5 July 2018. To Squirrel Creek Recreation Area

5 July 2018.  To Squirrel Creek

Thursday, and another travel day.  After a nice morning sleeping in (and because both of my boys are reading this blog, I’m going to continue to call it that……), we packed up and left McCarthy.  For some reason, the sixty miles of dirt road didn’t hold the same excitement going out, that it did coming in.  But traffic was light and the drive went relatively fast.

On the way back along McCarthy Road. Very pretty parts
Chuck at the “dangerously braided” Chitina River
Fish Wheels on the Chitina River
A close up of a fish wheel at the visitor center

We returned our “McCarthy Road” travel CD at the Ranger’s station in Chitina and were told that there was a neat side road worth exploring – along O’Brien Creek. The road was washed out in a couple of places, definitely not for all vehicles….   But after a couple of miles, it dropped down to a nice parking area where a stream joined up with the main river.  We had lunch and watched a couple of guys fishing.  A note about fishing as we watched it.  This was the first time I watched fishing where you just stuck a net into the water and waited until a two foot long salmon swam into it.  The guy caught two while we watched, and showed us a big ice chest full of the morning’s work.  Amazing….    no hook, no bait….    just stupid fish…..

We watched two guys “dip-fishing” with nets
This fisherman was having a good day!

Then it was back on the pavement and a quick thirty miles down the road.  We did get to see our second moose though!  As long as we keep seeing the large wildlife on the side of the road, I’ll be happy….

Just barely snapped a picture of our second moose as he scurried into the brush
A little blurry – but these are Trumpeter Swans!

We had our next campground recommended to us by a prospective XP owner (lived in Alaska).  So we stopped here early afternoon and enjoyed the Internet after three days off grid.

Campsite #7 at Squirrel Creek State Recreation area – Thanks Adam!
Looking out our door at Squirrel Creek

It should be an easy eighty miles to Valdez tomorrow.

May 2, 2018 – Texas, New Mexico and Arizona

May 2, 2018. We started our last practice trip before we attempt the trek to Alaska.  This one starts by visiting Jim and Tracy near Ft Worth, TX and ends up three weeks later at Overland Expo West near Flagstaff, AZ. We are looking forward to practicing “restocking days”- groceries, laundry, etc and other aspects of long term traveling.

Our first overnight was at a cute New Mexico State Park near the borders of Oklahoma and Texas: Clayton Lake.  Famous for its lake trout and the Dinosaur tracks that were discovered while the dam here was being built.

Our campsite for the night, Clayton Lake State Park
Short 1/4 mile hike to where the dinosaur tracks are
Big dinosaur footprint at Clayton Lake State Park
They said this track shows a meat eating dinosaur track. Clayton Lake
View of Clayton Lake below our campsite
Sunset on Clayton Lake

Cathedral Gorge State Park

Nevada, November 2017

Our first park camping with the XP was in Nevada (near the eastern edge of Nevada).  Got to travel through lots of desert to get there.  Place was very neat – almost like a mini Bryce Canyon.  We hiked the whole inner loop; saw lots of jack rabbits.

Miles of Nevada Desert
Cathedral Gorge State Park – view west
Cathedral Gorge State park – ‘Moon Caves’
Climbing into caves
Looking up from inside ‘caves’
Campground at Cathdral Gorge

East Coast – October 2017

Lake Ogallala State Park – Nebraska

This is the second time this year we have camped at Lake Ogallala.  It is such a nice campground! Right alongside the Dam at  McConaughy Lake State  Recreational Area.    And it’s about halfway between us and our son, Mike – so we’ll be staying there again!  This time I tried to capture the fall colors:

Lake Ogallala campground in the fall
Looking up at the dam on McConaughy Lake

East Coast – October 2017

Rocky Gap State Park – Maryland

Wow – what a cool park! We got there after the season was over, so it was nice and quiet.  But, it appeared like a scene form the ‘Dirty Dancing’ Movie — stages, boats, picnic areas, beaches.  Very Cool.  Probably crazy in mid summer.  But we enjoyed the peaceful quietness of the place in October.

Chuck and I sitting in the porch swing
Camping spot at Rocky Gap State Park
Boat rentals, volleyball, all closed for the season
All set up for lifeguards and crowds of kids
Chuck exploring the lake