Anchorage

Today we got up early to leave for Anchorage - we got the the giant Wells Fargo building at 8:30, which seemed strange, but actually inside the Wells Fargo is an absolutely amazing museum.  I took about 100 pictures in the museum and I won't bore you with all of them, but here's a couple of my favorites...

Fashionable, totally waterproof, and made of Seal intestine! How great is that??  Have some seal intestine laying around??  Now you know what to do with it!!



So intricate and detailed... clothing of the tlinget people (this is the same cultural group as the Indians of the Pacific Northwest.)

And then guess who showed up????????  (I was FREAKING out.)

Okay, we knew she was coming, but I still had a panic-attack when I saw her.  Do you guys recognize who this is??  Maybe not, without all the parkas and hats and gloves and icicles hanging from her face... It's Aliy Zirkle!!  Second place finisher, all-around great person, and my personal favorite musher.  Sitting next to her is her husband Allen Moore, who raced the Yukon Quest last year, and who is planning on running BOTH the Yukon Quest AND the Itidarod in 2013.  They were both amazing and friendly and were infinitly patient with the million requests for pictures and autographs.

Aliy gave a really great presentation, which I video recorded and if I can get it on youtube, I will send you the link.  Her message was so great, and exactly what I always hope to convey to you guys (my students):  work as hard as you can, don't quit when things get hard, and enjoy your successes. 

Aliy, me and Allen

Aliy and Allen - posing for yet another picture

Can I fit this in my suitcase??

In the afternoon, we were off to the Alaskan Native Heritage Museum, where I saw lots more really cool stuff, but nothing more cool than this complete grey whale skeleton. Why can't I find one of these on the beach to pick up?? 

Bedtime!  I'm too tired to keep my eyes open any more - sorry if there are spelling errors, to tired to proofread!  Nite-nite!