Through Indiana, Illinois and into Missouri

Stopped in Columbia MO for the night at Pine Grove Village Community. Just a stopover. Not much to see or do. On to the next night. 

Traveled on I-70 to Kansas City, then SW on I-35 to US 50. Happy to be off the Interstate to a country road that goes through small towns. Lots of flat farmland and grain silos. 

Stopped for the night in Kinsey, KS, just east of Dodge City, at the 4 Aces Campground. 

A short hike along the Coon Creek nature trail made everyone happy. 

Then a competitive game of ladder golf. 

Right outside of our RV, we saw a rainbow and then a sunset. 

 A walk about the small town, we found a quilt shop, The Bossy Sister, but it was closed. I’m going to need to do a better job of searching these out so I know when they are open!

Rained most of the night. 

That’s it for another day. 

On the road to Grand Canyon

After a quick turnaround - one and a half days- we are on the road with the RV, headed to the Grand Canyon. We plan to meet up with Lou, Denise, Lloyd and Vilma on the north rim. 

As we drove, I enjoy finding overpasses that have been designed. So much better than plain concrete. 

First night was in Miamsburg, OH, at the Star City Brewery, a Harvest Host location. It was a fun stop, good beer and wine AND a fire pit. One of the locals lit the fire and even provided the ingredients for s’mores. The marshmallows had chocolate in them. They were yummy. 

This was painted on one of the buildings. Doesn’t it looked like it’s actual figures?

As we talked with the bartender and locals, we learned that this town was named for the Miami Indians that lived here many years ago. Miamisburg Mound is one of the two largest conical mounds in eastern North America. 

That’s it for today. 

Last day in Alaska

Our last day in Alaska was raining, but I did get a small sunrise. 

We were going to take a water taxi out to see wildlife but the water was too choppy. After a delicious breakfast with reindeer sausage at a local cafe, we headed north to Anchorage, about 4 hours. 

Here are pictures along the Seward Highway. Yes, that’s snow. Weather stations were warning people about their morning commute in the snow. 

Have an overnight flight home. That’s it for this fantastic trip. 

Visit the Sea Life Center in Seward and then On to Homer

We were so fortunate to visit the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward AND get a behind the scenes look from Julie Kim, Darlene Jury Ishler’s daughter. The exhibits were very well done and hearing Julie’s passion for the sea life was so heartening. Love it when people love what they are doing. 

Puffins




Touch and feel aquarium was so neat. 







The seal was doing antics for Linda. 

Octopus 

Now it’s on to Homer, Alaska. We are staying at the Lands End Resort that’s on the end of the spit in Homer, Alaska. 

We done a couple hikes here in Homer. One hike on the Baluga flats, we came upon this eagle that was determined to get something to eat and drink. He wasn’t moving. We were able to get within 15’ of him. 

A nature center hike. 




Since our room was at the end of the spit and overlooked Kachemak Bay, we had some nice sunsets, moon and sun rises. 

We’ve seen some seals playing in the bay but not close enough for a picture. 

Thursday is a gray, somewhat rainy day - so what do we do… visit a winery and. Brewery

Some pictures as we drove around Homer. 

Fireweed is all over the place. 

Lots of boats in the bay. 

The weather cleared enough that we had a sunset with a rainbow. 

Tomorrow we head to Anchorage to fly home. It’s been a fun trip with lots of experiences. 

Headed to Seward

Leaving Palmer behind, we headed down the Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet. 

Next we stopped at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  We walked around to see the various animals. 

An Eagle and a raven watching us as we pulled into the parking lot. 

Muskox that had to repopulated from East Greenland to Alaska in 1930. 

Sita Black-tailed deer

Brown bear is also known as Grizzlies. 

Wood bison

Caribou

Coyote

The regal eagle. 

Porcupine 

Bear cub in his favorite tree 

Good stop, great informative exhibits. 

On the way to Seward, we stopped at Exit Glacier in the Kenai  Fjords National Park and hiked about 1.5 miles to the glacier. 

Seafood chowder and halibut bites for dinner then to the Sourdough Lodging for the night. 

Great day of exploration.