July 17 - 18, 2024 Captain Cook State Recreation Area

July 17th, 2024

It rained hard overnight but when we shut down and hooked up, the sky was clear.  Our first stop was Walmart to pick up a few supplies and who did we run into - Peggy and Larry, doing their shopping.  How fun!

We continued our travels to the end of the road:

We passed many oil rigs and refineries such as Chevron and Marathon.  There were others but I did not catch the name.

We continued north - lots of greenery:

One of the amazing things about Alaska is how quickly everything grows.  Plus there are wildflowers everywhere.

We are heading to Discovery Campground in the Captain Cook State Recreation Area.  We were here before and I have to say, it is one of my favorite campgrounds.  I always called it the "End of the Road" Campground because the road ends and there is the campground.

A beautiful creek before we hit the end!:

But it really isn't the end - anymore:

We found a spot - BTW - same as 2009 - set up, had lunch, and then a road trip...

When I said above that it wasn't the end of the road ... well, in 2009, any road past this point was really just an ATV road.  It was rough and narrow and muddy..etc. - You know what I mean!

BUT!  This road was very much improved for about 10 miles so away we went.

Out of the corner of my eye - movement - A MOOSE!:

And her baby - AWWW!

We watched for a while and then continued on:

There are folks who live out here and we passed quite a few cabins.  Some road signs but the gravel road ends and goes to a dirt trail:

Cool bridge:

Another road that ends in a path:

This bridge will hold 40 ton!  Hmmm, wonder what else goes back here:

Now we have reached the end of the gravel road - the dirt road goes off to the right:

This cross was there also - built out of logs with the American flag and solar lights hanging from it:

Heading back we saw fields of these white puff flowers - Beautiful:

Pipeline equipment:

More flowers - the purple are fireweed:

"Fireweed season is something locals look forward to every year with bittersweet emotions. Fireweed season is perhaps the most beautiful time of the year in the region, but it also marks the end of summer, and the slow decline of daylight. The fireweed blooms from the bottom up, and any good Alaskan can tell you that you can tell how soon fall will arrive by how far up the stalk the fireweed has bloomed. When the flowers turn from its traditional bold purple-pink color to a reddish-brown, you know fall is near. When it turns to a wispy white, you know fall has arrived. Eventually the white will fade and the fireweed will be turn brown until it wilts and dies. Alaska native legend has it that when the top of the fireweed blooms, winter will arrive in 6 weeks."

We also saw fields of wild iris but I couldn't get a good picture.

Another road that goes thru lots of mud:

We came around a corner and look who we found - not sure if there are same ones we saw earlier:

Mama and if you look real close, her baby is behind her:

Mama:

Baby and Mama:

We sat and watched them for quite a while until they moved into the woods - What a treat!:

Cow Parsnip:

Here we are back home - how about all that greenery:

Some of these plants are over six foot high:

And the size of those leaves - oh my:

The path behind our site:

The end of the path ends on a bluff above the Cook Inlet:

The side path:

I was heading that way to the beach when Andy called - my cat, Gray, got out.  Gray was acting strange earlier - I think he sees all the foliage and probably some creature smells and he wants out.

Once we got him, I put the harness on him and took him out.  He is not happy with the harness so we are going to need to be diligent when opening up the door.  

He keeps meowing at the door to go out..  Very strange.  He has not been like this since two years ago in Texas.

Stats for today:
Miles Traveled: 37 Miles
Routes Traveled:
Alaska: Suthard Blvd.; Delta Avenue; Kenai Spur Highway

July 18th, 2024

It rained most of the night and most of the day today so we did some things around the motorhome and hung out.  (And watched Gray sit at the door and cry - not sure what is happening here.)

Tomorrow's weather is Sun and no rain - YEA!  I hope to get to the beach to check for agates and maybe a campfire tomorrow evening: 

Enjoy today.

July 12 - 16, 2024 Travel to Soldotna and Hang Out

We woke today to more rain and clouds and just "yuck".  Andy went out early and put away some items.  At one point, the hard rain diminished and we were left with "sprinkles."  

We finished shutting down and the rain really tapered off so away we went.  Andy pulled around a corner and we hooked up the truck.  From there we headed to the dump station and dumped.  We did not fill with water because we are going to the Soldotna Elks that has water.

So away we went BUT, it was foggy, rainy and just "yuck"!

We made our way back to the Soldotna Elks and spent Saturday and Sunday, filling our supplies, charging all our electronics, fixing some things in the RV and, of course, doing some rearranging in the RV.  (Out with the old, in with the new - LOL!).

When we arrived on Saturday, the Lodge was having a private event so we did not go in until Sunday.  It was great to see folks we met a few weeks ago and talk about our adventures as well as meeting new folk!

Stats for July 12th, 2024

Miles Traveled: 82 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Alaska: Sterling Highway (AK-1, I think.),  Kenai Spur Highway; Delta Avenue; Suthard Blvd.

Monday, July 15th, we started the day with a video conference with Andy's VA doctor.  After that. Laundry which I love - NOT.  But I will have to say, the Laundry in Soldotna is clean and reasonable and only a mile away.

After getting home, having lunch and putting away everything, we decided to do a road trip to Discovery Campground.  We stayed here in 2007 and 2009 and I called it the "End of the Road Campground" and that is what it is.  The road ends and there is the campground.  

But, it truly is not.  Many folk live beyond this campground but park their vehicles near here and continue to their home on ATVs, etc.  In the winter, they continue to their homes on Snowmobiles.  Darn!  I love Alaska.

We wanted to see the campground because we will be heading here next.  So after doing our tour, we checked out the views.:

This beach is also known for it's agates.  So when we are here, I will be looking:

Heading back, we stopped at another overlook - fishing boat:

There are many oil rigs in the Cook Inlet as well as oil refineries:

View of the mountains that can't be seen:

Cute little park at the overlook:

We made our way back to the Elks and just hung out.

Today, July 16th is still very rainy and wet so we decided to stay here another day to do some planning for the next few weeks.

The weather is supposed to be better later this week so I do want to do to Discovery Campground for a few days and check for agates.  

Beyond that, we are going to Williwaw Campground for a few days and hope to see the bore tide on Turnagain Arm.  Then we will head to Seward where I was able to snag a site on the Bay - YAHOO!!!  Then we will head to the Anchorage area.  

So much to see, so little time before the winter...

We finished the day at Happy Hour at the Elks.

Stay tuned for our next adventure and enjoy today.