Read about Marc's attempt to get to Shageluk on 5-6 December.

Trip Books: The Broker – John Grisham; Welcome to The Monkey House – Kurt Vaunegut, Jr.

Wednesday, December 7
This entry (at least this first part) is being written early in the day. I am sitting in my car on the Seward Highway on Turnagain Arm. It is nasty out. Rain, rain, rain, wind, wind, wind. I stopped to enjoy my lunch along the ocean. Well, I am enjoying it, or at least it's an experience. The wind is so hard it's shaking the car, as if a big-rig was passing every 5 seconds. The water is cool, some nice surf, especially with all the ice chunks moving about and crashing along the shore. When I got out for a second, I had trouble opening the door. I have only been in weather like this twice in my life: on Mt Washington (in early September) and on the Juneau Icefield. Those two days, however, were zero visibility and freezing rain. So, luckily for me, I can see the cars on the road and the road is not too slick. Anyway, I should be getting on to Seward now.

(If you are in Anchorage, make sure you stop by Great Harvest Bread, Co. Delicious. The white chocolate and cherry bread is to die for.)

After a treacherous drive through Turnagain Pass (can anyone say slush balls falling from the sky?), I arrived in Seward at about 3:30 pm. It was pouring rain. I mean, an absolute downpour. I was really happy I did not have to set up a site in that weather. At 4 pm, I went across the tracks to the Alaska Science Learning Laboratories to meet with first time ALISON teacher Marvin Tapsfield and his class. It was a class of five in second year high school chemistry. Needless to say they had some good, insightful, and even challenging questions. They also did a great job answering mine, of which I had many. We then talked a little bit about college and graduate school in general. They were especially interested since they would be heading off in just a few years.

After finishing with them, I checked into yet another Holiday Inn Express that had maybe four other people staying there. I had a nice second floor balcony overlooking the boardwalk and marina. It was still pouring rain, but I did spend a few minutes out there later in the evening with a nice cup of hot tea. For dinner, on Marvin's recommendation, I went to Apollo's. For the winter, they have a special Mexican menu. I had stuffed chilis which I found to be quite good. However, I don't think I have had them anywhere else, so I cannot really compare them to anything. I then had a nice, relaxing dip in the spa at the hotel and went to bed.

I am somewhat disappointed I couldn't do my traditional walk from the Seal Life Center to the Marina and back. It was cancelled due to weather.

Read about Marc's next stop on his Kenai Peninsula trip - Sterling.