Alaskan adventure Aug/Sept,2016. part 4

Well every trip must come to an end.We have left the 134 mile Old Denali Highway behind.That drive goes through some on the most spectacular country mountains/glaciers/rivers/lakes.

At Paxon , north on the Richardson Highway to Delta Junction. This is the route of the pipe line.
There are a lot of spots where you can see it above ground,what a construction feat.
At Delta we found a nice quiet camp,Clearwater State CG. About 11 miles out of town.
Turned out to be one of the best camps we found. So quiet and than about 4 in the morning we had the best show of the whole trip, the Northern Lights put on a great show. Not much color but the size across the sky and the amount of time we could view them was great No pictures though,camera just wouldn't cooperate and I didn't have time to figure out how to keep the shutter open on the Nikon P90 I use for my shots.

We headed south on the Alaskan Highway stopping at a couple more State CGs,to check them out.
After Tok we went into the Lakeview CG of the Tetlin NWR. Nice small site 11 spots. Than drove to
Hidden Lake about 20 miles south to walk the trail to the lake on the chance we might find some migrating birds,none around.So back to Lakeview for the night. Didn't want to head into the Yukon,
just didn't know enough about the next camps just over the border.
The time at Lakeview turned out to be another great spot. Met a Brit on his bicycle who was on the
last part of his trip from Panama to Alaska. Some ride.

This night was going to be another good night for the lights but not so. Did enjoy the Milkyway though. Some of our first clear nights of the trip.

After crossing into the Yukon we had many miles of road construction on the AlCan so our drive was slowed down,but that gave us time to view the scenery.

After spending the night at Pine Lake CG in Haines Junction we hit the Village Bakery for some great breakfast/lunch goods. We have been stopping here to get great baked goods since our 2nd trip in 1992. Different owners but same great food.

Fresh snow high up on the mountain tops,sign of things to come I think. Through U S customs than to Haines and out to Chilkoot Lake SP. Got our spot and walked along the river to watch the bears eating the salmon. A sow with a new cub,their heads are sprayed green, Fish & Game think they got into someones garbage and got some spray paint on them. Fun to watch as the cub didn't like the water. Another sow with two 2 year olds were at the fish weir just gorging themselves on the fish.Seems like they were eating mostly the roe. Our 2 days there were spent mostly watching the bears along with many other people.The "green headed" bares even made the NPR news.

Last day in Haines we board the AMH, Fairweather ferry to Juneau for our final 3 nights in Alaska.
The Fairweather is one of the new high speed catamaran ferry's. Nice and smooth,travels about 38 MPH.

Arrived in Juneau and wanted to check out the Auke Bay CG ,we wanted to spend the night before we boarded the Columbia ferry for the trip home there as it's only a mile from the ferry terminal. We found at Auke Bay CG that all the sites are reservation only as are the ones at Mendenhal. This was new to us. Last time we were here it was first come,first serve.
Not a problem as you can make same day reservations. Made our way to the Mendenhal Glacier camp where we did have reservations , and got set up.Than went into Safeway to use the wifi and make a reservation for Auke Bay.

Juneau of course was full of boat people,but we needed to go to some shops.Also a good cup of coffee and a snack was needed. In our camp we talked to a local camping next to us.He gave us lots of nice places to go that only the locals visit. Very helpful people we found.

Left Mendenhal CG to get our spot at Auke Bay CG, it's about a mile from the ferry terminal,great  spot as we needed to be at the ferry by 4am next morning for the Columbia headed home.

3 nice nights on the Columbia and off at Bellingham,where we started almost 6 weeks before.
Made a stop to visit a friend outside Seattle,than out to the coast for the 3 day drive down Hwy. 101.
Spent a night at a county park on Tillamook  Bay , than to Humbug Mt. SP in Oregon , than the last night at Richardson Grove Sp. Stopped in San Rafael to have lunch with our daughter Shelby. Than the last 100 miles and HOME.
Great to be back.

This is one of two churches we saw made from "Quonset huts"

Some of the last Trumpeter Swans we saw.

The road from Haines Junction to Haines is some of the best scenery of the whole trip.

Not one I caught,but from Chillkoot lake, a large male. About #15

The "green headed bears.

Mom helping baby,it sure didn't like the water,and was just learning to fish.

Mergansers,the river was full of them.They went after the roe.

An American Dipper also after the roe.

After a quick drink this eagle stared me down

These browns made a feast at the weir.

Just stuffing themselves.

 Green headed mom and cub searching for fish.They wouldn't go down to the weir to fish.The other sow ran them off and tried to kill the cub.

They finally got their fish.

 A tree full of fungus on one of the nice walks we took outside Juneau.

 We saw a lot of Porcupines. Very shy animals.

 The Columbia at Sitka while out on a walk.

 We had this great sight of a fantasist rainbow while aboard the Columbia.

 We talked to this couple aboard the ferry. They are from Idaho and run a "hobby" for under water search and recovery.
Gene and Sandy Ralston. Search them a very interesting couple,and the service they do.

 Sunset at Humbug Mt.CG.The camp is right at the beach.Even saw a few whale spouts. Great place,much like Limekiln SP in Big Sur.

Last night and one of the first times to see the moon.I like moon shots.