Did some cleaning of windows and shades. Kim had to work and Danny and Dave took off for looking at new cars then Dave was headed for Lowe’s again, I think between Lowe’s and The Home Depot those are his new homes while working on Kim’s house.
Around 2pm David showed up so we sat and visited with them until almost 6pm. Kim go home from work early so she got to visit with them too a little bit.
Not a lot going on so I might just do weekly updates from now on.
Happy 5th Anniversary to Kim and Danny Gonzalez.
Kim and Danny took off to, to the bank and then Kim had a Bridal Shower to go to. Dave took off for some shopping then on to CVS to get a prescription transferred from the AZ. CVS. I watched the kids and cleaned up toys.
Around 11:30 a.m. Mike and Trini showed up and we sat and visited all day. Trini got a tour of the house and yard. Mike was here at the beginning and helped Danny paint the house. He was amazed how much it had changed since they moved in. He said the yard is 100% better, Danny had the gardener clean up everything plus seed it. With watering they do have some green now.
Mike ended up leaving the table saw because Danny is going to need it again for when he replaces the down stairs floor again. The wood floor he had put in is all scratched up now and the salesman said it wouldn’t scratch. So we will have the fun job of helping Danny get out the flooring and replacing it with something else. That’s later on though.
After Mike left Kim and Danny went out for an anniversary dinner so we watched the kids until they got back. Then it was back to the RV.
Friday, and it’s moving day to the Kid’s house, I just hope the electrical is hooked up correctly and we don’t burn the kid’s house down. I trust Dave totally, but I always think the worst, and thank goodness the worst never happens.
We closed up the RV and headed for Sam’s Club to fill up the RV before parking at Kim’s. Dave said go ahead and open up the gate area so he can park the RV. I took off and tried to find Kim’s house going the back way in, well needless to say I got lost and Dave made it to the house before I did. He didn’t have the heart to yell at me because I was already upset because I got lost.
He ended up backing into the kids backyard because otherwise our big front windshield would be facing the sun in the afternoon, and it is way to hot for that right now. Our choice was view the backyard or view the street, in front of their house. I would much rather view the front and not having that sun beating down on us in the afternoon.
Once everything was set up it was back to work on the house. Dave putting in the living room fan, I washed down the front bathroom walls and ceiling. After the fan was up Dave started on something else but can’t remember what it was.
Once Danny was home from work, we had dinner together and talked. Kim had made a real good new recipe, “Albino Enchiladas” with rice and beans, very nice.
We got over to the kids house at 7:30am so Dave and Danny could move their trailer into the backyard, from where it was parked in front. Can’t bring the RV over until the trailer is moved. After the trailer was moved Dave came in and ate breakfast before finishing up the electrical. Danny was driving over to the rental and picking up the washer and dryer, he had help and didn’t need Dave’s help.
After Dave shocked himself he then said he needed help. I went out and we worked together to get the electrical done. Once done and Marcus went down for his nap, Kim and Dave left to go test drive some vans while Madison and I hung out. We could have moved the RV then but I wanted to have 1 more night there, so once Marcus, woke up from his nap, we could use the pool at the RV Park.
The pool was so nice, we all had a good time. Kim then went to the RV restaurant with the kids to have dinner. It wasn’t something we wanted so we stayed in the RV. Before dinner was done for them, Marcus got restless so I ended up going over to help out.
When Kim and the kids left Dave and I ended up going out for sushi, very nice and relaxing dinner.
Big move tomorrow, how the electrical works!
Let’s see how long it will be before we regret coming back to Bakersfield so early. We were told, when we started this adventure, we had to be back by September 15th for Madison and Marcus’s Birthday Party. If Kim was in the old house we probably would have stretched it out until then, but since they got the new house and there is so many little things need to be done Dave even got excited about coming here and working with his hands. Like I said, lets see how long before we regret it. TK
Last night before we left the house Dave had put up the new light fan but it wasn’t working so that was the 1st project. Kim and Danny were both at work and Marina was watching Marcus. After a couple hours we gave up and just knew the switch was broke and it would have to go back. We then headed for Lowes and Home Depot. Needed to get working on the electrical so we could get moved into the kids yard and get out of the RV Park.
We went to Lowe’s and got some of the electrical stuff we needed and the showers heads that we needed for Kim’s Rental. Forgot the renters had called and there was a problem with the shower heads so Danny had asked us to replace them. We got back at 2pm, Marcus was taking a nap so Marina left and Dave and I sat down and had a snack. We relaxed and cooled off while Marcus napped. Around 3:30 Dave took off and went to the rental house to replace the shower heads.
After Marcus got up he and I went out in the backyard to play, in the heat. Dave worked more on the electrical, just the set up not into the juice stuff yet. I had gotten the little pool out and filled it with water so Marcus played in the water and got soaking wet, it was fun. Danny got home a little after 6pm and Madison didn’t want to come outside with us, too hot, plus, she was tired after being at school all day.
Marcus wanted back into the house so I took off his clothes and diaper and had him stand on their little table and hosed him off, he was muddy. Dave went and got a towel so when I was done hosing him off I handed him off to Dave. Danny and I went inside after that and cooled off. Danny and Dave went and picked up pizza for dinner at Costco, Kim is at work, then Dave and I headed back to the RV.
Back to Bakersfield, that was the 1st stop we made when heading out on this “Adventure”. Left Arizona on 5/17/12, it’s been a long/short 3 months. When you think about the grand babies it seems like we have been gone forever but as of seeing and having some different adventures it just went by so fast. We covered 6,500 miles from the time we crossed over the border to the time we crossed back, that’s a lot of miles.
Left Las Vegas about 9:30am and it was already in the high 90’s. The heat is just too much for living in an RV, house is fine but not an RV. The air conditioner can only work so hard, so to live here we have to be in a house. I don’t know how all these people in the RV Park that live here fulltime can handle it, I guess you get use to it or just stay away until night time.
Landed at the Bakersfield RV Resort around 3:20pm, got set up and went over to Kim’s new house. Loved seeing those grand babies again, we then left and went to Madison’s gymnastics class, which was at 5:30pm. After gymnastics we came back to the house had some dinner, played with the kids, then headed back to the RV. Start work tomorrow on Kim’s house.
I’m 3 days soon 4 days behind of posting, will get caught up just very busy at Kim’s and leaving the computer there didn’t help any.
After breakfast we were heading out for Walmart and pedicures. Dave asked me to stop at the office because he wanted to find out about getting a refund if we should leave early. When he got back in the jeep he was not a “happy camper”. They told him they don’t give refunds, what you paid for already is what you pay, oh crap, Dave doesn’t like to be told “No”. I said relax, we will stay until Wednesday and eat 2 days of parking, he said it was one day because it was “pay for 6 nights and get the 7th free” So if we leave Wednesday we lose the Wednesday night fee because Thursday was free, ok we can live with that, we have done much worse.
We headed for Walmart and pedicures, Dave loves pedicures so that should put him back in a good mood. His pedicure was done before mine so he even had a manicure, 1st time for him. After we were done we did a little shopping in Walmart, needed a card for someone, from our Mexico trip, they had died this morning, cancer.
After leaving we drove to the Strip and went to the Mirage Casino and walked around. There happened to be a cache on the top floor parking lot so we went there to find it and leave the last travelling bug we brought back with us. We did find it and left the bug.
I wanted to go to Circus Circus, because we haven’t been there in years. Once there we stopped and had something to eat then went and watched a Zumba Zumba act, free. There were 5 guys that had been on “America’s got Talent”, pretty darn good but a very fast act. (what do you want for free) There use to be acts going on all the time there, not no more, things have really changed.
After leaving there we headed back to the RV. Relaxed, I finished my 4th book, then got on the computer. Dave had been on his computer the whole time and watching the news. Next thing I know he says, I’ll be right back, and out the door he goes. He comes back 15 minutes later and says “we are leaving in the morning” and I said “WHAT”? He said he had gone to the office and we are now getting our money back. (I think they just wanted him gone) Dave is hating this heat so bad, he just doesn’t realize that Bakersfield is just as hot. He does know it is hot in Bakersfield too but at least there we don’t have an RV we are stuck in, a house you can move around. I don’t blame him, I can handle heat a lot better then he can, but these RV’s are not made for snow or heat waves, that’s why they have wheels, hit the road and find the weather you like.
We met up with our nephew, Michael Tomaselli, for dinner at Carrabba’s and had a very nice dinner. Loved visiting with him, can’t imagine being in his neck of the woods and people would call and come by and visit him, but yes, some relatives have done that, sorry for them it’s their loss.
After dinner Dave and I came back to the RV, called friends of ours, and while on the phone got an email that my cousin had died the day before of skin cancer. No one had known he was sick, he hadn’t been in touch with any family members since our uncle, his Dad, had died, which is going on 4 years now. I should really say he lost contact with the family, except, once in a while, with our uncle, 20 years earlier. Long story not worth going through.
Tomorrow we are headed out to Bakersfield, still need to go to an RV park until we get set-up with electrical for the RV at the kids house. So maybe we can move the RV to Kim’s Thursday, let us hope so.
Dave cleaned the front windows and put up the window shades. We put the window shades up on the inside of the windows but it just isn’t enough to keep some of the heat out. So now we have the inside, outside and the driving shades down in the windows to try and cool things down. He managed to wash some of the RV off too, in this heat.
After breakfast, of bagels, we went shopping at Walmart. We are out of milk, bread, drinks, water ect. the refrig. is almost empty. We shopped and even got seat covers for the jeep, the heat is just way too much. At least with seat covers and a steering wheel cover we don’t get burnt when we get in it. Same thing happens in Arizona so we really need it.
