Where Have The Days Gone?

Wow, I have  been very derelict in keeping up with this blog, sorry about that!!  We headed south from Fairbanks along the Parks Highway.  The weather was overcast and rain threatened for the next couple of days.  We knew we would not be able see Denali (Mt. McKinley) and didn't really feel the need to take the bus trip back into Denali Park in that kind of weather.  Eleven years ago we had perfect weather and were able to see and photograph the mountain in all her glory.  We decided to stop for lunch in a rest area just outside the entrance, along the river.  We ate our lunch while watching a group set off on a float trip down the river.  We were still able to see the lower, closer snow capped mountains - spectacular!! 

We saw a couple of moose on the trip south - Chuck caught sight of one when it lifted its head with good sized antlers and I spotted the other one as it peeked around a stand of little birch trees.

We checked into Riverside Camper Park in Houston - between Willow and Wasilla where we had camped in 2004. Monday was a lazy day - finally got moving and went into Wasilla for gas and groceries later in the day.  Sadly we didn't bump into Sarah while there.  Darn!!


On Tuesday we headed for one of our favorite spots, Hatcher Pass.  It is an old mining road that goes up through the mountains and comes out over toward Palmer.  We found out that the road over the summit does not open until July 1 so we knew we would not be able to all the way across.  In 2004 we were there later in the summer so went all the way across and picked blueberries up there.  One of our favorite photos from that trip is one that my Dad took of us by Summit Lake.  We started up the road, amazed at all the cabins that have built up that way in the last 10 years.  We got about 10 miles up (its about 50 miles across) and came upon trucks, road graders, and a water truck working on the road.  Ok, I give up, end of that trip!! So we back-tracked back to the highway and headed for Talkeetna - our second destination for the day.  Talkeetna is a funky little town that is kind of off the beaten path but is home to artists and adventure lovers - hikers, climbers, dog sledders, and kayakers.  Lots of the climbing groups for Denali use Talkeetna as their jumping off point.  We walked through town and wandered through the shops. 

Had lunch at the Talkeetna Road House - great food and wonderful ambiance.  After lunch we meandered our way back home and got ready to head further south the next day.  Pasties (salmon!!) and blueberry pie, yum!!!


Wednesday we headed south through Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula . . . ahhhhh!! Gas and a few things from Fred Meyers in Anchorage and we head south along the Turningan Arm - mountains on the left and water and snow-capped mountains across the water on the right.  We are heading toward the Russian River/Kenai River where the first run of Red (Sockeye) Salmon is about to begin.  There is a huge parking lot along the Kenai River and near its confluence with the Russian River.  They run a ferry there to take fishermen (no vehicles) across the river.  We parked there on Wednesday night and Chuck did some scouting, visiting, and got the lay of the land.  You can park there for $15 for 24 hours (1/2 that if you are an "old fart").  He decided we would need power to plug in the freezer if he was going to start fishing so he scouted out a campground back about 3 miles and made a reservation for four nights there.  We moved on Thursday and he headed out to fish.  It wasn't too busy and crazy on Thursday and even Friday but Friday night they started pouring in - the poor younger folks who are still working M-F!!  The place was jammed over the weekend.  My cousin Mary's oldest son, Matt, lives in Anchorage and he came down on Friday with a friend and they stayed in the same campground.  Chuck had a great time fishing with Matt - Matt let him use his fly rod so one day he caught all three salmon on that - FUN!!

Matt headed back to Anchorage on Sunday and we stayed that night and headed further south on Monday.  I had a great time - sitting outside in the sun and reading, listening to music, stitching, and looking at the mountain - that never gets old!

Through Soldotna, Sterling, Ninilchik, etc. down to Homer, my favorite place in Alaska (and very possibly in the world).  Spectacular views of the mountains, an artsy little fishing village . . . love it here.  Chuck booked a halibut charter on Monday afternoon with a charter that Matt recommended out of Ninilchik. You can only get two halibut per day on a charter - one must be under 29" and the second can be any size.  He came home yesterday with four BIG fillets and four little fillets and the cheeks.  We spent the next couple hours portioning the fish and vacuum sealing it for the freezer.  The freezer (a little 3 cu ft one) is about half full.  They went out at 7:30am and got back about 3pm. Today he booked a second charter for Friday morning out of Homer - they cannot take halibut charters out on Thursday - government regulation!! So, the freezer may get full yet!! He also stopped by the Homer Spit fishing hole today and found out he can fish for king salmon there - soooooooo, I know where he will be tomorrow and Friday evening, and Saturday morning!!!  I'm taking him down to the hole tomorrow and to the boat on Friday so I can have the truck to check out some of the places in town!!

Today we walked the shops along the spit - art galleries, souvenir shops, etc., drove through town, and took a ride out East End Road - it goes about 20 miles east out of town and gives you spectacular views of Kachemak Bay. 

At the very end it becomes private property and goes through a small Russian community - we went until the pavement ended and it became private property.  Need to go back out that way either tonight or tomorrow night closer to sunset when the sun will be behind us and shining on the mountains!!  Of course the sun won't set until after 11:30pm!!

As you have probably heard, there are several fires burning in Alaska.  The biggest one is up by Willow - between where we stayed in Houston and Talkeetna.  There are a lot of dog mushers in that area as the Iditerod starts in Willow.  Their association had an evacuation plan in place and they put it to use when the fire broke out - they evacuated over 500 dogs in about 2 hours!!  There are a couple of smaller fires down here on the Kenai Peninsula - one near Cooper Landing where we stayed while Chuck fished the Russian River.  We are keeping up to date with them in case they close the Highway back to Anchorage.  At this point we plan to head back that direction on Saturday.  I promise to update you after Chuck gets back from fishing on Friday!!

