We're Home

10 days after leaving Sterling Alaska we pulled into our cabin in the woods in Coloma Wisconsin last night at 8:30 p.m.  It was a good trip with no significant mechanical breakdowns, however we did need to have a trailer tire changed in Fosston, MN that had a slow leak.

The rig is unhooked and ready for cleaning and then storage

We traveled home with our good friends Jim and Donna Meacham.  It was the first time we traveled with someone else and it worked very well.  We planned our trip and final stopping place together and then met each night and had supper together before taking off the next morning.  We each traveled at our our pace, at times in sight of each other and other times separate.

If you will recall we left Coloma on May 17th and traveled 13, 804 miles.

We spent today unloading things from the trailer and putting them away in preparation of cleaning and storing the trailer until next spring when we plan to head up to Alaska again.

If you like following us we will now be switching to blogging on our Cabin blog which can be linked to by clicking here:

http://logcabinlivingcoloma.blogspot.com/

09/26/2014 Travel Update

We continue to make progress on our travel home, tonight finds at Toad River RV Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we had sunshine and great scenery.  Last night we stayed at Teslin, Yukon and woke to heavy overcast that turned into rain mid-day.  Temps were in the 30's until later this afternoon when they reached to 40's.  We are not seeing much variety in wildlife, but did see several wood bison today and one bull moose in Muncho Lake Provincial Park.

The fall colors are breath taking, although we haven't taken many pictures and they just wouldn't do justice to the real beauty.

We drove about 30 miles of  freshly sprayed calcium Chloride Alaska Highway 

What a mess, we were able to wash our rigs in Whitehorse

Mountain Sheep near Kluane Lake

More sheep

Interesting picture along Muncho Lake

Muncho Lake

On The Way To Wisconsin

Yesterday we left St. Theresa Resort and started our travel back to Wisconsin.  Before leaving we helped take care of the puppies one last time and then took the boys for their last walk at Scout Lake before going to Fred Meyers in Soldotna for last minute groceries and fuel.  After getting back to camp we got everything hooked and unhooked and squared away for our departure.

We pulled out of camp at 1:15 p.m. and enjoyed sunshine and the fall colors as we passed through Anchorage and Palmer.  The mountains, streams and colors are just breathtaking.  We ended the day pulling into Slide Mountain RV Park and Cabins about 30 miles west of Glennallen around 8:00 p.m.

A view from Slide Mountain RV Park

Slide Mountain RV Park was not busy, but a real nice small park

We awoke Wednesday morning to bright sunshine and frosty conditions.  Today we should cross into the Yukon Canada and hope to get as far as White River RV Park.

I forgot to mention Rosalie said she was having puppy withdrawal and am happy to report we don't have any extra dogs with us.

More as service and content allow.

Sunset At St. Theresa Lakeside Resort

Somewhere Over A Rainbow

Due to the number of rainy days it isn't unusual to see rainbows often.  Today while relaxing in the rig I was treated to these rainbows.

Note the rainbow through the trees and the double rainbow

Supper With Friends

Last night we met at Jim & Donna Meacham's near Sterling for a Thanksgiving dinner with friends.  Donna prepared a wonderful dinner including turkey, stuffing, white and sweet potatoes, gravy, corn, yams, brocolli, salad and relish trays, there was also jello, cake and ice cream for dessert.  It was nice to meet and visit with good friends.

Interesting rainbow near Sterling on our way to the Meacham's

Back Row: Yolanda & Carl Lindstrom, Middle: Kay & Rich Shook, Front: Rosalie Kerl, Donna Meacham & Ken Kerl.  Jim Meacham was on his way back from a hunting trip near Cantwell, AK

Fall on the Kenai Peninsula

Fall in Alaska comes early and goes by fast.  Here are some pictures from yesterdays walk with the boys at Scout Lake. http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kenai/scoutlksrs.htm

Spirit likes to show his best side

Leave covered trail at Scout Lake

SPIRIT - Wake Up!

