Misc. and short

After leaving Talkeetna we traveled south past Wasilla with short stops at either Walmart or Target and headed back on the road past Anchorage to a small resort village of Girdwood.  Some of the driving got dramatic as we headed into the winds along Turnagin Bay but we made it to or destination.  We sat out in the parking lot there in town (a cheap parking lot, may I add) a second night waiting for the high wind warnings in the area to pass.  Our drive farther down and on into Seward may have been chilly and wet but had little wind.  The mountains and the snow fields along the way reminded my of pictures of Swiss Alps.  This state is so large and has some many different climates and vistas.  I am so glad that we do not have to hurry through it.

We went out on the Fiord Trip today but those pictures will have to wait until I am rested....these pictures are already cropped and ready so I will play catch up with these shots.

This is the parting shot of "The High One" as I headed south along the Park Highway. As others have mentioned, if the clouds allow you, the mountain can be seen for miles and miles away.....

While walking one of the dogs around the roads in Talkeetna, I found what stands for decorative lawn art in a town with multiple Air Flight vendors.....

First, for those of you who haven't been to Alaska, you need to understand that an ATV is the summer version of a snow moble up here. (Also, they are often hauled around in the back of the pickup...just in case you might need it I guess.)  Anyway, as dusty as these roads are I was just hoping that the buggy on the back was for hauling supplies not for hauling the twins....

Liz told me that these flower/weeds have a name and that they can cause your skin to break out if you touch them.  Me, I thought they looked like the Alaskan version of "Queen Anne's Lace" only much taller as these babies were over my head.  Those long summer hours of sunlight can do wonders in the garden.....

Driving through Wasilla and Anchorage, I kept reminding myself that these folks get to look up at these "hills" everyday....

Nan, Liz and I donned some rain gear and walked around the resort town of Girdwood.  I saw a lot of fancy condos and small chalets with For Sale signs.  I am thinking this is where the Anchorage folks with money come to ski (If they don't just go ahead and fly to Aspen...)

The picture below of for Mitch....in our spirit of finding Mexican Food most anywhere.  Here we found it at the Laundromall......so you know it has to be good.   Alas, none of us tried out that theory....  Just 'cause you are #1 Laundromall in America doesn't mean the food has to be good.

Another view from a pull out along the road to Seward.

Another pond farther along with an abundance of lilies.... 

And a pair of nesting swans.

We all sort of arrived in Seward at different times but managed to find empty parking spots right on the water.  Some how the fact that all the electric spots were gone just didn't seem to matter.....

Here is a picture of a gull chasing away an eagle that was sitting out on one of the pilings out in from of the campgrounds.

A nice reuse of an old church......

Out my front window......

And a little over to the left and in front of Nan's rig are were the eagles rest before fishing.