My brother's back yard

Anchorage is a beautiful city. Paved pathways run throughout the entire area making it easy for people to walk or bike to work. John tells me they are used in the winter for cross country skiing. There are playgrounds, picnic areas and benches all over. The City spends a lot of money from oil revenue keeping these places clean and updated. Large bridges extend the pathways over the water ways and are well built of heavy treated lumber. These are meant not only for people but also for the wilder neighbors (moose and bear etc.) Fences run along the busy roadways to divert the moose traffic to the bridges so there are fewer encounters with cars and trucks.

Right behind his apartment complex is a wooded area and Campbell Creek. A small lake is there as well, we don't know the name of that I am guessing Campbell Lake. It is full of fish as I watch them feeding on the mosquitoes at the surface. The creek is very clean and healthy looking. Signs posted state that is it a salmon spawning place and informs of the open seasons and limits.

Reluctant to venture out alone, I mustered my courage and headed out. There were two separate news stories this morning about bear problems. There was grizzly shot and killed

near the city and another black bear that was also shot and being investigated. So with that news on my mind it took some doing to convince myself it was a good idea to walk this morning. Today being my last day here I was not going to sit around. People here live with the threat of animal sightings and attacks every day at it does not stop them from getting out. Gratitude for the people that helped make this trip happen for me. You know who you are.