OK, I think I already mentioned that I was jumping the gun a little by heading out for an RV adventure on May 9th.
I had plenty of propane and warm clothes for myself and Miss Rhonda. Mittens, gloves and boots, just in case. I didn’t figure I’d need them though. Leaves were beginning to bud and even unfurl at home, giving the surrounding birch, willow and cottonwood trees the wonderful green haze that is the clear harbinger of spring in Alaska.
Obviously, it was just fine to venture forth. Right?
The morning drive around Turnagain Arm on May 10th was beautiful, if just a little windy. The snow-capped mountains surrounding the inlet were awesome and a bit primordial under a low, grey sky, but the road was dry. Green was beginning to sprout through the winter-brown grass at the sides of the road.
I planned to stop for a potty break at the large rest area part-way up Turnagain Pass, on the far side of Turnagain Arm.
Oh MY. For some reason, I hadn’t expected THIS.
It was windy! 🤷♀️No grassy potty area for Ronni! Yikes!
Oh well … I had set out on an adventure. Onward we journeyed – two intrepid travelers in search of bare ground!
Less than half an hour later, on the Kenai side of the pass, we were able to take a nice, dry potty break at another pull-off. Altitude is, indeed, everything this time of year!
Check out the stark difference below. On the left is still-frozen Summit Lake (just starting down the far side of snowy Turnagain Pass), and only half an hour later (photo on right) is chilly but snow/ice free Kenai Lake. Amazing!
Summit LakeKenai Lake
Quartz Creek Campground on the shore of sparkling aqua blue-glacial green (depending on the sky) Kenai Lake offered us a peaceful safe harbor last night. Temps dropped to near freezing, but we slept cozy and warm to the periodic sound of raindrops and the occasional chitter of squirrels.
May 9th might seem to be jumping the gun a little on Alaska’s “camping season”, but I had the perfect excuse – and to be honest, I just couldn’t bring myself to wait even one more day!
At the conclusion of a 3-day AKC Scent Work trial in Chugiak, AK, (and since I just happened 😉 to have my RV, “Roada” with me), I headed South towards Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula instead of North towards home.
Now, don’t go getting the wrong impression. Although Jer often seems at a loss as to why I want to go get lost in the wilderness, often without wifi or Internet (and <gasp!> no TV); this initial spring trip was planned ahead for. Jerry stopped by the trial site on Sunday afternoon – picking up Baxter to keep him company at home and leaving me a sweet Mother’s Day gift.
At 4:00 pm, Rhonda & I headed off on a 5-day girls-only camping trip – to be topped off next weekend by a 3-day Barn Hunt Trial in Soldotna.
OK, admittedly, at the end of a long trial weekend – no matter how fun – I’m in no shape, physically or mentally, to go far. I had this planned ahead too.
I set my GPS and let it guide me on down the Old Glenn Highway for an entire 15 minutes … to the turn that would take me another few miles to nearby Eagle River Campground.
I couldn’t have asked for a better respite after a tiring weekend. I pulled into what looked to be a spacious, level site – and, happy day – it WAS level!
I turned the key off, took Ronni for a short, exploratory walk, then took a nap.
Later, I ran my generator long enough to cook a quick TV dinner, which was all I had the energy for. After dinner, Ronni and I wandered around the mostly empty campground, with me enjoying the smell of the forest, the sound of birds and squirrels, and the background rumble of the river.
This first night of our first RV adventure of the season, I was lulled to sleep by the sound of the rushing, boulder-strewn Eagle River. Absolutely heavenly!
Fun side note: When I had looked up Eagle River Campground online, checking to make sure it was open this early in the season, I had to laugh at one of the reviews.
A tourist had given the campground only three ⭐️⭐️⭐️. The reason for the low rating? Although the campground itself was lovely, they felt the river was “too loud”! 😂🙄
I admit it. April was mostly depressing, exhausting and painful. I wasn’t motivated to write.
I had to delay (twice!) getting the RV de-winterized because of cold weather and lingering snow. I was so ready for spring, and spring just wasn’t cooperating.
Rhonda and I attended our first Barn Hunt trial of the year in early April, and the temperature at the start of the day was a frigid 1°F! Good grief! My half-frozen joints rebelled. Fortunately, the trial itself was indoors.
I had already discovered by this point (mid-April) how out of condition I was, having attended a 2-day Scent Work trial in late February (the 1st one in over a year). It seems I not only gained the [fairly common] “Covid 10” (pounds), but at the age of 71, a year of inactivity had left me seriously lacking in stamina.
