As we flew east and into the night, Alaska still showed its true colours with wonderful views of the high snow covered mountains of the St Elias-Wrangell National Park below us. But we had to get some sleep if we were to be in good shape for our first day in Chicago the following morning - and we had only a 6 hour flight. Luckily, rest did come easily and we awoke to an extremely sunny morning flying over ordered, flat, agricultural land as we flew into Chicago...

As we'd used the airport road a few times since our arrival, we now had a strategy with taxi drivers who had been inclined to use 'longer' routes. Although missing Kodiak, it was good to be reunited with our belongings that we'd left behind at the hostel. It was Sunday and we went into town to 'do' a touristy thing - the Alaska Experience Theatre that showed films about the State and the Northern Lights. It being Sunday, atmosphere in town was a bit lacking (thin...

We'd had a gloriously warm and sunny evening sitting out enjoying our last BBQ at Trapper Creek.And it was another glorious day when we set off next morning for Anchorage. As usual, we mistakenly thought we had plenty of time to pack all our stuff back into the rucksacks, drive the 130 miles back to Anchorage, negotiate our way from the north of the city to the south, stop off at the hostel to drop off a couple of bags, clean the van inside and out and fill up wi...

Pulled in here because it had internet, and a much needed laundry. It also left us with about 130 miles to Anchorage the following day as we have to have the RV back by 3pm. We read Lonely Planet but don't follow their recommendations and advice slavishly. However, we should admit that for the first stage of our time with Fanny, we had planned to follow their recommended itinerary for a 10 day RV trip.But because of problems with the fast ferry being in dry doc...

It was a fine morning when we met up with our guide, Freddie, at the day parking area at Byers Lake.Together with two English couples (Robert & Linda and Robin & Laura), one American couple from Detroit and a single guy from Chicago we made a fine-sized party of 10 (for keeping bear and moose at bay) for the hike up Coal Creek Trail.Unlike the National Park, Denali State Park has lots of rainfall and consequently has lush, green abundant undergrowth benea...