tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68311522725519598372024-03-13T14:45:07.299-07:00CrankywheelTravels across North America in our 25 ft. Forest River Lexington. Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-89769873039545402252016-07-23T11:45:00.001-07:002016-07-23T11:45:14.511-07:00The Trip Home July 16 – July 21, 2016, Days 77 - 82<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz35JhTpJDaCFmQ6aa74uuRSIrHZrblzPjO0KtN__GR3i-wcb9nHDPX89QA8hrGpHqeX_Ip6KF8vwNSe5zcmrEk-aW5k9reNoSATmZ3rwFu3IzOenkWtV2STgJvR-BM04s5p7t45XCYlh/s1600/IMG_7598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz35JhTpJDaCFmQ6aa74uuRSIrHZrblzPjO0KtN__GR3i-wcb9nHDPX89QA8hrGpHqeX_Ip6KF8vwNSe5zcmrEk-aW5k9reNoSATmZ3rwFu3IzOenkWtV2STgJvR-BM04s5p7t45XCYlh/s320/IMG_7598.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassiar Highway - British Columbia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“To the lover of the
wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">John Muir<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“For sheer majestic
geography and sublime scale, nothing beats Alaska and the Yukon”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sam Abell</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Impressions…” the things we carried”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">The beauty and majesty of
the Great North is bewitching. Given
sufficient time, it seeps into your pores, wraps around you, and holds your
heart like a tentative lover. The further
one <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyC5zGiEpGx7Y1qUvIdCMyo2nLsK9nuE7xre7QGXIZIxDKScpeOV_8NdKOPNVCmn4eydTXnOCnc0EqUArv3W-bmoJGo6OjO1bs6nnB_-LN4f4MTgiY0CA6IlpSdf-fSxTLY_UGprBTlLIM/s1600/IMG_7602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyC5zGiEpGx7Y1qUvIdCMyo2nLsK9nuE7xre7QGXIZIxDKScpeOV_8NdKOPNVCmn4eydTXnOCnc0EqUArv3W-bmoJGo6OjO1bs6nnB_-LN4f4MTgiY0CA6IlpSdf-fSxTLY_UGprBTlLIM/s320/IMG_7602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassiar Highway - on the way home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
travels from the populated enclaves, the more beautiful she becomes and the
more precarious is the path on which she leads you. Winter, I’m certain, adds yet another
dimension to her beauty…and uncertainty.
Having lived in the north in years past, I recall how beguiling the
beauty could be…and how dangerous. In
the lower 48, mistakes without contingencies can be an inconvenience…in the
north they can be fatal. Even so, the
risks might be worth it. Those that I’ve
met living off the grid in the north, possessing incredible resourcefulness,
are content with their lives and fully recognize and accept these risks. Nature, outside forces, circumstances, all
can change in an instant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcq-_UWO_iQMXdwjNKqjLPOI3e9d-QhDXyTsvy-dXacm7vb4rkBIaSflk2vKLlsKxuDugAPahp15fwaW3Fr1Xs8obq8X-3tv1PrJUHd2E9kAhyphenhyphenZxLnYXhy_xJpz__Eurl8l58DU6EgMyV/s1600/IMG_7608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcq-_UWO_iQMXdwjNKqjLPOI3e9d-QhDXyTsvy-dXacm7vb4rkBIaSflk2vKLlsKxuDugAPahp15fwaW3Fr1Xs8obq8X-3tv1PrJUHd2E9kAhyphenhyphenZxLnYXhy_xJpz__Eurl8l58DU6EgMyV/s320/IMG_7608.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassiar Highway...Chip rock, no lines...major link to U.S.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Andrea, Maggie, and I are
aligned in our conviction that sharing this adventure together has been a highpoint
in our lives. Seemingly never cramped
for space while living and traveling in our 25-foot RV for 80+ days added to
this adventure. Torrential rains, winds,
sleet, with the added risk of snow posed little inconvenience as we snuggled
warm and content in our little home. Taking
side trips in our dinghy (tiny 2-door Toyota Yaris) allowed us to see and do so
much more than if we had been constrained to the RV alone. For those considering such a trip, should you
own your own RV, I have kept meticulous records and such a trip can be done
with little or no inconvenience for less than $110 per day. This includes, camping fees, fuel, food…the
whole works. If interested, <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmH7Ludq9_eqwsRULtQ3RvCq0RdpH2lrmyPQ_pt1I5hn_XZhCVucyaT543S4wrSfYHZ4BHjXgECbEkELE3w0xu5fd2LrqGQfV5_ltGcGcjy1uaFCUjIBqEr7oGIJDRkTDC6WYidWHbHoXm/s1600/IMG_7616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmH7Ludq9_eqwsRULtQ3RvCq0RdpH2lrmyPQ_pt1I5hn_XZhCVucyaT543S4wrSfYHZ4BHjXgECbEkELE3w0xu5fd2LrqGQfV5_ltGcGcjy1uaFCUjIBqEr7oGIJDRkTDC6WYidWHbHoXm/s320/IMG_7616.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iskut, British Columbia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
we would
gladly share this information with you.
Of the things we carried, we focused on the following: Good RV with the bugs worked out, new tires
equipped with tire pressure monitors, small RV compressor, 160-watt solar cell,
up-to-date records for our dog Maggie, passports, toolkit, maps (<u>Milepost</u>
and <u>Traveler's Guide to Alaskan Camping</u> were extremely useful), GPS, SPOT
(pinpoints exact location for family following your trip), and a willingness to
expect the unexpected. WE CAN GUARANTEE
THAT YOU WILL HAVE AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Alas,
leaving the north…<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrj0i3az-ydxJDOOteFvz1PmiJAHgO-ZKeesA_N5HvTioS0k0NEnhLzYYFoTKguIjHvTO-egV086ul-XnRMGi3Ppx4P2KUeUO1u-l6XKC7JqwuywjWCX8hU1IvIlRxsZy_Kb3gCdgW_fP/s1600/IMG_7622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrj0i3az-ydxJDOOteFvz1PmiJAHgO-ZKeesA_N5HvTioS0k0NEnhLzYYFoTKguIjHvTO-egV086ul-XnRMGi3Ppx4P2KUeUO1u-l6XKC7JqwuywjWCX8hU1IvIlRxsZy_Kb3gCdgW_fP/s320/IMG_7622.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea...pretending to be bear bait</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Leaving Whitehorse after servicing vehicles, washing
laundry, and restocking supplies, we retraced our earlier path along the Alaska
Highway until catching the Cassiar and Yellowhead Highways to Prince
George. Then it was on to Highway 97 to
Cache Creek and then Highway 1 to the U.S. Border. The Cassiar Highway was not completed until
1972 and it, from our observation, seemed more a little unlined, two-lane
backroad than a highway. Beautiful, paved
with chip-rock and possessing a minimum of potholes/washboards, it was fun but
slow traveling. The area brims with
wildlife but <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo-DW0k378YnwIVebgX-X7H11jI4CLZMaAZQ_jm3XKck22ftiFA9Gye2ApWiOf_rg27Pk6_ZS3xrufuW48kjC3M2ZwDsVvp3j8xM2ZSpwakKd1swNsGwZGUzVv35bb_UTNB6__laJnwZP/s1600/IMG_7651+Bear+Glacier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo-DW0k378YnwIVebgX-X7H11jI4CLZMaAZQ_jm3XKck22ftiFA9Gye2ApWiOf_rg27Pk6_ZS3xrufuW48kjC3M2ZwDsVvp3j8xM2ZSpwakKd1swNsGwZGUzVv35bb_UTNB6__laJnwZP/s320/IMG_7651+Bear+Glacier.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear Glacier - Near Stewart, British Columbia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
there are minimal amenities due to the “highway’s” relative
newness. This seems to be the route
taken by those in the Lower 48 who reside on the West Coast. It is a shorter route, compared to the Alaska
Highway, and therefore popular. It is
remote!! Our first stop was in Boya Lake
Provincial Park, followed by a private campground (Mountain Shadow RV Park -
Iskut, BC), and then Meziadin Lake Provincial Park that we used as a home base
for a visit to Sterwart-Hyder on Highway 37A.
This side-trip abounded with resplendent natural beauty: tumbling
waterfalls, glaciers, rivers, and wildlife.
Hyder, Alaska, NOT monitored by a U.S. Border crossing, is popular for
its brown bear (grizzly) monitoring platforms where one can watch these bruins
feeding upon the migrating <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG-TgV29BLLH6IP5Dx16n61OD6kYGaJbpc7GaGZ-XtmFO14p7OtI6uOByDE-ZNMkcAD0sVBImlmErXjrq8fWs8ujdHi_84-w8SK4Lsx9cJlnHvnxLlZfrqTZBxiVOQN1e__ESpU6pAOwD/s1600/IMG_7655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG-TgV29BLLH6IP5Dx16n61OD6kYGaJbpc7GaGZ-XtmFO14p7OtI6uOByDE-ZNMkcAD0sVBImlmErXjrq8fWs8ujdHi_84-w8SK4Lsx9cJlnHvnxLlZfrqTZBxiVOQN1e__ESpU6pAOwD/s640/IMG_7655.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfall everywhere on the road to Stewart, British Columbia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
salmon from mid-July until August for a modest fee
of $5.00 per person. We were too cheap
to spend the money watching bear when we have been seeing them for free all
over the north country and avoiding them on trails. Bear and moose sightings are no longer a
rarity for us.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once leaving Meziadin Lake we truly were hit with the
realization that our North-Country travels were coming to an end. The Yellowhead Highway was modern, loaded
with amenities, and screamed of “you really are going home…ugh!). Beautiful nonetheless, our stays in Beaumont
Provincial Park (Bulkley-Nechako, BC) and Lac Le Hache Provincial Park
(Cariboo, BC) were filled with beauty and interesting fellow-travelers. On Highway 1 we were able to visit the
Thompson River, wh<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbk4e77e69pzoOnc3SybWdwAlwuMfRbSr4GWxwm18VgNzTKoRY8-MMZqMDd-jIOIMay-EzZo7yB4KV5aEla-BYOFktj0GdrHVbn9aizQkjCgGWq2G3H9k4lfCVWiSTi_xJSijBsHhDwkb/s1600/IMG_7658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbk4e77e69pzoOnc3SybWdwAlwuMfRbSr4GWxwm18VgNzTKoRY8-MMZqMDd-jIOIMay-EzZo7yB4KV5aEla-BYOFktj0GdrHVbn9aizQkjCgGWq2G3H9k4lfCVWiSTi_xJSijBsHhDwkb/s320/IMG_7658.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
ere 20+ years ago I had one of the most harrowing and
wonderful kayaking trips of my life. In
those days I was a pretty good kayaker and viewing the <br />
Thompson brought home
just how good I must have been because this was HUGE white water on a monstrous
river. At the time I remember seeing
hordes of migrating salmon in the “raised” eddies, watching rafting groups tip
over in their rafts, and yet being able to kayak this proficiently. Oh, those were the days!!<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>In
conclusion</b>: What a trip!! Our advice…VISIT ALBERTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA,
THE YUKON, AND ALASKA…have fun, be safe, and enjoy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC4nkFyUX1KuLQqDdbWUiJ_WnjguXREVt7CKc4VawRIvSGmBohWq4nOXeTFycWnB38zEU61dvsE9Bls_wzvF9AfE4rA0dwKdtOWVhZX74C4Kpy7CW8fsns9L28yqNP1JuAd7rkFnRNalT/s1600/033+Griz+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC4nkFyUX1KuLQqDdbWUiJ_WnjguXREVt7CKc4VawRIvSGmBohWq4nOXeTFycWnB38zEU61dvsE9Bls_wzvF9AfE4rA0dwKdtOWVhZX74C4Kpy7CW8fsns9L28yqNP1JuAd7rkFnRNalT/s640/033+Griz+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctr.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You all come back now...and maybe I'll meet you on the trail."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-43554865358621460332016-07-15T17:22:00.000-07:002016-07-15T17:22:01.442-07:00To Haines, Skagway, and revisiting Whitehorse, Yukon Territories July 9 – July 15, 2016, Days 70 - 76<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AVKnEShGs9U6VAwv09VpxWX4pcBDB6OlLD9BhCz2fZdTORL1iewdBKtB39g_mtjJp8cvvUoEa4cNYCukxna4ernaTpPHkgctyw-WMvhtkmJQ_9skQ7MB34XQvrHPFwZKVqHyUDkne1iO/s1600/003+Wrengall+St.+Eliais+Nat+Prk+%2526+Pres.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AVKnEShGs9U6VAwv09VpxWX4pcBDB6OlLD9BhCz2fZdTORL1iewdBKtB39g_mtjJp8cvvUoEa4cNYCukxna4ernaTpPHkgctyw-WMvhtkmJQ_9skQ7MB34XQvrHPFwZKVqHyUDkne1iO/s400/003+Wrengall+St.+Eliais+Nat+Prk+%2526+Pres.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrangell Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Haines is only 15 miles by
water from Skagway but it is 359 miles by road.” Alaska Marine Highway Ferry operates
year-round connecting these two historic locations. “Skagway owes its birth to the Klondike Gold
Rush” of the 1890’s. It is here that the
horrifically steep Chilkoot Pass had to be negotiated multiple times conveying needed
provisions before gold seekers could start their trek to the Klondike Gold
Fields. Notorious, overpopulated, and
crime ridden, Skagway during these times was described as “little better than
Hell on Earth.” </span></i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Milepost</span></b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2diiFa4MTOL7J8HlsY7NlalagtrfEPPZd5WTXlAuFWw0Db8d0VxM-Hwsp-HllmV_ZfKZJaxA7E8tszq6bOlogEUCNniMIi4RW8z78punYUX8CSM56lEfWRP8Zt2M4zKXUgoHqW4_lPuu/s1600/Mary+Francis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2diiFa4MTOL7J8HlsY7NlalagtrfEPPZd5WTXlAuFWw0Db8d0VxM-Hwsp-HllmV_ZfKZJaxA7E8tszq6bOlogEUCNniMIi4RW8z78punYUX8CSM56lEfWRP8Zt2M4zKXUgoHqW4_lPuu/s320/Mary+Francis.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Frances Dehart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">All roads
pass through Tok, Alaska<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Traveling the Glenn
Highway and connecting to the Tok Cutoff, it was from here that we would once
again connect to the Alaska Highway for our return home. Upon reaching Glennallen, located at the
junction of the Glenn and Richardson highways, we felt compelled to stop and
explore. Camping at Porcupine Creek
State Recreation Site for our first night, we transferred to Hart D Ranch so
that we could meet Alaskan bronze sculptor Mary Frances Dehart. Mary Frances had done it all! Moving, as a young college graduate, from
Ohio and making her home in Alaska more than 60 years ago, she has immersed
herself in all things Alaskan. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BKH7AsIgbG4-TYajfbuu-zkf7n3joii4Q9ktgozl98I-s1o0pn6j0aq-BHtcIfVWExMJScnwrhfLjIWoJbPF0GometHHAloDEj4UFAaQZhr7whQ6Qq6bQ-SBgMUUXbFXCo0Bd_3dptoT/s1600/015+Mary+Francis%2527+Bronze.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BKH7AsIgbG4-TYajfbuu-zkf7n3joii4Q9ktgozl98I-s1o0pn6j0aq-BHtcIfVWExMJScnwrhfLjIWoJbPF0GometHHAloDEj4UFAaQZhr7whQ6Qq6bQ-SBgMUUXbFXCo0Bd_3dptoT/s320/015+Mary+Francis%2527+Bronze.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Mary Frances' bronze works</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pursuing
her art, not limited to bronze-work, she built a power station that provided
the community’s power needs, owned and operated a big-game guiding business,
raised horses for the guiding venture, built and operated the post office, a
bed and breakfast, RV park, and to this day maintains the grounds at Porcupine
Creek State Recreation Site. If not busy
enough, she raised and raced sled-dogs.
When asked why she tackled so many projects she responded that diversity
was and is the key to entrepreneurial survival.
Nearly losing everything when Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and
Preserve was established in 1980, much of enterprise was leased from BLM, her
guiding endeavors all but disappeared.
This required forays into just about anything that <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEZ8o302ureDsDXzGmZQo4wun-oGURmF9TkZ1kyyOeQ7iyCcW4syRTuHPchc7EBAoQVBbSRw0x4Z11ebi5hr3oVWvo2gLFqRBAQ_VeCKr5YUQZZODOlTd8Ce-d_8WUJFboNPCBBRTXuih/s1600/IMG_7515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEZ8o302ureDsDXzGmZQo4wun-oGURmF9TkZ1kyyOeQ7iyCcW4syRTuHPchc7EBAoQVBbSRw0x4Z11ebi5hr3oVWvo2gLFqRBAQ_VeCKr5YUQZZODOlTd8Ce-d_8WUJFboNPCBBRTXuih/s400/IMG_7515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haines Highway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
could turn a buck in
order to hold on to her investments.
With no living relatives to help carry the load, difficulty in finding
competent help, she at 70+ years young, solely manages her enterprises from
sun-up to sun-set (don’t forget that this is the land of the midnight sun). It was our pleasure to dine with Mary
Frances, learn about the inner workings of her small Alaskan community, and see
her exquisite art first-hand. We were
charmed by her poise, openness, talent, and tenacity. WHAT A LADY!!
We could have spent a month with her but alas, we had to move along on
our journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_Wu6GSBjYmiUZM6Z7-6zQKfETRF7FYF1Qj46THqZOeZUCfEon8a8lIbnpgKxKSd_SqkPdnf48oULAu0Q4hEmgULLb_7PazMUOFW5-p7hesPkDQKyKm80Lm4gmHYu8TCsx69xbHXb4VDs/s1600/IMG_7519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_Wu6GSBjYmiUZM6Z7-6zQKfETRF7FYF1Qj46THqZOeZUCfEon8a8lIbnpgKxKSd_SqkPdnf48oULAu0Q4hEmgULLb_7PazMUOFW5-p7hesPkDQKyKm80Lm4gmHYu8TCsx69xbHXb4VDs/s400/IMG_7519.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haines Highway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">After a side trip in our
Yaris on a very rough gravel road visiting Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and
Preserve we came to the conclusion that this trip would have to wait until our
Yaris grew up…into a monster 4-wheel drive!
After 25 miles, though the view of the Wrangell Mountains was
breathtaking, we turned and retraced our steps looking for better roads. Departure found us on the Tok Cutoff for fueling
and commissary resupply. Tok, a central
stopover for most travelers, is at the junction of the Glenn (Tok Cutoff),
Taylor, and Alaska Highways. Short of
taking a ferry via the Inland Passage, all roads pass through Tok. Commercial and not of particular interest to
us, we continued on until encountering <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm36_TkLUrzQpMO-UImTHUO04F_b_51Xq-gM_21hE_dJFimW04uIbVzsEVgiHPxK8WYVpDXsU7au4WjEp7nnMxxuiWKDZWQM3Qx56_1eoenSXEeDzeBaUPwunFTcYJtXEpLZf9mQgnMwiA/s1600/IMG_7525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm36_TkLUrzQpMO-UImTHUO04F_b_51Xq-gM_21hE_dJFimW04uIbVzsEVgiHPxK8WYVpDXsU7au4WjEp7nnMxxuiWKDZWQM3Qx56_1eoenSXEeDzeBaUPwunFTcYJtXEpLZf9mQgnMwiA/s320/IMG_7525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packed into the Ferry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
frightening rain and thunder storms. Spending the night at a roadside stop near
Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, morning found us crossing into the Yukon. Million Dollar Waterfall Campground on the
Haines Highway was our target as a jump-off for a Haines/Skagway/Whitehorse
circular trip. Parking the RV, our Yaris
took us through stunning vistas along the Haines Highway. By sheer luck, we arrived in Haines just
barely in time to be placed on “standby” for the Haines/Skagway Ferry. We were the last to be literally packed into
what seemed a very small ferry!!
