Wasilla and Seward, Alaska Part 1

July 3d: Traveling and sightseeing can grow wearisome, so we decided to take a break for a few days to get our shopping and laundry chores done and simply relax. Lots of construction on Parks Road to Wasilla:


In Wasilla, we stayed on the circle in Big Bear RV Park and Campground. The inside of the circle was a common area with a large pavillion and three propane grills for the use of all patrons.


There was also a large grass area behind us where Bill and Barkley played and played. Because his back legs still aren't quite right, Barkley's body is at an angle to his goal when he runs.






Since it was the 4th of July weekend, we heard lots of fireworks, and a family in the RV park was also setting off fireworks. Broad daylight is not the ideal backdrop for fireworks, but we did see a faint color splash here and there.

July 6th, and we're back on the road to Seward. Sights at a stop along the Seward Highway on Turnagain Arm (a long inlet):








Harebells and clover:




A marsh along the way:


Of course, it was overcast and raining most of the day.




At another rest stop:
















We stayed in Bear Creek RV Park outside of Seward and were once again blessed to be in the same park as Colin and Betty Linton. It was bittersweet, because they would be staying in Seward until the end of July, so we knew we wouldn't meet on the road again. We hope to see them again, and so does Barkley.




Signs along Resurrection Bay:




Two Park Service vehicles being charged:


The road south of Seward along the Bay, where we stopped to take pictures of sea otters:




















A type of wild pea:


At the Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Viewing Trail, we picked up miniature booklets with color pictures of the invasive plants in the Seward area. The advice is to pull invasive weeds wherever they are found, pack them in plastic, and pack them out to proper trash receptacles.


Bald eagles:




Glacial streams running into Resurrection Bay:

Denali National Park, Part 1

June 25th: Many miles of highway through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory are sandwiched between stony hills. The hills are quite inviting to folks wanting to leave their names behind in an eco-friendly manner. We found the same thing on the Parks Highway in Alaska, as we headed toward Denali National Park.


Wildflowers we saw along the way

Pineapple Weed (at first blush, these look like daisies with all the petals removed):




Squirreltail grass:




Our mystery cycling friend again, on the right:




As a base for our jaunts into Denali National Park, we stayed in the McKinley RV Park and Campground in Healy. We were once again pleasantly surprised when Colin called out Barkley's name. What a fabulous reunion!




What looks like snow coming down from the clear blue sky is actually cottony willow seeds. They floated around and coated everything during our stay in Fairbanks, and we enjoyed them again in Healy.


Sue, shining up the grill:


After setting up camp, we headed into the park. Without a special permit, private vehicles are allowed only on the first 15 miles of road in Denali. These are some of the gems we saw in those 15 miles.


Paintbrushes:




Red-tailed Bumblebee:


A large caribou and a few folks watching him:










Possibly a Mew Gull:








Wildflowers in McKinley RV Park and Campground:




Fireweed:


A type of Hawksbeard:




Tall Jacob's Ladder (we'd been seeing the smaller Beautiful Jacob's Ladder, but this is the first tall specimen we've seen):




Probably a Veined White butterfly: