Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Houston, AK to Talkeetna, AK 7/30/14


Day 89 of our summer trip.  Parks Highway and Talkeetna Spur

Today we moved to Talkeetna.  We have been blessed with spectacular views of Mt. McKinley for two days.  They say only 30% of those who visit Alaska get to see the mountain because it is generally shrouded in cloud cover.  We can attest to that.  When we were here several years ago on a Princes cruisetour, we did not see it or even have any idea of where to look because all we saw were clouds.  As we drove today, we first saw the mountain at about 12:30 PM at a view point in Willow, AK (left), then again about an hour later as we were continuing along the Talkeetna Spur off the Parks Highway. 
Mt. McKinley from the Parks HighwayMt. McKinley in Denali National Park from Willow, AK view point

We found a really nice camp ground, the Talkeetna Boat Launch and RV Park.  It is an Alaska Fish and Game area.  When we arrived, there was only one other RV here.  We aren’t sure why, but when I made a reservation for the next two nights somewhere else, the person that I talked with hinted that things were beginning to slow down.  Could the travel season be ending here already?  It is hard to believe, with such nice weather.  It was in the mid 70’s today.  Here is where we are staying.
Our campsite at Talkeetna RV Park and Boat LaunchOur campsite at Talkeetna RV Park and Boat Launch

We had another short drive today, only 56 miles, but it took almost 1 1/2 hours to drive.  Well, I guess we stayed 20 or 25 minutes at the view point, taking pictures and admiring the clear view of the entire Alaska Range from Willow.  After we got our camp set up and ate some lunch, we drove to the Talkeetna View point for more mountain photos.   Here’s a better view of some of the mountains in the Alaska Range.  Mt. McKinley is to the right of the first picture and would be left of what you can see in the second one.
Alaska range to the right of Mt. McKinleyMt. McKinley (right) from Talkeetna view point

We took one of Mehay’s Jet Boat Tours on the Susitna river.  It was very interesting.  Here are some highlights.  Hover over the photo to get an explanation.
Inside of tour boat
Our tour jetboat at the hiking spot


Beaver lodgeBeavers have been here

Roof of the shelter built, from white spruce, by the native people for this tour companyShelter built by the native people for thid tour company, to show how it would have been in the old days

Natine people's fishing camp refrigeratorDrying rack in Native fishing camp

Tour guide with bear rifle and in front of traditional cacheNative fishing camp built in the style of the original with burned ends because the sisn't have knives or axes, etc.




Our guide with bear rifle and in front of trapper's cabinThe trapper's cabin

Inside the trapper's cabinInside the trapper's cabin


It was a very interesting tour.  The jet boat driver really enjoyed driving the boat at full speed along the river when we were going between points of interest.

I will leave you with the changing faces of Denali/ Mt. McKinley.  It is so rare to see the mountain for so long at a time, that I thought I would like to show it at the different points over the course of today.   It is interesting to see how the light changes the appearance and what features that you can see as noon time progresses to evening.  The times of day are on the photo. We were closer later in the day, as well.

Mt. McKinley/Denali from view point at Talkeetna, AKMt. McKinley from Willow, AK view point

Denali from the tour boatMt. Mckinley from the tour jetboat befor we left the dock.  Clouda are beginning to gather

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Palmer, AK Area 7/27/14

Day 86 of our summer trip.

We took a day trip from our camp at Eagle River to explore some of the sites around Palmer, AK. The highway passed through the Palmer Hay Flats on the way to Palmer.  That is an area of flat grassy to marsh land with rivers running through it, that has abundant wildlife.  Apparently, there is a large moose population there and they tend to run across the road at inopportune times.  We have seen these signs at various places, where there seem to be a higher number of moose in the area, that tell how many moose have been killed on that portion of highway.  I finally got a photo of one of the signs.  It says that 7 moose have been killed on this stretch of highway, since July 1st. It says nothing of the damage to the people nor to their vehicles, which must have been quite considerable as moose are huge animals, way bigger than horses.  We, of course, saw neither hide nor hair nor antlers of any moose for as far as the eye could see.  We have seen very few animals since we got to Alaska, unless they were in controlled situations or we were on a tour somewhere.  There were more natural wildlife sightings, that we just happened to see, in Canada.
Moose frequently cross the road in this area.

