Last night was a first for us.  We stayed at our not so favorite city campground Centennial Campground in Anchorage.  We arrived shortly before 11 pm after Brooke’s Alaskan Train Adventure arrived from Seward. It was really late for us, but here was only one train a day from Seward to Anchorage and it left at 6 and arrived after 10 pm.  What was even more ridiculous though was the noise coming from the campground.  Scott went over and kindly asked the gentleman who was playing his music really loudly to turn it down, and he did, for a little while.  Keggers usually aren’t quiet, and this one wasn’t an exception.  Apparently it broke up at 2pm when the police came by.  We’re still not sure why someone would host a kegger at a campground, but it made for another disjointed nights rest.

After a brief stop at REI to exchange our tent we were off to  Eklutna Lake Campground.  There was a beautiful lake and some great trails.  We also met Les. Before I talk about Les I want to sing REI’s praises.  We have used our Base Camp 6 everyday but one for the last oh 56 days.  The fabric by the door and on the screen door frayed within the first week.  Also the water protection on the floor seemed to be coming up after our “water tent event” in Anchorage.  Scott called REI up to check to see if we could do an exchange.  He went in, set up a new exact model, and was out no hassles within twenty minutes.  So far we haven’t had any issues with the new tent.  Did I mention we got our thirty dollars worth of sales tax back too.  There’s  no sales tax in Anchorage. Bonus!

Back to Les.  Les came over to our campsite and introduced himself and offered his gun assistance if we should need it.  If we should need it?  Where are we camping?  Apparently Les has been witness to a few bear attacks.  He has killed four black bears and two grizzlies.  Some newlyweds who camped feet from where we were camping had left their cooler out last year and watched helplessly as a bear took their fly off the tent they were in and then destroyed their cooler.  Needless to say, the honeymoon was shortened. Les has served in Vietnam, The State Police, and the Dept. of Corrections in Alaska. He is now retired, but his stories are not. There were a few times I had to cover Brooke’s ears and tell her a different story when she asked, “Mommy what is he talking about?”  Les was very neighborly and fun to chat with.  He even makes his own campers that fit onto the back of trucks.  He loves wood working and that is something Scott could talk about for hours. (Thankfully lessening the bear stories!)  Scott only likes to tent camp, but maybe someday he might build his own camper after being inspired by Les.

I like tent camping and even though Scott calls campers “tin cans” at least it is a little more chewy than the side of a tent.