Portage to Seward, AK

7/22/13

Sadly, we packed and departed the Williwaw Campground in Portage today.  This is a must-stop for any RVer’s passing by.  It has 60 sites, one-third is reservable, paved sites and road but no hook-ups. However, its beauty and serenity make up for that.  We sat just below the Middle Glacier with its striking blue ice at our campsite. 

Traveled down the Seward Highway today moving south to Seward, AK on the Gulf of Alaska and a trip to Kenai Fjord’s National Park.  The road down the Kenai Peninsula is breathtaking.  We are staying at the Stoney Creek RV Park just north of Seward the next three days.  The road is quite smooth with numerous turnouts and good shoulders as it winds through scenic terrain.

Seward Highway southbound milepost 55 or so

Alpine lakes are everywhere

As are glacial runoff streams

Approaching the Homer cut-off on Seward Highway

Joy takes another opportunity to soak her feet in ice water

Burn's Glacier, Sarah and Jason depart, and Anchorage shopping

7/19/13

Sarah and Jason were up reasonable early for a hike on the Burn’s Glacier Trail in Portage Valley before returning to the RV to pack for their trip home tonight.  We proceeded by up to Anchorage for an early dinner at Humpy’s Fish House (famed by history and a Man vs. Food television show).  After bidding Sarah and Jason farewell at the Ted Stevens Int’l. Airport we headed for Costco to pick up some groceries for the trip south.  Prices are still high in Anchorage but reasonable compared to the rest of Alaska.

7/20/13

Joy started the day with another record-breaking trip.  This time to get her hair cut in Anchorage about 45 miles away.  The first last week was the drive to the grocery store of about 125 miles.  We enjoyed a picture-perfect Saturday shopping, having lunch, and driving up into the mountains just east of Anchorage to see some beautiful homes with views of Cook Inlet and the City.

7/21/13

Walked the Burn’s Glacier trail today.  Joy couldn’t resist putting her feet in the water as it flowed out from under glacial ice.  “It’s really cold” were again her words.  In the evening we went to Girdwood having dinner at the 5^th Chair Restaurant followed by a ride up the Aleska Tramway for a view from high above the valley and Aleska Lodge Resort.  Winter ski trails just a few miles from downtown Anchorage.  Tomorrow we will depart for Seward and rejoin our friends, the Relyea’s, as their kids departed on Sunday evening.

Sarah and Jason stop in Willow, AK

Sarah misses her doggies.......

Jason is tempted to get a sled dog.....

This resident of Alaska is not a dog

Sarah tries the water below Burn's Glacier

Not too bad at 38 degrees......

Jason hike onto the glacial snow

Turnagain Arm Bore Tide is out

Anchorage from the mountains looking West

Joy with her "new haircut" at Beluga Point

Girdwood and Aleyska Lodge ahead

Burn's Glacier

Approaching Burn's Glacier

View across Portage Valley

Joy tries the glacial water at the source

Snow is almost gone...just before it comes again!

Headed up the Alyeska Tram

View from the top toward Turnagain Arm

Upper Ski Lodge

Heading back down from Alyeska

Glacial lake in Portage Valley

Down to Anchorage, Turnagain Arm, and Portage Valley

7/18/13

Sarah and Jason proceeded with the Jeep south toward Anchorage planning to meet up with us this evening somewhere south of there.  Joy and I followed in the motorhome down the 90 remaining miles of the Parks Highway that ends in the heart of downtown Anchorage.  There we joined the Seward Highway south about 50 miles winding along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet.  Now this is one beautiful drive on good two-lane highway pressed between mountains and ocean.  We stopped for the next four nights in the National Forest Service’s Williwaw Campground site 15.  My lifetime NSP Golden Age passport allowed camping for $ 9 per day.  Getting old and being on the government “dole” may be pretty good after all.

RV Report:  Parks Highway is in good condition with some surface repairs between Willow and Wasilla.  The Parks Highway ends in downtown with good road markings turning south onto the Seward Highway.  No way to avoid a little city traffic.  The Seward Highway is an awe-inspiring drive along its entire length.

Fuel: $ 4.12/gallon for diesel at Tesoro in Anchorage.  $ 3.96/gallon for gasoline.

Passing through downtown Anchorage

Seward Highway south of Anchorage is AWESOME!

More Awesome

River passing through Williwaw Campground

Begich-Boggs Visitors Center near Portage Glacier

Joy finds a Hunk!!!!

Our "tree-house" RV on Site 15

There goes the Jeep

View of Middle Glacier right above our campground site

Denali to Talkeetna with Sarah and Jason

7/16/13

We departed the Denali area driving south on the Parks Highway to Willow, AK.  This is about 175 miles south and near Talkeetna, AK.  We stopped at the Mat-Su RV Park at milepost 90.7.  Sarah and Jason planned a Zip-Line tour for the next day as Joy and I planned a sightseeing flight over Mt. McKinley with a landing on Ruth Glacier.  The evening included plans for a river tour on M

ahay’s Jet Boats our to Talkeetna.

7/17/13

The morning dawned with low clouds and warmer temperatures that would end out hopes for fly over Mt. McKinley, but the Zip-Line tour went forward.  Sarah and Jason had a great time as you can see below.  We all joined up later in the day for the boat tour after dinner in Talkeetna.  We decided to travel further south a day or so early to allow Sarah and Jason to see more of Alaska, including the Seward Highway drive from Anchorage down to Portage and Girdwood.

Ready to zip

Jonathan Wallace and Elizabeth Relyea

Trusting person, isn't he?

The Old Folks enjoy a boat ride

Sarah and Jason glad they survived Zip-Lines

Mahay Tours Jet Boat

Our guide carries Mossberg 12ga. Bear Protection

The Glacier Landing was not to be......

Pictures like this come back to haunt you!

Seeing Denali area with Sarah and Jason

On Saturday we went of two hikes in Denali National Park.  Weather remains beautiful and in the low 80's.  On a hike near the Savage River, Sarah was almost run over by a bull Caribou while soaking her feet in the stream.

Sunday saw Sarah, Jason, and Joy hiking the Mt. Healy Overlook while Don stayed at the RV getting it ready to move down to Talkeetna on Tuesday.  Jason made it to the top (see pictures) as Sarah and Joy were content to make it up to the tree-line for a look around.

Monday found the four of us on an ATV tour (a first for Joy and I).  It was great fun as we traveled the back country.

Tuesday we moved south to Willow, AK about 13 miles from Talkeetna.  Sarah and Jason went by Jeep touring while Don and Joy took the RV down the Parks Highway and setting up in a new location.

RV Report:  The Parks Highway was mostly smooth driving, with minor construction underway.
Diesel fuel was $ 4.54 gallon in Healy, and $4.16 gallon in Talkeetna today.  Gasoline was $4.24 gallon in Healy and $ 3.93 here in Talkeetna.

Fireweed is quite beautiful here

Jason touring down a "Jeep Trail"

Sarah enjoying the view with the Jeep tops off

Panorama view from Mt. Healy

Sarah steers clear on a runaway Caribou

Jason reaches the top of Mt. Healy

Jason bravely lets Sarah drive

On the trail

The four of us survive the trip!