JULY 9: TWO DAYS OF BLUE SKY! WOOO HOOO!

We have had two glorious days of blue skies. Denali shows herself both days. The campground is quiet with no fishing....so we don't stick around. This is a friend, Donna, who volunteers in the fee booth. We were on an eagle hunt. There is a young eagle hanging around. Didn't find him today.

Yesterday we went, along with about 4 other couples, most being campground hosts, to Hatcher Pass. Just love the place. Here are our friends, Suzanne and Lauren, showing us a plant they had picked. I think this was the wild orchid. Smelled so strong and beautiful.

This is the Lucky Shot Mine, an active gold mine. They say helicopters come in to haul out the ore.

Hatcher Pass started out as a dog sled road, then grew to be a horse drawn road. This is the remnants of the long ago days.

Went on a walk up a trail....one person said it was a mile....felt more like 5 miles! You can see the Lucky Shot Mine in the upper left of the picture in the distance.

The pause that refreshes....and this was only on the way up! Still had to walk back....

Beaver dam.

Abandoned beaver lodge and pond. They ate themselves out of a home because they cut down all the willows that they use for their lodges and dam.

Saw this view as we were driving by....merrited some investigation....

It was an old school bus, or church bus. It had been here a very long time! I think that it was a hunting blind.

Another gorgous view along Hatcher Pass road.

This is Willow Creek, way up on Hatcher Pass. This is actually the same creek on which our campground is....further on down the way.

A lupine wild flower growing along the Hatcher Pass

Today we took the boat out on Nancy Lake. It was hard to get a picture of these loons because they kept diving for food, and we never knew where they would pop up again....then dive again very quickly. They stay down for a long time.

Our sea dog, just as at home on the water as chasing bunnies.

The sun was sparkling off of the water.

After a couple of hours we headed back to the dock. The motor was dead, so we only trolled around the edge of the lake. Some nice young men put on their waders to rescue us. Didn't really need rescuing....but it was helpful to get the boat on the trailer.

I had heard that the King Salmon were really pooling, in a deep spot along the creek. I guess enjoying their last bit of life before they head further up stream to spaun and die. Can you see the fish. There were loads of them....all bright red. I used a polorized filter off of my friend Donna's camera. Helped to see the fish. I wore polorized sun glasses, so we could see them well. It was quite a site.

Our stay here at Willow Creek State Recreation Area campground will end next Thursday. So, probably on Friday we will be heading out for some further adventures in Alaska. It will take a few days next week to get the camper back on the truck, re-pack it, clean the wonderful RV that Phil Heinz has loaned us these many weeks. Then bid farewell to friends....

Our thoughts are with our parish of St. Michael the Archeangel Parish in Waterloo, IN. This week end is the first Mass back in the restored church. Wish we were with them.

So, until we "connect" again.