Quick trip (by crew cab) up to Denali.  No mountain sightings, but there was some wild life out there.

Bull.

Some trouble making 3-4 year olds.

Map My Ride

104 miles

Tried to get up at 5, but it was pouring. Rain slacked off by 6, so got up to get on the road. Left around 7:40. First few miles continued the scariness of the last part of the ride from Sheep Mountain.  Some unwelcome hills coming into Palmer, but then flattened out after turning onto Fishhook Road. Called Dalis when we were a mile in.  They (Tami, Bruce, and Dalis) were still in Anchorage, so we kept moving.  Met Tami and Dalis at Wasilla Lake, lost baggage (could see Sarah and Todd’s house from there; Russia if you looked the other way.)  Had lunch at Senor Tacos. Then on road again by 1. Cranked and cranked all the way to Talkeetna Spur.  (Probably better than 14 mph). Declared the bridge across Montana Creek (end of the pavement) as the end of the ride. arrived about 6:30 after 103 miles for the day.

Map My Ride

66 Miles

feet of climbing

Nelchina to Chickaloon

Road 20 miles to breakfast at Caribou Cafe in Glenallen (awesome.  3 eggs, hashbrowns, toast for $5 with bottomless coffee for $0.50.  Then another 42 to Nelchina Lodge.

Written from Gakona Lodge, which we will get to soon.

First, you will not believe what your government is up to now.  We stumbled upon an open house where a bunch of science types were trying to calm the fears of the touring masses in RVs at the Air Force High frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) laboratory. You can get a sense for their mumbo jumbo by accessing their public site.  But if you want the truth about what is really going on here, you should read this site.  (Dear God, don’t do it from your home computer.  Go to the library or something, so they can’t trace you.)

View of Mt. Drum (12,010 ft) from road

Another roadside attraction. Like many others, not open for business.

Rope thief from Maine

Lunch at Fast Eddies. Half a sandwich (big half) and salad bar for $10. Good deal. Road another 100 yards to Tok RV Village and opted for “dry cabin” which is just a shell, instead of tent site for $7 difference. Good call. Torrential downpour in evening. Sorted food that Bruce had left for us at visitor center about 3 hours earlier.

Cold, cold, and wet start to the trip top border. So cold, that removing gloves and getting out passport at Customs was a challenge. (Thanks CBP for letting us through!). Went about 60 miles to Northway Junction. Sketchy camping around back of store, but only $10.

Beaver Creek, continued

After doing laundry and internet, met Patrick Cutter and his wife, Azure. They are from Virginia Beach where he was a salesman for company that makes those oxygen-getters that go in some packaged food (in fact MOST of teh packaged food that we have been eating for the last 6 weeks.  (Chemistry Quiz:  -No Googling for full credit- What is in those packages and how do they work?), Patrick but is riding from Alaska to Key West.  Check out their webpage. Patrick is a big guy (6′8″), he has a big van,  three big bikes, and a huge heart.  If you want to donate money somewhere, consider  their cause.

Of course, big guys on bikes drink beer, so I bought a six pack and we polished them off before heading to dinner at teh Westmark Inn.  Awesome deals and huge portions.  A fun evening.