August 1, 2012

After re-uniting with Patti & Bob, we took a walk to down town Anchorage, from the Ship Creek RV Park where we are all camped … First stop was the Ulu Factory, then on down town for some souvenir shopping and dinner at Humpy’s … which serves GREAT food!  Somehow the kitchen lost our ticket … and our meal didn’t arrive … though several around us were being served … those who had come in later.  Our waitress stopped by to let us know that she was checking with the manager to see how we could be compensated, as something was definitely wrong … as she had noticed the same thing we had.  It was very busy … and since we had to wait so long … the manager picked up the food tab!  How’s that for Service?!! Patty had a blackened salmon burger, both the guys had hamburgers, and I had the halibut tacos … We all agreed that our meals were GREAT!  Thanks to my cousin, Tracey, and several others who mentioned that Humpy’s has good eats!

We gave Patty Schwalenburg a call … She lives in Anchorage, and it was a delight to be able to meet up with her and to meet her daughter and granddaughter for breakfast at The Peanut Farm, one of her favorite breakfast spots. 

Patty lost her husband, Wallie, almost a year and a half ago.  He was in the SEAL Teams with Tom, which is how we met Patty.  Wallie and Patty were on a dive trip in Mexico.  They came up from a dive … and were swimming back to the boat, talking about what they had seen when Wallie started saying he was having trouble breathing … and his chest felt tight.  Patty shared with us that they had talked about how they wanted to … and he had always said that if he ever got so crippled or just mentally gone (classic Wallie) to just strap a couple of tanks to his back and he would swim until his air was gone.  He went out doing what he loved … God Bless You, Wallie … may you rest in peace.  Patty is carrying on her work with the local villages … work that she and Wallie had done together.  It was great to see you, Patty, and we will look forward to seeing you in Virginia Beach next July … HOOYAH!

One thing that really surprised me in Anchorage was the gridlock of traffic!  To go 5 or 6 miles took more then 25 minutes!!!

We are back on the road … the four of us!  Yippee!  Patti is All Better … she must have passed the stone.  We are on the Glenn Highway headed for the junction of the Parks Highway toward Wasilla and on to Denali.

Texas has its bluebonnets … In Alaska its fireweed … and it’s totally edible!  Each day, as we drive the fireweed appears larger and brighter too … making for an even more beautiful drive through this vast land.