Landing in Anchorage at 9:45 p.m. we found that it really is The Land of the Midnight Sun...
It was bright enough to need sunglasses!
We were all so tired, and made it to a hotel just a few minutes from the airport for a quick and short night of sleep before heading up to Fairbanks yesterday.
We drove the Park Highway 3 from Anchorage to Fairbanks--about 350 miles and 6 hours. We watched for animals out the window, but this is the most moose we saw:
The scenery was amazing--deciduous forests, pine forests, huge mountains. We drove past the entrance to Denali and I hope we'll make it to the visitor's center on the way back to Anchorage next week.
Here's a bit of the scenery we say--taken out the window as we sped along:
We made it to Knoll House by mid-afternoon, got unpacked, and went looking for a grocery store. Toben made chicken spaghetti while the girls and I worked on our trip journals and the house smelled delicious by the time Wade, Kristen, and their kids arrived about 6:30 p.m.
We bathed the kids, tacked some towels and blankets over the windows to make it dark as possible, and slept great.
This morning, we're headed out to the camp along the Chena Hot Springs Road where the rest of the family is staying and my cousin Allison's wedding will be held on Saturday. We'll stop by Walmart on the way for some heavy duty bug spray and a few random supplies. More later...
When I was in high school, we lived about two miles from that airport! It's definitely a beautiful place - I really want to take my hubby there sometime and show him how gorgeous it is!
Posted by: Jeni | June 19, 2008 at 11:07 AM
AMEN to the bug spray...yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes LORD! Have a wonderful time...take lots of family group photos! :) Hope you get to see some wildlife on the way back!!! (Guess they are all confused on day/night and just happened to be napping during your 6 hours! Rats!)
Posted by: Heidi | June 19, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Wow this trip seems to have had a pretty good start! Have fun!
PS: Audrey's left-handed? That's so cool!
Posted by: Puva | June 19, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Super fun and BEAUTIFUL.
I know Alaska is NOT the boonies, especially Anchorage, but still it cracked me up to think of someone going to Wal-mart in Alaska.
Posted by: Jessica | June 19, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Puva beat me to my comment! Audrey's left-handed? That's so cool! Me too! Me too, Audrey! :)
Posted by: Marla Taviano | June 19, 2008 at 08:32 PM
So glad y'all made it safely. You have been on my mind these few days. Thank you for my encouragement note--do you know? It came at just the right time. God is good! Enjoy every little thing! Love you! holly
Posted by: Holly Smith | June 19, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Beautiful... I'll enjoy traveling to Alaska through your eyes. I've never been there, but maybe someday...
Posted by: Angela | June 20, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Sigh~ I miss Alaska SO MUCH! Your pic out the plane window as you landed at the Anchorage airport just about made me cry. I really, really, really miss Alaska. Keep the pics coming ~ looks like you're having a wonderful time. And don't worry about the sunlight ~ after a couple of nights you'll get used to it. Praying for you and your family!
Blessings,
Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 21, 2008 at 07:49 PM