Day 32 Ends With a Stroll @ Olnes Pond

We returned to the campground from our Elliott Highway day trip to find a lot more people than there were when we left.

It’s only Thursday, but the locals have come out to “stake out” sites for this weekend. One RVer has put his rig in one site, lawn chairs in another site, and his tow vehicle in yet another site ... holding them for the rest of his group, I assume. There are lots of ATVs parked near the trailers, but no one has been riding them ... something for which we are grateful.

The only noise is from three dogs in one site who bark incessantly at the smallest movement halfway down the road in either direction. I get that they are supposed to be on alert to protect the occupants, but this is ridiculous.

Anyway, since we were in the car all day with little in the way of exercise, we went for a stroll around Olnes Pond ... stretch our legs and check out the birds along the shoreline.

According to the US Fish & Wildlife service, “Alaska is home to more than 470 species of birds.” Most of these birds are migratory ... here for the breeding season.

Today, we saw lesser yellowlegs; a semipalmated plover ... a first for me; a merganser pair; and other waterfowl too far to identify.

Even though we weren’t very active today, we’re exhausted. Methinks an early night is in order.Read more