Got back to where I once belong

So I'm back in Virginia after my vacation in Alaska. I finally did see the Northern Lights. The night of the 24th they were out slightly. Not very impressive. But then on the 25th, at 5am on my way to the airport, I saw them again, this time much better. Beautiful green streaks across the sky. And this was just an average showing for the lights. Sadly no pictures. They actually don't put out much light so one needs a tripod and a long exposure setting. I had neither.

I've almost recovered from the 12 hour plane ride plus the 4 hour time change.

Anyways, I decided for my final entry I'd post a bunch of pictures that I picked up along the way that I found humorous.

#1. I'm really confused by this sign. Does a stopped car cause an avalanche? Or does an avalanche stop and look both ways for moving cars before crossing the street? Even more confusing is that I saw a police officer pullover another vehicle in the "no stopping" avalanche zone. And yes, I did stop.

#2. This is outside of the Anchorage Harley dealership. I just thought it was cool looking.

#3. "Hi, I'd like one lift ticket please. What do you mean I'm forgiven? Hey! Stop splashing me with water!!"

#4. Never seen a snowmobile crossing sign before. I especially like the fact that the entire post is buried up into snow. I half expected to see snowmobiles jump off the snowbanks and fly across the highway to the other side.

#5. Ok, I'm guess that 2nd symbol has something to do with dogsledding. But what exactly? Can you rent a dogsled there? Is it a hotel for the dogs?

#6. Cool gate design

#7. For those times when you just can't afford 89 octane.

#8. Who rocks? Cleveland Rocks? Hanoi Rocks? Dee Snider of Twisted Sister Rocks (you know he wants to.)

#9. The temperature did not once get above 25 degrees my entire time. At night the temperature fell to well into the subzero ("Finish him! Fatality!!") range. Yet, the hotel felt the need to tell me not to use the air conditioner.

#10. I love some of these indications of possible emergencies. "Presence on the ground of crude oil, a heavy black substance", "A black spray above the pipeline or coming from the ground", "flames" Really you mean that's not normal?

#11. I have no idea what inspired someone to put up this sign.

#12. 2 of the best town names ever. "Coldfoot" and "Deadhorse" The bullet holes add a nice touch.

#13. This is a bathroom at Finger Mountain about 15 miles south of the Arctic Circle. I have no idea how so much snow got inside.

#14. This is the back of the Arctic Circle sign. So, even in the Arctic Circle, graffiti is a problem.

#15. This was outside of the post office at Coldfoot (60 miles North of Arctic Circle) Good to see that they have a sense of humor.

#16. Something you don't see everyday.

#17. Boris and Natash should stake this place out.

#18. That's right, from Fairbanks you have to head south to North Pole. Granted were talking about the town North Pole and not the actual North Pole. But if you're gonna create a tourist trap called North Pole, wouldn't you at least want to be North of the major city 15 miles away?

#19. At first I thought this was a unique Alaska thing. But I found out the USPS just released a bunch of these a couple weeks ago. Kinda cool.