Alaska

So we're at the library in Seward, the first time I've had Internet access in about 4 days. Rosie was having big time withdrawal pains.

We've had all kinds of grand adventures.

From Fairbanks we headed north to the Arctic Circle. The Dalton Highway was not as bad as everyone said but it was pretty wild. It took us about 7 hours to get to the Arctic Circle, where we got out and posed for pictures (to be posted later). Then we decided to drive on up to Coldfoot Alaska to visit the visitors center for the Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Very cool! Except not! We camped there in a park five miles north of Coldfoot and it was the warmest we've been the ENTIRE trip! It got all the way up to 72 degrees on the tundra!! We were SOO tempted to drive all the way north to take a tour of the Arctic Ocean but unfortunately not enough time!

The drive back to Fairbanks the next day took eight hours. Beautiful and uneventful. Now I really want to take a raft trip or boat trip on the Yukon River.

From Fairbanks we headed out to the Delta Junction and down to Glennallen, Alaska. That was one of our classic trips where we drove all day and night and pulled into a ratty hotel at 2 a.m.!

Thursday morning we drove up into the north entrance of Wrangell St. Elias National Park where we saw moose, a fox and a wolf. We also drove down to the southern entrance of the park but did not travel the entire way.

It was cloudy and rainy and we couldn't see the biggest mountains. We began heading west and set up our tent at Lake Louise State Park. Gorgeous. Right on the lake. Dropped to 42 overnight but we were toasty in all the sleeping bags.

Today we drove to Seward. Wow! What a drive. Simply incredible views at every turn coming south out of Anchorage. Loved it!

Tomorrow we're headed out on a wildlife watching cruise. Fun, fun, fun!