Kathie and I used the last of our wood and celebrated with our last fire in Alaska. We knew this would most likely be the last one we'd have before starting the long trip home in September.
Update on the Halibut fishing tournament in Homer. So far the largest Halibut caught to date is 315.6 pounds. The one below was 250.4 pounds. I can't imagine catching and pulling in a fish of that weight, can you?
On the 17th of August we packed up and headed back to Palmer and to await the opening day of the State Fair. Our stay this time in Palmer was to be at the Town and Country RV Park. It was located within walking distance of the fair, just off the Glenn Highway.
A full service park with spaces between the sites adequate for what we needed. The views of the mountains all around us was a plus as well. We have become accustomed to having beautiful scenery in and around the RV parks we've stayed at. This one wasn't a disappointment. As if to say hello we had a beautiful rainbow on the back side of the northern mountain peak.
The RV park wasn't full but, that would change as the days of the fair drew near. Our Alaska friend Sheena who lives just a few miles away came down for a visit. It was good to see her again.
We spent a couple of lazy days around the CG and didn't do a lot. We did manage to drive over to Wasilla and the local Walmart, buying a few things needed for now. We would wait until just before leaving this area to stock up on items before making our trip south to the lower 48 states.
We did take a drive out in the country to see the Reindeer farm. They were all out in the fields and we managed to get several pictures before they headed back towards the pay area. Hey why pay if you don't have to :)
An interesting fact about the Reindeer, both the male and female have antlers. The Reindeer are raised for it's meat and hides. There are lots of farms in Alaska raising Reindeer for their commercial use. We have eaten the meat and it's quite good. We haven't bought any meat to take home but that is in our plans.
On the 20th we headed down to Whittier. That was a place in my history with Alaska. My first time here was back in the 60's. I was seventeen and after my advance training in the military I was stationed here in Alaska at Ft. Richardson in Anchorage. I arrived the first of August 1965, shortly after that my unit was placed on orders for Vietnam. January 1966 we were put on a train and sent to Whittier and boarded a troop ship for a brief stop off in Hawaii before our final destination to Vietnam. This would be my first visit back to Whittier in 48 years. This was a trip I felt I needed to take. During my second assignment to Alaska and Ft. Richardson from 1973 to 76 I never wanted to go back to Whittier. I was seventeen back in 1966 and sixty six now and I felt it was time to once again relive that experience of my life. It's hard to explain how we lose so many memories and yet we maintain so many others, right down to the smallest of details.
We made a brief stop at Portage Glacier before entering the tunnel thru the mountain to Whittier on the other side. I had been to Portage many times during my years of military service in Alaska. My last visit to Portage was 38 years ago and it was a much larger glacier. Today you can hardly see it. It is melting at a very fast rate and in a few more years it won't be a glacier at all. The only way to see it now is by boat as it's a couple of miles receded back to it's origin.
Leaving Portage we continued another several miles to the toll station for Whittier. The only way to get to Whittier is to access the train tunnel thru the mountain. The train and autos use the same tunnel. The tunnel traffic in is on the half hour and at a cost of $12.00 for a passenger auto and lots more for other combinations. The return trip or leaving is on the hour and there is no cost to leave. The last exit out is at 11 pm and inbound starts at 5:30 am. The tunnel is two and half miles long, not very wide and your driving on the train tracks, top speed is 25 mph. It's cold and wet inside and traffic is spaced wide apart by a traffic signal as you enter, no tail gating and no stopping inside the tunnel.
The picture above shows the inside of the tunnel as we were driving thru. The flash reflected on the trucks windshield, Kathie tried several shots but all were the same quality.
As you exit the tunnel you see the Whittier sign and the small town just off to the left front. The traffic lanes to exit the town are lined up with cars, trucks and busses, waiting for the on the hour exit thru the same tunnel we just entered from.
Whittier is a very small community, only two hundred living there. Not sure how many of those are seasonal, as the cruise ship business is most likely it's biggest employer. There are several restaurants and small tourist type shops. There are lots of fishing boats and other small craft in the harbor. There is a large condo with a water fall rolling down the mountain behind it but not much else in this part of the town.
My reason for making this trip was to relive an experience from 1966. I wanted to once again see if what I remembered was correct or just something of confusion. I drove to a point and made a stop, this was it. It was at this very spot the train made it's final stop on that cold January morning. We all rushed the windows of the train's left side. There in the harbor was the largest vessel I had even seen, a big gray ship. We remained on the train until another unit, (Ft. Wainwright, Fairbanks) was loading troops on board the second deck of this three deck ship. My unit would be on the top (third) deck. Soon we were off the train and making our way across the small street to the next adventure in our life. The picture below is symbolic of that cold and gray morning so many years now in the past. The cruise ship is where the troop ship was docked and awaited it's cargo of some 3,000 troops.
I will for always remember that day and the days afterwards. There have been many adventures in my life and each has held it's own rewards or regrets. This is one of those bitter sweet memories made so by the loss of so many whose lives were lost and each of whom I remember. The memories of life aboard that ship and the bonds that were formed by those whose lives were changed forever, will always remain a part of me.
Kathie and I found a nice little place to have lunch. The cruise ship was in site regardless of where you went, the town wasn't large enough to get away from it. We decided to eat at the Swiftwater Seafood Café.
As we enjoyed our lunch, the harbor and cruise ship was visible from our seating in the café.
