Aug 16_Tok Alaska

Back where we started our Alaska adventure.
We left Valdez after spending 6 days relaxing, visiting, seeing local sites and finding where the wildlife is. We arrived on the 11th after a nice journey on the road.
First thing we did was to take a Glacier Tour on the Stan Stevens boat. This was a 7 hour boat ride from the port of Valdez. We boarded at 10:30 with a departure of 11 am.

While we were leaving the dock we saw the Cornelia Marie and the Kodiak. Both of them are crab boats, part of the Deadest Catch on the Discovery Channel.

Once out of the harbor, it was time to speed up and head out to Sea. Once out the captain started giving us a tour of the area, before, after the earthquake and including when the Valdez Oil Tanker ran aground. She explain how and why it ran aground and the damage that the area sustained. Including all the time it took to clean up the damage.
Along the way we witness the many sights of what time had created and the wonders of sea life.

We arrived back on dock and at DaGirls RV in time to let DaGirls out as it had been 7 hours, you know who was very grateful that we had returned in time.
Among, the many places we visited was 3 museums, Peter Pan fish house, stores a walk around the docks and the local area including Old Valdez town, which was destroyed in the 1964 earthquake.

Oh by the way Valdez is a fishing town, PERIOD. So the only think to really do is bring your own fishing gear and fish from the many places along the shore, as many Alaskans do. But since I had no gear, no fishing license and the cost of a license was a little too high, I decided not to fish. PLUS fishing limits are a little different for non-residents.

So, here are some photos of what we did while in the city and area of Valdez. DaGirls hope you enjoy the photos:

Inside Worthington Glacier

Valdez Glacier Boat Tour Map

The photos below are from the Glacier Boat Tour

Many photos from around Valdez:

A video of a Glacier dying and being reborn

Amour the many wonders we saw were a she bear and her 3 cubs:

Ok, as Susan would say SeeYa

From DaGirls and us

Aug 10 On the Road to Valdez

Ok, we arrived at the Vet in time and guess what? Della says not me, I’m not giving up any pee for this test.

So, what do we do?

The tech says we will give you a bottle, get fluid and return it, we said no problem, get her water and you can have it in 15 minutes; then she says, since you know Della, and are satisfied that she is ok, then we can pass on the test.
We thought about it, and agreed, but only if we could get a supply of antibiotic if needed and additional can food for unitary track infection. Agreed, especially since we knew she was good and in good health.

So, it was back to the VFW, connect and take off, which we did and our next stop was the Fred Meyer’s in Palmer, where DaGirls Rv had a date with a fuel pump. Diesel fuel that is. Where with our fuel saving points we paid 2.929 per gallon, yes you read that right 2.929 / gal.  We received 35 gallons for that price and then took on an additional 2.5 gallon to top off.

Then to our surprise we saw Al and Sandy on the road heading to Glacier RV park on the Richardson Hwy along with 2 other Rig of the S.M.A.R.T. group. Anyway, once done and reloaded it was off to Valdez, of course with a few stops along the way.

Our first stop, well let’s say it was not a photo op, in fact we were first inline at a construction stop waiting for a pilot car. Where we had a nice conversation and gave a donut (glazed) to the worker stopping us. What did she say……Wow my favorite.

Anyway, we continued on until we reach the Glacier on the south side of the highway, where we did take a photo op.

 
Plus the main photo op:

Once we arrived in Glennallen (half way point) we headed to our main destination ( 62.0807353, –145.4352756 ).


About 2.2 miles south of Glennallen at the highway junction.

Our spot for the night, why, you might asked? Because it is not in a park but just a quite spot.

