alaska] Up at 2:45, slept poorly, turned out I had turned the alarm off. On the plane at 6am via Atlanta and Seattle, arrived at 2pm. Had Dollar Rental Car for $155/week. Staying at a B&B on O Street, $55/night. Supper at Cyrano's [Bookstore].
Saturday July 20 - [Anchorage Alaska] To the visitor center, walked around downtown. Lunch at Simon and Seafort's, mix up on ½ portion of red and white salmon. Drove out to UofA [University of Alaska Anchorage], Earthquake Park [site of 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America, 9.2 magnitude], seaplane area. Supper at Carr's [grocery], still light at 11pm.
Sunday July 21 - [Anchorage Alaska] Went to the UMC at 9th and G Sts., all attending were visitors at that service. Went to Ted West's home. He went there 20 years ago through the Boy Scouts. Buffet at O'Malley's on the Green. Then Potter Marsh [scenic wildlife refuge] and Anchorage Museum.
Monday July 22 - [Anchorage to Soldotna Alaska] Left Anchorage, saw some very large snow blowers. On to Columbia Glacier, beautiful visitor building. Lunch at Summit Lake Lodge [in Moose Pass]. Now two nights in Soldotna, supper at Four Seasons back in the woods. Got fruit at nice stand, gal had just graduated from Kent State. Discovered we had leak in tire. Solid line of fisherman lining the river banks.
Tuesday July 23 - [Soldotna to Homer Alaska] En route to Homer visited Russian church. Berry place there, got two pictures at an art studio, then Chows [in Homer] for lunch. Went to Ice Circle Fish Place and ordered fish to be sent via Federal Express. Supper at the Bakery, split dessert four ways. Saw them unloading fish from a large boat and the assembly line on cleaning the fish. The fisherman really line the shores and they all pull in the big ones. Fellow at gas station told us twice where to get self service gas.
Wednesday July 24 - [Homer to Valdez Alaska] Visited Kenai Princess Lodge in Cooper Landing, then got in line for RR trip from Portage to Whittier. Drove up a ramp onto rail car where we sit, two long tunnels, we had picnic lunch in car. Whittier has one 14 story building. Ferry left at 3pm and we arrived in Valdez at 10pm. [Oil spill was in March, 1989] Great view of Columbia Glacier, some ice floating around. [We were] on M.S. Bartlett, 236 people, had supper in boat restaurant. Car cost was $70, and for the four of us $224.
Thursday July 25 - [Valdez Alaska] Beautiful B&B, phone and TV in room, jacuzzi in the bathroom, also "night shades". Great breakfast of juice, cereal, heavy sweet roll, fresh fruit and a big choice of beverages. GG had message to call. Don made reservations for oil line terminal tour. Went to look for boat that Ted West works on, a large number of boats, and all the nets. Visited fish processing plant. Asked fellow at gas station twice about where a self service station was. Had lunch at Pizza Parlor.
Friday July 26 - [Valdez to Fairbanks Alaska] Left Valdez, beautiful drive through canyon, a little rough road from permafrost heaves. Had lunch near Mile 190, finally a picnic table, many fish spawning. Had reservations at Klondike Inn, much to be desired. Through a lot of calls stayed with Jan and David Underhill, 1331 Pedro (six children) and a long story about their church. Had supper at the ice cream place on College Rd, what a line.
Saturday July 27 - [Fairbanks Alaska] Breakfast at the bakery, then to visitor center, walked around downtown, then took ride on the boat Discovery III ($29.50 each). Made a stop at Indian Village. Mary Shields had demo on dog sled routes, etc. In PM went to Alaskaland [now called Pioneer Park], ate at a Greek Restaurant and then went ⃞ dancing, $10/couple.
Sunday July 28 - [Fairbanks Alaska] Breakfast at 8:45: cantaloupe, watermelon, kiwi, etc., fish, ham, fried potatoes, breads and beverages. Mrs. Underhill went with us to the Friends Meeting, one hour of silence. Then the UofA Museum, the agricultural experiment station which had broccoli larger than my hand. Salmon bake for supper – ribs, halibut, and salmon, all you wanted for $15.95 and we had a $2 off coupon. Went to Copper Creek Resort and saw pictures of the Aurora Borealis.
Monday July 29 - [Fairbanks to Denali National Park Alaska] Got away at 10, Jan [Underhill in whose house they were staying] is quite a talker. Back downtown, Jean bought shirt at FWW [Woolworth's], they had postcards 8/$. To Pump House for lunch, sat on veranda near the water. Then to musk oil farm. Great road rise going south. Nice gift shop near Mile 80. Got to Denali about 8pm, room 408 at the Crow's Nest, great view, small but nice room. Ice cream at the Park Hotel, $1.75.
Tuesday July 30 - [Denali National Park Alaska] Had breakfast at McKinley Chalet; got glass bolo tie. Ice cream at Lynd Creek Pizza, 1 dip $2, two dips $2.75. Bought video of "Iditarod Race," I talked with producer. Had tickets for shuttle ride into the park at 1pm, 66 miles to the Eielson Visitor Center. Buses every 20 minutes, saw caribou, grizzly bear and two cubs, fox, marlots, a lot of sheep and many glaciated areas. As usual Mt. McKinley was clouded over. [The name of the park was changed from McKinley National Park to Denali N.P. and Preserve in 1980, but despite local opposition the mountain has maintained the name Mt. McKinley.]
Wednesday July 31 - [Denali National Park Alaska] We drove around on our own, had breakfast at the Premium place, made reservations to go to the Cabin Night program, like a salmon bake but served with entertainment, $22 each.
Thursday August 1 - [Denali National Park to Anchorage Alaska] Left the Crow's Nest and Don and Jean took the 50 minute helicopter ride. Breakfast at McKinley Cabins about 14 miles south, had a big bowl of hot cereal. Jean got bag at Wasilla Library, we went to Carr's and got some fruit in the PM, also the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla. Visited Eklutna Historical Park which included a Russian Church. Went to the Loussac Library [in Anchorage], they closed at 4. Ended up eating at Phyllis's [Cafe and Salmon Bake] as other places had a 45 minute wait.
Friday August 2 - [Anchorage Alaska to home] Left Anchorage at 2am via Delta with a change in Seattle and arrived in Cincinnati at 2pm, 8 hours later.
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