Jul 2, 2011 - Denali to Talkeetna to Willow

We spent the morning going back and forth from the Mercantile to the Visitor's Center in Denali. We probably put 50 miles on the RV just doing that! I updated the blog at the Mercantile while everyone else went back to the Train Depot to get tickets. They picked me up and we went back to the Train Depot to drop them off. They took the 12:30 train from Denali to Talkeetna and Jack and I had a nice quiet drive south. :) We stopped to gas up in the small town of Cantwell and only got 8 gallons since it was $5.50/gallon. OUCH! Talkeetna sits at...

Jun 7, 2011 - Flight Seeing

Day 23 Miles: 204 Total: 5241 Campground: Willow Creek Resort, Willow, AK What more can you say – another wonderful day in Alaska. The morning was spent catching up on logistics such as laundry and real showers, and topping off the water tank and dumping the waste water tanks before driving back to Talkeetna for our flight seeing. As luck would have it, yesterday’s clear blue skies turned to gray overcast today. But, we did get our flight in over the mountains and glaciers. Our pilot Tony, and the trusty DHC-3 Turbo Otter took is into the...

Jun 30, 2010 - June 29th, Willow, Alaska

We left Byers Lake campground heading South this morning. We did see a moose on the way to the Willow Creek campground where we will spend the night. We traveled 112 miles today. There is a large salmon run in Willow Creek going on now. Tori and I walked to the creek, more like a river, and were able to see quite a number of king salmon jump out of the water. Fishing is allowed for several days then banned for several days. This pattern continues until the run is over. They want the fish to get upstream without fishing pressure but still...

Sep 2, 2009 - Independence Mine and Hatcher Pass Rd.

30 miles in 3 hrs i bet cha can't guess whose above entry that was?? This is not good, my sisters have my mother and Jenn (gordon’s friend) encouraging me to write more. But I haven't told anyone that the only time I want to "journal" is when I’m upset...! Gordon's sisters are worried about him and want to fly up here to 'be with him'? My sisters are trying to console Mr. G and let him know everything is going to be ok, that he needs to relax more and rest on his sabbatical? Sister's he's got about 200 pounds of fish in his brand new...

Aug 18, 2009 - Driving the Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine

From our guide books we had discovered there was a scenic road from Palmer we had to explore. The road goes from Palmer to Willow and crosses the Hatcher Pass. . The first part of the road was paved but after the Independence Mine State Historical Park it became winding and very rough. We stopped at a number of viewpoints along the road which gave great views of rivers and mountains. We stopped at the Independence Mine State Historical Park and had an excellent guided tour as well as some exploration of the site on our own. In 1897 (before...

Aug 12, 2009 - Willow

We left the camp ground a day early after I made homemade French toast, using Cousin Shirleen’s homemade bread. Breakfast cooked over a open flame, h’mmm so good. So much for purchasing a 3 day bus pass. Wonder lake was only 19 more miles (1 ½ hours) past Eielson or we could have taken a 7 hour Ranger Lead Hike, but I believe I remember Charlotte’s exact words, “I am not getting back on that Bus”. My temperature gauge indicated an outside temperature of 28 degrees this morning. Frost was covering everything and we saw ice a couple of time...

Aug 1, 2009 - 4 nights at Willow Creek

We had pretty good weather here. Sometimes it was warm and sunny and then the dark clouds and rain would come. We enjoyed it here with the river so close and the friendly people - mostly Alaskans. Christian went out one night with some guys going down to the mouth of the river to catch the silvers. It was combat fishing and he really doesn't like that. He learned from a few guys here how to tie some different flies. We drove down to the Sportsman's Warehouse in Wasilla and got a fly kit that was recommended and he has been busy with...

Jul 29, 2009 - Willow

It was still raining this morning, but stopped just as we were leaving. The weather was looking better as we went north (have been checking it on the internet). We got to Willow Creek RV Park, which just so happens is on Willow Creek. We're parked just a few yards from the creek and looking right at it. Christian had those waders on before we were hooked up. It was sunny and HOT! About an hour later, black clouds started heading our way and the rain came. It rained hard for maybe a half hour or so and then cleared up. We had some blue sky...

Jul 17, 2008 - Tolsona Wilderness Cmpg to Willow Mat-Su RV Park

Thursday July 17, 2008 Tolsona Wilderness Cmpg to Willow, AK Mt-Su Cmpg We tried very hard to get an early departure today for the 120 miles drive to Palmer in order to attend the 12 noon Rotary Club Luncheon. Our departure was timely but the Alaskan dept of transportation did not cooperate. Around mile marker 97, near the Matanuska Glacier we came about a 3 year road project to relocate a new road bed. The construction project from mile marker 97 to 92, required a pilot car to travel through the one lane road. It was while we were...

Jul 16, 2008 - South Rolly Pond in Willow, Alaska

July 15& 16, 2008 On Tuesday we rented a canoe for the day and enjoyed paddling around South Rolly Pond. It felt a lot like canoeing Morrell Pond back in Maine. Wednesday morning we returned the canoe after one last paddle around the lake, and headed to Talkeetna, an Alaskan bush town which nicely blends the old with the new. It is an aviation base for Mount McKinley climbing expeditions and offers restaurants, lodging, flight seeing and river tours. We signed into The Talkeetna Camper Park within walking distance of town and enjoyed the...

Jun 17, 2008 - Willow

Just a short trip today. About 70 miles to Portage where we are going to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre and the glacier. We will stay overnight and then drive to Denali tomorrow. I couldn't sleep last night for several reasons...I was still on a high afetr seeing the whales; it's too light outside and this park is so peaceful and relaxing! We are really quite sad to leave but have to move on. The owner and her sons are wonderful and make your stay here so relaxing. Great RV Park...infact the only RV Park to stay in when in...

Aug 13, 2007 - Denali National Park - Willow

The weather seemed to have improved somewhat this morning, so we drove the motorhome & truck over to Denali National Park, parked the motorhome and drove the truck back into the park. We went back to Swift Creek, where we hiked up another trail, this one much steeper and it took us up high above the road. Evan & Sandra decided to wait half way up, while Connor trekked on followed by Steve. They had the camera and took pictures from high above. The scenery definitely is beautiful, and we saw more of the mountains today, but Mt McKinley was...