More Denali and Fairbanks

Horseshoe Lake at Denali National Park

This is our third night in Fairbanks at the Chena River RV Park.  Much thanks goes to John for telling us about this convenient campground.  After 6 days in Denali with limited groceries, camping across from a Safeway and Fred Meyers grocery was appealing.

We have been doing city stuff…..visiting the University of Alaska Museum and the Pioneer Park both of which are located close to this campground.  Also managed to get everything clean but the Casita….the truck got washed, the clothes, our bodies and I got a haircut!  Also bought lots of groceries….we were down to a few leftovers.

Absolutely pigged out at the Mayan Mexican restaurant the first night here and, while walking the next morning, we found the Loose Moose Café which had a caribou sausage omelet with pancakes.  It’s embarrassing how much we ate!  Like we had not been in a restaurant for weeks….but, don’t think that we have had anything but fast food….other than hubby’s excellent grilling.

Chena River site…nestled in between the white spruce and quaking aspens.

Pioneer Park had been our destination before John told us about Chena River.  It’s city run and they allow RV’s to stay in the parking lot for $15 a night.

There’s a restored train car from President ? visiting when the railroad was completed back in the 20’s.

We also toured an old paddlewheel full of dioramas.

(This is where the laptop battery died last night.  Resuming post this AM at Starbucks in the Fred Meyer grocery.

Woke this AM contemplating going to Wal-Mart and buying a new laptop…no Best Buy in Fairbanks!)

Anyway, back to Pioneer Park!  There were flowers everywhere.

While riding the bus at Denali, our driver discussed an exhibit at the University of Alaska’s Museum.  This is the 100 year anniversary of the first successful climb of Denali and the exhibit has pieces of the journals kept by the four climbers.  Imagine the hardships of climbing a 20,320 foot mountain in 1913!   And there was a spiritual connection…..one of the climbers was Hudson Stuck, the Episcopal arch deacon of Fairbanks.  He started the whole project to raise money for his church!

At the Museum.

Inter Tidal Pools by Steve Gordon

 

In Nenana, a town close to Fairbanks, we met another person, Joanne Fairbanks, with an inspiring story.

Her  shop, The Tripod Gift Shop, was next to this visitor center.

We were buying t-shirts and chatting when I spied a book at the check-out.  She said it was her story of how she drove to Alaska, alone, in the winter, 40 years ago!   It’s a memoir that I could not put down.  She’s now pushing 70 with the feistiness still obvious!

The book “Alaska, the Land of M&M’s (Men and Money)” can be purchased here.

Our campsite at Riley Creek…Denali.

Waiting for the bus! Denali.

More from Denali……Arctic Ground Squirrel

Savage River Hike   Denali

I’m going to find a way to return to Denali……….it’s energy is already calling me back.

Heading out today….will get to Tok in a day or so and then it’s the long trek back through Canada.  

Plan to post some travel statistics soon. 

Sunshine and Denali

 

This is the end of six days at Riley Creek campground in Denali National Park and I can’t remember when I’ve been so sad to leave a place.  I just love it here!  Seeing Denali again would be the best reason to return to Alaska!

Meet Mt McKinley!  The Mountain refused to show its face the first 3 trips we made into the park but on Friday, blessed with abundant sunshine and clear blue skies, this is what was seen.

I can’t remember how far away we were…..seems like we were about 75 miles away when it first appeared. 

I took one of the green shuttle buses to Eielson Visitor Center which is 66 miles into the national park.  Travel is restricted after 15 miles and the pavement ends.  It took 8 hours to travel the 66 miles and return……8 hours in a bus similar to a school bus and on a washboard road!  But we saw three of the big five animals and the mountain! We were very far away from some of the critters….like the Dall Sheep.  Can you see them?

My camera is only 6 mp….this was the best I could do.  There is a sheep in the exact middle.

But back to the mountain.

As we got closer the clouds started moving in….by the time we got to Eielson, only the top and bottom could be seen.

 

I realize that I am going on and on about this mountain, but it is a really big deal to be able to see it!  We joined the 30% club as only 1/3 of the visitors to the park get a glimpse of the mighty McKinley.

One more picture before we move on!

The park employees were constantly reminding us of the protocol around the wildlife.

“If you see a bear, don’t run!  They will think you are prey and outrun you.

“If a moose comes toward you, run into the trees zig-zagging.”

“And don’t let a wolf get into your space…throw rocks or sticks…but don’t hurt him!”

Wolf sightings are kind of rare.  Bears are seen more frequently but we were advised that moose were more likely to cause problems.  Females will charge if their babies are around.  This momma moose had a baby but the picture was made from the safety of the bus….she was on the side of the road.

This caribou refused to show his front side…..look at that rack!

I’m getting sleepy….will write more later about this great park.

We are leaving here tomorrow, heading for Fairbanks and the last week of our time in Alaska.

David’s healing….has rarely mentioned his shoulder in the past two days.  He did not do the bus trip but felt like hiking today.

Hope to post this tomorrow, Sunday!

The Good, the Bad and that’s Life!

It’s a lot easier to write about sunny days filled with blue-green water and purple mountains than to write about the other less pleasant times.  This past week was filled with bad weather and pain, hubby’s physical pain and my emotional challenges.

It started with the rain in Seward, one week ago.  Bone chilling buckets of water forcing us to stay inside.  Then the wind blew howling in off the bay.  The problems with David’s shoulder were worsening; he’s constantly rubbing his shoulder and arm with pain on his face.  On Monday, he finds me at the library and we head to the Steward general store that’s selling Alaskan style rainproof coats for 50% off.  Our Tennessee rain jackets were not doing the job!  Then we drove to Exit Glacier to see the national park.

