Fixing Bertha, Hiking and Wildlife

So there were a few issues with Bertha...! After registering and getting insurance sorted we took her to Mario's mechanic friend, Alfredo to check her over and see what needed doing to make her fit for travel. It turns out the universal joints were shot as well as some rod things and some of the wheel bearings :( Alfredo set straight on it and we went to get brunch!! Mario took us to a little cafe where we had a country breakfast which consisted of 'biscuits' (a kind of sponge/scone thing!) with eggs on top, flat sausage, shredded hash browns and a 'gravy' made from sausage meat that looked gross but tasted fantastic!! After this we drove up to Arctic Valley, which is odd as its actually a mountain as oppose to a valley lol!! Anyway, we kept our eyes open all the way to the top for moose or bears but didn't see a thing, we weren't too disappointed tho as the views were amazing and as always Mario filled us in on local history, customs and stories...he really is a fascinating guy to be around having lived here so long he knows everything!! So we started making our way back as stomachs were rumbling and about half way down the mountain I spotted movement in the grass at the side of the track up ahead...it was a bear cub!!!!!!! We crept closer and spent a few minutes watching this amazing creature who seemed fairly unconcerned about us and took a few photos as best we could without startling it....dont think it was very old, no more than a couple of months, so mum would have been about somewhere although we never saw her. The cub gradually made its way into the undergrowth and we carried on home, jubilant at such a rare sighting!! Luck was with us that day as later on as it was getting dusky Mario drove us up through Kinkade park and we saw a family of moose!!! Mum, dad and baby grazing by the side of the road, the calf probably only a few weeks old was very playful, ducking under mum's head and jumping about like a lamb!! The bull wasn't a very old or particularly large moose but had a beautiful set of antlers and was a definate poser for the camera!! The next day was cloudy and drizzly...what better day to climb a mountain lol!! Mario dropped us offf at the carpark which is about half way up 'flat top mountain' standing a total of about 3000 feet high. This is the most climbed mountain in Anchorage, that doesn't make it easy though!! The 1st 2 thirds from the carpark are fairly steep gravelly paths with long sets of steps cut into the mountainside where necessary...fairly typical mountain climbing. The last third however is similar to Scarfell in England...scree, rocks and boulders needing both hands and a bit of nerve to climb...especially as being a drizzly day it was all wet and quite slippery!! After making it to the top we waited for breaks in the cloud to take pictures of what on a fine day would be a spectacular view!! Before we got too cold (the difference in temp at the top and the carpark was amazing!) we decided to start our descent...this was the bit I was dreading as I know my knees take offence to this sort of thing but what goes up must come down!! A combination of hands, knees, feet and bottom got us down safely and I was pleased to see other people using the same technique!! We got back to meet Mario and went home for a shower before going to check out Michelle and Chris's salsa lessons which they hold at their own, very nice, dance studio. A different set up to the uk, you only get a lesson, there's no social dancing after so I can see why the salsa scene at the weekends is so popular! $12 for the lesson and although it was a small group it was well taught and included a shine at the start, something I wish we did more of back home! Then it was back to Mario's for an earlyish night before getting ready to leave the next day. After helping out with a bit of housework we went round picking up various bits we needed for our impending journey...maps, satnav, books etc before going to costco to sample what may become one of our staple foods whilst travelling....pizza!!! They have freshly cooked 18" pizzas for $9.99!!!! I dont think even Andy could manage a whole one to himself...well maybe lol but we took it home and devoured most of it between the 3 of us alongside a rack of bbq ribs that were also delicious!! Before long it was time to go and pick up Bertha and get ready to leave...we were really going to miss Mario and Anchorage, such a fantastic place with amazing people, couldn't have asked for a better place to start our adventure!! After making sure we knew how the petrol pump worked, threats to Andy if he didn't look after me lol and lots of hugs, Mario led us to the edge of town and left us to go on our way... We drove steadily from about 9.30 until 2.30am when we pulled into a layby and got a few hours sleep in the back of the car. While driving we kept our eyes open for a glimpse of Mount McKinley but the cloud were too low.