The end of the Alaskan Highway . . .

Just before we left on vacation, we happened upon a jeep and bought it.  Jay had mentioned that he would like one to tow behind the truck and low and behold, a good deal just happened to land in our laps.  Needless to say, the entire trip every time I saw a jeep, I would ask if that is like ours.  I truly didn't know because we had it for a few days before we left.  This isn't the one we bought, but this is how we thought we had to pack to drive across Canada and Alaska, not so much.  There are gas stations and civilization outposts everywhere.  

If this was me, I would have had some veggies growing up here.

Our models, Judy and Buddy.  We had to stop here for reindeer sausage and other types of meat
you can't find in the lower 48.

This is the outside of the meat store.  It is a big processing plant.

The Alaska state bird.  Guess who the jokesters are on this trip?

Road signs you don't see too many other places.

We took this trip backwards.  This is the end of the Alaskan Highway.

One thing I love about traveling north for the summer are all of the flowers. There are big balls of flowers hanging off of patios and store fronts everywhere.  We have had such a drought in California for such a long time, it's nice to see green and flowers.

I miss my garden at our old house.

The flowers and garden are in front of an old farmstead in Delta Junction.  Loved reading about and seeing all of the old stuff.

After we left here, we continued on to North Pole to visit my cousin.  More on that later.

Thought I would have finished this by now . . .

We have been home, gone back up 395 to Bishop, sprained my ankle and waiting to have surgery on my other foot next week.  With all of that, I truly thought I would have finished my Alaska trip by now.  Whoops, so I am just going to put up some pics with highlights.  When we finished going to Chicken we stayed in an RV park outside of Denali.  It was raining and a muddy mess in the park, but being a Desert Rat, I loved the green and rain.

Saw "The Mountain" several times peeking in and out of the clouds

Then we went to North Pole and met up with my cousin and finally met her family for the first time ever.  Her kids are full blown adults with babies! Well, we only met one of her kids, the others were at college and at work.

When we left North Pole and Denali, (Denali was after North Pole) we headed to the Kenai Pennisula and stayed at Homer, Seward and Valdez.  I loved it there.  It is what I picture when I think of Alaska.  When we go back, we are going straight there.  We fished for halibut and salmon and caught our limit.





I caught the bass!

There is a food truck next to the brewery that delivers the oysters when you order them.  Jay was mad because he had to share with me.  The other ladies don't like oysters.



The only wildlife we kept seeing were Elks.



Transportation in McCarthy

Brady was too hot and sat down in 50 degree water!

The boys had to stop here, one of their fav shows



Combat fishing at midnight in Soldotna


We had a great time.  Came home through Montana to visit my brother, biked the Hiawatha Bike Trail, met up with the kids near Tahoe, saw our sister-in-law in Reno and eventually made it home.  It was a great retirement trip!