Yukon and Alaska Bound Part 35. Homer Spit to Wasilla, and Wasilla to Denali National Park, Alaska

Drive through Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Homer Spit to Wasilla to Denali National Park, Alaska

On the 28th of July 2014 we said good bye to Homer. We could have stayed another few days there. It was relaxing and beautiful.

But off we went direction north and Anchorage. We had decided the night before to skip a trip to Seward. We wanted to have enough time in Denali National Park.

Drive through the Russian River Area

So we traveled leisurely back north on the Kenai Peninsula. The weather was from brilliant sunshine to heavy rain. We stopped at a few places. Again, Anchorage was just wet and raining cats and dogs. We continued to Big Bear RV Park in Wasilla, north of Anchrage. We set up camp in the rain.

Our Caravan leaving the Kenai Peninsula

On the 29th of July we were on the road early. On Highway #3 north we drove in dense fog. All of a sudden the fog lifted partially, and we had a few glimpses of the "Great One", Mount Denali, or as it was previously known, Mount McKinnley.

Driving North on the Park Highway # 3

The drive to Denali National Park from the south is spectacular. We stopped at several view points and were just in aw.

We were all happy to see Denali in brilliant sunshine

Unfortunately the campground, Riley Creek at the entrance of the park was booked up. We drove about 15 km ( 9 miles ) north of the park entrance and checked in at the Denali RV Park and Motel for two nights.

Hansuli and Lisbeth

Christian and Annemarie

Once we checked in we drove back to the Park entrance to book a guided tour for the next day. In Denali National Park one can only drive with personal cars the first 15 miles to Savage River.

The park access road actually goes 92 miles ( 150 km ) into the park all the way to Kantishna. We decided to take the bus from the entrance to Eielson about 66 miles ( 106 km ), about 8 hours drive. It will be an early morning tomorrow, we booked the 6am tour. More pictures from this part of the trip in album 1 and album 2.

Liz and Anders

Beautiful Drive on the Park Highway # 3 north toward Denali Nat. Park entrance

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Yukon and Alaska Bound Part 34. Homer and Homer Spit, Alaska

Homer Spit, Alaska

In and Around Homer Spit, Alaska

We decided to camp on Homer Spit at the Heritage RV Park on the 27th and 28th of July. Homer is on the southwestern Kenai Peninsula on the north shore of Kachemak Bay. Just over 5000 people live here not counting all the tourists and fishermen visiting at one time or another.

Homer Spit, views to Kenai Mountains

In the 1800 there was a coal mine operating at Bluff Point, and in the late 1800s gold seekers debarked at Homer bound for the goldfields.

Homer Spit juts about 7km ( 4.3 miles ) out from Homer. The Sterling Highway ends at the end of the Spit. In 1964, after an earthquake, the Spit sank ( 1.3 - 1.9 metres (4-6 feet). Today it is a tourist and vacation heaven.

Christian, Hansuli, Lisbeth and Annemarie  by ferry terminal, Homer Spit

In the morning, while Anders stayed behind to fix something on the 5th wheel and to marinate some steaks, Lisbeth, Hansuli, Annemarie and Christian  and I walked to the end of the spit. At the pond connected to the ocean everybody was fishing. The Salmon were jumping all over the place. Fishermen smiled. Homer calls itself the " Halibut Fishing Capital of the World.

Coho or Silver Salmon jumping at the inlet, Homer Spit

Seafarer's Memorial

Souvenir shops and excursion offices, a Seafood Factory, RV Parks, fancy Town homes and a Hotel were all busy.At the Pioneer Dock the Alaska State Ferry was loading. The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries connect Homer to Seldovia and Kodiak ( 91/2 hour ferry ride ). In summer, Kodiak is the departure port for the Aleutian Chain trips.

Anders, Fisherman and Halibut

In the early afternoon, Anders and I just meandered around the Spit enjoying people watching and the beautiful sunshine.

We stopped and had a Halibut burger for lunch.












Later we all went into Homer and visited the Pratt Museum. Well worth a visit. This museum is helping people to explore the natural environment and human experiences around the Kachemak Bay regions. Very interesting.

Hansuli, Lisbeth, Christian and Anders at the Pratt Museum

By a glorious sunset we ate Anders' BBQ cap steaks and corn on a comb. A wonderful day and evening.

Homer Spit, Alaska

For more pictures from this part of the trip, have a look at our album.

Our Campsite on Homer Spit

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Yukon and Alaska Bound Part 33. Anchorage to Homer, Alaska

Next morning, July 26th we decided to cut our visit to Anchorage short and head south toward Homer, about 360 km away.

But first we visited Costco across the street from the RV park.  We replenished our supplies with all the big item foods and some wine.

Driving South from Anchorage to Homer, Alaska

Mid-morning it was time to get out of Anchorage. Our goal was to drive south , and explore the Kenai Peninsula.

This is a beautiful drive along the Turnagain Bay of Cooks Inlet: mountains, oceans, and rivers. Even the sun came out in between rain showers.

We stopped at Portage to talk to the information agent there. We were tossing the idea about to drive to Whittier first, but because of the unsettled weather we decided against it.

We continued inland through the Chugach National Forest and mountains. The weather became even more unpredictable. The scenery was beautiful.

River rafting on the Upper Kenai River

The stretch from Cooper Landing to Sterling is just one wonderful playground for fishing, river-rafting, camping, and holidaying. In Cooper Landing we stopped and watched a few rafts drifting down the Kenai River.

