Day 11

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Woke up to another beautiful day but it is warm! I didn’t think I would have many pics today because we had no specific plans. We drove in to Denali Park. Stopped at the visitor center and a 2 hour walking tour was about to begin so we tagged along on that. We learned all about the flora of Denali Park.

Siberian Astor 
White spruce
Quaking aspen
Willow
Silverweed  
Lichens 
Dwarf Canadian dogwood 
Poplar 
Soapberry
Old man’s beard. It’s the Spanish Moss looking stuff on the branches. 
Hines Creek
Weird tree roots 
Dwarf fireweed
Fireweed
Woodland horsetail fern
Alder

Boulder left by glacier
Ranger Bill 
Wooden bridge
2nd tallest railroad trestle bridge in Alaska

From the wooden bridge 
Just love the sound of the water. So peaceful!
Discussing the type of birch (white or Kenai)
A suspension bridge



From the bridge

Crazy cables anchoring the bridge

It was quite bouncy. Especially when Kim was trying to make it bounce. 
So this is the view everyone hopes to have of Denali and VERY few ever do, including us. 😁
Savage River 


We left the park and went in search of something nice for a late lunch. We’ve been trying to have a nice dinner for our anniversary for a couple of days and our timing has really been off. I looked online and found a nice place that said it was open for breakfast lunch and dinner. We drove up a steep winding dirt road and there were all these crazy signs.
Help! It got Kim!!! He forgot to put on his mosquito repellent. 

Kody, Kim said to tell you he’s upped the speed limit on our road but added radar 🤣. 



This is the restaurant. 
This is the view from the restaurant that was CLOSED until 4 pm!!! Apparently every other restaurant in town was closed until 4 also. Not sure what all these people around here do for lunch but we had a snack to tide us over. 
Kim dropped me off at the entrance to Denali park and I walked back to our room. My fellow walkers (that includes you in Seattle Cathie) I challenge you to find a more scenic walking trail than this. The following pics are all taken on my way back to the room. 

The building up on top of the cliff is where we planned to eat lunch. 


Yes, still walking. 


Last pic from my walk right outside our inn. 
Ok. Not the last pic. In case I get lost I have bear prints to follow, or maybe it means there are bears ahead. 🥴 They’ve been warning us about bears the whole time and I realized after Kim dropped me off and I was walking through the woods by myself, that I had no bear-spray or anything else to protect me. Yikes!
We ended up going to a different restaurant for dinner. It’s called The Overlook and this is the view. I liked the view from the other place better but not complaining. Jo Anne, I couldn’t agree with you more about all the salads. I get really tired of perusing the menu and talking to the waiters and finding nothing I can eat that is gluten and dairy free. So…
I had grilled salmon, leave off the herb butter and creamy mashed potatoes and give me extra grilled veggies please. Not too shabby huh?
Kim had the grilled salmon with all the stuff I left off. 
AND…I had a gluten free, dairy free chocolate tart. Yumm!!!
Kim had baked Alaska because why not? We are in Alaska after all. 
She got it a little charred on one side. 

We are now back at our room packing up for our trip home. We have a long day of driving back to Anchorage tomorrow. And it’s only 7:30 Alaska time! What’s up with that?


Comments

  1. KodyJuly 18, 2021 at 9:48 AM

    Wow! What a blessing these pictures are! I saved the picture of Denali for my phone wallpaper. I’m so glad Kim is raising the speed limit. I can get down your road much more quickly now!! Snails will look at me with envy! But for that radar…

    ReplyDelete
  2. CJMooreJuly 18, 2021 at 9:55 AM

    🤣

    ReplyDelete
  3. VickiJuly 18, 2021 at 12:36 PM

    Again I will say WOW WOW. I will admit that I will not be able to find a more scenic view Carol. Kody those snails better hang on to them selves. The food looks so yummy. Like Kody I’m stealing the Denali shot, probably the only time that I will see it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jo AnneJuly 18, 2021 at 12:53 PM

    That two hour walking tour was nothing short of Serendipitous. And I agree with Vicki. WOW! WOW! WOW!
    Finally Carol. Food that looks delicious for you. So glad you were able to eat something other than salad.
    😂😂 Those signs are hilarious. Reminds me of the ones we saw in Inverness.
    Safe travels home. Can’t wait to see all the rest of the pictures

    ReplyDelete
  5. NannJuly 18, 2021 at 6:51 PM

    So thankful you took the time to share all your adventures complete with amazing pictures! What a fun trip you and Kim had for your 50th! Safe travels 😘😘😘

    ReplyDelete
  6. CJ WennerstenJuly 18, 2021 at 8:38 PM

    Challenge accepted Carol even though I may loose. We do have some pretty awesome walking trails in Washington! And yes, I thought “Carol what about the bears?” When you said he dropped you off!!! You crazy lady 🤪. So thankful you two had a wonderful 50th anniversary trip!!! Safe travels home.

    ReplyDelete

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