For the Best

A caribou we saw on the way up Parks Highway.




A stretch of the gravel Denali Highway.

A little porcupine along the road.

A grizzly bear along the Nenana River on our way back to camp.

Saturday, May 28

We left Butch's, stopped at the new grocery for coffee, joked with the coffee lady (we're getting to know people), and headed up Parks Highway. We hadn't gone far when we saw a moose grazing beside the road and some caribou out in the meadow. We didn't stop for pictures. Are we spoiled or what?!

The pine woods were beautiful and we saw more snow covered mountains as we drove. Mt. McKinley was socked in with clouds, but all around, it was clear.

The Rainbow Village campground was a gravel parking lot behind a row of log stores, tucked in the mountains one mile down the road from the Denali Park entrance. It was dusty, but it was convenient.

We read the books on what to do, layered our clothes, put on hiking boots, packed our lunch and set out to get tickets to ride the shuttle bus into the park.

We were so worried about Ben, but Bob took him for a long walk and we left him in the trailer with water, toys, air conditioning, and the TV on. He seemed to snuggle right in in his familiar surroundings. We considered a kennel, but knew that it would have made him nervous.

We got up to the desk in the park at 2:45 and much to our disappointment, the little creep of a worker, seemed to enjoy showing us the sign that explained that they would not sell tickets 15 minutes before the last bus left. The last bus was scheduled for 3:00. We were right there on the line and he would not bend the rules. Bob wanted to argue about the time as we were in line before 2:45, but there was no budging him. We watched the half full, last bus pull away. Needless to say, we were spitting mad! We bought tickets for the first bus the next morning and tried to think positive. We needed to work on our belief that things work out for the best and trust that it will happen the way it is supposed to happen.

We got in the truck and drove 12 miles into the park to the first center at Savage River. That is as far as personal vehicles can go. It was very pretty. We walked around the river bed a bit, ate our sandwiches, and were able to watch a mama moose and her twins. We felt better and decided to go back, get Ben, and drive and explore part of the rustic, gravel Denali Highway. The road was bumpy and dusty, but the scenery was pretty and interesting. A lot of people take ATVs in to take trails or to fish the many lakes and streams. We saw a couple porcupines and snowshoe rabbits. Then right after we got back to the highway, we saw a moose close to the road.

Flying along the Parks Highway back to camp, we saw some campers pulled over. We slowed and saw a huge grizzly on the other side of the river. He was blond colored and lighter than we had expected. We were so excited and took a million pictures. A state policeman, Eric, stopped and chatted with us. It was so much fun. We stayed until the grizzly wandered back into the weeds. We decided that things really DO work out for the best.

We got back to camp and were amazed to see the Sunseeker Motorhomes and our Australian friends. Small world!

Next, we ride the shuttle bus into Denali!