Today was an enjoyable day.
We drove around 165 miles today between Anchorage and Talkeetna, although not in a straight line as we took a few side trips.
First we stopped near Eklutna to take the 1 mile (2 miles round trip) hike to Thunder Bird Falls (see photo). Next, a few miles up the road is an Orthodox church with some old churches. the graveyard has 'spirit houses' above the graves (see photo). The Athanbasans believe that the spirit floats above the grave for a year. The spirit houses are to shield the spirit in this time period, and are also used to house / store the tools of trade of the deceased.
We then headed a little northeast then west. We took a mountain road up to Independance Mine - an old gold mine, high in the mountains. Then proceeding west we crossed Hatcher Pass and traveled on anohter long (approximately 35 miles) dirt road down to the valley. Two of these photographs are also included.
From here it was highway driving to the town of Talkeetna. Yes, that is us enjoying our supper. We talked the waitress into taking our photograph.
The photo of the mountain, less it's top, is of DENALI, THE GREAT ONE. It is over 100 miles from where the photo was taken.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers.
we enjoyed the photos! the boys liked seeing the spirit houses! They had heard about them in a movie we own. I liked the picture of the four of you at dinner!
ReplyDeleteI like all the pictures...I am sure you have many more stored away that i'll enjoying seeing when you get home!