Well the counter tells me that it's been 3+ years since North to Alaska.

Maybe it's time to start thinking about North to Michigan!

On the Road

Take a look at Alaska license plates through the years.

Centennial of the Alaska Purchase (1967)












1970s - Note the "U.S.A." designation!












U.S. Bicentennial with bear (note 76 in upper right corner)











Gold Rush Centennial (1998) - depicts miners going over the trail from Skagway to the Yukon











Statehood 50 years

Splashy Event

If only we were going to Alaska over Labor Day (and of course visiting the western Coast) we could experience a unique Alaska event: The Great Bathtub Race!












The Great Bathtub Race - Nome

An annual event held each Labor Day, the race involves a 5-person team, four of whom push a bathtub (and the fifth member) on wheels about 100 yards down Nome's main street to the finish. The rules for The Great Bathtub Race are simple (though not so serious) in some respects, but all wet in others:

1--All entrants must be 18 years of age or older or have a signed parental release.

2--Each team entering The Great Bathtub Race must have five members (no more, no less). Four members must wear larger brimmed hats and have appropriately displayed suspenders. The standard bathtub can be no smaller than four feet long and two and one-half feet wide and use wheels no bigger than 30 inches in diameter, mounted on axles no more than 44 inches wide.

3--One member will have to carry one large bar of soap, one must carry a wash cloth, one must carry a bath towel, and one a very definitive bath mat. Soap bubbles must be very apparent in the bathwater, if not overflowing the tub.

4--One member of the five-member team must be situated in the bathtub, with the appearance of taking a bath from the start of the race all the way through to the official finish of the race.
















5--The bathtub must be full of water for the official start of the race and have no less than ten gallons of water left in the tub at the finish line for the judge to examine. Violation of this rule will constitute a lifetime ban from taking a bath on Front Street anytime.

Winner receives possession of the "Miss Piggy & Kermit taking a bath" trophy until the next year's competition.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Well if Mary had lived in Alaska, she might well have some champion vegetables!

Alaska - Land of Giant Vegetables
The first American farmers to settle in Alaska in the 1930s soon discovered the vegetables they grew were reaching sizes unheard of in other parts of America. With less than two hours of darkness in late June, they were getting flooded with natural light at their critical growing period.





Cabbage - 85 lbs.






So the farmers decided to stage competitions at the fair. The first weigh-off, in 1941, was won with a 23lb cabbage. The present record is 105lb. It is not just cabbages. The section devoted to the giants is among the most popular at the fair.








Carrot - 19 lbs.












Alaska State Fair Records
Cabbage: 105.60 pounds -- Barb Everingham, Wasilla, 2000
Watermelon: 168.60 pounds -- Scott Robb, Palmer, 2005
Root beet: 42.75 pounds (world record) -- John Evans, Palmer, 1999
Longest bean: 22.75 inches -- Dave Iles, North Pole, 2005
Tallest corn: 23 feet 3.5 inches -- David Iles, North Pole, 2006



Zucchini - 59 lbs.

Countdown!

ONE WEEK!

I am hoping for something a tad fresher for lunch come this time next week.

Guess Who's Older than We Are?

Last year Alaska had a big celebration. Why? They turned 50 as a state!

Apparently there were a bunch of events, and some of the cruise lines even had special programs commemorating the 50 years of statehood.












Here's a look at some of the equally exciting times when Alaska was voted in as the 49th state.





















































Here is a short video (circa 1959) about the statehood.

http://www.videojug.com/film/49th-star-alaska-statehood-new-flag-official-5th-january-1959