Somebody left their tube at Scout Lake.  We let the boys swim here earlier in the season

Fall Fireweed

Saint Theresa Lakeside Resort - Soldotna

Back in July we posted we had moved from Kasilof RV Park to St Theresa Lakeside Resort between Soldotna and Sterling.  We started by committing to a 1 week stay and now 2 months later are planning to leave for our journey back to Wisconsin.  Our stay has went by fast and we have enjoyed the setting and owners hospitality at the Resort.  We have posted some pictures of the goings on around the resort, but no pictures of the resort itself so here are some pictures along with the resort link.  http://www.sttheresaslake.com/

View from the RV picture window

Our rig and one of the cabins

The Resort Lodge

Fall on the west shore of Hall Lake

Cranberries, Puppies & Silvers

There is always something to do around here; Monday, Donna Meacham, Rosie and I went to Seward snagging Silvers, Rosie and Donna were the lucky ones as the pictures show.  As hard as I tried I could not catch one, but it was a fun day fishing anyway.   This was our last fishing trip of the season, so Tuesday I spent time stowing our fishing gear away in preparation for our trip home.  We ended the season with 68 Reds, 9 Silvers and 8 Pinks in the freezer.  We also ate/gave away 11 Reds and 2 Dolly's.  I estimate I also caught and released 150+ Pinks.

Donna snagging with the masses at Seward

Getting ready to cast for Silvers

Silver Delight

Puppy Pile - All 11 puppies are doing well and growing - they are 3 weeks old now

Wild Cranberries drying

We have picked and frozen about 16 cups of wild cranberries

What are you doing?????

Traffic has slowed down in/around Soldotna as summer comes to an end, after the upcoming Labor Day weekend it will slow down some more.  We have been in a rainy stretch getting some rain every day.  Our camp host along with Rosalie and I have been nursing colds, the last two days being the worst for me and Monday/Tuesday being the worst for Rosalie.

Last Monday was the last time I have been fishing when I went to Big Eddy and caught 1 Red and 20 Pinks in 2 hours.  It sounds like the Silvers are running in Seward and we would like to get back over there to try and catch some, I was going to go yesterday, but my cold prevented it.

Jim, Lyman and Fritz Meacham plan to leave tomorrow for the Cantwell area moose and caribou hunting, which will leave Donna and Willow home alone so we will plan to spend more time in the Sterling area.  We also plan to pick some wild cranberries, which are just about ripe.  The trees are just starting to change color and should be peak color about the time we leave in about a month.

That's about it for now.....

Surprise - New arrivals

There are new arrivals here at the St. Theresa's Lakeside Resort:

The campground owners' dog was accidentally bred by a yellow lab (inside her kennel). Here are the results. 

I was staying with Dixie because Mary had to go into town for a meeting. An hour and a half after she left, Dixie gave birth to the first puppy! She had her 11th puppy at 4 am. What a pile of puppies. Dixie didn't quite know what to do with her first, but she learned fast and is quite a good little mom by now. 

Anyway, we will be on our way home before these babies are weaned, so we won't be bringing any back to Wisconsin. Mix of German Short-Hair and Yellow Lab. Supposedly a popular hybred in the lower 48 states.

I spent last week at sewing events

Last Tuesday I took a class on making a bowl with fabric covered cotton clothesline. The technique taught was different from others I have seen, and included a flat fabric insert for the base (inside and out). It was fun to do.

I added the top band matching the base, and added the handles. I have clothesline cord to play a little more with this technique.

On Wednesday, I attended an "event" at the local sewing shop on long-arm free-motion machine quilting. They demonstrated the capabilities of two different machines: one a table-top model, where the needle is static, and you move the quilt sandwich around under the needle (most similar to using my little sewing machine); the other is a big quilting machine where you move the needle all over the quilt (or let it run on a computerized pattern by itself). I was enthralled by the machines, but they are quite expensive and take up a lot of room (the big machine takes up 10 or 12 feet - the entire space of the 5th wheel, lol). I did get to play on both machines and that was fun.

On Thursday, I went in to the local quilting guild meeting with fabric to cut to make Ken's lap quilt. I got it all cut out, and brought all the pieces home; while Ken took the boys out for exercise, I laid it out on the bed to organize each block in preparation for sewing on the serger (I like to use the serger on flannel), but neglected to snap a photo before pinning the blocks in order. I'll now have to wait until I sew it together to give you a peek at it.
Today (Aug. 19) I finished sewing Ken's quilt top:

Now, I will just have to spend time sewing and sewing and sewing. FUN for me.
Rosie

Work/Homer/Silvers

Even though we are "on vacation", a better description would be "we are away from home".  There are still chores and daily tasks to do, such as laundry day, evidenced by this picture.

