TWO PEAS AND THE POD: 💯DAYS in AK💚GOODBYE AND HELLO AGAIN💚

SATURDAY

ALASKAN STOP #19

NANCY LAKE STATE REC AREA

WILLOW, AK

This morning we said "Goodbye!" to the foursome we have been camping next to for the last two days. Katherine and John will be dropping off Lis and Kenton at the Anchorage Airport so they can fly home to Southern California after visiting for a week. Additionally, they will be picking up Katherine's neice and her daughter so they can spend a week traveling in Alaska too.

We however are only traveling 30-miles down the road to our next stop in Willow, AK. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has it's ceremonial start in early March in Anchorage, but the "official restart" takes place 80-miles away here in Willow. The 938-mile race finishes in Nome, AK with recent races finishing in 7-9 days.

Remember Rod and Sharon from back in Valdez last month, we will be saying "Hello!" to them as they are already camping at Nancy Lake State Recreation Area where we will be camping tonight. Winston and VerJean will also be joining us here in the park for two nights.

We will get a chance to meet Katerine's neice and her daughter in a couple of weeks when our paths will cross again.

Nancy Lake

SUNDAY - Last night all six of us sat around Rod and Sharon's campfire and talked about what today's activities might include. By midnight we still hadn't reached a definite plan for today, so around 11:30AM this morning we all met up in the middle of our little campground cul-de-sac and decided to drive the road that goes up and over the nearby Hatchers Pass.

Rod and Sharon had already made the drive earlier this week, so they offered to lead our little caravan today. We were so glad they did!

The weather wasn't great today, very cloudy and rain was expected later in the afternoon, but we pressed on anyway. The north end of the scenic drive is located in the town of Willow and the south end comes out near Palmer, AK. At the top of the pass, some 2000 feet above the valley floor, is Summit Lake. This was by far the busiest location along the entire drive. (It was a stunning drive! Kind of like Carlsbad Caverns except you wanted to stop at every pullout and take 360 degree pictures and then I couldn't help but take more pics while moving between pullouts. It was so magical, maybe thats's why I felt like I was in the Lord of the Rings somehow!! Just beautiful. -T)

After the drive we all met up at the Bear Paw River Brewing Company in Wasilla for some beer and pizza. Then it was time to head back to the campground after we found gasoline for the bargain price of $4.99 when everywhere else it town was closer to $5.50 a gallon.