Positioned “just-so” by the crew, we had barely inches on all sides of
our car. If we were any larger than 12
feet by 5 feet, there would have been no room for us. Being packed into our little Yaris finally
paid off. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI55bYytw9oAf7a26eJ8XIWeXnA9Uk72KAjPSvCFFcIYL9Mj_9nYXVtp-e2467bAJK3GcDoSwBtplToNJ9Gp_2sOI5NrhIcHJZUJvHDR_ceVyBZGNTH0nIqOPV6H4bCf7GGVJqqH6kDXq/s1600/IMG_7531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI55bYytw9oAf7a26eJ8XIWeXnA9Uk72KAjPSvCFFcIYL9Mj_9nYXVtp-e2467bAJK3GcDoSwBtplToNJ9Gp_2sOI5NrhIcHJZUJvHDR_ceVyBZGNTH0nIqOPV6H4bCf7GGVJqqH6kDXq/s400/IMG_7531.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Ferry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">The trip on the ferry was
a thrill. Waterfalls cascading off peaks
that vaulted seemingly straight into the Heavens, reaching the azure waters of
Portage Cove, Lynn Canal, and Taiya Inlet was our view. Arriving in Skagway we found four huge
passenger liners docked and a town full of tourist. This gave a flavor of what days of old may
have been like when gold seekers flooded Skagway. With sunset around 12:30 AM, the threat of
moose, bear, and other fender-bender wildlife on the road after sunset, we felt
it prudent to start our 300+ mile drive back to the RV. The Klondike Highway offered no disappointments
with <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifub6bbujn7OBqqDGmMshDFiPp6CxYJf-5anBg_voing4NmRFBvmvbweu9SZ7c8cYdS4mBGh3GEKDipLUrIy9PStIZv-NYweoouucErnyUdTAhFMzvYygNL7ONKSPvl1qp33SGRagPzHBb/s1600/IMG_7533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifub6bbujn7OBqqDGmMshDFiPp6CxYJf-5anBg_voing4NmRFBvmvbweu9SZ7c8cYdS4mBGh3GEKDipLUrIy9PStIZv-NYweoouucErnyUdTAhFMzvYygNL7ONKSPvl1qp33SGRagPzHBb/s400/IMG_7533.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Ferry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
regard to scenery. Beautiful!! We thoroughly enjoyed the dive, and near
Whitehorse we reconnected to the Alaska Highway and then on to the Haines
Highway where the RV was parked. This
loop is, in our opinion, well worth the effort for those who may consider this
trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVZa6_5JWe3eSz1KHdWIelyWV0vXQxlx5lrkUrUn1p551DB1jbcyy7LwcKt3isJgtwIYLg8-bhgwiK_AbjOLA64CrDW9v1Lf6DcF6z2h5zzOZMzzM7b9lubMTc5dudoQfUzNsO6HiaiBt/s1600/IMG_7597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVZa6_5JWe3eSz1KHdWIelyWV0vXQxlx5lrkUrUn1p551DB1jbcyy7LwcKt3isJgtwIYLg8-bhgwiK_AbjOLA64CrDW9v1Lf6DcF6z2h5zzOZMzzM7b9lubMTc5dudoQfUzNsO6HiaiBt/s320/IMG_7597.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crew from Jiffy Lube - Thank you Guys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Back in Whitehorse the
next day, we needed to attend to “Moo” (our RV) with an oil change, washing,
and check to see how many nuts and bolts were loose or lost. The fellas at Jiffy Lube were GREAT! They did our oil change on the way up and we
were so impressed that we had them attend to our needs on the way back. Everyone in the North we have found to be
very polite, obliging, and resourceful.
The Jiffy Lube crew was no exception.
Thank you for taking such good care of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Whitehorse, with its great
cell reception, will be our home until we are assured that Emily (our youngest and
very pregnant daughter) makes it home to Denver back into the arms of her husband
and daughter. While in Missouri she
started to experience some contractions and has put the whole family on pins
and needles. Once she is home safe and
sound, we will turn off our <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3OOw0_BjT8q9afAsU9OcXlq3CYus31dx1ECA-hFJFMp5XcHOM262xrLrNDQM-iMAqjK3PNnlf0ohMsnvEZ7WSVLOJV4PWSFEU9MLEjHV69-LW3ueISMQFQDXvp8kFUn_nT-QqOL-ZTdb/s1600/IMG_7544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3OOw0_BjT8q9afAsU9OcXlq3CYus31dx1ECA-hFJFMp5XcHOM262xrLrNDQM-iMAqjK3PNnlf0ohMsnvEZ7WSVLOJV4PWSFEU9MLEjHV69-LW3ueISMQFQDXvp8kFUn_nT-QqOL-ZTdb/s320/IMG_7544.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea..."tell the captain to get closer to shore"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
cellphones (no cell reception anyway), head down
the road and connect with the Cassiar Highway and on to Seattle via British
Columbia. We will post as WIFI is
available. We have logged over 10,000
miles so far and we have a lot more on the agenda before we finally reach home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDLLo83qoUvYda042C9S9DFP5jYXoZQNAjCzLi075iaPEBUjxNgl0H3SKVW_ljChQpE01xW6U7gkZ9oAQZP7ZsgBVvKRxm2ul-nygmM5y6MnTE8xmZUq9CW0GJd7p0tTlvsWvfgLQioKr/s1600/IMG_7565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDLLo83qoUvYda042C9S9DFP5jYXoZQNAjCzLi075iaPEBUjxNgl0H3SKVW_ljChQpE01xW6U7gkZ9oAQZP7ZsgBVvKRxm2ul-nygmM5y6MnTE8xmZUq9CW0GJd7p0tTlvsWvfgLQioKr/s400/IMG_7565.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ships docked in Skagway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAeodOCpxliUOw-icXIMt54uHO_d8URbEzlAtrM1scNI6k5mGvgsAD3QuZDjlWd3-G-JVHPxuiEjhuRFsfRe_Ge0X_gdyMHfAanRXwqtmVcgoELBzcnGqE5ng6QnDZUjZeBZw4rgijPaO/s1600/IMG_7567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAeodOCpxliUOw-icXIMt54uHO_d8URbEzlAtrM1scNI6k5mGvgsAD3QuZDjlWd3-G-JVHPxuiEjhuRFsfRe_Ge0X_gdyMHfAanRXwqtmVcgoELBzcnGqE5ng6QnDZUjZeBZw4rgijPaO/s400/IMG_7567.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skagway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9uswWf8tFi66GWWD-qnpCJsHlgCdMr_d6FPv9orEeyVq20L_GSFFC9xWlyTLqAOzBO-SsoswiPzlERWGSdAxcDzBmwIKVBVCbQD6uu0m_9G3IWeUk0V8vSs2K-NC7FkbRclnhklRxZKu/s1600/IMG_7579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9uswWf8tFi66GWWD-qnpCJsHlgCdMr_d6FPv9orEeyVq20L_GSFFC9xWlyTLqAOzBO-SsoswiPzlERWGSdAxcDzBmwIKVBVCbQD6uu0m_9G3IWeUk0V8vSs2K-NC7FkbRclnhklRxZKu/s640/IMG_7579.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; text-align: start;">View from the Klondike Highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyY5Ptf0MK0ev5itgiA39pLKHMa1MZ1ODPrgfDAgTXLHZSC_oW4RBurzw0PqptLydC2MUTPIuZgYSE9Z2raVdTOJGOTt7PxXS0lztTq671HHRDbDm8Xb2YjQw7njk5ONY4rHGGcNMN_nd7/s1600/IMG_7581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyY5Ptf0MK0ev5itgiA39pLKHMa1MZ1ODPrgfDAgTXLHZSC_oW4RBurzw0PqptLydC2MUTPIuZgYSE9Z2raVdTOJGOTt7PxXS0lztTq671HHRDbDm8Xb2YjQw7njk5ONY4rHGGcNMN_nd7/s640/IMG_7581.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; text-align: start;">View from the Klondike Highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SGKCfShDqePMpdf3uxnNkcFv-IxFCMmq5V48hVIZE2HkEfW-kKVPhU7RrBM8IW127mjjPpkFspzezQCzjJ1FR28DSci7yocVnwXK4FkXuFM-THjjPN0nnIp0koaus0Uh7iSXXmdLVOPo/s1600/IMG_7583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SGKCfShDqePMpdf3uxnNkcFv-IxFCMmq5V48hVIZE2HkEfW-kKVPhU7RrBM8IW127mjjPpkFspzezQCzjJ1FR28DSci7yocVnwXK4FkXuFM-THjjPN0nnIp0koaus0Uh7iSXXmdLVOPo/s640/IMG_7583.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; text-align: start;">View from the Klondike Highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFIg_Y3p3SPRBr4dZ9KkvZUu72aVW2MmTzDDWXPWbjV4F3MIS1oDClUMdbrEYJlzIcWOVZ6Lx3ohz882aoSxIhkQlktD27Cd5QiSj82ZfWLIRrqQ8CD_GB1zoi73F2jhO0WVzwrgds8Ni/s1600/IMG_7588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFIg_Y3p3SPRBr4dZ9KkvZUu72aVW2MmTzDDWXPWbjV4F3MIS1oDClUMdbrEYJlzIcWOVZ6Lx3ohz882aoSxIhkQlktD27Cd5QiSj82ZfWLIRrqQ8CD_GB1zoi73F2jhO0WVzwrgds8Ni/s640/IMG_7588.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; text-align: start;">The rainbow ends on the Klondike Highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgbNNYcGQbMgamAswCFdoEDoLC6r5DXzGjfs9dLz8OKFFstPVJ1S2kNDPfojDTxvOTM6Em2AEMkvfnni9Y3T0ylTB8wovlyarT8T57gekBo1c2biIctc9xG-Uc3tqy35e3g-rnK1gy6Qg/s1600/IMG_7596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgbNNYcGQbMgamAswCFdoEDoLC6r5DXzGjfs9dLz8OKFFstPVJ1S2kNDPfojDTxvOTM6Em2AEMkvfnni9Y3T0ylTB8wovlyarT8T57gekBo1c2biIctc9xG-Uc3tqy35e3g-rnK1gy6Qg/s640/IMG_7596.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It would be tough to look out at this everyday!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-38542377735747948842016-07-10T11:18:00.001-07:002016-07-10T11:18:52.930-07:00Homer to Valdez, Alaska July 1 – July 8, 2016, Days 62 - 69<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhdV6h8Mig8YsJBbO9L6D-Os5nzUP6PJmL1re6uCDx-CXYo2mhy3EP9izCBf4sOM_QFUumXPNu1CSrwKtKju1ePSQQoNEPTMQHPS5xUbtyU9gr4MXX_u_gWdTkfSNVoIjsv5IHIz6CWbe/s1600/IMG_7362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhdV6h8Mig8YsJBbO9L6D-Os5nzUP6PJmL1re6uCDx-CXYo2mhy3EP9izCBf4sOM_QFUumXPNu1CSrwKtKju1ePSQQoNEPTMQHPS5xUbtyU9gr4MXX_u_gWdTkfSNVoIjsv5IHIz6CWbe/s320/IMG_7362.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valdez - Dockside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Old Valdez was built on sand
and gravel and when the shock from the 1964, 9.2 earthquake struck Valdez the
sediments under the waterfront began to spontaneously liquefy thus causing 2.4
million square feet of the delta to slump into Port Valdez. The Valdez Port Facilities were sent to the
bottom and this caused a huge volume of water to generate a 40-foot tsunami.
All of this occurred even before the shaking ended so with no warning all who
were on the docks were killed by the tsunami.
Union Oil Company tanks ruptured spreading fire over the entire
waterfront. All was lost. This was in
the era of the cold war and many thought that it was an atomic bomb
attack. Later they learned that it was
mother nature that caused this devastation.
When the town was rebuilt, it was moved to firmer ground that just
happens to be the terminus of the Alaska Pipeline.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiplJ8uY3RGFtYm1uK2yUV8MZuH0FK2_N1FJGiHX_nxnflUJM4koURmCjUsA8v7FN1kmDvozGhrB5PWPSxjsgmIMjPSB7HAnoPe6SG3DBGK9mJuNsxd18Pd_W_d3uVy91qPvvH8sh4xFY3/s1600/IMG_7287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiplJ8uY3RGFtYm1uK2yUV8MZuH0FK2_N1FJGiHX_nxnflUJM4koURmCjUsA8v7FN1kmDvozGhrB5PWPSxjsgmIMjPSB7HAnoPe6SG3DBGK9mJuNsxd18Pd_W_d3uVy91qPvvH8sh4xFY3/s320/IMG_7287.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matanuska Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Matanuska
Glacier State Recreation Site, Mile 101 Glenn Hwy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #251a0e; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Driving northeast from Anchorage through Palmer, Alaska, we then
twisted along the Matanuska River Valley.
Palmer is particularly interesting in that in the 1930’s Franklin
Roosevelt, as part of the New Deal, helped establish the Matanuska Colony. It was here that more than 200 families were
assisted in relocating from the depressed Midwest (mostly Michigan, Wisconsin,
and Minnesota) to this area to establish an agricultural base. Each family was given 40-acre tracts on which
to farm in this very fertile valley.
Transitioning from tents to homesteads, some families made a go of it
while others packed it in and returned to the lower 48. It was this venture that established Palmer as
an agricultural base. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVFNlbWBjzx4AX1wGXFUlZHstNR9uvvCi0_kt4E71TYWLhQahnsLH_DBle3kPwH-RYtXmbitjgddeXBCaD9aLk_xw5ovyOHCZKYcfjyTqi3z5DnMweGfE6kOrrkDhWyUDi1sq-FtliTtr/s1600/IMG_7302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVFNlbWBjzx4AX1wGXFUlZHstNR9uvvCi0_kt4E71TYWLhQahnsLH_DBle3kPwH-RYtXmbitjgddeXBCaD9aLk_xw5ovyOHCZKYcfjyTqi3z5DnMweGfE6kOrrkDhWyUDi1sq-FtliTtr/s320/IMG_7302.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Auto Wreckers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To this day,
family owned enterprises raise grain crops, hay, fresh produce, and
livestock. There is even a muskox venture
where they harvest the VERY SOFT undercoat for clothing. Meat is also harvested and the breeders are
working on developing a more docile strain of animal to best accommodated this
sort of venture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #251a0e; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sandwiched among the Alaska Range, the Talkeetna, and Chugach
Mountains, the Matanuska Valley was shaped through glaciation and abounds with
lakes, streams, and wildlife. The scenery
is breathtaking. With the 4<sup>th</sup>
of July celebrations upon us, we decided to find a beautiful little corner to
hole up in before proceeding on to Valdez.
Traveling the Glenn Highway to our camping destination we nearly hit a
moose that scared Andrea to death. Cool
and calm as always, I assured her that we had a good ¾ of an inch to spare once
the event was past but I did stop to take a moment to clean out my pants. Moose are HUGE!! Averaging 1400 pounds, they have the
capability of turning a “street-legal” vehicle into a “junk-yard” bonanza of
semi-salvageable spare parts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Uh_Ik3z3PpETWTy_BH5wm-LEJ-ujm61-sJCNe2KvLrIvHd8P65iwuBlGAKHdXYoTr2qWl0rNwZg8BJjeTGpJCEV0PW5OZ3Dv3wEFEHwYpKsejcnU6hdgvdHLeGZv2MFP6b-K1fjavEWA/s1600/IMG_7294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Uh_Ik3z3PpETWTy_BH5wm-LEJ-ujm61-sJCNe2KvLrIvHd8P65iwuBlGAKHdXYoTr2qWl0rNwZg8BJjeTGpJCEV0PW5OZ3Dv3wEFEHwYpKsejcnU6hdgvdHLeGZv2MFP6b-K1fjavEWA/s400/IMG_7294.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matanuska Glacier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #251a0e; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Matanuska Glacier and the surrounding area were resplendent in
their beauty. Unique among Alaskan glaciers, scientist say that “flowing at a
rate of a foot per day, there is little change in its terminus.” On the other hand, spending the morning with
the manager of Matanuska Glacier Adventures who has lived in the area for 25
years, he begged to differ. Displaying
photos of the glacier in years past while overseeing this operation seemed to
indicate a big change from its present location in proximity to his lodge 25
year ago. Who knows? In any
event, this whole area is gorgeous, and it was in this area that we celebrated
Andrea’s 46 anniversary of her 21<sup>st</sup> birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: rgb(247 , 247 , 247); font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdO3ElYq1zsufyJ8LDCuoeGZs1kcwk3Se2K_BsdKrA4iKeLX17oK9oraGbZbG8_f6iK6AaZvVvk3Xovu-zLHmKISTBBeS7BKcg3xvckQA3NyqLpIjpvu4o-Rt0ZgVG-YcKbLiNFMoe44Yv/s1600/IMG_7384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdO3ElYq1zsufyJ8LDCuoeGZs1kcwk3Se2K_BsdKrA4iKeLX17oK9oraGbZbG8_f6iK6AaZvVvk3Xovu-zLHmKISTBBeS7BKcg3xvckQA3NyqLpIjpvu4o-Rt0ZgVG-YcKbLiNFMoe44Yv/s320/IMG_7384.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueberry Campsite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Blueberry
Lake State Recreation Site, Mile 24, Richardson Highway to Valdez<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">I am at a loss for words
in my attempt to describe the beauty of the Richardson Highway as one travels
to Valdez. Pictures, nor all the adjectives
in the English Language, simply do not suffice in capturing the immense beauty
of this area. Passing over Thompson Pass
on our way to Blueberry Lake was stunning and will remain etched in our
memories long after this trip is over.
Cascading waterfalls, jagged peaks, lush carpets of vegetation sprinkled
with wildflowers, and rushing streams can be seen in every direction. Camping 20 miles out of Valdez, we enjoyed
stunning beauty, great fishing, and watched, with our binoculars, bears roaming
on the hillside just across the valley from us.
