Dave & Julie's Alaska Adventure

[davebennington]

7-26-2011 Tuesday

We went out to get fuel and take one last look around the area. We found a very old Russian Orthodox Church and community this may not be of interest to some but it caught our eye; it was setup for Russian retirees many years ago before Alaska was sold to the US. The church is a great little community church for these folks, interesting to see.

We did happen across a moose and her calf along the side of the road, Julie was ready with the camera, later we stopped for a break and I saw an eagle in a tree and I got a picture of him flying away.

Tomorrow we are on the road again.

Dave

 

[davebennington]

7-27-2011 Wednesday

We are in Palmer, AK at a campground named Homestead RV Park, It is a Passport America Park. It is a smaller park with wooded sites, 30 AMP service, electric, water, and WIFI.

I think we will be here for two days as Palmer is not too far from Anchorage and there are a few things of interest we want to see that we missed before.

It was a easy run from Homer to Palmer, it rained off and on along the way but still a great ride for viewing the mountains, lakes and rivers.

It seems that everyone is fishing the rivers these days, mainly because the salmon are running.

Dave

 

[davebennington]

7-28-2011 Thursday

Well this morning was a first for me. we were rudely awaken by severe shaking of the trailer, EARTHQUAKE!!!!!, yes a 5.2 earthquake hit the Anchorage, Palmer area this morning at about 6 AM.

Not a good way to wake up!!!! there were several aftershocks but nothing to serious.

That was exciting after all of that we got up and went into Anchorage to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, if you are ever in Anchorage make sure you put this on the list of places to visit, the entry price is discounted for AAA and Good Sam members down to $19.05 for a senior person.

I took a few pictures today; this campground has a great view of the mountains just outside our door. The pictures were taken in the morning with the sun shining on them it was awesome, makes you feel really small.

I forgot to mention that Palmer is the official home of the Alaska State Fair. it is a sizable complex.

Dave

 

[Flying Dutchman]

So you were "all shook up" this morning. Glad all is well and you are continuing your journey. You will have so many camp fire stories with your Alaskan travels, can't wait to see you again.

 

[davebennington]

Eric,

Yes that was an exciting few minutes.

We will be on our way to Valdez today, it is going to rain again temps in the 40's this morning highs are expected to be in the 65 to 75 range.

When you are outside the sun feels so good and when it goes behind a cloud it feels chilly.

Dave

 

[SmokeyBare]

Another Beautiful drive in store for you heading into Valdez !! We stayed at Sea Otter Park, behind the Boat basin on our visit. Was an OK place for us... and it allowed me to catch a couple fish while there. We are enjoying your trip.. reliving it ours by way of your postings.

Thanks Dave.
Marv

 

[MrsSouthernNights]

Dave and Julie,
Looks like you are really have a great adventure! Earthquake and all! All the pictures you have taken are awesome! I am enjoying the sites you are seeing in person! See you seen!

 

[davebennington]

7-29-2011 Friday

Thank all of you who are following the thread for your comments, I hope we do not bore you with all the pictures and chatter, there is so much to see and every time you look around it seems that the view better than the last one.

We made to Valdez, we are in a campground called Bayside RV Park. Really nice place. Full hookups, Great WIFI, and 42 cable channels.

The view from the trailer is just great (I know all of you are getting tired of me saying this) from our trailer you are surrounded on 3 sides by mountains with glaciers all around.

What a beautiful place. We will be 3 days maybe 4 depending on what there is to see and do and of course how good the fishing is.

We took a lot of pictures along the way today lots of mountains with low hanging clouds and glaciers everywhere.

Dave

 

[leftyf]

Look up Ethel Rhoden, the town barber, tell her you know the Frizzell's from Crockett/Houston...Harry's and Charleene's boy...should be good for a free meal.

Sorry Ethel died in 1998. But, I've got 3 other cousins living there. Ethel was the town barber for umpteen gazillion years...I know she was still running a shop in 1989.

It appears Dian and David are still alive and living there.

 

[leftyf]

Hi All,

1. The port of Seward does not freeze.

2. Seward is home of the first train to the interior of Alaska and has sight seeing trains that run everyday.

3. Seward snow fall averages about 10 feet per year.

4. The temperatures here get as low as 20 below.

5. The water depth in Resurrection bay is greater than 900 feet.

Interesting facts about Seward, Alaska

Dave

1. No, but it has been known to get a little slushy. ;]

2. All Trains start in Fairbanks.

3. Depends on where you live in town...right along the bay the snow in minimal. 2 miles up the road, houses get burried up there every year. The Japan current is a wonderful thing.

