Anchorage Notes - Day 2

Driving toward Kincaid Park in the morning, we spotted a moose grazing on the roadside. A young bull with short, hairy horns. He was very happy, we pulled up about 20 feet away to snap some pictures and observe. What a gift. 

Next, we visited a rocky beach right below the airport (near bootleggers cove) where you can see 747s fly right over and land. On this beach, we found a watch and two old, buried cars. Apparently in the old days, people would just dump stuff right over the edge of the road down a cliff onto the beach. I've now seen three partially buried abandoned cars around Alaska. 

Because the tides move so fast around Anchorage, they can move out and people can walk from this beach to Fire Island in the mud. But what's difficult is getting back on the same tide, so many will hang out there until the next tide recedes. Every once in awhile someone dies trying to make it back to Anchorage but the tide gets them.

Stopped near bootleggers cove and saw some mallard ducks.

Next stop was Kincaid park. Very crowded. Turns out there's a 40 team soccer tournament happening. Youth soccer blows Pride event out of the water - a reminder of how people actually live and what people actually do with their time. Kincaid park an interesting spot - feels like part State Park, part City Park. With the soccer tourney, it felt like Golden Gate Park, but with huge off-the-beaten-path trails. Ate a quick reindeer dog before hiking a bit. No animals, but we found old moose poop everywhere - turns out old moose poop makes good fire fuel. Kids enjoy picking it up and throwing at each other. 

Next stop was Flat Top Mountain - a mountain outside Anchorage with a view of the entire city where there is still snow. Kids loved messing around in the snow, snapped a few great pictures. Did a little hike. This is a place locals go to see the Auroras when the time is right.

Next, a quick stop at Potter Marsh. Some bird watching. Saw our 2nd (my third as I spotted one while driving) moose of the day just hanging out eating in the marsh. Saw an eagle's nest but no eagles. Took a gorgeous video of the moose in the foreground, a train passing in the midground, and mountains in the background.

Ate a small dinner with extended family before calling it a day.

Watched 15 minutes or so of Cocaine Bear. A good example of where not to put the camera as a film director...