49 becomes 50
As we start this latest adventure (finally! No thanks to COVID), I look back on many travel experiences over the years. After a few years on the road touring with a theater company, I had visited all 48 contiguous US states. Last year, right before COVID really hit, I crossed Hawaii off of my list (totally beautiful!!). So, as we touched down in the 49th state of Alaska, I have now visited all 50 states (and several provinces of Canada - I guess that’s my next completionist goal).
The day started refreshingly normally for a travel day. Our flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until after noon, so we didn’t have to rise to moonlight. We had also already packed, so there was a bit of sitting around waiting until it was time to go. This was good for Daniel and Emma, as he was staying to hold down the fort, and they were enjoying a few more minutes together.
We loaded up in the new Toyota Highlander Hybrid (purchased so that our 3 families could travel together - at least us and the Aleman Norrises). Getting to the airport was relatively painless, though there was a serious wreck on the highway that slowed things down a bit. Daniel’s ever-present smile seemed a bit forced as we said our goodbyes at the check-in curb. He made a very nice sacrifice to enable Emma the opportunity to come on the trip, but I know he is already missing her.
Our schedule had a really tight layover in Seattle - only 40 minutes- and everything needed to go smoothly to make it. Of course, our incoming flight was late arriving. Aaaand they took their sweet time preparing the plane for us to board. So, we ended up leaving the gate 20 minutes late. The flight to Seattle was fine. We flew right over Mount Shasta, and saw how little snow and ice were there. Then, we got a great sight of Crater Lake.
When we landed in Seattle, our connecting flight had just started boarding. It seemed to take forever to get to our gate, but we had a few minutes to hustle to get on board. Luckily, we were only a few gates away from ours - no buses or trains to complicate things. We didn’t even have to go full OJ. By that, I mean running in the airport, not going all stabby stabby.
We all got situated on our flight, and took off for previously unknown parts (at least unknown for Emma and me). Sometimes it was difficult to see if it was clouds I was looking at or snowy mountains. Flying into Anchorage was amazing - such a vast rough-hewn landscape surrounding the city. I guess the last time Carrie and her parents were here, there were lots of fires in Alaska, so all you could see was smoke surrounding the city.
Without too much trouble, we got our luggage and rental car, and made it to the hotel. After a few false-starts at other restaurants, we found Sami’s City Diner. I must say, their Reuben may have been the best one I’ve ever had - the corned beef was thick-sliced, and delicious.
Winding down at the hotel, Carrie went straight to bed. Emma worked on some college homework, and I just watched some videos on the iPad. I probably should have gone to bed earlier, since I am getting up in the morning to take Les and Pat to the train station. They are taking the train from Anchorage to Seward, while we drive. I am quite envious, but it was difficult enough to get a rental car in Anchorage - impossible now in Seward.
49, I declare you 50th. Goodnight.
