Camping at Cheney Reservoir State Park

We had one weekend that seemed to work for a camp trip this spring, between graduation and wheat harvest and new baby arrival, and it was a weekend with rain! Since the wetness was just Friday night, we opted to go ahead and camp one short night anyway. We left first thing Saturday morning so we'd have all that day besides Sunday. It turned out to be beautiful weather! A little on the cool side, but just right for a campfire to warm up to.

 Back on the road again! On the way to our first camp trip of the year.

Riley and his buddies left earlier and got the fire good and hot for us. They had evening plans so they went home late afternoon to get back after plowing bikes through flooded parking lots and roasting hot dogs.

The rest of use enjoyed  a bike ride or two as well. Those giant puddles were so alluring!

Cooking over the fire and cousin time make for fun memories!

Valdez and Worthington Glacier ~Alaska Trip Day 41

We spent the night north of Valdez at a turnout beside a river. The next morning we walked the auto-tour of Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery. The weir caught so many salmon trying to go up the stream that didn't exist (because they originated from the hatchery) that it was a stinky decaying mess. Gulls screamed all over and it was so sad to see the wasted masses. We watched the fish that did manage to swim up the ladder waiting for the gate to be lifted for entrance into the hatchery.

Next we drove into the town of Valdez. The small boat harbor lured us to walk the docks. The locals and weekenders were snagging salmon right and left. Off the dock, in their boats, right on the bank, it was fun to see them reel in such heavy loads, then scoop up the fish with a net to knock on the head.

Trails in a town? This brushy overlook trail took us up a bluff for a higher view; a little piece of wilderness worked in amongst the paved streets.

We ate lunch at one of the parks with a playground so the children could run. The town was so quiet! Most of the people were out at the waterside with fishing poles in hand.

The sea also brought painters out to its shores. This gal lived a couple hours away. She taught homeschoolers acrylic painting and was trying her hand with oils today.

The road we came in on is the one out as well. We stopped for pictures at Horsetail Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

Another stop for Worthington Glacier made a very worthwhile visit! We climbed a short distance past the lookout and information signs and actually touched the glacier!!! Others crossed the creek and walked up underneath the ice, but we were thrilled to just feel the icy breeze, taste the cold glacier, hear the rushing water, and see the blue-cold mass up close.

Wrangell Mountains

Tok and Delta Junction ~Alaska Trip Day 17

We have driven approximately 3,700 miles now.

These two girls love the signs to stick your head through. Meg is as good at spotting them as she is at finding playgrounds! The thermometer display at the Tok visitors center said the town's record high was 92* and record low was -85*.

Since Tok is the unofficial dog mushing capital of Alaska, we stopped at Burnt Paw gift shop and peeked at their Alaskan Husky pups & mushing display.

We also made a brief stop at the Public Land Management office where there were very nice Alaskan animal displays. (Read those tour books, they tell you about most attractions and if they charge admission. We're on an economy tour here, so we may miss some big-name familiar spots, but discover some unique ones instead along the way!)

Delta Junction marks the end of the Alaskan Highway. We hit the meat processing place first for samples of yak, reindeer, and elk. They were butchering a moose while we browsed. Next we explored the small Farmer's Market. Mom bought some delicious molasses cookies, the girls made several friends, Shannon visited with some locals, and we enjoyed relaxation in the sunshine. Across the lot was a well-preserved building, Sullivan's Roadhouse. The volunteer history buffs were exuberant to share the details of these olden days gone by...more gold rush tales. The garden was beautiful, overflowing with gigantic produce.

 

These Mennonites from Ukraine were a bit hard to communicate with due to their broken English. The smiling one demonstrated putting horseradish leaf on sore knees or feet. They wanted $15 or $20 for the large cabbage (they debated a bit between themselves in their language when I asked!) I think the honey was $24 a pint.

These friendly homeschoolers originally hailed from Michigan. They are cooking/baking on a woodstove in a temporary cabin until their dad and brother finishes building a house. The wheat bread and cookies looked amazing. Mother wove different crafts & cloths to sell.

The little girls aren't the only ones enjoying these signs!

After driving an agricultural loop, past plots of farmground and down gravel roads, we came upon a lovely suppering spot at Big Delta State Historic Park.

pipeline bridge

The Alaska landscape I pictured didn't meet our eyes until we were 2 days into the state.

Tanana River sunset. We overnighted here at a turnout.

"Head north to Alaska; go north, the rush is on!"