Day 5 - Leaving Denali July 30, 2008 

Leaving Denali and headed back to Anchorage

Dear diary, today has been the coldest morning yet....upper 40's and very damp.

I didn't layer quite as much as I should have.   We went to see the dogsled demonstration while Jack and Becky went whitewater rafting.  I'm not sure how we'll meet up with them again....man I should have worn more layers...

The dogs pulled a sled around a gravel path with ease, as if if on on snow....I MEAN THIS IS REALLY COLD!!!

....is this the published blog page??? OOPS!

Today was the last morning to take in  a bit more of Denali before heading back into Anchorage.  We were glad to have had enough gas to get back without refueling there.  The gas prices in Cantmore were the highest yet...$5.649/gal !!!

A mama bear and two cubs jolted out of the woods attempting to cross the road, but saw the cars and darted back in.  We Celtibillies stopped to see if they tried for a second attempt.  We saw the mother poke her head out of the woods and then went back in.   While we stared as hard as possible with cameras focused on that spot, Jack noticed out of the corner of his eye, they had cut around beside us to dart across a driveway.  Clever girl!  They were too quick for us.  

Also not included in our photo montage was the elusive Alaskan husky ATV 4-wheeler.  That's right....a dog team hooked up to a four-wheeler for summer training.  By the time we stopped and got the cameras out, they were off into the woods.  Maybe we'll be quicker next time.

Later, we arrived in Anchorage and went to dinner with a friend who lives there.  Coincidentally there was an informal Celtic music jam going on.  Jack sat on on fiddle for a couple of songs.  When we explained we were in town to perform for the "Out North" concert series, they exclaimed..."Celtibillies?"  We were pleasantly surprised.

For now we are settling down for a quiet rest of the evening.  It's 10:30PM and the sun is low on the horizon.  Tomorrow there will be a radio interview followed by our concert later in the evening.  Thanks to everyone who is following along on our trip, and thanks for the wonderful comments  Don't hesitate to add something.  We love the support.  More to come soon.

Jeff

Day 4-DENALI !!!

Wow! We were fortunate today.  The sun came out. We had nice weather for viewing lots of amazing animals and mountains.  Here's a few of them.

Day 3- Leaving Delta Junction - July 29, 2008

Day 3 - Leaving Delta Junction, AK....

The day started off with a cold, windy morning.

We then ate a huge breakfast at one of the town's famed restaurants called Poorboy's, where we sat at the bar and heard "Brown Sugar" by the Stones.

I knew it was going to be a good day, despite the cold rain and the 8 miles of construction leaving the town.

Fairbanks, was much more clear and warm.  The Walmart Super Center was huge!

We ate the the Chowder House, which I highly recommend if you ever make it to Fairbanks.  I had the smoked salmon chowder.  Beck had the corn and halibut chowder.  The spoon stood up in the bowl. Now that's chowder! (see picture below).

We had been scanning ponds, fields, and woodlands for wildlife, but then

one of the trip highlights was as we approached the town limits coming into Fairbanks.  A moose and her two babies walking along the fence next to the highway.  (Female moose are called cows....and yes, teh correct plural of moose is moose, even though everyone will understand you if you choose to say mooses or meese..my favorite).

As we approached Denali National Park, we were taken by the beauty and vastness of its mountains, many of which we could not see the peaks of, as they were hidden in the clouds.  Then the wind and rain picked up again. 

I was disappointed to look out of the back of the cabin-style hostel where were staying to see the view pictured below.  It consisted of snow capped mountains behind us, and right next to the cabin was a blue fast running glacial run-off creek...yes, I said blue.  I don't know if the photos can show how blue it really was.

We are hoping the weather is more kind tomorrow for our trip into Denali. 

Stay tuned for more to come.

Jeff

Celtibillies - Day 2 continued

This first photo was from 10:ooPM looking out over the delta at Delta Junction, AK. Wow!

Celtibillies - Day 2

Delta Junction, Home of the Annual Deltana Fair. We hope to come back.  This was a blast!