We came back to the RV to unload our shopping then headed into downtown Vegas. We went in search of my nephew, Michael’s, new store he has just taken over. Bath and Body Works. Nice place but small, he even said the last store he was at was double this size, but it does one hell of a business, which is good for him. We visited for a little while, decided to meet up on Monday night for dinner. Dave and I then headed out for Old Town Las Vegas, Fremont Street, I believe. That was nice to see again, street vendors, mimes, magicians, beggars. Hay, we were out of the heat. We had a 99 cent shrimp cocktail and a Bloody Mary, both were are joke.
We then came back to the RV and kicked back before heading back to Sam’s Town for dinner. 4pm we headed to Sam’s Town for our “endless tacos and enchiladas” and “bottomless Margaritas” hey it was $9.99. Tacos and enchiladas were pretty good, chips and salsa too, can’t say too much for the margaritas, don’t think they put any tequila in them.
After the late lunch early dinner we went gambling a little, we are not much at throwing away money, I know we should have a positive attitude maybe that would help. We just aren’t much on gambling anymore. Dave lost all his but I walked away ahead, and that is all that matters. Had a little fun and didn’t lose it all this time.
Back to the RV to watch the closing of the Olympics. Our plans may change again, Dave is getting tired of Vegas so we now be headed out on Wednesday. It all depends on if we can get into a show on Tuesday night, if we can’t we may be out of here on Tuesday. We have seen enough houses and until we get pre-approval it isn’t doing us any good to keep looking. They are out there and we won’t have any problems finding one once we are ready.
Since I had gone to bed so early I had a really hard time sleeping. Finally got up at 4:30am and had a slight headache and was a little hungry. I grabbed 1/2 bagel and just a little bit of peanut butter. We have no bread, yogurt ect. we have got to go shopping. I was feeling pretty good but still going to take the motion sickness pills today.
It was actually pretty cold in the RV this morning but by 7:30am it was 96 degrees. We have an appointment with the real estate agent at 10am. I know I said yesterday that it was just too hot outside to cook but it would be different if we owned a house. It’s just the RV or any RV can’t handle heat like that.
Took my pills and had breakfast. We have had a steak out so Dave fixed it up for breakfast before it got too hot outside. Was really good too, steak and eggs for breakfast.
Met up with the real estate agent, Maryann, and talked for a little while. We looked up a few more properties because the ones we wanted to see have already sold or have too many bids on them. We found 1 that I could love in a heart beat. $170,000 and it’s a short sale that fell through. We need a pre-approved letter before any agent can approach with a bid. Too bad because that short sale had so much land but would need a lot of love and care. They had converted the garage into a room, badly done, it had a secrete room we couldn’t get into but it had a built in outdoors kitchen, which is something Dave loves. So the next thing to do is get pre-approved. This house even had a gym room off the master bedroom, like we have in Cornville. Darn, Darn, Darn, that would have been great, if we are lucky it will be on the market for a while, it does have a lot of electrical stuff that is illegal.
After looking at some places we went back to the office and talked a little more then headed out to look at some properties that the agents hadn’t called us back on to look at. We then stopped at Fiesta Henderson Casino to have lunch. Trying to get back on a regular schedule. After lunch we looked at another place then back to the RV. I was getting really sleepy, after last night, but feeling good. So not sure if it is the motion pills or food but like I said earlier will keep taking the pills and eating so see if that helps. Dave is to the point of leaving and getting me back to California and see if there maybe something wrong with me. Maybe it just missing the grand babies and my mind is making me sick, who the heck knows.
Got a nap in and still feeling fine, not as hot today, maybe 110 instead of 115, 5 degrees is a big difference. We went over to Sam’s Town for the buffet dinner, Prime Rib, cut to order, and shrimp every Saturday for the month of August. Dave loves his prime rib. After that we watched the light show at Sam’s then drove back to the RV. We had our own light show going on in the sky in Vegas. Thunder and lighting, some rain but not much. 11pm and it was bedtime. The RV was cool enough that I even got out a blanket for me during the night.
After breakfast, at Walmart, I was walking around the RV when I noticed the awning on the bedroom slide torn. They one and only awning we hadn’t taken off before the Alaska trip because it looked like it was in pretty good shape. Ends up it isn’t torn just unstitched, Dave said. After taking the trash out I looked up at the RV and thought I don’t remember seeing all those wires before. I went and got Dave and he said that’s where are A/C Cover should be. It was pretty windy on our drive to Vegas so must had lost it then, hope no one was behind us. I think if they had been we would have heard about it. We left Wal-Mart and we were only 25 minutes away from the Resort so we went straight there and got set up. We turned the air on and after a little while the breaker would trip so the a/c wouldn’t stay on. Dave called Camping World and they had an a/c cover so we drove over there to buy it.
After we left Camping World we drove over to the area where the real estate lady had sent us some houses to look at, wanted to see the area. It is kind of like where we are now in Cornville, away from the city but only a 5 to 10 minutes driving to everything.
We drove back to the RV and the breaker had tripped again, 114 degrees, not that the RV can battle that kind of temperature but we need to have something. Dave had to go up on the roof right away and put the cover on. After resetting the A/C’s we headed over to Sam’s Town. Need to get out of the heat so we decided to go see the movie Hope Springs. We got a large popcorn, candy and large soda. Before we had left I must have downed so far that day about 70 oz. of soda. The popcorn had lots of butter, stupid me kept eating it. The movie was very disappointing, thought it would be funnier. Steve Carell was very disappointing for sure. I could see myself in both of the characters which was very sad. Poor Dave, how he puts up with my shit. Bitch on wheels, no punt intended. We fight almost everyday lately, no nice words to each other. It just might have something to do with we have been 25/7 for the last 4 months, I think we both need a break. Anyway, I have got to work on this because it is all my fault. Enough said, had to get that off my chest.
After leaving the movies we drove to The Home Depot to get nuts and bolts for the a/c cover. I started feeling really sleepy, I just wanted to go back to the RV and relax. I laid down in the bedroom for awhile, the DVR wouldn’t work because the heat had made it too hot for the box, no TV. Can anything go right for us. After awhile we changed into our bathing suits to cool off in the pool. It’s 115 outside and 97 inside the RV. After we had gotten out Dave said let’s go back to the RV, have a drink then go to Sam’s Town to have a light dinner. It is just too hot to cook at the RV. I stood up then it hit me, the nauseate I started throwing up and couldn’t stop. Thank goodness no one else was at the pool. After I was done, which all it was was popcorn and butter, I felt better. Dave cleaned it off and we walked back to the RV. We changed clothes and I just didn’t feel right, wasn’t like I needed to throw up again. We went to Sam’s and I drank 2 7up’s to try and settle my stomach. We went to TGI Fridays and I had a dinner salad and could only eat about half of that. Dave at least got a really good dinner. I feel so bad about all this throwing up I’m doing.
I remembered I hadn’t taken the motion sickness pills that morning and that was the 1st time I hadn’t since Leavenworth. Alana, in Spokane, had said that maybe I have an inter ear infection and that’s what is throwing off my equilibrium. When I take the motion pills that helps me, I wonder if that could be true. Anyway, we came back to the RV and I went straight to bed, 8:30pm. It felt like I had the flu, I was freezing one minute then sweating another. 114 degrees and I wanted a sweatshirt to wear. Around 9:30 it had subsided and I was feeling better but was going to stay in bed.
Tomorrow, I’m going back to the motion pills until we get to Bakersfield. When I stop taking them again and if I should get sick again then I’ll go to the doctors.
We went into Walmart to the McDonalds there for breakfast. Got on the road by 8am. Long, long driving day, flat lands, brown, cactus just beautiful. Nothing to report today.
Landed at a Walmart on Nellis Blvd in Las Vegas, 106 degrees at 7pm.
Will get set-up in an RV Resort on 8/10.
Sorry boring day, not even any animals to see.
After fueling up it was probably 8:30am when we got on the road. We have about a 18 hour drive to Las Vegas. I know friends of ours, Vaugh and Linda, who we stayed with in Wasilla, would make that drive in 1 day but not us we are going to make it in 3. 2 nights in different Wal-Marts, 3 driving days. We share the driving, so that helps Dave a lot. As long as I don’t have to drive through big cities I’m OK, to tell the truth, if I had to drive through big cities I could do it, just wouldn’t like it. I drive slow but don’t care what the people behind me think. I can take them out a lot faster then they can take me out.
These drives now are a lot different then what we had been doing the last 2 months. We are back to flat land, farm land, cattle and lots of hay fields, wonderful loving it. We kind of got tired of seeing only mountains, glaciers, waterfalls ect. You know just give us a few days of what we are seeing now and we will want the other stuff back.
We stopped in Caldwell, Idaho in a Walmart. It’s only for the night so why pay for RV parking at $30 plus a night. We dumped everything this morning, gray and black, so we are good to go for a few days. All laundry is done so could, if we had to, last another week without doing laundry.
At 5:30pm Dave got on the phone to attend another Habitat for Humanity BOD meeting. While he was on the phone I went into Wal-Mart to shop and look around. I must say they have some strange looking people at this Wal-Mart, but then again I think that of every Wal-Mart we go to.
It’s warm here but have the generator running and the air conditioning is on and it is very comfortable. Watching the Olympics again and back on the road again tomorrow. I believe we will stop again at some Wal-Mart in Nevada, but not sure.
Wasn’t feeling sick again, YEA. We had breakfast then headed out to Wal-Mart to have hair cuts. Our hair has grown so much that it will be nice to have it cleaned up again. We had to wait almost an hour for our cuts so we walked around the outside of Wal-Mart and looked for some geocaches, with no luck.
After having the hair all cut off we headed into downtown Spokane. It was lunchtime so we went to Azteca Mexican restaurant to have some margaritas and nachos. They had a $3 lunch time margarita which wasn’t too bad they also served you salsa, refried beans and nice warm chips to start off with. We then ordered the nachos supreme, which were very good.
