I arrived at Mary and Joe Buckingham’s via mailbox at 12 noon on a sunny Saturday afternoon February 16th. My plane flight to the Anchorage, Alaska Ted Stevens International Airport landed earlier in the day. The Chugach Mountain Range was superb. I had never seen so much snow in my life!
That first afternoon we took Pogo to Conner’s Bog Dog Park for a run and walk. Afterwards Joe, Mary and I went cross country skiing at Westchester Lagoon. It was cloudy by late afternoon but there were lots of ice skaters, plus free hot chocolate and a wood fire pit to warm up by.
On Sunday afternoon we went to the Captain Cook Athletic Club. It was kid’s time so I got to exercise and swim, inside.
When not out and about sight seeing, I spent time at home with Pogo and Wiley resting up for the next excursion or eating out with my Aunt Mary & Uncle Joe’s friends. My favorite spot was the world famous Bear Tooth Grill in Spenard where one can even watch a movie while they eat pizza.
Friday February 22nd was the first day of Fur Rondy. On Saturday morning there was a big parade downtown and fireworks that night. It was a snowy day and hard to see anything. By Monday it stopped snowing and cleared up. We went to the carnival rides and snow sculptures, my favorite parts of the Fur Rondy.
While in Anchorage I saw many strange things, but one of the strangest was the number of people running around in shorts. Here is an example of one at the ice sculptures. Very strange!
The last day of my visit I took a horse drawn carriage ride around town. One of the lady carriage drivers said she use to live in Enid, Oklahoma which reminded me it was time to go home. A great trip and I hope to return but next time in the summer when it is light almost all night.
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Hi Angleica, Mom, Dad, Mrs. Morgan & class,Sure had a great time on my trip but wish everyone of you had been there too. At the end of my visit I even got to see the start of the Iditarod dog race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. The sled dog race lasts up to 12 days and is over a 1,049 miles in length with 66 teams of a dozen plus dogs. I am bringing back information about it plus the Fur Rondy Schedule of events, many that I attended. The winter carnival has been celebrated since 1949 and is almost as old as my Great Aunt Mary (smile).
It was fun to go north to Alaska but as always good to be home.
Angelica's Flat Stanley