The first stop was the Palmer Visitor Information center.  They have a demonstration garden.  This area of Alaska is called the Mat-Su Valley and it is known for producing record sized vegetables and fruits. 
Demonstration garden at the Palmer Visitors centerP1070314


A list of the size of the record holding fruits and veggies is here.  Bumble is giving you a perspective of how big the cabbage, beet, zucchini, and carrot really were by sitting next to the life-sized replicas of those winners.  Even the roots of the giant carrot look like they would be big enough to make an ordinary carrot.
Bumble had to check out the models of the record sized veggiesP1070319

Here are some veggies that are being grown to donate to the Senior Center Kitchen.  The sign warns not to pick them for that very reason.  The next photo is of some berry bushes in the garden.
Red and black currents and raspberriesThese veggies are being grown for donation to the Sr. Center kitchen.

There are also many flowers in the garden.  The red flower is called a Maltese Cross flower because of the shape of its pedals.  I think a Maltese Cross has only four branches, though.  None the less, that is what it is called.  As you know, Bumble loves flowers and wanted you to see how big they are, too.  The big pink flowers are not dahlias, but  they look about as big as dahlias are.  They are really a type of poppy.
Bumble really likes all of the pretty flowers.  The big pink ones are poppiesThese are called Maltese Cross flowers

There is one thing that I saw in the museum part of the Palmer Visitor Information Center.  They had a display showing how the women  made dresses and other items from flour sacks.  My Dad used to work in a flour mill and I remember those colorful flour sacks that he would bring home sometimes.  They could be used for all sorts of things.
The pioneers of the Mat-Su Valley used flour sacks to make clothes and other items.

We also went to the Mat-Su visitors Center.  Here you see Sue and Matt watching the informational video at the visitors center.  There are some animals on display here too, a moose and a musk ox.
Moose and Musk Ox at the Mat-Su Visitors CenterMatt and Sue watching the movie at the Mat-Su Visitors Center

There is a Musk Ox Farm in the Palmer area, where we took a tour this afternoon.  During the depression, in the early 1930’s, many farmers and their families were relocated to this Mat-Su Valley region to homestead and build new lives for themselves.  They are the ones who cleared the land and build farms and towns.  They sold and traded with and learned from the native people.  This barn is one of the barns that was built by a member of the original colony.  It is now a museum and gift shop for the Musk Ox Farm.
The rear of the barn.One of the original barns is now the museum and gift shop for the Musk Ox Farm

This is what a musk ox looks like.  They are actually a pre-historic creature who was driven to extinction in Alaska, but are now being reintroduced.   This farm is raising musk oxen to help study them and find out what needs they have, what keeps them healthy, etc.  The farm is also an educational tool for educating the public about the animals, by having the tours of the farm and the museum.  The musk oxen horns have been cut so that they do not hurt each other.  This one is shedding his under coat of hair or qiviut.  It is what keeps these animals warm in –80 degree weather.  The undercoat is extremely soft and much warmer than any other animal fur.  It is collected or combed out, spun into yarn and woven into garments.   Bumble wanted to meet a musk ox, and, apparently, the musk ox was checking her out too.
Bumble and the musk ox are checking each other out.Musk ox loosing his fine undercoat that keeps him warm in winter

They have separated the musk oxen into groups according to their age.  They put the babies in a pen together until they reach one year old.  The visitors are allowed to feed them some of the grasses that are grown for them.  It doesn’t take them long to learn that the people will feed them.  The newborn to 1 yr. old musk oxen do not have that wavy horn on their head, but instead, have a white patch of hair and some longer brown hairs coming off next the the white patch, where the big horn will eventually grow. 
Baby musk oxen
 
The 1-2 year olds are beginning to grow their horns.  They start growing straight horns that continue to grow straight or slightly curved up, like a cow’s, and the white hair remains between the two small horns.   Earl and I fed the musk oxen some fireweed.  It is one of their favorite.
Fran feeding a 1-2 yr old musk ox
Earl feeding a 1-2 yr. old musk ox


