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Rambler’s Blog – Alaskan Grandparenting 101 & Minde's Great Adventure July 8 - August 31, 2016

A word about this blog…. It has been our goal in recent years’ lengthier travels to record for posterity a diary of travel stats, pictures, and personal reflections. So, when we can no longer indulge in trains, planes and automobiles we may relive fond memories. We have invited a few friends and family to ride along through this travel blog (a combo of blather and log), risking exposure to bad puns, spelling errors and sore feet complaints.

This is our first trip to Alaska as Grandparents. We sure hope we do it right! There are majestic mountains and valleys, mighty glaciers and roaring rivers but they pale in comparison with the power of baby Dean. He has filled our hearts to bursting with love and makes us speak
gibberish. He is very patient with us and we're sure he thinks we're 'special' already.

Another first born, niece Minde from Buffalo, is joining us during our stay. She is celebrating high school graduation and taking a break before starting at Erie Community College in the fall. We have assured her parents, Wende and Pete, that we will take good care of her. She is already refusing to carry the bacon on hikes. Way smarter than us!

We will blog off and on. You are welcome to join us as you will. Glad to know you're out there!
Grandma and Grandpa Simons

* We may not have daily access to Internet so updates may be delayed, but once they appear they will be in sequence
* The blog includes pictures based on the day’s blog, sometimes delayed depending on schedule and access.


Thursday, August 4, 2016

August 2


Awoke to light rain and overcast skies.  Drive to the Great Alaskan Adventure RV business to pick up the RV.  We three watch the orientation video and finish the paperwork.  We are getting a 25 foot new Minnie Winnie but there is an issue with one of the drawers, it appears to be broken.  Minde and Pat return to the apartment while Chuck stays to get it fixed.  We’re not crazy about the new design but we’ll make it work.  We have to clear everything out of the apartment for the next renters. After several trips up and down the stairs we have the RV packed.  Luckily we have an eighteen year old with energy and young joints who can help.  We stop off at Brenna’s to drop off the car.  We get to visit with Dean one last time before we go.  He is in a good mood and insists on pulling himself forward from a semi-reclining position.  He’s pretty proud of himself with a big grin and a little gurgle.  It’s hard to leave him for the next eight days. He is 8 weeks old tomorrow.  He is changing fast. 

We three set off the road down Turnagain Arm.  We stop for views along the way and also see where the fire burned up the mountain.  We turn into Girdwood Valley and drive directly back to the Alyeska Ski Resort.  We hop on the tram and rise to 3900 feet above the valley floor for views of the valley and its glaciers and the vista of Turnagain Arm.  Turnagain Arm is in negative tide, someone has let the water out of the tub.  It lays open bare swaths of tidal mud where the water has drained.  From the mountain view and with the sun, it looks like some kind of strange mosaic puzzle, spectacular.  We visit the round house gift shop and stop to see what the fancy Seven Glaciers Restaurant is like.  It’s very beautiful and fancy but we have more to do.  Down the tram and onto the Double Musky Inn, a longtime local favorite as well as a must do for distant travelers.  It’s a Cajun theme. Minde has linguini with garlic sauce and shrimp (fresh Alaska Shrimp), Chuck has large pepper steak and Pat has fresh caught Copper River Salmon.  We each get a softball sized homemade jalapeno roll.  Minde gets famous Double Musky pie and Chuck gets Chocolate pudding cake for dessert.  Pat has a Musky Mule.  The restaurant is very eclectically decorated, old Alaska bar meets Cajun.  We eat in the solarium surrounded by stained glass and glass décor.  As we finish the sky clears and we have sunshine.  Up the dirt road to Crow Creek Mine.  Brenna and Zach were married on this site and it is just as beautiful as we remember it.  A conservation village, tiny old gold mining town where people can pay to pan gold.  We have beautiful views of the mountains and glaciers.  And we have bugs.  We have to get out the bug nets and put them over our heads.  They are really annoying.  There is only one other camper near-by and by the time we settle in there is dead silence.  We are high up in the valley off the beaten track.  The only thing we hear is a jet high in the sky overhead.  We arrived safe and sound after a very busy and eventful day.  Night!

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