Since coming into Alaska, we have been traveling a bit fast spending 1 to 2 nights at different campgrounds. One regret for more time was at Moon Lake Recreation Area, a small state park just north of Tok. This is where the photo of the pacific loon was taken in the previous post. With chairs set up at the edge of the lake, there were all sorts of ducks, the loon and moose. Getting closer to Fairbanks and the weekend, the parks became more congested so we kept working our way north.
With the pending long 4th of July weekend, we decided to head up the Steese Hwy a day early and chill for awhile. Unfortunately S & E dropped back with unresolved tire issues.
Exploring up the Nome Creek Road, we settled in the Ophir Creek Campground with tall white spruce and the creek wrapping around for 4 nights. This is BLM land with fishing, a section of the creek designated for gold panning, hiking and land of the magnificent great gray owl. This is an owl that was at the top of my wish list and turned out to have a nest nearby so I had many opportunities to see it. There were also plenty of arctic graylings in the creek for Harry but only as "catch & release".
Because we stayed put for a while, we had a chance to meet wonderful campers - a swiss couple who first showed me photos of the great gray owl, Neill a minister in Fairbanks and his family, and another guy whose name I never knew who is a trapper and also trains dogs. Neill was a great help with what to do around town and good company.
We learned that bear spray can be useless. Many carry a 48, maybe a magnum and in one case an AK 47 over the shoulder, 48 at the hip and a 38 tucked into the back of his girlfriend's jeans. Couldn't resist a sneak photo. This couple, Ryan and Maura, came back to visit and talk some more. Ryan works in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay flying out for 6 days then 2 days off. He is also a photographer and birder and told me about an owl he had seen several times in an area we would pass when we left. This morning as we drove the 12 mile gravel road out, it was the "owl grand slam" with 5 northern hawk owls, 2 great grays and the 2 short-eared that Ryan spoke of. Nice finale to a wonderful 4 days.
Back in Fairbanks to re-provision, fill fluids, propane, shop, check emails and reconnect with S & E. We plan to visit the University of Alaska Museum of the North before moving closer to Denali.
