My mom and I arrived safe and sound -- the view from the plane as we approached Anchorage was spectacular. Drat! Didn't have my camera ready. Hope that doesn't become my "refrain" as this week progresses.

Levi's -- where we're renting our vans -- is quite an operation. A little temp trailer on a lot with a bunch of cars -- "for sale or rent" -- Levi was nice. Gave us a good deal.

Finding our way out of Anchorage was easy. Just point and drive. If you don't go splash, you're headed in the right direction.

Looking out my window at midnight, looks just like dusk in AZ. They say it gets no darker during the night. And YES the mosquitoes are big -- but then so are the views. So who cares.