I believe it was Einstein who said that insanity (or perhaps stupidity) is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result.  I’ve usually heard this mentioned in conjunction with an election wherein we the people keep sending the same bad politicians back to Washington and then spend the next two, four or six years complaining about the terrible job they are doing.  One politician in particular springs to my mind at the moment.  Currently though what made me think of Einstein’s expression is shopping for a new kitchen knife.

When we outfitted the motorhome we bought mostly cheap and lightweight items thinking that they would be infrequently used and high quality stuff was not necessary.  So our kitchen knife probably came from Walmart or another discount store.  Slicing potatoes or onions with it could be accomplished just as well with a wooden spoon.  When I thought about this trip I thought about replacing the knife.  But I figured that since we were headed to Alaska I would be able to find some outdoorsy type of craftsman that made his own high quality knives and I would buy one of those.  And I have seen some up here.  But they have all been fancy highly polished or chromed steel blades embossed with an outdoor scene and mounted in a bone handle or an elkhorn handle and priced at $175 or more.  Not really the kind of knife you want to carelessly throw in the drawer with your spatula and can opener, so I have passed on them.

While we were spending four nights in Anchorage I saw that there is a Cabela’s store there.  I thought that I could probably pick up a fish filleting knife there for $15-20 that would be sharp and last me until I can get back home and buy a good kitchen knife.  So, off we go to Cabela’s.  The first thing Joan said when we went in was that we should separate, and I could call her on the cell when I was ready to go.  She headed for the clothing and shoe departments and I headed for the fishing gear.  There were no knives in the fishing section so I had to look elsewhere.  Finally I found them, picked up a nice one for $18 and called Joan.  She told me that she was in the fitting room, and I knew I was in trouble.  I’ve already described to you in an earlier post the visit Joan, Mandy and I made to a Cabela’s store in Nebraska several years ago.  At that time I had to take out a second mortgage on our house to get home!  This one was not quite that bad, but my cheap filleting knife still ended up costing me $174.  Do you see the similarity between that amount and the cost of the really fancy handcrafted elk handled knife I could have bought?  This is where Einstein had it right.

Before arriving in Anchorage we spent four nights in Palmer.  Palmer was somewhat interesting partly because it was a town that was settled during the Great Depression by homesteaders.  The federal government persuaded “farm types” from Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin to travel to Palmer to settle in the area.  Upon arrival they learned that the area was not exactly as the government had described it, (surprise surprise!) and almost one third of them returned home.  However, enough stayed to settle the area and their descendents are still there and very proud of their heritage.  I’ve never really thought of Alaska as an agricultural state, but the Palmer area is escpecially suited for it.  The soil is rich and the average of 19 hours per day of sunlight in the summer makes it ideal.  The literature on the area describes record setting 60 pound heads of cabbage and carrots weighing 8 pounds.

A few miles outside of Palmer we were able to visit the remains of an abandoned gold mine that is now a state park.  It was actually a productive mine in the 1930’s to the 1950’s and employed several hundred people.  Much of the equipment and ancillary buildings are still there and there were also a few people actually panning the stream that ran though it for gold.  I did not see any of them jump up and yell “Eureka!!” so I’m assuming they were not having much luck.

On another day we headed out of Palmer in a differrent direction and we were able to drive close and then walk right up to a glacier.  This particular glacier was in retreat as so many are, and the area below it reminded me of a West Virginia strip mine.  Not exactly the most beautiful sight but, I guess its a similar process that causes both, one man made, the other natural.  We could have donned ice crampons and climbed right up onto the ice.  We chose not to do that because the idea of trying to drive WildaBeast back to Florida with a broken leg made me hesitate.

After Palmer we spent four days in Anchorage.  The highlight of those days for me was a car trip to Whittier and a five hour glacier viewing cruise that we took.  The road to Whittier involves a two and one half mile one lane tunnel that motor vehicles also share with the trains.  Going to Whittier they open the tunnel for cars on the hour.  You drive up to the tunnel entrance and get in line and when the clock strikes the hour they open the gates and you can drive through.  Coming out of Whittier it is the same process, but it is on the half hour.  However, if a train comes up going either way, it takes priority over motor vehicles.

The glacier cruise out of Whittier was just fantastic and is probably the highlight of the whole trip so far for me.  It tooks us to 26 different glaciers.  We got to “park” within 1/4 mile of a very active calving glacier.  The day was overcast which is supposedly the best conditions for seeing the deep blue of some of the most dense ice.  Along the way we also saw humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, and bald eagles.  There was also a forest ranger on the cruise and her narration and pointing out interesting features along the way made the experience that much more enjoyable.

From Anchorage we have since moved on to Soldotna in the Kenai Peninsula where I am writing this.  In addition to the spectacular scenery, including our first good look at a bull moose, the fishing here in the Kenai looks to be just outstanding.  The salmon are running everywhere.  I have not fished because I disposed of all of my gear when I left West Virginia.  Its probably just as well because Joan would probably not be able to pull me away from it in time for us to head out of here and get south before the snow flies.  On the other hand I could stop at Cabela’s to pick some up, but you and I both know now how that would end.

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