High Desert Life

Calpoppy, did i read somewhere that you were getting a cabin in Kenai? When are you going to do this? We are headed for Homer on the 23rd of May. We fly into Anchorage on the 22 and then head on down to Homer on the 23rd. If you are around maybe we could have a meet and greet. Do you know who Alaskasnowluvr is?? She lives in Sterling and we are going to try to get together at some point. Maxine Weber (Homerlady) is in Homer and we are going to try to have lunch or dinner at some point. Let me known. Are you by any chance on FB??

Cal we have been to Denali and of course you will want to go on the bus trip. It is really the only way to get into the heart of the park. We stayed in a lovely lodge that is run by the Natives in that area. It is just outside of Talkeetna. We drove up to Denali at about 2:00am in the morning with the forever daylight. I think our bus left the park around 6:30am to get into Denali. Wow the beauty is unbelievable.

We have been to Kenai and visited one the the little Russian Orthodox churches there. Viewing of wildlife as you cross over the Kenai River is fun too. We saw a herd of caribou.

Hope you do get down to Homer.

I love the idea of the cabins for an extended family. I think you would have a lot of fun. With little guys lots of room to run. I know nothing about the cabins but I am sure anything in that area would have to be great of the wouldn't exist for very long. Keep me posted.

Good morning! A beautiful sunrise about to unfold here, after our little snow yesterday morning. Any snow for you? Your weather sounds like it has been very changeable too - I guess the definition of spring.

Your Alaska plans sound wonderful! Denali is certainly a "must-see", that is if you can "see". The mountain is hidden under clouds some super high percentage of the time, but on those other days, wow! Yes, you must do the bus trip. We did it in the mid '80's, so not sure what it is like now, but the scenery has not changed and it is just spectacular, including all the wildlife. In those old days the bus was an old school bus and the full length trip was something like 80 miles into Wonder Lake, bouncing on a quite rough road, but worth every bump and jostle.

I was saddened by that Coast Guard loss as well. My dad was a Coastie back in the early '50's, mainly at sea in the North Pacific. I'm always fond of them and their work.

Puget still an old school bus and you are right. very bumpy. There are a couple of places you just hope no one is coming the other way on that dirt road. The mountain was out the day we were there and when we made that turn and saw it for the first time, "wow".

Thanks OGal for the update! I guess not everything changes in 25 years! The mountain was partially out the day we were there, so we felt pretty fortunate. We are used to mountains, i.e. Mt. Rainier and others, but the size of Denali is breathtaking. Just the base alone (width) makes all of our mountains just seem as little mole hills in our yards. I think the sheer size as compared to our NW "tall mountains" was what amazed me the most. Would love to go back before too long.

Puget, we love the NW. Almost decided to move to Bellingham. Our lab is from Snohomish. We have hiked Rainier and Mr. St. Helens several times. We came out to hike St Helens after she blew. We hiked all the way up to the cauldera. it was like the landscape of the moon. We hiked on Rainier when you could still go into an ice cave. Amazing. it was kind of a hike at your own risk thing. I think we were to dumb to really know what the risk was.

Love Seattle. We were actually spending time out there when the Green River killer was still active. I remember one day we were just driving around and not too far from the airport we crossed the Green River and I wondered who would be next.

Hi, cal! Didn't know about the Coasties until I read your blog. Heroes is right!

Remember when I said I didn't any more trees? My wife and I went to the local nursery and bought a couple of 6' pecan trees! I managed to find places for them, but I don't think I have any more room for trees!

Hope you're having a good day!

Cal the temps are a little on the chilly side but putting up with the Orlando summer heat we love the cooler temps. We also don't like to be gone during hurricane season. June-Nov. We will take off in October (middle) to probably go back out to the west coast somewhere. I think we would like the west coast to live but we are now so settled and our son is moving back to Tampa so I guess we will stay in Central Florida.


Oh there still may be a little snow on the high mountains but that just adds to the beauty. I just hope Illiamna has settled down. I don't want a volcano to explode on my visit. In Kenai you will almost looking directly across Cook Inlet at Redoubt and Illiamna. I love Kenai.

Hi calpoppy! I know you can do it!!

Sounds like you are getting some feathered migrants coming in. I've seen my 1st 2 hooded orioles just yesterday as well as an Allen's hummingbird male today. They are about on time compared to last year, thought they may be earlier since the winter was mild.
On the hunt for sun gold tomatoes for the garden!