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We’ve just got back in to Bethel after our weekend in Anchorage for the Iditarod. It was a great weekend, though tiring! For the ceremonial start on Saturday we were in the woods around University Lake which was very quiet and exciting watching the teams make their way along the winding trail. On Sunday we then headed up to Willow for the official restart.

After dinner on Saturday evening with friends Beth + Loren, we snagged their press passes which meant we could wander around amongst the mushers and teams setting up for an hour or so which was awesome! We then headed over the lake to where the teams pull off and in to a little wooded area. It was really good fun seeing the teams start their Iditarod journey, and I’m now resigned to following the race progress via the GPS tracking on Iditarod Insider.

Today we had a lazy day around Anchorage as the weather wasn’t too good for heading down Turnagain Arm, but it was still good fun. Back to work tomorrow, and with 3 x 8Gb memory cards full of photos to process on the evenings. At least it’s Spring break at UAS so I don’t have much college work to get done over the next week or so and have time to process them. I’ll have photos on flickr as slowly over the next few days hopefully.

Bethany and I are heading to Anchorage this evening for the start of the 2010 Iditarod. Very excited! It was great seeing the Iditarod start last year out of downtown Anchorage, though going to be a little further out around University Lake this year where it should be a little more scenic and peaceful as the teams come by. Also going to head up to Willow on Sunday for the official restart, which I didn’t get to do last year. Monday is a day relaxing and hanging around town.

I haven’t packed any clothes yet, but at least am checked in on-line and have my camera gear packed I’m taking a little more than I had for the K300 races and Holiday Classic where I stuck with the 18-200 the whole time, as I’m hoping to get a little more landscape shots done around Turnagain Arm and such, we’ll see. My poor MacBook is rapidly running out of space and will barely hold one 8Gb memory card, let along the three of them I carry! So, it might need to wait until I get back to Bethel to post some photos.

Of course, it’s blowing snow and IFR here in Bethel right now, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Alyeska Resort are closed along Turnagain Arm due to severe weather, but hopefully we’ll be okay and have a great weekend! If nothing else, will be nice to get out of Bethel for the weekend. Heading up to Fairbanks for 4-5 days at the start of April, so at least gives us a couple of trips out of the delta to keep us going as winter rolls on.

Deep breath…

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I will try to blog more. I usually can’t be bothered and end up with short updates on twitter or Facebook. If you’re wanting to keep up, that’s probably easier. And my flickr photo stream.

I haven’t exactly had a quiet week or so. It’s Saturday afternoon and I’m lying out on the couch with the sun streaming through the window and loving it. This is the first time in 10 days I’ve just been able to slow down and rest.

Last Thursday I headed out for drinks with a friend which became early morning walking home with the sun still up. That was just weird. Friday night we then celebrated Jamie being crowned intercontinental teacher of the year (well, teacher of the year at ME, but Jeff + I didn’t think that sounded quite as grand), that rolled on til gone 2a.m. Normally, such a finishing time would be respectable, however when you are then woken up less than hour in to bed by firefighters coming in your house and up the stairs telling you to get out, it does not bode well. My neighbour had a small fire in the chimney flue which was cause for concern with smouldering roof timbers, and my side of the duplex being the only way way in to the attic. Cue fire hoses dragged up the stairs, through my bedroom, and getting to sit in a fire truck and look at the purty buttons and dials. At 4a.m after drinking a tad, this was the best I could figure with the camera:

I finally got back in the house around 5a.m, but then had to be up at 7a.m to get out to the airport to head to Anchorage for the weekend. When you’re boarding the plane and the stewardness says “don’t worry, sir, there’ll be coffee shortly” you know you look rough So, I made a sensible choice of not renting a car and called Beth for a ride. I spent the day with her and Loren before heading out for a meal at Orso and some drinks, before the draw of Chuck E Cheese won us over and we went to play skeeball. Quite surreal, but incredibly good fun. I won a bunch of coupons so traded them in for activity books and stickers which the guys in the office didn’t seem impressed with…

