Sunday 1st July 2012 - Alaskan Cod & Chips with Newcastle Brown Ale! -9hrs BST

I arrived into the Hilton Anchorage at 900pm local time - 100am 2nd July for you - having left home by taxi at 500am and enduring a 9.5 hour flight from London Heathrow to George Bush International Airport Houston Texas with United Airlines. Not a memorable flight just very long and boring. I had to pass immigration on arrival, a relative quick and painless process with a Homeland Security Official very keen to know about WImbledon! On to collect my baggage and then pass through security again for the domestic flight to Anchorage which entailed removing shoes and and a full body scan! The airport was heaving and then I remembered that it is the Independence Holiday Weekend so everyone was in transit to make the most of this public holiday.
The flight was delayed for an hour because of a broken fuel cap and I have to admit that it was a gruelling 7 hour flight up to Anchorage but we touched down at 800pm local time, the Regent reps were on hand to welcome us and within 20 minutes I was out in 72 F sun shine NAND being whisked into downtown Anchorage and begun re-living 9 hours of my life again, a whole new experience for me.
The formalities completed and after a welcome shower and despite being en route for 28 hours I made my back back for a snack in the hotel cafe. I chose Alaskan Cod & Chips and yes draught Newcastle Brown Ale! The waiter was amazed when I told him that I had lived for a time close to where this ale was brewed and that I had even done some consultancy work for the company. The food was excellent as was the ale but after watching the ISA Gymnastics teams being selected for the Olympics and then showered in tinsel I could hardly keep my eyes open and retired to bed after a 30 hours day but all worth it watching the sunset across anchorage bay with the mournful sounds of American freight trains in the distance. It didn't however get totally dark since if course Anchorage is only 400 miles below the Arctic Circle. Needless to say I slept well.
The photo to follow is of a Polar Bear in the adjacent cabinet to the Brown Bear.
As I write this blog we have just entered Yukutat Bay on our way to view the Hubbard Glacier but it is thick fog outside and the ship's siren is sounding every few minutes. Hopefully it will clear but the Captain is not hopeful and we may have to turn back if the ice and fog get to dense.
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