The briefer and pilot reports say the rain is passing and everything to the west is clear all the way to Anchorage.  We filed for Northway, Alaska and take off.   It is interesting to cross the border from Yukon to Alaska--there is literally a line between the two that you can see from the air!

The customs officer was waiting for us at Northway.  Said she had been busy due to everyone held up by weather.  After some quick fuel, we were off for the two hour and forty minute trip to Anchorage.

Passing through the Alaska Range, you become very small.  This is a huge range of mountains that is shaped in a semi circle in the south central part of Alaska.  McKinley belongs to this range as do numerous peaks above 14,000 ft.  This is also glacier country and we passed several on our way to Anchorage.  

About an two hours out of Anchorage, my tachometer decided that after 3900 hours, it was time to give out.  I enjoyed a wonderful loud-pitched squeal for  nearly an hour, then clunk and the needle went to zero.  I wasn't happy not having a tachometer, but it sure was nice and quiet.  We will need to get it fixed before we move on...something for Monday.  

As we come though the pass and turn south over Palmer, Anchorage and the Knik Arm and Cook Inlet lay out before us.  It is good to be in Anchorage again.   Our families were waiting for us at Merrill Field--sure good to see them.

We hopped in the cars and headed for Wasilla for a 4th of July BBQ with friends.   We'll spend the weekend with family and meeting old friends.  We'll pick back up on July 8th.  

The green line is the border between Canada and Alaska.

Tazlina Glacier feeds Tazlina Lake about 80 miles northeast of Anchorage.

Anchorage sits on a point between Knik arm on the right and Turnagain arm (named because Captain Cook had to turn his ships around) on the left.  In the distant center is Cook inlet that connects with the Gulf of Alaska.

Downtown Anchorage, Alaska.

Another shot for the grandparents...Noam enjoying lunch in Anchorage.