Fairbanks down to the Kenai Pennisula and back up to Palmer.Rested up in Fairbanks and then headed down the Parks Highway to Talkeetna. Got stopped in Nenana for an hour or so by forest fire that had jumped the highway. When they let us go there were still flames on both sides of the road. Stopped in Denali National National Park for a look around. Couldn't find that mountain everyone talks about. :=) I was hoping for a sight seeing flight that would let me get a picture of Denali Mountain and that would land on a glacier. Waited around for two days for the weather to clear the mountain top. Talkeetna isn't a bad place to spend time.

Great little town with lots to do and see. The Talkeetna Air Taxi company finally said that there were flights that would get pictures of Denali but wouldn't land on the glacier. I didn't know how long it might be for a glacier landing so accepted their reduced fair and went for the mountain picture ride.

Very cool. It was an old DeHaviland Beaver with skis (that we didn't use). I owned a Cessna 182 for 6 years and had always wanted a ride in a DeHaviland so this ride would be doubly exciting.

Got the pictures and moved on down the road thru Anchorage to Cooper Landing on the Kenai Peninsula. From there on to Homer.

A few days down here eating more fresh halibut and salmon than I thought I ever could.

Headed back up north. To get to Whittier, AK, you have to pass thru a VERY long (2.5 miles) ONE WAY tunnel used both for auto and train traffic (you'll just have to figure it out). It is the longest highway tunnel in North America (the points just keep adding up) Not much in Whittier unless a cruise ship is in port, then it is overrun with tourists looking for gift shops that don't seem to be there. Back thru the tunnel (there is NO other alternative except ferry) and north to Palmer. Stayed here for a couple of days while attending the Alaska State Harley Owner's Group Rally (hey just because I am on my KLR doesn't mean I can't attend -- does it?)