"Gold in dem' thar Hills"

The City of “Nome” was nothing like I had "pictured in my mind", which is good, because the "picture in my mind" wasn’t! It was formed by so many ..."opinions"... of others, which were not good.

Actually, I was reminded of home, except we have 3 roads out of this place, that you can hop into your car, and drive somewhere else if you want too, they don't have that option.

In the flight from Anchorage to Nome, when you look out the window, you see nothing but hills, frozen rivers, and mountains covered with snow, all the way.

An Aeriel view of on the way to Nome

Picture by K. Fields

When we arrived, it was around 35 degrees and muddy and slushy from melting snow. It cost $95 dollars a day to rent a cab, so we decided to walk. So we walked everywhere during our visit.

All the restaurants, shops, and churches were within a walking distance from about one tiny block or up to a mile. So walking was rather fun!

Walking in the mud and slush in Nome, Alaska

Picture by K. Fields

There are a few things Nome is always remembered by: "The Iditarod Race", a dog sled race which Lance Mackey won this year…again!!! Way to go Lance!!!!! (Actually! I don't know him, but using a first name base, is always what people expect Alaskans to do... after all we must "know everybody", since we live in such a thinly populated State!)

The Iditarod Race description: It’s unlike any other event in the world. A race over 1,150 miles of the most extreme and beautiful terrain known to man: across mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra and windswept coastline. Excerpt taken from the official Iditarod web page: http://www.iditarod.com/

The Famous "Iditarod" Arch, end of the race

Picture by K. Fields

And another thing Nome is known for is .... Gold...Gold....Gold...It's definitely a "Gold Rush Town" in fact... the town folk that live there... told me that if I picked up a pan and panned for gold. I would get some in every try...which I would have tried to take them up on, except, everything is covered in snow and ice this time of year!

An extremely large "Gold Pan" with metal sculptures of Gold Panners (My term: "Gold junkies") and metal "gold dredge" buckets
Picture by K. Fields

More to come on Nome!!!

CU