We don’t go to Anchorage often. There are numerous entertainment-related goings on, particularly at night, but we prefer to stay put. It also takes an hour and a half to get there from here, and the same to get home.

Anchorage is also not the most aesthetically pleasing town. John McPhee once called it “The Newark, NJ of Alaska.” This was in his book about Alaska, entitled Coming into the Country. If I were to write a book about going into Anchorage, I’d entitle it “Going into the City.”

We go into Anchorage when we have a list of things to do, not just for one thing. We have acquaintances that think nothing of going to ski or catch a movie.

Well, our list wasn’t super long. We came up with it last night. Pete put the items in driving order, so that we would not do any backtracking.

Books to Utqiaġvik at NAC terminal

Our first stop was town – there we picked up the 27 boxes of books that were destined for Utqiaġvik. We next went next door, and I dropped off thank you cards for the director of the United Way and the owner of Turkey Red Restaurant. We had one more stop – this was at Palmer City Hall – I gave Susan, one of the clerks, a press packet.

We next headed to Anchorage. The ditches on the far side of the highway going into Anchorage were filled with cars. There was a pile up, five cars were strewn across the road. The traffic a short distance further down the highway was backed up for miles. Those in their cars would have to wait a long time before the mess was cleaned up.

We got lucky. The lanes going into Anchorage were clear. There were just a few cars and trucks in ditches.

We made it to Northern Air Cargo in one-and-a-half hours. We were lucky here, too. Our NAC certificate indicated that we could send 1,000 pounds of books. Our very tidy palleted load weighed 984 pounds. We brought three boxes of books home with us. We also gave out bookmarkers to NAC patrons and employees – they all said (as most people do) “good project.”

Our good luck continued. We next picked up a dozen boxes of donated books at Title Wave Bookstore. This included (paydirt) two boxes of children’s books. Steve, who loaded up the books, was very obliging. He and Pete talked building construction. The story about the Palmer Public Library roof invites this kind of conversation.

Onward, to two sporting goods stores where Pete purchased new ski boots and a new coat. I purchased a new down coat.

We made additional stops at Subaru and Toyota car dealerships. We explained to dealers at both places that we were seeking partial donations – we did get the name of someone higher up, who might assist us in our quest for a quasi-book mobile at Toyota.

Then Pete got a new tire for the tractor – couldn’t plow without it. We then called it a very good day.

And homeward – once again we were lucky – the highway home was clear – most of the cars, trucks, and whatnot had been towed away. The few that remained had colorful flagging on them.

Next: 56. 2/25/23: Doors Open