4. Regular winter temp usually runs above 0F...with some occasional winter storms making you wish the temp would come up to 20 below.

5. I think the official depth is 1100 feet...I know the USS Alaska didn't worry about running aground.

I lived in Fairbanks for 4 years...and lived in Seward for 2. I lived on 2d Ave right next door to the town mayor (my old company commander from Vietnam)...I was the official town Scoutmaster. Ray Tyree, family, lived across the alley. Never let your daughter sit next to you while your old company commander is telling her tales about her Daddy when he was in Vietnam.

It's embarrassing when you kid moves to another couch!

Wish I had been keeping up with forum...I could have made your Fairbanks and Seward/Valdez leg even more memorable.

You lucky devil you.:angel:

 

[leftyf]

7-19-2011 Tuesday Update

Today we just played tourist and walked around Seward, checking out the sites getting groceries and generally goofing off. Food is really expense here example; bananas that cost 50 to 60 cents a pound in the lower 48, are $1.25 a pound here. If you are thinking about a trip to Alaska you will have to get groceries eventually be sure to get a store card it will save you big bucks.

Tomorrow is a travel day we are headed to Homer to see what they have in the way of interesting things to do, one thing, the salmon are running and that means good fishing. we will be in Homer for 7 days.

Dave

Anchorage has a Costco..you can save some big $$$ buying there. Prices used to be lower until they shut the barges down..now the prices are about the same no matter in which town you buy.

 

[davebennington]

7-30-2011 Saturday

Today we went salmon fishing, fishing is good here it did not take very long to get a daily limit. Then we rode around Valdez to see the town and houses. We did stop by the ferry landing a talked with one of the attendants, she was a wealth of information about the area, everything from how much snow, how well they clean the roads, are they able to get out of here when it does snow to bears.

The best fishing dpot is near the Marine terminal, I was surprised to see that you can boon dock in that area just outside to gate.

Just a couple of pictures today.

Dave

 

[Nabo]

Great looking catch. Will your freezer hold enough for ya'll to bring back?

 

[davebennington]

Our freezer is so full I do not think we can get anything else in it. I guess we will have to start eating the fish, It will be a struggle but I will do my best.

We sent the salmon that we caught in Seward home, every thing else is in the freezer. It cost way too much to send fish home you would be better off just buying it at a good fish market.

Dave

 

[davebennington]

We are having such a good time here in Valdez I just signed us up for another day of camping.

Today we are going to the museums and then try to go to the glacier, maybe even get some fishing in.

Dave

 

[mepait]

hey just looked at all of ur tripp ... seems awsome realy loved the pics .. makes me feel like i was there too. hope u realy have a wonderfull time......marie

 

[jimtoo]

hey just looked at all of ur tripp ... seems awsome realy loved the pics .. makes me feel like i was there too. hope u realy have a wonderfull time......marie

Hi mepait,

Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum. We have a great bunch of people here with lots of information and all willing to share their knowledge if needed.

Yes, Dave and Julie have done a great job of posting their adventure to Alaska on the forum. Really makes me want to go and just follow the same route.

Enjoy the forum.

Jim M

 

[davebennington]

7-31-2011 Sunday

Thank both of you for the kind words.


If you think the pictures of past were good wait until you see today's, we were so close to a pair of eagles it was unbelievable maybe 25 to 30 feet. Then we went to the fish hatchery to see the salmon and the bears that come down to feed on the fish because it is so easy to catch them. The bears never showed but we did see a lot of fish.

Oh yeah we did go to the museum today I put several pictures of that also.

Dave

 

[davebennington]

8-1-2011 Monday

It is raining here today, really hard, so hard that they are grading the campground trying to divert the water away from the campers.

We met a couple that are parked in the campground in a Elkridge from California, they did not know about the forum or the Heartland Owners Club (they do now).

I think we will go to the other museum today and then get ready to be on the road tomorrow.

I forgot to upload a couple of pictures from the fish hatchery that we took the other day, yes that is all fish waiting to use the fish ladder at the factory.

Dave

 

[davebennington]

8-2-2011 Tuesday

It is still raining here as we pack up and get ready to head for Haines. The rain is steady and it is chilly about 58 degrees. I guess that is better than all the folks in the lower 48 that are putting up with temps in the 100's

When we get to Haines I will update.

Dave