Meghan "Coming into the Country"

Rebel and I gleefully scooped Meghan from the airport last night. She made the 2,800 mile flight from Chicago late last night to complete her three-week summer vacation and began work today in Anchorage, quite the whirlwind. The flight tracker above shows Meghan's plane mid-flight and the immense distance between Anchorage and the L48. For instance, the image is so zoomed out that it includes half a dozen foreign countries. The Pulitzer Prize-winning John McPhee once wrote that Alaska itself is a foreign country "heavily populated by Americans." And for what it's worth, the ADN's Rural Alaska Blog reports that over 50 villages in the state currently lack indoor plumbing. Perhaps the "foreign-ness" of Alaska is what makes it so appealing to its residents. Our friends the Wilcos who lived in Bethel for a spell said that it definitely felt like a different country, with its unique languages and customs. Although many consider Anchorage to lie outside the true Alaska, when measured by the number of languages spoken within the municipality (around 80), it sure does feel like the most northerly cosmopolitan city in the world. All in all, Reb and I are very glad Meg is back home.

Fixing ANC's Bike Problem

Looking to the future; Meghan and I can hardly believe that we have only three months left on beautiful Kodiak Island. Although we will certainly miss the amazing people whom we've befriended and the spectacular setting of Kodiak, we are looking forward to the advantages of living in Anchorage. For instance, we are excited about Kincaid Park's miles of (lighted) cross country trails, cheaper groceries, and expanded dining options. For me, the prospect of riding a bike on smooth pavement is quite exciting. Back in Denver I was fortunate enough to make a seven mile ride to work every day on a fixed gear bicycle. On loan from Meghan's brother Patrick, the "fixie" was a thrilling ride. For the uninitiated, a fixed gear means that the rear wheel lacks a freewheel so there is no coasting - whenever the wheel moves the chain moves and thus the pedals move. Some folks, like me, ride a fixie without brakes using their legs to apply resistance to the pedals to slow down. To say the least it requires a bit more anticipation than a "modern" bicycle (originally all racing bikes where fixed gear) especially riding in the city.
Although Anchorage is a great city for outdoor recreation, the city streets are not conducive to bike travel. Currently Anchorage's narrow shoulders, busy four lane roads, and unaware motorists create conditions unsafe for lots of bike commuting. Help may be on the way though. The Anchorage Daily News reports that the city has proposed a plan to increase bicycle traffic in the next 20 years. Proposed improvements include creating more greenbelts and widening paths. More encouraging, the plan calls for 51 miles of new bicycle lanes in the next four years. I think I'll wait until the improvements are complete before riding a brakeless fixie in Anchorage.