After munching we went looking for geocaches in the park. We found one and put one of the travelling bugs in it that we got in Alaska. We will put the other bug in Las Vegas. We had found 2 travelling bugs in Alaska, wanted to plant them in Canada but had no luck in finding any caches in Canada. We then came back to the RV and cooled off, 100 degrees so coming back into the air conditioning was nice. Sat and watched Olympics before dinner.
At 5pm we went to Red Lobster to meet up with Alana and Christy. Boy, we had all our travel plans mixed up. Don’t ask. Needless to say we got to see Christy and Alana before we left. Will have to plan another trip out here so we can stay a couple weeks at the house on the river and see everyone.
Went to the Verizon store after dinner and got Dave another plug for his phone, the one in the car isn’t working. Then back to the RV.
Heading out tomorrow for Las Vegas, will take a few days to get there. Will probably stop in Boise, Idaho tomorrow at a Wal-Mart.
Needless to say I got up this a.m. again feeling green at the gills again. What the heck is going on? When we left KOA we stopped at Safeway to hook up the jeep and I went into the store to get motion sickness pills. Hopefully that will help me, still not feeling like eating and Dave is starting to get worried.
After driving for awhile I went in back and got an Adkins shake drink, out of yogurt. It made my stomach feel better. The drive didn’t have as many curves or maybe it was the motion pills but what ever it was I didn’t feel sick once we landed. We landed in Alderwood RV Resort in Spokane, WA. What a beautiful spot but the spots are not very wide. Can hardly walk around the outside of the RV with all 4 slides out.
Dave talked to Alana and we won’t get to see them until tomorrow night for dinner. They have doctor appointments tomorrow so at least we can see them for dinner.
We went out for dinner tonight. I looked up a Diners, Drive-in and Dives place that looked really good, and it was. Waddell’s Pub, what a place to eat at, great food and great beer. We aren’t big beer drinkers but they had 35 different one’s on tap. Then it was back to the RV to relax and watch some Olympics.
Tomorrow will be touring around, do some shopping, geo cacheing then dinner with friends.
It was another drive this a.m. with lots of climbing and curves, down hills and more curves. Needless to say I was green in the gills again. I must be getting car sick in my old age. I managed to choke down breakfast once we got to Leavenworth. Eating was easy at 1st but near the end I seem to be chewing chewing and it just kept growing and growing. I sure need to get this green at the gills gone, not to happy with myself.
Once we got to the KOA we put on our swim suits, it is ready hot here, and went to the pool. Boy, it was packed with people, didn’t care just laid in the water and cooled off. Then we laid on lodge chairs and relaxed. In between we got 2 loads of laundry done, put the warmer clothes away and got out the hot weather clothes again.
Stayed at the pool for a couple hours then back to the RV to cook dinner. BBQ ribs, dry no sauce, and boy was it good. After dinner we went to the Jacuzzi for a little bit then back to the RV to watch the Olympics. Heading out tomorrow for Spokane, WA. Had called Alana earlier and found out they were going to be in Spokane instead of Idaho so we will head there to see them. It will be nice again to see Christy, Alana and Gary, hopefully Candy, John and their new addition.
Sorry to say, but the last 5 days in Canada has been hell. Figured out too it was the mosquitoes in Canada not Alaska that were killing me, did help our attitudes towards Canada. We really ran into some rude people at the RV Parks. Plus you pay high prices and don’t get the services they said they had. The would tell Dave it was him he didn’t know how to use the computer, REALLY, an I.T. retired person?
We got on the road at 7am and didn’t stop until 7pm to make sure we got out of that place. Can’t even believe that for the last 2 months we have driven through Canada, Alaska and then Canada again and not once needed an RV reservation. We get back into the U.S. and we have no where we can park at. Seems this Monday is a Canadian Holiday and they have taken up all the spots in the U.S. It’s their Holiday why don’t they spend it in their own country? They probably get out of there just like we got the hell out of there. (Just not a good last few days, the country side in Canada is really beautiful)
The drive out of Canada was beautiful through the valleys and this time it wasn’t raining. The 1st time we went through, 2 months earlier, we had some rain, not heavy though. It had been exactly 2 months, 6/4, that we had made that drive through Prince George. On 6/4 we were happy because we were on our way to Alaska, seeing moose and bears on 8/4 didn’t see any animals, except big horn sheep on the road, and just wanted to get the hell out. Attitude, attitude, attitude.
We ended up in Marysville at Tulalip Casino dry camping with a ton of other Canadians. Dave lost $20 gambleing but didn’t care we were back in the U.S.
Got on the road around 9:30am. Sun promises to come out today so we are wearing shorts.
Saw 4 deer along the way. The signs kept saying there were moose out there and to watch out for them. Never saw a one, will try again tomorrow. We stopped at Blue Cedars Campground, they advertise that they are in the country but near a city, which they are. 5 minutes away is Wal-Mart but being in this campground is like being in the country. Nice trees and grass, internet isn’t working though, so Dave is not a happy camper. He can get his phone to connect but not our computers. Once I get Dave to calm down I think we will go to Wal-Mart down load some Geo Caches and go hunting.
When it didn’t work out that way, we went to the visitors center, looked around, and the WiFi wasn’t working. We went and got something to eat then over to Star Bucks to down loan caches. That didn’t work, Dave couldn’t get a map to loan. He was just getting more upset with not having a GPS in Canada. We shopped at Wal-Mart then back to the RV. He washed the windshield then came in to use his computer. The RV Park shut it down, I guess, because we couldn’t get on. Dave was ready to leave then, I told him to calm down and made him a drink.
We will be getting the heck out of Canada tomorrow even if we have to drive for 10 hours. He has really had it and so have I.
We got on the road after fueling up around 9:30am. Heading out of Stewart towards the U.S. I saw 1 black bear Dave saw 2 on our drive. Very uneventful drive, stopped in Houston, BC. Weather nice so it was shorts time again. Getting caught up on computer stuff that I haven’t got to look at for 2 days. Don’t like that. Olympics after that.
Tomorrow Prince George for a day or 2.
Yea, still not feeling sick. Maybe it did have something to do with all the bouncing around or maybe it’s the idea that I’m only 2,000 miles away from Bakersfield/Simi Valley. I don’t care what it is as long as I feel good.
Still raining here in Stewart, oh well, tour around in the rain. Suppose to clear up but who knows.
We took off and went to the Fish Creek Wildlife Viewing Area and watched for awhile, no bears showed up. The Ranger said they had been showing up early in the morning then again around 4pm, they had bears, foxes and eagles out there fishing for salmon. We took off and drove another 22.9 miles to Salmon Summit Viewpoint. What a drive and what views, amazing. We stopped at 17.2 miles and got pictures of the Toe of Salmon Glacier. Then drove to the top of the summit then 6 more miles beyond that, where they were doing gold mining. I drove on roads that I would never drive, cliffs, holey and all dirt. Normally Dave does that kind of driving but I did it this time. When the jeep started to slide that told me to slow down, didn’t want to end up at the bottom of the cliffs.
After that drive we got back to the coach around 3pm and had something to eat. Then we headed out again for the bear viewing again, hoping something would be there. We got lucky, there was a Big Grizzly Momma Bear and her cub, the cub was eating a salmon and momma was just walking and looking around. Then the Bald Eagles showed up, grown ones and baby ones. We stayed till a little after 6pm then headed back to the RV. Dave promised me we would see bear and eagles feeding and we did.
Tomorrow it’s on the road again. Hopefully we will get internet soon so I can post things and see what is going on in the internet world. The RV Park is suppose to have internet but like I said in another post they just aren’t getting it right now. Dave went up to the office to see if he can get it but I’ll just have to wait.
Forgot to mention, the weather did clear up today and the sun came out. Turned out to be a nice day.
Sorry about the depressing post yesterday, was so sick of the mosquito bites that I was kind of in a depressing mood. I really have enjoyed most of the trip so far, just so sick and tired of getting eaten alive. Seeing all the moose, bears, whales, glaciers ect. has been great to see for yourself and not just on a TV show. These things are really out there and it is nice to see.
It was nice staying at an RV Park again and having TV to watch the Olympics, we really enjoy that and do miss it not being in the lower 48.
When we left this A.M. I was totally nauseated again, no breakfast for me. Dave wasn’t too happy about that and almost decided to head back to the lower 48. Wished he would have at the time, but after him driving for awhile and stopping for him to take his pills, I ate some yogurt. After awhile I felt much better, Dave even said he can tell when I’m feeling better because then I start talking again. Don’t know what it was but all of a sudden I felt fine. Maybe it was the motion sickness pills I took. I was up though at 3:30am because I just couldn’t sleep, felt great until right before we left. Maybe I am getting car sickness again, like I did when I was a kid, but don’t think so.
We couldn’t find any place we wanted to pull over at, the one RV Park, Bell II was $35.00 a night, no Free WiFi, like was advertised and only got 15 amps. We get better then 15 amps running on our generator, so why pay $35 for really nothing. We ended up driving all the way to Stewart, 9 hours, we haven’t driven that long in years. Most of the drive here was in rain, did see 1 fox and 1 black bear on the way. I took over driving after a while and all I had was trucks, lots of rain, road construction and no markings on the roadway. Dave had the no markings when he was driving most of the way but not really any trucks or road construction. When I said I would drive there were road markings, until I took over.
After not staying at the Bell II Dave took over driving and the road was perfect and marked, just my luck. Once we got to the RV Park and got set up the WiFi doesn’t work, the whole town only has 1 tower and with everyone sharing it and it raining nothing was working. So again, this post will be late just like yesterdays.
We went out for pizza and wine, it was a long driving day and we didn’t feel like cooking. Tomorrow we will start our touring around Stewart, Canada and Hyder, Canada and Alaska. Plan on staying at least 2 days if not maybe 3. Hoping this rain stops so we can see things, the girl at the campground said they have hat a beautiful summer so far. Wish us luck!
By the way happy belated anniversary to my niece and nephew, Marisa and Shawn, and happy birthday to our neighbor in AZ Bev.
