Posted on 08/20/2005 4:25:48 PM PDT by neverdem
YOU have probably already heard about the pile of cash going to Alaska from the federal transportation bill. There's about a quarter of a billion dollars for a bridge to connect the airport on Gravina Island to Ketchikan (population 14,000). The bridge will rival the Golden Gate and Brooklyn Bridges in length and height.
Then there's $230 million or so for "Don Young's Way," a bridge between Anchorage and a swampy, undeveloped port, which is named for the man who got us the money, Alaska's lone congressman.
But it's the $15 million designated for a road between Juneau and Skagway that is dearest to me. Haines, the small town I live in, is close to Skagway - separated from it only by the waters of the upper Lynn Canal, which is not a canal at all, but the longest fjord in North America. The transportation money will go toward the first road ever to be built along the canal. Actually, the project will cost about $300 million to complete, but Gov. Frank Murkowski assures Alaskans that he'll get whatever he needs from the federal government.
The communities directly affected - Haines (population 2,400), Skagway (population 870) and Juneau (population 31,000) - have voiced opposition to the road for a host of good reasons: it is a waste of money; with at least two dozen avalanche chutes, it will be too dangerous to drive in winter, which is most of the year; we already have a fine ferry system that gets us just about everywhere we need to go in all kinds of weather; some places are too nice to be paved over.
Oh, and did I mention that the road won't fulfill its ostensible mission? The whole purpose of the new road was to connect Juneau to the Klondike Highway...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Death by ignorance. Well put, porkchops. I posted to Right Whale a minute ago. I put more information in that post about the book and McCandless.
You own a lawnmower? Most of my neighbors have planted gravel in their yard. A few minutes with a slingblade to take care of the fireweed that grows even in gravel and that's it for summer yard maintenance.
Which part of the state are you in? I'm in the eastern Interior. We dropped down into the 20's Friday night and some of my flowers took a big hit. We covered the raised garden beds with tarps but I'm just about ready to get everything picked now. It's time to let it go. I haven't been off our property for awhile now but I'm going to go into town later today. I can't see the mountains through our trees, but I'll check to see if there's any termination dust up there.
It was quite a story in the local paper.
They wrote enough column inches over a couple months to make a book.
Since the sky has cleared up this afternoon we could be in for a good frost tonight. Get the veggies before the moose do.
We have some areas where we "planted gravel" too. LOL But I just HAD to have some grass to roll in during the summer. Love the smell of fresh cut grass.
You know, I had another thought. Yep, two in one day. You know how the MSM weathermen ignore Alaska and Hawaii. They'll report the "coldest temperature in the U.S. today is...", and they'll say it's some place out east or in the Dakotas, etc. Do you ever want to throw a snowball at those lying idiots? If they really reported the "lowest temp in the United States", we'd be in the weather report 99% of the time in the winter months, but it's a cold day in hell (har har) when you'll hear Alaska mentioned.
We've got a few high clouds floating around, but if they move off, we'll probably get a good frost here too. The early moose hunt starts on Thursday. I think it's Thursday...and closes Sunday. I think the bulls are still up high though so our chances aren't real good for this hunt. I'd gladly give up some vegees to a bull moose this weekend. LOL
Well, if they told the truth everybody would want to live in the Interior. LOL. Out of sight, out of mind.
I like it that way too. My father always said, "it's just another day in paradise". "Frozen Paradise".....sounds like a good name for eskimo ice cream. LOL
My first place here had a real yard in an overly manicured subdivision. At this house, I've mowed twice this year. It is mostly covered in trees. The dwarf fireweed grows on the side; I want more of it.
I'm in Eagle River. I work in Midtown area of Anchorage. It is a short commute. Although I'm no where near "real" Alaska, at least I'm out of Anchorage. About the same drive to the Mat-Su valley so we get some variety. My work takes me to the Slope once in a while. I've got a little finger that gets numb easy 'cause I spent 3 minutes without a glove while taking some picture of a piperack we wanted to modify. By the time I felt it, it was too late. No real damage, no loss of skin. But in hurt for days and works as my warning signal now. Soo fast it can happen.
Hi,
I lived in Eagle River in 72 & 73, then moved to Wasilla. I drove to Anchorage to work. If I remember correctly, it was about 110 miles round trip every day. Good old Muldoon, 4th street, Lake Otis, Spenard, etc. We moved out in 79.
My 2 cents
We were just down in your neck-of-the-woods a couple of weeks ago. Our son, his wife and our first-born grandson, live in Anchorage. Our other son has moved down to your area recently too.
Eagle River sure is growing, but if I had to live down there, I'd rather be in Eagle River than Anchorage too. Even though the area has grown, the scenic backdrop is still beautiful.
We used to live up north (above the circle). No television, no plumbing, a lovely outhouse, and we melted snow for water in the winter and hauled it from springs and Coldfoot in the summer months. I think most Alaskans have at least one frostbit spot on their body. It's just part of living in the extreme elements. The cold can bite you even when you think you're paying attention. LOL
Hello besafe05, I'm sure you'd be quite suprised at the growth in the Anchorage bowl since you lived there. You wouldn't believe the prices of real estate now. Then again, my son says I've just been in the woods too long. He says the prices are pretty average, but to me, they are anything but average.
Hi to both of you,
I have the websites of The Anchorage Dailey News and The Fairbanks News Minor book-marked, so I read the news every day. Yes the prices of real estate have increased dramatically since I left.
If not for my wife I would still be living up there. I loved it. Yes, we're still married.
I built a log home outside of Wasilla up Lucas road. There wasn't too much around Wasilla at that time. Holy mackeral! I just realized it's been over 30 years. Wow!!!!!!!!!
Your wife must be a wonderful woman since you gave up Alaska for her. You're a lucky man. :)
I wish you hadn't done the math. I was thinking the 70's weren't THAT long ago. THIRTYYYYY YEEAAARRRRSSS. Lord, I'm getting old. LOL
I wonder if your log home is still there? Aw, I'm sure it is. We stopped in Wasilla to get a few groceries before heading back home and you just wouldn't believe the traffic. They're tearing up the highway there and the construction delays were horrible right now. We talked to a gal in the store and she wanted to know what our area was like. When she moved to Wasilla years ago, it wasn't anything like it is now. Heck, they have MALLS.
Maybe you can make the trip up sometime and check out your old stompin' grounds. :)
This Nov. will be 44 years of marriage. I wouldn't trade my wife for a new cadillac.
I can remember the D&A Super market, Teelands, Kashim Motel, Tesoro gas station[which got about $120 a month from me for my gas bill]. Ah the memories.
Well take care, have to sign off now. It's about 10:00 PM here in PA and 5:00 AM comes pretty quick.
Enjoy your life in Alaska.
I will be in Ketchikan and Skagway in a month, will see for myself, and of course take plenty of photos.
When you are down there, remember that is a different world--and climate--than the Interior, and again than the North Slope. Alaska has as much climate variation as, say, Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio and Arkansas.
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