After poker til 3a.m which gave me a few of those green beer vouchers, Sunday was a lazy day with shopping, a barbecue with Beth + Loren’s friends, then off to the hockey game to see the Aces play in the conference final (which they ended up taking 4-0 a couple of days ago and now go to the Kelly Cup!). Tim Miller and a friend met up with us, and was a great game with plenty of fights. More poker ensued until the early hours of Monday morning, and then a quick medical appointment on Monday before heading back to Bethel. Where I needed a canoe to get home:

There was a waist-deep water down 6th avenue which was bizarre, especially since it ended up all clearing away within a couple of days. But, was fun whilst it lasted. Got some awesome photos too, some of which I’m hoping get printed in the Tundra Drums, such as Katrina Dominic rescuing Spencer:

I spent Monday night at a friends to let the water recede a little, then Tuesday evening went out canoeing around the slough with Sarah which was good fun. Figured since I could just about walk home with water boots on, was a good sign. Wednesday all hell broke seemed to break loose, but stayed remarkably together. I had a lot of stuff hit me at once I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with, but getting out the office with Dennis for lunch helped diffuse things to the point I can smile about it now. Opened my eyes up a lot and made me appreciate those I have around me. Feel like I’ve become a lot closer to some people as result of the trust and friendship they’ve shown.

Thursday night brought guy’s night at Ted B’s, so I snagged a ride to ACE to pick up a couple of cases of IPA to donate and save on a cab ride! It was a good warm up for last night, since my house was picked to host happy hour, which was really good. Was so nice to be able to have all my best friends round, plowing through case after case of beer, and munching on pizza. We also found the buzzer on the dryer, when bumped in to, is a perfect signal for everyone to take a drink! I also managed to get Bethany and Brent to don a Sunderland shirt to start the Bethel branch of the the Sunderland AFC Supporters Association. Honestly, I don’t think they had a clue what they were wearing:

Outside, a highschool graduation was quietly going on (seriously, they were all very well behaved) with a bonfire as the focal point. By 1.30a.m, we were like moths to a light bulb and being drawn in. For what it’s worth, wearing a cap on backwards does not let you blend in. Even as the youngest of our mob, I felt old! But, we had a good few minutes hanging out before deciding we needed another drink and some snacks and retreated back home.

By 3a.m I made it to bed, and then got to deal with the clear-up this morning, generally involving an insane amount of empty bottles + cans! Good times though. Thinking a barbecue is in order next weekend. Anyways, my plan is to leave the house as little as possible this weekend and spend as much time on the couch as I can.

The last few days in Anchorage have been pretty good. On Saturday I met up with Tim to stay at his house in the Muldoon area. Was nice to have some company, know he enjoyed it too. We headed out to the ice hockey on the evening where the Aces won 2-0 to lead the first round of the playoffs 2-0 after winning on the Friday evening. The remaining games are down in Utah starting tomorrow. We got good seats behind the net where both the Aces goals were scored.

I’d also been for a wander down by Point Worzanof on Saturday as the tide was out and got some good photos looking across the inlet. The ice is breaking up pretty much right round the area, leaving big chunks of ice stuck in the mud along the shore. This is looking across to downtown Anchorage with the Chugach mountains behind it:

On Sunday I took a walk around Connor’s Lake area. The lake itself was still pretty much frozen over, but gave so good views across to the Chugach range and Flat Top mountain:

Monday I met up with Damond for lunch which was really nice. I’d needed it after Friday. He’s always so encouraging and full of energy and enthusiasm. He’s hoping to get all the paperwork sorted to become a fishing in the Kenai area this summer, and took me back to his house to teach me the basics of casting with a fly rod and then making up flies. Would definately like to get out this summer fishing, and was a good few hours. I then skipped down to get an eye exam since on Friday it had highlighted a little weakening in my left eye. I’ve been struggling with eye strain a little recently, and was offered glasses even though it’s a pretty mild prescription on the lenses. Since the insurance will cover it all, I got a pair, and am surprised how much of a difference they make. I never really thought I had problems, and the exam didn’t point to really needing them, but they do sharpen things up quite a bit:

I knew years of constant computer use would catch up, am impressed I’ve gone so long without them, and hopefully these will help keep down on the strain so they don’t get too bad. To make up for it, I then went to Gold Rush and got 4 cases of beer shipped back to Bethel. Should last a week or so…

Am sat at the airport waiting to fly back to Bethel at the moment making the most of internet, was weird not having it really for 3 days at Tim’s. Did figure out mobile Gmail access via my cell phone which helped, but was late last night before I even thought of the idea. Nice to know for the future. Yes, I’m that sad and get withdrawl symptoms Seems like a clear afternoon, so flight should be on time and fairly smooth.

