Post 7-11-2014 Hope, Alaska

Post 7-11-2014 Hope, Alaska

Turning off Seward highway onto Hope Highway, we immediately saw a group of campers set up in a paved area. They apparently were there to catch Rainbow Trout and Salmon. We drove the seventeen miles to the Porcupine Campground at the Chugash National Park on a paved road that followed the Turnagain Arm into Hope. The scenery along the route was gorgeous. Very little businesses on the road, mostly side roads leading to a house or so. No sign of a town.

We scrapped the side of the Boomer Bus getting into the campground, so guess we will go back to Redbay, AL to the Tiffin factory in November. Oh well!  

After getting settled in at Porcupine Campground in Chugash National Park we took a stab in locating the town. So, after turning off  the road onto a gravel road and taking a second left we were facing Main Street. What a surprise! It was only one block long with only a few business places and ended at the head of the Resurrecttion Creek and Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. It appeared it was still of the 1890’s vintage.

“Hope City” was a mining camp for Resurrection Creek, established in 1896. It was named after an 18 year old prospector who was the first to accumulate five bags of gold. The post office opened in 1897. The town is located on the shore of Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet. It has a population of around 200. The town is off Hope Road almost entirely except for a lodge/grocery/restaurant/campground and a small liquor store/service station. It has one pump and I don’t know what their price of gas/diesel is. You must call ahead to see if they have gas today!

                     Main Street

We ventured to the end of the street and saw a couple school busses and lots of children having a picnic. There were about 20 people fishing along the creek. Charlie in Anchorage was right. You have to come to Hope in order to believe it. We’re happy we did. Being hungry from the driving, we decided to try the Seaview Restaurant. 

Seaview Cafe   and Bar (on left)

                            Wood/cooking stove/heater in the Cafe

                                    Halibut & fries (1/2 order)

The building was built in 1896 and the exterior is much the same now as then. They had a pot bellied wood stove in the dining area with a pile of wood close by. It was the type we have seen elsewhere used as  a cook stove as well as for heating. We had the Halibut and fries and WOW! Were they good. The portion was enormous. We were told the owner lives up stairs but uses downstairs as part of her home. One wall was a bookshelf and contained  her books and magazines. 

A drive around town proved to be even more interesting. There is a library, museum, coffee shop, post office, airport, gift shops, etc. The Methodist Church has a retreat for families to use. You just have to have a map to locate them.

On Thursday, we found the small museum and talked with Diane Olthuis, the curator, and looked over what she had. The museum consisted  of three  buildings and a shed with old mining/road grading/ farming equipment, a school house, shed/barn and a miners small hotel. Interesting place. Most of the antiques were in a single room. Diane was teaching an eleven year old Andy Johnson. Andy said he is 5’9” and growing. Big child. He said he had relatives in the 6’8 range. Easy to believe him. he was our guide and his knowledge was quite unbelievable. Apparently, he has done this before. Good job Andy

                          Diane Olthuis--Curator

  Andy Johnson, one of 19 students with two teachers in a one room school.

                                          

Wood burning stove in the miner's bunkhouse.

The hanger at the Hope Airport.  There were four more planes on the tarmac.

We also spent some time watching people fish. The two close by were catching and releasing them. They were just doing it for the sport of it. A wife of one said they were from Australia and enjoying their two week vacation. 

Fishing for Salmon or trout

Boomer enjoying a walk by the Creek.

Another very late  lunch of delicious  fish chowder and a huge Ruben sandwich really filled us up and was really good. Eugene, our waiter, said it was made from fresh fish just caught this morning. the Ruben was at least three inches thick with Braised beef. 

we watched the fishermen for awhile and called it a day.