Arctic Thunder 2012

This past weekend was Arctic Thunder 2012, our area’s biannual air show and military base open house.  This year the main even was the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds!  The day did not quite go as planned for us due to much larger numbers than planned causing some traffic and shuttle delays (http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-arctic-thunder-2012-air-show-sees-record-number-20120728,0,3162836.story).  Officials stated that there was somewhere between 100,000 to 150,000 people were there on Saturday alone!  We went with some friends, had some long waits, but we still ended up having a blast!

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds lined up on the tarmac

A gorgeous day!

The Bolstridges

The weather ended up being a nice range of temperatures.  It varied from sunny and in the upper 70s to cloudy, with a cool wind.  It was perfect so we did not freeze, but did not roast (although most of us went home with slightly pink faces).  When we arrived on the JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) flightline, the warbird demonstration had just begun!  

B-25 a.k.a "Doolittle Raider"

We walked around, took some photos, and scoped out a good spot to watch the rest of the show.  After some snacks, the joint forces demonstration started and then in the middle of it some F-22s had to take off to Japan for a mission.  Once they took off, the demonstration finished, and then the formal F-22 demonstration followed!

Andrew and John taking pictures

F-15 engines

Emily and Olivia

John and Lincoln

Andrew and Lincoln

F-22 taking off for Japan

C-17 performing a tactical landing

C-17

John getting Lincoln ready for the F-22s

Some airmen got the best view on the tarmac

Lincoln getting sugared up

Finally, on to the main event – the Thunderbirds!  After watching them practice a few times from my office earlier in the week, I was beyond excited.  My best guess was that the last time I had seen this group in an airshow was when I was in high school.  When they took off, the excitement was still there as I grinned and took photos non-stop!

As the Thunderbirds landed we headed back to catch the shuttle to our cars, and ended up waiting for awhile, but we had a blast spending the time with good friends.  It wound up being a great Saturday – well worth the wait!

Mount Baldy and Paragliders

This summer has been notably wet and not very warm in Southcentral Alaska.  However, we have had a few spots of sunshine throughout the summer, and last week was one of them.  Thursday after work, Andrew and I headed up to the trailhead and parking lot of Mount Baldy, in Eagle River to take some pictures.  It was in the mid-70s and we could see Denali (Mount McKinley from the highway)!  By the time we got to the parking lot, it became quite hazy, and we could not see the mountain anymore, however we still had a great view!  There were also about five or six paragliders launching from the top of the mountain that passed us as we were taking pictures.  

Andrew photographing a paraglider

Paragliding into the sun

Heading down to Eagle River

A hazy view of Mt. Susitna a.k.a. "Sleeping Lady"

Alaskan fireweed

Dipnetting...only in Alaska

This past weekend we made out third annual trip to the shores of the Kenai River to participate in a truly Alaskan activity - dipnetting.  What it consists of is standing in the river with a 5 foot in diameter net and wait for the salmon (sockeye/reds) to swim into your net.  Then you flip your net over (in the correct direction - this is key!) and drag it to shore.

A view of the river from the bluff the RV park sits on

Only Alaskan residents are permitted to do it, as subsistence, and we are allowed 25 fish for the head of household, plus 10 per additional family member (so we're allowed 35)!  Last year we caught our best yet at 20+, and we can have salmon about 3 times a week for dinner!  This year was not so successful, and we caught 3 - total...  We still had a blast, and will "live off" the remainder from last year's for awhile anyway. 

Brittany, Andrew & Robert lined up in the river waiting for the salmon to swim in

A view of the semi-crowded shore - folks fish, fillet, and camp out here!

Brittany, Andrew & Robert

 We went out Friday night's tide and got pretty wet as it was right when all the boats were coming into the port for the evening, so we kept getting drenched in their wakes.  Thankfully, it wasn't raining and the sun came out form the clouds around 8 p.m. (it was about 50-60 degrees that night).

The sun!

Andrew holding a beautiful fillet before we vacuum-packed them

Saturday it rained almost all day, so we hung out in the RV park above the bluff that goes down to the river and went to our annual lunch spot - St. Elias Brewery, for pizza and beer.

Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church in old town Kenai 

(a block away from the RV park)

Part of old town Kenai, and a smaller Russian Orthodox chapel

The bluff we walk down to get to the river (with all our gear in tow)

Fireweed on the path down the bluff to the river

All in all, it was a great weekend with friends and experiencing the Alaskan "summer" (regardless of how many fish we caught)!

Twins and Pottery

Last Thursday I had a GREAT day - Aimee, the kids & I met our girlfriends Bridgett and Meghan for lunch and had a twin reunion.  The Mackeys are the first friends we made when we moved to Alaska 15 years ago when we started school at Mirror Lake Middle School.  Even though I work with Bridgett, I hadn't seen Meghan since our high school graduation!  

Can you tell who's who?

It was a great lunch, followed by a great evening after work - Aimee, Abby & I went to All Fired Up, a paint-your-own-pottery place and then to dinner.  

A few months ago I went out with my girls from church & we had a girls' night: pizza & beer at Moose's Tooth, and then we started our projects at All Fired Up.  I never finished mine, so I needed to go back.  I made a plate and mug.  Aimee made a "Celebration Plate" (thanks for the idea, Nicole - you have a special plate for the family when they have something great happen/do something great), and Abby made herself a mug for her hot chocolate!

What our projects looked like when we left (my mug & plate are in front)

The finished projects after I picked them up today - can't wait to use them!

Bear Paw and 15 years!

This past weekend was 27th Annual Bear Paw Festival in Eagle River, and it was my 14th year attending it!  The following day was also the 15th anniversary of moving to Alaska - how crazy!  This is by far the longest I've lived anywhere (the previous record was 5 years in Germany, which I don't remember any of, since I was so young, and the average for any other location was 3-4 years).  Quite impressive for a former Air Force brat.
Anyway, we had a blast going to the Grand Parade and watching the various floats and groups.  Then Aimee and I took Abby on the "big girl rides" and had a blast!  Since we don't have any real amusement parks in Alaska, this was the closest it gets & some of the rides were quite impressive!  After weeks of rain and clouds, it warmed up a bit (lower 60s) and stayed dry until later that evening.  Some pictures of the fun (and exhausting) day are below:

Aimee and Abby before the parade

Connor being a ham

Sisters!

The Woodley family watching the parade

A dancing fez and the shiners!

View of Bear Paw and Eagle River from the ferris wheel

Aimee and Abby being silly on the ferris wheel

Aimee and Abby flying down the Super Slide

Aimee and Abby on the Squirrel Cages (Abby did so good & wanted to go again!)

Another view of Bear Paw and the Chugach Mountains

Twins!