{"id":13201,"date":"2020-11-14T04:04:52","date_gmt":"2020-11-14T11:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=13201"},"modified":"2021-08-19T07:06:59","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T14:06:59","slug":"the-covid-wild-alaska-adventure-soldotna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=13201","title":{"rendered":"The Covid Wild Alaska adventure &#8211; Soldotna"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I wake up in the Fairbanks yurt<\/strong> to see the sun has fully risen, which means that I&#8217;ve overslept. Normally this is a good thing, especially while on vacation, but not today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have thirteen plus driving hours ahead of me. I forego a shower and coffee, throw my things into my backpack and hit the road. Just outside of Fairbanks I come to the infamous town known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alaska.org\/detail\/santa-claus-house\">North Pole<\/a>, and stop to get some much needed coffee and breakfast. My eyes hurt from the gawdy and touristy place that North Pole appears to be, even this early in the morning. I&#8217;m ready to get out of town and into more open and wild landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It doesn&#8217;t take long<\/strong> for my wish to come true. North Pole disappears from my rear view, and soon I have moose running alongside the road as I cruise along hour after quiet hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I come to the town of Tok, which marks my halfway point. My eyes are wild, my mind free. I come to Wrangler-Elias National park, and see eroding glaciers and seemingly untouched mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back to Anchorage, then onward to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelalaska.com\/Destinations\/Regions\/Southcentral\/Kenai-Peninsula.aspx\">Kenai Peninsula<\/a>. A couple of hours to go, exhaustion has its full grasp on me. A sign appears to let me know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelalaska.com\/Destinations\/Communities\/Soldotna.aspx?utm_content=1006&amp;utm_source=Google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzMe6yO-B7QIV1Bx9Ch0bgAMfEAAYASAAEgJGkfD_BwE\">Soldotna<\/a> is close by, my final destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-attachment-id=\"13207\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?attachment_id=13207\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?fit=1182%2C665&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1182,665\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?fit=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=684%2C385&amp;ssl=1 684w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=336%2C189&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B1B03040-BB83-4521-B49D-8D6461949FF5_1_105_c-2.jpg?w=1182&amp;ssl=1 1182w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I pull into my next<\/strong> Air BnB of this trip, a lovely house on the Kenai river. Close enough to town for me to get provisions, yet tucked away off the main road and into the Alaska wilderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-attachment-id=\"13208\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?attachment_id=13208\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?fit=1182%2C665&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1182,665\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?fit=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=684%2C385&amp;ssl=1 684w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=336%2C189&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/A9F360F8-CC64-418B-A281-FEEA8298AF39_1_105_c-2.jpg?w=1182&amp;ssl=1 1182w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The host welcomes<\/strong> me warmly, helps me get settled in, and shows me the path down to the river where I can fish, relax, and unwind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-attachment-id=\"13210\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?attachment_id=13210\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?fit=1182%2C665&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1182,665\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 11 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1597860315&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.71&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;25&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0013333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?fit=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=684%2C385&amp;ssl=1 684w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?resize=336%2C189&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/B905DF9F-BC59-438D-829D-72CF08E1CE09_1_105_c-2.jpg?w=1182&amp;ssl=1 1182w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Unbelievably<\/strong>, I sit and watch King salmon jump out of the river as they are swimming upstream. A family of moose come out across the river as the sun starts to set. I still need to be wary of bears, even this close to town, but this reality only heightens the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I feel like my Alaskan adventure is really starting to take hold now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_YZXlT7mbbQ?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I wake up in the Fairbanks yurt to see the sun has fully risen, which [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAowqprcCw:productID":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7315],"tags":[176,589489069,9380,436,589489100,589489099,13410733,200],"class_list":["post-13201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-day-in-the-life","tag-alaska","tag-covid","tag-fishing","tag-photography","tag-salmon-run","tag-soldotna","tag-solotravel","tag-travel"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_4418-2.jpg?fit=4032%2C2268&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p99I7P-3qV","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13201"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14659,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13201\/revisions\/14659"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}