Check out this story, could it be for real: Dinosaurs in the Wrangell Mountains, AK

Dinosaurs in the Wrangell Mountains By NED ROZELL




Go here and check out the story !
http://www.sitnews.us/0612News/062512/062512_ak_science.html

Fairbanks, AK, graduate student doing studies on the Rhinoceros Auklet bird

Alexis Will of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, will be doing her thesis paper on the “Rhino”, as the bird is called. Not so much on the decline of the bird, but how it has survived in Alaska.

The mother bird does not come back to her nest, but every 24 hours, so Ms Wills is currently doing her research at night. Though funded by the North Pacific Research Board, it is part of the “eco system” project.

The Rhino is found from S. California to Japan, Antarctica to Bering Sea. 2000 nesting pairs in Sitka Sound.

Here’s a 5 minute tape to tell you more of Ms Will’s project.


More on the Rhinoceros Auklet


University of Alaska-Fairbanks; Biology & Wildlife Dept:
http://www.bw.uaf.edu/

If you enjoy birds, here’s a FB page you can like.
http://www.facebook.com/World.Seabird.Union



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinoceros_Auklethttp://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/06/27/studying-a-thriving-bird-the-rhino/

Fairbanks had its 1st 80 degree day of the summer this past Tuesday.

Picture - Fairbanks downtown


“We don’t see it cooling down.”.
More of article: 
http://newsminer.com/bookmark/19059497http://newsminer.com/bookmark/19059497http://newsminer.com/bookmark/19059497 


Log cabin in Fairbanks in Winter.

Alaska’s Oil Pipeline Marks 35 Years

The oil pipeline that stretches 800 miles across the Alaska landscape is celebrating a milestone.

More insight:  http://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/06/20/alaskas-oil-pipeline-marks-35-years/http://www.alaskapublic.org/2012/06/20/alaskas-oil-pipeline-marks-35-years/

Seward Alaska - Caring For It’s 1st Rescued Beluga Calf Whale

In the news June 20, 2012.

Photo courtesy of the Alaska Sea Life Center

The Alaska Sealife Center, in Seward, is caring for its first whale. The newborn beluga calf turned up in Naknek Bay yesterday. Center staff flew to Naknek to rescue it.

Alaska in the News - June 2012

June 14, 2012 Alaska News

Disabled Vets Begin Denali Ascent
Lorien Nettleton, KTNA – Talkeetna
A group of disabled veterans landed on the Kahiltna Glacier Monday to begin their attempt to climb Mount McKinley. The group is part of the Disabled Sports USA’s Wounded Warfighter program, which encourages veterans to overcome physical setbacks to participate in sports at all levels.

Alaskans Trying New Small-Scale Farming TechnologyRachel Waldholz, KCAW – Sitka
When you think of food in Alaska you might think of king salmon or moose – farming is not really our forte. But some Alaskans are trying to change that – at least on a small scale. In Sitka, you can find two large, transparent plastic tunnels for growing produce, rising from a front yard.

Holland America Cruise Lines Eliminating Three Alaska StopsAaron Selbig, KBBI – Homer
The cruise ship M/S Amsterdam is set to make the first of seven visits to Homer this weekend. But as KBBI’s Aaron Selbig reports, Holland America cruise lines – has decided the ship will not be visiting Homer, Kodiak or Anchorage after this year.

Launching The Trip Of A LifetimeCasey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau
A group of 20-somethings from Juneau set out on the trip of a lifetime last week. They’ll be kayaking through Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, then hopping on bikes and riding through the rest of the Americas. Their final destination is Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Argentina.

About hundred friends, family and well-wishers gathered at Sandy Beach in South Douglas on Friday to wish the group good luck on their epic adventure. Organizer Chris Hinkley said the idea behind the trip is to see what the rest of the world has to offer at a leisurely pace.

“We don’t want to put a time limit on anything,” Hinkley says. “It could be a year, it could be three years, kind of when the money runs out. But we’re going to stop where we want to stop, and move how fast we want to move, and no time to be anywhere.”

