June 17, 2024

June 17, 2024, Updated

Last week we were able to have dinner with Kathy and Greg from Hudson who are in town for the week.  We took them to Peanut Farm and ate at a table overlooking Campbell Creek.  Pat’s salad with salmon was not good.  The next night we took them to the patio at Lakefront on Spenard Lake watching float planes take off and land.  They are staying at the Clarion downtown Anchorage. 

Chuck and Pat went to Seward on June 15, Saturday.  Father’s Day Weekend. There is still a lot of high snow and some lower snow especially in Turnagain Pass.  The day is sunny and varies between high 50’s and high 70’s with no humidity.  On our way we stopped in Moose Pass for their annual Solstice celebration.  It sits in a tight valley with high peaks and a large, emerald green Trail Lake.  This is small town celebration with a three-vehicle parade, some vendor tents, the annual T-shirt and hat sale and limited menu grilled food, able to watch them cook.  A separate beer tent was well monitored and regulated.  A bandstand with all day music was being set up.  The Bake Sale had delicious chewy ginger cookies and strawberry/rhubarb coffee cake.  We visited the little general store with a small historical section and limited sale items. 

Lovely views in the sun all the way.  Drove back to Exit Glacier to the viewpoint that has views of braided river and the full face of the glacier.  A new KOA campground sits right across from the river and looks very nice.  There is purple/white wild lupine and golden dandelions, Ak state colors.  FYI, there are nice restrooms at the visitor’s center, a little-known secret.  Drive past shoreline downtown campgrounds that are gearing up for the weekend.  Lots of tents.  We drive past the historic Telegraph House.  We rented the house a few years ago for a family weekend.  The pictures in this blog show the incredible transformation of the exterior.  Don’t know what they did in the interior which was dated but clean and comfortable.  Housing in Seward it going through the roof.  Head out toward Lowell Point and the big slide area that has been repaired but still ominous in potential.  We see a humpback spouting.  It appears to be a juvenile male and seems to like the bay off Miller’s Landing near Lowell Point.  ML has a small lodge and nice campground with beach access.  There is a covered veranda with picnic tables and we sit in two rocking chairs watching the sunny day with blue water, the whale swimming in front of us.  The Miller ferry takes people across the bay for camping and cabins.  We stop downtown to visit favorite locally owned gift shop; the teacher who works in Northway during the school year and in the shop in summer.  She is local moved there in the 70’s, her father owned the drugstore across the street.  She brings authentic and high quality handmade native items from Northway and Yukon areas.  We have a brief app and beer on the big corner patio.  The rockfish bites were delicious.  Starts to rain but clears once we are out of T Pass.  Moose Pass celebration is in full swing.  Stop at Double Musky for dinner.  It’s packed but able to be seated quickly.  Pat with coconut salmon, just okay, and app of pepper steak, rice and roll.  Chuck with huge prime rib, scallop stuffed mushrooms app.  Chuck double musky pie, excellent.  Pat rhubarb custard, excellent.  Home in the sun.

Sunday, June 16, Off to Hatcher Pass.  Sunny and warm.  Stop at Eagle River part Visitor Center.  Bears are on the prowl, approaching hikers.  We view the exhibits and move on.  Chuck bought a state park pass so entrance fees are free.  We head up to Hatcher Pass.  A moose is munching along the road.  The Little Su River is beautiful cascading down into the high rock valley.  With elevation change we move into early spring.  The mine is closed for two more days.  The road to Summit is closed until July 4.  There is still a fair bit of low snow and it’s crowded with hikers on all slopes.  A parasailer is overhead.  We walk over to the Lodge and sit on the deck for a snack.  They have painted and re-roofed most of the buildings.  Looks like they may have built more cabins.  Stopped back in Palmer for a refreshment at Matanuska Brewing.  Arrived home in sunny weather.

Monday, today Chuck is golfing in sunny warm weather.  He called early and got a 9:15AM place, renting a cart.  Pat to pick him up and have refreshment on the deck.

Enjoying several days of lovely sunny, warm weather.  Long may it last!