7/15/13: Anchorage to Soldotna (Kenai River)

Left Eagle River early so that we could make it to Soldotna as soon as possible, as we were hoping to get a good campsite and MOST important, we were planning on meeting up with our good friends the Jeter's, whom we haven't seen in almost a year (they moved to CA).  We hit lots of construction, so we didn't pull into town until 1:30pm... As we came into camp, we were told they were full and so was everyone else in town!!!??? Really!!?!?  So we asked the lady if we could just drive around and look, she agreed and we were off.  Luckily, as we were driving around another camper was pulling out!!! YAY!! The site was horrible, but we took it anyway!  Set up camp with the Mosquitos and then called Kim to meet up.  The Jeter's came to our camp, so the kids could all play and us adults could visit as well!!!  It was wonderful to see them again, truly an amazing family that we love dearly!!  After visiting for hours, we were off to the St. Elias Pizza Parlor for dinner ----- awesome grub!!!!  We got to visit more before we had to say goodbye until next time - they were flying out the next morning for home!

Here are some photos from the day:

Turnagain arm on the way to Soldotna-- that is part of the Cook Inlet:

Pit stop:

Adorable little birdie:

Let the fishing begin:

First sight of he mighty Kenai River:

My friend Kim and I -- love this lady!

Brady, Kailey and Jonah:

Playing Legos:

Goofing around at pizza:

7/14/13: Talkeetna to Anchorage (Eagle River)

After spending the afternoon in Talkeetna we were off to Anchorage!  We planned to camp at Eagle River, which is 12 miles north of anchorage.  Before setting up camp we made a must needed stop at Costco to resupply on goods and then settled in for the night at camp.  It was a beautiful evening in camp and having not had cell service for a long time we decided to connect with our parents and let them know we were a-ok!!

Here some photos:

Coming into Anchorage:

Camp:

Kate, there is your site waiting for you!

7/14/13: Denali to Talkeetna

Today after the kids got sworn in as junior rangers, we left Denali and headed off for a side trip of Talkeetna.  What a great town!!  We hand breakfast/lunch at a place called The Roadhouse -- for those of you that watch "Man vs. Food" Adam ate there and the food was awesome!!

7/13/13: Denali National Park - Day 5

Today Brady and I went solo on the early bus into the park.  Kailey and Rick were done with bus riding and decided to get some stuff done in camp.  We left at 5:30am to get to the bus.  We saw a ton of bears, including two momma bears and cubs (one had three cubs)!!  The mountain was in view again today for our pleasure!  Just another great day in Denali!!!

Photos of the day:

It was early, Mom sprung for some cocoa:

Mountain at mile 7:

Savage River at mile 13:

Cold & tired, but ready for animals..

First grizzly of the morning:

Momma and two cubs- in picture one is directly at 12:00, one at 3:00.. See them???

Different Momma with a one year old cub: 

Polychrome again:

Me and my boy:

Caribou:

Ptarmigan and chick:

Fox:

McKinley:

7/12/13: Denali National Park - Day 4

We went on the bus again today, just switched up our teams... Brady with me and Kailey with Rick.  HUGE treat today is that we saw the mountain!!!!  Mt. McKinley is the highest mountain in the US and only 30% of Denali's visitors get the chance to see it!!!  We are official member's of the 30% club!!!

Here are more photos:

KK and Rick went on the early bus and saw the mountain first at mile 7...

Ahhhhh.... There she is!!!

Grizzly:

Top of Sable Pass -- they put nails in the sign there to detour bears from rubbing their backs on it (yes,they have replaced it numerous times) --- um, it's not working!

Pretty lake at Polychrome:

Another grizzly crossing a ridge:

Daddy & his girlie:

Oh beautiful:

The road & the mountain:

Daddy & his girl again:

Sheds & mountain at Eielson:

Cute ground squirrel at Eielson:

Wonder Lake:

Bull Moose:

Cute hubby:

Awesome Alaska railroad that cruises through:

This is what Brady and I saw at mile 7 (three hours after Rick and I were there):

Brady at Tek River viewpoint:

The mountain:

Bears are still munching on the Caribou:

The road at Polychrome (yikes):

My boy & his momma:

Our bus:

Brady with caribou antlers at Toklat River Rest Area:

Me too:

The road:

Eielson:

Our motto:

Caribou butt:

Kailey and moose antler at Toklat River:

Love this boy:

Cute boy: