Glad to finally be home!
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We left Fairbanks this morning and it was bright, sunny and in the 70's. So I decided to wear a sundress for the drive home. By the time we got to the Denali Park area it was COLD raining and in the 30's! I thought for sure it was going to switch over to snow. It did in the higher elevations but not down where we were. It was still a beautiful drive but quite a contrast in weather within just a few hours of driving.
We took a drive out along the Steese Highway tonight and stopped along the way to take a look at the Alaskan Pipeline. It was interesting and it is amazing to see land unending for miles and miles uninhabited.
It has stayed pretty warm here this week. Not as hot as Monday, but it is supposed to be sunny for our drive back tomorrow. We will see as they forecast Thunderstorms for today and we didn't get them. That is another anomaly of the interior.
We made good time on our way to Fairbanks. It was very warm when we left Eagle River and the sun continued shining all day. It is near 80* here and it never gets that hot back at home so it feels quite strange, not like Alaska at all. The interior of Alaska gets much colder in the winters and much hotter in the summer then we do in Southcentral Alaska.
We didn't see as much wildlife as I would have liked to. We spotted two mother moose with their calves twice and we had to stop once for a huge bull moose that decided to cross the road in front of us taking his sweet time.
There were several ground squirrels that darted about across the road and I saw a large swan flying over a lake. I don't think I have ever seen a swan airborne before.
It has been a beautiful "summer" thus far here in Alaska. Unlike last year, where we only had two days above 70*. This year we have had near record breakiing temperatures.
The kids and I have been sitting outside, soaking up the sun and eating icecream. Yesterday we washed the cars and today we walked up to the field by the school and watched the paragliders land.
We will enjoy it while it lasts as it can change quickly here! Hope you are enjoying your summer as well.
Our sun is taking a break but we need the rain as it is very dusty from the last time Mt Redoubt erupted. I hosed of the entire outside of the house and washed windows, there was so much dirt (dust) on the screens. Also hosed down the driveway and you could see the water turn grey. I scrubbed our deck so it is fresh and clean for Cody's graduation party!
Mt Redoubt is rummbling again and threatening an eruption. I hope it doesn't spew ash our way and interfere with Cody's party or with Charles' flight.
As of today the CDC reports H1N1 swine flu has now infected 286 people in 36 states and WHO reports it appears to have longer than normal incubation period.
The Alaskan health officials have changed there opening statement from no suspected or confirmed cases to no confirmed cases. It is a very slight change in wording but obvious to anyone who is paying close attention that they probably have suspected cases.
The Anchorage School District also sent out an automated alert saying they are not aware of any confirmed cases but that if there should be that schools would close on a case by case basis.
I am happy to report that I no longer have a fever or a headache and I never had any respiratory symptoms. It was a beautiful week here in Eagle River and I probably got too much sun. After not having a summer here in Alaska last year I will NOT complain about too much sun!
For weeks we have been looking forward to Vivian's 50th Birthday Party tonight. Then this morning I wake up with a fever of 100.7 and a headache. I didn't think much of it until this afternoon I find our family had come in contact with two people who are being tested for the swine flu!
I do not feel like I have the flu at all and no one in our family is exhibiting signs of being sick but I just would not want to be responsible for carrying a virus out to any one else. So we will stay home and miss the party. I am hoping they have great fun and wish we could have joined them.
... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR DIXIE COUNTY...
AT 736 PM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ROCKY CREEK... OR 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STEINHATCHEE... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HINES BY 750 PM EDT... CROSS CITY AND CROSS CITY AIRPORT BY 755 PM EDT...
IN ADDITION TO DAMAGING WINDS... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOOR IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS REMEMBER... IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER... YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO B STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.