DNC One

Plenty of hype and fun are leading up to the Democratic Convention. Here a steam engine traveled down from Cheyenne to show off.

Hiking

Egads, can't those bears find somewhere else to live. We want to hike in the pristine wilderness.

Ice Cream Stop

Not far from home, near the summit (a giant 2,000 feet wow) at 60 38 26.27N 149 29 56.80W we stop for ice cream. It is a great spot on the highway, some buildings, a lake and in the building a gift shop and of course a real bathroom with water.... The ice cream is not the Inuit type, snow, berries and seal oil (or Crisco), but one with real flavorings from New Jersey.

Heading Home

From our campsite, it is over a hundred miles to Mike's house, or if you are a crow, about 45. Sunday afternoon it is slow going as those from Anchorage who did not drive north are driving with us. Sadly, many people are impatient and die on this road. But looking at this scenery to those of us who don't live here one cannot hurry.

Shooting

A camping trip with Mike would not be complete without shooting. Mike has purchased Ainsley a 22 caliper rifle which he shared with us all. Mary shot her first round on that day. I, being a retired infantryman proved that it was good that I did not see action.

Food

The Kodiak, unlike its counterpart in the wild is camper friendly.Bunks on either end pop out as does the couch section. The trailer includes an awning for lounging outside with the mosquitos.
Mike is a great cook and if you get a chance to go 'camping' with him, you will not starve. The usual meal plan is spaghetti with MEAT sauce, salad and garlic bread. Next morning begins with eggs and eggs and eggs. A light sandwich lunch. The following night dinner is RIBEYE steak with desert of Mike's special grilled pies (to die for). The evening is topped of with Crown Royal and good conversation around the fire. All go to bed about sunset (3:00am it seems). The following morning , 10 or 11 we rouse with some camp coffee and a quick breakfast. And pack up and head on out.

Dreams

Alaska is a place for dreams. Dreamers roam the countryside looking for THAT place. THAT place where one can buy a small beautiful parcel of land near the highway, put in some hookups, build a small motel, a few lawn chairs and of course a bar, and then make a small living sharing it. We found such a place along the Sterling Highway. Precisely at 60 20 22.72 North and 151 13 44.53 West to those who are GPS literate. Our campsite had electric hookups non working toilets, a lake and most important a bar. The only working toilet was in the bar, open between 7:00am and 2:00pm. Of course we have to stop and visit on the way and buy a drink. Mary got a free drink being the only single woman for a square mile. Ahh Alaska.

The Kodiak

Mike, our northern most son, has decided to buy a travel trailer for exploring the few roads in South Central Alaska. There are two roads out of town, one is a dead end, south, and the other heads to the northern interior and if you bear right you will eventually find Beaver YT and from there all points south.
This day the picture was taken we headed south along the Sterling Highway for a trip with the PodolAKs to the Kasilof River for a try at dip netting, a form of harvesting salmon reserved for the local Alaska population.
Sadly, we netted one fish which when considering the costs of food, fuel and the amortization of the equipment costs about $200. a pound.