starting to plan summer...

 we shall see how it all turns out.  SH got me a bit paranoid already on my first plan.  Wonder Lake in Denali in fall.  hopefully it's not snowing when we go!! seems still early enough to me though.  Labor Day seems the time to hit peak colors in Denali highway crossing. 

 caught Ivy Rose yawning...see she can get tired.  haha.

 we did the gasline/powerline/tank and beyond today.  this sideways snowman was in the middle of gasline trail. 

 took side trails off to Stumphenge.  the sky was so beautiful. 

 i realize that i had spoken of getting an early start, but i hit the trails at 1pm...not really early.  i guess i needed the 8 hours sleep last night. seems reasonable. 

 i need to put in for days off.  I'm also itching to hit Homer for a winter trek.  may just watch tides and weather and head down with the furs when it works out right. 

 my other need is to start requesting all this time off.  pups and i will have to do some road trips on regular days off,then a few bigger treks...Iceland i hope. 

 the kitchen remodel is also out there, calling for me to start making plans.  i may be poor soon....i may also need to do some overtime shifts again...boo. lazy me is not happy about that. 

 Mt Redoubt was smoking a bit today. also in the above picture there was a wee bit of the Fata Morgana.  always nice to catch a glimpse of that.

 after my walk i figured I'd head towards Potters for the sunset, it looked like it may be pretty nice.

 not many out skating or walking out there.  there is a state pull out which is good look out for sunsets.  it's across from Potter/McHugh trail head.  i went back and forth between the little boardwalk for the train and then off the other side of the parking area. 

 there is a little bridge for the train rails.  i thought it may look cool to capture some of the sunset from under the bridge. the tide was out so it seemed like a good plan.

 there was a photographer guy set up between my two spots, he was stood there with his camera and tripod...same spot.  he kept looking oddly at me as i moved between the two spots.  couldn't tell if i was annoying him with my mere presence or what.  he did seem to have a bit of an annoyed look about him.  no clue.  the best reaction to people like this is to just smile and say, there are some good shots over there at the bridge...let him know he was fine to check it out. 

 many people who take photo's get strange and protective.  like don't do what I'm doing, don't follow me. i own this spot type of attitude.  I've never really had much of a competitive spirit.  i just have fun taking pictures.  he never left his spot.

 I've never been good at just standing/sitting in one spot for long either.  i gotta bounce.  i gotta check all the angles. 

 i gotta look at the big stuff and then at the little stuff too. 

 no way i could stand in one spot for an entire sunset.  I'm kind of surprised i lasted in the same parking area.  i was tempted a few times to hop back in the car and drive a bit.  the sun was speeding down below the horizon. once it starts to go in the winter it moves.

 nice to start thinking and planning activities.  it is kind of tough to plan so far in advance though.  i figured Denali would get filled fast and i saw that the day before i reserved was booked so days are already filling up.  I'm not the only one planning my adventures  need to get cabins booked too.

 will probably try for Hunter or Byers for August 31st , then plan to do the Denali Highway crossing before i head home....or return home, grab dogs and get a cabin for the 2nd/3rd.  that would probably be better. 

 here is the rail bridge.

 play on Kenai somewhere for my Birthday.  Homer, hikes with the dogs, beach time...always good.

 chunks of ice from the previous high tide.

 pretty scene i think.

 i got a bit obsessed with the bridge i guess. 

 the light was coming through...i get excited by cool light. 

 I'll have to look at the cabin bookings. i  know they have been changing how you book for those.  not sure if it's still 6 months in advance. i do know the AK resident perk is gone though...dang it

 check out the light on the ice below.  sweet!

 accomplished not much today.  I'll be a bit stressed until i get some stuff planned.  hopefully, i can book out kitchen plans in the next two weeks.  i keep stressing over where they will do their prep work.  he said they usually use the garage, but places don't always have garages. i guess they could make a mess of my main room.  want to dig in the shed and see if i have enough leftover flooring, and if it's in good shape...maybe just have them lay that down in the kitchen area.  there is just a small area not done then i could do all the floors at a later time.  save money up front. 

 love the sheets of ice. 

 anyway, cabins and yurts book up fast.  haven't heard of anyone planning on coming north. i get very few visitors.  always odd since I'm in Alaska! 

 i seem to always find ways to amuse myself in this great state of Alaska though.  of course, we could be in a nuclear desert by then, but can't live your life waiting for hell to happen. 

 more sun on sheets of ice.

 the clouds above were really beautiful.

 have to get to Chicken and i do keep wanting to take pups on a road trip into the Yukon.  a work friend was telling me there are some beautiful places to hike north of Whitehorse/Dawson.  i could even risk taking a drink from the dead finger challenge in Dawson.  i have friends there so i could always stop and say hello..i think they moved to Whitehorse though.   so ambitious. it's always impossible to see everything you want to see.  i want to make a winter trek to Valdez as well.  the frozen lake in front of the glacier looks beautiful.  great photo ops no doubt...gotta watch out for rabbits there though.

 texting and trying to work with friends to make plans for summer.  have a few possible takers to join at Wonder Lake.  could be lots of fun!

 liked the plane in the pink clouds.

 Monday walk again tomorrow.  i will have to wake up in the morning. 

 hope you are all enjoying the sunset journey here.

 into the cranes in for this August...so nearly done sharing those pictures then i still have September...

 if i run out of photo's i can always go back to last years Iditarod...never did finish those up.  may happen when the kitchen remodel happens. i will be trapped at home a bit more while that is happening and possibly i will be unable to chill downstairs as well.  that will possibly get me up and out earlier...long walk/hikes with dogs.

 tide is out....always pretty, all the ice out there on the mud

 back to the bridge.

 guess i shall peruse the cabins before i crash tonight.  as i get older it is nice to not be in a tent.  i can manage, especially in my huge car camping tent with the air mattress.  sleep well with that.  i suspect that when that bear tried to enter my car while i was sleeping several years back it kind of made tent camping a little less appealing.  not a great way to wake up, that is for sure.

 never sure if the colors are going to go nuts, but they did get more beautiful and then the darkness started to fall. 

 Redoubt off in the distance.

 Ivy Rose in the drivers seat...does that scare anyone else.  she is a teenager now! she kind of looks like she is annoyed at being stuck in traffic

 Tusker is not one of those guys who insists on driving all the time.  he was happy to let Ivy have the wheel.  good night.

thankful for:  A.  summer adventures and all the planning that gets you excited for it all. B.  winter sunsets and snow and ice C.  macadamia nuts...so good.  thanks Scott and Jacqui....great to have my Hawaii connections