A beautiful day in Nome

I’ve heard Montana described as “Big Sky Country” but I can’t imagine there is more big sky than this place.

And I absolutely can not imagine it in winter, when the Bering Sea freezes near land, and everything is covered in white.

There's still gold in these hills—hm—waters.  Now dredgers work offshore, sucking up the silt and filtering it for the shiny stuff.  

Those on land can walk around during low tide and see what is left behind.

We lucked out- the Salmonberry (cloudberry) Festival was going on, so we had music by Nome’s finest.

I had a great walk around  Front Street…

Me under the Iditarod Finish Line (they swing it out into the street for the race….)

You know how I love a local grocery store- had to check it out.  LOOK AT THOSE PRICES!!!!

Gas ain't cheap, either.

Flowers bloom so beautifully with all the summer sun.

Loved  the local garden!

Could I live in Nome?  Especially in winter?  I don’t know. It seems like an unplugged, simpler way of life… It’s beautiful, in a stark, barren way. 

And the locals were very friendly, and seemed to love being together as a community.  But it’s summer, and folks are out and about.

I wonder what it’s like in winter.

So now, the first  “cruise” portion of the trip has ended, and the “expedition phase” begins.  For the next 17 days, until we reach Ilulissat, Greenland, we aboard Crystal Serenity are in the hands of three ice pilots and 20-plus expedition experts, being led along the way by the icebreaker Ernest Shakleton. 

And so my Northwest Passage adventure really begins.

I can hardly wait to share it with you.

North to Nome- A Quick Tour

Not many folks visit Nome, Alaska. If you live here, you are one hardy individual.

Beautiful weather followed us all day long.  Whilst on tour, I learned how to pan for gold…

Found some....

...saw a herd of wild musk ox(remember those beasts that grow the wool that becomes qiviut?)….

...Had a fabulous presentation about the area at the National Park Service (which apparently doubles as the Public Defenders office)...

...and had a meet and greet with some pretty amazing Iditarod sled dogs (thank you, Nils Hahn and Dianne Haecker of Arctic Sky Kennels!)

Meet T-Bone.  He’s a 4-year old Alaskan Huskie.  

Love those floppy ears.

Bruce is the oldest at 8 (I think).

He has run in several Iditarods. Oh, those ice blue eyes!

Sparky is the heart of the team.  

She seems so tiny, but is the leader- and mom to many of the other dogs. 

Watching these dogs work was something else.  The way they go from laid-back chillin' to absolute over-the-moon excitement just being harnessed up- these dogs are born to run and they love it more than anything.

If you ever finish the Iditarod, you can have a license plate to let the world know.

Every March, the Iditarod makes the news- at least the beginning and end.  Now, I have a team to cheer on in 2019, when these young dogs will be fully prepared to take on the difficult 1049 mile course.

Is this the picture of a happy pup or what?????

Dutch Harbor's Deadliest Catch

 If you watch the tv reality show “Deadliest Catch”, you already know about Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

The area is actually called Unalaska.  It's just the port that is called Dutch Harbor.  Fun fact to know and tell.

There’s not much to it, really- especially not in  terms of cellular signals.  It’s clean and quiet when it’s not fishing season.

There are two museums, one native, one for WWII memorabilia.   Outside of the museums, our first bald eagles were sighted.

Laird tells me that residents of the 49th state refer to them as "Alaskan Buzzards", but I can say that I was not the only one who was impressed.....

The Great Alaskan Hotel pretty much dominates everything.

If you want free wifi, check out the Norwegian Rat.

It’s a bar/pool hall with great fresh crab legs.  I visited with the owner and his son.

Beautiful wildflowers make up for the lack of trees and bushes.

Then it was off for last minute “what did I forget” supplies.  

At Alaska Supply Center, you can buy everything from clothing...

to kayaks and refrigerators…

to marine paint, boat cleats, medicine and groceries.

The place puts Walmart to shame....

Aaaaannnnnddddd…that’s about it for Dutch Harbor.  Final real shopping stop until we hit Greenland!