Wednesday, June 12, 2013

My Weekend

  Hi everyone, as everyone knows, I hate this heat and try to work in it but, it just isn't working out. So, I have been working mornings {sometimes} and evenings {also sometimes}, LOL. Quite frankly, I have been finding it a problem getting motivated in this heat and losing interest with this town cabin and am pretty much tired of doing it. It seems pretty much like having a full time job and that is not why I retired, as a matter of fact, that is why I retired, so I don't have to work. I am at the point of taking everything to my remote cabin and selling this one. Plus, it seems where my town cabin is, people are moving in all around me. Time for a change.

   Todays Blog isn't about that. I decided to take the weekend off to travel a bit and very glad I did. On Saturday, I took a trip up Hatcher Pass road which goes up to an old mining claim which is now a tourist attraction. You can go there from Willow and Palmer. It was a beautiful day, hot and sunny so, it made for a good day to get away. I stopped at Willow Townsite and got drinks and snacks for the trip.

   It is about 17miles up to the first gate going to the mine. The road is paved for a few miles and then it is gravel and dirt. It was breezy that day so dust everywhere inside the car and on me. Well worth the trip. I got some great photos and one special photo that I really enjoy. So, let me take you on the abbreviated tour.

Going up the road

























I saved the best photos For last, I am sure you will feel the wait is well worth it, I stopped for some lunch and to get water out of the creek and when I looked up and to my surprise! enjoy


This gal wondered out, nibbled a bit and kind of checked me out for a bit. I guess she figured I wasn't a threat and decided to cross the creek. What a shot.

Starting to cross

Then low and behold, another surprise, this youngin appeared

I gotta say, this was the best part of the whole trip.

This by far, is the best shot

This is the end of the trip, time to head back

The blue sign on the bridge is a notice of a mining claim.

Approaching the Parks Highway

I hope all of you enjoyed this post, this is one of my very favorites.

PLEASE REMEMBER: NOT TO COPY THESE PHOTOS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, THANKS

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have always found the willow side with the bever dams and all to be the prettier side...although the Palmer side has the high up un-obstructed valley views...on rare occasions you will see some black bears up there too. Good blue berry picking in the fall...

Ya, I believe the heat is going to get us all...we have some of the plants repotted in the green houses and dirt added to a couple of the raised beds..need to finish them..new pig fencing arrived yesterday so we will be making a larger pen for them...have quite a few more projects on the agenda for the summer including camping and ATVing some of the local trails looking for some good moose hunting areas up here.

No matter where you go John, your going to have to maintain what ever you have wheather town or bush...the question is how primitive do you want your place to be...just to sleep and eat in or...with each additional thing added comes maintence unfortunately. I have done a lot of thinking on that topic myself lately. It is due to meeting you and seeing your cabin. I have soooo many things to break down here and I have so many bills related to what I have. I'm looking to simplify a heck of a lot more to a more manageable size.

Wash

Bushrat John said...

Hi Wash, I have very little here at the town cabin but, I still believe it is to much. I can tell you will be busy this Summer as well.

Carol G said...

Beautiful pics! I'm glad you had a nice adventure and Mrs Moose didn't get too maternal on you...

Anonymous said...

I'm taking a 3 day class this summer on the edible plants of this area. I definitely feel that will cut down on my needs to grow foods in the garden. I figure what I do to this place can only increase the value... Especially the animal areas and the garden/greenhouse area.

What I would do to be able to go back to what you have and not have all of this stuff...some of what I'm building with right now I have had stored for quite a few years. I'm glad I'm finally using it. I can always replace it if I move.

Wash

Bushrat John said...

Thanks Carol, this was one trip I really enjoyed. She checked me out for a bit and pretty much decided I was not a threat.

Bushrat John said...

I know what you mean Wash. I hated myself for quite awhile after accumulating so much but, figured, just go with the flow and downsize which I am still doing.

CottonLady said...

Hi John!! Wow what beautiful pictures you shared with us! A wonderful sighting of mama and baby, too.

Sorry the heat is bothering you, I was going to send you some of mine.
Just averaging 95* lately! I, too, do chores etc in early morning and in the evening.

I'm looking forward to more pictures! Blessings!

Bushrat John said...

Hi cotton, glad you enjoyed the photos. Don't send any heat. It's 7 pm and 90 degrees. YIKES!

Anonymous said...

Hey John
Nice Picts, great shot of the cow and new calf. I'm surprised she came out and lead the calf across with you standing there.. I recall a time I went out in my skivvies to chase an old cow out of my garden at 02:30 (AM) and as I got closer to the cow, instead of running, she lowered her head and laid her ears back, It was then I saw the Calf and the dog and I were in the middle and in pretty deep doo doo... The dog saved me. Now that most of the big ice chunks have melted or floated out of the River going to have another stab at going to the cabin.
Stay Cool
Old John

Bushrat John said...

Hi john, I was real surprised myself that she would lead her calf across the creek while I was there. She must of just known I was friendly. I bet you will have one buggy trip up the trail. Don't let the skeeters carry you off, lol

Anonymous said...

John
the bugs are bad here in "town" and they'll be 100 times worse "out there". and People wonder why I wear long sleeved shirts, have head nets and wear gloves in the summer...

we usually have a few swallows around the house here in town, but they haven't shown up this year. When they do show up it's entertaining to set out in the back lawn and watch the swoop and swirl picking off bugs. Doesn't take too much to entertain us anymore..
Stay Cool

Old John

Penny said...

Awww John, thanks so much for sharing this! I LOVE those pictures of little mooshkie and mama, especially in the water. What a photographic capture!

Bushrat John said...

Hi Penny, nice to hear from you. I'm glad you enjoy the photos, my camera abilities seem to be getting better.

Anonymous said...

Hey John
got any head nets?? made a speed run to the cabin, took some folks out that had bought a neighboring lot.. as predicted the "skeeters" are fierce out there.. probably sacrificed a couple quarts of body fluide to them.

Rivers were almost junk free.. Sea lions are back at the mouth of the Yentna so The Reds must be starting up the rivers. Kings were in the mouth of Moose Creek but they wouldn't touch an artificial lure.

I see Talkeetna set a new high temp record of 96.. it was only a miserable 86 here where I live. I spent 20 of my 21 yrs in the Navy in the South Pacific, but I just can't take the heat anymore... Takes a lot of beer to suffer through a day over 70 degs for me... anymore...

stay cool

Old John

Na Na said...

Ooo... great photos. Love them all. Thank you.

Susan Stevenson said...

What beautiful photos of mama moose and her baby! You're so lucky! I've been hoping to find a mama moose and babies since they started giving birth! HOpe to see some this summer. Your photos are awesome!

Bushrat John said...

Thanks na na, glad you enjoyed them.

Bushrat John said...

Thanks Susan, I appreciate kudos from a professional photographer. Shots like these are purely luck and worth the wait.

Bushrat John said...

Hey john, figured you would be surrounded by skeeters. I could just sit and watch the sea lions. It has been hotter at my place than Talkeetna. I am having a hard tme dealing with this weather. Speaking of cold beer, see ya