Denali bound

August 29: This morning we woke up this morning to 3 Sandhill Cranes outside the RV. We traveled slowly up the coast. It was a beautiful day, so we stopped at all the scenic overlooks that were socked in by weather on our way down here we sae Saw Mt Rebout and Mt Illiana. These are volcanic mountains across Cook Inlet. They are part of the mountain chain that extends all the way across the international dateline to Russia.

We came back to Soldatna and the Swiftwater Municipal Campground. The silvers are in! I caught my limit, talked to thr locals and had a great time. Silvers are also known as Coho Salmon. At 11:00 PM we finished cleaning fish and getting ready to grill fresh salmon for dinner. This is a beautiful spot and Edna gets some knitting done and caught up on “down time” while I fish. We like traveling one day and then staying put for two days. It suits us better than traveling every day. No hook-ups here. Just a pretty campsite on the river, picnic table and fire ring.

August 30: This is a day spent fishing and visiting the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. We walked a couple of the trails. Also went out to the Funny River State Recreational Site. They have a fish walk there. We saw a few ducks and a small campground.

Back to the campground so I could get in some evening fishing. I got my biggest Coho salmon yet. Alaska has a wonderful program here called “kids don’t float”. They provide child size lifejackets at all boat launches and fish walks. You borrow the jackets and return them when you leave. After thinking about it some, we decided it wouldn’t work in the lower 48. The government would be sued for “creating a false sense of security” or not having proper instructions or something equality ridiculous. I think practicality still means something here.

Edna on trail

August 31: We drove to Kenai to look for a quilt shop we saw advertised. It was a trip, but the shop was on a lovely spot overlooking a lake. Back to Kalifrnski Beach Road to find a fish market to ship some halibut home. It was pouring rain, the fish place was closed for lunch (2:00PM), so decided it was not meant to be. Therefore we headed on our way down the Seward Highway toward Anchorage. Stayed at Willawaw NFS Campground on the road to Portage Glacier. This was absolutely a great campground, with beautiful views of glaciers and waterfalls all around. Went for a short hike with winter jackets on. No hook-up here, but paved pads, picnic table and fire ring. Lots of space between campsites, makes you think no one in was the woods but you.

Portage Glacier

view from campsite

September 1: The day started out cloudy. Have decided that this is Alaska, and by afternoon the sun comes out. We went to the Chugach NFS Visitor Center near the campgrounds. Of course walked a trail and took some glacier pictures. We did see another Spruce Grouse. Coming back around Turnagain Arm, we stopped at some pull offs, this is beautiful country. Next stop Anchorage to pick up my computer battery that I ordered at Batteries Plus. Stopped at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, as it had been recommended by several people. It was a bust.

Got back to the Escape To and the phone was ringing. Teddy our old dog had died. Do not know all the facts now. We had inheited Teddy from Edna’s mom. So the day was a bummer and short on good news. Staying at Willow Creek Campground. Another bummer wifi does not work without a credit card, most campgounds its free. Would not recommend staying here.