Monday 2nd July 2012 - A Morning in Anchorage

Compared with the previous evening the weather this morning is rather dull and overcast. After a hearty breakfast when I get to meet a few of my American cruise companions, who within seconds of joining me are discussing and comparing notes on their medical conditions - they are obsessed by what ails them - I have about 3 hours to explore before boarding the bus to drive us 140 miles south to join the Seven Seas Navigator at Seward.
I pick up a map and notice that not half a mile from the hotel is a coastal path which I decide to aim for. Anchorage itself was almost totally destroyed in a devastating earthquake which struck on Good Friday morning in 1964. In terms of its intensity it was the worst ever earthquake that has ever been recorded. So the city today is modern and set out in typical rectangular fashion with Avenues running west to east and Streets named from 'A to K' running north to south. Anchorage is spread across an alluvial plain between the Chugach mountains and the waters of the Cook Inlet. It is Alaska's largest city and since its founding in 1914 as a tent city has grown into the economic, commercial and transport hub of the state. The original tent city on the shores of Ship Creek acted a service camp for the Alaska Railroad. After the earthquake the construction of the Trans Alaska Pipeline in the 70s completely changed the profile of the city. The huge oil revenues led to an explosion of growth. The downtown area with new sports arenas, civic centres and other performing arts venues. As I later learnt there are 5 or so large buildings donated by the oil companies but there is not time this morning to explore the museum or the Alaska Native Heritage Center. I take a couple of street shots with the background of the snow capped Chugach mountains and make for the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
This trail runs for 11 miles alongside the waters of the Cook Inlet. Its quiet and the tide is out affording a wonderful view across the mud flats. Sadly there are only a few gulls to be seen on the flats but closer to the shore swifts swoop across the reed beds in pursuit of insects on the wing. A column of mountain bikers of all ages from a local school pass me on an holiday expedition all with a cheery 'Good Morning and he inevitable 'have nice day'! All along the banks are huge trunks of of driftwood trees, there silvered and weathered surfaces and gnarled forms giving a distinctive feel to the scene. In the distance across Cook Inlet I can see the Mount Spurr volcano. On the way back a train passes me with the distinctive blue and yellow markings of the the Alaska Railroad. Today the train makes a regular run for tourists up from Seward.
So I spend a relaxing hour walking the trail before walking the short distance back to downtown Anchorage and an endless stream of shopping mals and souvenir trading stores selling furs of all kinds. I search out a few of my favourite handcrafted fridge magnets to add to my burgeoning collection and head back to the hotel to pick up the bus to Seward.
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