Date: 22 June 2001 (Friday)

Start:

End: Travel Camp, Ft Richardson AK (123 miles)

It was 54f and sunny when we got up. Late in the day it reached 76f at Elmendorf AFB, 66f at the Anchorage airport close to the sound. All the locals are remarking on how nice the weather has been and for how long.

We ate and left. First we went to the commissary and the exchange for a few small items. On the way there, on Elmendorf AFB (the two bases are contiguous) grounds, Dolores spotted a moose. I backed up to a place where a power line cuts through the woods and there she was. She was into the woods farther than I could shoot with the camera. Besides, a dark brown moose doesn’t show up very well against a dark green background. Also, the darn thing kept her stern toward us. Now I believe the "Moose Crossing" signs on the base.

We returned and put things away, then we headed south.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned one unique road characteristic they have here. Quite frequently, even on the Glenn Highway where the speed limit is 65mph, you’ll find ruts in the asphalt road. They aren’t deep, maybe two inches, but they definitely are there. You have to steer forcibly to climb out of them, just like shallow snow ruts. I have no idea how they get there – does the road crew allow traffic onto the road before it’s ready?

We went to Potter Marsh south of town. This is a wildlife refuge used by (according to the sign) 90 bird species and unknown numbers of marsh creatures. A long boardwalk is constructed over the marsh so you don’t have to get down into it.

First, we came across a lesser yellowtail (again, according to the sign). Next we came to a small stream and after looking at it for a while, we recognized that the things we were seeing were large salmon at the bottom of the stream. I don’t know if they were spawning or passing through, but they were beautiful. Infrequently, one of them would jump out of the water and show his red color.

On the way out of the march, a person pointed out to us an eagle standing on some brush way out in the marsh. We couldn’t get any pictures due to the extreme range, but we could see him fairly well with the binoculars.

We then we further south, stopping in pullouts to see what we could see. Dolores spotted the Dall sheep again, two in one group and five in another. Both groups were way up on the cliffs. About the same time, the train to Seward came by.

Then we returned to the little house by way of the service station to get fuel and a headlight (low beam is burned out on the passenger side).

We had hamburgers at home with Alaskan beer. After that, I tried to change the headlight. I couldn’t get the screws to turn loose that hold the headlight securing ring. They are really stuck, and I can’t get any penetrating oil into the place where they’re installed. I’ll have to go back to the station in the morning and get help.

Headlights aren’t needed much up here, anyway. Sunrise at 4:22am, sunset at 11:23pm. The TV station weatherman was making a big deal of the fact that the longest day is past, and that we lose a minute of daylight today.

We’re heading for the Denali area tomorrow.