August 9-10, 2024 Travel to Talkeetna and More Rain

August 9th, 2024

We woke to another cloudy, raining, day and after filling with water, dumping our tanks, and getting fuel, we headed north to Talkeetna.

Most of the rivers were very muddy (more than just the glacial silt) and running fast:

Patches and patches of fire week - it was beautiful:

Past a few burned areas:

And some very green areas:

We made our way to the Talkeetna Camper Park, set up, and decided to check out the town.  We spent some time here in 2009 and had a blast.  

The TV show "Northern Exposure" was modeled after this quirky town.  It was the base for those folks who wanted to flight see or climb Denali. Did it change - oh my yes,  There must have been at least 10 tour bus loads of folks here.  Main Street is now full of restaurants, people, touristy shops, people, vendors with trips like flightseeing, climbing, dog sledding, boat touring, train touring, people, etc.  It was crazy.   I am hoping that I get a chance to walk it - LOL!

We made our way to Riverfront Park:

Talkeetna River to the Right:

Susitna River - it was really flowing:

Chulitna River - way down there:

This little area was near the parking lot and we watched it fill with water very fast.  It continued to a pond behind it.  We were wondering if all the rain from the mountains is not flowing to the rivers:

We continued our drive and found this quirky place - LOL:

Hopefully, if it stops raining, I can get a chance to walk the town.

Late afternoon, we stopped at the local VFW and had a great time.  This is where they held the Moose Dropping Festival until 2009.  We did find out that they still do a Moose Drop, just not the festival.

So what is a Moose Dropping Festival?  In 2009, the Historical Society sold moose "poop" turds with a number and a pin.  In the parking lot of the VFW, a moose outline was drawn.  On the day of the dropping, the "turds" were put in a big net, raised up by a crane, the net was opened and all the turds dropped on the outline.  There were prizes for closest, furthest and a whole host of other quirky prizes.  The year we were here, the closest won over $3000.00.  Big money.  All the profits went to the Historical Society.  

So after 2009, PETA got involved and they thought that the town was dropping an actual Moose and if they did not cease, they would be fined heavily.  Since PETA refused to come to the festival and they could not convince them that it was "poop" dropping, the town decided not to fight.   After a few years, the VFW now runs it but there is not longer festival and it is more like a drawing.

So sad, because we had a blast.  Folks from all over would come to the festival.  It was a big thing!

We did make plans to do a boat trip tomorrow with Mahay's River Boat Tours.  We did a tour with them in 2009 and it was great.  So since I had a coupon, we made plans to do it again.  This tour will take us on the Susitna River to the Chulitna River and to the Chulitna River Gorge.

Then on Sunday, we have reservations on the train to Hurricane, Alaska (round trip).

Looking forward to both!

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled: 84 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Alaska:  South Cobb Street; West Evergreen Avenue; Palmer-Wasilla Highway; Parks Highway - AK3; Talkeetna Spur Road

August 10th, 2024

Since our boat tour was in the afternoon, this morning, I took advantage of the RV park's laundry facilities.  When it was time, we headed to the dock and then got a call.  The tour we were going to take was cancelled due to flooding and dangerous conditions on the Chulitna River.  We had the opportunity to go on the shorter tour on the Susitna River but we decided not to go.  It had been pouring rain since noon with no let up (in other words, it would not have been a nice trip on the water).   As I write this at 8 PM, it is still pouring.  Oh well.

We made a stop at Riverfront Park before heading home - it is running very swift so I am glad we made the decision not to go.  In town, there was many tour buses with lots of people milling around - it had to be miserable in this rain.

Tomorrow is our train ride so stay tuned and enjoy today.