Gold Nugget RV Park

I'm here through The 4th. My only plans are to explore the city (which has a great network of bike trails), play some golf, and generally just enjoy not being in the triple-digit summer heat burning the lower 48 to a crisp.

Gold Nugget RV Park

Fair WiFi connection and four bars of 5G cell service gives me the juice to get caught up on this site.

Gold Nugget RV Park

Nice spot for Gravytrain.

Gold Nugget RV Park

Literally, right across the street from the Gold Nugget is a little neighborhood park, perfect for Augie Ball. Unfortunately, also perfect for the homeless, who hang out in the woods behind it and make their drug deals on the swing sets. Our ball time window is anytime before noon. There's also a 1.2 mile walk around the block, so Augie's staying tired and happy.

Gold Nugget RV Park

Getting familiar with the bike trails and navigating around my temporary neighborhood. Took a tour of nearby grocery stores.
6/15/24

Gold Nugget RV Park

Rode Biscuit to see Kong v Godzilla. Great animation - poor movie.
6/17/24

Orangetheory

So, my Medicare Plus plan pays for a membership to this place, which I used quite extensively back in Columbus. I realized early in trip planning that they had one here in Anchorage, so today I went. It is a very consistent experience. Can't say I really like it, but it's a good workout. I plan on hitting it again a few times while I'm in town.
6/18/24

Auto Maintenance 

Gravytrain was in need of an oil change, and an inspection of my tires pointed to an imminent rotation, so today was dedicated to these necessary tasks. Also did a mini-tour of just a few of the dozens of pot dispensaries in town. Reminding me of Denver, there is one intersection that has one on three of four corners!

Anchorage Golf Course

My buddy on the left above has appeared in these pages a few times before. We have played golf all over, and now Alaska! We last played when he and his wife were in Southern California last year at the same time as me. Now, he's playing in a softball tourney this weekend in Anchorage (is he stalking me?). He showed up a few days early... and here we are. Dude on the right is one of his softball teammates, and my new friend, who joined us on this tight, scenic, course. Combined, we lost 15 balls! 🤣
6/19/24

Moose Run Golf Club

This course was a little bit more open - we only lost 10 balls. It is run by Elmendorf Air Force Base, but is open to the public. While we were on the course, the word spread that there was a bear sighting. We didn't see anything, but we did stop looking in the woods for balls! The wildlife we did see was Mosquitos - we had spray, which made it livable, but they were plentiful and hungry.
6/20/24

Rust's Flying Service

This morning was a laundry day. I packed my clothes down to the on-site laundromat, and loaded 'em up. Then I saw this brochure. It was a 10-star day out - not a cloud in the sky. I knew if I picked it up I would be flying...
6/21/24

Rust's Flying Service

...yep...

Rust's Flying Service

Because it was such a beauty day, I chose to take the Denali fly-by. This was the best shot I got of Denali, but that turned out not to be the main attraction on this day.

Rust's Flying Service

We were in a six-seater De Havillad Beaver, that has an effective altitude limit of 9,000 feet. Denali is over 20,000, so in order to get close, we needed to fly below the mountain tops. It was intense, but everyone - including our pilot - was loving it. The pilot said the clear weather and minimal wind made it possible to fly into spots that he normally couldn't - like the canyon above. 😬

Rust's Flying Service

Then, on the way back to Anchorage, we lined up for a landing on this spectacular mountain lake...

Rust's Flying Service

...where we were able to unload and explore the shoreline for a few minutes...

Rust's Flying Service

...before flying back to Anchorage, and a landing at the biggest float plane port in the world. All in all, one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life... and I've had a few.

Softball

Although it was a teeny bit anticlimactic, my Denver friend was still playing in his seniors softball tourney. Since the sun doesn't set until 11:45, His games didn't start until 7:30. He texted me the address, and it turned out to be only .6 miles away! I popped over on biscuit, and watched them win two games. On to tomorrow's winners bracket. Team name: "Grayed and Confused." 🤣

Softball

Day two, brought two more victories! And some action photography. Finals tomorrow! Good luck fellers.
6/22/24

Softball

They came. They saw. They Conquered. "Grayed and Confused" won the tournament, going undefeated...
6/23/24

Softball

...thanks in large part to the "ringers" from Colorado! It was great fun for me to have this going on while I was in town. The bonus was that they played well and won. Thanks guys!

Another Lazy Day

Nothing much on the agenda today. Biscuit and I bounced down the road for breakfast...
6/24/24

Another Lazy Day

...then Augie got a good, long walk - after which, she took up her post on the high ground at the park - keeping a watchful eye on her new neighborhood.

Another Lazy Day

We saved a little time for napping...

Gwennie's Old Alaska Restaurant

Following up on a tip from an old jar-head buddy of mine, I had breakfast at this joint. I had the reindeer sausage breakfast burrito. Very good.
6/25/24

Grillin'

Nice being in the same place for awhile. It's allowed me time to get organized and do some cooking. Grilled up this beef kabob, which I'll be eating for three days!

Grillin'

Then a couple of huge pork chops with some bacon-wrapped asparagus spears... 🤤 Now the fridge is stocked for a little over night adventure down to Homer Alaska (D'oh!).