What a sight to behold!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U1AOfs7naT5oV5PDRxsNgYua9oQmwR0O0Jm0ayDu5APR7pxwSRfZX2opljUqKTiD8xJWFYDOtM4Q9gN9zEujYdEzn8IUdLu_fGi1aZvWnRNJP9gFJoneTwdmsbEfSsjlhAQuEu24eE3o/s1600/IMG_7401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U1AOfs7naT5oV5PDRxsNgYua9oQmwR0O0Jm0ayDu5APR7pxwSRfZX2opljUqKTiD8xJWFYDOtM4Q9gN9zEujYdEzn8IUdLu_fGi1aZvWnRNJP9gFJoneTwdmsbEfSsjlhAQuEu24eE3o/s320/IMG_7401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Blueberry Campsite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">At Valdez, a site where
ferries transport travelers along the Inland Passage, we watched the fishing trawlers
and were stunned to see a young bear just crossing the street in downtown
Valdez. What a place! "Toto, I've a feeling we're not
in Kansas anymore." With
such beauty, we were reluctant to leave but alas, we did have to move on. Next stop…Tok, Alaska for caribou sausage,
sourdough pancakes, and rejoining the Alaska Highway.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuwq4PsYtvI6bZumcETcZwtbmHORDeZRQDMh8L3juJtSNb9ZVr_bbQxioGTQ2sVjGd8qSZiBTdACaYnXUVvB0ngLmwe2i5-DIR5JZ-Y7K3Z4BhAmpiVdhFcUQ9zFCa94A-ssZ-j6nco5a/s1600/IMG_7351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuwq4PsYtvI6bZumcETcZwtbmHORDeZRQDMh8L3juJtSNb9ZVr_bbQxioGTQ2sVjGd8qSZiBTdACaYnXUVvB0ngLmwe2i5-DIR5JZ-Y7K3Z4BhAmpiVdhFcUQ9zFCa94A-ssZ-j6nco5a/s320/IMG_7351.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley Road to Valdez</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white;"></span><br /><span style="background: white;"></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9if3tRs7Ihwe4I_OkyiI32VTBNcV7FqkzMqmtyTn1DvnOgefXYIdrrYhHLrQjW27pg9RmkE9S1RR3559he8OebEb43Fcqadv_V023A0eAqZ2v2oAiVOndWAGotOHucRPrz3_GcFHK0al/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9if3tRs7Ihwe4I_OkyiI32VTBNcV7FqkzMqmtyTn1DvnOgefXYIdrrYhHLrQjW27pg9RmkE9S1RR3559he8OebEb43Fcqadv_V023A0eAqZ2v2oAiVOndWAGotOHucRPrz3_GcFHK0al/s320/IMG_0260.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuN-fWQj8AXiLnQSf5zYx31hbExJat1YT1AWNtDM3g3vqC7rDmaO6GKFY-H_0zqp95ee7OOp1SXN0csVD8_AWUfNh0xvhSysuf1RV7FHwpRfh-kNuJeRN3HRmeuuWaTcUHThrNpRHkS6v/s1600/IMG_7396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuN-fWQj8AXiLnQSf5zYx31hbExJat1YT1AWNtDM3g3vqC7rDmaO6GKFY-H_0zqp95ee7OOp1SXN0csVD8_AWUfNh0xvhSysuf1RV7FHwpRfh-kNuJeRN3HRmeuuWaTcUHThrNpRHkS6v/s640/IMG_7396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea looking from Thompson Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBVETKjk2brsRZ16j2JOLBUAISA601xUFL3x65rBvYOhKDRKzLKnMpAIaPdxfh831yd4wmiZi5sAlOV8XSGwhjjRw2t4Srpnrd8PauPOqCBJhv8KSvvucKY9gUtKj2jABNQW-rk1lCdh2/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBVETKjk2brsRZ16j2JOLBUAISA601xUFL3x65rBvYOhKDRKzLKnMpAIaPdxfh831yd4wmiZi5sAlOV8XSGwhjjRw2t4Srpnrd8PauPOqCBJhv8KSvvucKY9gUtKj2jABNQW-rk1lCdh2/s640/IMG_2156.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea at Worthington Glacier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWu1GWSn9w1i77GZ5Xlnoc7Mgal5SS3NSYP3RKDrjLJ1zMvhpZMVzeWDDqw85zRmojPzVEsZK_G0xZmvJUizfh66jUiqigKm1DvVpijlkSRpenO1cqnxugS0mrhFmhVq8l-2SXMAXJcB5/s1600/IMG_7405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWu1GWSn9w1i77GZ5Xlnoc7Mgal5SS3NSYP3RKDrjLJ1zMvhpZMVzeWDDqw85zRmojPzVEsZK_G0xZmvJUizfh66jUiqigKm1DvVpijlkSRpenO1cqnxugS0mrhFmhVq8l-2SXMAXJcB5/s640/IMG_7405.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thompson Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyMIGuJ5veWwt8zVUSXJnqJ39MW-SSySx7SejeD8Cotq_0JpYbzrsJsmkbyq-8SSyXbhlg_fH94ZsZx_vGNVaepYRnBV69MLyps4y8fnK9dPlsgx3TkPuJ5AL6E44Po-fuRdxViDsjlUK/s1600/IMG_7383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyMIGuJ5veWwt8zVUSXJnqJ39MW-SSySx7SejeD8Cotq_0JpYbzrsJsmkbyq-8SSyXbhlg_fH94ZsZx_vGNVaepYRnBV69MLyps4y8fnK9dPlsgx3TkPuJ5AL6E44Po-fuRdxViDsjlUK/s640/IMG_7383.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road to Blueberry Campsite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-79497532412617791572016-07-09T13:43:00.000-07:002016-07-09T13:43:40.762-07:00Kenai Peninsula, Homer, Alaska June 28 – June 30, 2016, Days 59 - 61<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_UCEcnnU8kt68OP4-osT4QUBNvkYGKkxSo33zFIe4wERyisa5YfIdM6R9N-lILpxkdwljVlmwfSaXU12YqBRTYoS9r7pMAQqB6Vp3uoPXTWu6_Uih_KeWZ4Tb5q4zSMirubMARf1k75w/s1600/IMG_7261a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_UCEcnnU8kt68OP4-osT4QUBNvkYGKkxSo33zFIe4wERyisa5YfIdM6R9N-lILpxkdwljVlmwfSaXU12YqBRTYoS9r7pMAQqB6Vp3uoPXTWu6_Uih_KeWZ4Tb5q4zSMirubMARf1k75w/s320/IMG_7261a.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Overlooking Homer, one can
see snowcapped volcanos that give credence that Alaska is in the midst of
massive change: Augustine (4,000+ft) last
erupted in 2006: Illiamna (10,000+ft) constant plumes of steam and gasses;
Redoubt (10,000+ft) erupted in 2009; and Spur (11,000+ft) erupted in 1992. This coupled with the great earthquake of
1964 justifies that Alaska is NOT a land at rest.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Johnson
Lake State Recreation Campground, Mile 110.5, Sterling Highway<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tenderfoot
Creek Campground, Mile 46, Steward Highway<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">WIFI<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Being connected is now the
limiting factor in keeping the blog up-to-date.
When WIFI is available, there are time limits, data limits, and the
whole process is VERY SLOW!! This being
the case, blog updates, while sporadic, will include multiple sites of
interest.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHR2XCVLJilTkT-3BHYaWDmtq0qTnJTE9m9WrCgD477M5A5i-pRPtoJJ9iB9hTU1d3c3PRfvg-DfaCVVMiHCiCO01WOHipqletP38Vz0EcbTkBzXlZZFjDr01FwfAoSxRxbeHdr4JEMnn/s1600/IMG_7262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHR2XCVLJilTkT-3BHYaWDmtq0qTnJTE9m9WrCgD477M5A5i-pRPtoJJ9iB9hTU1d3c3PRfvg-DfaCVVMiHCiCO01WOHipqletP38Vz0EcbTkBzXlZZFjDr01FwfAoSxRxbeHdr4JEMnn/s320/IMG_7262.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road leading to Homer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Homer</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">One could spend a month on
the Kenai Peninsula and never see it all.
Nature abounds and there is always something more around the
corner. We are becoming “wilderness
snobs.” We pull into a town with more than
10 non-eclectic residents, we then feel that we have left the WILDERNESS and
anything that the community might have to offer is beneath us. As usual with such snap judgements we are
entirely wrong and show ourselves to be total “Cheechacos” (Northern rookies-newcomers)
that we really are. There is always something interesting! The ride, via the Sterling Hwy, to Homer was
no exception. Located in the Kenai
Peninsula on Kachemak Bay, the town was named after Homer Pennock (a local
prospector) in the late 1800’s and is renowned for its halibut fishing. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Nxx26eRG6q55d_1BbmkHpgvvsvSxWOmeQHzQmgKybxlhb3dSOtiVzkPzzisGMLBBlFZjn0prTWTXMx5pzkjkICVpDIBRiUJLIcHbyo1AN7HYakLHQejRRr91BmEWrvL1Cdv7y40ZNkbC/s1600/IMG_7190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Nxx26eRG6q55d_1BbmkHpgvvsvSxWOmeQHzQmgKybxlhb3dSOtiVzkPzzisGMLBBlFZjn0prTWTXMx5pzkjkICVpDIBRiUJLIcHbyo1AN7HYakLHQejRRr91BmEWrvL1Cdv7y40ZNkbC/s320/IMG_7190.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikolaevsk Chapel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeSaFpb-CrkX53RXdLTuKsZjsSabRnekXiPRzwy_hgKM01Q2BFo4IRVBei0s1j3_rqjE6pPpBoNy51UFDKttsQGYodZ0TbRJE81gvnBJmDtLRLlSih3o4W4u8OTmPb5vMoe-U-tQL1wuo/s1600/IMG_7191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeSaFpb-CrkX53RXdLTuKsZjsSabRnekXiPRzwy_hgKM01Q2BFo4IRVBei0s1j3_rqjE6pPpBoNy51UFDKttsQGYodZ0TbRJE81gvnBJmDtLRLlSih3o4W4u8OTmPb5vMoe-U-tQL1wuo/s320/IMG_7191.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikolaevsk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Johnson Lake Campground
was used as our home base and we used our Yaris dinghy to visit Homer. Along the way we stopped in Nikolaevsk, a
settlement of “Russian Old Believers.” Consisting mostly of Russian Orthodox,
family oriented residents who live a self-sufficient lifestyle, it is an
interesting and picturesque setting. Chatting
with one elder resident, we learned what it was like, from her perspective,
growing up in this community. Now 82, as
a child she remembered that the community was very tight-knit. The children, many from large families, would
go to school (near where their church stands today) that was on the hill
overlooking their community. At
lunchtime she and the other children would go down to their homes to eat and
climb back up to the school and in the winter it was “ever so cold.” The community worked together and helped one
another as needed but her family depended on trapping, fishing, and gardening
to supply their needs. Her father would
be gone for days on end checking his trap lines, sometimes on foot and
sometimes by dog team. When she grew up
she married within the community but her children left to pursue a life down in
the “48” with one becoming a physician and then returning to Alaska. Sadly, time has taken her husband, some of
her children, and the community is in decline.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpR1pMhUKE7CUYuZk_9kC-bqM4hEj5gOY9nuc6CYjQdDrSzaeNdx-WG1HZjsS3FdUH0EZu1lhp-k-tziruq-FZmB86XNM_3fM-A031dvrWH5FCO2fMYeSc_q7FVfqxuRbRMOPatFOqk8Cc/s1600/IMG_7249A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpR1pMhUKE7CUYuZk_9kC-bqM4hEj5gOY9nuc6CYjQdDrSzaeNdx-WG1HZjsS3FdUH0EZu1lhp-k-tziruq-FZmB86XNM_3fM-A031dvrWH5FCO2fMYeSc_q7FVfqxuRbRMOPatFOqk8Cc/s320/IMG_7249A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bald Eagles soaring above Homer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Sterling Hwy descends
“Homer Hill” through a series of twists and turns that offer “expansive views”
of Homer Spit (a popular peninsula that juts into the bay), Kachemak Bay, and
snow-capped mountains that rise out of the bay with breathtaking sheerness. Bald eagles abound throughout the area as
they soar catching the updrafts of the surrounding cliffs. Once down this 6% grade the traveler is
greeted by this modern and “tourist oriented” community. It is here that many cruise ships dock so
that their passengers can get a feel for a “real Alaskan fishing
community.” Perhaps this is a stretch
but it is a fun town with adventures for all, a welcoming community, and beauty
without bounds. This area is famous for
halibut with some of the catch as large as 300+ pounds. That is a lot of Friday dinners for someone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyyifE79obN2hY4eyIdGnwpFk4nBaLG5nYJadc1Q6RuiJ5Oy1eL1A8OVTfgVm66K87MjZzRPUbOmP5m3R6Vj0Zhq2AGEyQDy9AmZXNV76I9cVUxx05HR2eU7yKlpG2525ZU8xAKKZXEp-/s1600/IMG_7259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyyifE79obN2hY4eyIdGnwpFk4nBaLG5nYJadc1Q6RuiJ5Oy1eL1A8OVTfgVm66K87MjZzRPUbOmP5m3R6Vj0Zhq2AGEyQDy9AmZXNV76I9cVUxx05HR2eU7yKlpG2525ZU8xAKKZXEp-/s320/IMG_7259.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Homer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Tenderfoot Creek
Campground, alongside Summit Lake, was to be our home for one night but due to
the beauty and good fishing, we ended up staying two days. Returning to Anchorage for groceries and a
tire repair, we then ventured on to Palmer and beyond on our way to Valdez,
Alaska.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztP_CYdf-IlihbUq4FBuOTK1PFgiHYiBfsSBQLqK2WrW95DiJradEgOcI8kGh4zsEvihuHd-0-cEB_ncRRDP0yNhyQOai8BOY8JTVWlU9ZAeeVh6JEcyqSCEnZ_2z1nKsnZ2k_Mt2NxhQ/s1600/IMG_7227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztP_CYdf-IlihbUq4FBuOTK1PFgiHYiBfsSBQLqK2WrW95DiJradEgOcI8kGh4zsEvihuHd-0-cEB_ncRRDP0yNhyQOai8BOY8JTVWlU9ZAeeVh6JEcyqSCEnZ_2z1nKsnZ2k_Mt2NxhQ/s640/IMG_7227.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Augustine?? Near Homer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkMTUT8iofCaMI6dm65wKl1bqs6j47-dLvHquDP_MLXPzi0PSOHKaNjnhJ95h85nSG-cpZlrtnPGMtNKARMd3bOIMod-tCYYoNJc-_0aFzgqwUWNu4SihWwiTmNVC_5UarZP1XCZtcoDa/s1600/IMG_7213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkMTUT8iofCaMI6dm65wKl1bqs6j47-dLvHquDP_MLXPzi0PSOHKaNjnhJ95h85nSG-cpZlrtnPGMtNKARMd3bOIMod-tCYYoNJc-_0aFzgqwUWNu4SihWwiTmNVC_5UarZP1XCZtcoDa/s320/IMG_7213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHcq6gORTbNISlSIOP5jlm2y5RPBqLOIO7OpeKBQN8IIb7S5Biy3O0bRASDocdZJWAF0GP8zMYlGcsJ7AIaYKx4I_AUj-SqmqmRSJk32KfXhG2_eQij0kJPaA4_q32xyE3EhPfmtdCJHB/s1600/IMG_7219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHcq6gORTbNISlSIOP5jlm2y5RPBqLOIO7OpeKBQN8IIb7S5Biy3O0bRASDocdZJWAF0GP8zMYlGcsJ7AIaYKx4I_AUj-SqmqmRSJk32KfXhG2_eQij0kJPaA4_q32xyE3EhPfmtdCJHB/s320/IMG_7219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea enjoying it all!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-11272926527315709032016-06-28T17:00:00.000-07:002016-06-28T17:00:02.892-07:00Kenai Peninsula, June 23 - 27, 2016, Days 53-57<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oFiH9fMpKfQBRVkIZm5vPIKPGPECPCBxif2eVPapulOtBUmNsh2ITzAUCh3f8IBWsPQSGfYtuY_naViXPGXUJ8otZJTshQY3_4d_oNQbnsc72WWilMthrzJu2c_Ss5QrKb1OPPLI1Z6k/s1600/003+Seward+Highway++Turnagain+Arm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oFiH9fMpKfQBRVkIZm5vPIKPGPECPCBxif2eVPapulOtBUmNsh2ITzAUCh3f8IBWsPQSGfYtuY_naViXPGXUJ8otZJTshQY3_4d_oNQbnsc72WWilMthrzJu2c_Ss5QrKb1OPPLI1Z6k/s400/003+Seward+Highway++Turnagain+Arm.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turnaround Arm, Kenai Peninsula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“In June 2000, Alaska’s Seward Highway, linking Anchorage with Seward,
was designated as an All-American Road, an honor reserved for only the most
outstanding highways in the nation. The
overall scenic, recreational, cultural, historic, and geologic qualities of the
highway corridor are virtually unmatched anywhere. It is simply one of the world’s great
drives.” <b>America’s Byways</b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Leaving Anchorage
journeying to the Kenai Peninsula, Turnagain Arm on Cook Inlet is enveloped by
colossal peaks so steep that only vines and shrubs can gain a foothold and even
these disappear from the rock and snowcapped peaks. The Chigmit and Chugach Mountains bolt from
the valley <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAmIc2gGKKesJ5EdTLlrUdgxaErqowEaCuEGmy4qgyN-PfGsoFpnN7sf0UPfEhyphenhyphen2oFdwVaSOM-wfVFb421ecROwuMncSW2oixM6tgwKgGl3ZhB6FPFMRBi58je6LiNGJNzDyNwo7RP54O/s1600/076+Tunnel+to+Whittier+Kanai+Pen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAmIc2gGKKesJ5EdTLlrUdgxaErqowEaCuEGmy4qgyN-PfGsoFpnN7sf0UPfEhyphenhyphen2oFdwVaSOM-wfVFb421ecROwuMncSW2oixM6tgwKgGl3ZhB6FPFMRBi58je6LiNGJNzDyNwo7RP54O/s320/076+Tunnel+to+Whittier+Kanai+Pen.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tunnel to Whittier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
floor so precipitously and with such grandeur that the spectacle
leaves the traveler incredulous that such beauty can exist. The entire landscape is stunning and
exhausting…there is too much beauty to absorb.
One magical spot after another…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white;">Whittier,
where one travels through a one-lane 2 ½ mile tunnel to arrive at this little
town at the head of the Passage Canal on Prince Edward Sound, is nestled in
among stately mountains that line the Canal.
Twenty Mile Glacier greets the traveler on the left as they exit the
tunnel, the Sound is directly ahead, and mountains ring the entire
setting. BEAUTIFUL!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6XZrHbOvnfDAVg3H53VBQdY95F8LXrlNUvQlQ05lrlmhVWdxmqmIdu35vJGZaODpTkysuluX8at229liPronjc2zXQxC-q6jBgdAYLVTTUxTIEmRqjU9q9vYLozqXhPotM2UUzCM_pjw/s1600/087+Overlooking+Whittier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6XZrHbOvnfDAVg3H53VBQdY95F8LXrlNUvQlQ05lrlmhVWdxmqmIdu35vJGZaODpTkysuluX8at229liPronjc2zXQxC-q6jBgdAYLVTTUxTIEmRqjU9q9vYLozqXhPotM2UUzCM_pjw/s400/087+Overlooking+Whittier.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Town of Whittier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white;">Granite
Creek and then Bertha Creek were our basecamps and homes for five days before
moving on to Porcupine Campground in the little town of Hope. There were no amenities at any of these
sites thus no blog, cellphone coverage (our daughters were certain that we were
dead), but the beauty of the area was the only amenity needed. Hope, a small town at the end of one of the
roads, seems straight out of the TV setting of “Northern Exposure.” A little
Café, featured in this television series, sits picturesquely alongside the
road. Hope was destroyed by an
earthquake in 1964 (9.2 on the Richter Scale) and what the earthquake didn’t
get the <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OEjWIPbXDBVHjBFDdVSFxs10ThVqFv76uV98p49gaO5Qq2FOF1iNf-NBicgUzaOuhwxrdhywtgnNwhyVLakDxLeiLJpNIIiLPBa8CjQQzxYyTF_YGmgzqBE6PBB3Auu8h-Wk5wPyenoo/s1600/088+Prince+William+Sound+near+Whittier%252C+Kanai+Pen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OEjWIPbXDBVHjBFDdVSFxs10ThVqFv76uV98p49gaO5Qq2FOF1iNf-NBicgUzaOuhwxrdhywtgnNwhyVLakDxLeiLJpNIIiLPBa8CjQQzxYyTF_YGmgzqBE6PBB3Auu8h-Wk5wPyenoo/s640/088+Prince+William+Sound+near+Whittier%252C+Kanai+Pen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passage Canal...overlooking the Whittier Area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
resulting Tsunami did. Game is plentiful
in this area, especially bear, and the Kenai campgrounds are a jumping off
point to the Russian River where salmon runs occur at frequent intervals…it is
here that fisherman are fishing, and bear are fishing as well along with the inevitable
encounters. Salmon, and hopefully not
fishermen, are a major food source for the grizzly (brown bear per Alaskans)
and one of the reasons that bear are so much larger here than in Denali…far
more protein in their diet. The bear’s
diet in Denali consists of 80% vegetation whereas those that can access the
salmon runs are less dependent upon vegetation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2I0vfCs_iyLU2ZkKeBvxabr3IRO5EzzXOtEww44YN_ftv-iowWZwAl6zPkVyLhOFEjSHC1UAjA0fuOFcP_V9IijKx-cpY6CeEHcjdnPfjPDMTDnudZVTKYe-A1adSttPeCUgFehDUpi0/s1600/064+Kenai+Pen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2I0vfCs_iyLU2ZkKeBvxabr3IRO5EzzXOtEww44YN_ftv-iowWZwAl6zPkVyLhOFEjSHC1UAjA0fuOFcP_V9IijKx-cpY6CeEHcjdnPfjPDMTDnudZVTKYe-A1adSttPeCUgFehDUpi0/s320/064+Kenai+Pen.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /><span style="background: white;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WhMKcERr8oeFDth6V-MlcEIfPTG9BE8OxZa9_nuV_P1nV9IgoYeCCSD4URt4tCANqVDw4CMAGPKo7N3swMddwcqcOjl91pREEzZ3uOMHHv4d-eaEyJ3s6K69A7nEpKZ5Qc9MnXCIs94N/s1600/082+Stream+near+Whittier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WhMKcERr8oeFDth6V-MlcEIfPTG9BE8OxZa9_nuV_P1nV9IgoYeCCSD4URt4tCANqVDw4CMAGPKo7N3swMddwcqcOjl91pREEzZ3uOMHHv4d-eaEyJ3s6K69A7nEpKZ5Qc9MnXCIs94N/s400/082+Stream+near+Whittier.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Flowing into Whitttier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSSYZ6duzsuML5MHP7SdMIyGH0Mt2qvzttiIR7qzPpNsqaQYPqL2svCLNMY_XK1r0pDLrNATne5E3GE6a6QNYz36o-VmcTjE6LU8bEsxqzglScznAsYkMLbtuksn9IymiWAfrDU3A3XUq/s1600/061+Chugach+Mts+Kenai+Pen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSSYZ6duzsuML5MHP7SdMIyGH0Mt2qvzttiIR7qzPpNsqaQYPqL2svCLNMY_XK1r0pDLrNATne5E3GE6a6QNYz36o-VmcTjE6LU8bEsxqzglScznAsYkMLbtuksn9IymiWAfrDU3A3XUq/s400/061+Chugach+Mts+Kenai+Pen.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenai Pond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH21FNxAhYB5mZtW7dJUWpY1VwttoRvvWhj_z7BPUo3UnEDl6P0NlLvoFWTr3vqceMtyn8QURBHTXWnC-A9WmsvqkqK8bVip4aHPGFJpG4mtR_I8ECTkKR5vaAyVraGgb4TXOFEzx5Owf4/s1600/074+Granite+Creek+Campgrd+Kanai+Penn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH21FNxAhYB5mZtW7dJUWpY1VwttoRvvWhj_z7BPUo3UnEDl6P0NlLvoFWTr3vqceMtyn8QURBHTXWnC-A9WmsvqkqK8bVip4aHPGFJpG4mtR_I8ECTkKR5vaAyVraGgb4TXOFEzx5Owf4/s400/074+Granite+Creek+Campgrd+Kanai+Penn.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granite Creek Campground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSSYZ6duzsuML5MHP7SdMIyGH0Mt2qvzttiIR7qzPpNsqaQYPqL2svCLNMY_XK1r0pDLrNATne5E3GE6a6QNYz36o-VmcTjE6LU8bEsxqzglScznAsYkMLbtuksn9IymiWAfrDU3A3XUq/s1600/061+Chugach+Mts+Kenai+Pen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="background: white;"> A visit to the town of Homer and it is back toward Anchorage
where we will cut across on the Glenn Highway to connect to the Richardson
Highway in order to visit Valdez. This
is the southern terminal of the 800-mile Trans Alaska Pipeline that originates in
Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay far to the north. Valdez, situated in a “majestic fjord where
the 5000-foot-tall Chugach Mountains rise from Prince Edward William Sound” was
all but destroyed in the 1964 earthquake.
