Tlingit Salmon Art (courtesy of Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center)
After departing Valdez we headed north back to Glennallen and then west arriving in Anchorage. We stopped overnight hallway across the Glenn Highway at Grand View RV Park. We really don't drive LONG days anymore since we don't have to. Full hookups with military retiree discount at $34/day. It also offered a great view of Sheep Mountain Dall Sheep Reserve just across the road. You can sit back at the end of a long day behind the wheel and watch these magnificent rams as they loiter on the hillside. Only pitfall to our plans this trip: no sheep. They turned out to be on the other side of the mountain where we caught a glimpse of them crossing the pass.
The Glenn Highway is an impressive stretch of even more scenery (is that possible in Alaska) including the Matanuska Glacier. On a map Anchorage is the transportation hub of the state. Eventually you get here either from the north or east and you must go through here to get to the prized Kenai Peninsula. We will take the opportunity to get any major shopping or repairs done here as well as visit some friends and relatives this time. It was also time for me to refill prescriptions and this is where we will investigate a new source of reindeer meat.
We always stay at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson at the Fam Camp on base. It is the joining of the Elmendorf AFB and Ft Richardson facilities. Located on base it is secure, but nowhere near isolated from the wildlife. On our last trip we saw a grizzly on an outer road and a moose right in camp. In fact today when we checked in for our visitors pass on base they told us they were on the lookout for a grizzly sow scavenging around near the Ft. Richardson side, but probably wouldn't bother us where we were. You have to remember this is Alaska, their land. We're just visitors. 60 full hookups at $30/day. Showers and laundry as well. Located in the woods across from the base hospital it is quiet. www.militarycampgrounds.us/alaska/elmendorf-afb-famcamp?highlight=WyJlbG1lbmRvcmYiLCJlbG1lbmRvcmYncyIsImFsYXNrYSJd I did increase my water input filtration system as they had been having water problems on base due to nearby construction. 
We stayed here 10 days. Not only are we across the road from the JBER Hospital, but also next door to the new Alaska VA Healthcare System which includes a brand new medical center, a sweet facility and it increases a bit my faith in the system to do what's right. Thankfully, we didn't need it this trip.
The first day we hit the 'Bastion of Modern Civilization" Walmart as well as the Base Commissary and refilled groceries and prescriptions. We also went down to the Annual Anchorage Soup Kitchen Slammin' Salmon Derby Fundraiser on Shipp Creek. It was a fun time for everyone there and lots of good fish were caught. All prizes are donated and all proceeds from the sale of derby tickets go to the relief efforts for the Anchorage Soup Kitchen.
Crowds line the river to watch
20.4 pound King caught late on the first night
Anchorage Soup Kitchen Slammin' Salmon Derby
We got our mail forwarding while here as well. There were several different moose around the area and a black bear as well. No troubles for us, but gave Roux a good cardio vascular workout. Right before we left the ADFG came out with their rubber bullet guns and scared two young black bears deeper into the woods. Apparently they hadn't learned their fear of man yet and were doing a little shopping of their own. I spent a day down on Turnagain Arm scanning the cliffs for Dall Sheep, but the only ones in view were far above the road.
We found some local honey for Barb's allergies, some Lingonberry Jam for a future Finnish Reindeer recipe, and of course a couple souvenir shirts for the grandsons. We also sent some Reindeer hot dogs and polish sausage to a friend of ours picking up the mail. We also picked up several pounds of Reindeer Breakfast Sausage, Polish Sausage, and a couple packs of Caribou Steaks. We've never tried Caribou and we wanted to compare this market with the one we have bought our reindeer at before in Tok. We even caught a movie one afternoon.
We're still trying to whittle down the freezers prior to our Kenai Peninsula Adventure so we aren't eating out much. While here I prepared Reindeer Sausage Rice Casserole, Quail/Sausage/Boudin/Gator Gumbo, Gator Crockpot Meatballs, and Cornmeal Biscuits with Chorizo Gravy among a few others.
Unfortunately there were some maintenance issues with which to contend. Back in Great Falls, MT I replaced a tire on the left front of the RV. It was wearing oddly on just the inside track and beginning to scallop. The other three tires were fine. I attributed this to a faulty tire. On arrival in Anchorage (nearly 3500 miles later) I noticed that now the left rear tire on the RV has developed the same wear pattern, yet the left front is wearing fine. Both right side tires are wearing normally as well.
Needless to say I was concerned about the cause. One wheel or one on each side: bearings? overweight? WTH? I check the GVWR several times each trip, we're fine. But these tires are both on the SAME SIDE, which could also mean wheel alignment. Not common on RVs, but it does exist. The problem is finding someone who can deal with this. There are NO Camping World and few major RV repair facilities in Anchorage, but there are some I contacted. They, of course suggested overloading or perhaps alignment. I sent the pictures and they referred me to another repairman who came out to take a look. I love these mobile guys. He looked underneath, told us there is no damage to the system, but our axles may have become tweaked and may need to be replaced once we get back. He said we're safe and replacing the tire for now will be fine. We have the TorFlex axle system which is not your typical axle. www.dexteraxle.com/products/torsion-axles It is a more flexible type of setup, but when damaged, cannot be fixed. It must be replaced. To order the axles here would take upwards of 2 months or more. Needless to say we will keep a close eye on this during our 7 week sojourn thru the Kenai and before we head home. Funny ending to the week: I was doing laundry while Barb cleaned the RV and while I was folding a load out of the dryer something caught my eye. I turned to see what it was and about 15' away a young black bear was passing the doorway and stopped to look at me. I just stood there; he left ambling away through several campsites before disappearing into the closet timber. Alaska.
Fun filled week in A-town. Diesel was a heavenly $2.99 per gallon here. Heading south now, around Turnagain Arm and towards somewhere, but definitively on the Kenai Peninsula.
"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to it's old dimensions."
Oliver Wendel Holmes
WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi
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