Posing at Exit Glacier in the new waterproof jacket.  (Feeling good at that moment.)

City park next to our campsite in Seward.

View 0n Monday from the Casita in Seward

Tuesday

Breaking camp rain-free is a blessing and we are heading toward the Chugach National Forest and Portage Valley.  A side trip to the town of Hope provides some scenic vistas.

The Williwaw campground honors our senior pass thus costing $9 for the night. Hubby grills halibut, shooing off mosquitoes with one hand and holding his shoulder with the other, all in the pouring rain.

This is no fun!  There’s lots of hiking trails here and wonderful new plants to see in the forest but we pack up and head out trying to find warmer, drier weather.  And it’s become apparent that medical help is needed as the pain just keeps getting worse.

Wednesday is just awful!  Some comfort sounds good after the days of cold and wet and we opt for a site with an electric hookup in Anchorage.  Ship Creek RV Park is in downtown and the helpful work-campers recommend an orthopedic clinic.  We unhook and David tries to drive while I read road signs and interpret directions to the doctor.  It’s a nerve-wrecking trip as the pain has increased to an unbearable level.

The doctor gives him steroid shots and prescriptions for pain pills, anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers.  The shots do nothing to ease the pain and he is walking out the door in the same distress.

This is where I am just about to lose it.  Over 5,000 miles from home and trying to care for someone I love in the tiny trailer!

(I hesitate to elaborate on this unpleasantness….but decide to keep it in the story as it’s the truth, though not pretty.)

The next two days are rest days for him and chore days for me with laundry and grocery shopping.  And I learn how to navigate Anchorage using the voice directions on my smarter –than-me phone.

Flower beds in downtown Anchorage.

 

Smart Car and trailer that caught my eye…envious of their gas mpg!

All the meds seem to be working…..not working great but he’s in much less discomfort.  By Saturday we are heading toward Denali National Park and Fairbanks.  The weather forecast for Fairbanks looks much, much better.  Maybe some sun and warmth will help the patient.

Talkeetna is about a hundred miles north of Wasilla and there’s several campgrounds there.  We arrive and flee the town within 45 minutes!  Can’t drive as the tiny town is full of people in the streets… After all, it is still the holiday weekend.

New plan is to spend the night on the side of the road.  We love the price and after 3 nights of $36, we feel like economizing.

Crossing a bridge, we notice several small motorhomes on the river’s gravel bar.  With a little exploring and a lot of guts (or stupidity to travel such a bad road) we arrive at our new boon docking site.

I’ll let the pictures tell this story.  This is the Susitna River, 5 miles north of Talkeetna.

The tiny bird on the gravel bar is really not so small.  He’s one of two bald eagles that are fishing the river.

We enjoyed watching the eagles and the local kids on their 4 wheelers

Sunday we arrive at Denali National Park…there’s no campsites available so we head back down the road and pull over with other RV’ers 

Pull over on the Parks Hwy south of Denali.

Hubby is slowly getting better……the sun is trying to shine and we are taking it a day at a time.  Thanks to everyone for the support!   

Posted from site B-40, 12:30 PM, Denali National Park

Rain in Seward, Fishing in Homer

 

Monday afternoon, July 1, finds me sitting on the second floor of the Seward library looking out onto the bay.  It’s raining hard, a cold rain that chills to the bone.  The hubby is asleep in the camper trying to ease the shoulder that’s acting up again.  The little sport cat catalytic heater is providing him warmth as the $15 fee includes no hookups.

We are camped right on the bay in one of the city’s many waterfront campgrounds.  I can almost see the Casita nestled between the big rigs sitting halfway between me and the ocean.  The bay is calm, at the moment, and sea-green.  The rain and mist obscure the mountains except for a steep green hill that overlooks the town.

Not too sure if we are staying another night or leaving this afternoon.  Guess it will depend on how hubby feels.

I’m struggling to find the right words to describe our fishing trip last Friday.  We are not real fishermen….but camping with ocean  surrounding us and everyone else fishing spurs us to book a trip.

Bob’s Trophy Charters, http://bobstrophycharters.com, is next to the campground on the Homer Spit.  After learning that the expense for a half day trip, $115…senior citizen rate, is not outrageous, I am getting excited.  They assure me that we need not know how to do anything.  Another 20 bucks is necessary for the one day fishing license.  We will be fishing for halibut..limit is two a day per person. 

Hubby remains calm, not nearly as excited as I am.  But as we walk to the dock to board, I see glimpses of the kid coming out in him.

 

We are off after a short safety lecture.  I did take note of where the life vests were stored.

Capt. John and his crew of two took great care of us.  No pictures as we were working too hard!

I am handed a large pole with a fish threaded into a large hook.  Instructions are to pull the lever down, hold the two pound weight in your hand and slowly let the line down to the ocean floor.  After hitting bottom, move the lever up and reel in the line until it’s one foot off the bottom of the ocean.  I follow the instructions perfectly and immediately a whale (not really) takes the hook.  It felt like a whale trying to pull it up!

The crew rushes over and pulls in the halibut after I get it to the surface.  It’s a keeper!  (I have no idea of the size.) 

I catch 4 halibut, throwing two back, before my arm completely gives out and I quit for the day.  Hubby stays with it longer and we wind up with more halibut than we can keep.

Two humpback whales put on a show as we are cruising back to the docks.

The Nauti-Lady arrives back in her slip around 7 PM, an hour later than expected.  We are so exhausted…it’s fast food tonight. That’s ok as we will be eating halibut for the next 7 days!