Ronni, Baxter and I also competed in a Scent Work trial later in April. The pups did fine, and temps had jumped to the low 30s. Yay. 🙄 I was exhausted by Sunday though, and found myself wondering if it was worth it.
Add to that scenario; a knee that doesn’t much want to bend or even, some days, bear a lot of weight – and feet that have rediscovered the joys (NOT!) of planter fasciitis (ouchie! 😰) after a 25-year hiatus… and you have the makings for depression. 🤷♀️
There were SO MANY things I wanted to do! A whole year to make up for. Lots of RV travel planned, dog events and trials to look forward to … and I was so sore, achy and fatigued at the end of even a moderately active day, it was all I could do not to cry myself to sleep.
I spent much of April wondering what spring and summer 2021 had in store for me … if anything. But hey, at least I was vaccinated.
Still, one look at Ronni’s hopeful face and I knew I had to try. She is chock full of get up and go. She needs a Mom who can “go” with her. I made some doctor appointments. And I sent my entries in for more trials.
As Alaska creeps at a snails pace from winter to the first subtle signs of encroaching spring in fits and starts, the steadily increasing daylight is a constant we can count on.
The beginning of April, in that respect, is one of my favorite times of year. Watching dawn steal slowly across the sky starts my day with a peace and tranquility very little else can match.
Stock photo from internet says it all. ☀️
Actually, I should admit that March is almost better, since I’m already awake, with coffee in hand, when the show starts. Then again, once I have my coffee, the distractions of the day can quickly pull my attention off the beauty outside my bedroom window.
For the next fleeting week or two, the first rays of dawn will be filtering across my valley just as I am first opening my eyes, which for me is around 7:00 am most mornings. Not that I’m usually functional that early, but I am awake.
We really are talking about a fleeting period of time. On April 1st, sunrise occurred at 7:18 am. This morning, April 5th, sunrise was 7:05 am. By the end of April, the sun will be on its way up by 5:45 am – and at that point I won’t likely see sunrise again until next fall! ☀️
For now though, I love laying in bed, still snuggled deep under thick blankets against the morning chill, Ronni curled tightly in a warm ball at my side, and watching the first rosy glow light the sky to the east.
I have a large, north-facing window and sliding glass doors in my 2nd story bedroom, so the view from my bed out over the Matanuska valley is awesome and mostly unobstructed this time of year. It is just so peaceful on mornings like this.
Come join me as a new morning arrives.
Dawn begins when the soft pink light to the east against the dark midnight blue overhead begins to bring definition to the bare birch branches just visible beyond my window. With this rosy backdrop, I can see the trees are swaying ever so slightly in a light breeze. It’s hypnotizing, like being in an enchanted forest. No longer night, but not yet day.
On a clear dawn morning like this one, spears of pale yellow soon pierce the rosy hue, combining to turn the eastern sky and snow-covered mountains across the valley a softly glowing salmon color.
As dawn streaks across the valley in pastel hues, the darkness overhead is slowly pushed back, replaced by the pale blue of a new day.
I love watching this transformation from night into day. From start to finish, it probably takes about an hour this time of year.
The pinks and salmons linger longest on the mountain tops, with my view of them glowing warmly through the trees. It is against this early morning gleam that the first chickadees and nuthatches arrive for breakfast on my upper-deck bird feeders.
By now, coffee is calling my name and Ronni is ready to head outside for her morning constitutional.
By the time these two essential morning rituals are accomplished, the transformation from dawn to day is complete. The sky is a brilliant blue, the mountains sparkling white in contrast.
Birds are darting through the trees, full of joy after being released from the night’s enforced quietude. They happily bicker over spots at the suet bar and exuberantly perform aerial antics as they swoop to and from the tree line.
I’m dressed now in sweats and a T-shirt, coffee mug in hand, propped against a bolster on my [made] bed rather than in it, with a soft plushy throw over my legs. Rhonda has acquired a chew toy (one of her new birthday chews, already showing signs of wear) and is holding down the throw – and my legs.
Across the bed, Qiviut intently watches “bird TV”, hoping, I’m sure, that a bird will eventually make it through the window glass. Dream on, pretty boy.
It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful sunny day. Temperatures should be in the upper 20s. Not exactly spring yet, but hey … we’re heading the right direction!
Remember to seek out the joyful moments in life! I was lucky enough, today, to find one at the very start of the day!
De & the Dachsies - Our Rambles 