Started off a little slow because of beers consumed over many hours the day before, but a cheese danish and hot tea worked their magic, and I was ready to hit the road with my friends before 11 a.m. Destination: Seward, a great little town of less than 3,000 on a bay off the Gulf of Alaska. What a beautiful, beautiful drive.

A couple hours later, we were sitting in the Smoke Shack. And sitting. And sitting. This lunch spot in an old rail car was recommended by Lonely Planet, but the usually reliable guide book missed the mark. We were greeted with friendly but absentminded service, mediocre food, and a wait so long that some people got up and left before their food was eventually cooked. I’m not even close to a picky customer, but this place really annoyed me (especially since I picked it). Skip it, unless you’ve got like 2 1/2 hours to waste. Well, the view of mountains was nice.

Next stop was the Seward Museum, a cute little local history museum staffed by a guy with a beard that puts Santa Claus to shame. Great old photos and info on Seward’s favorite son — Benny Benson, who designed Alaska’s flag. Plus, an electric hair curler from 100 years ago.

Next was the Alaska Sealife Center, a beautiful facility that was sort of paid for by Exxon in the aftermath of the Valdez oil spil. Only not really, because the money didn’t come direcly from Exxon, but rather from a settlement fund provided by Exxon. Despite making a big deal about that distinction, the place feels like it treats the oil giant with kid gloves. An exhibit itemizes the many species that have recovered, then mentions that some other species are still “in recovery,” without listing them. Much of it was designed for kids, but I enjoyed it… got to sea an otter and a sea lion, plus some small aquariums filled with exotic stuff, including what we called the “mobster tank” because of the seedy looking characters it contained.

Beautiful drive back to Anchorage, followed by a quick drop in on my new favorite bar (if you were following me on twitter, you would have seen a photo) and some good pizza from Baranof Pizza. Now sipping an Alaskan Amber and thinking about snapping a shot of Alaska’s midnight sky.

Will be back in Seward on Tuesday if things work out like I’m hoping, for a kayak trip on the Gulf of Alaska’s Resurrection Bay.

I’m sitting on tbe deck at my new favorite Anchorage bar, unwinding and looking at the mountains while enjoying a lovely, sunny 56 degree evening. I’d post a photo, but there are power lines and a pawn shop in the foreground. My hotel’s not in the best neighborhood…

My day started early; I left my work phone on, and a 9:28 phone call in Louisville is a 5:28 phone call in Alaska. I’ll remember to turn that off tonight. I watched Brasil trounce the U.S. men’s national soccer team on TV, then headed downtown for breakfast.

Spent most of my day just getting my bearings. Walked much of downtown. Wrote some postcards. Went to a stream to watch salmon spawn (not much to see). Visited the State Trooper museum (not much to see). Bought some new sneakers. Caught a ride out to the cool rental house where my friends are staying. Enjoyed a lazy rainy afternoon drinking on their deck, while gazing at what I think was Chickaloon Bay, looking at (what else?) mountains in the distance. Heard a moose in the woods, but never saw it.

Came back back into town for a nice dinner (salmon with potatoes and asparagus, thanks for asking), and I now find myself at this bar. Wish my camera could do justice to the view from my barstool; the mountains are stunning and snowcapped.

Left Louisville at 7:25 on Wednesday morning for an 8-day trip to Alaska. Staying in Anchorage, with some day trips out into the state.

Got to Anchorage at 6 p.m. Alaska time (10 p.m. Louisville time). I’m too tall for coach, but I don’t make first class wages, so I had to fold myself into a cheap seat.

Rewarded with a great view of the mountains from the airport terminal, and from pretty much everywhere else in town, too.

The Sun shows no sign of setting, so –after a detour to an Alaskan lodge-style bar near my hotel — I’ll be going to bed in daylight.

My hotel is a little different, but adorable. The clerk (owner?) let me look around and choose my own room!. The room I chose was recently remodeled. It opens up directly into the bathroom, with the bedroom behind that. Most importantly, you can see the mountains from my window!

I’ll be updating my twitter account on the go.