Welcome


Ramblers Blog North to Alaska Road Trip Redux #6!
Hudson, OH to Anchorage, AK 2025, May 31 to June 11.

Why Blog?

It has been our goal in recent years’ lengthier travels to record for posterity a diary of travel stats,
pictures, and personal reflections. When we can no longer indulge in long distance trips we may
relive fond memories. We invite friends and family to ride shotgun through these personal writings.
risking exposure to bad puns and grammatical/spelling errors.
Time and health have afforded these long visits, long may it last.

Alaska Travel History and 2025 Travelog

We have driven to Anchorage via RV/trailer, camping along the way, in 1984, 2011, and 2013;
crossing westward over northern states, then following the ALCAN Highway and or alternative
route of the Cassiar Highway.

1984 We flew to Ohio for a visit with the kids. We drove a new Suburban SUV purchased in Ohio
along with a purchased 18 foot pull trailer; traveling with two Gramma’s, a preschooler and an
infant in tow. We all visited in our new home in Anchorage and the Gramma’s flew home.

2011 We drove a new Winnebago from the manufacturer in Iowa to Great Alaska RV, located in
Anchorage; a large scale sales and rental dealer. We visited with Brenna who was working at Ak
Native Tribal Heath Consortium. On the return we sailed out of Whittier, Ak on the Alaska ferry
Kennecott without a vehicle. It was the cross Alaska Gulf ferry route, Whittier to Bellingham WA.
We spent a short stay with friends the Bloombergs in Olympia, WA; flew home out of SEATAC.

2013 We drove a new Winnebago from the manufacturer in Iowa to Great Alaska RV in Anchorage.
We visited with Brenna who was still working for ANTHC. She and Zach announced their
engagement. We flew home from ANC.

2022, 2023 and 2024, We traveled by SUV, staying at hotels.

2025, as in 2023 and 2024, we are driving, staying in hotels and taking the Alaska State Ferry
Columbia from Bellingham, WA to Haines, AK. Unfortunately, the state ferry system’s staffing shortage continues post Covid and our favored Alaska Gulf crossing route is not available. We will resume our
road trip from Haines to Anchorage, crossing the Canadian Border into Yukon Territory and British
Columbia. We hope our road route will not involve blizzards like two years ago and the western
Canadian fires have already started with lots of smoke, same as last two years. Taking the ferry helps
avoid the inland fires and hope they do not spread to the Yukon. Thankfully we are not flying.

Since leaving Alaska residency in 1991, besides the road travel we have traveled via flights in and out
of Alaska over the years. Sometimes staying at Marriott Hotels and sometimes at VBRO’s. Our fave
VBRO was Paul and Darlene’s off Dimond on Campbell Lake, about 5 minutes from Brenna’s house.

Anchorage Apartment Living

For the past 3 years we have stayed in a centrally located rented apartment on Anchorage’s westside
on Jewel Lake Road, about 3 minutes from Brenna’s house and Tastee Freeze Ice Cream. Our landlord,
Gene Janigo, is a family friend who provides a quality, well maintained 6-plex apartment building.
We have made it our own, furnished with help from family, home stuff, local and family art, friends,
Amazon and Thrift Shops. Our top floor (no elevator) south facing balcony has room for sitting with
twinkling lights. We used half window coverage with decorative privacy film on all the windows. Two
bedrooms, eat in kitchen, large Livingroom, full bathroom and lots of closet space. Outdoor parking
lot, complex laundry room with individual storage closets, individual mailboxes and all package
deliveries are left outside our door.

Summer Plans

Besides family and Dean (9, in June) and Quinn (5) time, a highlight will be taking the ferry from
Homer, AK to Kodiak, AK. Kodiak Island is part of the Kodiak Archipelago, which is located to the
southwest of Prince William Sound. We will be in Alaska for the start of school, golf, Crooked Lake
cabin visit, baseball games, day trips, UMC worship, Alaska State Fair and Alaska Scottish Highland
games. A special treat will be Seth and Carrie’s arrival for 10 days and family time. We are
volunteering this year at the Scottish games which should be fun. Our home trip will be basically
the same route (short jaunt thru upper Yellowstone) but mostly reversed, driving and ferry, in
September and the blog will be re-activated.

Onward to summer adventures!

Home Page Content

Left column: Daily travel map. MapQuest link, click on it. Back arrow to return to Home Page.

Center Column: Daily blog reflections and pictures only; previous days found in Archive right
column. NOTE: Internet access will vary, updates may be delayed. Once they appear they will be in
sequence. Some will be in archive.

Right Column: Anchorage Links Brenna, 8200 Opal Dr, Grandparents, 7911 Jewel Lake Rd,
Miscellaneous: neighborhood with Google map (zoom in and out, will cover all of Anchorage), click on
yellow walking man to see detail; and other random items. Miscellaneous: Webcam links; Blog
archive click to access previous days’ blogs. Back arrow to return to Home Page.

