May 26: Wednesday: OUR FIRST DAY OFF

Seeing as there was only one camper in camp, it was mid week, the place was ship-shape, we decided to venture north to visit our new friends who are camp hosts in the further north campgrounds: i.e. Denali View North, The Alaska Veterans War Memorial, and Byer’s Lake. This is road we had not previously traveled…virgin territory. Views of Denali were stupendous. The sky was dark blue and the white snow of the mountain contrasted beautifully. This was the photo opportunity that I have been waiting for.There was a better view around every corner. Loved just clicking away.

This is Byer's Lake. See the image in. the water of the mountains. The yellowish scum on the water is the polen in the air

This is a picture from the top of the hill at the Alaska Veterans Memorial, down onto the Byers Lake Campground.

"Just another beautiful picture" of Denali

Our friends from Florida and Idaho getting their hands dirty planting flowers. The little gift shop behind them doesn't open until Friday. Then the hoards of tourists, bus tours etc. start comming.

We stopped at their homes on wheels to visit and compare notes. Their views of Denali right from their campers is stupendous. Imagine waking up to that view each morning.

This was a shot through the water in Byers Lake. So Crystal clear.

Byer's Lake.

The Alaskan Veterans War Memorial, located on the Parks Highway, half way between the states' two largest cities, Anchorage and Fairbanks. There is a semicircle of five 20-ft-tall concrete panels, one for each branch of service and each with a large star on the upper part and inscriptions on the lower part. Other panels and plagues also memorialize the Alaska National Guard (which started out as the Alaskan Territorial Guard during WW II and later began the state's National Guard...they were instrumental in taking back the invaded Aleutian Island during WW II. I was impressed because I had never known that the U.S. had been invaded during WW II. There was even one Guard killed by enemy soldiers on Am. soil)

Who could get tired of this view?????

Chris fishing yesterday at Byer's Lake. Just had to take this pic of our friend host, Wayne, talking with Chris. Wayne really talks with his hands.

You can tell there is permafrost under this land. The trees are scrubby and don't grow big. That's because the trees can't put down real big roots because of the permafrost.

Us at Byer's Lake.

Here's a picture that again demonstrates my warped sense of humor....view from the road.

The name of this septic pumping truck struck me as humorous....

On the way back to Willow yesterday, a speeding Alaska Railway train blew by us. I thought this car was particularly pretty....the Wilderness Express. Lots of tourists take this from Anchorage, or Whittier up to Denali.

Just heard over our radio (the kind cops have...not the kind in the car) that we use for camp....3 bears in Denali State Park. Interesting. Oh, I'm writing this on Thursday.....was up there yesterday. Bummer, I missed them.

So, until we "connect" again.