eurojenny

Alaska Road Trip Days 14 and 15

Sunday, 31 August

164 miles

Started the day off with some peaceful study by the lake…

It’s no wonder that my resting heart rate has dropped 💚

Just happened to notice this beautiful bald eagle on the side of the road, so I stopped and watched

On a whim, decided to look into hiking out onto it

Arranged to join a tour where they gave me these lovely micro spikes for my boots…

… and a decidedly attractive, orange helmet 😁

Fresh glacier water! Our guide Bren put in a tap for us!

Drove down the road a bit and saw more of the glacier from afar

And even more of it from where it originates

Found a campsite next to it and while adding a post, read about my friend Melia finding God and getting baptized. So sweet that I cried a bit!

Such a beautiful blessed day 🙏

Monday, 1 September

290 miles

Beautiful drive out to Wrangell St Elias national park

Drove the McCarthy road which was supposed to be horrible but really wasn’t. Just slow. A bit over 2 hours to go the 60 miles

And there were so many beautiful stops along the way

Got to McCarthy and took the shuttle out to Kennicott National Historic Lamdmark

Ate lunch at the historic Kennicott lodge

Took a cookie with me to tour the ghost copper mining town

Made of wood! Wouldn’t be doing that craziness anymore

Walked out on this long bridge over the river to get in and out of McCarthy

The drive to Valdez was even more stunning

I’ll take more pictures tomorrow when the light is better

Keystone hotel. The room was so bad (crepe paper walls, shower didn’t work, no soap. I got a refund and slept in my car

Alaska Road Trip Day 13

Saturday, 30 August

193 miles.

The boat trip that got cancelled on Thursday finally sailed today!

Left pretty early, so the sun was just peeking over the mountains

Resurrection Bay

Sat inside for a lot of the trip since it was quite cold

Saw a bunch of fin whales as soon as we left the bay

No Name Island complete with Stellar sea lions

Chat Island

I love all the different textures you can see when you zoom in! I wish that we could have gotten closer!

Time to go! 😊

Chiswell Islands

Bear Glacier has a lake in front of it with huge icebergs! Couldn’t really see it well so I’d love to go back there

I didn’t get much from the last part of the cruise because the Dramamine I took so that I wouldn’t get seasick made me really drowsy. So I actually slept for a while on the boat. When I woke up they had fresh chocolate chip cookies. Yum

They tracked out route and animal sightings 😊

Drove to Anchorage. On the way I stopped for a bit in Chugach National Forest – Falls Creek

They are constructing a new Anchorage temple so I couldn’t get to the grounds of the current one

I thought I was going to go to Matanuska glacier tonight, but I really really needed a shower and all of the campgrounds out there didn’t have them. Plus I wanted to go to church tomorrow and the closest one is in Palmer. So I actually backtracked and I’m staying at a pretty weird place called Fox Run camp. The office is an old converted house with a lot of random stuff all over the place. The kitchen has been made over into a restaurant so I went there for dinner.

Veggie eggrolls and a veggie stirfry. Super yummy!

The shower was kind of weird, but I have not enjoyed a shower that much for a long time haha

Alaska road trip day 12

Friday, 29 August

176 miles (plus a bunch in the air!)

My first excursion to actually get off the ground! Henry took great care of us in this Cessna floatplane

Felt very official with my headset on. The sound was deafening in there so it’s a good thing we had them!

Taking off!

St Augustine, super cool volcanic island

McNeil River State Game Refuge

I wish I could have gotten a picture of this but rainbows when you’re flying are complete rings!!

Katmai National Park

Graduated from bear school. 🐻 I’m so smart 😁

Brooks Falls from a distance, complete with rainbow.

I walked out to the river viewing area, waiting to be called for my turn at the falls. Ended up walking and talking with Susan, the other single person on my flight.

Got called! Spent the next 30 minutes totally enraptured. I will now add my vast (but pared down) collection of photos and videos (I had 300 of them before I started narrowing it down!)

I really can’t even put into words how incredibly cool this whole experience was

You could only eat food inside this fenced in area or inside the building. All food and anything with smells have to be walked in a room before you went out anywhere beyond the gates and fences.

