Brooks Falls - What a day!

After the Verny halftime cleaning, we went in search of accommodation. Since we were able to book a flight to Brooks Falls for August 8th, we wanted to stay near Anchorage Airport but still outside the city. So we stayed 4 nights at Creekwood Inn RV Park. Not very romantic, but quite practical. Good, often fast network, the pictures should finally be saved on the server in St. Moritz. Not quite as simple as you imagine at home.

Most of the time during these days, the 'liquid sun' shone. Walks in Kincade Park and to Fred Meyer for a Starbucks coffee, that was all.

Before flying to Katmai National Park, we want to fix the visit to Denali Park. Damn it, all 4 RV campgrounds are fully booked. That can't be true! We googled like crazy ... there! the next morning, a slot for 2 nights, call! Immediately! Perfect, we even get 3 nights. Yippie! Although directly at the park entrance, but definitely better than nothing. More on this when the time comes.

First, let's talk about the 'perfect day'.

4.30am wake-up call, 5.00 order a taxi (pre-ordering doesn't work here, 'call when you are ready'). Off to the airport, one hour to King Salmon, where we will be welcomed and taken to the seaplane base, luggage and passengers are weighed and distributed among 3 small planes. After 20 fascinating minutes of flight, we land on Naknek Lake in Katmai NP. After another short briefing on how to behave in a bear encounter, we pack away all edible items, including gum and candies, in a 'Bear Safe Cache' and set off on the 'hunt'. It's quite special, you know there are bears, many bears, and since we don't have bear spray with us due to the flight, it's ummm, how should I say, strange :-)

After 0.3 miles, we arrive at a floating bridge that is guarded by a ranger on both sides. If the bear is closer than 50 yards (46 meters) to the bridge, it means wait, bridge closed. We were allowed to cross, but hurry, on both sides a bear is approaching, hurry up! Darn, I want to take pictures... By the way, there are often longer delays in the morning due to 'bear congestion'.

On the other side, we climb up to the observation platform and get our cameras ready. It starts to drizzle and there, mosquitoes, we need mosquito spray. Camera on the railing, mosquito spray... how it happened remains a mystery, the big Nikon falls to the ground, 4 steps below Marcel can pick it up. It's not working anymore... day ruined?

Fuming, disappointed, and frustrated, there are no words for it, we march the remaining 0.8 miles to Brooks Falls.

We can't stop marveling! A dream! Fantastic, amazing, unique, sensational... Now the Olympus comes fully into play, we snap until the battery is empty. Yes, there are many pictures, but they are amazing and there are even more!

Absolutely the best trip ever! We are still breathless!

PS: Camera repair in Alaska? Nope! The only repair service we can find in Anchorage is probably out fishing, Nikon does not have a service center or partner in Alaska. No chance to find out if it can be repaired.
Okay, maybe a used model then? Forget it. Then maybe a D850? Order backlog, not available, sorry. Hmm, maybe at Best Buy or Amazon? Nope, Amazon only offers cameras from third parties, whether and when they can deliver a camera? Boo?

Then the only choice is to bury the equipment behind the socks or the D750 that a dealer has in stock. So be it.