Day 03 – August 30

We awaken to a cool damp morning, a clear indication that fall is in the air. Seth and I pull chairs down to the dock and take in the solitude of the early morning on the lake. We watch a woodpecker fly by and then hear him in the distance. Soon a loon comes swimming by, and then watch its mate on the other side of the lake with the two of them finally joining together and frolicking together when they meet. Suddenly one of them starts to call out, we look up and there is a mature bald eagle flying over the lake, who glances down at us as it flies by.

Shortly there after Brenna brings down the fishing poles from the main cabin, tells us coffee is being made. I commence to try my luck again at fishing, since the lake is so still. Finally after multiple casts, I feel a tug and to my surprise I pull in a lake CLAM!!. That is correct a CLAM.

We have a leisurely breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, fruit and more coffee. We then pack up as the winds have shifted, and the smoke from the wild fires is beginning to get noticeable at the cabin. On our way out, we drive down the Burma road, see a flock of Ptarmigan in the road (still in their summer colors) and find our old cabin on Stephan lake, which we sold some 25+ years ago when we left Alaska. A very big disappointment as it is in a major state of disrepair.

We get back to Anchorage, and after showers Seth and I head out to find hip waders for fishing as we will be fishing various rivers next week. We finally find a few pairs so now we are set for fishing. On the way back we stop off at Matanuska Brewery and each try a flight of beers plus appetizers.  Brenna calls in a takeout order which we pick up besides a few growlers of beer and head back to the Petrusa Ponderosa.

We chill out the rest of the night with good conversation and watching dean play.

It is suppose to start raining tonight, so are fingers are cross that it is of a significant amount to help with the drought and wild fires.

Nighty, Night.

Day 02 - August 29th

Awaken at 6:30 am by a call from our charter captain, indicating that our scheduled charter for Monday, September 2^nd has been canceled due to a storm front moving in that will have 35 knot winds and cause 9-15-foot waves.  After a discussion we have rescheduled this charter for Monday, September 9^th when we were planning to head back towards Anchorage, since we turn in the RV on Tuesday, September 10^th.

Morning breakfast consisted of bagels, lox and cream cheese. After which we sorted through fishing gear that I had previous left, to make and inventory of what items we need to buy, before heading out for salmon fishing.

The air quality in Anchorage today, is very poor due to the wild fires on the Kenai Peninsula, and the mountains normally visible are shrouded in a heavy smoky haze.  So, we decide to drive up to Crooked Lake to the Petrusa cabin to get fresh air and enjoy the day. Along the way the birch trees are all out in golden yellow, fire weed has all bloomed, (sign summer is over) and the underbrush is all very brown, all telltale signs of the severe drought Alaska is experiencing.

We arrive at the cabin, unpack, pull out the chairs, take them down to the dock, and relax in the clear air, that is occasionally interrupted by smoke drifting through. We try our luck at fishing to no available but enjoy the stillness only interrupted by the call of the loons on the lake and the sight of a bald eagle across the lake. As it cools down, we call it a night, as campfires are currently banned.

Nightly night.

Day 01 – August 28th

Traveling from Hudson, OH to Anchorage, AK via Cleveland, Chicago, Seattle

Up early as Pat drives me to the Cleveland Airport Rental Car center, where I pick up a vehicle and proceed to Seth’s apartment to pick him up. We then start the first part of our journey by driving 5 ½ hours to Chicago O’Hare Airport. Smooth driving as we encountered no delays, with light traffic until we approach Chicago.

After clearing security checkpoint, we stop and partake in a few adult beverages as our flight does not board for another 2 hours. Next we catch an Alaska Airline Flight to Seattle, which left the gate on time. Our meal was a Peruvian Roast Chicken dish, featuring fried rice with egg, roast yellow and chayote squashes, and paired with a delicious Peruvian green sauce with side salad and dinner roll. Passing over the Rockies could see a forest fire. Sky was hazy coming into Seattle, and only could see MT. St. Helen's from our window seats.

We arrived into Seattle 10 minutes early, deplane and find our new gate for the flight to Anchorage. We have time so do some walking around the concourse to stretch our legs. The plane boards on time, but we wait an extra 15 minutes for 1 last passenger, which causes us to get into Anchorage 15 minutes late.  We deplane, get our luggage and catch a taxi ride to the Petrusa Ponderosa, where Brenna greets us. We do a slight unpacking and then time for some snooze and we have been up for over 24 hours. 

Nighty Night.