The mosquitoes ate me alive again. 5 bites on the back, 1 on each baby finger, 1 on right inside arm and left eye swollen again. At least it isn’t as swollen as it was the 1st time, I can still see out of it. Honest to goodness if I don’t get away from these mosquitoes soon I am going to kill myself. I have the constant dry heaves after killing so many and being covered in blood. I can hardly eat anything and keep it down, maybe I’ll lose some weight this way, that’s a good thing.. Get me back to the lower 48 and I think I will feel human again.
Did see 1 Black Bear today on the road, besides all the ground squirrels, I think that’s what they are.
Anyway, we dry camped last night on the side of the road. We got going around 7:30am I think and stopped in Whitehorse at the Wal-Mart. Needed to pick up a couple things and had breakfast at McDonalds. I needed to eat something that reminded me of of lower 48. The last week there wasn’t even a Subway to remind me of home. I just am feeling like I’m in another country and I need to get back to the United States, even though Alaska is in the U.S. it just isn’t the same. I think once we get back I will evaluate if I will ever leave the U.S. again. My dream is to go to New Zealand now I will have to rethink this.
I was so tired while we were driving today that I finely asked Dave to pull over so we could rest. After laying down for 45 minutes I took over driving so we could make it to Watson Lake. I believe this was the 1st time I drove the RV on this trip, I’m driving the jeep now and really enjoying it, Dave is better at navigating around towns, that’s why I driving the jeep all the time. Plus, it gives him a brake from driving. We stopped at Baby Nugget RV Park with almost full hook ups, just no dump. At least I can have a shower in the morning, I’m not good at dry camping, I like my showers. I know even though we are dry camping I could shower but I don’t always because I don’t want to fill the tank up. Plus, I don’t want to use the propane to heat the water up, save the propane for dry camp cooking.
Time to get going again, didn’t have anymore plans in Haines so thought we would get a start for Whitehorse. We did another loan of laundry and while it was drying we went and did some geo caching. Found 2 out of 3. The second one we went looking for was where the people are fishing while the bears come strolling through. We looked for a little bit but since it was in the woods Dave’s GPS wasn’t working too well on his phone. I forgot the umbrella so I didn’t want to run into any bears.
The 3rd spot had another travelling bug in it so we took it and will put it in somewhere in Canada. We didn’t get on the road until around 2:30pm then lost an hour once we crossed over into Canada, so now it was an hour later.
We pulled off on the side of the road at Mendenhall River Culvert. No services what so ever so will have to post this when we have internet access again.
We are going to try a board game called Sequence tonight. When Dave took it out it was still wrapped in paper and the card said “To Beth, from Don and Mary”. Let’s see my mom (Beth) died in 2002, and I don’t know when she received it from her friends. As you can see we have had this game for quite awhile. I won the 1st 2 games Dave won the next 2.
When we got up again this morning it was raining, bummer. Had a feeling it would stop and it did before the town’s parade or fair began. We forgot about the parade and was going to drive into town to go to another gift shop, still looking for 1 magnet, then to the bank to get some money. That’s when we saw the roads closed for the parade so we just parked and watched it. Boy, I thought ours in Cottonwood, AZ was small this was really small. They even opened it up for dogs and people walking with their babies in strollers. It was cute for a small town.
After the parade we made our stop at the bank, and then to the fair. I went to the gift shop and got what I wanted while the parade was going on and I didn’t miss a thing. We were told when you go to the fair “think hippie” and if we couldn’t walk through the whole thing in an hour there was something wrong with us. There were a few “tye dye” places and we could have walked the whole thing in an hour but we were walking slow.
The girl the day before where we got ice cream had told us to try the cheer leaders Fried Bread, which we did, no big deal. She also said they have fresh, good sushi and monster burrito stands. We saw all of them but after the fried bread, we shared, that was enough for a little while. As we walked around Dave asked if I wanted to go to the Logging Show and I sure. When we got there it was pretty full but there was another couple there that are staying at the RV Park and invited us to sit with them. The show was fun, it started with women throwing axes at a target, then it was the men’s turn. Then they had small log cutting, women’s and men’s. There was a relay race and saw bucking competitions. It was fun, what the heck, what else did we have to do.
After the show we went to get something to eat. Dave got the burrito and I got nacho’s, they were both good and very filling. After that I got my face painted, so the grand kids could see it on Facebook and laugh at Nana/Grandma. We then sat and listened to a couple bands, one band “The Swing Set” was really good, so many strange look people, “Hippie’s” got up and danced, most of them women and kids. I did watch a little earlier a dance group called “TAFY Stars Dance Team” which was young girls dancing and it reminded me of when Kim, our daughter” was young and in dance. Parents were out there filming away, Kim never did go to a State Fair through. Over all it was a fun day.
Tomorrow finish up the last of the laundry and pack up to get back on the road again.
Got up this a.m. and it was raining away. Yesterday it was hot and sunny with no clouds so to wake up to rain was mine blowing. We just kicked back there was nothing we really wanted to do in the rain.
It stopped raining around 12:30pm so Dave went out and wiped down the RV, I did laundry and watched TV. He even vacuumed the jeep this afternoon. We didn’t go anywhere just hung around again.
Hopefully tomorrow it won’t be raining and we can go to the Fair, which opens up at 11:30am.
Looking forward to watching the opening ceremony at the Olympics tonight.
This was another do nothing day, really. We went to the visitors center and asked what we need to see, while we are here. Every place they mentioned we had already been to, so then they mentioned the Fair. There was the American Bald Eagle Foundation we hadn’t been to yet and they were having the bald eagle feeding at 10:30am. We got there 10 minutes early so had time to look around, very nice collection of the wild animals. Then we went to the eagle feeding, it’s an eagle they have there that has an injured wing and can’t fly anymore. It was given to them from Fairbanks and they do a feeding twice a day and give you information on bald eagles. We were surprised to find out the reason they are called Bald Eagles, since they have feathers. They were named by the Early Americans and it was originally the “Balde Eagle” which “Balde” meant “White”. The “e” got dropped at some point. Bald Eagle means “White Headed Eagle”.
After that we drove around to the only 2 hair cutting places, 1 was booked until next week, the other wanted $30 for a hair cut, so I guess we will wait. Back to the RV to kick back, play on the computer then take naps. The owner of the RV park came by and said they were going to have another crab feed tonight so we said “yes” we would join.
We walked into town to look at the gift shops and do a little grocery shopping. Dave got his Alaska hat, and I guess I waited too long because now I can’t find my Alaska magnet that has the Alaska shape with the names of a bunch of cities. You snooze you lose, should have gotten it when I saw it last. At first didn’t want one that had all the names but since I haven’t gotten a magnet from every town we have stopped at now I wanted one. Oh well.
While walking back to the RV we stopped at a place to get an ice cream waffle cone. Honest to goodness I have eaten more ice cream since being in Alaska then I have eaten in the last 5 years. Believe me I think I have had ice cream maybe, at the most 4 times but that is a lot more then what I eat at home. The girl that worked at the store and sold us the ice cream was going to start college in Fairbanks in the next month and was going to become a nurse, we had a nice chat with her while eating our ice cream.
The crab feed was really good again, not as many people that we had the last time because a lot of them came in late, while we were eating but still had enough food. Crab dinner for $6.00 a piece, can’t beat that.
Bald Eagle finally came back but no bears today. Tomorrow a geo cacheing day and more touring, Saturday is Fair day. Weather great all day, 1st time we haven’t seen 1 cloud in the sky.
As soon as we were leaving this morning it started raining. We drove out the the Bald Eagle Preserve but once there we read that they have over 3,500 eagles there in Fall and Winter. Guess what, we didn’t see any Bald Eagles, waste of a drive. We see more where we are camping.
We drove back into town then drove out to the cannery. Some guys had told Dave about the place. You can do a self guided tour of the cannery, which we did but the fishing boats were out so the only thing going on was some kids taking the shells off of shrimp for Big Al’s food trailer in town. The rain had stopped and it turned hot and sunny, was sorry we were wearing long pants and long sleeves shirts now.
We then started driving out to the State Park, going towards some Geo Caches. One we found was at a art store/house and it was in an outdoor Benjou, which is Japanese for bathroom. The cache was hanging from the back of the mirror. We then drove to the State Park and went hiking looking for another cache. Once you got through the woods you came upon Rock Beach, would have never known it was there. We didn’t find the cache but what a beautiful site too see. We kept yelling as we were going through the woods to make sure we didn’t run into any bears.
We then drove back into town to True Value, Dave needed something for the RV then on to Big Al’s for lunch. The kids that were taking the shells off the shrimp said to try it out, it was pretty good. It was “OK” and affordable couldn’t really tell the difference between the salmon or the halibut. It is a cute little trailer and cruise ship passengers were there. Forgot to mention during the night a cruise ship parked out in the harbor.
We drove out again to where the guys were fishing but didn’t see any bears this time but we did find the Bald Eagles nest but didn’t see the babies. When we got back to the RV we saw everyone outside looking up the beach and they told us a Grizzly Bear and cub had just run back up the beach. Darn, we missed it.
Dave then cleaned the lower half of the RV, and I relaxed after putting the laundry away. Later in the afternoon the grizzly showed up again, alone and was on the beach. This isn’t good for us, a grizzle showing up 2x’s in one afternoon. Nice to see but as long as it stays at the beach part we are OK but if it should come up the hill, where we are, that is not good. A small RV near us has young kids and a dog so when they got back I did warn them, so they don’t let the kids run around on their own.
After dinner, of Halibut that we caught, we walked outside and I looked over the edge of the cliff, where we are staying and the grizzly bear was back. I yelled to everyone and they all came out with their camera’s. Was really something to see, the bear ran up the beach, stood up and was smelling the air, poor thing is hungry. Back 3 times in one afternoon is not good. When it left this time the owner of the RV Park said it had broken into the restaurants trash and asked us to please put all of our BBQ’s and trash away tonight. The bear will keep coming back if it finds things to eat.
