One of my Favorite Things!!!

I really do think I have the best job ever. I get to visit hospitals and talk to them about what we do. I just happen to have the best places in my territory..... 

Alaska is where my travels brought me for a couple of weeks. I have had the opportunity to travel to Alaska a few times over the years. And out of all of the places I have traveled. Alaska is my favorite. 

It was rainy almost the whole time I was there but even with the rain and all the clouds there was still so much beauty I was able to see. 

The advantage I have with my job and Alaska is the Hospitals are pretty spread out so I got to drive through a healthy portion of the state to get from one hospital to the next which means I get to see lots of beautiful scenes. 

One of the things I have loved about Alaska when I have visited in the summer was the fireweed, but I never understood why it was called fireweed because it was full of purple flowers. 

But in the fall it turns a bright red and at some point as you will see in other pictures there is a white part that grows at the top that looks like smoke. I also learned this trip that fireweed pops up like a weed after a fire. Hence, fireweed.

I took a drive out to Matanuska glacier to take a peek. 

Breathtaking, if I had all the time in the world, you might just find me here soaking this in. This shows God's love for us. 

I drove past Sutton Alaska which use to be a coal mining town. 

Coal dryer

Sutton was settled in 1920 due to the US Navy paying to have the coal washing plant built. 2 weeks after the plant was finished they shut it down because they decided to move to oil rather than coal to run their ships. The buildings were taken a part board by board and most of them were moved to other locations. The town was then deserted.

This is the original bunkhouse that was built and it was moved board by board from Sutton to another location and later was sold to the State of Alaska and brought back here for the history society.

On my drive from Anchorage down to Homer I stopped off and took a short hike up to Virgin Falls  in Girdwood. 

I really had to use the restroom and there was this little bar, I pulled over and went in. These doors were pretty cool with the detail carved into them. 

I just can't get over the the color. 

This is the over look into Homer. I loved this place 6 years ago when I first visited with my friend Laura. I didn't realize how much I had missed it till I stopped in the same place we had stopped and I took a moment to take it in. I was filled with tranquility and peacefulness. 

One of the evenings I went for a run and not far off the path there was a bald eagle perched on the log. 

The sun setting in the background was spectacular. 

My hotel happened to be right on top of a hill near the water. 

Here is the beach front view. 

A sunset blossoming in the sky. 

One of the hospitals I needed to visit was in Seward. They got some monsoon rain the night before and when I rolled in on Thursday morning the roads were flooded. It was down to one lane traffic in parts and bridges were out. 

There was a lot of water and not long after I got out of Seward the roads in and out were closed. I got in and out in the nick of time. 

I had to take a stop at Ninilchik Village, Laura and I stopped in 6 years ago and I had to see if it had changed. 

Nope, it is still the same little fishing community as before. Just a small little Russian village down on the water. 

With the Russian Orthodox Church overlooking the Village. 

I took a drive out on the Homer Spit Saturday morning and when I went to turn around I looked in my side mirror and I saw these beautiful colors. I had to pull completely over and try to capture a good picture. By the time I got back into town from on the spit the rainbow had disappeared. 

I loved my time in Homer it was a great time and I met a lot of really great people. 

I was sad when I was leaving, because you never know how long it will be before you get to come back to a place like this. The Beauty in Homer is captivating and if you have a desire to come to Alaska you will want to make sure you make a stop in Homer. 

As I was driving down the highway I saw something walking on the side of the road. At first I thought it was a large dog but the closer I got I saw it was a BEAR!!!

As the one bear walked off the road and into the bushes and out in this open area two more walked out in front of him. 

"Say Cheese"

I loved that this one just took a seat. He must have been worn out. 

I am here still for another week and It looks like I am going to get the pleasure of heading to Fairbanks in a couple days to work up there and I will get to spend time with my Grandparents. Always a plus when coming to Alaska.