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Summer "Abroad"
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Summer "Abroad"

Getting there is half the fun! Read more
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    🇺🇸 , United States
    Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    #62 RA: Friends

    2 hours ago in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    This is a super cute stop where one half is all about Alaska, and the other is all about Yukon. We are ready to cross over to Canada.

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    #61 RA: Frost Heave Prevention

    4 hours ago in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Long story - it doesn't work. So, they installed these vertical culverts with hats to try to prevent frost heaves. The idea was to vent the ground heat. Fun roadside oddities. And they will remain such because they, unfortunately, don't work.Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    Rest Area Win

    Yesterday in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    The road to Tok proved to be a wavy ocean of pavement. We were hoping to get closer to the border, but then we found this rest area. It's a little off the road, flat, with a gorgeous view. We're here for the night. On to the border tomorrow to venture back into Canada. Officially heading in the direction of home, but with plenty of plans for on the way. 😀Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler
    Root Glacier
    Early onMe descending towards the endCool ice feature in Glacier poolFootbridgeKennecott MillRusty shit everywhereOld buildingsThe town from the top of the millHard hats are required for going through the millFinishing the tourA picture of the single lane bridge from the driveThe fluff that made it look like it was snowing in Anchorage. It's still on the trees here.

    Kennecott

    July 11 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    My boondocking car camping experience was uneventful and did get me some shut eye.

    I arrived, via footbridge, to my shuttle to Kennecott. Got fitted for crampons, and we set off. I didn't realize 1) how long we would be on the glacier and 2) how tough the climbing/walking would be. Wowser!

    Followed up the 7 mile glacier hike (3 on the glacier), with the 1 mile Kennecott Mill tour. They like their walking in Kennecott.

    I had dinner at The Potato in McCarthy. The rockfish curry was _delicous_!

    An employee on a 4 wheeler took pity on me and drove me the mile back to the footbridge. He was an angel for doing that. My feet were so sore.

    Drove back to the camper. I am toast and excited to call it a night.    Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler
    Yeah, so there's this at the start of the road.
    Then this about 6 miles in...At least traffic is light. LolYikes! Making the driving bridge look goooood.

    On The Move

    July 10 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Two moves today. Mom and the camper moved to Kenny Lake, and then the Suburban and I moved on to near McCarthy. I take on a glacier hike and copper mine tour tomorrow. I couldn't handle tacking on 5 hours of driving, too. This way, I only have the trip back tomorrow night.Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler
    I think Mom was still sleeping.The rain drizzle stopped right about the time we arrived at the debarkation beachGlacier has receded 19 miles in the last 45 years. You can tell.Sun!!!Whale

    Valdez - Day 2

    July 9 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Kayaking at the foot of the Columbia Glacier (West Branch) was the event of the day. It required some gear, some boat riding, and some Alaskan rain. It also came with whales, otters, a spotted seal, bald eagles, and afternoon sunshine! I got a few pics of some of the things. Those little otters were too small and too fast for photos. Sort of the same for the eagles.Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    So.Much.Rain

    July 7 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 9 °C

    We drove to Valdez today. A late start owing to getting back to the camper in Glacier View around midnight from my Barrow side quest.

    After driving through a frickin' cloud in the mountains, here we are. Whew!Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    Utqiagvik

    July 6 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Soooo... as long as I was at the airport....

    A bit craycray - I flew to Utqiagvik (Barrow) for the day. It is the northernmost city in the US. The northernmost point is approximately 9 driving miles northwest from town, but you need Native permission to access that point. I looked for a way to make it happen and contacted a few 'tour guides', but I couldn't seem to find anyone actually making the drive. So, I've settled for what I got. Which, frankly, was enough. Started with a one-on-one guide experience through the Inupait Heritage Center. That was a trip. He has some pretty specific issues with the center, the town council, the federal government, basically everyone. 🤷‍♀️

    Then, I walked to a local park/gathering area for the last day of festivities for the 4th of July. It seems they do four or five days of events to mark the occasion. Today was kids' games, juggling, and some nail pounding thing. Unfortunately, after about 2 hours of different foot races for the kids, I left for my next stop. They were still at it an hour later. I never saw the adult games. I will say, the 1 year old 'races' were adorable! There is no video because I already felt like an intruder. Recording kids I don't know felt a little weird.

