Another short update from the Anchorage public library. We returned yesterday from a week's stay in Nome. This "bush" town on the Bering Sea was rough and dusty but provided a pleasant base for birding the sub-Arctic tundra.

We flew in by Alaska Air, stayed in the Extra-Dry Bed and Breakfast, and rented a Ford Explorer from Stampede Ventures.

The flights were grand, but clouds on the way up hid most views after our crossing of the bay outside Anchorage. Our return flight had better weather and we stopped at Kotzebue above the Arctic Circle before heading south. Kotzebue Bay remained largely frozen. The patterns and colors of the composite ice surface were gorgeous. Patches of open water appeared as small blue lines and polygons across the frozen surface.

Just a short one today as we are in library and have just a few minutes left on the computer before the session runs out.

We survived and greatly enjoyed our birding ordeal at St. Paul Island. We birded through mist, fog, rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow with temperatures never exceeding 40 degrees and the wind chill 10 to 15 degrees colder. There is nothing like the sound of ice coated grass crinkling under your feet as you walk toward the sea cliffs.

We saw a number of extremely rare birds including a great knot and smew on this patch of tundra in the Bering Sea. Also cliff nesting species including puffin and auklets.

[img_assist|fid=1092|thumb=1|alt=Going into the Yukon|caption=Arriving in the Yukon Territory with Minnie.|width=100|height=75]

[img_assist|fid=1098|thumb=1|alt=RV Park Haines Junction, Yukon Territory|caption=Our RV Park in Haines Junction was typical of establishments in small towns. It had everything: clothes, convenience store, gas, and great for us- a terrific view of the mountains and access to a nature trail. You may notice that gas was $1.15, that is per liter, and works out to just under $4 per gallon, US currency.|width=100|height=75]

Well, we are international travelers sort of. Our Alaska adventure began with the ferry trip to Haines. There we enjoyed coastal scenery and many many sea birds. Trees were leafing out and snow was receeding.

On our last day we drove about thirty miles up the Haines Highway and found nesting trumpeter swans and enjoyed a "33 burger" at a country restaurant and gas station at mile-post 33. The road followed the Chilcat River that yielded sights of moose, dozens of eagles, and our first arctic terns of the year. The valley was beginning to show signs of spring, but several feet of snow remained around the thawing marshes and rushing river.

This was one park we had to hike in to. Needless to say we were unable to camp there on May 3, 2007

There were frequent views of mountains, waterfalls, and a few glaciers (we will see more on the interior) along the way

We've seen a number of totems in towns along the Marine Highway.