Sunday 8/8/99
Day 11: Anchorage & Tok
We left the hotel at 9:00 ad walked around the area near the hotel. We went into the gift shops, parks andalso walked aruond downtown while taking pictures. This area is mainly for tourists as there is not much here but little shops and galleries. We took a picture os shawna next to stuffed bear and went back tot he car about ninety minutes. It was overcast but theclouds were low and you couldn't see the top of the mountains. After leaving downtown we went to the University of Alaska which was on 36th st. There seemd to be alot fo cars for a Sunday but there was some convention going on. we walked around for awhile until ti started raining. Somebody directed us to the bookstore which was closed on Sundays. we did walk around the athletic building but there was nobody around . We did see a hockey rink, swimming pool and basketball court but it was quiet this Sunday. We stopped at Subway around noon befoer deciding it was time to go.
We left Anchorage as it started raining while we were on the Glenn Highway. Just past Palmer we hit several milesof gravel due to construction. It was not a good place to to drink coffee without a lid as I got coffe all over myself at one poiint. We drove past Lion Mt. as cindy commented that it looked more like bison. We drove by Matanueska Glacier but did not stop as they were going to charge to sse the glacier and it was overcast and raining. We did get a couple gogo pictures after we drove about a mile further. It did stop raining as we went over the pass as we got a little sun and blue sky. We stopped a took a couple pictures of Sheep Mt wher we didn't see any sheep but the rock/mineral ahd a red orangish hue to it. The trip from here to Glenallen was boring as we stopped in town for gas and continued on the hhighway until turning north at Gakona Jct.
We were worrind about this part of thehighway as we remembered it being like a roller coastertwo years ago as we were worried about the canopy. It had some bad spot but not as bad this time around. The highway followed Copper River. We turned off t on a gravel road to go see a small town ofSlama on Nahesma Road. It was 5:00 and I asked the Forest Ranger if there was any problem, she looked at teh truck and said there was a little stream but we won't have any problems. She mentions that the raod went for 46 miles. As we drove forward we saw several small campsights wit no fee. They gave us maps but it was not quite accurate. We stoppe at some small lakes and then walked half way around Rock Lake where they had a outhouse, table , firepit and garbage cans. It was a nice quiet lake with mountains int he background. We crossed several samll shallow creeks that weren't problems.
It then started pouring down rain and we tdecided to turn around after thirty miles at Lost Creek. Jacob noticed some spitit houses just east of Lost Creek in the woods. We got out and looked around and took some pictures as there were three of them that we saw. We stopped at the Sportsman Paradise Lodge to get some foo but this place did not have any food but did have a micorwave. It was a older couple who said we were welcome to use thier microwave but we weren't interested. Apparently they have hunters who come in and will sleep ina room andjust have heated food for breakfast/dinner, but will be hunting most of the day.
We continued on and as we approached mile 15 I heard a loud noise and then I could tell that something was wrong the truck. I stopped the truck and noticed that the back right tire had blown. I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to teach and let jacob do the work. He was more than happy to do it as I advised and helped with whatever he needed. He got the tool out, I reaised the truck and he loosend and puton the tire. It took about anhalf hour abdwe were on our way agoain. Shawna and Cindy took a walk during this time and 4 or 5 vehicles passed and stoped asking if we needed any assistance. We were fine and Jacob could now say that he could take care of mom if it's just them in teh vehicle. cindy felt better also. Back on teh road, we debated whether to camp or go into Tok It started rainingagain and we were hungry for a good meal, so went drove into Tok where we ate dinner at Fast Eddy's and stayed at the Snowshoe Inn. We stopped at Cheveron to check on tires and they told us to come back in the morning.
Drove 400 miles today and 4250 total