No fire tonight, just sat and talked to a couple until around 10pm then it was time to go in. The mosquitoes were coming out because it got so warm today, but it was still so light outside. Oh well, close the shades and call it a night in an hour or two.
After breakfast and showers we decided we were going to stay a week here in Haines. At this RV Park if you pay for 6 nights you get the 7th free, sounded good to us. We have been moving so much that we both feel we need some down time. Come this Thursday, 7/26, their Southeast State Fair starts and we wanted to go see that.
We drove out to Chilkoot Lake where the fishermen stand in the water and fish Salmon. We drove around the camp sites, way too small for us. On the way out we stopped to see the fishermen and when we did one guy came out and said the grizzly bear was coming this way. Dave got some great shots of the bear walking along the lake. When the bear came back onto the road I took off running, which what your not suppose to do, and hid behind a truck. Pretty neat to see, just like seeing the grizzly yesterday. But this one was closer.
After driving around town we came back to the RV and relaxed. Read books and just took it easy. Need the down time, I can’t even begin to tell you why, just been moving too fast.
This evening the RV Park had a crab fest for everyone and you had to bring a dish to pass, plus $6.00 per person, cheapest meal we have had. What a great dinner, crab was great and what everyone brought was great, along with dessert. After dinner a lot of us went to the fire pit and made a nice fire and sat and talked, was a really nice night.
4 cruise ships went by and now it is almost 11pm and it is starting to get dark. If it starts getting dark at night time that means it is time to leave Alaska, winter is coming. After talking to some people tonight I think we have decided not to go to Skagway, next Monday, and just drive out of here. If we take the ferry to Skagway then we have to pay for another night of camping, and we have already been to Skagway in 2003 so why go again.
Will be here till Monday, so still have time to decide. Will update later on what we decide to do.
The road the rest of the way through Canada was great, even the construction sites were flat. Never saw much while driving. We came upon a camper pulled over on the road and stopped to check to see if they were “OK”. Which they were, but they were sitting there watching a Grizzly bear laying down in the field. As we were driving past them I saw it so we pulled over too. I got out of the RV and wanted to get pictures but Dave had a fit and made me get back into the RV and he took pictures from there. The bear was laying down so didn’t get any good pictures.
When we got back into Alaska the road got a little rougher but over all not a bad ride. We are staying at Oceanside RV Park which is right on the water front, perfect view.
I watched the boats come and go then later that night the owner of the park came and knocked on our door to invite us over for a pit fire. Just about everyone from the camp site came out and we all sat around the fire pit and visited with each other. It was a nice evening.
Tomorrow night the owners are putting on a crab feed, which we are suppose to bring a dish to pass, should be fun.
I said yesterdays drive was bad, on the Tok turnoff, forget about it today’s was even harder. Even got stopped at a road construction place for about 15 to 20 minutes. Canada needs to do a lot of work on their roads. Luckily the cabinet, where the washer/dryer is, has a child proof lock on it or it would have opened up the door and we wouldn’t have known it. Washer moved forward. We noticed the other day that we have more cracked tiles in the kitchen. We are stopped now at Cottonwood RV Park and it’s 3:30pm, gained an hour, right in front of us is the most beautiful lake, so blue. Blue sky, warm and sunny.
We got on the road this morning at 7am. After driving for a little over an 1/2 hour a motorcycle was driving at us and he put his arm up a little, with a closed fist. I asked Dave was does that mean and he said he was probably waving to us, I said that was no wave. The road turned and right in front of us was a mama black bear and 2 cubs in the middle of the road. Dave hit the brakes and swerved to the right and luckily all the bears took off for the left and went running up the hill. So let that be a lesson to you, if someone on a motorcycle puts their arm 1/2 way up with a closed fist that means slow up something is up ahead. You would rather look at it then hit it.
After a while a Wolf ran across the road in front of us then stopped and stared at us as we drove by. Once we got on those nice Canada roads (ha, ha) there was another black bear on the side of the road. We couldn’t stop in time but the truck behind us was able too.
The rest of the drive was either chip monks or squirrels. Tomorrow will be back in Alaska, Haines. I think tomorrow I will take some motion sickness pills maybe I’ll feel better when we arrive. This driving is almost worst then the Halibut boat ride.
Loved Valdez, I think it was the best little town we stayed at plus the most beautiful.
Got on the road at 9am and took the Tok turnoff, what a tough drive today. So much gravel road, frost heaves, holes. Our average speed for about 60 miles was 40mph, needless to say a 4 hr. drive ended up being 6 1/2 hours. We got to Tok at 3:30pm. Got full hookup so we could do laundry again, every time I get a chance I’m going to do laundry, don’t want to do Laundromats if I can help it.
Not a lot to report today, only animal I saw was a squirrel and only saw that when we parked at Tok. The reason I said Tok again is because Tok is the 1st town you go through when you enter Alaska and you have to go through Tok again to leave Alaska. So what’s that tell you, we are going to start our slow descent back to the “lower 48”.
With that drive today, Dave got pretty beat up with all the bouncing around so his shoulders are tired. They have a Blue Grass Band here tonight, at the RV Park, so we will go to that later and just relax for the evening.
Woke up this morning and the sun is shining and looks like it is going to be another nice day. The only wild animals we are seeing are rabbits, lots of them around. Dave has a Habitat Construction meeting this morning at 9:30am, 10:30 their time, after that we will get to touring around and go looking for the bear and babies.
Terrible news about what happened in Colorado, don’t like waking up and hearing stuff like that.
After Dave’s meeting we took off to find Jim and Lorraine’s house and leave them a note. We know they are back in Wasilla at a Good Sam’s Rally and wanted to prove to them even though we didn’t have their address we could still find their house. Fun challenge for us. After that we drove to the Fish Hatchery, hoping to see some fish and also wishing the mama bear would be out with her babies. When we were looking down at the hatchery what we thought were rocks the water was rushing over but it was salmons, thousands of them. To bad you couldn’t fish there because all you really had to do was reach down and grab them, they were that close. We then walked over the other side and saw the fish ladder, how they swim that much and don’t tire out is amazing.
When we left there to drive to where the Alaska Pipeline ends we saw 2 baby eagles, probably a year old, but I don’t know. They were pretty good sized but were still spotted on their wings, haven’t yet finished changing colors to black with a white head.
We then drove out to Bridal Falls and got more pictures of that. We kept going and went to Worthington Glacier, walked around there. Got more pictures of a glacier and water falls.
We headed back and stopped off of where Valdez use to be before the 1964 earthquake. We had great weather, shorts and tank tops again. We have really been pretty lucky these last few days. (knock on wood) When we got back to the RV park the owner said we could use their water and wash off the coach, at least the bottom half, it is pretty dirty.
Ended up going to the Elk’s Lodge for dinner, Friday night is steak night and it’s open to the public too. What a steak dinner, 1 inch thick, super large, cooked perfect. It came with a salad, baked potato, roll and a small piece of corn on the cob, which had been sitting in the water too long. Everything else was great. After dinner we went back to the RV then walked into town because we hadn’t search for a geo cache yet. The cache was right where they were cleaning and slicing the fish up from the touring fishing boat. The largest one was 196.4 lbs, caught by a local lady, she leads in the fishing tournament right now. We did find the geo cache while we were there. Tomorrow before we leave we are going to have breakfast out at the place where we posted the picture of Dave and I yesterday. The Fat Mermaid, it was highly recommended to us. This is the 1st place we have been too that we have eaten out of the most, 4 times. We hardly ever eat out but too many good places to miss here.
We will head out tomorrow, I believe to Tok. It’s time to start our drive back to the lower 48, we both have had just about enough. As usual we never stick with our original plans, some new stuff has come up and we need to move on now.
We got on the road around 8am, uneventful night, meaning no animal spotting. We decided to stop in Copper Center Loop for breakfast. The Copper Center Roadhouse is famous for their sourdough pancakes and that sounded good to us. We got into town and couldn’t find the place, we saw yellow tape hung around and I made the comment of a crime scene tape and we laughed. We drove into an RV place and asked where the Copper Roadhouse was and they said it had burned down, so that really was crime scene tape. There was a little building across the way and that’s where the owner had her sewing shop and turned it into a small restaurant until they could rebuild and reopen. She said they believe the fire was caused by electrical. Anyway, the sourdough pancakes were great, expensive but very good. Once we got back on the road again, I just couldn’t keep my eyes open. That never happens to me, I would swear there was something in those pancakes. I didn’t really wake up until we got to Bridal Falls, that was amazing to see, got lots of pictures.
We got to Valdez, we were going to dry camp but the road was so bad to try and get level on that we said forget it, we ended going to Bear Paw RV Park. Much nicer having full hookup and TV. Beautiful weather, shorts and tank top, they have a mother bear here with 4 cubs, very unusual to have so many babies. They have a big flashing sign out saying “Do not approach the bear, stay in your vehicle and take pictures that way. The news paper shows mama walking across the street with 1 baby in her mouth and the others following her, too cute. Would really love to see it but probably won’t get too.
We walked around town and went and shared some fish and chips. Very nice little place, plan on doing more touring around tomorrow. Hope the weather will stay good while we are here.
Happy 54rd anniversary to Bob and Jackie. Sorry no phone service or computer service from where we are stopped.
We didn’t get really going till after 10:30am from Palmer. We went to Safeway, Dave filled up the RV with diesel and I went to the store and stocked up on stuff. Then I went to the fuel pumps to fill up the jeep. I met Dave up down the road where he filled up with propane. Someone had said there was an RV wash before we got out of town, yea right, if your RV wasn’t taller then 102 inches, that wasn’t us.
