We started our vacation at the Breakers in New Smyrna on Monday and celebrated their reopening following the hurricanes. . At Barb’s, on the river, we watched two manatees spar over the hose for fresh water. They would roll on their backs with the hose in their mouth holding it with their front flippers just like an infant. We left from Daytona Beach the next day on route to Atlanta. That airport was wonderful…..didn’t have the hassle that you normally get at OIA. The small plane we were on let us off outside the terminal in Atlanta which was timed with a torrential rainstorm. We got soaked and we found out later that most of our suitcases got wet too. After lunch in the airport, Barb and Gail went for a chocolate chip cookie from the Atlanta Bread Company. In order to make the search speedy, they left all but their phones and the change in their pockets with Nancy and Patty. The search took them to the “Atrium” which was out of the security section of the Atlanta airport. There was no getting back in...Finally a sympathetic agent ran to the gate to get their picture ID’s and boarding passes ….if the plane were not late…..they would still be in Atlanta!

We arrived in Alaska to a “beautiful and bright night” at 11:00 p.m. and toasted the Summer Solstice with the setting sun set at 11:45. Sunrise was 4:20 this morning with the night never getting to more than “twilight”. We will be having 19 or more hrs of light every day. We are staying at Paula’s house (Barb’s sister) near the airport. Nancy and Patty walked around Lake Hood and Spenard this morning. This is the largest airport for float planes in the world. Between the planes at the airport, float planes and planes with wheels, there were planes taking off and landing every minute. Patty and Nancy found their first evidence of a “Moose on the Loose” in the neighborhood----A pile of Moose Poop! They describe it looking like pecan nuts…but the odor confirmed their find. This is a valuable resource in Alaska. They sell nugget jewelry in the souvenir shops. Guess what we are bringing you all back.

We spent the rest of the day with Paula having lunch and then driving us around town to orient us with the layout of Anchorage.