Welcome to Homer

Two years ago when I visited Homer and Homer Spit, I was shrouded in a dense fog when entering the town.    

 And so it was again today...










 
But as I got closer town, the fog lifted, and I had a beautiful vista:







And then I had a vista of Homer, Homer Spit, and even a glacier (see it at 9 o'clock in the photo below?

 

Heading Toward the Volcano!

Did you all realize that Alaska is home to over 70 active volcanoes?    I didn't realize there were that many, but then I saw this as I drove toward it on the Glenn Highway...

Never fear.   What appears to be smoke emanating from an active volcano was, in reality, just the clouds.    But it gave me a good excuse to post the photos and share the truth about those 70+ active volcanoes here.   That much is true!

Cook Inlet & Along The Way to Homer!

Anyone who's been to Anchorage knows what I'm about to say: that Cook Inlet is so beautiful it can definitely command awe-filled silence and take one's breath away:

I must also add, that these 2 photos were NOT taken by me.   They were taken by David Walsh and I am simply borrowing his artwork here.   I have posted them here b/c the drive south along the Inlet is 1-lane in each direction.   The Alaska Railroad runs along side the highway, between the highway and the inlet water.   I didn't want to risk snapping a photo and ending up either on the RR tracks or in the water.    There are pullovers along the highway, and on my way back on Monday I may take my own photos to replace these b/c that's what this blog is all about...my own story and my own photos.   No one else's ...except in this one rare instance.    

I'm at a Best Western hotel in Soldotna tonight.   Tomorrow I'll be in Homer....the end of The Ultimate Road Trip (to which I added several long segments of my own).    After my tour in Homer, I'll begin the long trip back to the Lower Forty-Eight.   

Awesome Matanuska Valley & Glacier

The vistas along the Matanuska Valley and Matanuska Glacier were way to breathtaking to spoil the photos with the inclusion of a selfie.   Thus, they speak for themselves:

First a breathtaking valley...







Then the glacier...







And finally, the river valley forged by and fed by the glacier...

Along The Richardson Hwy South & Glenn Hwy

 It was early on Thursday morning.   Do I look like I'm ready for an adventurous day?    The goal: the Richardson Hwy south, then a turn northward to the Denali Hwy.

And how about this photo I took as I drove along the Richardson Highway.   Just beautiful, huh?

Soon enough, though, I came to my first destination: the Denali Highway.    Another long, gravel and dirt road.    I wasn't sure I really wanted to tackle it, but I did want to go about 40 miles westward on it to see if the scenery was as renown as it's supposed to be.   So...off I went and here are my photographic reports:

My first stops were within the first 10 miles.   Beautiful vistas....but the gnats were voracious!!






 These photos were taken at the Triple Lakes turnaround.   Four other vehicles were on the highway with me, but the asphalt stops at this point, every single one of them  turned around.  I started out to do the remaining 130 miles.   But each time I got out of the car to snap a shot, the gnats were horrendous.   I drove on for another 20 miles, but conditions didn't improve.   The thought of possibly changing a tire with these gnats and being totally along with no support services....well, prudence got the better of me, and I turned around also.   So much for my adventuresome ways, eh?    LOL.

 

Next leg?   The Glenn Highway with it's famed Matanuska Range and Matanuska Glacier.   Ready?

This is the beginning of the Matanuska valley and Matanusca range.   Just awesome...

If I Had My Life To Do Over & Leaving Fairbanks

On the way to the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum I immediately stopped when I saw this exhibit.

Ever since I was about 6 years old I've loved small planes.   I've really fantasized about being a small plane pilot here in Alaska or some other semi-remote area.   But...like many folks with big dreams, I never had the confidence to 'go for it'.   Didn't think I could do it.   And so I went into the corporate world..a "safer" option.

Lesson learned.   Every day is a new day and an opportunity to plan and live new dreams, eh?

Left Fairbanks a few days ago and returned to Tok for a few days.    BTW, the name "Tok" is pronounced like "toke"...as in "One toke over the line, sweet Jesus....".   Surely, you all remember THAT ode to enlightenment, eh?   

Lots of moose with their newborn along the highway.   I thought I might spy a moose or beaver here at this small lake, but no luck.  The water wasn't that cold either.  But see that approaching storm?   It deposited 4 inches of snow on the upper Dalton Hwy 3 days ago.   I'm luvin' it!

Yesterday (Thursday) I was up and ready for the next leg of the adventure: the Richardson Highway.   

From Tok to Delta Junciton to Fairbanks!

Wow.   It's Monday today and I see that my last post was on Friday.  I needed the break.   

Today I'm still in Fairbanks (3rd night).   Today I'll update this blog, decide where to go next and plan my "next adventure"!




After 4 nights at the cabin in Tok RV Village, I decided it was time to move on.   So off I took along the rest of the Alaska Highway, heading west. 

  First stop: Delta Junction where the Alaska Highway ends and the Richardson Highway begins:

 The scenery is beautiful, and some of the shops along the way were fun and creative.   This is the Knotty Shop.

 







Yesterday was a great day:


I started out at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, hoping to see cars from my favorite auto era: the 1940's.   Instead, the autos ranged from the first in the U.S. (1893 if I recall correctly) through 1936.   Lots of fun though, as the 75 cars where supplemented with music from the 1920's (my favorite era) and - for the ladies - an array of stunning dresses from the 1920's.  Despite there not being any autos from the 1940's, the music was well-known to me (Al Jolson, Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, Josephine Baker, etc.).   I spent nearly 2 hours here:

1932 Cord to the left.

And a top of the line 1936 Packard to the right.

A row of cars in the photo below, left.   


And for the fashionistas, here are photos of some of the dresses from the 1920's:

 Then it was time to move on to the Museum Of The North at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  Here I learned about the creation of Alaska through tectonic activity spanning millions of years; the history of human population of the state; all about a few men - and several remarkable women! - who forged the lure and legend of the state; and then current geologic and oceanic research.  Oh.  And a art gallery devoted to experiences in the Far North.   Awesome display!