The entire beach was strewn with pumice!!

This is the lake that we would have landed on but it was just too windy to safely land. Super bummed!

Cool waterfalls! And just check out the color of that water

Abort! Abort!

My selfie with Lake Clark National park as we were flying away

Landing back in Homer

Thanks Henry! Sad that we couldn’t land, but thanks for keeping us safe

My new flying buddies… Wanda, art, Susan, and me

Alaska Road Trip Days 10 and 11

Wednesday, 27 August

Alaska…373 miles

Drove from Denali NP to Kenai Fjords NP. Stopped to catch a flavor of the beautiful misty morning

Also for a short hike through the forest in Denali State Park

I love the solitude

In Anchorage, I stopped at the Alaskan Wild Berry Products store. No actual berries but a really cool chocolate fountain!

Hiked up to Exit Glacier. Along the trail, they had marked where the edge of the glacier was in that year. It was seriously a mile hike from this point. So much glacier loss. So sad.

Views from a couple of places on the way up

There were a few waterfalls on the opposite cliff

And after the mile hike, the glacier was still so far away! This was zoomed in as far as my camera would allow.

I wanted to hike up farther but I decided to be a good girl 😊

When I got down, I drove to where I got service and got on the family Boggle call. So nice to talk to Steve, Alex, Ada, and Rory. Then I went to the KOA where I’m staying but there was no shelter for making my dinner so I opted for dinner at a restaurant.

Incredible herb panko salmon with citrus sauce and blackened sprouts at Resurrection Roadhouse

Thursday, 28 August

212 miles

My boat tour out to Kenai Fjords got cancelled. I was very disappointed. But during my scripture study, I read about gratitude and decided that I would treat the day as a bonus and think about all the things I was blessed to see. 😊

After watching this, Alex declared “Alaska isn’t real.” Haha

Went for a short hike in Lowell State Park

Drove to Homer and stopped a few places on the way

Stopped for lunch next to Kenai Lake since it had stopped raining for a bit

Made myself a delicious impossible burger on this amazing chunky Dakota bread I bought

Ate it with these yum chips I bought back in Canada

Moose River. No salmon like they posted but still a pretty place.

Right on the beach

I’m stunned by this sunset given how horrible the weather has been all day

Alaska Road Trip Days 8 and 9

Monday, 25 August

Alaska…105 miles. Slow news day.

Rained most of the night. Moved most of my burgeoning insect collection.

The store was super fun! I love Christmas any time of year!

This one reminded me of Ada. She once cursed someone saying “I hope you step on Legos!”

For Steve, since he always buys lottery tickets when he visit states where you can buy them

Laughed at this one. Sent it to Ada and Rory.

This one made me think about how people always say that they watch all of my travels by reading my posts and are envious

Awwwww. I didn’t buy him because I don’t need any more stuffed animals but man I wanted to. I did buy a replacement for my Playmobil nativity scene since it’s missing some pieces and this one was on clearance. And also a Christmas ornament of course.

Had lunch at the chowder house and it was delicious although my chowder was very slow to come out. Then I went hunting for sugar cookies because that’s all the Christmas store made me want. Never really found anything good so I might just have to make some of my own when I get home 😊

For dinner, I had some grilled salmon at the salmon bake. It was delightful.

They had a little gold rush town with stores and things, but most everything was closed Cool steamboat!

Went back to my hotel room and spent a couple of hours trying to figure out how to rearrange my trip. My flight seeing trip to Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley parks got canceled due to the rain. Tomorrow which was my back up day won’t work either I don’t want to skip two parks so I’m trying to figure out how I can work it out to drive back up here later in the trip when the weather is better.

Tuesday, 26 August

Alaska…152 Miles

Drove to Denali national Park. They wouldn’t let me exchange my Wednesday bus ticket for a Tuesday one so I had to buy another one, but they weren’t very expensive so that was OK. I was able to reschedule everything else to a day early. Yay!

Started my day at Denali at the café where I had a lovely pickle…

Then I got on the shuttle bus for the long trek into and out of the park.

