Beautiful Weather

The weather has been gorgeous today. I think it hit 80 this afternoon. The snow up on the mountains is shrinking with all the warm weather and sunshine. The only drawback will be the bugs coming out to feast and the sun shining in the window at 11 pm when I’m trying to sleep.

There was enough sunlight today that I got a complete, one hundred percent charge on my batteries. I’m thinking that I may mount my other two solar panels on the roof of Minnie when I get back south this fall. There are advantages with portable panels, but when I travel I have enough stuff to put away and get out!

I rode into Skagway to get groceries today. I’m sure I bought too much and paid way too much, but I told myself before I went in the store to buy what I wanted and not even look at prices. If I look at prices in a tourist town, I usually end up getting nothing. I have enough food to last another week if I want to stay that long.

When I got back to camp I took a walk over to the Dyea town ruins. I have walked through there a couple times now but not been to every corner. When I turned down a path to a new boardwalk the park service is building, I met a park employee.

I told her that I had a hard time figuring out where the town was because the buildings have rotted away and there are no signs to tell where things were.

“Your really not supposed to be in here while we are working on the paths.” She explained.

I played innocent. “Ah. I just walked over from the campground, I didn’t know.”

“Oh. That’s why you didn’t see the signs. It’s alright we just don’t want anyone to get hurt when there are machines working. If you come back in an hour we will be gone. I put up some signs down there to tell about what you’re looking at.”

She was very nice. We walked back up the path, made a couple remarks about the nice weather, and I asked her why this campground was free and the park service campground on the other side of the inlet was pay? She wasn’t sure but said this campground was run by the city and not the park service. I’m just glad I found it.

6 Responses to “Beautiful Weather”

  1. Dick says:

    Be glad she didn’t have you arrested!

    Good to be able to spend the time in one place and explore all the nooks and crannies of the area. Much better than the frantic visits the folks on the ships experience.

  2. Donna says:

    When you get back south, won’t you be slowing your pace again and staying in locations for a couple weeks at a time? That seems like the time to have portable solar panels. This trip is when they would be better mounted. Can you put them up there for this summer?

  3. Barbara says:

    Glad you got some food!! A full fridge is like money in the bank, that’s what I always say. LOL Nice that you have a good spot to walk around that’s near your campground.

    Yes, why not mount the panels now? I can see having portable panels for use when you need extra power, but if they are on the roof, you can use them every day. And no storage, or setting up and then storing again. Of course, you can’t move them into the sun without moving Minne, but I’ve never had a problem with that. We’re small enough to move around a campsite to get the best solar advantage.

    Keep having fun! More photos? 🙂

  4. Dale says:

    You and Donna both have good ideas. There is no reason I couldn’t mount the panels while I’m up here this summer. I just have to find a nice place to work and a Home Depot or Lowe’s to get parts. If I don’t do it now I will probably wait till after winter in Q.

  5. Dale says:

    Oh, and by the way Barb, you are really moving around to new places! First with the WINs in Utah, then over to Flag with friends, now in New Mexico. Have you met with any friends at Bluewater SP?

  6. Barbara says:

    No, I’m camping solo. Sometimes that’s nice, too. But you’re right, I’m traveling more than usual. Now that I’m in NM, I’ll probably stay here for at least a few months. I have to say, it’s nice to have a dump and water and trash nearby, and free with my annual pass. No showers here at Bluewater, they were trashed by vandals a couple of years ago, and the bathhouse was torn down. A new Visitor’s Center has been built, and it will have restrooms and showers in the back – hopefully next year. But with a dump station and water available nearby, I don’t need the showers. Easier to use my own.

    I have a beautiful view of the lake from my window. Last night we had thunder and lightning, very cool. No rain with it. 🙂

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