Hinkley, Kanaan Bausler, Andrew Flansaas, Colin Flynn, and Max Stanley plan to do the entire trip. About a dozen friends will join for different legs of the journey — most of them recent college graduates; all under the age of 25.

Hinkley says they chose Tierra del Fuego as a stopping point, partly because it seemed like as far as they could go without needing to hop in a car or on a plane.

“Just kind of the longest line you could possibly draw on the map from Juneau, you know?,” he says. “So it was always something that intrigued us, like, ‘Wow, everything connects man. You can go all the way through there and make it all the way.’ So we’re gonna go for it.”

They’ll be shooting video of the people and places they encounter along the way. Bausler hopes to make a documentary about the trip when they get back.

“When we find unique communities that we feel really represent elements of sustainability or happiness, or just like unique characteristics that really are like contributing well to living a good life in connection with your surroundings, we want to document that and share it with everyone,” he says.
Bausler says they don’t have a budget, but some expenses have already been covered through fundraisers and gear donations. That includes a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $5-thousand dollars for video equipment, and their kayaks, which are on loan from Seaward Kayaks of British Columbia.

“We had a lot of support from local businesses that really changed the game for us,” Bausler says. “And allowed us to really turn this thing from a vision or a dream into a real reality that’s actually happening.”
They’re also getting plenty of support from their families. Bausler’s dad, Carl, says he did a similar trip when he was 19, hitchhiking and hopping freight trains to Alaska. With advances in communications since then, the elder Bausler says he’s more excited than nervous for his son.

“You know when I came up here, I’d call my folks maybe once a month from a pay phone and it would be a collect call and they had no idea where I was,” says Carl Bausler. “And with today’s technology, you get an email and it’s got the GPS coordinates, and you can do the Google map and you put the satellite portion on, and you can almost see where they’re getting their fresh water from, where the streams are coming down.”

Hinkley says they’d all eventually like to return to Juneau. But for now, they’re just going to enjoy the journey.

“I always envisioned myself coming back here and raising kids,” says Hinkley. “But who knows. There’s an adventure ahead of us, so we’ll see where it takes us.”

As they set out in their kayaks Friday afternoon, with the wind at their backs, the group raised their paddles in the air and saluted their friends and family cheering from shore.

You can track the group’s adventure at
www.atripsouth.com.

Alaska Airlines Inaugurates Daily Flights Between Seattle and Philadelphia

Alaska Airlines Inaugurates Daily Flights Between Seattle and Philadelphia.

Article, more insight ...
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-inaugurates-daily-flights-between-seattle-and-philadelphia-158410605.html

Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska

I have been to the resort, however, we were only there on a "bathroom" break from our tour, so I've literally only seen the lobby.   

Here's more on the Aerial Tramway.
http://alaska.org/girdwood/ride-mt-alyeskas-tram.jsp

Self planned packages in Anchorage, Alaska

Whether you're just visiting Anchorage, or in Anchorage before or after a cruise, plan to spend a few days there to see a view of the sites.  Such as ...

*  Alaska Railroad to Denali

*  Alaska Railroad to Seward

*  Alaska Wildlife Preserve about an hour below Anchorage

*  Cruise Portage Glacier near the Alaska Wildlife Preserve - travel by car

*  Visit Seward - travel by car or Alaska Railroad

*  Visit Wasilla, Headquarters to the Iditorod (for $10, I rode a dog sled) - travel by car.

*  Chocolate factory across the street from the Sourdough Restaurant
http://www.sourdoughmining.com/menus.html

  

Holland America makes it easy, for finding Alaska on Sale

Clients are always asking me, how do I know if the cruise I am looking at has savings ?
Any time you are not paying "brochure rates" the cruise is actually on sale !
So whether you bought last week at a lower rate and this week at a higher rate, hopefully it is still some sort of savings for you !  

Clients also ask, how do I find cruise line sales ?
One way, is sign up, on the home page of each cruise line you like, sign up to receive their specials by email !  Select cruise lines may send you something daily, but literally, this is the best way to keep abreast of everything !  Remember, if you don't at least glance at each email, you'll miss that EXACT destination or cruise you've been waiting to offer a lower rate !

