Senior Brown Bears discover "CAMPING" in England

WHAT? and WHY?

After our trip to Alaska we discovered that despite our ages we still had a zest and relish for experiencing new things. A friend was clearing her loft and had a 4 berth canvas ridge tent to dispose of .She wanted to raise money fior an African charity.We have 2 Border Terrier dogs and love their company wanting them to come with us wherever it is possible.Camping offered new opportunities for this.

WHEN?

WHERE?

Members of our family were taking a holiday in North Wales and together we agreed that we would camp near them for a couple of nights. Neighbours suggested a 5* campsite on the shores of Lake Bala and so one day in August we set off for Shripshire and the Snowdonia National Park.

HOW DID OUR FIRST EXPEDITION IN "ASLAN" (that's what we christened the tent) GO?

We enjoyed our first taste of camping . The weather was mixed ,but we remained dry and warm. We camped within 2 metres of a fabulous lake and watched families kayaking ,sailing and fishing -such genuine leisure pursuits and such fun and relaxation for all. The dogs were also in the mood ,safely tethered or on the lead so as not to hamper the holidays of others .
The campsite was beautifully clean ,well ordered ,hospitable and inclusive of all kinds of needs.
We enjoyed the experience of camping life .It gave us new ways of thinking ,planning and choosing how to spend a few days away and at relatively inexpensive cost .We cooked beforehand took plenty of fruit and salads and visited mountain biking sites in the forest where we could walk the dogs ,a white water rafting centre ,the charming towns of Bala and Barmouth and an ancient Cistercian Abbey site.

We are hooked and are in the process of testing a 1 man tent that we had in the garage for the grandchildren.If it is still waterproof we shall use it for stores when we take our second trip before the end of the summer . 



Two Happy bears travels on ....



We have now been back home for a fortnight but still the Happy Memories of Alaskan Chimes and Times spent there linger on .They result from a holiday which was rich in its varied experiences but full of good humour and the simple pleasures of sharing with friends and so we stand as "Happy Bears " renewed and refreshed by our "salmon feasting " by the Kenai River and looking forward to the English Summer ,autumn and the beauty of the seasons ahead.How renewed ,how refreshed ?

To leave home and visit somewhere far distant gave us an opportunity to investigate and discover another way of life in a totally different landscape to our own . Rolling English countryside green and verdant versus majestic mountains of the Alaska Range and pine forest and wilderness ..So for three weeks we became "children" again exploring spontaneously alongside our friends .



We have returned very appreciative of both Alaska and England and each other.For two seniors -as they call  OAP'S over the pond -to be woken up in such a way ,as we have, has been wonderful and we can't stop talking about it .Our plans are to continue blogging and using this space to keep us with developments in Alaska.Only last night I read in the Anchorage Time of a missing solitary climber on Denali -missing for three days his was attempting from 17,000 feet to ski down the Denali Pass .

Homesteading on the Kenai Peninsula

A Homesteader's Family cabin

Carroll nee Madden is a homesteader's daughter . Her family came to Alaska in the early 50's when Keith was a teenager and I had was at primary school .Carroll's family claimed a piece of land by marking out a 40 acre plot by the river .They had ,as other homesteaders of the 50's to prove their intent to stay by growing crops and settling the land for 7 months before they could gain the title to the property.

Museum cabin containing exhibits  

Carroll is a voluntary guide at the Soldotna Homesteading Museum where original log cabin homes and community buildings have been reconstructed in order to convey the nature of pioneering in our lifetime.Carroll brilliantly and enthusiastically portrayed her childhood as living history and we were enthralled .She expressed great pride in the achievements of her parents generation their tenacious pioneering spirit ,ingenuity,intellect and creativity in adjusting to the challenges of the Kenai peninsula.These were determined people of resilience and energy who  worked together to create. the community ethic of this place.

"Through the window of a family cabin

 The Homestead Museum leaflet states
"located on Centennial park road it features a wildlife museum and historic log village and fishing boats.Among the log buildings is the last territorial school built in 1958 ,where students studied by the light of gas lanterns ,still hanging in the school.

Fishing boat of the time

Soldotna's founding settlers arrived in 1947.

Jan and Stan in the UK



Jan and Stan examine the car of a friend who built this car from scratch.



 "Write in your heart that every day is the best day of the year "

Emerson

Jan and Stan left today to travel to Heathrow and  make their direct connection to Anchorage tomorrow.Safe journey dear friends we shall miss you and the gals in Soldotna.

