Wow last blog entry was last May!  So much has happened between then and now, my last entry ended with a burnt wheel bearing and we needed to replace the entire axel.  I'm happy to say that we didn't have any more problems on the way up to Anchorage but some issues on the way home but nothing too serious. 

I followed the same route as last year north on the Alaskan Highway to Dawson Creek which is mile zero of the Alaskan Highway.  As with the previous year the weather was cool and most stores are still closed so after a brief stop at the visitors center we continued north.

We saw quite a bit of wildlife along the highway but once we arrived at Liard Hot Springs we started to see herds of buffalo.  We stopped at the hot springs for the night but this year I elected not to pay for the camping and just used the day use area to visit the springs then use the parking area across the street as our camping site for the night.  Liard Springs campground is a little expensive considering they have no hookups at all.

We were joined that evening with one other couple in a motorhome which we met during the morning dog walk.  Len and Barbara were on their first trip to Alaska, traveling north from Georgia.  We ended up traveling with this couple the remainder of the way north, not so much during the day but staying at the same campground that evening.

Our "spare" time was kind of used up when we were having our axel repaired so we were driving more than we really planned on.  We met again at the Walmart parking lot in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and I sear some of those campers were there last year.  Later that day we crossed the border into Alaska and stayed just outside Tok, Alaska.  A long drive the next day but we made it to Chena Hot Springs north of Fairbanks with a quick stop off at the North Pole, city not the actual North Pole.

Chena HOT springs is true to its name, it might feel really nice in the dead of winter but even on a cool day the water is too hot for me to stay in for more than 10-15 minutes.

The next day we camped along the road in a rest area with designated camping area which is south of Denali National Park only a few miles north of the south viewing area.  Even being right along the road it was a very quiet night.  The next morning we woke up to a beautiful day and after driving a few miles we stopped at the south viewing are of Denali and was rewarded with a fantastic view of Denali!  This was about my fifth visit here and every time the weather prevented even a so-so view of Denali.

 

Later that day we pulled into Eklutna State Park just north of Anchorage which would be our home until fall.  I will break this up a bit until I catch up on my blog so next entry will cover the entire summer of adventure at Eklutna!