Dear Boys and Girls,
I'm thinking of all of you and wish you could be here. My trip is going great so far! I arrived in Anchorage Saturday afternoon after a long flight from Chicago. As you know, Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. It is a busy place similar to Grand Rapids with streets full of cars, lots of restaurants, tall buildings, and many different stores. The first thing I did was check in at my hotel. When I entered my room, I was immediately met with the most beautiful view you can imagine. In the distance, majestic snow covered mountains welcomed me. My heart skipped a beat thinking of what the mushers must feel when they are out on the trail. Next, I noticed a festival going on in the streets below. Right beneath me was a city block of carnival rides and a big banner that said "Anchorage Fur Rendezvous." Also called the Fur Rondy, this festival celebrates the days when fur trappers met in Anchorage to trade and sell furs. I could see people milling around in line for the rides and a crowd in front of a stage. I wondered what the people were watching when I saw a man holding up a big, huge fur. It was a fur auction! Even today, trappers bring their furs here to sell. Wow! I guess I really got lucky. I could see all the action right from my hotel room. Since then, I've had a chance to walk around downtown and explore the festival a bit. Many people were dressed for the festival in fur hats and fur coats that looked so warm and cozy. I also saw a short dog sled race. It was just a short race that wound through the streets of Anchorage, but it got me excited for the big race that starts in less than a week. I'll keep writing about my trip in the days to come. I miss all of you! Mrs. A.