Beluga Point

Another glorious day sees me on my way about 4 hours south of Anchorage to this seaside town. It's the halibut capital of Alaska and a very cute seaside town. Beluga Point is a roadside pull-off on the road Akaska Highway 1 south. Apparently, Beluga Whales frequent this stretch of  the Turnagain Arm of Cook's Passage, and can often be seen spouting off here.
6/26/24

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

I was bounding down this trail, minding my own business, when I looked up and saw... Okay, not really. I shelled out the money to get the "Bear Encounter" experience at The Center.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Me and nine fellow "adventurers" got to go behind the scenes in the Bear Habitat. We were in an elevated blind along the trail that the bears take each day to their feeding stations.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

We also got to feed them. The three resident bears are all orphans that ended up here by different routes. This gal was home-raised in a mining town way up north. When she got older and more aggressive the "owner" was forced to give her up. Because of their familiarity with humans as a food-source, they can never live in the wild again.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

A murder of crows stood guard in the habitat. Not really of any significance, but I always wanted to use that term in a sentence, and now I have.

Homer, Alaska

I finished another stunning Alaskan drive down to homer, through a few more low mountain passes, into Homer. I did a drive out to "The Spit," a little sliver of land that handles the ocean-going fishing fleet on one side, and the ocean-going tourists on the other.  Based on several recommendations, I had dinner at the Salty Dog. (Atmosphere: A+) (BLT: B)

Homer, Alaska

After dinner, I checked in to my campsite for the night. Another spectacular view of another mountain range (with ocean foreground). This shot was taken at about 10:15... PM.

Homer, Alaska

Morning brought more amazing scenery, with the clouds playing a major part. I did another drive-by in Homer, had breakfast at a little cafe on The Spit, then split for Anchorage.
6/27/24

Anchorage, Alaska

I have friends who are allergic to cottonwood. They must stay away from Alaska. Piles up like snow. I've seen similar in the mid-west, but was surprised to see it here/

Palmer, Alaska

Saw this advertised on a billboard and couldn't resist. The Alaska State Fairgrounds are in Palmer - just 35 minutes away, so...
6/29/24

Palmer, Alaska

...I got there Saturday morning in time for the opening ceremonies. Surprise! There was a bagpipe orchestra.

Palmer, Alaska

Right away, I got into a little trouble with the local authorities...

Palmer, Alaska

...for which I was beheaded. Gonna miss that head.

Palmer, Alaska

Among other events the 2024 Women's World Championship of Highland Games was going on. There were about 10 competitors. One each from Canada and Australia, two from Alaska, and six from lower 48 states.

Palmer, Alaska

These are some powerful women! This lady had just thrown the heavy (16.8 lb) stone 33 feet! There were 10 Scottish Clans represented in the games. Each of the professional competitors was adopted by one, and wore their Tartan.

Palmer, Alaska

This gal broke the field record, throwing it 34.4 feet. I remember my ninth grade personal best putting a 10 lb shot was 12 feet. 🤣

Palmer, Alaska

I have always found the Caber Toss to be fascinating, but was disappointed to discover that the professionals wouldn't be doing it until Sunday. This was the Class A women's winner - a local gal from Palmer.

Anchorage, Alaska

Took advantage of my last few days in civilization to see a couple of new release movies. I saw Kevin Costner's "Horizon" in what turned out to be a private showing. I think they couldn't find an editor that would tell him no, because there's no reason that this needed to be a three-hour movie. It reminds me of Yellowstone. The visuals and production are a-freaking amazing, but the story is pretty predictable. I give it 7.5 stars. Then a few days later I saw "A Quiet Place: Day One," also alone in the theater. If you like the franchise, this is another one... 7 stars. I think the weather has been so good that native Alaskans don't want to waste their very short summer in movie theaters?

Anchorage, Alaska

Gravytrain was looking a little dim, so a bath was in order. Now she's bright and shiny again!

Anchorage, Alaska

I don't have any mirrors in Gravytrain, so sometimes things like personal hygiene go unnoticed for long periods. I was shaving at the shower house when I saw myself in the mirror. It was (past) time.

Anchorage, Alaska

Where's Waldo, or in this case, Augie? We've had several epic walks here, and Augie has enjoyed herself. We have developed three good routes, but she has them all memorized now so it's time to be moving on.

Happy Independence Day!

I took my longest trip yet on Biscuit today, when I buzzed down to this celebration in downtown Anchorage. Fireworks don't start until midnight, so I'll be soundly sleeping by then.
7/4/24

Happy Independence Day!

There are about 40 miles of purpose-built bike/hike/ski/snowmobile trails in Anchorage that really do a great job of making the whole city accessible. Today's trip was about 18 miles round-trip. Hardly put a dent in Biscuit's battery, so I'm beginning to think her advertised range of 60 miles is possible. Check out the Cottonwood snow along the trail. There are places where it covers the tops of your shoes when you walk in it.

C'mon, Pop! Let's Go Already!

Headed to Denali tomorrow, but that will be interesting because the park is closed by a 400-acre wildfire just north of the entrance. I'm staying outside the park, and they've got the fire 40% contained, so we're crossing our digits and heading north. There are a few hikes that are still open, but it will depend on the weather and the air-quality. Could shorten my time in Denali and move on to Fairbanks earlier.

C'mon, Pop! Let's Go Already!

A cool front moved through this afternoon, so we took some time to get the big picture on our return trip. Augie pretends to be interested... poorly.

Yikes!

A friend suggested that I was closer to Japan than to Ohio. I didn't try to verify that, but this visual of my return route makes it seem possible.