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Anchorage August 1 to August 29

 pictures to follow

Friday 8/1 Awoke to sunshine and watching busy harbor as usual.  There are two seafood processors in town, the one across from us blows out heavy black smoke from time to time and both of them put out a creamy foam that lays on top of the water and seems to dissipate eventually.  There is a large refueling terminal and we can small the fuel when the clouds are low.  Not sure how healthy the air is but constant wind seems to help. We have noon check out so we take the morning to relax and pack, eating the hotel breakfast.  We go to the ferry terminal to check in early, the line up is in a very congested area but we leave for a last drive our to north end of the island looking over one of the many bays.  Stop at Walmart for a last gift run.   We go to the Market Place to use the bathroom and walk outside under cover leading to the old shopping area.  There is really nice gift shop called Norm’s, no other like it that we have seen.  We get a quick lunch at McD’s and eat overlooking the harbor and then get in line for the ferry.  The loading takes at least 1 and half hours with large vehicles needing the elevator while smaller can get on two at a time.  At the bottom we are on the same turn table and amazed how they get us all packed in with inches to spare.  The purser has already checked us in in line and gives us our room key.  So up the elevator and directly into the 2 bunk room with window and shower/sink/toilet.  Out on the top deck in full sunlight to enjoy the views leaving Kodiak, keeping vigil at the Ouzinkie and Port Lyons stops.  At Ouzinkie it appears the village came out to greet their family and some of the workers were going home.  Saw a couple whale spouts, a seal, otters and fish jumping.  We didn’t eat dinner with our late lunch.  Pat took Dramamine in anticipation of rolling ferry and slept.

Saturday 8/2  Awoke to partly cloudy no wind.  Got off the ferry, nearly the last so took 1 hour.  We are staying at the Best Western again and after the last stay with crazy people next door with adjoining door we figured they owed us breakfast.  After breakfast we made some stops at shops we like, including the Farmer’s market and first in line at Two Sisters Bakery.  Seth and Carrie arrived around noon and we did some sightseeing with them  They stayed on the top floor VBRO of a boardwalk donut shop on the spit.  They treated us to a lovely dinner at the fresh catch café where we had never been before.  It was very elegant with unusual menu and well done food.  We said good night and we checked into the Best Western late.  We were located in the main building, second floor just steps away from the breakfast room.  Slept well.  Met Seth and Carrie for lunch at Harbor Grille on the deck.  We all left for Brenna and Zach’s at the beach property.  We all walked the beach, the volcanoes were mostly coupld covered but it was warm and no wind.  Back in Anchorage Seth and Carrie came to stay with us in the apartment setting up the air mattress in the second bedroom.  Next day they shopped and we did laundry and tried to catch up a bit.  We cooked dinner and took it over to Brenna’s.  We all played with the kids in the lovely evening.  Tuesday the kids came over and we all went to the golf course at the driving range and had drinks on the deck afterward.  Lovely sunny warm day.  All went to Potter’s Marsh, the spawning salmon were in.  On to Tasty Freeze.  Made dinner at the apartment, Brenna, Zach and kids were over.  All packed Seth and Carrie went to airport at 8PM flying at 10AM to MN, 6 hour layover on to CLE.. They reached home safe and sound on Wednesday.

August 11, Tuesday met Brenna and kids at golf course to hit some balls and have some snacks.  Brenna working home this week due to security issues from Atlanta CDC shootings.

August 12, Wednesday, we had both Dean and Quinn for the day.  Started at the Anch Museum for Imaginarium with new exhibits; followed by time at the zoo on a beautiful sunny day.  Ending at Frozen Yogurt.

August 13, Dean’s first day at school.  We went to Anchorage Museum for an adult time walking through the exhibits and listening to the noon time live band.  On to Simon and Seafort’s for Happy Hour, a delicious selection of appetizers, Chuck’s smoked bourbon drink and Pat’s lemon/ginger spritzer.  Back at Brenna’s with ingredients to make homemade ice cream with kick ball per Dean’s request.  Good ice cream and time to hear about first day.

August 15, Saturday

Adult day at the Ak Wildlife Conservation Center.  Cool wind and overcast.  Good views of all animals except the Wolverine.  Excellent viewing of Grizzly’s and Black Bears.  Saw a brief snarling encounter between two of the three Grizzly’s.  The smaller one driving the bigger one off.  The two larger bears avoided each other but the one large one seemed to tail the smaller one that kept on the move.  One of the two black bears was sitting on the hill in a shallow cave looking down on us. Lots of new wood bison calves.  Didn’t see any musk ox calves.  Stopped in Girdwood for brief visit to Art Coop and dinner at Jack Sprat’s.  Sat by the atrium window and enjoyed the meal.

August 22, Friday

Adult day at the State Fair.  Sun is hot and very crowded with Kids Day.  Visited all the produce and project buildings, the native stage and the DaVinci Exhibit which is very impressive.  On to Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine.  The Pass road is still spectacular with a new ski resort open.  The Mine buildings are being renovated and the wildflowers are nearing the end.  The Lodge pie and ice cream still good.  They have live music playing; we sitting on the deck listening.  Professional bands that come to play at the fair travel around playing gigs like the Lodge and Mile High Pizza in Talkeetna.  The vistas from the Lodge are beautiful and a nice place to spend a little time.

August 25 Monday

Back at State Fair with Brenna, kids and friends.  Splitting up from time to time as they ride rides and play games.  Got Gramma’s picture taken with Dean and friends and an alligator because I lost my bet.  Kids got their pics taken with snakes and parrot.  Watched the native games demonstrated by youth.  Pumpkin weigh in, huge but not record breaking this year.

August 26 Tuesday.  Kids back in school.  We taking both to the doctor’s for check up appts and vaccinations.  Ongoing packing and last minute buys.  Trying to make it all fit on the way home.

August 29  Breakfast with Brenna at South Grille, back at house to finish packing and cleaning.  Over to Brenna’s to celebrate a belated birth day for Zach.  Ordered from Suite 100, Pat made smoked salmon dip.  Dean got two new costumes, both full body suits with air fans, a T Rex and a Mind craft character, hilarious.

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