Along the way we spotted clouds

Susan Drove in the Rain

And we have a nice view in the distance

Ok, as Susan would say SeeYa

From DaGirls and us

Aug 9_back to Wasilla

Ok, we’re back in Wasilla Alaska after a long drive of ……45 miles today. Man was it tuff and long. What you say, 45 miles, is all you drove? Why would you leave the Legion in Anchorage?
Oh, you want to know the reason? Will why didn’t you say so in the first place.  I’ll tell you the reason, in fact the reason weights about 56 lbs, is chocolate, has 4 legs, long nose with white fur and is loving and giving. And now your asking me, well don’t you have a photo of  the chocolate 4 legged fury animal?

Of course I carry a photo of this 4 legged friend.

Della has a vet appointment tomorrow for a little lab work. We need to verify that her UTI is all cleared up. So, instead of moving early tomorrow we can over to the VFW in Wasilla (30amp & W) for the night. Plan we all go in the jeep in the morning and then head out to Glennallen, on our way to Valdez. New plan spend maybe 2 to 6 days and then head up to Tok and then onto Haines.

So, you might be asking yourself, Dale any new photos that you haven’t shown us…….hum I don’t think so. I’m sure I have posted links to all of them. But I’ll go check……….be back in a few…. Hey, I think I found a few more photos:

This fellow writing a ticket

and last but not least yours truly

Ok, as Susan would say SeeYa

From DaGirls and us

Aug 8th, Time to get Caught Up

Ok, it has been over a week since you have heard from us. Why is that? Well for 1 we have been busy, traveling plus time just fly's by.
So, I am going to try and get everyone up to date as to what has been going on:

Where were we:
Homer, where we stayed on the spit and watched people fishing, made new friends and went to Seldovia via ferry.

Enjoyed the sea life show in the ocean while on the way to Seldovia

Slide Show Link Press Here 

Seward, visited Sea Life Center which was built using the funds from BP oil spill in Valdez. Hiked to Exit Glacier with Kathy & Wayne Taubman. Watched everyone change positions on the front row of the campground.

Slide Show Link Press Here 

Stopped at the Wildlife Conservation Center in Girdwood, where we met Snickers, a lovable porcupine:

  
Slide Show Link Press Here 

Anchorage, arrived here on Wednesday, Aug 5th, at the American Legion and visited with John and Diane.

Went downtown and took a Segway Tour, visited the Air museum, small but good, it was even better with a coupon for big discount. Spent a lot of time locating Della’s prescription diet food to get her back to the lower 48 states. Purchased a new camera from Costco to try out. Had a steak dinner at the Legion (You cook your own). And will be doing more today.

As Susan Says SeeYa

Safe Travels and Journeys 

From DaGirls and us

Traveling with Pets with Special Needs

A few things to keep in mind....

If you are traveling to or through Canada, prescriptions cannot be refilled on US written scripts, they must be written by Canadian docs/vets.

In Alaska or Hawaii, don't assume that you will be able to find the meds/food that your pet is accustomed to will be available.   Our girl has been on a diet of Royal Canon Urinary SO and doing very well.  We last filled our pantries with wet and dry food at a vet in Fairbanks, but now in Anchorage and needing more wet food for the trip back towards the lower 48, we spent the better part of the morning calling and driving around looking for this brand.  Some luck, but not enough to get through the next two months.  Our only solution is to substitute another urinary brand, but our doc in lower 48 is not on board with this so this would require another vet visit to accomplish.  Just be prepared for these challenges for any extended visit.

Another challenge. Don't expect to order and receive in a similar timeframe to the lower 48.  We tried to get a refill of one of Della's scripts through Sam's in Fairbanks and a week later we still didn't have it, so we went to a local vet and were able to get it.

In general, I would suggest that all of these are true of either human or pet issues.

On the Way to Seldovia

Ok, so what have we been doing here in Homer. Well really nothing but chilling at the Spit. We have met new friends/neighbors and took a ferry ride to Seldovia.

