Day 26 - Potter Marsh

Spent the morning getting the oil changed, buying propane, and finishing up the laundry.
Our tour director came through again.  We visited Potter Marsh boardwalk wildlife viewing center.  They have built a series of boardwalks and we were able to walk above the marsh and observe birds, an otter, and even an bald eagle.

It was raining slightly when we started and of course it got slowly wetter as we stayed.  There were some salmon swimming in the stream and we watched a couple of big ones surface.
After a lesson in Walmart efficiency for our visiting family.  (huge store; 2 lines open; a person's card didn't work - had to call a supervisor; a couple with various WIC checks - had to call a supervisor; = 45 minutes in line) we headed home.  On the way through the base Hedda and I spotted a black bear on a side road.  Later when I was walking Molly, I saw a cow moose and twin calves.  Aris was getting frustrated that he hadn't seen anything recently so after supper (Cathy & Bill made stuffed salmon and we had dessert at our house, cheese cake, Bailys and coffee) Aris, Molly and I went for a ride around the base and saw two moose.

Tomorrow we are on the road again towards Whittier.
Bill & Cathy bought bear spray.  I guess she figured she wants to keep Bill around if we find a bear and I can outrun him!

Day 25 - Anchorage

The girls are coming alive!  They have improved immensely.  They haven't completely recovered, but they are feeling better.
We went to the Alaskan Native Heritage Center just outside the gate.  It was really interesting.  I like seeing the young kids celebrating and sharing their heritage.  We saw dancing and story telling, arts and crafts, and recreated examples of different types of native dwellings.

We ate lunch there and went back to camp to rest up (with a short stop for Baskin - Robbins) before heading out to flat top park.
After climbing some steep roads we were able to see all of Anchorage and lots of the surrounding mountains.  We could also see the sea coast.  They say on a clear day you can have a good view of Denali (Mount Whitney) 140 miles away.  It was too cloudy for that, but there were tremendous views in all directions.

Made it back for BBQ'd pork chops, pasta salad and beans.  We sure are eating good!
Cathy shared a story of a bear attack near here and another one a little south of here.  When Molly and I go for our walks we are being very aware of all of surroundings.  I feel a little better when Bill is with, because I think I can outrun him.
Tomorrow I'm getting the oil changed in my truck, and refilling propane tanks.  Bill is getting some welding done on his trailer step.
We will spend one more night here and then head south on Tuesday.

Molly

We have always said that Molly would not be a good "apartment dog".  At home we have a huge yard for her to run in and I take her out in the desert to chase rabbits and whistle pigs everyday.  Now we put two people in her back seat of her truck and we drive for six hours!  Then we live in a tiny trailer with four people and she has to be on a leash in the RV parks.  It's no wonder that she gets a little crazy.  Of course when she goes crazy I get mad and even though I try not to show it she knows it.  We have been working out our differences and have progressed in our dog treat therapy to where we are now working out our differences pretty well.
I have worked hard to find places that are safe for her to run free.  It has not been easy, but most of the time I can find somewhere.  The hardest spot was near Denali.  We took long walks but there was no place to let her loose.  I noticed a small dirt road off in the woods near the park entrance and we jumped in the truck after she had been in the kennel all day when we went for our bus ride.  There was no "No Trespassing" signs, but it was obviously private property.  We went anyway and we were not arrested and Molly got to chase squirrels.
So far the best place has been here on Elmandorf AFB.  I have found some great places to wander, but we have to watch out for bears and porcupines.

Day 24 - Sick girls!

I feel so bad for them.  They are both suffering from terrible colds.  Took Bertha to a doctor downtown.  They did not accept new medicare patients so we took Hedda to the base ER.  They both got medicine and stayed home the rest of the day.
Of course taking two people to two different walk in clinics on a Saturday takes ALL DAY!
Hope they are doing better tomorrow.

Aris and I went downtown Anchorage to Ship creek fishing bridge and watch lots of people not catch something.  One guy had a pretty good size king, the rest just had muddy feet.  One of the experts standing on the bridge watching told us you have to time the tides right and now was not the best time.  He seemed to know what he was talking about.

The weather cleared up and the sun came out and warmed us up.  It's supposed to be the same tomorrow.

Note - Animals seen on base: Black bear, moose, porcupines, squirrels, rabbits.

Day 23 - Anchorage

Moose!  There were two mooses two meese two mice one moose and then another.  They scattered quickly after we stopped so there was no picture taking.  There are signs on the highway saying that there has been 322 moose killed on this road since last October.  I guess I can finally admit that there are moose in Alaska.  I have been saying that we have seen more moose in Idaho than here.  And I said that the ones by the lodge in Denali were tame and set out for the tourists.  I even believed that they had been dropping old moose poop from airplanes for us to find.  Now I am a believer.
We fought through some city traffic and road construction and found Fort Richardson/Elmandorf  AFB.  We got signed in OK and headed for the Black Spruce on base RV park.  Nice pull through spots with full hook-ups for $33.  Not bad for city living.  Nice facilities also.
Huge BX and commissary spent some more grocery money and picked up some cold medicine.
Cathy and Bill made campfire dinners even though we didn't have a campfire.  We are eating pretty good with some pineapple upside down cake to top it off.
Bill, Molly and I went for a walk.  The porcupine was not happy with Molly disturbing him and he was headed her way.  Luckily Molly had enough sense to stay away from him.  I threw some rocks at him and he headed my way.  We caught Molly and left the area.  The last we saw of him he was headed back across the railroad tracks.
Both girls are feeling poorly.  Maybe a good nights sleep will help.

Day 22 - Talkeetna

We took a short detour off of highway 3 to the quaint little town of Talkeetna.  It is a main stop for a bunch of tour buses and a sending off point for Denali Peak climbers.  There is a disappointing historical museum and lots of shops.

The RV park was also a disappointment.  We struggled to get both trailers into the tiny spots assigned to us.  We got to take some good walks and the train station was right there also.  No late night trains that I heard.
Hedda and Cathy found a quilt shop with a pattern for northern lights quilt panel.  I found a sticker, Bill found a map, and Aris found a jacket.  So we left some of our hard earned cash there.
Aris had a cold and is slowly getting better, but both girls are feeling pretty bad.
Hoping for them all to get better soon.

Day 21 - Denali Park

Look higher!  We can see it through the clouds.  Look higher!  There it is.  It looks like a huge rock floating in the sky.  Denali Peak appeared for a few minutes through the clouds.  It is just over 20,000 feet and the highest peak in North America.  I have seen some high mountains, but we were standing at about 3,000 feet so the difference was hard to imagine.  There was cloud cover over the whole mountain before the peak peeked through. (I like that sentence!)
We really had to look high enough to spot it.

We were at the Eielson Visitor Center 66 miles into the Denali National Park and we had ridden the not most comfortable bus for about four hours to get here.  We saw a mother grizzly bear and her two cubs, Dahl sheep, a huge herd of caribou, a couple of bull moose, a long tailed jaeger, and miles of beautiful mountain scenery now topped off with a peek of the peak. (I did it again!)

Eight hours on a bus on dirt roads may not be the best way to spend a vacation day, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Molly was glad to see us back at the trailer and Aris cooked up a batch of Bami for a bunch of hungry and tired adventurers!