As a matter of fact…
Stay tuned for story!
Squatter’s Rights
GIRDWOOD – I have to admit, I’ve outgrown the camping scene. It’s just a burden like an outhouse or running; you’ll do it if you have to but otherwise you’d rather not.
So…day two into my Alaskan adventure and I’ve not had to unpack my tent.
Getting settled in I familiarize myself with the power strip for electricity, the mountain of folded blankets near the door, and I determine the interior walls have been sprayed with a white foam insulation – probably mandatory, considering this is a year-round facility.
I also notice the head pop up and look at me through the rear window.
“Oops, you caught me taking a pee,” said a woman with a big unashamed grin.
It was TJ, Jim’s soon to be ex-wife. She lived across the gravel driveway in a modest, wood shack with a rooster thermometer, a white Christmas wreath on the door and over the entrance, T.J.’s Cookies spelled out in sticks.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know anybody was in here,” said TJ. She was perky, a free spirit, and she just showed me where the facilities were located – in the woods, behind my room.
TJ was a hippy and reminded me of someone you’d find in a reality show. In her mid-50s, shoulder-length white hair, round wire-rim glasses; she ran a cookie-making business out of her home. “I have to make 8 dozen cookies for the upcoming July 4 art fair,” she said.
“You’re welcome to come over later for a beer and a bowl if you like – just don’t call the Federals on us,” she said – again smiling and walking quickly across the driveway.
And YES, for all you smarty pants, I, too, wondered what ‘kind’ of cookies she’d be serving at the upcoming art fair. I’ll assume it’s nothing Paula Deen would ever whip up – not unless she tried to revive her career by starting another cable TV cooking show co-hosting with Snoop Dog.
“TJ”
A Note of Gratitude
A humble “THANK YOU” to Doris Mohr who sent in a contribution to Cedar Community in honor of her husband, Jim.
I’ll be riding tomorrow in recognition of Jim Mohr.
The “Posh” Alaskan Camper
GIRDWOOD – Knocked down 44 miles Sunday from Anchorage to Girdwood. Started on the Old Seward Highway which hooked up with the New Seward Highway.
It was bluffs, a two-lane highway, fast traffic, a rumble strip and me. There was about three feet of paved shoulder, waters of Chickaloon Bay and mountains in the distance. .
It was a blustery day as Winnie the Pooh would say. My speeds, buried by the winds, limited progress to 6 to 8 miles an hour.
With about 20 miles in and 20 left to go, I was joined by three bicyclists that looked like me, fully loaded with gear. “We’re headed to Girdwood and then on to Yellowstone,” said Rick.
Two women, Mary and Kathleen, were on that same self-guided tour. We pedaled on a paved path that ran parallel to the Seward Highway drifting into the small, ski-resort town of Girdwood where I met my host Jim, owner of Girdwood Ski and Cyclery.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, walking onto the porch, the squeeky screen door slamming behind him.
Jim looked like he just walked out of Woodstock. Curly gray hair, full beard, round wire-rim glasses, big smile and welcoming demeanor.
He was also from Wausau, Wisconsin. An Alaskan transplant years ago, he met a girl and opened the bike shop.
There were bikes hanging from U-hooks on every support beam available. Random skis made up the slats to the fence that ran along the edge of the raised porch.
“So you have your choice…. you can camp or I have a little trailer back here you’re welcome to sleep in,” he said, as we walked back on a gravel driveway through an area that looked very Sanford & Son.
“You can see, I’ve been here a while,” said Jim, referencing the collection of blue inflatable rafts that fought for space among the rustic outbuildings, porta-potty, and various what not.
The small camper reminded me of the Air Streams from the 1950s. There were rectangular windows in front and back, plenty of vents and inside there was a wood stove, a bunk on the rear wall with a mattress and pillow waiting for me.
It was perfect – I felt like a posh Alaskan camper.
Hope Hotel and Church
My church-hotel last night.
Hope Christian Church
(up the hill from the small community – read population 150- of Hope, AK).
Last year Hope had 24 students!
I’ve Found Hope! (Alaska, that is…..)
Just pulled into Hope, AK; 58 miles in today. Dinner tonight at the Seaview Cafe. Secured a hotel church thanks to Pastor Scott!
Today’s View From the Office….
Hwy 1 south. The bluff, a road, a rumblestrip and me.
Boat ramp from Hwy 1….
