The Hagarstream is on the road

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by Nelson428

Great pictures, I'm about two weeks behind you.
Keep safe


J Nelson Thornton

Thanks, we are heading down the Kenai Peninsula to see some salt water and get some more fishing in and then back to Anchorage. If things go right maybe our paths will cross. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

By the way the roads were much improved once we crossed into Alaska towards Tok. The Border Guard when we came across was in love with Great Danes and just could not get over Rascal. I handed her our passports and I don't think she even looked at them. She spent the entire time telling us how much she loved Great Danes, even called another guard over to meet Rascal. She finally sent us on our way and never ask us a single question about who we were or where we had been or where we were going. Rascal can be a great border crossing aid.

[Smartstream]

We spent 2 nights in Tok while I made an OK temp repair to the transfer switch. It worked the first night but I finally just by-passed it. Don't need the generator right now anyway.

We headed to Glennallen. Lots more beautiful scenery and snow capped mountains.

[Smartstream]

Glennallen is very near the Copper River and salmon fishing. I talked to a couple of guides and the river was muddy and they suggested that I wait a few days to see if it cleared up. We decided to visit Valdez and try on the way back.

The oil pipeline crosses under the highway at Glennallen. There is some kind of spill recovery facility that is gated off. I am a little surprised at how little it is mentioned. The only reason I found this is it was noted on a map. There is no mention or sign along the roadway.



We found a little RV park on a stream just out of town but the mosquitos were pretty bad. No fishing tonight.





This is how they fish for sockeye on the Klutina River. It got really bad on the weekend.

[Smartstream]

The Richardson Highway to Valdez was beautiful as expected.





Another stretch of the pipeline visible from the highway. There was a pullout that you could see the pipeline and there was supposed to be a plaque explaining everything but we never found the plaque.



We met this couple from Florida in a pullout. I've got their name somewhere but can't find it right now. They knew of the Airforums but don't visit it very often.

[Smartstream]

Approaching Thompson Pass.



I believe this is called the Worthington Glacier.



More glaciers.

[Smartstream]

Some glacial ice flows come right to the highway.

[Smartstream]

I believe this is Bridal Veil Falls.



Another falls further down the road.



The Hagarstream getting a better look.



The view the other direction.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

I believe this is Bridal Veil Falls.

Attachment 215343

Another falls further down the road.

Attachment 215344

The Hagarstream getting a better look.

Attachment 215345

The view the other direction.

Attachment 215346

Hi, I believe that the second water fall is called "Horse Tail". We need to find a Great Dane for Crawford Gene; He seems to have a hard time crossing borders without them taking his lunch or something. [fruit police, I believe he calls them]

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, I believe that the second water fall is called "Horse Tail". We need to find a Great Dane for Crawford Gene; He seems to have a hard time crossing borders without them taking his lunch or something. [fruit police, I believe he calls them]

You are probably right about Horse Tail Falls Bob. You see I have slept since then and Irene doesn't always get me properly retrained in the mornings because she also has to deal with Rascal.

I also agree that Crawford Gene needs a Great Dane, but then I think everybody should one, maybe two of them. They make great Airstream travelers.

[Smartstream]

I should mention there is a 7 to 8% grade for several miles going down to Valdez. Another 2nd gear grade.



As you approach the town this is what you see.



I have to tell you about these silos. Many years ago the Feds decided to build silos so that the farmers could bring their grain to port to be shipped overseas.



It seems the State of Alaska decided to build silos at Seward because there was rail service there. Needless to say the silos at Valdez have never seen an once of grain. They do make a great seagull roost.

The Harbor at Valdez.

[Smartstream]

Here Rascal and I are taking a break while Irene signs in for our campsite.



This is our site in the Adult Park.



Rascal and I waiting for dinner. We dined on the porch so Rascal could join us.



The fish get pretty big here in Valdez.

[Smartstream]

Here we are eating again.



This is the oil pipeline across the bay from our campsite.



As I said a few pages back, Valdez is this quaint little fishing town on this bay completely surrounded by snowcapped mountains.

[Smartstream]

This picture is from across the bay next to the oil terminal. Our campsite is just about in the center of the picture.



This is looking up at the terminal This is as close as you can get now a days.



The fish hatchery. They say when the salmon are running, if you want to fish you have to line the shoreline shoulder to shoulder with the bears.



Here Rascal and I are walking back from the hatchery. You can see the seagulls nesting on the bridge and the power plant behind us. They are concerned about the stability of the damn above the power plant. There are signs saying if the sirens sound leave the area immediately.

[OilnH2o]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

I have to tell you about these silos. Many years ago the Feds decided to build silos so that the farmers could bring their grain to port to be shipped overseas...
It seems the State of Alaska decided to build silos at Seward because there was rail service there. Needless to say the silos at Valdez have never seen an once of grain. They do make a great seagull roost.

