The beagle has landed
I’m a tired puppy. Just got here to the backpackers hostel in Anchorage. It’s about 3:30pm local time (I think it’s around 10am in Sydney. Basically, I just spent around 25 hours on four different flights, went through customs three times and security checks about 10 times. Because I’m such a dodgy looking punk - I’m wearing a turtle neck - hello! - I’ve been subjected to almost every optional extra security measure (they call it secondary clearance). Dicks.
As for Anchorage itself. I think it’s designed to coutner-act the beauty of the rest of the North. The weather is a positively balmy 15 deg C. and getting about is no trouble (unless you actually want to get somewhere in a hurry - then you’re screwed). I have seen more moustaches (the Alaskan verion of the mullet) and camo hats in the last 2hours than I have in my entire life. I’m going to go and get a beer now, because they have a lock-up policy between 10 and 5 at the backpackers I’m staying at. I think I may high-tail it out of here tomorrow and hit the water for a spot of fishing - but at $300 for a half day, it’s not cheap 
If you’ve sent emails in the last 24hrs then resend them because my jcu mail stuffed up and I had to clear my inbox. It would be great to hear from some non-scary people 
September 9th, 2005 at 10:23 am
Welcome to the US of A… It’s not half bad if you’re in one ok the sweet states: California (excluding LA and most of the southern parts of the state), Hawaii or Alaska…
September 9th, 2005 at 12:05 pm
Indeedy - i had a shower and a lay down - got my shite organised and now i’m like, “Dude, where’s my adventure?”
Going to look up fly-fishing guys and get that sorted and then head up to Denali later next week. Going to be PHAT!
September 9th, 2005 at 1:22 pm
denali hey?! Hope you have you mountain climbing thongs with you!
September 9th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Good stuff Tom, what’s included in the $300 ???????? boat/land base? does the guy tackle the grizzly while you run………….
we r finally doing the Bowling Green walk this weekend, I let you know how many Bone fish we get.
September 9th, 2005 at 3:00 pm
Piccies?
September 9th, 2005 at 4:56 pm
You obviously take after your mother when it comes to dealing with customs and immigration at borders. I’ve spent over 30 years guiding YLM through customs and immigration with my hand firmly clamped over her mouth so that she does not abuse officialdom. If I hadn’t done that we would have probably spent most of our married life living in the customs hall between Afghanistan and Iran or some other God-foresaken place that even Lonely Planet doesn’t know about. Just be humble and don’t engage in eye contact. Supress testosterone and think nice thoughts
September 9th, 2005 at 5:01 pm
Did you know you can download a Denali National Park screensaver. Grizzly eh? (That Enuwit for Cool, eh?)