Trip of a Lifetime

This blog is about our trip to Alaska, the Trip of a Lifetime. We have long spoken about such a trip but the timing or the finances were never right. When Tom's father passed away and left a sum of money we were left with the decision of what to use it for that would honor his memory. Certainly not a piece of furniture or home repair. Those things pass out of service and are left curb-side. We wanted a memory that would be with us forever.







And so idea of a trip to Alaska was formed! On a visit to the AAA office in Appleton, I inquired about such trips, explaining that we just were not a "dinner and dancing with the Captain" sort of couple. Existing on a ship that could pass for a small city along with several thousand other passengers, and dressing formally for dinner just did not hold appeal. The brochures from a company named Cruise West caught our eye. As Goldilocks said, this one was "just right!"



My intention was to maintain this blog as we continued on our travels. I failed to take into account the fact that most of the areas we were in had no internet connections available (also no TV or phone!) ... so the remainder of the blog will be an "after the fact" accounting. I hope you enjoy it!

PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE ADDED AS SOON AS I GET THEM LOADED AND EDITED...............









Thursday, September 16, 2010

Alaska Trivia Quiz

We didn't have anything going on this afternoon, so they handed out a quiz that kept people busy for awhile.  It was pretty funny because groups would work together, hovering secretively over their resources.  I found alot of the answers in my notes and also on the map of Alaska in our booklets. However, there were some I just couldn't find in the resource books. At first I thought this was a rumor, but apparently it was true that the family group from the LaCrosse, Wisconsin area actually took resource books and sat on them and/or hid them so others could not use them.  They won the contest.  I think that is just sad and so contrary to every other experience I had on this trip.  How desperate is that, to cheat on a quiz?  If you ever read this, I hope you know what a pathetic bunch of losers you are. You ruined a fun experience for many people. Grow up . Or at least move to a state that honors your small minded self-centeredness.  You don't belong in Wisconsin.

1.  What is Alaska's largest private sector employer?
      A. FISHING

2.  What day is Alaska Day?
      A.  OCTOBER 18

3.  The U.S. Flag was raised for the first time in what city after the sale of the Alaska territory?
      A.  SITKA

4.  How much of Alaska lies within the Artic Circle?
     A.  1/3

5.  How many of the highest peaks in the U.S. are in Alaska (out of 20)?   
     A.  17

6.  What is the record high temperature in Alaska history?
     A.  100 F in 1915

7.  What is the record low in temperature in Alaska history?
     A.  -80 F in 1971

8.  What is the largest national forest in the U.S.?
     A.  TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST

9.  What would you be eating if you were served "muktuk" for dinner?
     A.  WHALE BLUBBER

10.  How many volcanos are in Alaska?
      A.  MORE THAN 70 ACTIVE

11.  How many national parks in Alaska?
       A.  15

12.  What is the State Motto?
       A.  NORTH TO THE FUTURE
13.  What is the state bird?
       A.  WILLOW PTARMIGAN

14.  What is the state flower?
       A.  FORGET-ME-NOT

15.  What is the state fish?
       A.  KING SALMON

16.  What is the state tree?
      A.  SITKA SPRUCE

17.  What is the state gem?
       A.  JADE

18.  What is the state mineral?
       A.  GOLD

19.  What is the state fossil?
       A.  WOOLY MAMMOTH

20.  What is the state insect?
       A.  FOUR SPOT SKIMMER DRAGON FLY

21.  What is the state sport?
       A.  DOG MUSHING

22.  When was Alaska purchased?
       A.  1867 (March 30)

23.  By whom?
      A.  UNITED STATES

24.  For how much?
      A.  $7,200,000

25.  It was known by America as?
      A.  SEWARD'S FOLLY

26.  There have been four major rushes in Alaska's history; what are they?
      A.  Fur, Gold, Oil, and Timber

27.  On what day did the big 1964 earthquake occur?
      A. March 27, Good Friday

28.  How many times could Rhode Island fit into the State of Alaska?
      A.  479
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