Moose and a great pond

MILE 48 POND
Chena Hot Springs Road
Above Fairbanks
June 28, 2009 Sunday
We slid through Fairbanks, got some must need groceries (toilet paper, bread, scotch, and some other stuff that really didn’t seem all that important to me..but hey..what do I know?!)
It is beautiful up here. We found this place, with the help of a good map and local advice. It is a State recreation area, great little ponds(one on each side of the trailer, and Grayling and rainbows in each. Tough choice. A bit buggy if no breeze, but no real problem for folks from Maine. For the first couple of nights we were the only ones camping (“boondoggling”-“squatting”-not paying anything. It is great for the budget and the fact there are no services is great. We have gotten so used to being self-contained, that it is the “norm” now.
We have seen about 8-10 moose here, some interesting ducks and a plover. Not to mention lots of nesting birds that “bomb” Mick and Gretta when they are out. We even have a resident moma moose and her calf. We watched her trying to teach swimming to the calf the other day. The calf really wasn't too keen on it. Did lots of "bleating", as if to say "hey mom, I'll just walk". The girls spend most of the time in the trailer as the bugs would carry them away, if they stayed out, all the time. Mick is still not putting weight on her left rear leg. The good thing is her right rear leg(which “was” here bad leg) is getting stronger. I’m afraid the left will need an ACL repair if this lameness persists. Oh well.
So we will head to Fairbanks later today. Do some major “staging” for the return trip. Trailer bears need repacking, a new tire too. Fix a few things. Truck needs routine servicing and tire rotation, etc. We will do some major grocery re supply, as it is so expensive in the Yukon and British Columbia. We will leaveFairbanks early next week and plan to be in Chicken, Alaska (look it up) for the Fourth of July. Should be interesting.
Hang in there…`