However brownbeartravels will continue to wander on as there is a lot more to tell of our times together both here and in Alaska.These pictures are of grand memories .

Love Gill and Keith

Chilly time at the lake on the Seward highway

Funky Monkey fun

Denali guarding our happiness in majesty as it has done for all as a reminder of our creator

Ellen and Amanda our sherpas to Kelly Lane base camp

Leaving for home ....

Here I am early on our last morning in Alaska anticipating a journey of some length home to the UK .Dawn is breaking at 3.30 am and the sun never really went down. That's how we feel about the memories of a 10th wedding anniversary trip .When we get home to friends and family we shall have so many good experiences to share.So the Brown Bear ambles on across its beautiful wilderness home as we look forward to seeing Jan and Stan after their Cotswold Way walk.

We have spent three weeks in the Kenai peninsula area of Alaska a relatively small part of this amazing state and yet we have seen and read about so much that the Brown Bear will continue its exploring long after we reach home .

The other evening after a ride to the beach and a chat to Edward we watched a mother moose and her two young yards from the house .It was wonderful to see them up close .We were very still as we had been warned that mother moose are very protective and can charge in a heartbeat if she things they are in danger! 

Jan and Stan thank you for helping us plan this trip .It has been unique and could never be replicated . Thank you too Daisy ,Scout ,Finan and Tilly and all our dog friends Guinness and Bud and their packs  for enabling this to happen.That includes Hazel ,Jacqui and Craig Evie ,Eva and Mark at home too . Thank you Amanda ,Ellen,Sole ,Faith ,Mary , Kathleen and Matty at  Birch Tree Gallery  ,Linda ,Edward and members of the Kenaitze tribe ,the Baptist Church at College Heights , the Pendog Obedience group and the catholic Church in Soldotna , Mary Lou and Nicole,Steve and Diane .WE HAVE HAD A BLAST ! See you in Blighty Toodle Pip for now !

Goodbye Denali Country 

With love to you all

Gilly and Keith

X X X

Pink Lady Cards: Exciting news!

Pink Lady Cards: Exciting news!

Silence is Golden- The Kelly Lake experience

My secret's in the wind and open sky,

There is no longer any time Time -to lose:

The world is young with laughter -we can fly 

Among the  imprisoned hours as we choose ! 

The rushing minutes pause; an unused Day 

Breaks into dawn and cheats the tired sun;

The birds are singing.Hark come out and play !

There is no hurry! Life has just begun .

Algernon Blackwood 

Kelly Lake

 

Within the Kenai refuge  National Park on Kelly Lake just off the Seward Highway there is a log cabin and a beached row boat- a place of golden silence beneath the mountain slopes .We stayed there for one dreamy day and night after our faithful "sherpas "   and their trusty friends Guinness and Bud had walked us along the shores of the lake to discover it .

On the wooden table within the cabin is a log book in which those who choose to spend some of their days there can record the experience .Here are three of them taken from the entries beginning in January 2011 

Sherpa 1 with Bud and Guinness

17th February 2011 by Tyler ,Doug ,Kristen and Gretel the dog . 

We skied and fished during a beautiful sunset .Over the course of an hour ,Gretel our pooch cut one,then two and three paws on the ice. The ensuing blood bath looked like a murder scene which had started at the lakeside and led dripping all the way to the cabin steps ..We quickly put our wilderness first aid skills to the test and bandaged Gretel up nicely with duct tape and paper towels .Dad proceeded to make a most delectable moose stew while Gretel was put on house arrest.Bellies full we sweated the night away in Wood stove heat even though it was -9 below outside.The sunrise was beautiful and called for a hot cup of coffee .



May 2011 written by Jaycie aged 10 on behalf of her family Mom Maria, Dad, Nia aged 8,Ky aged 6 and Journey their dog .

This cabin is so amazing! Such nice weather also .Pretty sunny with little wind .I,my Dad and brother Ky rowed the boat around the little island on the lake .We saw many fish and birds as we got to the patch of lily pads .

Ky and I had such joy pushing and playing with the lily pads.Turning round it was good to come back to the log cabin and eat.

My sister Nia had got supper prepared . BUT Journey our dog was in the boat too having a good time probably .When we were 100 feet from the shore Mom and Nia were waving to us and it was kinda hard to hold on to Journey's back .We were so tempted to swim back to shore.

After supper we went on a hike I ,Ky and Mom were up ahead and Nia and Dad were behind.This gave Journey a problem  which group should he walk with? He kept dashing back and forth and because of that I nearly knocked Ky in the water.It was such a nice trail listening to birds chirping in the trees and walking uphill and crossing trail bridges .We loved that!It was our favourite part .This was our second year at the cabin and I hope to come back again .