One of Alaska’s many pristine sites, it is often referred to as Alaska’s
“Little Switzerland.” It is here where
Exxon Valdez ran aground in 1989 spilling millions of gallons of oil that set
off a storm of environmental repercussions both in Alaska and elsewhere in the
country. With heavy dependence on
tourism, fisheries, and oil, Valdez was heavily impacted by the resulting
environmental fallout. It will be
interesting to hear the perspective of the residents as they relate to this
event. We will share what we learn.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyFQXsx6sI78es3hFTMvsGElU2vttVXOvSm2srLbkgrOUa2lbNHlhdC0WJV-UPjEnGHm_2KmwxPrWPiVA2WLaituUi0o5_5_7lohhwxnqdpF4v4CBLrrgpltehn8fXRT4m-1Im-0-BbnL/s1600/033+Griz+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyFQXsx6sI78es3hFTMvsGElU2vttVXOvSm2srLbkgrOUa2lbNHlhdC0WJV-UPjEnGHm_2KmwxPrWPiVA2WLaituUi0o5_5_7lohhwxnqdpF4v4CBLrrgpltehn8fXRT4m-1Im-0-BbnL/s320/033+Griz+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctr.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear abound in this area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fYwbye3ULgVDX6lNo_85wmJN02Cyw6OrpjXSG7S9H19yfhn9NSw4noKmLJCvMsop6cbgxrTCnElQ5V_v5gLfNSCDB9WmwcmuON06MqxKizg-deuLCYF_-d5xrx_ziZtJfb8YO3h30G_x/s1600/039+Elk+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fYwbye3ULgVDX6lNo_85wmJN02Cyw6OrpjXSG7S9H19yfhn9NSw4noKmLJCvMsop6cbgxrTCnElQ5V_v5gLfNSCDB9WmwcmuON06MqxKizg-deuLCYF_-d5xrx_ziZtJfb8YO3h30G_x/s320/039+Elk+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctr.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elk were introduced...like deer, this is not their area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaARa6YIedzIG4icWYkqjNancv8wnDTz53FP6KgBCblyeupoUVqcDo8BmU_SmuvZyEO54pavSkQMmXCIDDWn0x3FNBA6pTn4JXj3AzwvBOWV7o6ddniVbluguXimCpb_lVr5SQbEOP3wnl/s1600/044+Wood+Buf+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaARa6YIedzIG4icWYkqjNancv8wnDTz53FP6KgBCblyeupoUVqcDo8BmU_SmuvZyEO54pavSkQMmXCIDDWn0x3FNBA6pTn4JXj3AzwvBOWV7o6ddniVbluguXimCpb_lVr5SQbEOP3wnl/s320/044+Wood+Buf+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctra.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Buffalo have been reintroduced</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFSTzRvCrQlE4L_GIPVgnX4Fw13GsqOwcrXiHMATT-UL7RcUB-g9Kl5_0lw9TH58224e4kd0fn3ek0INWBEI7PeewZsiYDQDfTOsH76aVplCzd11gPOrvBZMcxP0PuS-kYD9reC0ZqTf7/s1600/023+Griz+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFSTzRvCrQlE4L_GIPVgnX4Fw13GsqOwcrXiHMATT-UL7RcUB-g9Kl5_0lw9TH58224e4kd0fn3ek0INWBEI7PeewZsiYDQDfTOsH76aVplCzd11gPOrvBZMcxP0PuS-kYD9reC0ZqTf7/s640/023+Griz+AK+Wldlife+Cons+Ctr.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hummm....I wonder what there is to eat...maybe a hiker?...or a biker?...meals on wheels....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVeQYONHHg6n7715SBLO8WusSDy3LHtd0j3uUgZ0geTu6HEz4o6omKOtfKZA5PI_yAHUSwyt74kG0QB9q792LHkVnhWd20N5EoAAsPRpwVVvg9mb_2XV42-ePi5NkaAh1YutRtkhJBqVp/s1600/058+Kenai+Mtns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVeQYONHHg6n7715SBLO8WusSDy3LHtd0j3uUgZ0geTu6HEz4o6omKOtfKZA5PI_yAHUSwyt74kG0QB9q792LHkVnhWd20N5EoAAsPRpwVVvg9mb_2XV42-ePi5NkaAh1YutRtkhJBqVp/s640/058+Kenai+Mtns.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenes along the Kenai...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p>Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-91470001443744622902016-06-19T12:01:00.000-07:002016-06-19T12:01:14.264-07:00Denali National Park and Preserve, June 13 - 16, 2016, Days 44 – 47<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">At last, the native name for this spectacular mountain
has been restored. <b>Denali</b>, Athabascan for “the high one” was named Mount McKinley in
the late 19<sup>th</sup> century by William Dickey, a gold prospector, who
admired President-elect McKinley.
Although McKinley had no connection with the mountain, the name was
popularized after his assassination in 1901. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> “The Indians
who lived for countless generations in the presence of these colossal mountains
have given them names that are both euphonious and appropriate…Can it be denied
that the names they gave to the most imposing features of their country should
be preserved?” <b>Sheldon, <u>The
Wilderness of Denali</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Aj7HX7sGHMnIsdR8JvrWrTmdaZsNZiS1PhCwtMibThmuZcRfxBwe-fFqGOeSvp5-0eYbYmR56B8fK0EEXWyfruS_DJWhhldOI8WXM-N9LlB3vJ07AAlYywTwlFBBl5qQq17_LDalcfD-/s1600/Denali+South.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Aj7HX7sGHMnIsdR8JvrWrTmdaZsNZiS1PhCwtMibThmuZcRfxBwe-fFqGOeSvp5-0eYbYmR56B8fK0EEXWyfruS_DJWhhldOI8WXM-N9LlB3vJ07AAlYywTwlFBBl5qQq17_LDalcfD-/s640/Denali+South.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South view of Denali</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">No sooner do we come to
the conclusion that we have observed nature at the pinnacle of its beauty then
we are yet again astonished. Denali
knocked us back on our heels! We arrived
at Denali amid inclement weather and the surrounding mountains were concealed
from view. The scenery we could see from
our RV was beautiful enough. The silty
Nenana River had transformed into a translucent boiling caldron as we
approached Denali National Park and the gorge took near vertical drops as it
merged with the river below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2hs3Q3-b3r3WyvkWTs1RBvsmQtWgPUsKjRsl8Bz0NWA1oEtfzj5atTPw3h7PnIwE7wj1MZwlCeQznavyMz3oJ83Jf-h6vqMK4QgOaAW10IIteOqZSfM6x8wFKeIAXnHs1pnc97NAY1aj/s1600/IMG_6993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2hs3Q3-b3r3WyvkWTs1RBvsmQtWgPUsKjRsl8Bz0NWA1oEtfzj5atTPw3h7PnIwE7wj1MZwlCeQznavyMz3oJ83Jf-h6vqMK4QgOaAW10IIteOqZSfM6x8wFKeIAXnHs1pnc97NAY1aj/s320/IMG_6993.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our home 29 miles inside Denali Nat. Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Arriving at the junctions
between Denali National Park and Parks Highway was a shock. Commercialism at its worst! Not to worry as we traipsed through this,
dropped off our dinghy, and proceeded into the park where we had reservations at
Teklanika River Campground situated 29 miles inside the park. A minimum stay of three days is required and
only vehicles with reservations are allowed this far into the park all in an
effort to minimize traffic and maintain as pristine environment as
possible. There are shuttle buses that,
for a reasonable one-time fee, carry visitors another 60 miles beyond Teklanika
River Campground in order to observe game, hike in the wilderness, or even
bicycle (most buses have bicycle racks).
On day one inside the park, clouds obscured visibility but plenty of
game was observed. On day two and three
the skies opened in all their glory with the entire Alaska Range was within
view. Mt. Denali was clearly visible
from all angles and there was not a cloud in the sky. This, I’m told, is most unusual and a rare
gift. Taking the bus to Wonder Lake,
approximately 90 miles inside the park, we were treated to bear, caribou,
moose, and Dall sheep sightings. Wolves,
wolverines, and lynx are residents as well but it takes more luck than we possessed
to see them in this, their natural setting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHXaNtt_TyiI3pbU8upsXk5svUV4zrsj0VeHtLmUDjGxNIWwlcNVcYnB62ReKSXN4EhZwzalSkXsHxou-dEpjN9wee7ADXU7T-N5sDczyqqzgKKc4_fXXip2H9mp6a-WzEbaAgnuF_2Fq/s1600/IMG_6967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHXaNtt_TyiI3pbU8upsXk5svUV4zrsj0VeHtLmUDjGxNIWwlcNVcYnB62ReKSXN4EhZwzalSkXsHxou-dEpjN9wee7ADXU7T-N5sDczyqqzgKKc4_fXXip2H9mp6a-WzEbaAgnuF_2Fq/s640/IMG_6967.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denali from the North Side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Without a doubt, Denali
National Park and Preserve with its natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and
truly wild habitat have marked this as one of the major highlights of our trip
so far. I will let the pictures display
the wonders of this area as I’m at a loss for words to adequately convey the
wonder of this pristine setting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpulgi3_v_8l920P6f_5I3kgEZOMgCYJQsdY_GiA5_-bCQzyGMuzQduUbj6dUxigYDuUvd57i7FgxdHDDMLqqa7BY5XAiRAEf0dQmfQx9W7CkIuyRKAwXSdjK18nLCIgPoxf6vFraItrfx/s1600/IMG_7043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XLsK0nQPb1rjd7oBglJ8bLs8uz-H1xti2k0wf3ycnTAJr946b-8hqIAcduE1Y1vyiQPbiDEWXazHP79ufaRsvhblitT9MM_Nq8EPbvUFLq4ej7P397QEsPTuVscNLrEAxWtllFebTuzM/s1600/IMG_6869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XLsK0nQPb1rjd7oBglJ8bLs8uz-H1xti2k0wf3ycnTAJr946b-8hqIAcduE1Y1vyiQPbiDEWXazHP79ufaRsvhblitT9MM_Nq8EPbvUFLq4ej7P397QEsPTuVscNLrEAxWtllFebTuzM/s640/IMG_6869.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When Denali hides in the clouds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCh_LEKNKD15BhAg1nGkH8ML30R9j0zjN_gaY6EZZQptj1FgkRDBremWLF_aHTE8FTf4OjRi8B_Hs89MeAGt64HgfbeJ6Vjggx6rKaq1j4Dz1XJa_yX8aJrap22zeolX9YLhdo3wNEFL0o/s1600/IMG_6862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCh_LEKNKD15BhAg1nGkH8ML30R9j0zjN_gaY6EZZQptj1FgkRDBremWLF_aHTE8FTf4OjRi8B_Hs89MeAGt64HgfbeJ6Vjggx6rKaq1j4Dz1XJa_yX8aJrap22zeolX9YLhdo3wNEFL0o/s640/IMG_6862.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road into Teklanika Campground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehISsCBVd6hLFrVHdrLwMpWjGqM-ge8U767IMzIMxbYH9Mr8TopDB4PhDYnx87r4OuOApghFwTCs-oyve0avgJDmy4v-tYiadaGWBEJgN9ndQod9ZIWixdgfx0MnoLQzZNAyOj5esiM45/s1600/IMG_6866a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehISsCBVd6hLFrVHdrLwMpWjGqM-ge8U767IMzIMxbYH9Mr8TopDB4PhDYnx87r4OuOApghFwTCs-oyve0avgJDmy4v-tYiadaGWBEJgN9ndQod9ZIWixdgfx0MnoLQzZNAyOj5esiM45/s640/IMG_6866a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dall Sheep find safety on the high peaks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooupJydvnKJMzBJ-OudUSUOY5xfCqtozrg4GSrrlTzhHwLezHzE0MzHAYp5RecG-kDlnp4yIoKeB9AU1SivErkgeo5fL6KaFdQiLEI-md6-Oo5hs0aXoxZD9js3WjFEy7bL_8rvnqYLeo/s1600/IMG_6814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooupJydvnKJMzBJ-OudUSUOY5xfCqtozrg4GSrrlTzhHwLezHzE0MzHAYp5RecG-kDlnp4yIoKeB9AU1SivErkgeo5fL6KaFdQiLEI-md6-Oo5hs0aXoxZD9js3WjFEy7bL_8rvnqYLeo/s640/IMG_6814.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moose abound in Denali Nation Park and Preserve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKENSM4cFSdztmXf0g2qVKGSDmj64jUE7CkGIksIOWzBBJ2qCJLvhePc-9Ki3pEGyyRUyCiO2f4ojUC7WuYqkOobbWD41USq4A93ZWT7reUN9k76lOvNnzhhDwbt5wHqSyyE-7fb1RlW3/s1600/IMG_6875a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKENSM4cFSdztmXf0g2qVKGSDmj64jUE7CkGIksIOWzBBJ2qCJLvhePc-9Ki3pEGyyRUyCiO2f4ojUC7WuYqkOobbWD41USq4A93ZWT7reUN9k76lOvNnzhhDwbt5wHqSyyE-7fb1RlW3/s640/IMG_6875a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear are everywhere...this one is taking a nap on the hillside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_Jn1F-d_cdI67lqrJjdxKOPe1fH3jd7xlpr5fG0JapAbMH33_Ha8Tz3gfDkFS_cz3xeZmBmU55pW3mYz96eR8DrSmjTNT4KMCa7XAQnvxVRCThcBUTyLnaKoJN3VD8SW-OU_6sMRryCk/s1600/IMG_6898a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_Jn1F-d_cdI67lqrJjdxKOPe1fH3jd7xlpr5fG0JapAbMH33_Ha8Tz3gfDkFS_cz3xeZmBmU55pW3mYz96eR8DrSmjTNT4KMCa7XAQnvxVRCThcBUTyLnaKoJN3VD8SW-OU_6sMRryCk/s640/IMG_6898a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet another, looking for something to fill the belly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiCdtCGFpfelGon2qGQdnj87DkupzWP3t9KxdmsGrV7_PmLeCo6dXvNomVLyfUVIkOVfFMkkEkEW45RX7x-2330zzbOX4tQxJtx58KkKLY_p86kwuzdDlm1m2j68SgCMoCSltZhqywIAB/s1600/IMG_6902a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiCdtCGFpfelGon2qGQdnj87DkupzWP3t9KxdmsGrV7_PmLeCo6dXvNomVLyfUVIkOVfFMkkEkEW45RX7x-2330zzbOX4tQxJtx58KkKLY_p86kwuzdDlm1m2j68SgCMoCSltZhqywIAB/s640/IMG_6902a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy was CLOSE!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL-y4dBaLQIBDnQaLXdoGYIDmCBAiAvEYWKbJRnHhzwcyZuvw3ma_QzgBsvv0rmW75b2_WBq4d9ggPy_MZ5sHhrz1OQITt3WwJdIZNtZgWXGBV0kl8Wyy_hcabXefpu-ht6hVhlp56IQ1/s1600/IMG_6940a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL-y4dBaLQIBDnQaLXdoGYIDmCBAiAvEYWKbJRnHhzwcyZuvw3ma_QzgBsvv0rmW75b2_WBq4d9ggPy_MZ5sHhrz1OQITt3WwJdIZNtZgWXGBV0kl8Wyy_hcabXefpu-ht6hVhlp56IQ1/s640/IMG_6940a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted a herd of more than 100 caribou within the Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbg8lXyVbMqVQDyaKIka348mbGl0u2PEoDK3vQ2mRKKqZ4Xrodw4WxAeNmGnheYtjf2HFGZu0BrmykJr9Pcoj00cKCvq2LMARi0R7fbt0gBz9KWludwUsWawLeZ3nnZT0jqyjVqhtNizk/s1600/IMG_6975a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbg8lXyVbMqVQDyaKIka348mbGl0u2PEoDK3vQ2mRKKqZ4Xrodw4WxAeNmGnheYtjf2HFGZu0BrmykJr9Pcoj00cKCvq2LMARi0R7fbt0gBz9KWludwUsWawLeZ3nnZT0jqyjVqhtNizk/s640/IMG_6975a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caribou have crashed in numbers and studies are ongoing to determine if this is abnormal or a 40 year cycle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVbfyXk-7dHX7YhHfxeR71WPZqWk7DYroSQysLkbOA9WUsVxo_1BaTYwXZOU-dQh55IShWf3yMnVZAtQ2x5iUSonho5-o0SoQJwPe8mx_O2i06xFgH72UAxgBmXux6IMgksKBtfPHCFJ6/s1600/IMG_6885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVbfyXk-7dHX7YhHfxeR71WPZqWk7DYroSQysLkbOA9WUsVxo_1BaTYwXZOU-dQh55IShWf3yMnVZAtQ2x5iUSonho5-o0SoQJwPe8mx_O2i06xFgH72UAxgBmXux6IMgksKBtfPHCFJ6/s640/IMG_6885.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonder Lake sits 85 miles inside Denali</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hVvmCsQT9HXj6w1iy780vNsDJPPN-RlCIAQR0oe5BBr0rpe8_BWQeZa1LbMR3DFlVuSi75Ygt_K5YzIhp2d_LoBXFI_cj6mc7qlw5QodAHiQORLW5BpLrzKcm7Qt3uGozuc0cE5dYHJZ/s1600/IMG_6809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hVvmCsQT9HXj6w1iy780vNsDJPPN-RlCIAQR0oe5BBr0rpe8_BWQeZa1LbMR3DFlVuSi75Ygt_K5YzIhp2d_LoBXFI_cj6mc7qlw5QodAHiQORLW5BpLrzKcm7Qt3uGozuc0cE5dYHJZ/s640/IMG_6809.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i>"We need the tonic of wilderness...At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us...We can never have enough of nature." </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><b>Henry David Thoreau</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><i><b><u>Walden: Or, Life in the Woods</u></b></i></span></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-46659589297383968642016-06-18T14:32:00.000-07:002016-06-19T14:11:54.934-07:00Denali ZAMP Solar Panel Evaluation June 13 - 16, 2016 Days 44 – 47 <div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 213pt; margin-left: 193.5pt; margin-top: .95pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 319.5pt; z-index: -251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="IMG_6952" src="file:///C:/Users/Stephan/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg">
<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><i><span style="background: white;"> Denali is Athabascan meaning “the high one.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyABYiVFlLkZr4TKkC4A0bZoag2SNJR16Br8-i4N6mfQqkQLasmX-ptyGlS6lK0N5jgZuTcBCFfWQ9kk6fLsBJHucBd2vTlFYS6QZoEBaM0BL1eK1GeKbQBwfSaypnrXbf7OK1Ir2pNSTA/s1600/IMG_6957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyABYiVFlLkZr4TKkC4A0bZoag2SNJR16Br8-i4N6mfQqkQLasmX-ptyGlS6lK0N5jgZuTcBCFfWQ9kk6fLsBJHucBd2vTlFYS6QZoEBaM0BL1eK1GeKbQBwfSaypnrXbf7OK1Ir2pNSTA/s400/IMG_6957.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denali in all of its grandeur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">“Denali serves as a barometer for change. As permafrost thaws, glaciers shrink, and tree
lines rise, we feel humbled to care for this living laboratory that is so
critical to understanding the effects of climate change on our global
community.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="background: white;">Don Striker,
Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 211.55pt; margin-left: -6pt; margin-top: 117.9pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 282pt; z-index: -251657216;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="IMG_1973" src="file:///C:/Users/Stephan/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg">
<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="background: white;">A serious challenge when visiting the
upper reaches of British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska is that the most
beautiful settings are in Provincial, State, and National Parks. Traveling in May and June we have experienced
cold night temperatures that have necessitated hard use of our 12 Volt Suburban
Furnace. Such use can drain the house
batteries <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqI3Ya85V_YGFu8qVA16Uo8KOzGWLxcYTusVbIUGEUr_utZJWOBAvTlQFyGRjjj6JAQk2Nmo2t7m3x8ZD7-LS6SUqEjxIx11DZka0FQZBUHzQHumkEwDOvyOVB1DjianNQCsib_SShdKx/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqI3Ya85V_YGFu8qVA16Uo8KOzGWLxcYTusVbIUGEUr_utZJWOBAvTlQFyGRjjj6JAQk2Nmo2t7m3x8ZD7-LS6SUqEjxIx11DZka0FQZBUHzQHumkEwDOvyOVB1DjianNQCsib_SShdKx/s320/IMG_1973.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solar Panel in acation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
quickly without the availability of shore power or using the
generator. Primitive provincial,
territorial, state, and national campgrounds often do not have electrical
hookups and severely limit the hours of generator use. This can make for very cold nights unless
there is a means to keep the house batteries charged. This is where our ZAMP 160 Watt System has
been a great addition to our charging system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">With use of the solar
panel the challenges have been that many of the days have been cold, wet, and overcast
limiting the solar panel’s efficiency.