History:

The native residents are mixed Dena'ina Athabaskan Indian and Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) Eskimo. In 1787 or 1788 a Russian fur trade post named Aleksandrovskaia was established at today's Seldovia by hunting parties under Evstratii Ivanovich Delarov, of the Shelikhov-Golikov company, precursor of the Russian-American Company.[4] Although there has been little definitive archeological evidence of human habitation at Seldovia prior to the 1800s, it is said the early Russian St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, started in 1820, was built on top of an older aboriginal Inuit village site. The town's original Russian name, Seldevoy, translates to "Herring Bay", as there was a significant herring population prior to rampant overfishing early in the 20th century.

Until the development of a more complete road system in Alaska, Seldovia was an important "first stop" for ships sailing from Seward, Kodiak and other points outside Cook Inlet. At one time Seldovia was home to over 2000 residents, but today fewer than 300 persons reside year round.

The town was one of many communities along the shores of Cook Inlet, already noted for having one of the most severe tidal movements in North America. Similar to the dramatic tides of Bay of Fundy, the Cook Inlet's waters prior to 1964 would rise or fall 26 feet every six hours during the peak tides. After the Good Friday Earthquake on March 27, 1964, which registered 9.2 on the Richter scale the surrounding land mass dropped six feet.

Seldovia's "boardwalk" was a thick wooden plank and piling, and the town's main street, was built almost entirely along the waterfront. Most of the community's businesses, and many homes were similarly constructed upon pilings on either side of this "street". The sudden sinking of the land caused higher tides, peaking at 32 feet, to completely submerge the boardwalk and flood the homes and businesses along the waterfront. The waterfront was rebuilt (known at the time as "urban renewal") using fill from Cap's Hill, which was demolished to rebuild the town on higher ground.

There is only one small portion of the boardwalk left; this section of the boardwalk was built decades after the original boardwalk and it is known to the town-folk as "the new boardwalk", even though it is now the only boardwalk. The original boardwalk is completely gone, destroyed during the urban renewal process, along with many homes and businesses.

Seldovia has been home to many industries, including fox farming, berry picking and commercial fishing, including King Crab fishing. Logging and mining have also featured in local history. Today charter boats keep busy bringing the visiting sport fishermen to the fishing grounds of Kachemak Bay and other nearby waters.

Ok, One final item, if you want to learn more about  Click on the Link 

Click Here for Link 

Ok enough about the History of Seldovia, let’s get back to the real world, ok?

We left the dock at 11:00 am and headed out to sea, our expectations? To have fun and enjoy the ride.

So, what did we see and do, now that is a question all of you reading this might asked me, right?

Of course right, so let me show you what we saw:

Of course we ran into Wayne & Kathy while in Homer

One final photo of Susan being bitten by a fish:

As Susan Says SeeYa

Safe Travels and Journeys 

Della                     &                      Tilly

On the road to Somewhere_ Homer Alaska

The Spit: July 28:

Homer Alaska, seems to be the place where everyone comes to fish. DaGirls are located on the Spit in one of the city campgrounds - just past the Fishing Hole. Dry-camping for $15, with dump and fresh water available. From this location you can walk or ride your bicycle to the end or back up. It is also the home of the “Time Bandit” crab boat, one of the boats on “The Deadliest Catch” (additional viewing and research of that show may indicated a change in that info).

So, what can you do, take a ferry across the bay to the Glaciers and hike, go fishing on a charter boat or grab your gear and go fishing in the “Fish Hole”.

This is the Fishing Hole at low tide.

At any given day, you can see at least 50 people fishing along the shore for salmon, and watching the salmon jumping out of the water.

One of the photo ops we spotted was of an eagle’s nest just off the highway:

I spotted this small bobbing head in the water during high tide in front of DaGirls Rv.

I suspect the head on the right is a Seal, and bird on the left.

I also learned that this area is the start of a water trail hike:

However, the spit is for fishing and I have seen very little of kayakers on the water.

I thought this would be a good Photo Op

As Susan Says SeeYa

Safe Travels and Journeys 

Della                     &                      Tilly