    My last stop was the iconic whale arch and ocean access. I did the polar plunge. I had a hard time getting very deep because the ICEBERGS were in the way. And I float in seawater. So... I did my best. I touched an iceberg and then tried to dunk. I will say it was actually about the same misery as our annual New Year's Day cleansing plunge. The weather was a balmy 52 degrees, so I warmed up soon after getting out.    Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    #60 RA: A Different Sort

    July 6 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    So, another example of people being offensive. This totem pole has pot smokers on it because it is outside a dispensary. Interesting but inappropriate. (Insert big white sigh here)

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    #58 RA: Eagles, one on a big pole

    July 6 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    This municipal park is quite nice. The kids' playground has a very soft imitation turf. The port-a-potty had loads of tp, didn't stink, and wasn't a mess, and it is dedicated to a woman who must have had a connection to eagles. They are a little frightening. LolRead more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    Escape Attempt #2

    July 5 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    J really liked the escape room 2 days ago, so we hit up the same place for a second room this evening before their flight out. We were on the last step when we ran out of time. We needed our 5th to help me with the logic problem. But she stayed with the camper.Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    #56 RA: Castle House

    July 5 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We are heading back to Anchorage as the boys fly home tonight. 😭
    We made a short detour be the castle house. It is privately owned, and there were no signs to indicate that gawkers were welcome. One pic from the car, and we left.Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler
    The poor plunger car is no moreThe yellow circle is about where we set our chairs and claimed space.

    The Launch Aftermath

    July 5 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We were nearly the last to roll out of the bottom parking. We had a short move down the road, and they didn't allow arrivals until afternoon.

    These are pics I snapped on the way out and one I found online to give you an idea where we sat for the launching.Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler
    Corvette was the headliner, but the box truck just before it was better.I signed the Corvette.People, people, and more people.The coast guard from Kodiak has a plane, and flew over us fairly low given the mountains.1Jeffrey's awesome photography work here. 🥰

    Car Launch

    July 4 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Happy Treason Day! We celebrated in the most Alaskan way I could find... launching cars off a cliff.

    Fireworks are pretty much banned because of wildfire risk, and it never gets really dark, so they are sort of a fail in any case. Some places do parades. Some do athletic races. Here, they drive cars off a cliff. 🤷‍♀️Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    Palmer

    July 3 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We needed gas, groceries, and ice, so we headed back to Palmer. We checked out the Visitor Center, community garden, walked through the "Friday Fling" (farmer's market/craft vendors/food trucks), and wandered over to Wasilla for the Museum of Alaska.

    Palmer was a colony location during the New Deal for people to establish agriculture in AK. It is known for the state fair and huge veggies.    Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler
    A group favoriteFirewood! I've been looking everywhere.Matanuska Glacier...From our restaurant!!!

    Car Launch Early Arrival

    July 2 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We are in Sutton/Glacier View for the car launch on July 4th. They don't do reservations, so fcfs opening at 10am today. We were in line by 9am. Finally parked by 1pm. Whew!

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler
    2

    Anchorage

    July 1 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We spent a day in Anchorage. Everyone online said the city wasn't worth any time. Basically, a drive through city. I strongly disagree. Yes, there was a needle on the ground and a person clearly struggling in a McDs. But we found great experiences! And I found enough things we could do things tomorrow.

    First, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Plan on at least 3 hours. It was wonderful!

    We visited both a ulu factory and a chocolate factory. Both had viewing areas into the production area. We arrived pretty late in the day, so both were winding down. I ended up with some yummy chocolate.

    Last, we did an Escape Room. Needed 2 clues, but it is probably the best room I've ever done.

    We must press on to ensure our camping spot for the holiday. Thanks, Anchorage! You were a surprise vacation win!    Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler
    Just a nice picture. Turnagain Arm is a gorgeous area.Being fun

    Bore Tide

    June 30 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We're in transport mode today. We stopped a few times for M to fish. The only planned stop was to watch the bore tide. There are only around 60 in the entire world, and Turnagain Arm is one of the best known. Sometimes, it is large enough to surf. Our timing wasn't that good, but we still got to see it. I circled it to help you out. M spotted a number of Dall Sheep, too, but they were too far for a photo.Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    #54 RA: Westernmost Point

    June 29 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    Well, we've been to the northernmost point on a US highway (can still go further north, but it's not good road or road at all). Today, we hit the westernmost point. Again, take a boat or plane to get further.Read more

  • Amy KaySummer "Abroad"Traveler

    Boys Fishing

    June 28 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Halibut charter was canceled owing to a small watercraft advisory for Cook Inlet. My bear trip was also canceled. I'm a bit gutted because these were the excursions that were supposed to be the crown jewels of the trip. The halibut charter guy sent us up north to a river charter guy. The boys were almost bust, but some other guy on the boat killed it. So I guess they posed in front of the entire haul. 🤷‍♀️Read more