On the plus side we have 20+ hour days with which to work. Between generator use during permissible
hours and solar power during off hours, we have not had to withstand a cold
night without heat. Before we had solar
panels our house batteries limited our stay, in primitive campgrounds, to two
days if we started out with fully charged house batteries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">One of the truly wondrous
camping experiences, when visiting Alaska, is to stay at Teklanika River
Campground which is located 29 miles inside Denali National Park &
Preserve. Reservation, advised ahead of time, stipulate that to limit traffic
within this wilderness, one must set up and remain for a minimum of 3
days. If towing a dinghy, this is not
allowed in the park and must be unhooked and stored outside the park as well. Generator use is strictly controlled and
minimized so without the means to keep the RV house batteries charged, central
to the RV electrical system, very quickly there will be insufficient power to
run the heater or anything else. This
can result in cold sleeping conditions, no lights nor other amenities. We stayed at Teklanika River Campground for
four days, never needed to employ our noisy generator in this pristine setting,
and kept our batteries charged. We
hooked up our ZAMP 160 Watt Solar panel (procedure supplied earlier – ZAMP
Setup), left it hooked up, and never had to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeteHslFVJm20617VwIUmWgNX98d-xmwdNKZyOleBazaEqaV4fwF2xONQDZnT0KOnmYu9PrVY8m3CzI0X38EvUNxI06glA3wvf2fawD8VO36bgMOgo6caNWvQjsMSnQSPqVuh2gwD7m3gG/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeteHslFVJm20617VwIUmWgNX98d-xmwdNKZyOleBazaEqaV4fwF2xONQDZnT0KOnmYu9PrVY8m3CzI0X38EvUNxI06glA3wvf2fawD8VO36bgMOgo6caNWvQjsMSnQSPqVuh2gwD7m3gG/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voltage is an indication of the batteries </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_8" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 173pt; margin-left: 0; margin-top: 0; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: left; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 259.5pt; z-index: -251655168;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="010" src="file:///C:/Users/Stephan/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg">
<w:wrap anchorx="margin" type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="background: white;">worry about our batteries. A nice feature of this unit is that the
control panel has a “smart charging feature” that sends power to the battery as
needed, prevents overcharging, and prevents back draining from the battery at
night when there is no sunlight (not often in Alaska at this time of
year). Additionally, at the control
panel there are display features that allow one to check the condition of their
battery, solar power being generated, and power available in the battery. This readout is pretty straight forward. First, there is a button that allows for the
selection of the battery type. We have
two Group 27M Deep Cycle, Absorbed Glass Mat batteries (AGM). When depressing the “Battery Type” button for
3 seconds on the LCD display, one can scroll through and select the battery
type. If uncertain, just check the
paperwork that came with your batteries or call ZAMP. They are very helpful when going through the
setup process. Next, depress the
“Volt/Amp” button to scroll through and readout battery voltage, charging
current (amps), and charged capacity (Amp-Hour). So what does this mean as you scroll through
the readouts?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u><span style="background: white;">First Display</span></u><span style="background: white;"> –</span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Volts (V)</span></b><span style="background: white;"> – this is the condition of the battery charge. Without going into the chemistry of the
battery itself, let’s just stay with the 10,000-foot view. As battery energy is employed, hydrogen
present in the battery acid (H2S04) is combined with oxygen to form water. This dilutes the acid, reduces the specific
gravity and this correlates to battery voltage and therefore how much the
battery is charged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;"> <u>Exact
number may vary as they are temperature dependent<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">
<u>Voltage</u> <u>
Charge</u> <u>Battery
Condition<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"> 12.4 – 12.7 or higher ¾
to fully charged Excellent
Condition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"> 12.2 – 12.3 ½
to ¾ charged Good
Condition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"> 12.0 – 12.1 ¼
to ½ charged charge
getting low<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"> Below 12 volts battery
really getting low – needs charging<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">The less the voltage reading the lower the battery
charge</span></b><span style="background: white;">. On the reverse side, as solar energy is fed
into the battery, a reverse reaction takes place, lowing the water content,
raising the acid content, increasing the specific gravity, and this results in
a higher volt reading. <b>The higher the voltage reading the higher
the battery charge</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnZW1SDxiyIkh0Caod2KbUHLT22CKo_t75b3io-4qDRb602toCB_P-ZBpfKzHh6D8gsE_UsAdTt1140tsTII8IevM1KtY_f5h2snw6bFmgHolHzbQuRzLheUCppjTufxzqvYsKBkN6_dz/s1600/Denali+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnZW1SDxiyIkh0Caod2KbUHLT22CKo_t75b3io-4qDRb602toCB_P-ZBpfKzHh6D8gsE_UsAdTt1140tsTII8IevM1KtY_f5h2snw6bFmgHolHzbQuRzLheUCppjTufxzqvYsKBkN6_dz/s320/Denali+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display when the batteries are fully charged</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u><span style="background: white;">Second Display</span></u><span style="background: white;"> -</span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;"> AMPs (A)</span></b><span style="background: white;"> – the higher the reading, the more sunlight is being
converted into energy for the battery and the faster the battery is charging. This would be similar to how fast the pump is
working when filling your fuel tank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 156.05pt; margin-left: 354.75pt; margin-top: 1pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 225.75pt; z-index: -251656192;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata cropbottom="7466f" cropleft="-778f" cropright="778f" croptop="-2334f" o:title="FullSizeRender" src="file:///C:/Users/Stephan/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg">
<w:wrap anchorx="page" type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><u><span style="background: white;">Third Display</span></u><span style="background: white;"> -</span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;"> AMP Hours (AH)</span></b><span style="background: white;"> – the higher the reading the more energy that is
stored in the battery and the longer the battery will supply energy. Again, this would be similar to how full your
fuel tank is after filling it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Continue to depress this
button and it will again scroll back to volts and repeat the sequence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">When the battery is fully
charged, the display will indicate “FUL” and the smart controller WILL NOT
overcharge the battery which is detrimental to battery life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Even in a site as beautiful as Denali National Park & Preserve, the ZAMP Solar Panel drew a LOT OF ATTENTION. Generator noise is becoming a display of “poor taste” in primitive, pristine settings so quiet, efficient alternatives to generators is of interest to noise and energy conscience travelers. Has the ZAMP Solar Panel worked for us? Certainly, a resounding YES! This has opened greater opportunities and longer durations of Boon-Docking in government operated campsites and with much less expense. As an example, only primitive government campsites lay within Denali National Park & Preserve. The cost per day for these BEAUTIFUL sites with plenty of space between sites is $15. Private campsites just outside the park are jammed together parking lot style and the cost is $40 per night. Boon-Docking may not be for everyone. If you want cable TV, swimming pools, and all the amenities use the commercial sites…and some are indeed quite nice at other locations and they are very handy if you want to use the laundromat and WIFI. For us, we prefer the government sites far and away from the crowds more often than not. Our ZAMP Solar Panel helps us achieve that objective. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdtAsnWzQxd-vlxqogiC2OJd5SbPhC1MYdacsS_yRsyNUPNsOnpAJixGbBIhQ4cuLQ72ROMJtdmSIvhD0asOfC1smb0jS8F7gqiCnzgnaOwT661F88JYYVS5vn0v7MvKZRu5GJfX1RI8q/s1600/Denali+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdtAsnWzQxd-vlxqogiC2OJd5SbPhC1MYdacsS_yRsyNUPNsOnpAJixGbBIhQ4cuLQ72ROMJtdmSIvhD0asOfC1smb0jS8F7gqiCnzgnaOwT661F88JYYVS5vn0v7MvKZRu5GJfX1RI8q/s640/Denali+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What you see in Denali when taking the roads less traveled</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-47672886839969974252016-06-13T07:29:00.000-07:002016-06-13T07:29:03.022-07:00June 10 -12, 2016 Days 41 – 43 Crossing the Alaskan Border – Fairbanks - Denali<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u8nfsbLIPTJYdVuwbB2EeIa4-Hble3mQ0eJZI7kUAUZeZNxfR-pWiGEjo6FQTuZ4VFliJPa-vEYwPg91pRoCmwPPIWDPfNTO8RWsOm_GtI7Wxk6UFJZA_MjigTMkUCDN9DXffYSC_28G/s1600/IMG_6763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u8nfsbLIPTJYdVuwbB2EeIa4-Hble3mQ0eJZI7kUAUZeZNxfR-pWiGEjo6FQTuZ4VFliJPa-vEYwPg91pRoCmwPPIWDPfNTO8RWsOm_GtI7Wxk6UFJZA_MjigTMkUCDN9DXffYSC_28G/s320/IMG_6763.JPG" width="320" /></a><i><span style="background: white;">“We are each an expression of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> When you pray
for my life,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> You become
Nanook,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> And Nanook
becomes man.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">Someday we shall meet in this world of ice,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">And when that happens it does not matter<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">Whether it is I who shall die, or you.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="background: white;">Michio
Hashino, Nanook’s Gift<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">Nanana, Alaska<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJEgZMO8mwQVRKxUhs4g1gI12LDQFZhrubPyWQuwlJ54Uakbjljd2QFU2D0qgP3EdMIDbgHqhsR_hKS-Y7Buo6s8HrW2BvxsAKPvui7X1x3A-dwJOc13bdSlDkwNdFwRswuIUTGKauu31/s1600/IMG_6826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJEgZMO8mwQVRKxUhs4g1gI12LDQFZhrubPyWQuwlJ54Uakbjljd2QFU2D0qgP3EdMIDbgHqhsR_hKS-Y7Buo6s8HrW2BvxsAKPvui7X1x3A-dwJOc13bdSlDkwNdFwRswuIUTGKauu31/s320/IMG_6826.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail and Jaime Landrum <br />
Family owned Nenana RV Park and Campground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">After crossing into Alaska
the roads improved dramatically giving us relief from the bone jarring travels
of the last two days. The only causality
that we could immediately detect was the loss of the propane hot water
system. Our system employs propane (for
self-contained camping) or electric (when external 110 V is available) to heat water
for washing dishes and personal hygiene.
Somewhere over the innumerable number of bumps we hit, we must have
knocked something loose. We now have
only the electric system working…still very “cushy” when compared to tent
camping. Licking our wounds, we kept a
steady pace, traveling over 350 miles in one day, until we arrived in Nenana,
Alaska. Situated 65 miles north of
Denali National Park, this will be a good jumping off spot for our stay in
Denali.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">Nenana RV Park and Campground<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin60FIswKNBHQ0mIBvxN8ZEUdA8jboFGbBzQ3QZD-D08W95nusP4LMEFFucBeDT70y_xFDznK38DTcKp3Ymmp0-HsTdCs8T3b8z2zSaGkZDOoDNd6iX1IHvtUCaYiBQAckM8spxjILo1gr/s1600/IMG_6777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin60FIswKNBHQ0mIBvxN8ZEUdA8jboFGbBzQ3QZD-D08W95nusP4LMEFFucBeDT70y_xFDznK38DTcKp3Ymmp0-HsTdCs8T3b8z2zSaGkZDOoDNd6iX1IHvtUCaYiBQAckM8spxjILo1gr/s320/IMG_6777.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles Martin - Holding his stories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Nenana RV Park and
Campground was a lucky find for us. The <u>Traveler’s
Guide to Alaskan Camping</u> alerted us to the presence of this campground (it
had been closed for a time). We had
intended to travel all the way to Denali but we simply were too tired. Nenana RV Park and Campground is family owned
and they treated us like family. We had
a few minor RV issues which they graciously helped us resolve by lending us the
few tools that we did not carry on this trip.
The restrooms were immaculate and they even supplied little homemade
bathmats to step on when leaving the shower.
Use them and then simply toss them in the laundry basket…very nice
touch! The next day we unhooked our
Dingy (Yaris Toyota Pull Vehicle) and drove on to Denali. We wanted to see if we should pack up and
stay at one of the commercial campgrounds at the Denali entrance until our
reservation date (June 13) at Teklanika River Campground 29 miles inside the
park. Access is strictly limited and we
were very lucky to secure reservation when we called ahead the week
before. The commercial campgrounds at
the park DO NOT HOLD A CANDLE to Nenana RV Park and Campground. If traveling north to south on the Parks
Highway and need a place to stay…. THIS IS IT!
Our recommendation when visiting Denali by RV would be to call ahead,
arrange to stay in the park, and use Nenana as a base camp until your
reservation date. It is within driving
distance to both Fairbanks and Denali. In
addition to this, on Saturdays there is a farmer’s <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoP20TJKb8WNOSAILrht_ziN4Y-DFvXyP-4AhrXQhEfX1GHwDf9Q4BGzomKi1AV9QkJOtingVX2FciWnH6TUQLQSkXR6JkK29Iah5WRACKa3DUypy6Sn2vWRNnQf0xyeNqIZob-GTKv8V/s1600/IMG_6819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoP20TJKb8WNOSAILrht_ziN4Y-DFvXyP-4AhrXQhEfX1GHwDf9Q4BGzomKi1AV9QkJOtingVX2FciWnH6TUQLQSkXR6JkK29Iah5WRACKa3DUypy6Sn2vWRNnQf0xyeNqIZob-GTKv8V/s320/IMG_6819.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea with Marge Riley - Marge is holding a Picture of<br />
her husband <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jerry Riley, 1976 Iditarod Winner</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
market and craft sale that
is small but outstanding. We met Miles
Martin, a self-described “city slicker” who, after leaving the service in the
70’s, was “flown into the wilderness with no arrangements to get picked up and
walked out 8 months later.” He loved the
experience so much that he maintained this life style and wrote a series of
five books about his experiences. After
chatting, I ended up buying all of his books.
He is a true modern day mountain man, articulate, self-depreciating, and
great company. We also met Lee Hulcher
who makes a living fashioning unique hand-carved ice age art from mammoth ivory
she has collected and from gold that she has panned. Others sold rose petal jelly, dandelion
jelly, baked goods, hand crafted knives, etc.
These Alaskan folks are an interesting lot… self-sufficient,
independent, and free thinkers. We
enjoyed them immensely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkVILidi-7SPRpxyfz-KfCgKtAYNn-OJb3Qc7MK4YBcHSke1ofhD1FFhdsrdXU-OtoqdqnJ94qs8zrj130-FyZI0wpSFGwnK2gPcRicfx2V_3iZmQWMkYzMty4WmN535QGza8Hgrxk2AX/s1600/IMG_6802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhby3qR-Xa9JZ-9TITPnDsu4XOq9V1nHjUQB4kUhBaSFbeAwgFYRiiJrHpEpIecLB6Vd-YcpmXRQZc6zESu3xvtShPWQ6YZ-gvwGktgEeZvYyvlk2hz9XvpbFR8nMzG8XBglz1l_O56gNAM/s1600/IMG_6824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhby3qR-Xa9JZ-9TITPnDsu4XOq9V1nHjUQB4kUhBaSFbeAwgFYRiiJrHpEpIecLB6Vd-YcpmXRQZc6zESu3xvtShPWQ6YZ-gvwGktgEeZvYyvlk2hz9XvpbFR8nMzG8XBglz1l_O56gNAM/s320/IMG_6824.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beau Hawkins next to copies of his mother's books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-KXhBWJlJPCaJsstxw6iI3cv4rWMG1g6I5pRoTKqsuxD-IG3EdhXYmGZGDF7gn0wmb5nWB3LG54l2QwGukgMyz_Il8WSV0U4HV4g3-Xuh9kmGgseFjUJuOyBJIEn4udeubpYOSSqqV_D/s1600/IMG_6817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-KXhBWJlJPCaJsstxw6iI3cv4rWMG1g6I5pRoTKqsuxD-IG3EdhXYmGZGDF7gn0wmb5nWB3LG54l2QwGukgMyz_Il8WSV0U4HV4g3-Xuh9kmGgseFjUJuOyBJIEn4udeubpYOSSqqV_D/s320/IMG_6817.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nenana - On the Iditarod trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;">A quick visit to the
Nenana Welcome center introduced us to Marge Riley who has lived in Alaska for
the last 50 years. Her husband, Jerry
Riley, won the Iditarod in 1976 and she was a great wealth of both fact and
lore for this area. It was Marge that
recommended we visit the train museum on the other end of town…a 5-minute walk. There we met “Beau” Hawkins who shared his
family’s history in the area and later took us through some of his family’s
cabins. His mom, Joanne Hawkins who recently
passed but lived a rich, full, exciting life, wrote </span><u>Alaska M&Ms “Men
& Money</u><span style="background-color: white;"> (another book we were unable to resist). </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Nenana, at first glance,
seemed a typical small Alaskan town but, like so many small towns as I have
discovered, it has a rich and varied history.
We planned to stay overnight and ended up staying for 3 nights and would
have stayed longer if we could. What a
great visit!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-28527697861266188992016-06-11T02:33:00.000-07:002016-06-11T02:33:01.656-07:00June 9 – 10 , 2016 Days 39 – 40 Whitehorse to Alaskan Border <div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fCDMy1A9wUQ6NEH_QeGM9So2cQ0AxkWL8M_bZmbDkoBwmsSz7z5Dmnp8AFNJ5dLPKjnZSI1zHDpyYp5IqGvCsV81iUM4pAm6nTl_n-pc0SpuXtHEwMe6rS7uI2o9pQsr5RVMII4Ew1by/s1600/001+Miles+Canyon+Whitehorse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fCDMy1A9wUQ6NEH_QeGM9So2cQ0AxkWL8M_bZmbDkoBwmsSz7z5Dmnp8AFNJ5dLPKjnZSI1zHDpyYp5IqGvCsV81iUM4pAm6nTl_n-pc0SpuXtHEwMe6rS7uI2o9pQsr5RVMII4Ew1by/s320/001+Miles+Canyon+Whitehorse.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles Canyon - Whitehorse, YT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="background: white;">“May your horse never stumble</span></i><b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> Your cinch never break</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> Your stomach never grumble</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> or your heart never break."</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"><span id="goog_701005546"></span><span id="goog_701005547"></span><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">The Road<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Goodbye
Whitehorse…again…Hello Alaska Highway…West by Northwest to Beaver Creek, Yukon
Territories where we will cross into Alaska.