A fully unclouded view of Denali. Incredible!

The bus driver said 70% of the people who come here never actually see the mountain

Saw a bunch of wildlife! Several caribou including this one super close

A mama grizzly and cubs from 6.8 miles away haha

Mountain sheep from slightly closer 😊

After the bus dropped us back off, I got in my car and drove back up some of the way so that I could take better pictures and see things in the evening sun.

Turns out I’m in love with this mountain 💚

Hiked down to Riley Creek after making my dinner

Time-lapse fun

Alaska Road Trip Day 5, 6 and 7

Friday, 22 August

Alberta and British Columbia. 490 miles.

Jasper national Park

Every angle brought some new delight!

Even the calm bits at the end were interesting!

Hung out a bit in the town of Jasper. Very cool First Nations sculptures…

Had lunch at an all you can eat Indian place and then dessert at Beaver Tails!

It was hot and I was curious, so I went for a quick swim! decidedly chilly 😁

Drove for a long time. Stopped to make some food at Kawka River Provincial park

So secluded and peaceful!

Hit Dawson Creek and the start of the Alaskan Highway!

I’ll drive most of it tomorrow and Sunday. Stopped for the night an our along it in Fort St. John. My first hotel stop so I hit the pool and laundry.

Saturday, 23 August

British Columbia and Yukon. 710 miles. Lots of driving today! All along the Alaska Highway.

Started at the Fort Nelson historic museum.

But the rest of the museum was honestly creepy.

All of these mannequins with zombie faces

And creepy dolls that I just imagine coming alive at night

They kept popping up all over and startling me

Saw lots of wildlife on the drive! Bison, a caribou, big horn sheep, even a baby bear!

The bison were legit scary to drive by. Ignore the sound of my audiobook haha. Listening to Middlemarch (a great book!)

There’s a lodge at this mile marker that serves legendary cinnamon rolls but they were inexplicably closed, even though their hours said they should be open. Very disappointing.

Liard hot springs. I didn’t get in very far because I didn’t want to smell like sulfur all night and they didn’t have showers.

Walk-through very cool marshy area over a boardwalk to get there and back

Yay!! Got service just past this point for a short while 😊

Stopped for the night at a rest stop a couple of hours from Whitehorse.

Sunday, 24 August

Yukon and Alaska. 635 miles! Incredible scenery, some pretty rough roads, a quiet lovely spot for my picnic dinner. Finally made it to Alaska! 😊

Misty and beautiful. The sun just rising through the trees

Went to church in Whitehorse. Beautiful log chapel

The road through the last part of the Yukon territory was pretty sketch. So many potholes and gravel patches and construction sections. Took a really long time to get through.

Yay! Finally made it! The border patrol guard was very, very nice

And the roads improved greatly as soon as I got into Alaska 😊

Stopped at a very pretty and peaceful spot for my dinner

Alaska Road Trip Day 4

Thursday, 21 August

Alberta and British Columbia. 500 miles. Drove up to Lake Louise, Had to pay $36 for a parking spot a 20-minute walk away. Ugh.

And when I got up there, this is what it looked like. So many people! so I didn’t stay long.

People looked at me like I’m crazy when I put my feet in. It’s ice cold.

I found a lovely secluded spot next to the river 😊

Hemlock Grove in Glacier national Park. The one in Canada he he.

So much water cutting through the bridge!

I climbed down to the rocks just above the falls

Makes my heart pound

Got thoroughly misted

Sloooooowwwwww

Cool confluence of glacier run-off river and regular.

Of course I climbed out on the rocks for a closer look haha

Drove up the Icefields Parkway which was just stunning the whole way!

Grabbed some river pics as the sun was setting

Glaciers and glaciers as far as the eye can see!

Pulled into Whistlers campground at Jasper at 10:30 pm. What a day!!

Alaska Road Trip 2025 Days 1, 2, and 3

Monday, 18 August

Utah, Idaho, Montana. 554 miles.

Teeth care for my aligners in a rest stop…first in a long string

Florence’s exquisite chocolates in Rexburg…thanks Kaylie for introducing me to these nuggets of sunshine 😊

Then I hiked out to the brink of Upper Mesa Falls

Whoa!!!

