7/14/2014 Second Half of the Day: Jet Boat Ride on the Talkeetna River.

Six of us: Jeff and Marcella, Gary and Evelyn, Glen and I, chose to go on a 2-hour Jet Boat ride on the Talkeetna River.

We all have purchased a "coupon book" which is full of Two For One activities.  The Jet Boat ride is one that was in the coupon book.  Each couple went for $70 total...two for one.  We each have used it several times.  It has saved the purchase price of the coupon book ($99) several times over.

Talkeetna is located at the confluence of three rivers: Talkeetna, Susitna, and Chulitna.  The rivers are full from snow/ice melt.  We learned on the boat ride that the current is flowing at 10 mph.  About three weeks ago the river was twice as full as it is now.  

The jet boat is docked on the Talkeetna River, but we traveled just a quarter-mile or so to the Susitna River.  The boat ride was 10 miles up river and back.

Here are a few photos.

 Jeff and Marcella

 Evelyn and Gary

 Debris moving down the river.

Beaver can't dam up the river, of course, but choose to burrow into the river bank.  Locals call them "bank beaver:" 

 The holes in the bank are nesting cavities for the bank swallow.  Notice how close the bank is getting closer and closer to the home structure.  The owners are talking about moving the home.  The owners live "off the grid":  no electicity, no running water, no road connections.  Travel is by boat.

 Bald eagle surveying his kingdom.

 Bald eagle nest.  The boat captain told the passengers the nest was "active" but I disagree since there are grasses growing in the nest.

 The boat stopped and passengers disembarked for a short trek to a Trapper's cabin, cache, pelts and other items on display.

 "Burl" on the side of an aspen tree.  One theory of the cause is an insect burrows inside the growing layer of the bark.  The bark then grows around the insect.  A burl can be very large.

 Toadstools growing on the side of a tree.

 The Captain displaying a muskrat pelt.

Gayla with the pelt of a red fox. 

 Gayla with the pelt of a marten....today's value of pelt $300.

Gayla welcoming you to her trapper's cabin.

I hope you have enjoyed our day's activities.  We certainly enjoyed the day.  It was beautiful and educational.