Do you know what is the scariest animal in Alaska?

It is the Caraboooooo of course.  The ice cream lady was around on her route today.  That was her joke of the day.  Did you know that Alaskans consume more ice cream per capita than any other state?  It's true.  They love their ice cream.  There are many shops that sell locally made ice cream.  It is all made from natural ingredients including local berries and fruit.  It is very good.

Morning coffee.

I have not written anything about the cost of things in Alaska.  Some may wonder how prices compare with the lower 48.  Gas is $3.87 in Anchorage.  In other outlying areas it runs as high as $4.75 or so.  I would say $4.19 would be average.

In the grocery store is where you see some big differences.  A loaf of bread runs between $3.00 and $5.50 depending on the brand and where you buy it.  Stores in larger communities have the lowest prices.  In the rural areas things are very high.  How about an ear of corn?  It will cost you $1.49 per ear at Safeway.  Or a one pound bunch of asparagus.  It will cost you $6.49.  Apples are $2.49 per pound.  Boxed cereal runs about $7.00 depending on size.  Milk is surprisingly low at just $3.25 a gallon.  A half gallon will cost you the same amount.  Ask me why, I don't have a clue.  I always have to buy the half gallon because I can't get a gallon jug in the refrigerator with everything else that is in there.  It is mostly perishable items that are higher priced.

You never tire of this view.

I would say most other products are from 10% to 25% higher than in the lower 48 with the higher prices being in rural outposts type communities.  Anchorage is priced about the same as home on most things.  It is not like it was years ago.  Most items arrive on ships just like down home.  I think the higher cost is due to having to truck things so far from the port.  Unlike home, there are not a large number of communities along the trucking route to share the expense.  Stock for the Safeway in Valdez probably has to come all the way from Anchorage with no other stores along the way to share the expense.  Bread and baked goods do not arrive everyday like back home.  They may just get one delivery a week.  The bread is sometimes very cold when you buy it.  They must store it in the cooler to keep it fresh.

Silver salmon.

Today, I went down the bank to the water's edge to fish.  The silver (coho) are running now.  I caught several and kept two.  They are small right now.  In a few days there should be larger ones in the area.  The pink salmon are not that great for eating.  They taste pretty bland compared to red (sockeye) salmon.  the silver salmon seem to be somewhere in between.   Silvers are fun to catch because they actually bite the lure.  You do catch one every few casts.  It is fun to catch and release them.  I hate cleaning fish and there isn't much room left in the freezer.

Steak and Sockeye

Buddy is having the time of her life.  She loves to sit outside watching the other people, dogs and birds that happen by.  She seems to love the cool weather too.  She isn't shedding like she was probably because it is so cool.  She wants to go everywhere with us and looks very disappointed when she knows we are getting ready to go some place she can't go.  She seems to sense when those times are.  Dogs are very observant.  I think she notices how we are dressing and preparing.  From that she has learned with certain clothes she stays home.  Time to go pout.  She is a very good traveling companion.  I love having her along though she is always under foot.