Historic Falls Inn (closed for renovation)

Took a shot of just the spire since it looks ghostly in the ones of the whole temple

Slept at a rest stop just north of Helena

Tuesday, 19 August

Montana and Alberta Canada. 290 miles.

Border crossing was surprisingly fast and easy. Didn’t even check my registration! All that work for nothing! But I’m glad that I didn’t have to worry about it 😊

Did baptisms 💚 the font is beautiful tile.

Spent the rest of the day at Waterton Lakes (amazing!!)

And to listen to the roar 😊

So much fire damage! But it’s encouraging to see all the new growth

Great waterfall day!

Red Rock Canyon is stunning from above..

…but decidedly cooler and more fun while you’re in it!!

Just sat there chillin’ with my feet getting more and more numb. Delightful haha

Wednesday, 20 August

Alaska Road Trip Day 3…Alberta and British Columbia. 326 miles.

Woke and read scriptures with the beautiful sunrise

Banff National Park

Cave and Basin…Canada’s first national park

The underground cave and spring…really cool

Did a little hike through the marsh below the springs

…but is really a slow stream with crazy white mineral deposits!

Lunch at the farmers market in town. Garlic cheese bread 😍

And poutine!

Bow Falls

Johnston Canyon

Lower Falls

There was a huge line in front of this little cave

This was why! Great view of the falls from here!

Continental divide

Kootenay National Park

Everywhere was so crowded! I was so happy to finally get a few minutes alone with nature

It’s no Yellowstone but they’re doing their best haha

Then I sprawled on a rock right above those falls. Scary and delightful 😊

Campsite at Marble Canyon…purty nice view!

California road trip April 25

Took a solo road trip up to the Bay Area through some beautiful country!

Saturday, 26 April

Pinnacles National Park

Just did a quick hike since it was pouring rain!

Fremont Peak State Park

I went for a Star party at the observatory. Started out clear…

But alas, it didn’t last and the event got cancelled 😥

But I did the short hike to the top and that was so worth it! Beautiful!

It was a cold, rainy, foggy, vaguely creepy night in a mostly empty campground 😁

Sunday, 27 April

Drove down the mountain early for a day of beach and state park hopping

Went to church in Watsonville and then hit the Forest of Nisene Marks

This was carved into some wood. Glanced and thought it said Rory and not Froy. Immediately sent it to Ada and Rory…loved it!

Seacliff state beach has a replica of the sunk ship in the gift shop

The coolest grove of trees next to the beach!

Waddell Beach: part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park

My favorite combo…redwoods and beaches right next to each other

Watched the sunset at Half Moon Bay State Beach

Last one before turning inland and driving into deep redwood territory

Monday, 28 April

Drove a crazy windy long way and got to Big Basin Redwoods quite late. Slept in my car in the parking lot. This is what I woke up to!

So much fire damage from the fire a few years ago

But also so much new growth! Life carries on!

Drove less than an hour to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Love this one little white flower sticking up from a field of clover

On the way home I hit Soda Lake at Carrizzo Plain National Monument

Crazy dry place…quite a change from that morning

Last stop Tule Elk State Natural Reserve

Disney with Ada and Miranda

28-30 Oct 2024

Disney gave CMs who registered quickly a free comp ticket and a preview ride on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ahead of its opening on Nov 15th. So I took Ada. Her friend Miranda came along because they had been hoping to get a trip together for a while now. We flew from Provo on Monday morning and back Wednesday afternoon. Spent 2 days in the parks and then a chill last morning, lunch at the hotel, and an Uber to the Santa Ana airport.

I love the way a Disney hotel greets you. Disney music softly plays in the background 😊

This was Ada’s first time staying at a Disney hotel. We stayed in the fantasy tower. Fun flooring

No Mr Toad though 😢 Ada was very disappointed haha

The final paper tickets. They won’t be printing them anymore

Big Thunder is always a great start to any day

Pooh bear!! My friend Eddie let us go twice

We got return times for everything we could.