Here on the Kenai Peninsula many of the towns, villages and rivers carry Russian names. Old buildings and churches look very Russian. Especially on the stretch from Soltotna and Clam Guich over Ninilchick and Anchor Point to Homer.

On the Sterling Highway from Soldotna to Homer

Remember Alaska belonged to Russia until they sold it to the States in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars. Alaska became a territory only in 1912, and the 49th State of the U.S.A in 1959.

The population of Alaska is about 740,000, of which about 300,000 live in Anchorage. Alaska is the largest state in the U.S.  586,412 square miles ( 1,518,800 km2 ), over twice the size of Texas.

Close to Homer, overlooking Cook Inlet toward the Kenai Mountain

Once we reached Cook Inlet on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula on the way to Homer, the sun was shining and the vista was amazing. We stopped at several viewpoints to look across the inlet to the Chigmic Mountains and the Aleutian Range.

Homer in the Rain

Homer and Homer Spit welcomed us with a torrential downpour.

Homer Spit - Sunshine after a heavy rain

For more pictures of this part of the Yukon and Alaska Trip, check out our album.

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Yukon and Alaska Bound, Part 32. Glennallen to Palmer - to Anchorage, Alaska

Glennallen to Palmer Alaska

Alaska, Drive From Glennallen to Palmer

Glennallen is at the Junction of Highway 4 ( Fairbanks to Valdez)  and Highway 1 (Glennallen to Anchorage), the Glenn Highway.

Northern Nights RV Park, Glennallen

We stayed at the Northern Nights RV Park, a typical highway stop-over..

Driving west on the Glenn Highway

On the morning out of town we passed the Tolsona  Wilderness Campground, that looked really good, right on Tolsona Creek.





The Glenn Highway climbs westbound. Ah, we are back on frost-heaved roads. The scenery is beautiful. This area is the Ahtna Country, private native lands.

Eureka Summit

Eureka Summit, elevation 3.322 ft. or about 1012 m, is the highest point on the Glenn Highway. There is a great turn-out with wonderful views to to Chugach Mountains.

There are also interesting information panels about the Gold Rush of 1898. Captain Edwin F. Glenn ( hence Glenn Highway ) had orders to find the best suitable route from Prince William Sound through Cook Inlet to the Tanana River.

This part of our journey was jam-packed with ever changing vistas. Just before Glacier Point this oddly formed rocky dome mountain was straight ahead of us.

We stopped at the Matanuska Glacier access, but decided that the entrance fee was too high to go and look at the glacier closer up. Even from the road it looked huge.

Matanuska Glacier

The Matanuska Glacier starts in the Chugach Mountains. It is currently about 27 miles ( 43 km )long and up to 4 miles ( 6.5 km ) wide.

We enjoyed the drive along the glacier and later the Matanuska River with views to King Mountain.

At the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer we relaxed and had lunch at the pic-nick tables. Then we were ready to see the big beasts. These Musk Ox are farmed for their fine under-wool, the Qiviut. The Qiviut wool is way warmer (9 times warmer) than sheeps wool and ever so soft and cuddly. Hard to believe it comes from these fierce looking beasts.

Musk Ox

We took a tour and visited the young and baby animals. Annemarie had lots of fun feeding them grass.

Annemarie feeding the Young Musk Ox

Musk Ox Farm

We settled down at the Mountain View RV Park. We were not impressed. But after a good supper and some wine we were fine.

The Palmer and Wasilla area is called the Mat-Su Valley. The Athabascan Indians lived here until George Palmer opened a trading post in 1890.

Mat-Su Valley

In 1935 Palmer became the site of a US Federal New Deal created by Franklin Roosevelt. The plan was to create an agricultural area by relocating farm families from Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. These dirt poor families, many of Scandinavian descent, were moved here to the north. Many did not stay, but some stayed. Today, Palmer is the only Alaska area which is manly agricultural.

This morning, July 25th 2014 was Farmer's Market in Palmer, famous for their giant vegetables. The growing season here is only about 115 days, just over 3 months. But with the extended daylight during the summer, these area farmer grow amazingly huge vegetables. The market showcased not just vegetables, but baked goods and handicrafts of all kinds of the Mat-Su Valley. Nice event - nice people.

Lisbeth, Hansuli and I visited the showcase gardens next door to the Palmer Visitor Center. All kinds of beautiful flowers welcome us. Even in the rain it was well worth the visit.

After picking up some more Diesel additives, we were on the road toward Anchorage. All of a sudden we were on a freeway chuck full of cars. After days of leisurely driving, we had to sit up and pay attention to the traffic and less to the vistas. Specially on that day, it was raining.

Just before Anchorage we passed an accident scene. The first and only one on our entire trip.

We checked into the Golden Nugget RV Park on 4100 Debarr Road. It is huge, and a typical city park. Some nice sites, but also some not so nice permanent tenants.

Rainy Anchorage, Alaska

After setting up the campers, we drove downtown Anchorage. Unfortunately it was raining. Typical tourists, we were disappointed. We walked in and out of tourist shops, bought a few souvenirs, and walked down to overlook the huge harbour area.

Shopping in Anchorage

Some of us went to see "Aurora", Alaska's Great Northern Light video at the Sydney Laurence Theatre. Very nice show, especially, because in the summer is not the time to see the Aurora on the night skies ( it is too bright out).

Annemarie and Christian invited us for supper. All good places downtown were booked out for the night. We ended up at Jen's Place on 36th and Arctic. The food and service were excellent. We all had a good time. That was a great finish to an interesting day.

More pictures from this trip on line.

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