Yesterday I developed a couple of rolls of 35mm film from when I’d been in Anchorage for the Iditarod weekend and started to scan them in to the computer. I’m working my way through processing them and figured I’d put a few up now. I also uploaded the rest of the Sunday drive photos from the Fuji S1000fd digital to this Flickr set.

Anyways, from the Olympus OM-1 35mm, playing around on the streets of Anchorage:

No trains to run me over, so made do with the signs instead:

Taken on Friday, I think there was a little racing going on the following day…

I didn’t end up with as many photos of the Iditarod dog teams as I thought I had on film, but this was a nice one of a couple of dogs waiting to be hooked up before the race:

Moving on to Sunday, a drive down Turnagain Arm looking across the Cook Inlet:

At the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a moose lying down for a snooze:

My favourites, the bears. Not sure what the band across the left center of this frame is though:

Will process the rest of the scans and upload them to Flickr in the next few days. Quite happy with how these rolls turned out, only dropped about 15 out of 60 frames due the exposure or focusing being beyond recovery, and pretty much all those left I’m pleased with. Also improved my workflow in Photoshop Elements for importing and adjusting them, so definately improving.

A few photos from my drive along Turnagain Arm last weekend whilst in Anchorage for the Iditarod weekend:

The past two summers I’ve traveled along here quite a bit, but this was the first time I’ve seen it in the winter time which was cool. I then pulled off to head to Alyeska for the cable car ride:

If the ride up itself wasn’t worth it enough, the food at the restaurant and the views certainly were:

Back down the hill and further along the road, the wildlife center was fun with snow down. The reindeer certainly seemed impressive with their colouring and backdrop:

And the dominant male also was quite a sight (when he took a break from eating…):

Further round, I was really excited to see if the bears would be out, and they didn’t disappoint with a mother and her cub playing in the snow:

After a while, the mother would get bored and try to walk away only to be followed by the cub to start again! They looked pretty cool with a dusting of snow on them, and I got a bunch of photos over 15-20 minutes I hung around their enclosure:

Back at the visitor center, one of the small enclosures had a young deer in there quite happily munching away on some straw:

All in all, a fun way to spend a Sunday, certainly a little different to what I could get up to on a Sunday drive out here in Bethel. I ordered in some more developing powder over the weekend, so hopefully I can get the rolls of 35mm from the weekend developed soon and processed. Need to plan my next little getaway now…

This morning I got a fairly early start to round off a little bit of shopping, then headed down the Seward highway to Girdwood. This was the first time I’ve driven it in the winter time, and the area looks so much more impressive than the summer! Realised this weekend I’ve been coming in + out of Anchorage since Xmas 2005, yet am only now really exploring the restaurants and neat stuff to do in the area.

But, I took the cable car ride up Alyeska which was pretty cool, and there were plenty of skiers and snowboarders on the mountain. After checking the Roundtop museum, I then cashed in the cable car ticket for free lunch at the 7 Glaciers restuarant, a 4 diamond fine dining experience apparently. Probably the fanciest restaurant I’ve been to, so went with the Alaskan king crab, again, something I’ve never tried in all my time out here.

After the ride back down, I carried on driving along the road to the Alaska Wildlife Center and hung around long enough to see the bears come out to play The mom and her cub were rolling around and playing in the snow and chasing each other whilst one of the other adults looked on. Got some great photos, and of deers, but will wait until I get back to Bethel to process them and put some online. Was a nice little trip, and a fun drive too.

I’m checked in at the airport and waiting to fly out around 6.30p.m or so. Hopefully my box of magic juice makes it back okay, will be some sad faces in Bethel if not! The earlier flights today have made it okay and the weather doesn’t seem to bad out there at the moment, so doesn’t look like there’ll be any delays.