Another way to see what's on sale is visit the cruise line websites !

But if you want specific sale dates that are on sale ?
I find that Holland America, just off their home page, make it the most easiest to see exact sail date destinations on sale !

Here's what Holland America currently is offering in Alaska ...

7 night Alaska Cruises
http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/SpecialOffers.action?destCode=A

Alaska Cruise Tours
*  Free upgrades
*  Onboard Credit
http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/SpecialOffers.action?destCode=AT

Link for discovering daylight hours in Alaska

My cruise in May (2012), I was amazed at all the daylight hours so early in the Alaska season.  I looked online and see that today, there are 19 hours of daylight.  This dusk picture is after dinner, 10:30pm.

Use this link and choose a date:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=18 

Cooking with Alaska Beer - Alaskan Brewing Company

I was watching a scary movie last night, "Hide and Seek" with Robert De Niro, and he was cooking a soup with beer, so I decided to search this on the net.


Go here and get started:
http://www.alaskanbeer.com/our-brew/cooking-with-our-beer.html

1-10 Steps for Choosing Your Alaska Cruise or Cruise-Tour

Go here:
http://vwebb.cruisesinc.com/travel/admin/CMSTemplates/DisplayDraft.html?draft_display=true&edOid=1611671610

Enjoy 425 Alaska Cruise Pictures

Go here, 425 Alaska Cruise pictures. (this new link should open, added 8/5/12)
http://cruisevacationpictures.shutterfly.com/pictures/489 

My 2012 May Alaska Cruise - Holland America, Zaandam

Another superb Alaska cruise, this past May (2012).

As always, fantastic ! Whether it be … Adventuring on another cruise; or another cruise to Alaska ! How I get lucky, to see NO RAIN, almost every time I visit !

Truly, I know, one of my main reasoning for loving Alaska, is it’s scenery … More specifically … I just love looking at mountains ! They give me that cozy feeling of peace and serenity !

My first time to Alaska, back in 1977, sadly, wasn’t a pleasant experience, nor was it about sightseeing ! I opted to get married, actually 2-3 weeks before graduating high school, so I could leave, soon after, on a 10 day drive, for “his” Air Force duty in. (See PS & PSS below)

My dislike for driving and riding today, I know, justifiably began from this horrifying ride there; only partially, speaking of the “back then” treacherous roads of the Alaska Highway (FYI, gas was $2 a gal there) - more history, go here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Highway) ! Fortunately, my 2 ½ month wife battered experience, didn’t leave me to hate Alaska … but instead, I literally can’t get enough !

Here’s a few more memories … Summer 1977 …
* Elvis Presley died (Aug 16)
* Sebastian Cabot, actor (Mr French-Family Affair), dies
* Groucho Martin, NYC, comedian (Marx Bros), dies
* Soft drink industry kept changing the tab tops, trying to develop one, where the consumer could no longer through the top on the ground; also, short time lived the "skinny” can soft drink.
* NJ allows casino gambling in Atlantic City
* Apple II, the 1st personal computer, goes on sale
* Doobie Brothers sponsor a Golf Classic & Concert for United Way
* James Earl Ray (Martin Luther King's killer) escapes from prison (and recaptured)
* "I'm Your Boogie Man" by KC & Sunshine Band peaks at #1
* "Beatlemania" opens on Broadway
* Space Shuttle test model "Enterprise" carries a crew aloft for 1st time
* Oil enters Trans-Alaska pipeline exits 38 days later at Valdez
* Marvel Comics publish "Kiss book" tributing rock group Kiss
* US Railway Post Office final train run (NY to Wash DC)
* Mohammed al-Zahaby, Egyptian minister, murdered
* Stacy Moskowitz, shot to death by Son of Sam, at 20
* US & Panamana sign Panama Canal Zone accord

See more, here. http://www.historyorb.com/date/1977

Most of my cruises to Alaska have been on Holland America, Princess or Celebrity. I’ve yet to travel there, by way of, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, , and a few of you know, my least favorite choice would be Norwegian.

