Alaska 2009

Denali – Talkeetna, Sunday, July, 12, 2009

We had to leave Denali this morning.  The drive south was again marked by haze, so we had none of the magnificence of the mountains as we traveled.  The small town of Talkeetna, a mix of tourist and eclectic, is the jumping-off point and supply base for most Mount McKinley climbing expeditions.  Small planes almost constantly buzzed above, and the Alaska Railroad – with its sky-view cruise-line cars – went by right outside the RV park. We happened to arrive for the annual Moose Dropping Festival, so the atmosphere was noisy, raucous, and crowded – not quite what I’d expected, but we walked the half mile into town and enjoyed some of the festivities.

Talkeetna – Anchorage, Monday, July 13, 2009

Drove south today 98.7 miles to Anchorage, home of 42 percent of the people who live in Alaska.  Denali, which is visible from Anchorage on a clear day, was hiding in the haze again today, but I can’t complain –especially after the gorgeous views we had in the park back country last week.  The drive was pretty – rolling hills, lakes and rivers.  North of Wasilla, home of Sarah Palin, signs of civilization began to increase.  From Wasilla (42 miles from Anchorage) sparse suburbia carpeted the landscape.  

Arriving at the Golden Nugget RV Park, home for four nights, we settled in and then explored the city.  Downtown Anchorage is a busy cityscape with many government buildings, businesses, shops and tourist traps spruced up with an Alaskan flavor – carved bears, wood burls, and flower baskets that graced the lampposts. 

At the Alaska Public Lands information Center, we picked up brochures, viewed some exhibits and watched a couple of short informational movies – one on bear viewing and one on the national parks of Alaska.  Picking up Subway sandwiches for dinner, we returned to “trailer, sweet trailer” to relax before calling it a day. 

Anchorage – Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Today was a day to take care of the necessities of life – cleaned the trailer, got the oil changed in the truck, went to Costco for some major provisions (Anchorage is back to civilization.), and went grocery shopping at Carr’s (Safeway’s counterpart).

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Did some planning and reading in the morning.  In the afternoon, we did a bit of shopping.  Fifteen years ago, when my parents were here, they bought me a cute sweatshirt.  I tried to find the gal who made them, but she has since retired.

We drove out to Earthquake Park, set aside to commemorate the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake that changed the landscape of this part of Alaska.  The destruction from this 9.2 quake has been obscured by time, but the park offers some interpretation panels and views of Knik Arm.  Next stop was Woronzof Point, right under the take-off access for the international airport.  We walked down the beach for views of Anchorage and the inlet.

Anchorage as seen from Woronzof Point

Memorial at Earthquake Park

After dinner we checked out a program at the RV park on the local native heritage center, but, due to crossed wires, the presenters failed to show.  Tom sampled the chili, and we visited with a retired couple from Olympia, WA. 

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Our last day in Anchorage, we visited the Alaska Native Heritage Center to sample Alaska’s native cultures.  The center offers exhibits, presentations, films, and a traditional village demonstrating traditional living abodes for five different regional groups – Athabascan, Yupik/Cupik, Inupiaq & St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Unangax & Alutiiq, and Eyak, Tlingit, Haida & Tsimshian.  We enjoyed the guides in each structure, as we strolled about the village – and several of the presentations. 

Athabascan Dwelling	Inupiaq Dwelling
Tlingit Dwelling	Unangax Dwelling
Yupik Dwelling

Friday, July 17, 2009

Drove south to the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage’s summer playground, today.  The first portion, on the Seward Highway, we remembered from our Seward-Anchorage bus ride following our Inland Passage cruise in 2001.  It follows Turnagain Arm and the Cook Inlet.  Effects of the1964 Earthquake are apparent in the “pickled” trees.  When the land mass dropped, sections of forest were exposed to saltwater.  Continuing onto the peninsula, we found flowery meadows, trees, and high snow-topped mountains. 

The Kenai Peninsula is known for its fishing, and the portion along the Kenai River, accessed by the Sterling Highway, is crowded with fisherman during the sockeye salmon run.  RV spots were at a premium, and we made a reservation for a dry spot tonight (no sewer, water or electricity).  As it turned out though, they had a cancellation, and we (non-fishermen that we are) have a prime RV slot in Soldotna, along the Kenai River, for the night. 

The river was thick with fishermen earlier this afternoon.  Tom and I checked it out after dinner, but most had gotten their limits and moved on.  We’ll check again tomorrow morning before heading to Homer.

We drove the ten miles down to Kenai, a picturesque city on the peninsula, where we took a self-guided historic walk.  The Russian influence in this area is fascinating, and we stopped into a Russian Orthodox Church, with a talkative retired priest who filled us in on the area.  Dinner at Carl’s Jr. and back to the trailer for the night.

Stay tuned for more adventures on the Kenai Peninsula next time!