Expected Low Tonight...

Hello - It has been another great day in the "land up north." On the drive from Anchorage to Soldotna late this morning I encountered three Dall Sheep (click the link - check out the pictures) by the side of the road at Beluga Point (about 15 minutes outside of Anchorage). This is a common spot to view Dall Sheep in the summer and often you can drive by seeing people "looking up" on the hillside. During the summer we actually stopped at this spot twice when Connie and family visited, spotting Dall Sheep on both occasions. Today was pretty special as I was able to get very close to these wild animals for these pictures (and trust me I was pretty sure I could out run them from the distance I was at if need be)...by the way it was cold at roughly 4 degrees at 11am. I told Heidi tonight - at that temp, you remember pretty quickly if you forgot to put your gloves and hat on when getting out of the car.

Recently I have been struck by the "steam" that rises off the water as the temps drop. It seems like an odd phenomenon when you consider how cold the water also is during the winter. Today as the tide from Turnagain Arm was rushing out the view of the steam rising from the remaning water flow was beyond description. I have included two pictures here for your enjoyment. Note the chunks of ice and snow left as the water clears out of the inlet. During the summer months you will see mud flats rather than the ice field. Even after a year and half I am amazed by the ever changing landscape as well as the beauty from the powerful forces of nature!

A big shout out to Erika (click the link, check out her blog, it's cool) for telling me about photobucket. This is the website I used to upload these pictures. Much faster and more effective than the typical pdf slideshows I have compiled in the past.

Just got off the phone with Mary. She gave me the all important weather update - Anchorage is expecting -7 as tonight's low, while Soldotna may see -25. (good thing the hotel has pull-ins for our cars). This news is extremely important as it requires that ALL electrontic devices be brought into warmer surroundings...nothing worse than having your Xbox or Camera freeze in the car. Seward looks like it is having heavy winds which means the windchill will drive those temps down...good news currently it is 2 degrees with the windchill (wish I was home in Seward where it is warmer - Ha! Ha!)

Before I go, if you get a chance this week check out Iron Chef on the Food Network - this week's secret ingredient is Chocolate. Gotta go for now - But come back soon...Mary is now able to log in and post so between the two of us...the adventure continues!

Ginger