Happy 4th Of July - Latest Adventure

Happy 4th of July........

It is a beautiful 73 degrees here with more of the same expected for the next 5 days.

Our employee dining area is decorated in red, white and blue...... hot dogs and hamburgers on the outdoor grill........ there is going to be a hot dog eating contest along with other games later today, so an effort is being made to include us in this national holiday.

So, we are still here ......... having fun..... but thought it time to say hi and update you with our activities.

Our 4 day visit with Andrew and Kate just flew by all too quickly, as we knew would be the case, but we managed to pack in quite a bit. Unfortunately the weather went a little cooler and Mt McKinley was hidden in the clouds the whole time. During one of our work days they took a bus tour into the Park and managed to see some of the "Big Five" animals (bear, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolf) however, during our days off with them we went river rafting, hiked several trails, the most memorable being a rather steep (at least for Ron and myself, sore feet, blisters and lost toe nails) hike to what is called "the look out point, on Mt Healy. As soon as we reached our destination point the weather changed very quickly as it can in the mountains, and we thought it best not to be in the high open area with the possibility of lightening so we scurried back down a short distance to the cover of some trees while the storm passed....... however the views were wonderful and well worth the effort.

We ate out at several of the restaurants which made for a nice change from the cafeteria style food we had been eating so far, and now we are back into our work routine again....sigh.

I am making a job change, however, starting today I will be working 8 hour shifts in the gift store instead of 6 hour shifts as hostess in the cafe. I have to say I am looking forward to this change as I am sure I will find the time passing by much quicker and will enjoy chatting a bit with the guests (one can't fit in too much of a conversation just escorting guests to their tables).

This past Tuesday Ron and I took the 12 hour bus tour to the end of the Park Road, which is only 92 miles. Our overcast gloomy weather lifted and although Mt McKinley remained mostly hidden we had a magnificent day. We had 15 sightings of bear alone, some way off in the distance but on one occasion a momma bear and her two cubs were alongside our bus on the road. But the image that plays over and over in my mind is the one of a large moose which we observed for quite some time, standing in a lake foraging under the water (she kept her head submerged for a good 25 seconds each time) then just seeing the water cascading off her head, flattening those small ears briefly, while munching on roots, before repeating the process almost as though in slow motion, really was quite magical and having binoculars we felt as though we were right beside her.

We also had several sightings of caribou, one magnificent creature just trotting along the road toward our bus (I was fortunate enough to be just one seat back behind the driver).

After our long day sitting we decided to exit the bus from a drop off point some 3 miles from our lodgings and walk a bit and are we glad we did for we were privileged to a very rare sighting of a Lynx just a matter of 10-15 feet away. We observed her stalking, catch and eating a small mouse. She knew we were watching her but did not seem too concerned. We came home feeling very tired but knowing we had had a very special memorable day........ THIS is what it is all about, THIS is why we are here.

We are hoping to have a 3 day get away in August to Seward as we have heard this is a very pretty area to see, and while there take a Kenai Fjord Tour and hopefully see whales, puffins, visiting the tidewater glaciers, but before then Patrick will be visiting us for a few nights at the end of this month.

With summer once again with us we are enjoying having the windows and door to our room open, yes the mosquitoes get in, but they are not too bad here compared to being near the lakes in the Park.