Today is July 15th, Steve's Birthday. Happy Birthday to a wonderful husband and father! I miss him every single day. Today we felt like we were walking in his footsteps as we began our adventures in one of his favorite places, Alaska. What a wonderful way to celebrate his birthday.
We arrived in Anchorage around 1:30 p.m. I thought that perhaps it would be a travel day, with not much to see or do, since we would be getting a late start on our day in Alaska. I was surprised and thrilled when I learned different. Mike had us on a tight schedule for the entire day/night. The sun doesn't set until around midnight, so it makes you feel like you can just keep going.
Our first official stop was Hatcher Pass which consists primarily of mountainous terrain in the Talkeetna Mountain Range. It is an hour and 20 minutes from Anchorage, and about 20 minutes from Palmer and Wasilla. There we enjoyed the gorgeous mountains, green velvet hills and extraordinary views. We hiked up to the crystal clear Gold Cord Lake. It reminded me a lot of both Mary's Lake, and Ceret Lake in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon, in Utah.
In the same valley as our hike is Independence Mine State Historical Park. This Park consists of two abandoned gold mine combined as one. We were able to wander around, hike through the old mines, and railroads. There was an abandoned village where the miners lived and worked. We browsed through the streets imagining what it would have been like to be a miner during the gold rush.
After our adventures in Hatcher's Pass, we drove to Wasillia. There we visited the apartment that Mike lived in while he was serving there. Of course the missionaries were out, so we weren't able to see inside. We stopped by the Stake Center, and a couple members homes, before reaching Bishop and Sister Gray's house.
The Gray's had invited to their home for dinner. They were wonderful hosts, and delightful people. Their home was a beautiful log cabin, located on a small lake. As you walked in their home a large window captured a stunning view of the lake. It is a home you would imagine in a magazine or wedding event.
We enjoyed talking with Bishop and Sister Gray, and meeting several members of their family. They spoiled us, with a dinner consisting of halibut, salmon, and King Crab. They loved Elder Brown and were so grateful for the wonderful service he had provided in their area.
After our lovely evening with the Gray's we stopped by the famous Miller Ice Cream Parlor on the way to Willow. Rumor is they have the best ice cream around. Mike never served in Willow, but he visited there. Steve had served in Willow and helped build a church there. It was interesting to compare the pictures he took in the 1980's with the ones we took.
On our way back to Anchorage, we stopped by Calle Eagle River, a small town just out of Anchorage. Mike served part of his mission there, and gave us a quick tour.
What an amazing day we had. Throughout our visit to Wasilla I kept having deja vu. I kept feeling as if I had been there before. I wonder if perhaps instead of deja vu, the feelings I was having were from our guardian angel spending part of his birthday with us in a place near and dear to his heart. I can't adequately describe the feelings I was having, but whatever it was, it was wonderful.
