August 26. One week into our Alaska adventure, and I was feeling the toll. Or was it mushroom spores? No, more likely it was due to the coughing geezer from our Denali bus tour. (See previous posts for further explanation.)

While waiting for the train from Denali to Anchorage, we visited the Denali Visitor Center. We watched a movie, and explored the very nice museum and displays.

Today was a travel day. Perhaps I could sleep off whatever was kicking my tail while riding the Wilderness Express Dome Train. What a treat! I wish I could have enjoyed it more, but I napped quite a bit. 

We arrived back at Lakefront Anchorage Hotel. Leonard repacked our bags and in general managed everything, while I slept. I was beginning to worry about the rest of our trip. How was I going to accomplish my dream of catching a halibut if I couldn't get out of bed?

The next morning, August 27, I was in a fog. Leonard somehow got me and our luggage on a small plane to Kenai. He picked up a rental car and drove us to Fish On! We settled into a comfy cabin. I was in full blown whatever-it-was-I-caught. Ugh! Medicate!

The over-the-counter med helped. Between that and my asthma inhaler, I thought I might survive. My poor husband was getting pretty darned bored. And the cabin had no TV! Which was actually great. Until your spouse was a useless lump shivering under a pile of blankets.

Thursday, August 28, was supposed to be our fly-in to a lake to fish for salmon and see bears. We had already learned the weather is king in Alaska. The fly-in was postponed. Rearranging our scheduled fishing trips was the order of the day. The next several days, actually. Fish On! did a heroic job of constant juggling to make sure we got in our fishing.

Tad filled in at the last minute. We met him at the Kenai River Pillars Boat Launch. It began sprinkling. Tad asked if I had rain gear, and that I'd best put it on now. So I struggled with my Frog Toggs, pulling the water-impermeable pants and jacket on over my clothes. The prospect of fishing helped me rally, despite the ominous warnings posted at the boat launch about a recent bear attack. I mustered the energy for a day of river fishing, operating mostly on adrenalin and excitement.

As we motored away with Tad on the Kenai River, images of Captain Quint from Jaws flitted through my head. Tad had an opinion or conspiracy theory for every situation. We were highly entertained.

It rained. And rained. And rained some more. In my brain-fogged condition, I had put on running shoes instead of my water-resistant hikers. My feet were soon soaked, but the rest of me stayed dry. Yay, Frog Toggs! 

Tad was a character, but say what you will that guy got us on silver salmon. He was determined to help us catch our limit. After hauling in my one salmon, and watching Leonard catch two, I was done. Leonard was a bit disappointed I wanted to pack it in. Tad would have endured the rain even longer to ensure we got our catch. 

Heading back, we stopped at Jolly Wally's to have our salmon flash-frozen, Then back at the cabin, I took a long, hot shower and crawled into bed.

​Our first experience catching fish in Alaska was amazing. Wet, chilly, and long, but amazing. Could I hold off the cold, flu, or debilitating mushroom allergies attacking me long enough to go on our halibut hunt?

Our Alaska adventure provides inspiration and ideas for book three in the Tapestry Tales YA science fiction series, written with co-author Merida Bass under the pen name Ann Belice, coming in 2026. Books one and two are available now in e-book and paperback. Audiobooks are currently in production!
Broken Strands: book two
​Frayed Dreams: book one
And keep an eye out for Book Three in my Rose Creek Mystery series - The Body in the Hayloft.
Coming in December, the first in the much anticipated Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries, Grandpa's New Year's Relocation.