After returning to Whitehorse from Dawson City we spent two days in
order to secure groceries, wash clothes, bodies, and vehicles. It was nice to rest up and have everything
clean once more. Moo, our RV, got a much
needed oil change and Maggie, our poodle, got a much needed bath. We no longer smell nor look like the “wild
animals” that we have been viewing on our trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzxM2Vp7hwuKzuQHGR9663xOWRTXgg3Rk55RTsTXb6vLEw2WwYRY8wUCK8AXzEUB0sFZXksjl2tGa5-iPSuQWnAouiCQugZRboY9wKMmzolY0Voz3-Oz0LlvyUQnFKUQHBUwXjbZh1MhW/s1600/010+St.+Elias+Range+Kluane+Nat+Prk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzxM2Vp7hwuKzuQHGR9663xOWRTXgg3Rk55RTsTXb6vLEw2WwYRY8wUCK8AXzEUB0sFZXksjl2tGa5-iPSuQWnAouiCQugZRboY9wKMmzolY0Voz3-Oz0LlvyUQnFKUQHBUwXjbZh1MhW/s400/010+St.+Elias+Range+Kluane+Nat+Prk.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Elias Range - Kluane National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKjtktqGHtw5f2addy9UY8thYvyParsH8VGQ32d8jL-O6pzweJuWPbaDEheX1mnW569qDzLT9jtLNrX3qKl5LFcsRIWjQ5dgLsh0Fu93nnDwz8_yuBv_4i5HogzBQgha6PFdw97vRSQF1/s1600/013+Kluane+Lake%252C+YT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKjtktqGHtw5f2addy9UY8thYvyParsH8VGQ32d8jL-O6pzweJuWPbaDEheX1mnW569qDzLT9jtLNrX3qKl5LFcsRIWjQ5dgLsh0Fu93nnDwz8_yuBv_4i5HogzBQgha6PFdw97vRSQF1/s320/013+Kluane+Lake%252C+YT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kluane Lake - Yukon Territories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white;">Before leaving Whitehorse
we visited Miles Canyon where prior to construction of a dam (Yukon Energy
Corp. Dam) on the Yukon River, this stretch of water was a navigation challenge
for riverboats. Beautiful as it is, many
a boat met an ill fate on this stretch of water. We would have loved to hike around but both
bear and the need for an early morning start deterred us from this
adventure. Leaving early the next
morning, the Alaska Highway offered beautiful scenery and pretty decent roads
all the way to Haines Junction, past Kluane Lake and up to Destruction
Bay. Destruction Bay, during
construction of the Alcan Highway, earned its name when a huge storm rolled in
destroying buildings and materials at this outpost. The scenery was stunning with a view of the
Elias Mountain Range in Kluane National Park on our left and the Dawson Range
on our right. Once leaving Destruction
Bay the highway was rich with frost heaves until it finally disintegrated into
gravel washboards where 10 mph was all we could achieve if we wished to keep
our fillings in place. By the end of the
day we were exhausted. Climbing under
the RV, I was pleased to find nothing broken and most bolts still in
place. We need to travel this road on
the return home…a daunting thought. Any
other time we would have taken as much as three days to travel through this
area but we were fortunate enough to secure reservations at Teklanika River
Campground, 29 miles inside Denali National Park. This is an opportunity of a lifetime but we
must arrive there the morning of June 13 to avail ourselves of this adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2py9cXMxcx5MsesTI031kaHtJUkOrqXa_lhRV4xbbXQfh4AJ-mbWn5I4YRNEOtNLtswvZADXpC3MHOC_CzQNAzt4FhzUYiI0ATxVZaJzTh9JeDiHrK2ScIbM9S1g_OKcqEYFnkGaw7KPZ/s1600/014+Near+Kluane+Lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2py9cXMxcx5MsesTI031kaHtJUkOrqXa_lhRV4xbbXQfh4AJ-mbWn5I4YRNEOtNLtswvZADXpC3MHOC_CzQNAzt4FhzUYiI0ATxVZaJzTh9JeDiHrK2ScIbM9S1g_OKcqEYFnkGaw7KPZ/s320/014+Near+Kluane+Lake.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grizzly Mama and her cub - Yukon Territories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SLNBcJlATZnJ940shEK06G6yFCmABEn4rBvPKbYZw6nO0Y2Gp8IE-iU3WWItMjWmGqVDwcY8cVUV80q9knUXPwc1Mo_g8vltU_i2bChzorB-Pf4p_aty1oMygQcIEnUlWK1EQUUmjPec/s1600/017+Near+Kluane+Lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SLNBcJlATZnJ940shEK06G6yFCmABEn4rBvPKbYZw6nO0Y2Gp8IE-iU3WWItMjWmGqVDwcY8cVUV80q9knUXPwc1Mo_g8vltU_i2bChzorB-Pf4p_aty1oMygQcIEnUlWK1EQUUmjPec/s320/017+Near+Kluane+Lake.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Bear...you go your way and we will go our's...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">The wildlife<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">We were treated to
multiple sightings of fox…all just trotting along as if they didn’t have a care
in the world. Majestic swans could be
seen feeding in the small ponds and mini-lakes as we passed along the way. A quick glimpse of an elk was followed by the
sighting of a mother grizzly and her cub.
We observed the pair for as long as they would tolerate our presence
before they moved on. What a treat to
view them from our RV and NOT FROM MY BICYCLE…albeit we did pass several riders
along the way…better them than me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">Tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">It will be on to Alaska…no
Canadian Beer to report at U.S. Customs…a fine tasting six pack has been nicely
tucked into my belly over the last several days.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHy8ZBlBdugSlZqoJKeZCqaO13G2QA9t7i2Gb-AH2KLtpjGYuR46auOes-eBjnv9v2xYMpcEOT5pCFJTG2WSXvDy_rV9vG20GEhXdVuA6-j-77Mn7tzVSuq4evoij6LSlI410aP3_wOkU1/s1600/023+Road+on+the+Way+Discovery+Lodge+%2526+RV+Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHy8ZBlBdugSlZqoJKeZCqaO13G2QA9t7i2Gb-AH2KLtpjGYuR46auOes-eBjnv9v2xYMpcEOT5pCFJTG2WSXvDy_rV9vG20GEhXdVuA6-j-77Mn7tzVSuq4evoij6LSlI410aP3_wOkU1/s320/023+Road+on+the+Way+Discovery+Lodge+%2526+RV+Park.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alaska Highway - Terrible in places</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH7AY9H32DfXqrAGIj-I_mZJU9b3BdDZNIGmEuWw-SlBPXZMPhC8K_-CMf8wZbs6KcNvvt97gn-XlWXyZzPTsm9_Z-pQHva-yy3lSGahU605Nk9AEPPwwbxUP-8yTXylkMcgonNZm18eg/s1600/IMG_6759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH7AY9H32DfXqrAGIj-I_mZJU9b3BdDZNIGmEuWw-SlBPXZMPhC8K_-CMf8wZbs6KcNvvt97gn-XlWXyZzPTsm9_Z-pQHva-yy3lSGahU605Nk9AEPPwwbxUP-8yTXylkMcgonNZm18eg/s320/IMG_6759.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of a kind Rump Owl...White Creek, YT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-40001239301758977022016-06-08T15:27:00.000-07:002016-06-11T09:44:20.093-07:00June 2 – 7, 2016 Days 33 – 38 Whitehorse to Dawson City and vicinity via the Klondike Highway <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWQK1ga_2gw6mfbUJoZ0B1IE98m8xIkLxp9fkWQ10XmrBliLKvmG_jwkyYoBldBK_1EdQ6T25VkLTO3m1tUNMIBIo_FJ14nPLA24K0XYwhAkqmn8L72Qrl9Gv_oryVF5D9U0M1TP91EvV/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWQK1ga_2gw6mfbUJoZ0B1IE98m8xIkLxp9fkWQ10XmrBliLKvmG_jwkyYoBldBK_1EdQ6T25VkLTO3m1tUNMIBIo_FJ14nPLA24K0XYwhAkqmn8L72Qrl9Gv_oryVF5D9U0M1TP91EvV/s320/IMG_1981.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Arctic Grayling </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">“Chances are like lightning: They never hit the earth
at the same spot twice…so when a chance comes your way, grab it cause it may
never come again. <b>Babbledoll.tumbllr<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">The Opportunity</span></b> - <b>Tatchun Creek Campground, YT<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Goodbye Whitehorse, hello
Klondike Highway…At the recommendation of locals who assured us that one has
not seen the Yukon until they have visited Dawson City, we began a wonderful
side trek. Not only is the scenery all
that one could wish for but the camping and fishing are fantastic. Driving at a leisurely pace, just a bit more
than a hundred miles in, we camped at Tatchun Creek right along a small
gurgling steam. Just a very few casts yielded
first a small artic grayling (released) and then a 16-inch grayling that we BBQ
for dinner…DELICIOUS!! I guess this
fishing license was a lottery winner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">The wildlife<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-0c-t7h4GXqOvFIDPN8_HyW6up3EcygsURAXAkWhRG5kTEXZ1gRM9bPET7Qd_AsPfPPobGkcvRMrQTO1ODjT3AZxaSLgH3LXygnDoiTJ7aRC3vXvw8oua_OgRAk3Vao5N6x0e4Bdfg2K/s1600/IMG_6608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-0c-t7h4GXqOvFIDPN8_HyW6up3EcygsURAXAkWhRG5kTEXZ1gRM9bPET7Qd_AsPfPPobGkcvRMrQTO1ODjT3AZxaSLgH3LXygnDoiTJ7aRC3vXvw8oua_OgRAk3Vao5N6x0e4Bdfg2K/s320/IMG_6608.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Grayling Stream</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Bear are abundant in the
area but we saw only one young brown bear today. We’re told that grizzlies are the predominant
species as they feed on the elk, moose, and a variety of plants. Lately our concern regarding black bears,
while not blasé, was t<o:p></o:p></span>aking a backseat to the concern we have for grizzlies. After speaking to a local regarding the
following incident, each species deserves its just respect. Two days prior, when pulling over to relieve
himself, this local walked about 100 yards into the trees. When done he started back toward his pickup
but observed that a black bear was on the very path he had taken. Circling through the trees to avoid the bear,
to his horror he saw that the bear was taking a path to intercept him. He cut
back to avoid the bear and when close to his pickup he sprinted with the bear in
hot pursuit! Needless to say the
incident shook him. He notified the authorities
of this problem bear and now has renewed his vigilance when walking in the
bush. Andrea and I decided that our
walks need to be taken with renewed vigilance as well. Andrea has gone a step further and vowed to
die of toxemia rather than relieve herself in the northern woods!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskl7HHhg8icSbtdWJW1LL92TqpzV9tl_8ILGP2VY9BG6y438MHhdeP2gTlKSbJir7mmcqRjWsjPxO8e_JJ7Tgl5SMndcqybsuSHs5Fpe1DXL9Whr6lizSH4ixgbnqBX1ePii-M0q8glFl/s1600/007+Klondike+Highway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskl7HHhg8icSbtdWJW1LL92TqpzV9tl_8ILGP2VY9BG6y438MHhdeP2gTlKSbJir7mmcqRjWsjPxO8e_JJ7Tgl5SMndcqybsuSHs5Fpe1DXL9Whr6lizSH4ixgbnqBX1ePii-M0q8glFl/s400/007+Klondike+Highway.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Klondike Highway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">The Klondike Highway – Dawson City, YT</span></b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Remote…beautiful…nature at
its best…it is so hard to describe the wonder of this area with just a ribbon
of road to convey one through this paradise.
In 1896 gold was discovered and there was a stampede with Dawson City as
the goal. Traveling through such remote,
untamed country with 19<sup>th</sup> century equipment defies imagination. I suspect that the countryside is riddled
with the bones of the ill-prepared.
Today is much different as small communities sit like pearls in the
wilderness where one can secure gas and grub.
Braeburn Lodge, at mile 55 on the Klondike Hwy, was one that
particularly caught our attention! It is
here that they sell HUGE, fresh baked cinnamon buns and sandwiches. Delicious!
Following this were li<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie_KudnNtZ1w0kbUjTbPdP8FVRP3Cj9EWmvbESzqv_too071_W54gAENYtQoXyuSZokF-Iamj-mUkJ4BhIVj7zHl8G63MDOjPJkFoAnTeF6PXgXs_Zf1r2ck1-YN7Ju9QiBN_6XipTLoz/s1600/010+Five+Finger+Rapids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie_KudnNtZ1w0kbUjTbPdP8FVRP3Cj9EWmvbESzqv_too071_W54gAENYtQoXyuSZokF-Iamj-mUkJ4BhIVj7zHl8G63MDOjPJkFoAnTeF6PXgXs_Zf1r2ck1-YN7Ju9QiBN_6XipTLoz/s640/010+Five+Finger+Rapids.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five Finger Rapids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
ttle communities with names like Carmacks
(population 500), Pelly Crossing (population 300), Stewart Crossing before
arriving at Dawson City that by now seems like a huge community (population
2000). At Dawson City, the campground is
across the Yukon River where one is transported by a tiny ferry that operates
24/7. Pulling onto this with our RV
towing a small car definitely was an adrenalin rush. While some folks continue on to “Top of the
World Highway” our rig simply was not made to handle the never-ending potholes,
washboards, and rough ride that this stretch of road has to offer so we stayed
in Dawson City for several days. While
there we took a side-trip on the Dempster Highway to Tombstone Territorial
Park. While called a highway, it
actually is a gravel road that eventually reaches Inuvik on the Beaufort
Sea. One observation is that each area
that we visit seems more remote than the last.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7VlLDGYUojdoJ5w3VFwfLlk4r3M6GhPzSVCsEZBDVrKDzSvBh0-EI4uEjoSVqNm_VUVj_DfW5S141QVoP39w0NG0WpuXbDFFPAd_Pm5QbDfX8z2ogYwZg0BUQw4Hi_7SDHqAZcTtfk2a/s1600/IMG_6613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7VlLDGYUojdoJ5w3VFwfLlk4r3M6GhPzSVCsEZBDVrKDzSvBh0-EI4uEjoSVqNm_VUVj_DfW5S141QVoP39w0NG0WpuXbDFFPAd_Pm5QbDfX8z2ogYwZg0BUQw4Hi_7SDHqAZcTtfk2a/s400/IMG_6613.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferry across the Yukon River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">One of the benefits of our
travels has been the people we meet along the way. One, a miner who had once been with Mission
Control for NASA has been mining the Dawson area since the 70’s. He offered insight as to how Dawson up until
the 80’s was a wide open town where anything went. Well-spoken and a bit nostalgic for days gone
by, he allowed us to view some of the largest nuggets he had collected…one
would cover the palm of your hand…and it was HEAVY. Spending winters in the lower 48 and
returning each year to resume his dreams, he is living the life he loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S-5n9nQOuhzziOzApoP-DZROwBGGzILMP_YP-M8ROtMHvxnuYfQQG6fJ286aWFnscmAhAsXje8BdRGWR06_KQ338YTGxN__ja9RDZLDOH0M1u9TJ-gjWjwtSyzx90_Dp86aT4cErHGoB/s1600/IMG_6616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S-5n9nQOuhzziOzApoP-DZROwBGGzILMP_YP-M8ROtMHvxnuYfQQG6fJ286aWFnscmAhAsXje8BdRGWR06_KQ338YTGxN__ja9RDZLDOH0M1u9TJ-gjWjwtSyzx90_Dp86aT4cErHGoB/s320/IMG_6616.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great City of Dawson...Population 2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">We also met Gena Howard, a
young lady honoring her father’s memory (he died of prostate cancer) by
canoeing the Yukon River solo all the way to the Bering Sea (website: </span><a href="https://piratesoftheyukon.com/"><span style="background: white;">https://piratesoftheyukon.com</span></a><span style="background: white;">). Very sweet
and seemed so fragile to take on such a journey. This is a trip that she and her father wanted
to take together. <i>“You know a dream is like a river…ever changing’ as it flows…And a
dreamer’s just a vessel…that must follow where it goes…” Garth Brooks. </i>May the river carry your dreams to
someplace peaceful. It was a joy to meet
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMtoa8r3iZOdpc4ge86G3HorFfpBDHrnS4yo2lezuVpNs-ABFx7WkG9s2zVleIRy-KTqh1Lihmkk_RIdhZmJsMGadrBbhlb4fdyqOt33RQrCKlyCYA_wDByZbE4YU_Z4bPNfwH0ai8RN6/s1600/IMG_2018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMtoa8r3iZOdpc4ge86G3HorFfpBDHrnS4yo2lezuVpNs-ABFx7WkG9s2zVleIRy-KTqh1Lihmkk_RIdhZmJsMGadrBbhlb4fdyqOt33RQrCKlyCYA_wDByZbE4YU_Z4bPNfwH0ai8RN6/s320/IMG_2018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sabine & Etienne - Bicycling from Anchorage to Chili</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">While on their trip of a
lifetime, Etienne Francoise and Sabine Figuet we met as they were on the
Klondike Highway where they had started in Anchorage and were bicycling to
Chili. We had them join us for camping
and dinner after we met at Moose Creek Territorial Campground. We spoke and shared our travels, dreams, and
lives. Awaking to rain, we asked them to
join us for blueberry pancakes out of the weather and had a great visit. Shortly thereafter they packed up their gear
and were once again off on their bicycles totally unfazed by the rain. The adventure that we are now on, as well as
others that we have taken, allows us to come into contact with our kind of
people; restless souls who wish to experience life to the fullest!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3mb1fGeYXZDmGYJ5p8oU4VQL48oKlEd07a6Si8c5cKDqRDLu3Jw06fK-I2mrxwwgMa2kNeea0myCOeTeDZ7vQJs-_cR1QqaTVJGKjskNOhwDj5-Jjfi_hN3evgxqsL0ZVUuGNoURohQ9/s1600/IMG_6619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3mb1fGeYXZDmGYJ5p8oU4VQL48oKlEd07a6Si8c5cKDqRDLu3Jw06fK-I2mrxwwgMa2kNeea0myCOeTeDZ7vQJs-_cR1QqaTVJGKjskNOhwDj5-Jjfi_hN3evgxqsL0ZVUuGNoURohQ9/s640/IMG_6619.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking onto the Yukon from Dawson City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">To all reading this,
please reach out and follow your dreams.
