Today, we're celebrating. Don and I spent the last two days in Anchorage. We got the bikes serviced, did laundry, we let some laundry go, drank frozen drinks while reading at Barnes&Noble, got to spend time with some of the locals, ate some eggcellent breakfasts and dinners and now find ourselves in Talkeetna, AK just southeast of the entrance to Denali National Park at the McKinley Princess Lodge watching the clouds slowly clear and show us a glimpse of North America's highest peak at 20,320.
The photo at left was taken when we got here a few hours ago. The photo at right was taken only minutes ago. Maybe...before I finish this post you'll get a full look. If not I will try to capture it for you tonight. Tomorrow we're going to rise at 4:50 a.m. and get on the bikes at 5:00 a.m. so we can arrive at the gates of Denali by 7 a.m. and try to sneak onto a park bus at 7:15 a.m. We've been thinking of how to enjoy the park, ride (we can only go 15 of the 85 miles by private car), fly, sit on a bus...hmm what to do, what to do. The last thing I'm thinking I want to do is sit 11 hours. 4.5 hours in and 4.5 hours out along with about 2 hours total of walking along at different stops. But, we've heard from numerous locals who say...you have to do it. Riding the bus gets you the furthest into the park and close to the ground to see the animals, Wonder Lake and close ups (as close as you can get without climbing it) to McKinley.
Wow...the mountain is almost there. People are buzzing. Both the guests and even the employees are popping out of the kitchen to check and see if the McKinley is "out." I just heard one say "It's trying real hard." "I took a couple of cool pictures from both directions to give it a cool perspective...I hope they turn out." People work here just to be close to nature and the mountains. "It's getting close" says another guest.
I forgot to tell you why we were celebrating. I've just completed my 21 (well it took me 22 since I lost the bottle for 2 helpings) days of my regimen of antibiotics to kick my Lyme's Disease. Two weeks before I left I found a very small tick on me. A week later I didn't feel so well and under advisement by my doctor (the world renowned Dr. Gene Lee) I got a blood test and it came out positive for Lyme's. The 21 days have been easy, with the exception of the sun. I've been on 50 and 75 SPF and I still can't keep from burning my nose, cheeks and wrist which have been exposed to sun. I've been hunting high and low for zinc oxide but NO ONE has it. So the 70 just hasn't been getting the job done. Ah well, everyone enjoys pointing out that I'm sun burnt and I let them know it's because of the drugs. In all seriousness. Read up on it and check yourself often for ticks if you're in the woods or tall grass. I'm thankful to catch it because it can lead to some disabling side effects. Thanks Gene.
Well the mountain is out and my food is getting cold. Enjoy the all the pictures and the map and we'll show you shots from the park tomorrow when we get back. After tomorrow we turn south east and start our trip back.
all 90 miles of Denali Park Road are open to bicyclists--
screw the bus!
Posted by: Brenda | August 16, 2007 at 01:12 PM
mmmm, Dr Lee
Posted by: sans | August 17, 2007 at 08:12 PM