Ken continues to fish almost every day, but the Red run has slowed significantly, there is plenty of Pink action and the Silvers have started to run in the Kenai as well.  Ken fished the Kenai today at the Pipeline and caught 20 Pinks and 1 Silver during 2 hours of fishing. Fishing pressure was low, but there was a Warden working the river who stopped by and checked everyone's license and bag limit.

Yesterday Rosalie, Donna and her friend Ann visited Homer and took some well deserved "Lady" time sight seeing and spending time away from the trailer.  Rosalie has spent a lot of time at the trailer dog sitting and dropping Ken off to fish and then picking him up.  Here are some pictures in/around Homer.

In case you were wondering there are at least two names for the salmon we are catching, not to mention their Latin names.  Here is a list.

Sockeye = Red/Preferred for eating
Pink = Humpy/Locals don't save these and consider them a nuisance fish
Coho = Silver/Sought after late season, bigger than Reds, smaller than Kings
Chinook = King/Trophy fish , the biggest of the salmons

Pinks

We have been enjoying the mild weather, for the past week+ we have had temps in the high 60's/low 70's and lots of sun. We had a couple periods of rain, but nothing that slowed us down too much.  Red fishing near Soldotna has slowed, but the Pink (Humpy) action has picked up.  Yesterday I went in to fish at Big Eddy and caught 20+ Pinks and snagged only 1 Red that I had to let go, because of being illegally hooked.  Fishing pressure has also decreased, which makes fishing more fun.

Monday the Meacham brothers and I went to the Russian River in the afternoon and caught our limit of Reds in about 3 hours.  We all caught many mature fish that we released and "hooked" several more that would get off.  Fishing pressure was moderate and will only pick up there.

Today is our 26th anniversary, we don't have any big plans, but will go out to eat at a Mexican Restaurant we heard about in Soldotna.  I also need to get two bags of dog food from the front storage compartment and may do some organizing while I'm in there.

Hopefully we can go out for ride and exercise the boys a bit and get some new pictures to post, so check back soon.

The freezer is 3/4 full of fish and to date we have 81 salmon in there, 5 of which are Pink Salmon.

Pine Grosbeaks

Had these visit us outside the camper window this morning, Pine Grosbeaks

Fish Pictures

Hello from Soldotna/Sterling, last Friday the 25th we moved from the Kasilof RV Park to Saint Theresa Resort Lodge (http://www.sttheresaslake.com/)    between Soldotna and Sterling.  The lodge has 5 cabins they rent out and then 4-5 RV spots.  Over the weekend all of the cabins and RV spots were full, but today there are only 2 RV's here.  We do have to keep on eye on the Boys as the owners have a German Shorthair (Dixie) that wonders the grounds, but it is a nice place.

We fished for about an hour on Saturday by Sterling, but didn't have any action.  Otherwise I didn't spend time fishing over the weekend because of the crowds.  This morning Rosalie dropped me off at Big Eddy at 8:00 a.m. and around 9:30 a.m. a run came through and I started getting hits, I must have landed 10 Reds that were foul hooked and had on another 10 that got off.  After shortening my leader and moving into the prime spot after others left I was able to catch my 3 limit and was done fishing by 1:30 p.m.  Rosalie came and picked me up and we did some grocery shopping and picked up subs at Jersey Subs.   I was very happy to finally be able to bring a limit of nice Reds home.  Although I didn't catch any, other fisherman did catch some Pink Salmon this morning.

Caught at Big Eddy 07-28-2014

Caught on the Kenai River 07-29-2014 between Sterling and Soldotna

My Alaskan Solution To Losing My Fishing Gear

If you will recall, Monday night I lost my fishing gear to a fish, so Tuesday it was off to Trustworthy Hardware and Sports to buy a replacement rod (I had spare reels). On the way I was trying to come up with a simple solution to prevent this from happening again.  My solution and new invention is a simple piece of nylon cord tied together.  I looped one end around the rod & reel and the other end is looped around my wrist.  Problem solved.....Now that I have a prototype, look for the final product in stores near you soon.