| ����� We crammed a lot of travel into those few days.� We first headed to north to the Matuniska-Susitna Valley (pronounced "the Mat-Su"), where the local farmers grow 90-pound cabbages in the long summer days.� I don't know who would want a 90-pound cabbage except a 100-pound rabbit, but it's impressive nonetheless. ����� We spent the night in a mountain ski lodge where the cabins lacked running water.� (A common theme in Alaska, it seems).� In 60 degree weather we hiked to a mountain lake, watched the sun go down at ten o'clock at night, then pelted each other with snowballs. ����� The next day we drove to Whittier on the edge of Prince William Sound.� The federal government built Whittier as an army base in the 1950s, and everyone lives in a single high-rise condominium that has all the charm and grace of, well, a government-built 1950s high-rise condominium.� Our "bed-and-breakfast" was a 14th floor condo that smelled like unwashed �towels.� At least it had running water -- I flushed the toilet once and it ran all night long.����� Despite the weird surroundings, I found Alaskans to be a lot like Georgians: easy-going, friendly people who probably enjoy shooting large animals.� The only difference is that an Alaskan would make handy kitchen tools out of the bones. ����� We ended our travels in the town of Girdwood, about 30 miles south of Anchorage, where the wedding was to take place at the Crow Creek Mine. ����� Susie's father is a retired state judge.� In the normal United States, if the father of the bride is a retired state judge, you expect an extravaganza of drinking, dancing, eating, and spending fifteen seconds with the happy couple. � ����Not in Alaska.� The judge loaded tents, tables, and chairs into his pick-up truck and trailer and drove up to the mine.� A couple of Tom's friends hauled in the drinks.� We hammered up the tents, set up the chairs, and tossed the beer into a pond to chill.� In a couple of hours we were ready for the ceremony. ����� � In the end, the weather was beautiful, the buffet was delicious, and a grand time was had by all.� No one struck gold in the stream, but a lucky few found bottles of nicely chilled beer.� |