Life is sweetest when we discard our comfort zones and taste life. It is sweet and intoxicating!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97HcEx92yyAfvczZ4FzYUqg6BaOo0wl5WAE6zWWxuH4mPwGXwK56zDA-d8eW3dINh-I6HDYS34gRjAjaNbAy284V6S3Gca0H4mHvTqTgclvKY3K-kxOEt_Ci3eIGYp0oyTMCiE8v1UxwY/s1600/IMG_6629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97HcEx92yyAfvczZ4FzYUqg6BaOo0wl5WAE6zWWxuH4mPwGXwK56zDA-d8eW3dINh-I6HDYS34gRjAjaNbAy284V6S3Gca0H4mHvTqTgclvKY3K-kxOEt_Ci3eIGYp0oyTMCiE8v1UxwY/s640/IMG_6629.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dempster Highway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yDn_482GUMvTZFiC7ukCMFwVKToVREK86xer84d8SL1yqdf8852sAbZEYZvSDl3pTHisJ2aCrGmMSs0Uwxfih6Du49rY8LHym-ALeMI3NxWOIXIfqdPkIx_xjHXjcBcC66-3PK3tWDAN/s1600/IMG_2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yDn_482GUMvTZFiC7ukCMFwVKToVREK86xer84d8SL1yqdf8852sAbZEYZvSDl3pTHisJ2aCrGmMSs0Uwxfih6Du49rY8LHym-ALeMI3NxWOIXIfqdPkIx_xjHXjcBcC66-3PK3tWDAN/s200/IMG_2020.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braeburn Gooybuns!!<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white;"></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtPEcclLw-gHHCm3ACvcYOkWnkO-I5-UvsoEiHsJkuwABGI6gFytVI6yu8gVURDUReWcon_5ATWLuQv6tqj4AlIkCYfzD9FL0z0Gan7UftZYw_Vu8RANv2E3y3UwaWpgW-SA4Gm3ce65I/s1600/IMG_6625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtPEcclLw-gHHCm3ACvcYOkWnkO-I5-UvsoEiHsJkuwABGI6gFytVI6yu8gVURDUReWcon_5ATWLuQv6tqj4AlIkCYfzD9FL0z0Gan7UftZYw_Vu8RANv2E3y3UwaWpgW-SA4Gm3ce65I/s400/IMG_6625.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white;"></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbV6U0_4NKKojfNvz0jj_egN7qlPmYjqN7GVJuAEbTfDaZmsNi_U2HUWHmm_fzhhYxWnk_pC2AAOfWsvzF57wlSSQwbkYn8o1KUKAhT2y7vxKlIqMcWMqzj-yyEVyap-jYJgaRjlk9FGks/s1600/IMG_6642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbV6U0_4NKKojfNvz0jj_egN7qlPmYjqN7GVJuAEbTfDaZmsNi_U2HUWHmm_fzhhYxWnk_pC2AAOfWsvzF57wlSSQwbkYn8o1KUKAhT2y7vxKlIqMcWMqzj-yyEVyap-jYJgaRjlk9FGks/s640/IMG_6642.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dempster Highway goes all the way to Inuvik</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1UP3C5SjXu6RFJv7j0AoBFrkpq_sqkiFsvsrGPNSjGbCEGBLx3Do59UKa9hknvDn_aox8_P4a2URKK9ZuMyzWrgM2LX6GOgP4K9Yi70UIsLBqmMoFXsSS-u5FMqUykAiPQ078hLOl7y0/s1600/IMG_6682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1UP3C5SjXu6RFJv7j0AoBFrkpq_sqkiFsvsrGPNSjGbCEGBLx3Do59UKa9hknvDn_aox8_P4a2URKK9ZuMyzWrgM2LX6GOgP4K9Yi70UIsLBqmMoFXsSS-u5FMqUykAiPQ078hLOl7y0/s640/IMG_6682.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild wilderness of the Dempster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxw-3tGWgIv7-b73y7_ThTFrh0OEdNiKaRVi_w2-LC9EbdC8x6WwFY68grZTXH1VmoCLoPLGVYqBgiqrNvfbdYIRJbO6_UIarYMJp0BWc6uGCvlUwLdQ6qshzPgHMm6LsmLjKZpenOpfR/s1600/IMG_6669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxw-3tGWgIv7-b73y7_ThTFrh0OEdNiKaRVi_w2-LC9EbdC8x6WwFY68grZTXH1VmoCLoPLGVYqBgiqrNvfbdYIRJbO6_UIarYMJp0BWc6uGCvlUwLdQ6qshzPgHMm6LsmLjKZpenOpfR/s400/IMG_6669.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Service's Cabin in Dawson City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfAgvJHvfy7rbiShyphenhyphenWJktpKjy4JYg2-CbkUOjDxAH4J6vGgYVyzvS_G3AH-5WSRZA6iFcj0gktmwccrHdhKOx1ekZ6xCw8HxHChQFQlJ5Ja8qJWMvFrCzNh1z9ghMf01Rr8CTtLlAKz9m/s1600/IMG_6670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfAgvJHvfy7rbiShyphenhyphenWJktpKjy4JYg2-CbkUOjDxAH4J6vGgYVyzvS_G3AH-5WSRZA6iFcj0gktmwccrHdhKOx1ekZ6xCw8HxHChQFQlJ5Ja8qJWMvFrCzNh1z9ghMf01Rr8CTtLlAKz9m/s640/IMG_6670.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It's OK Andrea...No bear are allowed on this path...go on ahead...I'll catch up."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-25189135229995655612016-06-02T09:25:00.001-07:002016-06-02T09:25:21.900-07:00Days 30 - 32, May 30 – June 1, 2016 Monday - Wednesday Teslin – Whitehorse, Yukon Territories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdAnVru9R__Ex1W5XhDrrwdaoKF2jioqJp3ckLXWxAQ6h1AoQmdmNkrsuhOUIbt3MQJE3mjSvKlw8ZxdYT60zyDNHWYfx8nB-ipmEAo1d-XixN5NmyhS4TU_dYZ7Roy0xmomPIRkQoUFG/s1600/IMG_1924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdAnVru9R__Ex1W5XhDrrwdaoKF2jioqJp3ckLXWxAQ6h1AoQmdmNkrsuhOUIbt3MQJE3mjSvKlw8ZxdYT60zyDNHWYfx8nB-ipmEAo1d-XixN5NmyhS4TU_dYZ7Roy0xmomPIRkQoUFG/s320/IMG_1924.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSffTY16B0BQw0VpRrdqyqrCGPZG9zlHwbX0EQ4H_yKhy1vfhoq1CUdCHS_fG5Q_Rtm32AsoVtEpPnrASx9ttmHcY0O53S28BphGgvYwfeRC7IthTnplH6Yj5kAqywOPBNm_IUqfPcYSmC/s1600/IMG_1923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSffTY16B0BQw0VpRrdqyqrCGPZG9zlHwbX0EQ4H_yKhy1vfhoq1CUdCHS_fG5Q_Rtm32AsoVtEpPnrASx9ttmHcY0O53S28BphGgvYwfeRC7IthTnplH6Yj5kAqywOPBNm_IUqfPcYSmC/s320/IMG_1923.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Service</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">“Winding in and winding out, leaves my mind in serious
doubt, as to whether the lout who built this route, was going to hell or coming
out.” <b>SGT Troy Hise</b>, military
construction, Alaska Highway<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">The Route<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Traveling from Teslin to
Whitehorse on Hwy 1 brought to mind how an ice cube might feel as it traverses
its way to becoming a daiquiri. Freezing
rain, hail, road construction, and washboards were our dear friends on this
stretch of the road. Beautiful as it
was, the washboards were bone jarring.
About 10 miles out of Whitehorse, the road became smooth and magnificent
and we rolled into town in style…perhaps with the remaining undercarriage nuts
and bolts hanging on for dear life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1YY1VOphffXh564h1jxPgJjB1zoeUq6QhPnH-DZX2jQKdGkYaNwIrddSmQBZRiCrsVkyUkPjUgoRCjyTtFUP-MtTWeEo0ALSui0lyy74_MRunbPAsY3Dd_t8nVDUDq2kYE2RVXWjBPnB/s1600/IMG_1931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1YY1VOphffXh564h1jxPgJjB1zoeUq6QhPnH-DZX2jQKdGkYaNwIrddSmQBZRiCrsVkyUkPjUgoRCjyTtFUP-MtTWeEo0ALSui0lyy74_MRunbPAsY3Dd_t8nVDUDq2kYE2RVXWjBPnB/s320/IMG_1931.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7XierN6pP8NuQL5C2Q2cKgeiU28Jq43iMGyeTsdRloOp8XpNAyxhZen-MnIoxDHOVFaaoo5tND9qojdSBMLaPb0aPxVLaMUAKWGc3AZF4BvWwzEAHrR_vU89Jhj12AWUvArwysz6Gbhk/s1600/IMG_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7XierN6pP8NuQL5C2Q2cKgeiU28Jq43iMGyeTsdRloOp8XpNAyxhZen-MnIoxDHOVFaaoo5tND9qojdSBMLaPb0aPxVLaMUAKWGc3AZF4BvWwzEAHrR_vU89Jhj12AWUvArwysz6Gbhk/s320/IMG_1928.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="background: white;">Whitehorse!!! Just the name conjures up visions of those
hordes of miners stampeding their way “North” with hopes of easy fortunes. It was anything but easy with more than half
overwhelmed by the rigors of the trail and of those who stayed, only a handful
struck it rich. A handful…that was all
it took for those tough enough to stake a claim, melt the permafrost as they burrowed
deep into the ground to find those ounces of treasure that might change their
lives. The real winners were the
merchants, freighters, barkeeps, and “Goodtime Girls.” “Guys, if you’re not ready, don’t stand in
line!” (<u>Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush</u>). History abounds, and there is ample
opportunity to immerse into Whitehorse’s colorful past by visiting its great museums
and exhibits. We visited the MacBride
Museum, the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center, Sam McGee’s original cabin, and
learned a bit more about the authors Jack London and Robert Service’s stay in
Whitehorse…”<i> There are strange things
done in the midnight sun by men who moil for gold; the artic trails have their
secret tales that would make your blood run cold</i>…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk77P3MmlbWO3dU53qpRHo9OKdXr0RyNnI67gsDECfrT6u3Bhx7Vzv_paUa2H-C94Aaha01k89bkxofAYRekdUq0MOnJyp7CilatKmk3qjc596H6gSxeKSynprrHNE05aFn_AhpvLzvGpo/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk77P3MmlbWO3dU53qpRHo9OKdXr0RyNnI67gsDECfrT6u3Bhx7Vzv_paUa2H-C94Aaha01k89bkxofAYRekdUq0MOnJyp7CilatKmk3qjc596H6gSxeKSynprrHNE05aFn_AhpvLzvGpo/s320/IMG_1944.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam McGee's Cabin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Whitehorse, capital of the
Yukon Territories, has a rich and colorful history. Sporting just over 27,000 residents, it is
the largest city in the Yukon. After
weeks of traveling through the remoteness of the north, arriving in Whitehorse
left us wide-eyed and hungry for the comforts that it offered. Feasting on fine cuisine, shopping in fully
stocked grocery stores, and visiting great museums was a real treat that
enticed us to stay for several days. It was here that several of the local
residents that we met strongly suggested that we “DO NOT BYPASS DAWSON!” Due to bad roads, this side trip entails more
than 100 miles of backtracking. Even so,
armed with a new Yukon 6-day fishing license, it is off we go to see what there
is to see in Dawson City.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYOZkm9SpGaob-7kT8ZL8smpjiXBEElRUcFecJzl2oPM84U-xGUgd8Yf4SRA1xDGjal3UOUvOI4TQ59_3ZNteH-t6E8ErLC-TGAZyEbI3_entxROa2DwnD6RVv-SMMyrH2iU7oeInYNHW/s1600/IMG_6583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYOZkm9SpGaob-7kT8ZL8smpjiXBEElRUcFecJzl2oPM84U-xGUgd8Yf4SRA1xDGjal3UOUvOI4TQ59_3ZNteH-t6E8ErLC-TGAZyEbI3_entxROa2DwnD6RVv-SMMyrH2iU7oeInYNHW/s400/IMG_6583.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Focus is on the Land Bridge, how and why man and animals crossed over to N. America</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwCEvVxQ0Rv48c7LW2rN_4gMaJTXhqI6w8vIsaGJU465srxuIl1ORNqF1gvVeh8R4WoX7Q9TW3DtMNKlKwc9_ul6sjw7Y01bGv78o2dkmhuhTwYKVezCfHXbjCrEMKa2znMNXPc7BL8x-/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwCEvVxQ0Rv48c7LW2rN_4gMaJTXhqI6w8vIsaGJU465srxuIl1ORNqF1gvVeh8R4WoX7Q9TW3DtMNKlKwc9_ul6sjw7Y01bGv78o2dkmhuhTwYKVezCfHXbjCrEMKa2znMNXPc7BL8x-/s400/IMG_1956.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beringia Display - Giant Beaver once roamed N. America</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfbDhz8U7XbQjUJnobNjclUrhB89S96cOgkcpbwDWTKL8Fs-7L8PR0FjoaEBGOqHgpJVCEUaZ97od_eShgndkBc5hqu_XT15NCdl_VtBY7b7Gw216VaBGVmnUlrd8AHO8vFf0PwSGFF3F/s1600/IMG_6585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfbDhz8U7XbQjUJnobNjclUrhB89S96cOgkcpbwDWTKL8Fs-7L8PR0FjoaEBGOqHgpJVCEUaZ97od_eShgndkBc5hqu_XT15NCdl_VtBY7b7Gw216VaBGVmnUlrd8AHO8vFf0PwSGFF3F/s400/IMG_6585.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beringia Display - As did the Woolly Mammoth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p>Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-24336898183959685512016-05-31T21:27:00.000-07:002016-05-31T21:27:09.252-07:00Days 28-29, May 28-29, 2016 Saturday & Sunday Muncho Provincial Park, BC – Watson Lake, YT – Teslin, YT<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdTqu9xXEjDjiI2k4NoQ3N1byf9n8f4T7uWD3qN52vYH9oQFSBOFCr-iplyVgU05U32iAqEOn7SHZ9hZsNZtPlGqaF2qIFgoBY2cOgYAc8Se252ZcILL0WA7DIkVY05YnIWsSZ9Cj8azg/s1600/IMG_6513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdTqu9xXEjDjiI2k4NoQ3N1byf9n8f4T7uWD3qN52vYH9oQFSBOFCr-iplyVgU05U32iAqEOn7SHZ9hZsNZtPlGqaF2qIFgoBY2cOgYAc8Se252ZcILL0WA7DIkVY05YnIWsSZ9Cj8azg/s400/IMG_6513.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the HUGE Liard River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">“Thousands of tired, nerve shaken, over civilized
people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home. The
wilderness is a necessity.” <b>John Muir</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">Where there are towns there are amenities…and
humanity’s footprints.</span></b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmYtIdO_cL3wHTi3gHeNZTMSGoUxql05d_ghBAVkoYt9HI9gt4dXDmdCGTktvp_LNNhSxWuEzOpsQfqk7bnasNn6mdfghOn5OjQssRtoAFI1p3AfmXx91NqrU_7wEnfgHz4uQK-6sU0mw/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmYtIdO_cL3wHTi3gHeNZTMSGoUxql05d_ghBAVkoYt9HI9gt4dXDmdCGTktvp_LNNhSxWuEzOpsQfqk7bnasNn6mdfghOn5OjQssRtoAFI1p3AfmXx91NqrU_7wEnfgHz4uQK-6sU0mw/s320/IMG_1908.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All started by an Illinois soldier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvhkrcDCMvg2rEQRVQEZyRAsnDSkZhQEHhEASbOI53vATPLgQ5WFZaK4OrDzRo_UGBsCrs1sIaQBdzGSKwdKHPfiVWmDv-bnE2LhE2JxPhkSUDZXPExVz4WxrO_ZBMIvjsggkAw25Au7L/s1600/IMG_1886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvhkrcDCMvg2rEQRVQEZyRAsnDSkZhQEHhEASbOI53vATPLgQ5WFZaK4OrDzRo_UGBsCrs1sIaQBdzGSKwdKHPfiVWmDv-bnE2LhE2JxPhkSUDZXPExVz4WxrO_ZBMIvjsggkAw25Au7L/s200/IMG_1886.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signpost Forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">We have passed through seemingly
infinite unspoiled boreal forests filled with game, songbirds, and unimaginable
river corridors. We have become
accustomed to this and now it’s becoming a bit of a shock when we arrive in the
small outposts of humanity. For the most
part, well kept, they seem out of place compared to nature’s unblemished
continuity. This said, without them this
trip would be impossible. How would one
cross the vast expanse of the Laird River…seeming as big as the Mississippi but
coursing through wilderness? How in the
world did one cross such obstacles in days past? Between the muskeg, streams and rivers it
seems that only winter would give such watery byways any sort of footing on
which to navigate. The mild season
offers continuous bogginess which would mire man, beast, and machinery. I have a much deeper appreciation for what the
builders of the Alcan Highway faced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5DrGahP6QndZ2LPQ5rcYAk2S6acCnNsfpzns9VPG7IUMjKJS9_R-f8rd70JUfj-Npx4EnbhhHDuwMipZhwzEWeR64I-WRnN4DKWBMHdPmciwnd2y1TC0UjjQIHZ_KbkxI24kvcVMBSOM/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5DrGahP6QndZ2LPQ5rcYAk2S6acCnNsfpzns9VPG7IUMjKJS9_R-f8rd70JUfj-Npx4EnbhhHDuwMipZhwzEWeR64I-WRnN4DKWBMHdPmciwnd2y1TC0UjjQIHZ_KbkxI24kvcVMBSOM/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrying on the Tradition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Watson Lake offered
internet, telephone service, showers, a laundromat and a visit to the “Signpost
Forest.” It is here that folks from all
over the world bring signs, hang them on posts to mark their visit to this part
of the world. We were no exception,
carrying one our elder daughter’s old personalized license plates (SPEERJ), we
nailed it at a prominent spot on one of the sign posts. This tradition was all started by a lonely Illinois
GI working on the Alcan Highway in 1942 who posted a sign denoting the distance
to his home in Danville and has carried on to this day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">While nice to clean up and
check-in with family, one night was enough.
We started off on Hwy 97 and connected to Hwy 1 at the Yukon Border where
we crossed and re-crossed back and forth between British Columbia and the Yukon
until arriving in Teslin at kilometer 1244.
Any thoughts of bicycling this route were put to rest by the numerous
bear (both black and brown) that we encountered on this route. Many were right alongside the road chomping
away at plants…until something more appetizing might come along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA1unwtIsuqsT_RTxfsdfcWOV8FQtfF7oGOpgtxeIJZ4TSWL4apeA00P3kIlO4rCt8aQvSU0d3QrWtWe-qCOYg1xe3xBY3RVsIHuaCS6ssKmq85I86ZAEOeG15KIPibG_tAfQyKYaxemR/s1600/IMG_6525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitA1unwtIsuqsT_RTxfsdfcWOV8FQtfF7oGOpgtxeIJZ4TSWL4apeA00P3kIlO4rCt8aQvSU0d3QrWtWe-qCOYg1xe3xBY3RVsIHuaCS6ssKmq85I86ZAEOeG15KIPibG_tAfQyKYaxemR/s320/IMG_6525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bison alongside the road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">On the way we crossed the continental
divide at kilometer marker 1120 where “two of the largest watersheds in North
America” the Yukon and Mackenzie watersheds take their separate journeys to the
sea, one to the Bering Sea and the other to the Beaufort Sea. As we passed over the divide, we experienced
rain, rain mixed with snow and those passing after us were delayed when snow
closed the road. O</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">n we drove until we
arrived at Teslin Lake Provincial Park where we spent a rain filled night in a
beautiful campground. The next day it
was then off to Whitehorse where we will spend several days exploring, resting,
and </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">deciding on our next move.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SA43IweDWvgMiShXRVz396tdNoa4PDZjfAr8-SIPifNjQcOUScQ7DMyZpS74HcIglSOCNDSjRjeqVnT18fyj7DYAG6W_yxWzSjAypwXX8zaODSAYB_rgpCwgwo6cKAZ1UkiV7R1C3i7T/s1600/IMG_6542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SA43IweDWvgMiShXRVz396tdNoa4PDZjfAr8-SIPifNjQcOUScQ7DMyZpS74HcIglSOCNDSjRjeqVnT18fyj7DYAG6W_yxWzSjAypwXX8zaODSAYB_rgpCwgwo6cKAZ1UkiV7R1C3i7T/s200/IMG_6542.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They even bring their friends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuHN8zI_JNqMYHHNHhBBdoySNxiV08hyL7Rnv0yMCiShj3gDkDyoZ9Y-qI1NWF1iPAOXmrBCF6flwdLSFk9o9xwVpf79tOPBWO75A1PVc6izBB56cbS30ngSzPLl843peM6bstGH4LzrN/s1600/IMG_6528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuHN8zI_JNqMYHHNHhBBdoySNxiV08hyL7Rnv0yMCiShj3gDkDyoZ9Y-qI1NWF1iPAOXmrBCF6flwdLSFk9o9xwVpf79tOPBWO75A1PVc6izBB56cbS30ngSzPLl843peM6bstGH4LzrN/s320/IMG_6528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear seem to be EVERYWHERE!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgau7NeGLi8DKyKskTiEUSKo4iBWorArWpdQtVHZCldSp3xwPy0QqFcYGo1WtEhpytq2HIZiDeDXaXy2OVlMU4j8iurTxlNYXGYTDiwZw7jO5eHbeBIEBGvxzYI6OqMitkzPxgxAoLCUzWp/s1600/IMG_6548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgau7NeGLi8DKyKskTiEUSKo4iBWorArWpdQtVHZCldSp3xwPy0QqFcYGo1WtEhpytq2HIZiDeDXaXy2OVlMU4j8iurTxlNYXGYTDiwZw7jO5eHbeBIEBGvxzYI6OqMitkzPxgxAoLCUzWp/s400/IMG_6548.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And they are BIG!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><span style="background: white;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBgCLsp_lrKqtj_VTFMgGNTVx_UeQ_RwI03s_T0BlK6TCbPxmeGTxdHhK2U2mQ2xTBLMm9KOZykSLEq2GltOUUHj3oJoGX9j91jjkZPoMWHIPvxOuw1HAaGCal52mP1KHTeWmNmJJZqLB/s1600/IMG_6550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBgCLsp_lrKqtj_VTFMgGNTVx_UeQ_RwI03s_T0BlK6TCbPxmeGTxdHhK2U2mQ2xTBLMm9KOZykSLEq2GltOUUHj3oJoGX9j91jjkZPoMWHIPvxOuw1HAaGCal52mP1KHTeWmNmJJZqLB/s640/IMG_6550.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road continues North</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5i9sVOgA5k9l5jvxJPcuzU7kbaRTEv7XfthFdylFjhosBBOrMfJE6KANd42C2gjdA0Kltyzwvd61o46pStIfWBVUGOg-lj5P3Knedoa4RepJo8F3rF3bYlLNddvYwHTOgcFT1okyMNrd/s1600/IMG_6568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5i9sVOgA5k9l5jvxJPcuzU7kbaRTEv7XfthFdylFjhosBBOrMfJE6KANd42C2gjdA0Kltyzwvd61o46pStIfWBVUGOg-lj5P3Knedoa4RepJo8F3rF3bYlLNddvYwHTOgcFT1okyMNrd/s400/IMG_6568.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers abound in Teslin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4oAdsdzZf_TKOAULP815FYyMnm_byNUBcpKEVOeQ-LYB_q-jR9r2KlGgUsAo3p0VMqspxvWmM0lw1HDEBzwClcpyBL7xvf6wleyhObzhxlnRHvvL_VEUbtreS_9ntLmJat94_gRGFCQZ/s1600/IMG_6563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4oAdsdzZf_TKOAULP815FYyMnm_byNUBcpKEVOeQ-LYB_q-jR9r2KlGgUsAo3p0VMqspxvWmM0lw1HDEBzwClcpyBL7xvf6wleyhObzhxlnRHvvL_VEUbtreS_9ntLmJat94_gRGFCQZ/s640/IMG_6563.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home for the night in Teslin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p></span>Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-58687127443904303902016-05-31T19:35:00.000-07:002016-05-31T19:35:51.241-07:00Days 25-27, May 25-27, 2016 Wednesday - Friday Buckinghorse River Wayside Prov. Park, BC – Muncho Provincial Park, BC<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwZIA21EZA9vw-lOodbZd98zSn23A64X-kaGRJ1WFiTckgOf1710frDKNJP-p2dNwuJG64nx7Sxs5BgVnYPDN-Z-YA2IpktNIcvqRuKLltwdxqPMwfaA1neA5k4l3uSsStbXQsZAsUebp/s1600/IMG_6420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwZIA21EZA9vw-lOodbZd98zSn23A64X-kaGRJ1WFiTckgOf1710frDKNJP-p2dNwuJG64nx7Sxs5BgVnYPDN-Z-YA2IpktNIcvqRuKLltwdxqPMwfaA1neA5k4l3uSsStbXQsZAsUebp/s320/IMG_6420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caribou right in front of our RV</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">“My biggest worry is that my wife (when I’m dead) will
try to sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it…” <b>Koos
Brandt</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">The Wilds of British Columbia</span></b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhv-ZxrQqarF0zEd4PGdaZ9jB_tr0lRWwH7AIY4Uy_i5WFR2Q4BjgkLfUn_0om8juIoOqOI8S-ygkxkLu6IE6ruWch2KLnCDxJ9Zm3M2BgzD8QfIxnaZC4D2lYeDlQdfLcv2X1ggVAQ5W/s1600/IMG_6426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhv-ZxrQqarF0zEd4PGdaZ9jB_tr0lRWwH7AIY4Uy_i5WFR2Q4BjgkLfUn_0om8juIoOqOI8S-ygkxkLu6IE6ruWch2KLnCDxJ9Zm3M2BgzD8QfIxnaZC4D2lYeDlQdfLcv2X1ggVAQ5W/s320/IMG_6426.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not always paved!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Leaving Buckinghorse we
continued north on Hwy 97 through Prophet River until we arrived at Fort
Nelson, British Columbia. On the Alaska
Highway, mile markers (Mile Posts) are the main designation for sights of
interest. Due to modifications on the
highway, sections have been shortened over the years so these designations may no
longer be accurate. This being the case,
distance can be noted as “Mile Post,” “Historical Mile Post” (original
distance) or in today’s metric age “Kilometer Post” in travel brochures. <u>Milepost</u>, one of the “must have” Alaska
Travel Planners uses all three at one time or another. Fort Nelson, once a timber town, now focuses
on petroleum resources as well as tourism.
