Campground Hosts!

     It has been exciting to make it to our ultimate goal of Klondike RV Park and Cottages in Soldotna, Alaska.  We will be here until August as campground hosts or worker campers.  As you may remember, we met a couple, Debby and Howard, at Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge last winter and in the conversation they told us about their son Al who owns a park in Alaska. They said he was looking for hosts for this summer.  They had been his support for two seasons, but had decided to spend this summer back in Michigan.  They were helping him by looking for new hosts. We started waving our hands and jumping up and down inside, hoping and praying it might be us!

So months and miles later...here we are!

     Sitting next to the office and shower/bathroom buildings.

    Some of the sites.

    A lovely cabin to rent.

We arrived June 9, coming from Palmer and the Mountain View RV park.  The road had construction and we were happy to see the conditions improving.  We had encountered many places where the tar was gone and only gravel patches remained.  It wasn't a big problem until someone sped by us and threw a rock that made a small hole in the windshield. But we continued to have awe-inspiring views. From Anchorage, we traveled the scenic Seward Highway.

    Beluga Point pull off.  We saw some Mountain Goats along this stretch of highway.

    Rivers and lakes everywhere showing the blue of the influence of the glaciers. 

    Lovely!  We saw many cabins and houses tucked off in sweet little spots.

    The cabin above was located on this body of water.

    Soon we started to pass the Kenai River.  We crossed it several times.  We also passed many fishing camps, rafting companies, camping spots, all centered around the famous rivers of the area and the fish that soon will make the spawning journeys to continue the cycle of life. (More below about the salmon.) 

We found the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in the acres that abut the campground, so it was a first stop for us.  I like to get passport stamps in my National Park book so we always stop and learn.

    The beginning of the nature trail!

    Guess what actually lives inside the Refuge, at least during calving time?  What a thrill to see our first Caribou in the wild.

   Needless to say we will go for a visit any chance we get.

Another stop we made was to the Soldotna Visitor Center.  This is a wonderful place to learn about the salmon and other fish species.  We saw the record King Salmon that was caught right here in the Kenai...over 93 pounds.

   We learned from Al that in order to access the River, fishers must use any number of steps to get to the bank and then can wade in from there.  People can't just stop anywhere and jumped over the bank to fish.  This is a wonderful conservation effort to protect the River from overuse.

    We enjoyed these gulls and their pink legs and feet.  I think they are Glaucous Winged Gulls.

    Eating spot on way to campground. We didn't partake...smile.

    Here we are, back to the park and Al is having his septic system checked before the heavy season begins.  I am getting a chance to meet the workers and another volunteer, John, in the red shirt.  He and his wife also help Al, and we have enjoyed getting to know them and look forward to our summer together.

   Let the camp season begin!  Looks familiar from Daicey Pond.

    Our boss and new friend, Al.

   Our footnote from Latona!  We found this old guide camp inside the Wildlife Refuge and we decided this would be a great new home when we stop traveling!  Isn't she funny!

Happy Father's Day to our sons, sons-in-law, stepdads. brothers, brothers-in-law, and in our memories to our dads.  They both loved the adventures we have taken and encouraged us to continue on, living each day to the fullest.  Well, here's to you Dad!