Saturday, June 29, 2013

Anchorage, Animals, and Stuff

When we left Seward we stopped at Portage Glacier on our way to Anchorage. It was cold and windy. We stopped at the tunnel that goes to Whittier and turned around. Portage is a good stop.
In Anchorage we stayed on Ft Richardson again. They are nice sites with full hookups for $27/ night. You can wash your RV and car there. Folks were complaining  because they raised their rates this year. Good laundry room and convenient to commissary, etc. It is also a great place to walk Savannah. We have come across a couple of moose on our treks. The mosquitos have gotten us a couple of times.  They have sprayed in the campground and the mosquito problem has been solved.
In Anchorage we took the trolley tour (ok, but nothing I'd do again), went to the ulu factory and bought some stuff, and watched a film on the big earthquake at the Alaska Experience. We saw a film about the earthquake at the federal bldg across from the visitors center also. They show several different Alaska films at the federal bldg and they are all free. You have to go through security, so leave your ulu in the car. We had a great dinner at Humpy's on  6th Street. Halibut fish and chips with a local beer.
The weather has been sunny and warm most days. It has cooled off and clouded up for the past couple of days. No rain yet. We have used the heater on most mornings.
Everywhere you go the scenery is fantastic and there are interesting things to see. Lots of animals and snow capped mountains. The people are very nice. We have met a couple of people from around Newnan. One guy was a street vendor downtown selling reindeer sausage. When walking Savannah we are approached often.
We went to Lake Hood which is the busiest float plane airport. We booked  our flight to Brooks River Falls at Katmai to watch the bears. We go on Wednesday, July 3rd. I'll post pictures and info when we get back and get Wi-Fi.
Keeping up with the blog is a chore. I'm not crazy about using the computer. Wi-Fi is not readily available and is often slow. And there are too many other things to do. Cell phone service has been surprisingly good.
The roads have been fine. There are frost heaves but they are marked with cones and/or flags. Constructions zones are muddy and bumpy. RV came in yesterday and said he had problems on Alaska Highway. Broke both sides of his windshield and the windshield on his dinghy. He didn't have the right type of mud flap on his RV and no shield or cover for his dinghy. He also had a rock put a hole in his radiator and had to be towed 250 miles to Whitehorse. I don't know what happened to him. We had no problems like this, even on the Top of the World. He may have ignored the warnings to slow down for the gravel areas. His towing experience should have been in the movie, RV with Robin Williams. I tried not to laugh too hard.
Fuel has been readily available. I don't know how much I paid in Canada. It said $1.799, but it sure cost a lot to fill up. In Anchorage it is $4.20 and about $.50 more outside. I have not seen DEF at any pumps and some Walmarts didn't have it. The truck stops have it in containers.
I wanted to post some pictures of Alaska animals.
 

 
Wild Beast waiting in the driver's seat. 

Many wood bison on the Alcan
 Momma moose and calf in Denali

 Yearling moose Denali
 Caribou Denali
 
Mooses Denali

 Moose Denali He kept putting head under water

 Red Fox Denali

 
 Dall Sheep Denali
 Vicious beast petting Savannah 
 Black  Bear, Alcan
 Moose Alcan
 Sheep licking salt on road, Alcan

 Black Bear Alcan
 Canadian Canada goose, Liard Springs
 Momma bear with two shy cubs Alcan
 Black bear Alcan

Musk Ox Kenai Peninsula  
Flash Dancing Elk, Kenai Peninsula 
 
 Black bear Kenai Peninsula
 
Two Brown (grizzly) bears playing Kenai Peninsula
 
                                      

 Grizzly Kenai Peninsula

 Bald Eagle landed in tree next to us
                                    
 
Young caribou Denali


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