August 7 - August 19, 2002
Using Anchorage as our hub, we make short trips. To the north we visit Talkeetna, the starting point of many expeditions to Mt. McKinley and a place where tourists can buy varnished moose droppings. To the south we visit the fishing towns of Seward and Homer where hiking among bright blue glaciers and chatting with locals at the Salty Dawg Saloon are highlights. We return to Anchorage and I explore the city on foot, along with the six hundred other people who run the Humpy's half marathon.
Adding to her lengthening list of required repairs, The Chief begins to burn oil excessively and the drive shaft to her front differential rattles. Concerned with my vehicle's reliability, I make a reservation to take a ferry from Haines, Alaska to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. This will save about five humdred miles of driving on roads that I understand to be in bad repair.