A great monument to the ability of "planners" elsewhere to decide what's best for the locals... probably on the basis of Valdez' port access. Of course, getting the grain from the fields to the silos was the primary issue for the "locals." (Think about a railroad following your route into town - or grain trucks!)

Sorry you didn't get to Chicken - I lived for five years in Eagle (along the Yukon) - a great little Alaska gem few ever see. But, you have to go through Chicken to get there (or Dawson!)

[Mike Leary]

Nice stuff! Did you hear if they finally cleaned-up after the oil spill?

[Smartstream]

Yes Dave it's "always" good to see our tax dollars at work.

We haven't given up on Chicken yet, maybe on the way back.

Mike that's a loaded question, depends how you define cleaned up and who you ask. It doesn't seem to be a common topic of discussion on the street if that means anything. The pipeline isn't mentioned either which I find interesting. I'm kind of fascinated by the pipeline for some reason and surprised that nobody seems to care much about it.

[Smartstream]

We left off in Valdez so to get up to date we went back to Copper Center for some fishing. I went on the charter for king salmon and it rained all day. Fishing was bad but we tried. It was just me and the guide but no luck. The guide either was impressed by my effort or he felt sorry for me but he offered to take me out again for no charge. We went out again with a couple from Denver 2 days later. It was a beautiful day but the river was in bad shape because of the rain. Again no luck. But as they say "The worse day of fishing is better then a great day at work. Another bad thing was the Wi-Fi at the fishing RV park was next to non existent.

Anyway we headed to Anchorage. I had found a supplier with a water heater and transfer switch in stock and he had them on hold for me. After turning over more than a few dollars we headed to the Good Sam park in town. Not a nice place, next to the train tracks and under the runway from Merrill Field. Next morning we went to the City camp ground about 4 miles away. Not only a very nice park but they had great Wi-Fi. I was able to post a bunch of pictures in the last several posts.

Anyway got the new water heater installed with no problem but spent the rest of the day and half the night running a new A/C circuit because we got a gas/electric unit. Also after all the casting trying to catch a salmon, my shoulder was kind of sore and sometime playing with the w/h I twisted just right and was in real pain. Spent the next couple of days taking lots of Alleve.

We went to a farmers market / craft fair downtown on Sunday. Looking for a safe place to park we found one right across the street from the FBI building. Rascal got lots of adoration from new fans at the market. I guess being short haired and not doing well in the cold, there aren't many Great Danes in Alaska. Most considered him to be a horse or a very large Dalmatian.

We spent another day shopping and running errands before heading out. By the way found diesel for $3.999 and thought I made a real score. We also found a vet who let us use their scale to weigh Rascal, 144 lbs. at nine months.

We headed to the Kenai Peninsula. We wandered into an old mining town called Hope and spent the night on the beach of the Turnagain Arm. My shoulder was feeling a little better so I got the transfer switch installed. Again no cell or Wi-Fi available but a nice place to camp.

I had booked a halibut charter in Ninilchik so that was the next stop. We dry camped at the state park at Deep Creek on the beach. All the boats here, except inflatables are launched by tractor. You pull up and disconnect your trailer and a large farm type tractor hitches to your trailer and drives you down to the water. When you return they hitch up your trailer and back it into the water to pick you up. By 6 AM there were about 8 lanes of boats three deep and another 20 boats lined all the way to the highway waiting to be launched.

More later.

[Smartstream]

Sorry about the interruption but we had to make an ice cream run next door before the place closed. Some things are important.

Anyway spent the day on the water and caught lots of halibut including the largest on the boat and now we have a fridge and freezer stuffed full of halibut. The place is pretty neat. There is a bluff that runs along the shoreline with this beach 700 or 800 yards long cut in it. Deep Creek runs down the north end of the beach at the base of the bluff. The place is loaded with sea gulls and bald eagles. The fishermen clean the fish and leave the carcasses on the beach and the birds have a feast. They say in the spring there are over 1000 eagles on the beach. We spent the 4th here because we had a great site in the front row on the beach and places were filling up for the holiday so we decided to stay and enjoy the eagles.

Headed to Homer and camped on the spit. The place is packed with RV's, tents and people visiting the shops. Rascal got his usual mass following of fans and lots of photos. I can't imagine how many people have pictures of me in their vacation photos when all they wanted was Rascal. Had a nice day on the spit and today took a ride along Skyline Drive. It's about 12 miles long and runs along the ridge above the city at about 1300' of elevation. Stunning views of the city and surrounding inlets and mountains.

That brings you up to date on where we are but who knows when I will find a connection that will let me post some pictures. I will keep trying.

[DIR1]

sounds like a great trip!!! will be waiting for piccy's... pats for the big guy, 144lbs!!!! Zowie!!! hugs to you two.. gail

[Mike Leary]

Is Homer still hippy dippy, or did they all open up coffee shops and tee shirt stores?