Trip to North Pole

July 28 – Our drive today was not very long to Fairbanks.  Our campground is on the outskirts of the city and we did get full hook ups and pull thrus.  Super as we are having some laundry back up!  We were on our own for the rest of the day so almost everyone decided to visit the town of North Pole and visit the Santa House there.

It’s not that far to the North Pole from Fairbanks!  There is a huge Santa to welcome you to his home and there is a huge building with all kinds of Christmas stuff and items with “North Pole” on them and Santa and Mrs. Santa have a special area where they greet everyone and you can get your photo with them.  We didn’t buy much at all.

We walked out to the BIG Santa and then to the housing of the Reindeer.  They have huge antlers and you can pay to go in the area with them and feed them.  We passed on that but it was great to see them.  Bill and I have been here about 20 years ago but we think the building is bigger now that it was before.

When we were on our way back we got a call from the Wagon Master that there was a beeping  coming from our RV so we headed right back.  We left a couple of the windows cracked and the big window by the driver seat unlocked so our neighbor Barb climbed up and opened the window.  When we got there Melissa fanned the alarm and we opened all the windows.  It was coming from the propane.  Dave came over and found a leak in one of my burners and apparently while cooking I bumped one of the knobs and it was spewing gas as well.  Luckily our neighbors were there to call so nothing happened to Molly. 

This whole process also meant we have to ration our propane until we can get the tank repaired.  The first guy to fill it for us screwed it up and now no one can get propane in it.  We will probably only turn it on to heat water to shower and do the dishes.  I’m going to try and cook with my George Foreman and our grill that we will buy disposable canisters for.  We have a small tank for it at home and assumed this RV had the same attachment as the old one that we could hook our RV up to the big tank.  Not!

So once the excitement was over we microwaved leftovers.  I think I can manage cooking with the microwave, my electric toaster oven and the grill!  It’s always something.

The real down side was the 3 of us had took COLD showers!  Brrr! 

More time in Denali and Area

July 27 – It’s was a beautiful morning with nothing planned. Melissa and I left before 8AM to go back into Denali to see if we could see Mt Denali.  We drove to the spot that everything said was where to get a view of it before it got misty out.  We drove to the mile marker 10.7 where the placard is that tells you what peak is where.  It was clear out and a tiny bit of the peak of Mt. Denali was in view.  It was a bit disappointing that it was not more dominant but it was about 100 miles away and has numerous mountains trying o block the view.  I was able to zoom in and get the tip but that was about it.

We drove to the end of the allowed road but didn’t see any other wildlife but several Willow Ptarmigan along the roadway.

Once we got back and Bill was up and ready to go we drove out and parked along a footbridge at the edge of town.  We walked a lot of it and watched the fast flowing of the river below.  Then we drove to the other end of the town and Melissa and I walked over to the river.  We had hoped to see some water rafts come by but not good timing.  Back in town, we parked and went to some shops.  It’s a lot of repetition, like any other tourist area.  I bought a couple of gift items and a carved stone for me. 

The skies kept changing today: sunny then cloudy with a light shower, then sunny again

We had lunch across the road at the Resort.  They have 4-5 restaurants and we took the pizza/calzone one.  Very good lunch!  Then it was time to get home and relax a while.

Long Denali Tour

July 26 -   Oooh it was cold last night and cold this morning.  Bill got up and some point and closed our bedroom door and turned on the electric heater.  I have given Melissa 2 blankets and a sheet so figured she was using them all!

I cooked some venison sausage this morning that our friend Karen that Bill used to work with gave us before we left.  Melissa has never had venison and she liked it.  This was a little spicy and I think that made it better tasting for her.  It will be back on the menu tomorrow!

Bill and Melissa went gift store shopping but I passed.  I don’t need anymore “stuff”.  It’s all the same stuff in the shops and it was too cold to go out if I didn’t have to!

Today was our Denali tour.  It was 5 hours.  The bus was full and they provided a snack box and fancy bottles of water.  We also took food since we didn’t leave until after 3 we would have something for dinner.  We had an excellent tour guide and he answered any questions and explained a lot about the area and the animals.   When we spotted wildlife he could zoom in on them and put them on the monitors spaced throughout the bus.  We got to see a Grizzly bear, artic ground squirrels and Dall Sheep twice.  Everyone wanted to see moose or caribou but it just wasn’t going to happen. 

All in all it was a great day and I think everyone had a good time.

Headed to Denali

July 25 – Today’s destination was Denali.  We followed 2 other coaches that we’ve become friends with, Dave and Donna and Dave and Laurie.  Fun people that we can laugh with!  We decided to make a stop on the way knowing we had plenty of time.  We ventured in to Talkeetna, which is a tiny little town with primarily gift shops and places to eat.  They have a lot of hand made items and it’s pretty pricey.  I didn’t buy anything but Bill got his sticker and magnet from there.

