King's Lake Camp

The Salvation Army's King's Lake Camp is located about forty-five miles from Anchorage, Alaska, between Wasilla and Palmer. The lovely Robin and I got to visit for a few days in late July, and came away blessed and impressed. 

A sign as you enter the campgrounds displays typical Alaska humor and pride.

The grounds cozy up to a lake--large enough (I can attest) to land a floater plane or accommodate a ski boat. 

I got to speak three times over that weekend--Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Sunday morning. The response each time was sensitive and enthusiastic. The lovely Robin and I got to meet many new friends, and pray with a number of them, and laugh and eat and worship with them all. 

And, as if that wasn't blessing enough, we got to enjoy scenes like this, taken from the deck outside our bedroom at 10:40 p.m., while several hours of sunlight remained. 

Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine

It was a drizzly, chilly day when the lovely Robin and I visited Hatcher Pass in the southwest part of the Talkeetna Mountains on our recent trip to Alaska. But we had such warm company (George, Jeannie, Eloisa, and Jeff), we mostly didn't mind. The pass, about twelve miles from Wasilla, is named after Robert Hatcher, a prospector and miner. The photo above was taken at a scenic stop at the Little Susitna River, which runs through the pass.

We visited the Independence Mine State Historical Park, once the site of a productive gold mine. It was actually two mines: The Alaska Free Gold (Martin) Mine on Skyscraper Mountain, and Independence Mine on Granite Mountain. In 1938 the two merged under the Alaska-Pacific Consolidated Mining Company (APC). The mine closed during World War II and, though it was reopened in 1946, closed permanently in 1951. In less than fifty years of operation, the mine produced nearly six million dollars' worth of gold. 

The apartment above was one of the living quarters used by the supervisors of the mine. The house that was built for the mine's head foreman is now the office and information center for the park. 

It was so fun and informative to walk around the site, despite the rain and cold, and browse the small bookstore. It was a glimpse into a fascinating time and place. 

The Noisy Goose Cafe

The lovely Robin and I do things besides eat when we travel...but you wouldn't easily know it from our bathroom scale. Or our memories. One such memory is that of the Noisy Goose Cafe, where we ate twice on our recent visit to Alaska. 

The Noisy Goose is a busy, friendly, rich experience, enjoyed by locals, sportsmen, and tourists alike. 

On our first visit, for breakfast, I enjoyed an egg, cheese, onion, and reindeer omelet, with a side of taters and another side of pancakes. Mmm mmm good! 

And, though on our first visit we didn't order pie (disappointing the little fella above, who looked in from the window by our booth on both visits), on our second visit a couple days later Robin enjoyed a coconut creme pie and I swallowed every bite of a peach crumb pie. Oh my. 

The Noisy Goose is located at 1890 Glenn Highway in Palmer, Alaska--right by the Alaska State Fairgrounds. Their website is http://www.noisygoosecafe.com/

Simon and Seafort's

We were afraid the wait would be too long when we got to the downtown Anchorage eatery, Simon and Seaforts--and there was a little bit of a wait--but it was shorter than announced and worth every minute.

Known by the locals as simply "Simon's," this Anchorage landmark has beautiful panoramic views overlooking Cook Inlet of Mount Susitna and the Alaska Range. So beautiful.

I was told to ask for the "halibut cheeks" (who ever heard of such a thing?), but they were out of that particular delicacy. No matter. The meal the lovely Robin and I enjoyed with my cousin and his wife was indescribably delicious, and the experience was unforgettable.

Whittier, Alaska

After visiting Portage Glacier on our recent visit to Alaska, our hosts George and Jeannie took the lovely Robin and me to Whittier and Prince William Sound via the Whittier Tunnel, North American's longest railroad-highway tunnel (that's the entrance, above). Personally, I didn't even know there was a one-lane tunnel that alternates between rail and auto traffic.

We waited in a line of cars for our turn to enter the tunnel. At more than two-and-a-half miles, it is the second longest highway tunnel in North America. It is also the only land access to the town of Whittier, on the other side of Maynard Mountain from Anchorage.

For such a small town (177 population; salute!), Whittier has a good number of shops and businesses. Cruise ships and ferries also dock there, and it boasts the smallest U.S. Coast Guard station in the nation, too.

After a fairly extensive look around, we returned to our car and returned to line to wait for the next green light to go through the tunnel (about a fifteen minute wait), leaving Whittier behind...until the next time! 

A #CincyShakes Late Summer Midsummer Night's Dream Evening

The lovely Robin and I took a light picnic to Eden Park in Cincinnati last evening and settled in for the inaugural performance of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's "Shakespeare in the Park" series at Seasongood Pavilion (a familiar--and favorite--spot of mine since childhood; see here).

This month the company of six actors (five of whom are making their CSC debut!) are presenting A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth in repertory at locations throughout the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. The first Midsummer night was a dream of a performance, well acted by all six (though the female leads--Caitlin McWethy and Emily Sullivan--stole the show as Helena and Hermia, among other roles). The "fight scene" between Helena and Hermia was especially well played, and the the energy of the entire cast was infectious and hilarious.

The Shakespeare in the Park series runs through August 29 (see the schedule here), and I highly recommend it. We hope to make at least one more performance--the "Scottish Play," next Friday at Vinoklet in Colerain Township.

Thank you to CSC and their many generous sponsors for culturing up our lives a lot, every Summer! We need it.

Turnagain Armpit BBQ

The first meal the lovely Robin and I enjoyed on our recent visit to Alaska was at the memorably (and playfully) named Turnagain Armpit BBQ restaurant (it overlooks the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, so the name is a double entendre of sorts).

Our hosts, George and Jeannie Baker, vouched for the fare here, so we weren't put off at all by the name (Robin is not usually anxious to eat at places with "armpit" in the name).

Not only were the ribs, chicken, pulled pork, beans, slaw, and sauce delicious, but they even serve sweet tea! The man who served us once lived not only in the Lower 48 but also in the south, so maybe that's why. 

The service could not have been more welcoming or more accommodating. I plan to return to the Armpit every chance I get. Learn more at http://turnagainarmpitbbq.com/