Tango and I are sitting in the car, waiting for the ferry. It will be several hours before we can board, but the rain is falling so hard there is nothing else to do but sit and reflect on our time in Juneau.

I can’t think of a city with a better location: on the water and also up against beautiful glacier-covered mountains. The area has many outdoor recreation areas and hiking trails. A green belt trail winds along the edge of town. Tango and I took one that follows the Mendenhall River for about 2 miles. Another plus: all the Bald Eagles. One section of river that we visited, closer to town, has dozens of them at any given time.

I loved the Mendenhall Campground except for all the noise (those helicopters and a nearby shooting range). It was perfect otherwise, with nice showers, bathrooms, trails, and scenery. And inexpensive!

I wish I could have stayed 2 weeks as planned. I could have set up a great routine with morning hikes for me and Tango and then afternoons in the branch library near the campground. However, I was going batty from a week of rainy, cold weather. As I have mentioned earlier, the rain stopped occasionally and I could get around, but mostly it rained.

I woke up at 4 AM my last morning and listened to the nonstop rain. I wondered how I would take down the soggy tent and get it into the car without soaking myself, Tango, and everything inside the car. How would I ever get the tent dry while driving through the Yukon? Do I really need a moldy mess inside the car as I undertake a 700+ mile road trip?  I made a decision to leave the tent behind and found a young family crowded into a small tent. They were excited to get the tent, but I told them they would have to take it down and move it themselves. No problem for them and no problem for me.

I enjoy the pup tent more than the big one, and I have not yet put up the screen house, so I still have options.  Giving away the big tent also helps reduce the load in the car, which is giving me some problems. The clearance, which was low already, is now extremely low and the back tires are wearing quickly. Especially problematic: the steep ramps getting on and off the ferry.

As of this moment, I can say one thing for sure about Alaska: the weather sucks. No one ever says this, no matter what you read in advance. Everyone focuses on the gorgeous scenery (which makes the trip worthwhile) but ignores saying right out: the weather sucks. Here is an example of the crazy lingo that you see about Alaska weather:

“Alaska weather is not predictable. You can come in August and bask in sunshine or in June and face “horizontal rain” (driving rain plus strong winds). Alaskans have learned not to let weather interfere with their plans—or mood. The trick is to know how to dress and what to wear in Alaska. Plus, we remind ourselves: if the weather were better, it wouldn’t stay Alaska for long; it would start to look more like Los Angeles.”

Read between the lines: Alaskans learned long ago that the weather sucks. Everyday not just once and awhile.

Anyway, I am driving out of the rainforest ecosystem and expect to encounter some sunlight and spectacular mountain scenery. I believe that will improve my mood and signal the return of my cheery outlook on life.

A few photos of the campsite in Mendenhall Campground.

I moved the table and cookstove into the screen porch so I could make coffee and cook. The floor was wet from the rain but the stove stayed dry.

Mendenhall lake through the trees

Just another gloomy day

 Note to everyone tracking me: I will not have Internet while in the Yukon. I should be through there in a few days and will post again when I emerge in mainland Alaska!