We lumbered on down the road at a steady pace, averaging a bit over 30 mpg in our Ford Fusion and started getting into more settlements as we got back closer to Anchorage. A bit after what would have been lunch time normally, we started getting that mid-day gnaw in our stomach and started looking for something to eat. Before we got to the actual "strip mall" that we knew was just ahead we encountered a commotion along the road. We were on the 4-lane road but there was a frontage road on our right that was the site of a 4th of July parade.
There were a half dozen it seemed fire trucks and we commented that that was sure a lot for such a small community. The parade was coming up a side road, crossing the 4 lane and then following parallel down the frontage road, then on toward the woods. There were flags waving, 4-wheelers whizzing here and there and a fairly strong rag-tag crowd of on-lookers. We did not stop and participate, but noted that it was an appropriately patriotic occasion.
There were McDonald's, Wendy's, Chili's and some other familiar places to eat and we were nearly in the mood for a fast food burger when there was a nice looking restaurant popped up along on the right side of the road, conveniernt to get in and out of so we whipped in and decided to have a more conventional lunch. It was much less expensive than it looked that it could be (nice cloth table setups and napkins, etc) and had a varied menu. We had a light but delicious lunch. We moved on being innocent to the fact that this was Wasilla and the notariety that it would get in just a few days!
Another hour or so down the road and we were back in the vicinity of Anchorage. We got to the "cheap suite" motel (Still about $200/night for a room) that we had settled on not far from the airport and checked on the availability of a freezer. Lo and behold they were proud owners of two large chest freezers and our fish cooler/box sat right down into one of them very nicely. One of the great things about the motel was that it was right next door to a McDonald's and Charles could get his most favored unsweet brewed tea. He was well pleased. We had two bedrooms, (Queen + 2 twin) in addition to the rather large living/tv room. Jeff got the single room as he had been proven to snore.
We went downtown Anchorage to explore and did a quick turn by the harbor/dock area where all the warehouses are. We wandered the downtown streets a little checking out the shops there. Everything has an Alaska and mostly cheap tourist gifts atmosphere, but there were some rather good and not so expensive shops/wares. Flowers were blooming everywhere that there was space. The whole downtown area of Anchorage was wiped out in the 9.0 earthquake in the early 1970's. There were pictures of what the street we were on looked like then and there was no resemblance. Whole buildings were just turned topsey turvey or shaken apart entirely.
We bought a few souvineers to take home and went back to the motel to rest after a while. Later in the evening, we went exploring for an evening snack/meal and found a "rugged" little restaurant down the street with an interesting menu and it was open late (not that you can really tell when late is in AK).. It was set up to look somewhat like the inside of a mine shack or something. It had a separate rather large bar. The theme attempt was there but it just escaped me. It was a somewhat satisfying meal, but not the best one I've had.
On July 5, a Saturday, we had our last day to explore Anchorage a bit more and got up and moving rather slowly and late (like 8-9 O'clock. We recovered our fish from the freezer and put them in the trunk with our luggage and checked out. We had seen information on a few events that were going on, but most were not very alluring. We ended up going to the Alaska State Museum which basically starts out with the Russians and the living conditions, cultures, habits and circumstances through modern days. The various types of transport, housing etc were on display and even pieces of the Alaska pipeline.. It was a good museum but not an exciting museum. Everything made you feel like it would be difficult and uncomfortable to endure a cold winter there. We then went down to an area near the harbor/downtown (2nd street?) and spent an hour or two looking at an outdoor flea market. Most of the stuff was new or crafted newly (new and old as a bunch of stuff was made from mastadon bones and tusks.
Since we had to turn in the rental car buy 3 PM or pay another (nearly $100) day's rental, we left and got back to the "Ted Stevens" airport just in time. Our tank was supposed to be half full when we returned it and it was just a half needle short. I was fearful they would charge us the make up but they apparently did not fighre it was off enough to be a problem. I raised a question about how we could be charged 8 days of rental when we only had it for 7 clock days and she said that was the way it was done, then changed her mind and took off one day's rental. It is still expensive at best.
I dropped Charles and Jeff off at Terminal 1 so they could get their luggage in before I dropped off the car. We had decided that with numbers of bags (I had one) and flight routes and schedules that I would be the best bet to take to the fish. I took my bag and box of fish (54 lb) into Terminal 2 where the American gate is. We all had at lest 3 hours to wait before the flights. Mine, being American's single flight per day, was over 4 hours wait. However, about 2.5 hours before flight time some people showed up and started checking in luggage and issuing boarding passes. I was not sure what I would have to pay to get the box of fish checked and had thought it would be up to $100 based on the signage. However, when I checked in, she commented on the fish, but passed it on through with no request for funds at all and I did not ask any questions. I think because I got my ticket very early before the new charges were added that I was covered by the pre-charge rules.
Then I went back over to Terminal 1 where Jeff and Charles were still waiting also and spent a few more minutes there. When it got closer to flight time, I went back to American, through security and to the gate, thinking that I would be able to buy a sandwich but the only thing to buy was from vending machines and their refrigeration was not working and everything that was supposed to be cold was either sold out or hot. No one had made any provision for ice buckets or anything, so I bought a bunch of "Nabs" and candy and stashed it in my bag and prepared for a long night. When we finally boarded, the flight was long (6.5 hours) to Dallas, but not unpleasant. When I arrived in Dallas at day break I got a fairly good breakfast and went to my gate for another hour or so wait before the flight to Raleigh boarded. That too was uneventful and I got to RDU around 11 AM on Sunday morning and Joan picked me up. It was a great relief to see that boz of fish come around the bend and know that it had arrived. When we unpacked it, there was not a sign of thawing - and that was without any ice or dry ice.
Jeff got in a little later (2-3 PM) as his flight on Continental through Houston had gotten in late enough that he missed the connection and was on the next flight. Charles came through Charlotte and had to drive back to Apex and got in to town about the same time that Jeff did.
It was a wonderful trip, but good to be back in NC. A good was enjoyed by all!
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