Alaska Albert

I met Albert in Bermuda.  He's an adventure loving party animal that can turn up anywhere, anytime.  Such it was that Albert arrived in Anchorage one March day.  Albert like to travel far, fast, and hostel style, meeting new people along the way.  And so when I found him after work at the Wiliwaw, he had already explored a good chunk of the city and met other traveller's and heard of all sorts of adventures he could do.  One thing I had to offer was a guided car tour -- so that he could get to a few places too far for buses, but not far enough to warrant a flight.  Of course, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center meets that requirement, so that was the day plan.

We started at the Alaska Wildberry chocolatier though of course.  Here's Albert with some of the locals.

The drive took us past the scenic Turnagain Arm.

And off to see some real moose...es.

Winter was short lived in south central Alaska this past year.  The snow was already mostly melted by mid March, and these muskoxen were probably already a little too warm in their fuzzy winter coats.  I swear that's the one that always gives me the evil eye, ever since it charged me that day.  It hates my camera.

The bears didn't even bother to hibernate this past winter.  They were up and roaming about when we came to visit.

Good morning sweet bear!

Spring must be a wonderful time for a bear.  Well rested, lots of smells in the air.  Spring is like a bear Saturday morning I think.

Sometimes it takes a couple of days to solidly wake up!

Much to my surprise, the nature center had a new porcupine.  Meet Kit.  Kit was found in a trap :(  She lost a leg, but found a forever home where she will be safe.

After a quick trip around the nature center, we went back to the bears and watched them lumber about.  Ready for a new year, the bears and I both!

On the way home we stopped at an Alaska "beach."  We sort of had mud flats rather than soft sand beaches like Bermuda.

Not only humans appreciate the beauty of Alaska.  Saw this bulldog scamper to the top of a mountain and claim the view.

Albert posing with the mountains.

Back in Anchorage we went chasing a sunset.  We started at Lake Hood where a bit of golden light was starting to shine on the many float planes on the frozen ice.

Sunsets can be slow coming in the land of the midnight sun.  So we kind of got dusk on the city instead.

It was a short visit, but a good one.  Albert hopped on a plane to Fairbanks to chase the aurora.  But I was sure he'd turn up again soon.  Turns out I was right.  A few days later I was walking through the Seatte airport and there he was, with enough time for one more beer before we headed separate ways.  Til the next time my friend.