1st Day

August 14, 2010

At 3:30 AM, my journey to my dream place began. With Mom and Amy, I started from Ridgecrest, CA headed to LAX airport about two hours. On the way, I sat in the back listening to my traveling buddies and joining in the conversation every so often. Looking out my window, Orion was shining brilliantyl in the black desert sky. I dozed for the rest of the ride worried that we were running late. Arriving a little before 6 AM, I had plenty of time. Once there, Mom and Amy halped me check my bag (since I had checked in online- very convenient!). We prayed together and said good-byes. I headed toward security to wait for my 7:45 flight.

Sitting in seat 16A, I had the window. It is an amazing feeling to look down to a lake of smooth white clouds with occasional mounds rising from the otherwise flat clouds! I slept for most of the flight. I arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah with time to spare  before my connection. Boarding my connection, I sat in seat 33C on the row above a wing (Not ideal, but who's complaining). Happily, I found that we each had our own tv with complimentary in flight movies. After my first movie, I read, but kept dozing off. So I tried to sleep, I was so tired. (Hadn't really slept the night before, too excited) However, sleeping on the aisle seat is no easy task when your head rolls around as soon as you fall asleep. So I had to try to entertain myself since I didn't think the lady next to me would have liked me putting my head on her shoulder to get some Zzz's! I started another movie and got there before I finished.

The Anchorage airport is unique and beautifully done. I text my Aunt Pam that I had arrived. I looked out the long window to majestic mountains and low hanging clouds(thinking now that is why I wanted to come to Alaska). Reading a text from Pam that read: We r n ALASKA!!, I looked up to see her waving at me! We hugged happily and began to catch up. Then we got my bag and went to our rental car. (Which we have yet to figure out what it is!) It is like a PT Cruiser and Box Car cross. Deciding to start in on our adventure, we went to the Anchorage Museum. Beautiful paintings by Sydney Laurence and awesome visuals for varying things. It was full of information about Alaska's history so we picked three things to remember. (Keep it simple and realistic!) The clothing on display was amazing and so different and ornate.

Hungry from our travels and hard work at the museum, we decided to go the Lucky Wishbone recommended in Aunt Pam's Alaska book. It was a lovely little diner that the locals visit. Hamburger for my Aunt and fish sandwich for me, we shared fries and had yummy hot fudge malts! Now that is fun!

We drove to Elmendorf Air Force Base to get our condo. First, we drove around the base to check it out. Then we were ready to check in, but could not find our acommadations. Finally we spotted the tiny sign. After checking in, we went to the rather nice place and got settled. Too tired to do anything, we hung out making ourselves stay up. We watched 48 hour Mystery and were frustrated because it remains unsolved. Finally, at the old lady hour of 9:30 PM, we went to sleep.