Cut from a piece of Trans-Alaskan pipeline; artist, Chad Dietz
Final hours in Alaska spent at Harley Davidson dealership on Spenard Road in Anchorage.
The Lucky Wishbone
Final day in Alaska and having lunch at the oldest diner in Anchorage – the Lucky Wishbone.
Established in 1955 by George and Peg Brown, who packed up the kids and dog and moved from WISCONSIN to Anchorage. The couple bought land at the edge of town (2 miles out of town at that time; his friends said he was crazy – nobody would drive that far) – 5th and Karluk St. and built the restaurant – t’s been there ever since. The restaurant has dine-in and a drive-thru, and is known for it’s fresh chicken, lean hamburgers and long-term staff.
The initial restaurant was small; there was inside seating and a drive-thru.
George said he hated the drive-thru. “When I bought out my partner, I was going to close it up, but then I looked at the books…well, as you can see, I kept it.”
George has heavy square glasses that are tinted yellow. It’s a look that hearkens to his days in the Army Air Corps. There’s a vintage photo of George in uniform on one side of an old grandfather clock (see below) behind the waitress station. On the other side is a 1950’s photo of his wife, Peg.
Peg (L) and George (R) Brown
Owners of the Lucky Wishbone Restaurant
Originally from Wisconsin
“When I met her, I was smitten, ” said George. “She died five years ago and on her headstone it says ‘Beloved mother and a hell of a partner.'” The pair had been married 67 years.
George Brown (age 91)
“Came here from the small town of Hager City, Wisconsin; it’s across from Red Wing, Minnesota,” said George. A green and white Hager City sign hangs on the wall across from the table where George sat, talked, was interrupted, and talked some more. “Put the wife, kids, and dog in the car and came up the Alaskan Highway because I needed to make some money,” he said.
WWII pilot Bill Brooks (97) was eating at the restaurant.
The inside of the diner is filled with memorabilia from local pilots and the neighboring Merrill Field. George flew P-40’s in WWII. “Transport planes in the China, Burma, India theater,” yelled George above the growing din. All the tables at the Wishbone are now full. There’s a pickup in the drive-thru and a party of four waiting at the door. “Here’s my good friend,” said George, jumping out of his seat to greet Bill Brooks (see picture above) – a pilot in WWII. His buddy, George, pays tribute to him with a much younger photo which he pointed out on the back wall. Brooks is dressed in pilot leather with a white scarf in the photo, looking very Errol Flynn.
Famous Chicken from Lucky Wishbone restaurant
Made it! Over 850 miles logged! Flying home tonight….
Made it to Anchorage! Ride2Remember has been a total of over 850 miles on bike in the great state of Alaska!
These are some of the flowers I saw along the way.
Busy day as I pack my gear and fly back home…. THANKS to all who followed along! Hope you had as much fun as I did!
I leave tonight, land in Denver and hit Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon, then trying to pedal home.
I’ll keep you posted. C’mon back!
Final Leg…Anchorage Bound!
View from “the office” yesterday….
Wasilla to Anchorage – the final frontier
Road construction? Piece of cake!
Backtracking a bit. On my way to Wasilla, even on the bike, I ran into construction. Rode 7 miles in the pilot car with Amanda. She was a hoot juggling 4 radios and 3 coffee cups. “No, move that one – now wait, let me see…..yeah, get rid of that one, there’s dirt in it,” she said. These construction jobs are lucrative. “Made $90,000 one year, but you work yourself to death for five months.” Sometimes Amanda didn’t even go home. “NO, we don’t want them hiring more people, because that would cut into our overtime!”
She dropped me within 5 miles outside of Wasilla.
Amanda, my pilot-car construction escort.
Raspy voice and raw sense of humor. She could chat it up with those construction guys – even make some of them cross their legs! She talked a LOT about the high bear population in the area. “There’s a grizzly out here big as a Volkswagen.”
When I left the vehicle, she told me not to be “bearanoid.”
Anyone Want to Claim “Spike?”
Outside the Valley Hotel and Coffee Shop in Palmer.
FOUND: 6-foot tall Velociraptor.
Brown, green and scaly.
Not nice. Bites hard.
Answers to the name of “Spike.”
On a brighter note….
On a brighter note….
Dr. Bill Mitchell
Had lunch at the Valley Hotel and Coffee Shop with Dr. Bill Mitchell.
He ordered a piece of strawberry-rhubarb pie….and waited. Another waitress finally brought him a piece. Half-way through the original piece, the waitress said she was warming his pie, and she brought over a whole new piece! Bill laughed, and took it in stride.
I listened to his stories about how he took up running at 52. Shook Bill’s hand when I left and he hung onto it and grabbed my tab.
What great hospitality as I wind down my tour of Alaska!
Palmer Historical Society….A Taste of Wisconsin, and Rice Lake!
Palmer Historical Society
House built in 1936, restored to its original appearance.
(Palmer originated as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal Resettlement Project that relocated 204 families to establish a farming community in the Matanuska Valley.)
Tin reads “Rice Lake Swiss Cheese Factory, Rice Lake, WI”
Vintage wind-up tin motorcycle toy and wooden TinkerToys!
Teddy bear and teapot in children’s room
Sewing book in woman’s bedroom
Woman’s Art Deco mint green vanity set
Metal sign on wall in hallway.
Heading into the Home Stretch
Willow to Wasilla…..
Made it 32 miles from Willow to Wasilla on Wednesday
and finally found the “Welcome” sign.
Heading to Palmer today, and then Anchorage. Fly out Friday!
Wasilla Farmer’s Market
Stopped at a mid-week farmer’s market in Wasilla and bought a couple of cookies from Marissa (12), who was raising money to go to softball camp. “I know they don’t look that good, but it’s for a good cause,” she said.
Other vendors were selling Alaskan fireweed honey, homemade crafts, jams and jellies. Followed the market for 2 blocks, which ended at the Wasilla Historic Museum.