After lunch Kathie and I took in a few of the local shops. We bought some Fireweed Honey and Smoked King Salmon. Then it was time to once again say goodbye to this little town of my past, and now the present. It was close to the hour and we got in line to take the tunnel outbound.
As we departed, the cruise ship stool tall in the harbor where a gray troop ship had once waited to take me away. Now I was back and free of any orders to send me somewhere I didn't wish to go. In a way I was free, I had faced that part of my past and now in some small way I was at peace and no longer had doubts of those memories of my past. I felt happy to be alive and to be in control. My leaving was my choice and I wondered if I'd ever be back again? Maybe, maybe not and either way it's ok :) I had faced that part of my past and now I was satisfied. I am in control now and while my life still uncertain I make the decisions as to where to go, how to live it and most of all that little piece of doubt no longer plagues my memory.
Time for the State Fair, August the 21st and opening day! I had talked this day up to my wife all summer. It was to mark our final week, after a couple of days at the fair. We'd be headed on our way, making our trip south and back to the lower 48 and then on to Tennessee. My suspense about the fair was the size of this years cabbage head. My first trip to the State Fair in Palmer was August 1966. I had never seen a cabbage of that size, it was a whopping 65 pounds that year. I knew that over the many years between then and now the weight and size would have increased every year. I hadn't a clue as to the weight and size of this years entry.
Kathie and I made the short half mile walk to the gate closest to our CG. It was noon and the fair had just opened for the first day's events. There was much to see and do. We had no interest in the carnival part of the fair, rides and games. We did have to walk thru that part to get to other venues, and that was ok.
The sun was shinning and it was a very warm day. Kathie and I were enjoying the warm rays and felt like summer had finally come to Alaska, even if just for a few rain free days. We walked past the Guesser, that guy who claims he can guess your weight or age.
I was more interested in watching the people. I find people very interesting in their manner and dress. There were a lot of people at the fair, it was very crowded even for a week day. This is a very big event in these parts and people come from near and far.
There is something for everyone at the fair, rides, games, crafts, farm exhibits, art and photography, food and entertainers of all sorts and skills. We made our way over to a photo gallery, the pictures were great and I could see value in some of my photos. I liked all that I saw and if I had to choose one I liked best it would have been hard.
Kathie went into the craft barn and I stayed outside and looked at the wood carvings, chainsaw art. I was thinking that perhaps I'd replace Gnome and Moose. Perhaps a bear holding fish or an old guy holding a rainbow trout, how about a bear holding a King Salmon or a tall moose holding a welcome sign? In the end I just decided to keep what I had as they were paid for and I couldn't afford the price of the wood carvings.
One of the free shows was the lumber jacks. We made our way over to that area and found a seat on one of the bleachers. I had seen this show many years ago and was impressed with the ability of these who chopped and sawed their way thru large logs and climbed poles and threw axes as well as log roll and spring board cutting.. Did I mention it was also a free show :)
There is just something about the fair that makes you hungry. People walking by eating roasted corn on the cob, holding it like a large popcicle. There were the local favorites of moose burgers, caribou steaks and reindeer dogs, cotton candy and corn dogs as well. Everywhere you look you will see people chowing down. Then there are the beer tents and other refreshment stands. It was more than we could take so we gave in. I enjoyed a caribou steak sandwich and Kathie had a reindeer dog, later she would buy funnel cake and take it home :)
We continued to make our way thru the sea of people, dodging women with mega baby carriages, some as large as Conestoga wagons. I was carrying a back pack with water and camera equipment. I felt a bump and just in time grabbed a hand that was attempting to pick my pocket, he quickly jerked away and took off. I removed my wallet from my back pocket and placed it in my front pocket. In a crowd this large you need to be aware at all times.
After a few more exhibits we made our way over to the Farm Exhibit. There it was smack in the middle of the produce. The grand daddy cabbage head of em all. Just look at the size of that one. There was other blue ribbon winners as well. I have included a few of them for your pleasure. Can you imagine raising some of these whoppers in your garden? You could make enough slaw out of a single cabbage that size for a family of four and feed them all winter :)
How about that rutabaga above, a small 81.55 lbs.
How about a single carrot topping the scale at close to 5 lbs.
Then there was the squash, yellow at 2.75 lbs and the spaghetti at 15.50 lbs and a zucchini at 3.85 lbs.
Would you believe a 3.35 lbs cucumber?
A small turnip of only 22.75 lbs.
A bunch of collards that came in at over 5 lbs and that was second place. One leaf enough for a whole mess.
Take a look at these stalks of rhubarb.
Finally the giant of them all was the cabbage head, world's largest for this year at 102.4 LBS.
I had Kathie take a picture of me as I too have grown larger since I've been here. This way I look smaller if these vegetables are normal size :)
I'm already feeling thinner and having warm thoughts of ways to reduce these extra pounds. Perhaps it all was that combination of Oreo's and beer. As my Momma would say, "If I was a hog I'd be a smokehouse full".
Now before you run out to buy a seed catalog on Alaska vegetables. Let me tell you that these are not the norm. These giants are raised for records under controlled conditions. I will post pictures below of the normal stuff, notice the prices.
There is much more I'd like to share with you about the Alaska State Fair and our last days in Palmer. I feel that in order to not bore you I need to make this a two parter, so I will stop here for now and pick back up later at this point. Much more to come from the Alaska State Fair in Palmer Alaska.....
Here's to growing it bigger in Alaska.
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