We had a nice drive we stopped at Matanuska Glacier, drove down to the RV Park, not a good place to drive the RV through. All I’ll say is next time we see dirt road we unhook the jeep and drive down it 1st before we take the RV down. It was a rough road, I’m sure we loosened some nuts and bolts on that one. Anyway, we got to the bottom and to drive to the glacier and spend the night was going to be over $60. we just unhooked the jeep and drove to the glacier and walked around on it. Didn’t have the right kind of shoes to really walk on the glacier and didn’t want to risk falling and breaking a hip so we just walked a little and got lots of pictures. Luckily that only cost us $30 but we still had to rehook up the jeep and drive back up that bad road, which I’m sure knocked out some more nuts and bolts.
We drove a little bit farther until we got to a wide spot in the road to call it a day. Mendeltna Creek, what a nice spot. Couldn’t sit outside because of the mosquitoes but across the street a little ways down was a lodge and cabins. We watched a movie, “no roads for men” stupid then walked over to the lodge. What a great lodge, really out of the way, don’t advertise but really neat inside. Decorated great friendly owners, really a neat place. 3 people came in and ordered 2 six packs of beer and a bottle of vodka $75 that tells you how expensive alcohol is here. Canada is even worse.
After leaving the lodge we came back and cooked some salmon, relaxed and watched some programs I had recorded then off to bed. Tomorrow is Valdez.
Leaving Seward this a.m. and heading to Palmer for a night. Need to pick up our mail and see friends before we start heading out again.
The drive was uneventful, no animals but caged ones, that I saw. We stopped in Anchorage to do a little shopping at Costco. Need a few supplies not many since the freezer is still pretty much full. After Anchorage we drove to the Palmer Elk’s Lodge to spend the night. I was pretty tired, had a restless night last night. After setting up we headed for the Post Office, yea, our package was there. Stopped at Safeway, and did a little shopping there too. Got back to the coach and Dave started making special topping for garlic bread which were taking over to Linda’s for dinner.
Linda and Vaughn had, a few days ago, invited us over for dinner while we were in Palmer. Then come to find out she planned the dinner, for us, so we could get together with their friends, our new friends that we had met through them. How nice is that! We had great appetizers before dinner and lasagna and the works for dinner. It was a very good. Jim, Lorraine, Mike, Linda, Vaughn, Linda, and a new couple we just met Gene and Sherry, who were visiting with Mike and Linda. Gene and Sherry are from Arizona and left the same time we did, 5/17 but they don’t plan on getting back until December, we will be home by October. Will probably run into them as we are travelling. They are headed to Valdez now just as we are.
After dinner Jim had built a nice big fire by the lake so we all sat down there and talked till almost 9:30pm. Then it was back to the RV time. It was a great evening, Thank you so much Linda and Vaughn, enjoyed very much.
Tomorrow we are headed to Valdez, it’s about a 6 hour drive and it will take us 2 days, doing some site seeing along the way. Having a wonderful trip so far and hope it keeps up.
Got up this morning and the sun was out, nice. After breakfast we caught the bus shuttle to the cruise ship. We went on the Spirit of Adventure, and it left at 10a.m. Boat had quite a few people but wasn’t full. No cruise ships in, they all left last night.
Once we got going the 1st thing we saw were otters, it is kind of like driving the Canada/Alaska roads/waters if you see a car/boat stopped you know they are looking at something. There was a boat ahead of us and it was stopped looking at the otters. Then we got moving again and that’s when we saw the Killer Whales, so many and all around. The babies you could see staying with Mama and jumping around.
After awhile were some Humpback Whales, for a little while. Then more Humpbacks, it seemed like there were so many out there. The Ranger we had on board doing all the talking was just amazed to even see so many. There were Puffins, many other birds, besides Sea Gulls, and more humpbacks. Dolphins and so many different kinds of seals.
There were quite a few people that got sick, it was kind of rough. Not like our Halibut fishing but rough. When we started out I told Dave to get me some stuff, just in case, which I ended up being fine. Don’t know if it was from the pills, but I have never gotten sick before but better safe then sorry. There was even one guy at our table that offered to buy 2 pills off of me, really, I’m not a drug dealer, I gave him 2. He was also fine, even napped a couple times.
We left at 10am and got back at 6pm, it was a long day and a lot of fun. People we met said the boat cruise, for even more $, was better in Valdez. You know we did this one and I think just too get a little bit closer to the Glaciers isn’t worth it. For the $ I would rather do something different, not another tour cruise.
Heading out tomorrow to Palmer, to pick up our mail, and visit with Linda and Vaughn, Linda and Mike and friends of theirs from Arizona. Imagine that, meeting more people from AZ. 1st we have to make a stop in Anchorage to shop at Costco and Walmart.
We moved to the Military RV parking for a couple days, they have 50amp, water and cable. It’s an OK place just don’t have the ocean views anymore. Didn’t see any dolphins or otters before we left. The rain has stopped but it’s still gloomy. It tried to come out earlier but it finally gave up the fight. We had 2 cruise ships come in and the site seeing boats were full when they went out today. Cruise ships will leave tonight so glad we picked tomorrow for a day long cruise.
After getting set up we drove to the Alaska Sea Life Center, used our 2 for 1 coupon. It was a nice center but thank goodness for the 2 for 1 discount. You could walk the whole thing in a hour but we took our time and stretched it out to maybe 1 1/2 hours. They did a good job on it but things aren’t marked that well and it is very small.
After that we checked on our cruise tomorrow and made sure they would pick us up at the RV Park so we didn’t have to pay for parking. We went shopping a little at Safeway, had lunch at Subway, the only affordable thing, then did some geo caching. Back to the RV.
After breakfast we headed for Exit Glacier. Not a bad drive there, the hike to the glacier was a little tough at times because of the mosquitoes. Couldn’t take our jackets off because we would have gotten eaten alive. Luckily I had mosquito lotion in my purse so I covered my face, neck and hands, I think I escaped without any bites. Will probably know for sure tomorrow. Although when I got up this morning I did have a bite on my left wrist. Probably from geo caching yesterday on the 4 wheel drive one.
We drove back into town and kept going until the road ended, which is at Lowell Point. There was a cache there so we went and found it, Dave found this one. We drove back into town and walked around the restaurants and shops, the sun had come out for a bit, but only a bit. Back to the RV for lunch and to relax.
We watched the fishing and tour boats come back then saw dolphins and otters swimming around. It started raining a bit so instead of walking to the Elks we drove. Got there a little after 6pm and we missed “Buck”. The guy we met the day before who took us into the American Legend. We sat and visited with a few people at the lodge, had hamburgers and chips then back to the RV around 7:30pm.
Tomorrow we move to the Military RV Park, there we will have electric, water and cable so will have to dump before we go there.
The Oysters last night were great, just needed a lot more of them. Halibut was even better, it ended up a really nice dinner. After dinner we went to the hot tub, had it to ourselves, a long with some rain showers. Hot tub water was hot, rain was cold, so it was a nice combo. After the hot tub we went to the Princess Lodge bar for a drink. 3 bar employee’s said “Hi” when we walk in then they turned their backs to us, weird. We sat there saying “what the hell” when a 4th employee walked in and asked if he could get us a drink. We said “yes” and what is up with the other 3? He said he was sorry and would say something to them. Other then that it ended up being a nice stay there. Too bad we couldn’t stay another day but they are all booked up.
We didn’t get on the road until around noon, that is what check out time was. We only had to drive to Seward, 46 miles away I think. Once we got to Seward we parked on the water front, water in front mountains all around. Then we went to the Elks Lodge, no parking there, so we checked out the military parking, Dave can get in since he is retired DOD. We made reservations for Sunday night. 2 nights dry camping then a hook up night for just a little bit more money. When we went to the military camp and made reservations Dave then saw that we had left his drivers license at Coopers Landing Princess Lodges. We had to give them something we wanted back to have the hot tub key. Needless to say we drove the jeep back to Coopers Landing to get his drivers license back and turn the key back in.
On the way back I said lets do some Geo Caching on the way back, which we did. One was at a small rest stop outside of the Princess RV Park, which I found. Another one was on the road outside of there. It was on a off roading stretch, which I started to drive but when it comes to 4 wheeling that isn’t my cup of tea. I stopped the jeep and let Dave take over. We drove to the top of a hill but didn’t find the cache but want a view we saw, amazing. You would never think of going on these roads if it wasn’t for these geo caches.
Once we got back to the RV we decided to walk to the Elks Lodge, about 2 blocks from where we are. On the way we saw this sea gull attacking a Bald Eagle on the telephone pole. Everytime the sea gull dived at the eagle the eagle would try and bit the gull, stupid gull. We had to walk by the “American Legion” and they had quite a few people there and it looked like the Elks had no one. As we were walking up to the Elk’s some guy from the American Legions was yelling at us telling us the Elks Lodge wasn’t open tonight. We told him the website said they were but he said they had changed it. He belonged to the Elks and said it was only open on Saturday nights, an Elk’s Lodge open 1 day a week, what is up with that? Anyway the guys nick name was “Buck” and he was also a member of the American Legion so he invited us in, with him, as his guest. Very nice guy and very friendly. They were serving steak dinner tonight and he said we were more then welcome to eat but we had taken out steak and shrimp for dinner already. We sat and visited with Buck for about an hour and then it was back to the RV. We told Buck we would meet him tomorrow at the Elks and buy him a drink, he said he might show up, will see.
We came back to the RV and cooked the steak and shrimp with baked potato and salad. After cleaning up the dinner dishes we went for a long walk. On the way back to the RV we stopped for ice cream, Alaska is the #1 state of consuming ice cream and we thought we would help them out. FYI they are the number 2 state in eating Spam. Got back to the RV at 10pm and it was kick back and relax time.
Almost forgot to mention, saw a new animal today, Dolphins swimming in the waters right in front of us.
We got up, had breakfast then went into town before leaving Homer. Wanted to get a Homer magnet but Safeway didn’t have any and the gift shop was closed until 10am, oh well.
