Reading 1820 Blogs Daily!


June 24, 2025
Seward, Alaska from ... Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We had a short drive to Seward yesterday. We were going to be early for our check-in, and so we'd planned a few stops along the way. Our first stop was here at Lower Summit Lake. Looking across...an idyllic setting. It's probably less inviting in winter.


Here's what our Milepost had to say about this spot. 


Looking in the opposite direction, it looked like this. If it isn't obvious, it was a gray and drizzly drive.


Mainly, we pulled off here to see the wildflowers promised by the Milepost. This was ...

read more
Seward, Alaska from Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We had a short drive to Seward yesterday. We were going to be early for our check-in, and so we'd planned a few stops along the way. Our first stop was here at Lower Summit Lake. Looking across...an idyllic setting. It's probably less inviting in winter.


Here's what our Milepost had to say about this spot. 


Looking in the opposite direction, it looked like this. If it isn't obvious, it was a gray and drizzly drive.


Mainly, we pulled off here to see the wildflowers promised by the Milepost. This was ...

read more
June 23, 2025
Hope, Alaska from ... Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. It was one of our longer days of driving yesterday. We had gray skies almost all day long with very brief sunbreaks. Somehow I was expecting more when we reached Hope, but it is what it is. I have lots to tell you about our drive yesterday, so let's just get right to it.

Right away after pulling out of the campground, we crossed over Kashwitna Lake. 


Here's what our Milepost says about it. Denali was not visible.


We passed through the little town of Houston, Alaska. 


Here's what our Milepost tells us ...

read more
Hope, Alaska from Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. It was one of our longer days of driving yesterday. We had gray skies almost all day long with very brief sunbreaks. Somehow I was expecting more when we reached Hope, but it is what it is. I have lots to tell you about our drive yesterday, so let's just get right to it.

Right away after pulling out of the campground, we crossed over Kashwitna Lake. 


Here's what our Milepost says about it. Denali was not visible.


We passed through the little town of Houston, Alaska. 


Here's what our Milepost tells us ...

read more
June 21, 2025
Montana Creek Campground; Willow, Alaska from ... Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We took our time driving yesterday. The drive was short, and our check-in time was relatively late. Nevertheless, we were able to check-in as soon as we arrived at Montana Creek Campground, about 15 miles south of Talkeetna. The town of Talkeetna is our reason for stopping here.

Our view from the day was another day of spectacular mountain scenery.


The weather was clear, and our Milepost suggested several places we might be able to see Denali. We stopped at the first one, and lo and behold...it's a little hazy, but there it is ...

read more
Montana Creek Campground; Willow, Alaska from Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We took our time driving yesterday. The drive was short, and our check-in time was relatively late. Nevertheless, we were able to check-in as soon as we arrived at Montana Creek Campground, about 15 miles south of Talkeetna. The town of Talkeetna is our reason for stopping here.

Our view from the day was another day of spectacular mountain scenery.


The weather was clear, and our Milepost suggested several places we might be able to see Denali. We stopped at the first one, and lo and behold...it's a little hazy, but there it is ...

read more
June 20, 2025
The Little Things from ... Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We gave ourselves a chill day yesterday. After four weeks on the road, we're feeling as if our driving/sight-seeing time is pretty well balanced with our downtime. For this trip, I've intentionally worked in down days to give us time to rejuvenate and, if we're being honest, to spend time with the kitties so they don't spend too much time by themselves. Fortunately for them, our two laps are adequate to meet the needs of two cats. 

Sadie spent her morning soaking up the morning sunshine in her catio.


Smitty got ...

read more
The Little Things from Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We gave ourselves a chill day yesterday. After four weeks on the road, we're feeling as if our driving/sight-seeing time is pretty well balanced with our downtime. For this trip, I've intentionally worked in down days to give us time to rejuvenate and, if we're being honest, to spend time with the kitties so they don't spend too much time by themselves. Fortunately for them, our two laps are adequate to meet the needs of two cats. 

Sadie spent her morning soaking up the morning sunshine in her catio.


Smitty got ...

read more
June 19, 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve from ... Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. It was a good day to explore Denali National Park and Preserve yesterday. We waited for the skies to clear. By the time we'd driven the 26 miles to the north, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. I snapped this picture at the park entrance. These days, I can't capture a sign at a national park without a bunch of photobombers in the way.


Our first stop was the visitor center. We'd already decided on a hike, but we stopped to pick up a trail map. Also...sled dogs be ...

read more
Denali National Park and Preserve from Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. It was a good day to explore Denali National Park and Preserve yesterday. We waited for the skies to clear. By the time we'd driven the 26 miles to the north, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. I snapped this picture at the park entrance. These days, I can't capture a sign at a national park without a bunch of photobombers in the way.


Our first stop was the visitor center. We'd already decided on a hike, but we stopped to pick up a trail map. Also...sled dogs be ...

read more
June 18, 2025
Cantwell, Alaska from ... Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We find ourselves in Cantwell, Alaska, this morning, having driven about 150 miles yesterday. It was another day of spectacular mountain views. This is what we saw for much of the day.