We were the last to arrive at the campground except for the tail gunner who had a flat tire very close to the campground.  They called the wagonmaster and they came out to help them so all ended well.

We did get a pull thru but Bill says it’s in the ghetto area.  However, we are between others on our trip so we are all in the ghetto area.  At least it was pretty level.

It’s cold here and we could not see the top of Denali today so maybe tomorrow.

Touring Anchorage

July 24 – This morning we grouped up and played follow the leader and went into Anchorage to get on a Trolley Tour.  It was only our group on the bus and the driver/guide did an excellent job.  She was extremely personable and was very knowledgeable. 

Once they dropped us off we all headed into the huge gift shop on the corner as they gave us a discount coupon for there.  We looked it all over as there was a LOT of stuff there.  Prices were good as well.  I didn’t get anything but Bill got some postcards, a sticker and a magnet.  He looked at shirts but didn’t find his size in the ones he liked.  I bought a little gift and Melissa got a few things.

Time to look around on our own.  We drove down to the waters edge and there is no sandy beach as it’s all mud and they say it dangerous.  Nothing like Florida sandy beaches.  There were a few things we wanted to backtrack to in order to get photos so we did that as well.   Then we had lunch at a Mexican Restaurant that was the first one in Anchorage.

Time to head back to the RV where we pretty much just visited and chatted up our fellow travelers and a nice couple parked behind us that we had visited with last night.

I made stuffed peppers for dinner and we finished the rhubarb crisp so it was a good finish to a great day!

Headed to Anchorage!

July 23 – Today was a driving day with a lot of backtracking.  We were on most of the roads we came in on to Homer.  We were excited to learn we would have full hook up sites that are pull thru as well.  That meant we could catch up on the laundry!

We actually didn’t go directly to the campground but to the Native American Heritage facility.  We watched and listened to a couple of groups playing and singing Native songs and music.  They used instruments they hand made in the same fashion of their ancestors.  They were mostly young people who have learned from their elders the ways of their people.

They have a small museum of artifacts to view and 6-8 native artisans with displays of their work that was for sale.  They did beautiful work with jewelry and nick-nacks.  Then they had a native lady speak to us about their heritage and ways of life.  She spoke about the varied “tribes” in the area and said some things in her native togue.

After that we had a guide take us through the “village” that has been built to replicate a native village.  It was a very interesting presentation but the guide was not a good speaker. 

Then we were released by the wagonmasters to head to our RV sites.  We opted to stop on the way and fill up with fuel first.

Once the dust settled we went into town for groceries and to just take a look around.  We had a nice dinner out and it was time to call it a day!

Whal Watching DAy!

 Finally getting to post!  So many places with no WIFI!

July 22 – It was a wet chilly morning when we got up today!  Glad we were not in a tent.  I made bacon and sliced some of the stollen to go with it.  Melissa and I are up first and have our coffee and quiet time on our phones. 

The group was to meet at 10:30 and carpool to the whale watching trip today. We dressed in layers and took more layers.  We lined up and followed the wagon master to the parking for the trip.  It was a nice large sightseeing boat.   Our group was put downstairs with another group but was not full.  There wasn’t much to see on the way out.  The guide told us about the mountains etc. we saw along the way and the glaciers.

Eventually we got to see a couple of otters, several bald eagles, sea lions, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, 1 puffin, coastal mountain goats, cormorant, and common murre.  Everyone was most excited though when we saw several Dall’s porpoise and 6-8 humpback whales.  It was difficult to get photos of the porpoises and whales and I have not gone thru my pictures yet to see if I got anything good.  Everyone on the boat was so excited as those are what people really want to see.  We spent about 20 minutes viewing them.

With my severe motion sickness, I put a patch on this morning first thing and I did great until he turned the boat around and was racing back and hitting the wakes like a rock.  I got really nauseous and managed to get back to my seat from the restroom and laid down on the seating at our table.  I just stayed there pretty much until we were about to disembark.  I was fine by then!

Melissa, Bill and I met 2 other couples and a single at a nice restaurant close by and we all had a great time.  There was a lot of discussion on how disappointed we have been with the trip.  Some of us were discussing sending a letter to the owner and what kind of review we would write.  The people have been great but the leaders suck!  The owner does also if he OK’d all of the crappy campgrounds!

I did another load of laundry since we had wiggle room with our gray tank and make a batch of brownie brittle.  Once it cools I will bag some for the couples that I have not given a snack to yet. 

Tomorrow we head to Anchorage!