Day Trip to Nome, Alaska, with the Mayor

(Time stamps below.)

We visited Nome, and had a fantastic time! When we arrived, we were greeted by the mayor...!!!...Richard Beneville, who took us around. (He doubles his day job as a tour guide for the town he loves.). He is not only knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and Nome's history and heritage, he is also a retired school administrator, Broadway performer, and military brat who found himself in Alaska over several decades ago, starting off as "selling freezers to the 'Eskimos.'" "True story," as he would say, or "HELLO CENTRAL!" He remains one of our favorite experiences, on this trip. He is so attentive to the members of his community, who were full of smiles upon seeing him, I noticed, including children who eagerly waved at and called to “Mr. Mayor,” gushing, "Hello Central!" He's such a lovely host; it was as though we were being shown around the beloved town of a good friend.

Though it doesn't look like it, at first glance, Nome's tundra landscape is a trove of animal and plant life. Trees don't grow here, except for the ones planted at the cemetery, so the eye can sweep the horizon. One could easily miss the delicate and yet hardy life, right underfoot. Like the first impression of Nome, one can misjudge, seeing a raggedy town punctuated with seemingly stoic expressions. One could overlook how people have managed to maintain a community where supplies are only flown-in or, if possible, shipped-in. One could miss an exchange of genuinely warm hearty smiles, being intimidated by expressions that are lined by weather, disappointment, and determination. We were received with sincere hospitality, throughout Nome.

The constituents of Nome are proud of their little town, though it has its struggles--some more painful than others--it is learning to pull together as a community. So, like its landscape, don't brush over it with your perspective, sweeping up your conclusion into a tidy pile that can be disposed of with a shrug of dismissal. Nome is noble, to me. Like her mayor, she is unapologetically herself. My day in Nome remains one of my favorite days, during my Alaskan adventure.

http://www.visitnomealaska.com/

City of Nome: https://www.nomealaska.org/
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0:20 video, driving through town
4:08 still images from drive through town
11:16 “Gold Rush” -- Port of Nome dredges
14:09 the countryside southeast of town
(Wyatt Earp’s alleged cabin: 15:02)
(Iditarod competitor’s house: 17:19 )
19:18 gold panning on the beach
20:51 the tundra northwest of town
24:36 leaving Nome for Anchorage
26:35 conclusion

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We used this company to organize our time in Nome:
https://www.exploretours.com/

The hospital: https://goo.gl/HhYlWO

Iditarod arch and lantern: https://goo.gl/QuRxiX
and
The Iditarod: http://iditarod.com/


The Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum was closed, during our visit.
https://goo.gl/Mhaowu
FB page: https://goo.gl/6AgR3z

The Dexter, Wyatt Earp
https://goo.gl/OE0Jip
and
https://goo.gl/u0rnYv

Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen: https://goo.gl/wBaSfA
and
https://goo.gl/0PK7Tm


3:38 Seppala’s cabin, former home of the Norwegian Leonhard “Sepp” Seppala:
https://goo.gl/MJ0yX9

Anvil City Square interests: https://goo.gl/3vD8AP

Old St. Joe’s Hall
quoted* -- https://goo.gl/pxLXvi

14:20 - transmission towers: https://goo.gl/7BY4uu

Bering Sea Gold
https://goo.gl/PpnVt0
and
https://goo.gl/H2dwKP

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Music used:
1. “Hooky with Sloane Hooky with Sloane,” by Bird Creek
2. “Rural Stride,” by Josh Kirsch/Media Right Productions
3. “Sawdust,” (repeated at end) by a silent partner
4. “Dirt Road Traveler,” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: http://audionautix.com/
5. “Modus Operandi (M.O.),” by Wes Hutchinson
6. “Landras Dream,” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: http://audionautix.com/
7. “Folk Tap Harp,” by Unicorn Heads
8. “On My Way Home,” by The 126ers