We paralleled powerlines for much of our day's drive. I always like these towers that look like cats.


And we passed by Skinny Dick's. That made me laugh. You can read a little more about it right here. We didn't stop.


The first point of interest was the Alaska Native Veterans Honor Bridge.


It was one of several crossings of the ...

read more
Cantwell, Alaska from Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We find ourselves in Cantwell, Alaska, this morning, having driven about 150 miles yesterday. It was another day of spectacular mountain views. This is what we saw for much of the day.


We paralleled powerlines for much of our day's drive. I always like these towers that look like cats.


And we passed by Skinny Dick's. That made me laugh. You can read a little more about it right here. We didn't stop.


The first point of interest was the Alaska Native Veterans Honor Bridge.


It was one of several crossings of the ...

read more
June 15, 2025
Fairbanks, Alaska from ... Cat Patches

 Good morning, my friends. We reached Fairbanks, Alaska, yesterday morning. As we left Delta Junction, I spotted the first barn I've seen in weeks! 


It's been my practice on this trip to read the Milepost between our current location and the day's final destination, taking pictures with my phone of anything that looks interesting. The Milepost has been helpful. If you're not familiar with it, it goes, literally, milepost by milepost and tells you what's there. Sometimes it's nothing. Sometimes it's a fuel stop. Sometimes it's a pullout along the road. Sometimes ...

read more
Fairbanks, Alaska from Cat Patches

 Good morning, my friends. We reached Fairbanks, Alaska, yesterday morning. As we left Delta Junction, I spotted the first barn I've seen in weeks! 


It's been my practice on this trip to read the Milepost between our current location and the day's final destination, taking pictures with my phone of anything that looks interesting. The Milepost has been helpful. If you're not familiar with it, it goes, literally, milepost by milepost and tells you what's there. Sometimes it's nothing. Sometimes it's a fuel stop. Sometimes it's a pullout along the road. Sometimes ...

read more
Quilt Shop: Calico Cow; Delta Junction, Alaska from ... Cat Patches

Good afternoon, my friends. I'm writing to you from Fairbanks, Alaska, this afternoon. I'll tell you about today's drive in tomorrow's post. For now, I want to tell you about the quilt shop in Delta Junction. I was surprised to find a quilt shop in such a small town. Apparently the long dark and cold winters encourage quilting. 


Here's how the shop looked from the outside. There was one other customer there when I arrived.


Stepping inside the front door, this is what I saw:


It was a long, narrow store, and small in size ...

read more
Quilt Shop: Calico Cow; Delta Junction, Alaska from Cat Patches

Good afternoon, my friends. I'm writing to you from Fairbanks, Alaska, this afternoon. I'll tell you about today's drive in tomorrow's post. For now, I want to tell you about the quilt shop in Delta Junction. I was surprised to find a quilt shop in such a small town. Apparently the long dark and cold winters encourage quilting. 


Here's how the shop looked from the outside. There was one other customer there when I arrived.


Stepping inside the front door, this is what I saw:


It was a long, narrow store, and small in size ...

read more
June 14, 2025
Delta Junction, Alaska from ... Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We hit the end of the road today...not the end of the trip. We reached the end of the Alcan Highway. Like I said, there was a place for an obligatory selfie. Happily, the marker is located at the Visitor Center in Delta Junction. A very nice man greeted us there and offered to take our picture.

But let's just back up to the beginning of our day. Of course, we enjoyed more stunning views of the mountains. The scenery never gets old.


The first thing on our list of notable things was this ...

read more
Delta Junction, Alaska from Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We hit the end of the road today...not the end of the trip. We reached the end of the Alcan Highway. Like I said, there was a place for an obligatory selfie. Happily, the marker is located at the Visitor Center in Delta Junction. A very nice man greeted us there and offered to take our picture.

But let's just back up to the beginning of our day. Of course, we enjoyed more stunning views of the mountains. The scenery never gets old.


The first thing on our list of notable things was this ...

read more
June 13, 2025
"Life" in Tok from ... Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We had a day of rest here in Tok yesterday. We had some "life" things to take care of. We bought groceries. Up until now, we've mostly been surviving on leftovers I brought from home for dinners. From here on, I'll have to do some actual cooking. Thus, the trip to the grocery store. It was still a relatively short list.

Check out the view of the mountains from the grocery store parking lot.


Not bad at all. Finally, we got some good weather today. It's been warm enough to be in short ...

read more
"Life" in Tok from Cat Patches

Good morning, my friends. We had a day of rest here in Tok yesterday. We had some "life" things to take care of. We bought groceries. Up until now, we've mostly been surviving on leftovers I brought from home for dinners. From here on, I'll have to do some actual cooking. Thus, the trip to the grocery store. It was still a relatively short list.

Check out the view of the mountains from the grocery store parking lot.


Not bad at all. Finally, we got some good weather today. It's been warm enough to be in short ...

read more
  • mindless musings
  • Page 2 of 85 ( 1700 posts )