We got on the road a little after 10a.m., a little rain off and on. Didn’t see any animals except horses. We stopped in Soldotna to fill up the RV. We arrived at the Princess RV Park a little after 1p.m. and set up things. We have full hookup here so we did another load of laundry, in the RV. Had to wash all the rags Dave used while cleaning the RV. Once that was started we took off driving around the area to check things out. We stopped at a rest stop to find a geo cache. After finding the spot Dave read the write up about it. Someone posted before us that the cache was gone but the magnet was still there. Well, the magnet is gone now too, so Dave posted that. We then drove to the Russian River RV Park to check it out, plus see where Matt and Connie are going to be staying at for the next 3 days. Most spots were really nice to camp at but some would have been a little tricky to get to.
We came back to the RV and decided to walk up to Princess Lodge and check it out. We wanted to find out where the hot tub was so we could go to it later. Good thing we did too because our key didn’t work on the door. Let me tell you it was quite a hike up to that hot tub so it was a good thing we were just checking it out. Dave said he would have really been pissed off if we had brought our suits with us. We walked back down to the lodge and they said the RV Park’s cards are out dated and need to be reset but they could reset ours for us, which they did.
We came back to the RV and relaxed. It’s 6:30p.m. and Dave is going outside and cooking the Oysters now, for an appetizer then BBQ the halibut while I fix the squash and rice. It’s going to be a good dinner, after dinner it is hot tub time.
Tomorrow we can’t stay another night at Princess so we are headed for Seward, maybe dry camping for a couple days, not sure yet. Kenai and Soldotna are also in the picture, who knows.
While watching the news, this a.m., we heard there was a tour plane that crashed at Beluga Lake, which is in Homer, not too far from where we are at. It happened at 10:30pm and 1 person had died. Bummer!
After breakfast we went into town to do laundry, 3 loads with bedding and clothes. $4.50 a load, ouch! After the laundry was done we stopped on our way back to the RV and picked up our halibut. We came home and Dave did manage to get it all in the freezer, but we won’t be able to get much more in there.
We decided to get some fresh Oysters to BBQ tonight so we drove on to the spit to where someone told us they had good ones. We then drove into Homer to go see the Pratt Museum, very nicely put together. On the way there we drove by the Beluga Lake and you can see the plane still upside down in the Lake. FAA has to come out and investigate before they can remove the plane.
We then went to Don Jose’s for margaritas and nachos. A few people had told us it was a good place to eat at, but we didn’t want lunch just a snack and it really hit the spot.
When we got back Dave started cleaning the RV. He vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom and was on his hands and knees mopping the floors. He even dusted! Me, I sat getting caught up on my blogs, he is a much better cleaner then me.
We drove into town, to the Farmer’s Market, but since it was raining hardly anyone showed up. We wanted to get some fresh Salmon and fresh grown lettuce. Both those guys didn’t show up so back to the RV.
Dave had a Habitat BOD meeting to attend, so that happened at 4:30pm. I played on the computer, watched the otters that are back again and read my book. Headed out for Kenai Prince lodges RV park tomorrow for a night. They have full hook up plus a hot tub we can use. My left arm hurts so much after fishing yesterday, holding the pole and pulling on it all the time while reeling. Right arm isn’t sore at all.
Matt and Connie left this a.m. and so did those other 3 RV’s that had pulled in next to us. Told everyone we would see them up the road, and to have happy travels.
Alarm went off at 4:30a.m., got up made coffee and then lunches. Looking forward to a good day. We had to be at the boat at 6:30am. I didn’t eat breakfast, Dave had a fried egg sandwich. I wasn’t sure how I would do on the boat so it was better not to have anything in my stomach.
There were 17 of us, but only 16 fished. The only other lady that came either watched her husband or played games on her ipad. There were 3 guys working the boat, the Captain 23, 1st deck hand 14, (owner of the companies, son) and the newest kid who was 17. We went out almost 2 hours before they stopped and we starting fishing. You know more dropped your line to the bottom, about 250 feet deep, and you had caught something. 1st thing I caught was a cod, which a lot of the others did too. The captain kept those to use as bait. Drop the line again, bam, halibut but small so I said to throw it back. Then 3 of us got our lines tangled, the 14 year old couldn’t get them untangled the captain finally came over and cut the lines.
Dave and I had our limit by 12:30, boat really started rocking and getting really cold. We went and sat inside with 2 other people in there and sat and watched the others catch and throw back halibuts. This older guy and the gal kept bitching that they wanted to leave, too bad suck it up. I just kept my eyes on the horizon because like I said we were sitting in really large swells. Dave is asking me if I wanted my lunch and I said no, wasn’t hungry. We headed back at 2pm and we were rocking and rolling. That older guy goes running to the ships sink and loses it. I couldn’t look or I might have lost it too.
We stopped at Seldovia, which is across the Bay from us. The only way there is either by boat or plane. Matt and Connie went there the other day and paid $64.00 and had to stay there all day. We stopped for 1 1/2 hours, so the guys could clean or halibuts and that was long enough for us. While we were waiting for the boat to leave another much smaller boat came in a docked right next to us. There were 2 guys in it and we looked inside their boat and they had caught a shark. They had to cut it in half to even get it in their boat. This thing weighted over 500lbs, will post pictures of it. The guys said it took 1 1/2 hours to reel it in but 2 hours to get it into the boat.
We got back a little after 6pm and were exhausted. When we got back to the RV the three other RV’s that we have run into before came running out and wanted to know how it went. We ended up with almost 18lbs of halibut, not enough to ship home, but we did have it packaged and frozen for us, will pick it up tomorrow. The biggest one that was caught was 28lbs, no 100lbs on this trip. It was fun catching the fish and not having to handle the bait or fish. Just wish it wasn’t so rocky.
The guys from the other RV’s helped Dave chop up the rest of the pallets and we had a monster fire. I fixed chili dogs for Dave and I and by 10pm just couldn’t move anymore, plus it was really cold so we all headed in for the night.
We called to wish Madison a Happy Birthday at 8:30am her time but she was still sleeping, she had a late night Kim said. Sorry we aren’t there, Madison, but should be there for many more birthdays to come.
I was up early this a.m. 4:30am those darn magpies were walking across the roof of the RV and I was just listening to the claws walking all around. At 5am I gave up on sleep and thought I would look for ocean animals, no such luck. Matt said the other day they saw a whale kill an otter so I have been watching everyday for a whale but when we went to the visitor center today they said there are no whales out here now. So not sure what Matt and Connie really saw. The guy said it was probably something the otter caught and killed, but no whales or sharks. I just watched the boats go out and read my book. At 7:30 I turned on the generator, to fix coffee, and that’s what woke Dave up.
By 10:30am we were taking the RV over to the dump site, dumping and filling up with water. Staying until Thursday morning, we should be good until then. At the dump site, up in the trees, is a Bald Eagle nest with mama in the nest, couldn’t see the babies, and the papa across the way watching over the nest. Only guessing it was papa because it was really large, I got pictures. Once back and set up again we headed off for town, Needed batteries, for Dave’s camera, and a another chip, so we don’t get stuck again with the chip being left at home. We then stopped at the “Oceans and Islands Visitor’s Center”, very nice center. Talked to a volunteer couple, that work there from Minnesota, and she said she has been trying to get her husband to go fulltime RVing for 4 years. He loves the cold weather so they live in Minnesota in the winter and have been coming to Alaska volunteering for the last 4 years. Alaska summer is about the warmest he likes to get, he loves cold weather.
We stopped at Safeway and got our 1 day fishing licenses for tomorrow. Headed to the spit to check out the prices of a restaurant and pick up some oysters to BBQ. Skip, the guy we met yesterday, said they have the best oysters for BBQing and even asked us to pick a dozen up for him. The place was out of oysters, the guy said come back tomorrow morning and he will have more. He had a pretty good price on mussels so we got 2 lbs for Dave and I tonight. They had to be cleaned so Dave did that when we got back. Tonight steamed mussels, BBQ ribs and beans, sounds good to me.
Very cold afternoon, even when the sun was out, it was really windy and cold. For our fishing trip tomorrow they said to bring rain suits, layered clothing, coats, lunch and fishing licenses. WISH US LUCK!!!
The rented RV next to us just pulled away, hope they are coming back because the Croc shoes are still sitting outside. 3 pairs. Slept in until 7:30, these late nights are making late mornings, nice. Over cast and cloudy, more touring around today, once we get moving. Bald Eagle sitting on it’s tsunami perch, site seeing planes passing over head, tough life. Must have missed all the boats going out because I don’t see a one out there, no otters either.
Around 10:30 we moved our jeep over to Matt and Connie’s spot so they could go into town and dump and refill up with water. (they didn’t want to lose their spot) While we waited there was a cache in the rocks at the campsite, so we went hunting. I found it, then Matt and Connie got back.
While coming out of the RV an eagle was flying by with a fish in it’s talons, neat to see. Dave and I took off for the scenic drive. It was up at the top of the hill and it was a wonderful spot to see all of Homer and the Spit. Dave got his camera out and was going to get some pictures then realized he had taken the chip out of the camera and it was back at the RV so we had to take pictures with my camera. Hopefully they will come out OK or it’s back to the top again.
We made our reservations for fishing for Tuesday morning, 2 for 1 with our coupon book. Limit is 2 each so hopefully we will get some nice Halibut. We came back to the RV to get the map from Dave’s email that the girl sent us to know where to meet the boat. Drove out to the spit and found the dock, then just walked around the spit to all the charter places and shops.
Back to the RV later in the afternoon, sun was shining, put on tank top and shorts and laid out for a while in the lounge chairs. Got out our books and relaxed. As they say here, just wait 10 min. and the weather changes, and it does. It got really cold, all of a sudden, I went back in and changed, 10 min. later the sun was out again. Dave started a fire later because it got cold again and after he did the sun came out and didn’t go away. We were pretty warm with that sun out and that fire going.
