Another Busy Weekend

This past weekend kept us pretty busy. We really are enjoying our life here in Alaska. There is always someplace to go and something new to see.

I spent most of Friday with a good friend of mine I haven't seen in a month. I was gone for 2 weeks and as soon as I came home, she left for two weeks. Tandy has two kids, Dawson is almost 2 and Jocelyn is 5 months. Lilly is starting to play and had fun with Dawson. I think though as they get older, she and Jocelyn will be good friends. It makes me happy to know that she will have some friends here.

Mike had heard about a flower festival in the park and new I'd like to go so off we went Saturday morning, after we stopped for coffee and bagels at some new-to-us places. It was a bit chillier than I thought so we had to stop at Penny's and get Lilly a sweater. I think I've learned to always carry layers here in Alaska. I'm surprised at how chilly it can be if the sun isn't out. (It's so cold today that I have a fire going) We wandered around for a bit and looked at what people were selling in the booths. Then we went to the weekly Farmer's Market, also in Anchorage. Nothing too exciting after that, off to the commissary for groceries. Blech!

Isn't this lovely? I have been listening to the Ann of Green Gables series and this reminds me of how she describes Green Gables in the spring with the cherry blossoms. 

The park isn't very big and there were more booths and flowers and planters for sale. I took this specifically for the colors. I would never think to put yellow with the fuscia. It's quite striking I think. 

Sunday proved to be the most interesting of the three days. After church we decided to drive up Hatcher's Pass and possibly go for a hike. We had heard that the drive is beautiful but hadn't done it yet. At the top there is an old mine, an adventure for another day. The weather was lovely and after getting part way to the top  we went back to the Mint Glacier trailhead. This particular trail is a 18 mile round trip easy-moderate hike to the Mint Glacier. We also read that further up past the glacier is the site of a B-29 crash. Supposedly you can hike all the way to the crash, spend the night, and hike out in the morning. We are talking that one over. We didn't make it to the glacier, we didn't have time nor are either one of us in good enough shape for an 18 mile hike, we were both pretty wiped out from the 6 1/2 we did complete. It was a lovely day, the sun kept us warm while the breeze kept us from getting too hot. Lilly did great and Hamilton and the best time of all I think. He got to sniff all sorts of things and of course lots of other dogs on the trail. 

The first 1-2 miles of the trail are not difficult and we think that anyone that comes to visit us should do at least the first mile. 

There were lots of these little waterfalls all along the trail. Hamilton frequented them to cool off. 

This is looking up the Little Susitna river towards the glacier.

Down River