Lightning from above

Saturday, got given going away party. That night got a ride to Anchorage airport, where I slept. Yesterday morning, flew out. Flight from Salt Lake City was overbooked. Ended up in ATL, where I am now. Will catch shuttle to airport w/in hour, then will be soon in nooga.

On the way to ATL saw much lightning from above clouds. Image doesn't capture, but believe me, was something to see.

It's hotter here at midnight than it was at any time of day or night in AK.

Matanuska Peak

Went up Matanuska yesterday. Took about eight hours, including time spent picking blueberries. I took this picture from close to the top. That's Palmer in the distance.

Mamajo and Papaw

This is where I was when we were on the phone yesterday.

I flew the airplane!

But I wasn't flying when I took these.

I FLEW THE AIRPLANE!

I flew the airplane! I flew the airplane! I flew the airplane!

Had to confirm repeatedly that I had not taken ANY flying lessons. Don't worry, she tells me, she's a flight instructor.

I pulled back to take off. I went up. I went down. She told me to turn closer to the mountain. I turned closer to the mountain.

So busy flying I took few pictures. We were up for maybe twenty minutes, and it was "my airplane" for all but two or three, and of course I did not land the thing. What. A. Day!!!

Got to do all that for free because company is touring its plane around the country, offering free rides/drives to get people to buy. Plane is a Cirrus. Pull a lever in the cockpit, and a rocket fires from a hatch on top, launching a parachute. Plane has power, like 300 hp.

I flew the airplane!

Hatcher Pass

Eklutna erosion control

Eklutna

Very easy to get to this place, the tailrace. So lots of people fish here.

Hope, Alaska

view of my campspot in Hope. Hope is my favorite place in AK.

Hope, Alaska

a short walk from my campspot, fishing.

Hope

view from my campspot

Seward

Fishing in Seward. Some some pink salmon get caught by a kid. Nice guy gave me the um lure they use there. It's a big triple hook with a big lead weight in the middle. Should get a picture of the lure up soon. It looks like business.














Those are pink salmon. You can't fish there. Ask how I know.

the end is near

Now less than three weeks before I return to TN. Trying now to travel as much as possible. So, was in Whittier this morning. Drove through the train tunnel. May go to Seward tonight. From there, would like to go to Kodiak. Will have pictures soon.

They say it only gets colder here from now on, that summer is over. Here it is August, and I'm wearing sweaters. And coats. No mittens, though.

tournament more

See the white team. They cheered us very well.

Ultimate tournament in Anchorage

That was last weekend in Anchorage. Meredith got a Callahan. Not on that point, though. My team won.