Mom Maria added to this entry 

Enjoyed our time -this cabin is a great place to stay. -great cabin ,great views great memories .

Gill and Keith Beardmore wrote as next callers at the cabin :-

We find ourselves here in those beautiful log cabin at almost the end of our three week stay on the Kenai Peninsula Alaska .We are retired and this has been a memorable anniversary trip made all the more special by the thoughtfulness of our friends Jan and Stan and those who have participated in our stay . Amanda ,Ellen ,Faith ,Sole ,Linda ,Edward ,Kathleen ,Marty, Steve and Diane with Mary watching carefully in the wings encouraging us from the lower 48.

This cabin is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places we have ever stayed .We love the changing moods of the water ,the loons calling from shore to shore and the majesty of the snow laden mountains beyond it .

To be in the midst of such a wilderness so vast and close to nature is humbling .After breakfast this morning we saw a large mountain hare scamper into the woods ,a jay and its mate searching for food and a squirrel scavenging around the camp fire for crumbs and morsels of food .These memories of golden silence will last us all our days .

We want to thank those Americans who have contributed so much of themselves to our joy.Your warm hospitality and genuine warmth have opened our eyes to this stupendous place .We shall fly home within the next few days full to the brim with all we have learned and seen from our cousins across the pond in Alaska .As you say and we add "God bless America "

This blog will be continued over the months as there a photos and other experiences of Denali country to record .

 This blog is dedicated to the memory of two members of  Soldotna family who lost their lives this weekend while hiking and boating south of here from  a similar Refuge cabin .The wind caused their boat to be swamped and due to the presence of mind of 15 year old girl 3 survived after swimming a mile in glacier freezing waters ,walking to another cabin with no shoes and signalling in bright clothes to air rescue float plane .

  

Wilderness calling two seniors !!

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is a 1.92 million acre (7,770 km²) wildlife preserve located on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. The refuge was created in 1941 as the Kenai Moose Range, but in 1980 it was changed to its present status by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. There is a wide variety of terrain in the refuge, including muskeg and other wetlands, alpine areas, and taiga forest. The refuge protects several large mammals, including brown bears, black bears, dall sheep, moose, and caribou, as well as thousands of migratory and native birds. There are numerous lakes, as well as the Kenai River, and the refuge is a popular destination for fishing for salmon and trout. The refuge has several campgrounds and boat launches, including two developed campgrounds, one at Hidden Lake and another at Skilak Lake, both accessible from Skilak Lake Loop Road, which intersects the Sterling Highway at both ends.The refuge is administered from offices in Soldotna. We visited the centre today .



Tomorrow we shall be sleeping overnight in this park in this cabin beside a lake .In the garage our camping gear is stored and all is ready for a journey by 4x4 jeep into the wilderness and perhaps the glimpse of a bear ,the sound of a loon or the sight of a mother moose with her youngster !
Signing off until Sunday
The Silver Hoody from the Midlands

Knitting in Alaska -a pleasant hour and a half

http://www.alaska.net/~birchtre.

Kathleen has run the Birch tree gallery on Funny River Road for 20 years .It started off as a fine arts gallery but when postal rates changed it was extended to include the sale of knitting yarns and the paraphernalia associated with both knitting and crochet.This was done  in order to diversify the business and attract a broader range of customers.Today Keith delivered me to the gallery and then went home to read a Farley Mowat book whilst I joined Kathleen, Matty and Karen to experience and discover knitting the American way . It was a wonderful means of getting to know each other and to compare ideas.


Kathleen opens the shop to those who "Want to come knit" from 4 pm until 6pm when the shop closes each week. This happens each Thursday throughout the year . She goes about selling , meeting the needs and queries of all customers from those beginners to experienced knitters and also teaches knitting .I think we call that multi tasking !Anyway it all made for an easy relaxed atmosphere .

 

While I was there a new first- time- grandma, who had just learned to knit, came in. Kathleen advised her as to pattern,needles and yarn so that she could knit her 6 month old grandson a easy-to-knit jacket .This all took place in an  unhurried way as we sat on stools around the counter knitting and crocheting together.I bought a simple pattern, yarn and needles to make a purse and so the conversation began .

American knitting patterns use different abbreviations to our own. Needles are mainly two pointed ends of bamboo joined with plastic and reference to sizes  is in standardised numbers as well as millimetres . However you can buy needles in pairs . Yarn is not referred to in ply 3 ply ,4ply ,double knitting etc but rather to worsted or not and the tension the yarn would knit to  .Crafts are big in America !That's why I love it so.