Some people pulled in next to us and after awhile joined us by the fire. Skip and Lauren. We sat and talked they have lived in Anchorage for the last 35 years and just got this RV and were testing it out. As we sat there the next thing we see is about 6 bald eagles circling the seagulls and one drove for them, it missed and those seagulls were moving. Skip said those eagles are hungry if they are going after the seagulls. Pretty amazing to see. Matt and Connie came and sat by the fire with us later.
Never did see the otters again but did see the boats coming back in so must have just missed them going out. Tomorrow is the Pratt Museum and the Oceans and Islands Visitor’s Center. Right after we take the RV into town to fill with water and dump.
Got up this a.m. and watched the otters swimming by and the boats going out. It’s over cast but we do have some blue sky. Planes and helicopters taking the people out touring. Big ship coming in, I thought it was a cruise ship but Dave said it’s the ferry. The cruise ships don’t come into harbor.
Was able, this morning to get on the internet, Dave could yesterday but I couldn’t, no big deal, just enjoying the views here. Bald Eagle just sitting out there in the mud flats, Dave getting pictures. As we were leaving the campsite, on the tsunami warning siren, was another big bald eagle, on the way back there were 2 bald eagles. We drove down the spit to get a look at the ferry and Dave was wrong. It is a Holland American cruise ship that had come in. The school buses were lining up to pick up the passengers, it was time to get away from the town. Lots of people were going to be hanging around. We wanted some firewood, should have gotten it at Linda and Vaughn’s, we saw a place on our drive in a little before Anchor Point. The place had firewood $10, 15, 20, 25 and $30.00 bundles and it was on an honor system. We got the $25 and it filled up the back of the jeep. We came back to the campsite and unloaded the wood. We then drove back into town and went to the Farmers Market that was going on. I got some Jalapeno-Habanero Apple Jam, and Dave got Kettle Corn, much safer as he says.
Then we went cruising around checking out the area. While driving I saw a sign for Wine Tasting so we went and checked it out. Nice little place it was a bed and breakfast too. Most of the wines they had were with fruit in them, I only tried a couple since I was driving. Dave ended up buying a bottle of Port now we need to go get some good chocolate to eat when we drink the Port.
We were getting a little hungry then so we headed back to the RV. But first, I know you are getting sick of reading this but it was geo caching time. There was one hidden at the Mormon Church on the way back so we stopped and found it. Back at the RV we had some cheese, salami and crackers for lunch. Got out our books and relaxed. Plan on staying for a week and it ain’t that big of a town so investigate slowly.
This afternoon there were 5 people on horses running them up and down the beach, while the tide was out. Around 4pm the otters were back out in front of us just playing and having a good time. Matt came over and invited us over for halibut dinner, can’t pass that up. It is what he caught last week.
Before heading out for Matt’s house just watching the otters out there playing 2 very large bald eagles fly right in front of the RV and I couldn’t get the camera out fast enough to get both. 1 came back and landed on the mud and I got pictures of it flying and landing. Darn Dave pulled the chip out and the camera wasn’t focused on the landing so will have to try again later. The one of it soaring in front came out great. It’s Dave’s camera and I’m learning how to use it.
Great dinner at Connie and Matt’s. Halibut, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and salad. After dinner we used the fire wood we bought today and made a fire. Set up chairs, had cake for dessert and just relaxed. It is well after 10pm and you don’t even realize it, it is still light outside and the kids are flying kites, running around and the otters are still out, amazing.
It is now 10:30pm, Connie and Matt went home, and Dave and I are going to still sit by the fire. Had to do a quick update, and bathroom break. Still can’t believe how many people are outside.
After leaving the Elks, in Kenai, we stopped at the gas station and dumped then filled up with fuel. We got on the road for Homer around 11:00am. On the road there was a sign for free scrap wood so we turned down that way. It was scrap alright, lots of nails in it, way too big of pieces, just not very good. We turned around and left and on the way out there was a mama moose and her baby chewing on some grass in someone’s front yard. They took off when Dave hit the breaks. We stopped at a fish market to pick up some fresh Salmon and some smoked salmon. Can’t fish for salmon, right now, so might as well go buy some.
We got to Homer after 1pm and went to where Matt and Connie were parked. We got a spot right on the beach. The view out the front window is the ocean and mountains with the snow on them.
After getting set up we drove into town and found the Elks Lodge there. The RV sites were filled up plus they only have electric anyway, no big deal. We have a much better spot, we wouldn’t have this view if we stayed there. After the Elks we drove out on the spit, that’s what the stretch of land on the water is called. Lots of shops, restaurants and fishing charters. It is the “Halibut Capital of the World”.
We parked and one of the fishing boats had just gotten back and they were getting ready to clean the fish. One of the halibuts weighed 119lb. Watching these guys filet those fish was amazing. They are good with those knifes and fast too. We watched that for awhile and talked to the guys, then saw Matt and Connie. They had been in Salty Dawgs drinking some beers. Cute little bar with dollar bills hanging everywhere, if the place ever catches fire they will probably lose a few thousand dollars.
Dave and I went and split an order of fish and chips (halibut) and watched the people and dogs walk on the beach. We then headed back to the jeep and another boat had brought up another group of fish. 80 and 90 pounders. When Matt went last week he said they were only catching 10 and 15 pounders, boy, looks like he went with the wrong outfit. Dave and I got back to the RV, it was almost 6pm, Dave started charging his saw and we both went and gathered wood for a fire. Dave cut some of the wood up and we set our chairs by the fire, the tide was going out and there were lots of people and dogs everywhere. Looking way out in the ocean I kept seeing these black things and went and got the binoculars, I thought they were seals. Then I saw a lady on a standing board paddling along and she knelled down beside them, she was surrounded by these black things. When she got in with her board I went over and asked her what they were, she said Otters. She said they do have seals in the harbor if I want to see them.
After a couple hours it was back in the RV, dinner and relax while watching TV, yes we are getting around 8 channels out in the middle of no where.
Decided to stay another day at the Elks, in Kenai, wanted to do some more touring around the area. Once we got going in the a.m. we drove to Nikiski. A lot of oil docks there, Chevron, Tesoro, Unocal Chemical ect. Found one Geo Cache while we were there.
We went back to the RV so we could pay the Elks for another night. Then we headed out driving again. Saw a moose on the side of the road while driving to Clam Gulch. When we got to Clam Gulch we parked and walked down to where everyone was clamming at. Right down to the ocean, there were tons of people there plus all the 4 wheelers. I guess today the tide was perfect for clamming, at least that’s what the tide charts showed.
We then drove to Ninilchik and looked at the 1 of the campgrounds there, right on the ocean. We drove around town and checked on how the fishing was going. One boat had just gotten back and they had lots of Halibut. We watched the crew cleaning and cutting them up so the people could take them home. A little girl, about 11, had caught a 19 pounder, which they said was the average size.
We drove around a little more then went to a site seeing spot because they had a geo cache there. It was somewhere out on the rocks so we went climbing out there. It had been raining on and off and the rocks were wet and we decided it wasn’t a good time to be climbing around. Should have had our hiking boots on. Anyway, starting to get back out my foot slipped off the rock and down I went. Thank goodness I landed on a soft rock, ha ha. Tried to break my leg but didn’t just bruised it good.
After that we headed back Soldotna to fuel up the jeep and top off the groceries. Back to the RV to relax and fix dinner. The Elks was having a dinner but with the smoking in there we just couldn’t stomach going back in there. Tomorrow is Homer.
Today we decide to take a drive to Clam Gulch and Ninilchik.
Finally saw the mountains. Then we walked to the beach at Clam Gulch.
Weather cloudy and raining off and on. Connie and Matt got going around 9:30am they were headed for Homer. We had breakfast and didn’t get moving still around 10:30. No hurry, the Elks Lodge is only 15 min. away in Kenai. I started putting stuff away in the RV, Dave was doing the outside stuff. I walked outside because I hadn’t seen Dave for a little while. When I did I saw this trailer laying partly on it’s side. It was a trailer/camper that fits on the back of a pickup. This one was pretty good size because it had a slide. The people had taken it off their truck so they could drive around so it was standing on the legs it has. The front right leg gave way and bent, she was in it at the time. Their pickup truck was in front and it collapsed right on the side of it, and just smashed the side of the truck. I was bad and took pictures, Dave will post later. The people were from Washington, and just travelling around like we are. The police came by and took a report for their insurance but the trip is stopped for a little while. The camper was fine, just the leg, but it will take a while to fix their truck.
We got on the road around 11:30am and wouldn’t you know it Kenai roads were closed, where the Elks are, because of the town parade. We parked for a little while until they opened up again. Once set up at the Elks, they were having a free BBQ so we sat and had Hot Dogs, potato salad and baked beans, pretty nice of them, it was for anyone that wanted to stop by you didn’t have to belong to the Elks.
We then went Geo Caching. We found 3, one at the visitor center, 1 on Marcus St. and 1 on Alex Rd. Then it was on to the race track. Mike was racing there tonight so we went by to visit with Mike and Linda (Vaughn and Linda’s friends). Mike races his Legend car and has tons of trophy's. He has been racing since he was around 10. The races weren’t starting until 6pm so we went back to the RV to relax for awhile. We went back to the race track at 5:30 and were in the pit area so we got to see everything up close and personal. It was cold and raining off and on, thank goodness we had thick jackets. The races were great, Mike kicked butt against the other Legends but they had midgets, late models ect. it was a good night. By 9:30pm we were cold and hungry so we took off, but the last race was still going. I believe they were going to do fireworks but remember it doesn’t get dark here so don’t think it would have been much to see.
We had dinner at 10pm, boy are we really off our time schedule, then bed by 12:30am. I think we will hang in Kenai another day to check more things out before heading for Homer. We want to do fishing in Homer but with them not letting you fish for King Salmon yet it looks like we will be hanging out here for a week or 2.