Hwy 1, 9 miles south of Girdwood…just entering Chugach State Forest
My Wisconsin Fashion Statement in Alaska
Prepared for an “all day” rain…..
Judy models today’s latest in rain gear complete with XL Hefty garbage bag top, waterproof pants, IP booties and a husky that photo-bombed the shot. Off to Hope, AK!
Rainy day in Girdwood….to go, or not to go?
GIRDWOOD – The community bulletin board at The Bake Shop in Girdwood had postings: ‘Free couch!’ and ‘The Flower car is now for sale. $1,600 OBO, 1987 Chevy Celebrity wagon. 177,000 low miles.’
The message board is at the back of the small restaurant that is a Girdwood institution. Their claim to fame? A $4 sourdough sweet roll, drizzled with white icing, slivered almonds and served with a larger-than-necessary slab of butter.
Cosmina, 22, works the front counter. “I’m from Romania and I’m here one month,” she said with a thick accent, jotting down my order and then offering a reminder they only take cash or check.
The whiteboard menu features “The Summer of ’76” special which includes 3 sourdough pancakes, 1 egg, and 1 slice of bacon for $9.75. Honey and granola $6.25. Alyeska sourdough toast, butter, jam $3.50.
Mount Alyeska is the main attraction in Girdwood; it spawned the high-end Alyeska Hotel, Alyeska Resort, The Spa at Alyeska and plenty of mountain bike and ski options.
The Bake Shop sits at the foothills on Olympic Mountain Loop.
“You want me to heat these eggs back up, because your whole breakfast is getting cold,” said a slim, blonde, woman in black spandex pants holding a clipboard.
It was Stefanie Flyn, the owner of The Bake Shop, and a customer care specialist.
She wasn’t from here, either. “I’m an army brat that spent a lot of time in Germany,” she said.
Flyn gives me a behind-the-scenes tour of the ‘working end’ of the bakery. Shows me the white pails full of sourdough starter. “It’s a living yeast and we just feed it every day with flour and water,” she said.
Stefanie with sourdough starter
“You’ll notice in the historic pictures of the gold mining towns, each miner had a small silver pail at his campsite that was filled with a sourdough starter.”
Flyn flags a woman in the kitchen and orders a sourdough pancake to add to my breakfast. “Just so you can try it; it’s very light,” she said running off to another appointment but leaving me her cell phone number and a new sticker for my water bottle, ‘Better Buns at The Bake Shop.’
For breakfast I had a simple order of 2 scrambled eggs, toast and coffee in a glass mug. At the center of the table was a bottle of pure maple syrup from Michigan and a trio of glass jars filled with red rhubarb jam, a dark prune jam and a thick orange marmalade with wedges of rind.
The sourdough bread was sturdy enough to spread the jam on with a spoon. The coffee was hot and the atmosphere comfortable with walls of local art including wildlife photos, stained glass, and paintings.
Within a half hour the restaurant filled up. You bused your own table, and the growing stack of yellow and blue plates near the counter resembled the colors of Easter eggs.
$4 sourdough sweet roll at The Bake Shop in Girdwood, AK
Brooks making the famous sourdough bread at The Bake Shop
Makes me want to stay…..
Makes me want to stay…..
The Bake Shop sweet roll was served warm on a small red saucer with a square of butter. It smelled of cinnamon and raisins and I was forced to wrap it and carry it – enjoying it during a break on my ride up to Hope.
Sidenote:
– It was a long 56 miles to Hope with an extended uphill called the Turnagain Arm. I balked at biker safety and rode into oncoming traffic because the shoulder on the other side of the road was wider. I could see traffic coming at me and because of construction on the two-lane highway I was protected in my own lane by a series of orange barrels.
– The rainy weather held on most of the day. The sun came out at 1:23 p.m. It was so significant, I checked my watch. Then it disappeared the rest of the day.
– There was a guy working a huge crane at the construction site. I glanced over and he caught my eye. He gave me a gruff hard-hat look, stalled his engine and yelled, “You’re almost there!” I waived, he was smiling. He was also lying – I still had a long ways to go.
– Took a brief break at a rest stop before the turn to Hope. I had 16 more miles ahead. Bad thing – with all the hill climbing and dressing in layers I was soaked and knew I’d have to change before completing the rest of the day. I ducked into the restroom. It was one of those where you held your breath and kept your mouth closed while you were in, and about 10 paces after you left.
Girdwood “Hotel”
Yep, this is it!
And this is Jim…..