Farmer's Market - Alaskan Style

Up the road from Gwennie's Restaurant in Anchorage, AK was a Saturday Farmers' Market with a beautiful array of fresh vegetables, flowers, and honey.

 

There was also homemade jellies in glass jars - the brilliant colors of sugary spread glistened in the sun; red rhubarb, a soft yellow pineapple mint and a blurry orange jar of carrot-raisin marmalade.

                                            

The corner market was also infused with a young entrepreneurial spirit. A twenty-something woman named Kate sold cucumber and rhubarb popsicles from a Franken bike which she said was designed by a friend. The lime-green three wheeler carried a small box cooler and a handmade sign that read 'Popcycle.'

                                                         

Kate selling frozen $3 treats at Popcycle.

There was also a 12-year-old boy who set up a card-table storefront at the entrance to the market. Grayson made Alaskan survival bracelets. It was a fashion statement with a safety them; think Davey Crockett meets Martha Stewart.

The bracelets were a thick red-and-black weave of style that could also be used in an emergency - say if you're lost in the cold tundra or wilderness. The clasp on the bracelet could be unhinged and a short flint used to scrape a pencil stub of metal and spark fire.

For those instances where kindling is scarce, the weave of the bracelet could be pulled apart. The shredded twine had been covered in a paraffin wax and was super flammable. 

 

Grayson Davey teaches potential customer John Paul the strategy of sparking fire with a $35 Alaskan Survivor Bracelet.

 Quail eggs $4 a dozen.

 Fresh bakery stand

Side notes:

-First day on tour I managed 34.41 miles - just getting the feel of Anchorage.

-The weather is much cooler than I anticipated, after hearing reports of a 90-degree heat wave the past few weeks.

- I wore earmuffs much of the day along with long spandex biking pants and my neck gator.

- Sunset in Alaska is 11:59.

- The terrain in the city of Anchorage is rather flat with some minor hills and you can see the mountains in the distance.

- When people ask about the ride and I get to the part about Alzheimer's, I'm surprised by how many people have their own story of a family member affected by the disease.

- A gallon of regular unleaded is $3.89.

- My plan is to head south to Homer and I have no idea on how long this will take - come on people, I'm on vacation!