Anchorage to Trapper Creek and Talkeetna - July 9th through the 12th

After leaving Seward for the last time we headed back to Anchorage to pick up the new tire and also have the steps serviced.  They had stopped working before we left for Seward and we had made an appointment to have them checked on our return to Anchorage.  Wouldn’t you know it – but the day we were leaving Seward they started working again? Always the way!!!  Bernie got the new tire installed while I took our prescriptions to Walgreens to get them filled.  Of course, there was a problem doing that.  They didn’t have a full 3 months of some of them and others required intervention with the doctor and the insurance company – yikes!!!  After several trips back and forth we were able to get some and the others we will have to deal with in Fairbanks.  The next day we dropped off the motor home at the dealer and did our last shopping at Costco and Safeway before heading off for the wild.  Motor home all in shape and we got an early start for Trapper Creek.

Trapper Creek is a wide spot in the road on the way to Denali.  It is located approximately 25 miles from Talkeetna, a charming little tourist town on the banks of the Talkeetna River.  From what we had read it is super touristy and that the campgrounds weren’t that great.  We drove in on 10^th, checked out the town.  On our way in – we got our first view of Mt. McKinley.  What a thrill.  I photo just doesn’t do it justice.  This view was at the top of my bucket list and Bernie was relieved that we saw it and wouldn’t have to stay 2 or 3 weeks for me to get my wish.  The town is charming and we had a lovely lunch and left a few dollars there to help the economy and agreed that we had made the right decision to stay in Trapper Creek. 

On Saturday we decided to visit the local library.  Bernie was running out of reading material and we were hoping they would have a “share one take one” section.  Fortunately they did and he exchanged a few and took a few.
 Trying to see Mt. McKinley from a few point - no luck

 First view of Mt. McKinley on our way to Talkeetna

 Dressed up moose

After leaving the library we took another side trip up the road to Mary’s  McKinley View lodge and restaurant.  Mary was a newly widowed women in 1962 who drove the Alcan alone from Texas to Alaska.  She was a well known photojournalist and she wrote many well know children’s books.  In 1972 she homesteaded the present location.  It is now run by her daughter and family.  We had lunch, bought a book and did not see Mt. McKinley from her property. 

Tomorrow we are off to Denali.