July 17 through 24 - Alaska!!!!!!

Welcome to Alaska
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(a note from Kerry - in order to get internet service, Mom had to sit outside with the laptop to email the pictures to me . . . VERY cold - she writes that was shivering -- so, for all of you in parts of the country where it is hot - live vicariously through her weather) :-)

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July 17-21 Fairbanks July 22&23 Denali National Park July 24 Kenai Peninsula

Fairbanks The road to Fairbanks from Tok was the worst section of the road. There were huge rolls, like a roll coaster. These are caused by perma frost and called frost heaves. We spent several days in Fairbanks, seeing and learning new things. We went to UA and visited the museum. There we watched a video on the Northern Lights. That was very interesting, since I have been fascinated by them for a while. They work by electrical charges from the sun and magnetic fields in the earth. They can’t be seen now as it has to be dark and dark it ISN’T. We may have to come back in the winter. Speaking of being dark, Fairbanks has 20 hours 11 minutes of sunshine during the day, in July. In December they have 3 hours 45 minutes each day. We have darkening shades in our trailer and I sure am glad. It’s never really dark. We passed by the purport and they had 2 strips running parallel to each other. One was the normal paved strip we are used to and the other was water! We drove a bit north of Fairbanks to see the pipeline and read all about that. They clean out the pipe by sending a “pig” though it. Pig in a pipe? We almost hit a very large moose, they can weigh up to 1800 pounds, so, very glad we missed him! We played golf with a young couple. She had been to Solid Rock Bible Camp when she was a girl. These camps really touch many lives. Denali National Park This was not a disappointment. There are ‘the big five’ as they are called,; The wolf The Dall sheep The grizzly bear The moose The caribou And then of course, the Big One, Mt McKinley We had been told that if the day was sunny and warm, we would probably see Mt. McKinley. If the day was overcast, we were more likely to see the animals. We saw all 5 of the major animals, and Mt McKinley. Our guide told the group that that doesn’t happen even once in 2 seasons for him. He was almost as excited as we were. Of course, we just said, “thank you Lord!” Our camp site was perched on the edge of the Nenana Canyon with the Nenana River far below. Quite spectacular. Next day it was raining and looked like it would rain for many days, so we drove on to the Kenai Peninsula. 6,647 miles from home and we are here!!! We are only about 10 miles from where we will be working for the next month. Its nice to know we won’t be traveling for a while. We drove over and met our leaders. They are a very nice couple. This trip has been all that we envisioned. From the tiny buds on the fireweed to the great Mt McKinley, the LORD God made them all. We say with the psalmist, “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Ps 19:1

moose
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