Helena Montana

Hi All,
Having trouble with the internet. On our way home. ETA Mon. 28th.

Anchorage to Homer

WiFi has been challenging the last few days. Wednesday I filled with fuel, got the oil changed, bought groceries. Wednesday night we went to a dinner saw a film and listened to "Dusty Sourdough" for an hour. It was OK. Thursday cwas a great day. We took the train to Whittier ( the only place a train and autos share the road) and then got on a glacier cruise for four hours. It was a highligt of the trip. We saw a raft of sea otters, eagles, moose, and several glaciers including some big chunks falling into the water (calving). We left a 8:30 AM and didn't return until 9:15 PM. Friday we left for Homer where we were scheduled for halibut fishing (another highlight). As we approached Homer Spike had us all stop at a pullout above the city to point out some landmarks. As he was talking one of the tour members (Jack who is almost deaf) was running and yelling "There is a burgler in the coaches". A bunch of guys took off after the burgler who started running down the highway and tried to jump into a car driven by his wife(with his small child in the back). As he ran down the highway he was throwing stuff in the bushes. Back Packs, a camera case, and a purse (with $2000 in cash in it). As he dove into the car Marv grabbed his legs and was pulling him out. He started fighting with Marv and Harv (one of the smallest in the group but a former pilot and hockey player) threw him to the ground and sat on him. The guys wife took off and we held the guy for the police. The policeman said the guy was a local petty crook and they had been after him for awhile. (Don't mess with the yellowjackets).
We got up at 3:30 AM to get ready for the halibut fishing trip on the "Jackpot". We left around 6 AM . The weather was great, the trip was great, and Pat caught the biggest fish (25 to 30 pounds). Now we have to get it frozen and keep it that way until we get home.

Tuesday

Today was a do nothing day. We drove around Anchorage looking for a small light bulb to replace the one over the stove. We have looked for it since Skagway and all the ones we have seen are either too big or too small. We picked up a couple at an RV store but they didn't work either. We drove around Anchorage for awhile looking for a laundry, thinking it would be cheaper than the one at the rv park. We found one but it was surrounded by inebriated First Nation citizens (drunk Indians). We actually had to stop to avoid running over two of them that couldn't decide which side of the road they prefered. We returned to camp and Pat and Delia (our friend from Idaho) went to the market. When they returned, Pat, Delia, and Gail (another friend) went to the RV park Laundry. Pat said it was the cheapest laundry we have encountered so far. At the last one it took over $30 in change to wash and dry the clothes.
While the ladies washed the clothes, Mike, Delias husband and Jim, Gails husband all sat around and played with Jim and Gails dachshunds (weiner dogs).
Tonight we had a birthday party for Gail and Lana. Most of the people on the tour participated. Lana is fom Escondido and is traveling with Jackie Kennedy, her niece.
One of the first dinners we had as a group we had a choice of baked salmon or a steak. Jackie was the only one that ordered a steak and I have been teasing her about it since. When we had a steak night I told them that Jackie wanted halibut. When we got ice cream I told Jackie they had halibut flavored ice cream, etc.

Pat just popped a circuit breaker. She was running the hair dryer and the small heater at the same time.
Tomorrow I'm going to get an oil change on the MH. I'll also fill it with gas for the trip to Homer. Thursday we take a train to Whittier and take a boat to view the glaciers. It will be an all day trip.

Anchorage Pictures

Anchorage Day One

Today I got up at 4:30 AM. Maybe I can upload some pictures before the WiFI clogs up. Yesterday we drove around Anchorage in the morning. We visited the Ulu factory where they make the funny crescent shaped Alaskan knives. We also visited the float plane harbor, saw the bridge to nowhere, visited areas devastated in the March 26,1964, 9.2 earthquake, and visited the Millenium Hotel. The earthquake was very bad and houses in a then newly developed housing tract slid into the bay. In other areas the ground dropped 8 feet allowing salty water to flow in and kill the vegetation.
In the afternoon we drove to Portage Glacier, visited a fish and game packing/processing plant, and visited a wildlife rescue ranch. Near the wildlife rescue area were some cabins destroyed in the earthquake that were still partly visible. At the wildlife area we saw and photographed moose, bear, musk ox, eagles caribou, and owls. Those animals are pretty much the only wildlife we have seen in Alaska so far. Last night we ate at a mexican restaurant. The food was good considering that it must be one of the farthest north mexican places on the continent.
Today and tomorrow are free days. Diana, they want to call the mountain Denali because it is the indian name for it.

Denali to Anchorage

Yesterday we drove 237 miles from Denali Park to Anchorage. There was a lot of pretty scenery and we got some excellent pictures of Mt Mckinley (or Denali). Last night three of us couples put together a pot luck of chili, spagetti pie, a salad and fruit jello for desert. We all decided it was one of our better meals on the trip. As we sat around and talked someone mentioned it was 20 minutes of 10:00. We were all surprised it was that late as it was still bright sunshine. Anchorage is surrounded by mountains that even this late in the year have snow on them. Today will be full of tours so that we have two free days, tomorrow and Wednesday. Thursday we take a train to catch a boat to see the glaciers. We leave at 8:30 AM and return at 9:15 PM. Today is supposed to be sunny and warm. Can't upload pictures.

Denali Bus Ride

Yesterday we took the bus ride through Denali Park. It started at the park entrance and we drove 53 miles into the park before turning around. The ride was a little dissappointing. It was still raining lightly when we started out and after about five miles of pavement we were on gravel roads. The windows gradually collected so much mud we couldn't see much. At each stop the driver would try to clean the windows and some of the passengers would work on their own windows. As soon as we continued the drive they would get muddy again. To take a picture one would have to drop the top part of the window down letting in a cold blast of air. There were no bears or moose to be seen. We got pictures of Dall Sheep, a couple of Golden Eagles, and landscape. The rain stopped in the afternoon and it was sunny and warmer. Denali (formerly Mt. Mckinley) was shrouded in clouds all day. When we got back to the RV park we decided to go across the street (into BOAT PEOPLE land)to where the cruise lines had hotels and restaurants. The hotel "Bistro" was nice and the food was good and fairly reasonable compared to other places. Then we proceeded back across the road and had an ice cream cone. The temps were in the 50's with a stiff breeze so it felt good to get back to the RV.
The drive from Fairbanks to Denali was pretty uneventful. Today we leave for Anchorage (a couple of hundred miles) with stops we should arrive around 5:00 this afternoon. We have about one more week so I guess we should start planning the trip back. Sorry can't upload pictures today.