Conversation was not just about  knitting but ranged from fishing events ,to a boat that Kathleen's husband was selling.It then moved onto marvellous news  of the health of a friend of Karen's in the lower 48 who had had a successful double lung transplant 10 months ago.

Meanwhile the first time Grandmom paid for her yarn needles and pattern joined in our conversation and then left a very happy lady eager to begin knitting for the new member of her family .She left with a warm smile and said "I'll be back again when I have finished this.Your shop was recommended for good quality yarn."

Keith drew up in the jeep outside shortly afterwards  and I went home after a wonderful hour and a half with friendly welcoming people and was full of the opportunity we had to share a hobby we had in common.

We prepared chicken strips in salmon rub and mixed peppers together after another pleasant day in Alaska and chatted about the drive via the  Kenai Spur road to old Kenai town where we had had  had lunch at Veronica's . Here we tried new food as we have tried to do all trip .Keith had a beef sandwich salad and I had sweet potato and apple soup and salad . We visited the Kenai museum too .

Veronica's in Old Kenai



A Steller Jay landed on the deck the other day

Each day has been different here and it is great to know  and feel  the spirit of   curiosity, exploration and discovery so many  miles from home ! 

Serendipity in Soldotna

After our trip to Homer yesterday we had a serendipity day here in Soldotna the commercial hub of the Kenai peninsula.It is great fun to explore another place so different from home and yet where we still share the same language .We can ask silly questions and receive a tolerant smile followed by a "You are welcome"  kind reply. So on our first dull day with the temperatures at least 15 degrees lower, we ventured out .Freddie's as they call it here was our first port of call .

The Fred Myer's Store in Soldotna is like a cathedral to shopping .I have never been in such a huge store .Yes, even bigger and more exhaustive in the range of things it supplies than Tesco's .At the first visit we walked into the fruit and vegetable section where I saw such a festival of fruit and vegetables of every size colour and season .Apples shine because each one is waxed to tempt you ! If you can't find what you need it must be cultural difference. This  we proved .We were searching for egg cups to hold boiled eggs and asked someone else who  was shopping the shelves of goods ,"Where can we find egg cups ?"   A blank face was the response.I found myself describing an egg cup and its function and it was obvious eggs to not come in egg cups after boiling in this part of the world BUT we did have a smiling conversation afterwards  about "sunny side up" eggs and "easy over" ones too.Fred Myers store in Soldotna is so huge I physically found myself dizzy in trying to choose from even  just one kind of product !

The post office was next on our list .We moan about the postal service sometimes but here most  collect the post and have a post key to collect smaller packages from a box. So you have to put a bit of effort into collecting your mail . Made us appreciate the work of our post girl  who has delivered our mail through snow and sun over recent years.

The Moose is Loose bakery is a fascinating place .The smell of baking is a definite lure.

This shop seems to be known for miles around and outside in the back of a pickup truck a friendly beagle lifted his head in welcome. He patiently awaited his owners who were feasting on cinnamon rolls and coffee inside

Jo-Ann's Craft and Fabric supplies is a great shop for those who love making things.I stopped there to pick up materials to make a thank you card for Jan and Stan .Because this is Alaska it would seem that there is a tradition of using the long winter evenings to quilt ,knit and make .Back in the fifties it was originally based  on a mend and make do necessity and supplies came in through mail order but this has changed and stores like Jo-Ann's sing out that the fact that the  traditional skills of quilting and knitting are far stronger here than at home. 

At the other end of town is the Birch tree gallery I shall join a knitting group there this afternoon.

The Birch tree Gallery Soldotna a wool shop and gallery

The Visitors centre is a key place to initially visit to plan a serendipity day .

Finally we turned on to the Kalifornsky road and called in at the fish processing plant where we bought halibut ,king salmon and white salmon for the freezer .We have eaten fish every meal through choice and love it !What is more we were given a pack of salmon rub to flavour our future fishy meals. 

Thank you Soldotna for another day full of exploration.



Soldotna to Homer "A journey of images "

Soldnotna on the Kenai River

Sterling Highway

Mount Redoubt

Ninilchik

Russian Orthodox Church at Ninilchik in Winter

Anchor Point

Bald Eagles on the Beach

Homer .

Inside the "two Sisters Bakery "



Inside Islands and Oceans Maritime Centre

Homer Spit in Winter

Homer Spit from the air

On the Spit

Thank you

Alaska