Fairbanks

We arrived in Fairbanks about noon on Wednesday, June 3.  Stopped at Delta Meat & Sausage Co. just outside of Delta Junction and picked up some breakfast sausage - reindeer and yak!!! Neat family business - all USDA approved.  We settled in at the Tanana River Fairgrounds and Campground.  Small, quiet, and off the beaten path.  Did a lot of reminiscing as today was my Dad's birthday - he was with us in Fairbanks in 2004 and those memories came flooding back - glad we have those wonderful memories!!

Thursday we packed a lunch and headed north of Fairbanks for the day. We drove about 70 miles north - as far as the pavement went on Hwy 2, The Elliott Highway. We saw several stretches of the pipeline where it goes above ground and one where it came out of a hillside.
We stopped at a Trading Post and visited with the owners (originally from Wisconsin!!!).

 On Friday we spent the afternoon at the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. This is a WONDERFUL museum with so much interesting information and so many wonderful displays.  We had visited

the museum in 2004 but it has been expanded greatly since then.  One of their "treasures" is Blue Babe, the mummy of a 36,000 year old steppe bison. They have a wonderful art gallery also.  If you are ever in Fairbanks, this is a "must see."

Today we had lunch at Big Daddy's Barbeque, on the list from "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."   Great food!!  We walked the downtown area and wandered through some of the gift, souvenir, and artsy shops.  We then headed to Pioneer Park, which started as The Alaska Exposition in 1967, later became Alaskaland, and in 2002 became Pioneer Park.  They have moved a number of old log cabins from Fairbanks and surrounding area to the park to save them from destruction and some have little shops with handmade Alaska items like beading, diamond willow, burl items, carvings, etc.  There is a nice little pioneer museum, the first milled lumber home in Fairbanks, an Alaska aviation museum, the last riverboat to operate on the Tanana River, as well as playgrounds, bocce courts, a mini golf course, a small art gallery, etc. etc.  And there is no charge for admission!!  A wonderful park!    We went to a nice little family restaurant for dinner - The Cookie Jar - also on the list from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!!! Had a yummy Stromboli.

Rather than sit around in the evenings, staring at each other, we decided to hunt down a bingo game in the area.  We were headed for Downtown Bingo and made a mistake and ended up next door at Fairbanks Area Youth Sports Bingo.  It was a great mistake!!  They were so welcoming and friendly when they found out we were visiting from Wisconsin.  Wednesday night they gave us free daubers and about the second game, one of the gals came with a tray with popcorn, sodas, Drumsticks (ice cream), keychains, bookmarks, etc.  Tonight the caller wished us safe travels and sang "Happy Trails." And tonight they came with a tray with chocolate layer cake, sodas, hats, keychains, huge
foam #1 Fingers, etc. etc.   One of the workers is from Wisconsin originally and just retired from 20 years in the Air Force and a young couple sitting by us was from Wisconsin - he is stationed at Eielson AFB.  Fun way to spend the evening with a bunch of nice, fun people!!

Heading south tomorrow - no definite plans!!  We may wander, but we are NOT lost!!

The Long and Winding Road . . .

On Sunday, May 31, we hit the road from the Sikanni River Campground about 8:45 a.m.  Beautiful, scenic drive today although a little more challenging around mountain lakes and mountain vistas.  Stopped at Tetsa River Lodge for yummy cinnamon buns.  We stayed here for two nights in 2004 and had it marked to go back to.  They only have a satellite phone and a huge gas generator.  They make their cinnamon buns and bread from scratch and the buns put Cinnabon to shame!!  Ate our sandwiches in the parking lot with a warm, gooey cinnamon bun for dessert (plus another for breakfast tomorrow - shhh!! don't tell anyone!).  Gray and drizzly today but still beautiful.  Good viewing day: 2 moose standing in a little lake alongside the road, lots of buffalo, 9 stone sheep in and near the road in a winding mountainous area - they hop over the guardrails with great ease!!, and one lone caribou.  Got into Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park at a decent hour.  After dinner we braved the drizzle and headed down the boardwalk to the hot springs.  As beautiful as we remembered and felt just as good!!! You can choose your comfort zone from REALLY hot to bathtub warm - natural gravel bottom - amazing!!  40 degrees, a light rain, and beautiful naturally hot water!

 

It was a wonderful day, Tetsa River cinnamon buns and Liard River Hot Springs!! Slept like a baby!

 

Monday we hit the road again at about 8:45 (we thought that was the time); between changing time zones, no internet, and no cell phone service, it leaves those of us without wristwatches a little uncertain about what time it really is.  Oh well, who cares!!  Spectacular views again today - rivers, mountains, lakes, and wildlife!!! Saw a total of 20 buffalo, a porcupine, and three black bears - one all alone and the other two fairly close together - all were just trucking down the grassy area alongside the road.

Snow on the mountains but none on the roads!!

 

 

We stopped for lunch at a rest area with a spectacular view (see below).  We spent the night at Hi Country RV Park in Whitehorse. Gave the truck and trailer a scrub down before parking and setting up.  It was filthy!!

 





 

Today we made the last leg of the trip in Yukon Territory.  This section has the most roadwork, frost heaves, and short gravel stretches.  The ground is permafrost and is very unstable so they fight a constant battle to keep the road in as good a driving condition as possible.  You just have to slow down a bit, pay attention, and drive for the conditions.  Saw one bull moose today, he was up to his chest in water/weeds and looked up or Chuck would have missed him.  He had a pretty nice rack of antlers.  We got through Customs with no problems and are settled in Tok, Alaska for the night. We are about 2 hours from Fairbanks and we will head there tomorrow.  It is nice to have Verizon service and have use of my jetpack for wifi.  We do get spoiled, don't we??