This time, I went on the Zaandam (Holland America) for 7 nights, with one night in Seattle. One of my good clients and great friend, Nancy of Phoenix, AZ traveled with me. Due to Nancy’s other cruise planned, in August, to Europe, she realistically could only take a week off for this venture.

We began by flying into Seattle, a city we both love ! After checking into the Fairmont Marriott, near the airport, we went back to the airport, to take the tram to downtown.

Before arriving downtown, we did make one stop, at a market I saw on the side of the road. Once down town, naturally, we went to Pike’s Market. Our walking here, as expected, totally wore us out. However, before leaving, we had a delightful cup of home made clam chowder.

So we came back to the hotel, rested, then off to eat at Sharp’s RoastHouse , where we’ve scrumptiously eaten BBQ before. Turn in time this evening was early, seriously, not by choice ! Up early and off to the airport, next morning, for our motor coach ride, with Holland America to Vancouver !

One of the most fun parts and my 2nd joy for cruising (my 1st joy is relaxation; non-working), are the meals ! I don’t cook, so when I crave some good eating, I have to head out to a near by restaurant (close to home - cause I don’t like to drive), or truly just plan that next cruise ! Holland America was certainly exception, these 7 days, for their entrées at dinner ! With cutting back on the amount of food, that I now eat in each setting (as of January), I was happily pleased, that our waiter, would accommodate me, with a small sampler plate of all the entrees, each evening (leaving off the veggies and potato).

After dinner each evening, we did go oft to the different shows. Seriously, they all seem to be cutting back on entertainment !

With Nancy and I, both, cruising to Alaska many times (even another time together), we actually choose not to partake in any shore excursions this visit. Fortunately, we’ve both done everything there we’ve wanted to do; some tours more than once ! We basically choose to take leisure walks through the town, as we shopped ! We also visited the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau; Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, along with the “Days of 98” show; And bought halibut for lunch on the creek of Ketchikan. We did opt, for our first time, the Alaska Railroad train ride from Seward to Anchorage which is absolutely a must for some great mountain views (see picture album below) !

A sample of shore tours I’ve done on my past Alaska cruises include … The Deadliest Catch tour, whale watching, fishing, crabbing, flight seeing, glacier walking, glacier cruises, totem poles carving demonstration, salmon bake, cooking demonstrations, canoeing, panning for gold, Eagle Rapture Centers, going into the mines, train rides, up into the Yukon territory, dog sledding, dog camps, visit gardens, and more ! Things that don’t interest me, nor Nancy, include, water rafting, snorkeling, tracking, zip lining; typically, such things of this same nature.

Once in Anchorage, we did a little shopping. We even went to the market, which I have visited before. We then choose to rest a little, while enjoying a nice meal, at a restaurant I've visited before, Glacier BrewHouse. Note, we both wanted to go to the Sourdough Mining Company (across street is chocolate factory with a fountain of running chocolate), but it was outside of town; about a $30 cab ride (If you're staying in a hotel in Anchorage and have 10 people, they will complimentary come pick your group up).

Let my 425 pictures tell the rest of the story ! A few of the pictures have captions, but you can’t see the caption unless you make the picture larger (and the caption is written tiny, below picture) http://cruzladycustomerscruise.shutterfly.com/27



Since home, I've updated my article, go here: My 10 steps in choosing an Alaska cruise and/or cruise-tour. http://vwebb.cruisesinc.com/travel/admin/CMSTemplates/DisplayDraft.html?draft_display=true&edOid=1611671610



PS. My X is still living in Anchorage, however, ended his Air Force career as soon as his 4 year term was over. Fortunately for me, I've only seen him once since; from a distance; in K-mart, Madison Heights; 1980.

PSS. I am also a life coach. If you or know anyone who was victimized as a battered wife, and would like to partake in complimentary coaching sessions; leave me a message on my coach phone line: (434) 473-7470 (mention this article)


This mustang looks someone like "my car", that I rode in to Alaska.  While there, he wrecked.  Upon coming home, I flew; but it cost me $ 500 to get my car home (hired a company to do this); my car took the Alaska Marine Highway, before traveling across the US to Lynchburg !