This guy, in front, poking his head through the fence, is 15 yrs. old.  We were told that some of the older musk oxen were picking on him, so they moved him in with the younger ones.  the researchers have found that the Musk oxen have personalities quite similar to humans.  We would call it bullying in this case.  In the background  are the 3-4 yrs. old group.  Their horns are beginning to bend down,, but that middle area has not filled in with horn, yet.  That will happen during the fifth year, or so.
This guy is 15 yrs. old the ones behind are 3-4 yrs. old

The other oxen were farther out in their pastures and we didn’t get to see them up close.  It was a very interesting tour and they seem to be having success with expanding their herd. 

Tomorrow we will be taking a short drive to another campsite and some more adventures.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Soldotna, AK to Eagle River, AK 7/24-26/14

Days 83, 84, and 85 of our summer trip.

Our travel from Soldotna to Eagle River took us through territory that we have already talked about, so we didn’t take many pictures.  The Soldotna area, as well as the whole Kenai Peninsula and much of the rest of Alaska are in the midst of fishing season.  You can imagine the aroma that would come from the garbage cans and dumpsters would be like, if everyone threw their fish parts and pieces from cleaning the fish, in them, thus, this sign.
I guess that they are worried about stinky, fishy smells

We found this nice campsite at the Eagle River Campground in the Chugach State Park.  The sites  are paved, which makes it nice when it rains, which it did shortly after we arrived in the late afternoon of  Thursday the 24th. 
Our site at the Eagle River Campground in Chugach State ParkOur site at the Eagle River Campground in Chugach State Park

We  drove the short distance to the business area of town to check where the post office was, because Ken and Emilie had sent our mail, that had accumulated over the last  few weeks, to the post office here in Eagle River.  We discovered that it was right next to the Carr’s/Safeway and a pizza place.  Well, we accomplished several tasks in that one area that was just one mile away from camp (as the crow flies).  The Alaska Pizza Co. made some tasty pizza that we took back to the trailer for dinner and the Carr’s had a gas station with diesel. for the thirsty truck, plus, we now knew where to go to pick up the mail on Friday.  The fences in this area of town were decorated with cutouts of four different animals.  Here are two of them.   They are a mountain goat and an eagle.
Eagle and Dall Sheep cutouts decorate the fences in this area of Eagle River

We slept in on Friday morning and didn’t get the mail until afternoon, but it was sitting there waiting for us, as expected.  It was raining most of the day today, so we just hung out around camp.  I worked on some of my blog posts.  We actually have 4G and a strong signal that is able to handle my hot spot.  It is so nice to be in an area with good phone and internet connections.  For the last couple weeks, even if I could get on a Wi-Fi connection, the band width did not allow me to do much other than pick up e-mail.  It was just too slow or there were too many people trying to use the same connection, causing it to not work for me.  Well, enough of my complaining.  We did go out shopping after dinner.  Other than that we took the day off.

Today, Saturday, the 26th, was spent trying to make a plan for the next part of our trip.  We think that we have a general plan of what we want to see over the next couple weeks.  It may need to be modified a day one way or another, but it should work.  We did get to Skype with Ken and Kyra for a little while today.  It was very nice seeing them.  We took a walk this evening.  There is a river, the Eagle River of course, that runs beside the campground.  We went down to the river at about 9 PM.  Like I said earlier, it is fishing season.  There are many rules regarding fishing.  It depends on what kind of fish, and which river and what type of fishing you are doing.  I liked how the water flowed over this huge boulder in the middle of the river.
Eagle River at Eagle River CGDifferent fishing rules apply to a river depending upon what kind of fish and which river it is. 

The river is flowing toward the bridge, you could see how the sunshine hit the ripples in the water.
Eagle River at Eagle River CGEagle River at Eagle River CG

When we got closer to the bridge, you could really see the rapids sparkle in the sun light.
Closer to the bridge there are more rapidsCloser to the bridge there are more rapids

Like I said, we just relaxed for the last few days.  Nothing too exciting to speak of.  Tomorrow, we are planning to do some sightseeing.