This weekend has been great fun, and a couple of people have pointed out it’s worth taking a 3-day weekend to Anchorage every 6 weeks or so just to get a break and recharge. Hasn’t felt rushed, and have loved all the photographic opportunities. Am thinking next year I’ll come back in for the Iditarod again, but maybe catch the Fur Rondy weekend first, volunteer as a dog handler for the start out of Anchorage, and then watch the restart in Willow on Sunday by flying back to Bethel on Monday instead. Assuming I’m still out here, of course.

I met up with Sadie and her friends Jen + Kara that were here from Michigan on vacation and headed to the Snow Goose for dinner last night. They have a great little brewery on site, can definately recommend the ‘Hook On IPA’ I was then up early for that little dog sled race starting today – these dogs were feeling the early start too:

This guy had the right idea though, whinning until he got some attention:

I was taking a lot of photos my OM-1 35mm SLR before the start of the race as the dogs were being readied, so hoping I get some more good photos from those films. I then skipped a few blocks away from the startline to 4th + Cordova where the teams make their first turn to watch the teams come by, starting with the honorary lead off:

The first corner was causing the mushers a bit of excitement as the teams were raring to go and not wanting to slow down much! A few teams spilled, or came close, and the trail sleds (used to help weigh the team to keep speeds down) also had their moments, such as Bob Hickel’s helper:

Aliy Zirkle managed to keep things upright taking a tight line round the corner:

Some mushers such as DeeDee Jonrowe were around before the start chatting with fans – I played the Bethel card to get her attention, and she also signed a t-shirt for mom This is DeeDee taking a gentle approach to the first turn:

Karin Hendrickson had a very colourful team, and also taking a fairly easy corner with her dogs:

Wanting to have a little fun, and confuse spectators a little, Jeff King put on a pair skis to be pulled by his team in front his sled:

Lance Mackey decided to have his own fun, kicking up the snow leaning round the corner:

Another musher kicking up the snow was Hugh Neff:

Managing to at least keep the sled upright as the bounced around the corner, Jen Seavey then had to play catch-up to get back on the sled with the dogs not exactly slowing down to help!

As opposed to Timothy Hunt, taking a slower + wider route with his good looking team:

I have a bunch more photos and high-res versions of these ones uploaded in to this Iditarod set on Flickr after making the most of the highspeed internet at the hotel It’s been a busy day, though great fun, and I was so glad to have got to experience the start of the Iditarod. Sadie, Angie, Jen + Kara were around at the startline as dog handlers, though not sure which teams they ended up with. I’m guessing they made it back to Bethel as haven’t heard from them.

This evening I headed to Arctic Roadrunner for dinner with Damond and his wife which was really nice, and tomorrow I’m planning on heading along Turnagain Arm to the wildlife center as the weather seems pretty good and will be nice to see all the mountains in the winter time. So long as the flights play nice, will be getting the evening jet back to Bethel tomorrow.

Prioritizing things, I was at Gold Rush Liquor waiting for them to open at 10a.m this morning In fairness, I wasn’t meaning to appear a desperate alcoholic – none of the stores around Dimond opened before 10 seemingly! Anyway, I stocked up on some orange juice and lemonades… I got a couple of books from Borders and figured out bush ordering for Jeff from Sportsman Warehouse, then downed a silly amount at Walmart. It was mainly stocking up on toiletries that are 1/3 – 1/4 of the price of Bethel, and a couple of pairs of work pants.

A couple of camera stores I’ve tried don’t stock developing powder or know of any that are likely to which sucks, as $10 worth of powder costs $30 to ship to Bethel I spent a couple of hours this afternoon wandering 4th avenue, the Fur Rondy carnival, ice sculpture contest at Ship Creek, and generally picked the brains of people along the way including the ever-helpful tourist information center on the order of play for the Iditarod start in the morning.

Playing voicemail-tag with some friends at the moment, so might end up just hitting the Alaska Aces hockey game tonight. Need to be awake and down on 4th around 8a.m anyway!