It was here that I purchased my British Columbia fishing license…like
lottery tickets, some are lucky and some are a bust…mine was a bust. Seems that the grayling, 20-pound lake trout
or the huge Northern Pike were all on holiday as I received nary a nibble. Maybe the Yukon Territories will be my “lucky
number.” Can’t be a skill thing…can it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBYAQnCr-6_SPMKsbeChP4VQblyTCtPWwyMhYS1WppejT86Ajta50pHpFaMgK3OfGDrxxcBxuboo-B3Od4x23nv8xflm24KFFVhWovCYGQ66GuP4qeEnr8iWcS9PhyVyf6mHNXjXByeLC/s1600/IMG_6429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBYAQnCr-6_SPMKsbeChP4VQblyTCtPWwyMhYS1WppejT86Ajta50pHpFaMgK3OfGDrxxcBxuboo-B3Od4x23nv8xflm24KFFVhWovCYGQ66GuP4qeEnr8iWcS9PhyVyf6mHNXjXByeLC/s320/IMG_6429.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone for a walk?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u><span style="background: white;">Milepost</span></u><span style="background: white;">, rather unfairly, notes that Fort Nelson has the
highest fuel prices along the Alaska Highway.
Not so! We paid $5.10 (US)/gal,
at Northern Rockies Lodge in Muncho Provincial Park, BC. While high, fuel in Fort Nelson was $3.75
(US), reasonable considering its remoteness.
This cost was easily offset by the community hosting a rest stop for
travelers that offers free water fill-ups and free dump stations for RVers. They really cater to the traveler and the
residents were friendly and helpful.
Speaking with several residents, we found a deep love of community, the
North, and the lives they lead. While
chuckling about the winters, not one we spoke to seemed to have any interest in
relocating south…” vacationing YES, living “NO!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFaibHZBeyYFJxBLkpH0aK7MhaG0qPZtfEJlfok-Cs2qakcbUJY-yW6EluMvuFcb5barOBobuqmJ-cg3PfKgQUnA_4tcMoT42mbALgn-eAg7-plNYQ2Kp0eXMk6C-lLRXV_B3DZfQwgCf/s1600/IMG_6498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFaibHZBeyYFJxBLkpH0aK7MhaG0qPZtfEJlfok-Cs2qakcbUJY-yW6EluMvuFcb5barOBobuqmJ-cg3PfKgQUnA_4tcMoT42mbALgn-eAg7-plNYQ2Kp0eXMk6C-lLRXV_B3DZfQwgCf/s320/IMG_6498.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmA-aZ41oG6GMHgehG92bxm-vtKsCMELOucKhcy_K0ZK0BsNw_nslDY5jlzgSFNgeYAwXI5tZbOFRl9HiyIY0V7bJodpE0HCd9o8Ov4BXCZlG_Nh1JBQgvRVrTtA5-OYPn5Qbf1xiCnUYV/s1600/IMG_6509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmA-aZ41oG6GMHgehG92bxm-vtKsCMELOucKhcy_K0ZK0BsNw_nslDY5jlzgSFNgeYAwXI5tZbOFRl9HiyIY0V7bJodpE0HCd9o8Ov4BXCZlG_Nh1JBQgvRVrTtA5-OYPn5Qbf1xiCnUYV/s320/IMG_6509.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bison on the Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">From Fort Nelson it was on
to Muncho Lake in Muncho Provincial Park in British Columbia. Muncho Lake was so beautiful that we decided
to set up camp for three nights at Strawberry Flats Campground. On a <span style="text-align: center;">sunny day (none to be had while we were
there) the lake takes on a vivid almost unreal blue that is said to be enhanced
by copper oxide leached from the surrounding mountains. It is suspended in the water, albeit, at very
low levels. This area, while not only
beautiful, abounds </span><span style="text-align: center;">with wildlife. Stone
Sheep, Moose, Caribou, a myriad of predators and the ever present bear (both
black and grizzly) that gives one pause while hiking. I hiked once by myself…didn’t feel
comfortable at all but took a later and longer hike with a couple from San
Diego (Gerry and Karen Brewster) and that was a lot of fun. We hiked a portion of the “old Alcan Highway”
and had a great view of Muncho Lake.
Rained most of the time we camped but we were snuggly warm in our
RV…sorry to say that due to the rain our solar panel didn’t operate optimally
so we had to use our generator more than we liked. It’s been a great trip so far. We have seen a LOT OF BEAR from the car but
have not made our acquaintance on the trail so far…let’s keep it that way.</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC2XkIpzTo3ubjUl-oNnmk5wF80ikBIee1fZNQWPg85f1NnGvYwTMSKJxp39KF3iiNTSlUNEC9QQzWRiLef4bj5_02VnY2pEStG_hi63egsHnFT5MKU1tIwWaBlOKwO8J6xjgUDOSHOsy/s1600/IMG_6450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC2XkIpzTo3ubjUl-oNnmk5wF80ikBIee1fZNQWPg85f1NnGvYwTMSKJxp39KF3iiNTSlUNEC9QQzWRiLef4bj5_02VnY2pEStG_hi63egsHnFT5MKU1tIwWaBlOKwO8J6xjgUDOSHOsy/s320/IMG_6450.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And what a road it is...from this...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSH_n1fjl8xvZomGMj8rFjwoKy4dNLXKI9exI375WY-POQuovR6CU0VuMp_bJszCK5Xiai5qz_GLOAXVF1Ft-M9Lpa4kY_OJPXYoh8TWdxfjxTR_q6sYnzum5ELM7wvQWQTRp6W_x88yF/s1600/IMG_6497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSH_n1fjl8xvZomGMj8rFjwoKy4dNLXKI9exI375WY-POQuovR6CU0VuMp_bJszCK5Xiai5qz_GLOAXVF1Ft-M9Lpa4kY_OJPXYoh8TWdxfjxTR_q6sYnzum5ELM7wvQWQTRp6W_x88yF/s320/IMG_6497.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...to this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p>Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-88256221314744681972016-05-31T19:01:00.000-07:002016-05-31T19:01:31.775-07:00Days 23-24, May 23-24, 2016 Monday & Tuesday Grande Cache, AB – Kiskatinaw Prov. Campground, BC – Buckinghorse River Wayside Prov. Park, BC<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB143Lrq7aubn01stQvw6iF1iVnAzGf47AkPfmjFBNwy9YO8B29lz9hQmfPo2DJJCDstR_8erZHgNfNIdxj4hzIJ4c8DtEWDVGucuZLy657So9rGWjMlcax3sfGhZYMdlQrBdNgdnJglA/s1600/IMG_6332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB143Lrq7aubn01stQvw6iF1iVnAzGf47AkPfmjFBNwy9YO8B29lz9hQmfPo2DJJCDstR_8erZHgNfNIdxj4hzIJ4c8DtEWDVGucuZLy657So9rGWjMlcax3sfGhZYMdlQrBdNgdnJglA/s320/IMG_6332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Section of the Old Alaska Highway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">“She turned to the sunlight…And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor: “Winter
is dead.’” <b>A.A. Milne</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">Land of the “Midnight Sun”</span></b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Our travels have taken us
steadily north and the days are becoming increasingly longer. Going to bed at 9:30 PM does not necessarily
offer darkness. Anticipating this, after
living and experiencing long days in Canada, Andrea made blackout curtains that
we can roll down over our windows at bedtime.
This, coupled with a darkening pad for our semi-transparent roof vent,
offers us seemingly nighttime darkness.
The only problem is that, cozy as it is in our nest, getting up in the
morning tends to be rather on the late side.
Soundly we sleep!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXRn5F88wd_BatHuMXZ5ehnWGphnratG7Wi6X5Vy3gQXC9e4aSnKv2isiScR_UrBQVE2z1JxmcYegAzbJAwTik51mySxysNqP2tUqUiUGrTrwIH6Bu6u1taAcIRNT-GqmCOpLXFFSRMh3/s1600/IMG_6335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXRn5F88wd_BatHuMXZ5ehnWGphnratG7Wi6X5Vy3gQXC9e4aSnKv2isiScR_UrBQVE2z1JxmcYegAzbJAwTik51mySxysNqP2tUqUiUGrTrwIH6Bu6u1taAcIRNT-GqmCOpLXFFSRMh3/s320/IMG_6335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humm....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Leaving the wilds of
Grande Cache, we transitioned from Hwy 40 to Hwy 97 into the flat-lands of
Grande Prairie. Oil, natural gas, and
agriculture invigorates Grande Prairie’s economy and it was here that we found
all the amenities of a thriving community.
After adjusting to the wilds of Canada, a modern city was quite a
shock. We did our shopping and left town
post haste. Once on the road, we
continued northwest to Dawson Creek, BC and it is here that the Alaska Highway
is the designated starting point…MILE ZERO at Dawson Creek. Named after George
Dawson who surveyed the area in 1879, its agricultural heritage remains a part
of its economy but natural gas has supplanted its footprint on the economy in a
big<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO233VduopBftc9_IX_LvhMPk3IA48Td7AO1vuz9vksud4h7c0Lj2CsNKSBg_qaexPjM28vy3vPGn81vODZZBz3-tJ-fIeFWF3S4w-ANfKzTqyNJLdhS_tlA7fSBOe9HH4c1zdJyXwRnl/s1600/IMG_6337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO233VduopBftc9_IX_LvhMPk3IA48Td7AO1vuz9vksud4h7c0Lj2CsNKSBg_qaexPjM28vy3vPGn81vODZZBz3-tJ-fIeFWF3S4w-ANfKzTqyNJLdhS_tlA7fSBOe9HH4c1zdJyXwRnl/s320/IMG_6337.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiskatinaw River Bridge was an Engineering Challenge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
way. Just to the northwest we set up
camp at Kiskatinaw Provincial Campground that sits below the historic
Kiskatinaw River Bridge that curves over one of the first obstacles that Army
Engineers encountered when building this WWII highway. It is here that a side loop of the “Old
Alaska Highway” allows the traveler to view this historic site. At this small, scenic campground we observed
beaver playing in the river but remained vigilant as bear and moose are
plentiful in the area. This will remain
a constant as we continue north.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj2-Phhs_98FMVSbO2SpW0o929myQ1dUmJBXpZjd3cALNugfZ3S3iJ7gDBjEgkEviMh0Yw2Fm3S-1RquMqrWjaVaN91aRS_RiWH4B65GZ2S9d34YVVkGPVfrWlkDqyKGX1WU3x2-s0WAx/s1600/IMG_6343A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj2-Phhs_98FMVSbO2SpW0o929myQ1dUmJBXpZjd3cALNugfZ3S3iJ7gDBjEgkEviMh0Yw2Fm3S-1RquMqrWjaVaN91aRS_RiWH4B65GZ2S9d34YVVkGPVfrWlkDqyKGX1WU3x2-s0WAx/s320/IMG_6343A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaver below the Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">We awoke to clear skies
and after a good breakfast we were on the road heading to Fort N<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-5iCk2ZPLufDTsfQvpj1CCal7x1ug3L1npxrhgghfz4QDqPsFFGNaUBuRfjxePF8q7g4o8Fma4KrSRIpqW3frtu-d_sUVU8aquw4UI-zWO3POfhm-diqoKnR9J5nAi24Fu8HBClMPb4B/s1600/IMG_6368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-5iCk2ZPLufDTsfQvpj1CCal7x1ug3L1npxrhgghfz4QDqPsFFGNaUBuRfjxePF8q7g4o8Fma4KrSRIpqW3frtu-d_sUVU8aquw4UI-zWO3POfhm-diqoKnR9J5nAi24Fu8HBClMPb4B/s320/IMG_6368.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiskatinaw Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
elson, BC and
once again enjoying the remoteness that the Great North offers. Coursing through great forests of conifers
and deciduous trees we took our time, enjoyed the wilderness, and watched for
game. Sadly, the first moose observed on
this trip was one that had been hit and killed laying alongside the road. Game is VERY THICK along Hwy 97 so caution
and slower speeds were the order of the day.
At approximately 180 miles into the Alaska Highway, we stopped to spend
the night at Buckinghorse River Wayside Provincial Park. Off the road, rustic, and nestled alongside
the Buckinghorse River, we had the campground to ourselves. It is here that grayling abound but alas, while
well stocked with fishing gear, fishing licenses were acutely in short
supply. DARN!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /><span style="background: white;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9p-Z-YN0kUAZBEA5tiN-3MRammw6F07gmoh7t4rFj3xIlTq8c24VGpRZKsB8gAmbuhybP5_TtYQfOzlTEhzdXIovT_VwQn7qtMnSdf203e1ORgQzncRaynuqCHD0daZCezxtBOHj4Ts2/s1600/IMG_6387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9p-Z-YN0kUAZBEA5tiN-3MRammw6F07gmoh7t4rFj3xIlTq8c24VGpRZKsB8gAmbuhybP5_TtYQfOzlTEhzdXIovT_VwQn7qtMnSdf203e1ORgQzncRaynuqCHD0daZCezxtBOHj4Ts2/s320/IMG_6387.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch out for Wildlife!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3LoijeCdTMTpwaqYTSNl2fHEfA_HuKPt1JzAE1PErodvzQ6Zy4AZgN0oM72l3lS3X0i4ya2TxM9DQvfuMM7fRnnyWJsZHbkWtNjo4UM4soQOq0EM2R9X2gTSXk-ctxsePaa9QhCIr5xR/s1600/IMG_6390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3LoijeCdTMTpwaqYTSNl2fHEfA_HuKPt1JzAE1PErodvzQ6Zy4AZgN0oM72l3lS3X0i4ya2TxM9DQvfuMM7fRnnyWJsZHbkWtNjo4UM4soQOq0EM2R9X2gTSXk-ctxsePaa9QhCIr5xR/s320/IMG_6390.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highway going North</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBO3wkOHM_UkLFRJ3H43c43xuCWCBZFJjtEgt46hPytuigBK6QRLrhyj6jHz18dQzU4T619iurAl2UB8lPGB1pzRYD2HIigScM1h6ISPN55AgUFpjTQaMFxPjUJ425sywD3an94MXx60V/s1600/IMG_6392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBO3wkOHM_UkLFRJ3H43c43xuCWCBZFJjtEgt46hPytuigBK6QRLrhyj6jHz18dQzU4T619iurAl2UB8lPGB1pzRYD2HIigScM1h6ISPN55AgUFpjTQaMFxPjUJ425sywD3an94MXx60V/s320/IMG_6392.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephan!!...are you sure there are no bear here? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p>Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-8372588397815702702016-05-23T08:28:00.000-07:002016-05-23T08:28:05.943-07:00Day 21, May 21-22, 2016 May-Long Weekend Jasper National Park – Grande Cache, Alberta (Smoky River Region)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstBKjO6rF23tVNLrTEU8g4UeY6drz-0KkK6G42MYW-FodvEMnyAylcT91pQwVNi_wLrlvT-RXHTLTXiYP60cxS42RDnCbTcGB-bBZRsB4CQSy1URC7CpAFXJJZnZWjyJjucBx1V-b-KRB/s1600/Birthday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstBKjO6rF23tVNLrTEU8g4UeY6drz-0KkK6G42MYW-FodvEMnyAylcT91pQwVNi_wLrlvT-RXHTLTXiYP60cxS42RDnCbTcGB-bBZRsB4CQSy1URC7CpAFXJJZnZWjyJjucBx1V-b-KRB/s320/Birthday.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Pie...68th birthday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">“The Aboriginal people gave the Smoky River its name
because lightning would sometimes start the exposed coal seams on<b> </b>the banks on fire, so they would
smoke.” <b>Grand Cache Historical Society
Brochure</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background: white;">On the road to Grande Cache</span></b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Alberta Hwy 40, like so
much of Canada, was a wilderness dream to travel. We observed our first caribou just south of
Grande Cache, a thrill to say the least, and deer abounded. A well paved two lane road, Hwy 40 coursed
through deep valleys, over steep mountains, and as we drove the view from our
windows presented an ever-changing mural of nature’s bounty. Encountering snow, we took our time, enjoyed
the scenery and marveled at how fortunate we were to be able to have the time
and resources to travel on such a fantastic journey. Arriving in Grande Cache, we just did not
want to glide through such a beautiful setting without exploring this once in a
lifetime opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D7kkRlFCka37U9d_o-lLn1D94b-zkI9zQvO65SNynYmi9b95B-CclvLbrFxE85hTTPT4vqU23fSHOJqftR7BmpA1OD4uwqyYzqRBgaEvGP3spyB3ynXUGzhZkcOhQZzmgSG_n-HGfu4z/s1600/caribou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D7kkRlFCka37U9d_o-lLn1D94b-zkI9zQvO65SNynYmi9b95B-CclvLbrFxE85hTTPT4vqU23fSHOJqftR7BmpA1OD4uwqyYzqRBgaEvGP3spyB3ynXUGzhZkcOhQZzmgSG_n-HGfu4z/s320/caribou.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Caribou along side the road...late migration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjJ7esdwAfpCBgFM1hVRyKkRWEQrXo-BrZLa9RXfX9pF0fLJn9QvzHUUMfnO6Qv9E4EaQEwxOloMVIF-PMGC4GA0NxxNQacByxKe5jz093Ou6tkFF-f3L347A-r2wLfEn2pC6ERXKqR2k/s1600/IMG_6317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjJ7esdwAfpCBgFM1hVRyKkRWEQrXo-BrZLa9RXfX9pF0fLJn9QvzHUUMfnO6Qv9E4EaQEwxOloMVIF-PMGC4GA0NxxNQacByxKe5jz093Ou6tkFF-f3L347A-r2wLfEn2pC6ERXKqR2k/s320/IMG_6317.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="background: white;">Grande Cache displays
wilderness at its best. Picturesque, it
rubs elbows with the Willmore Wilderness Park and is teaming with
wildlife. Stopping at the Tourism &
Interpretative Centre, we met Jim Merrithew, Supervisor of Tourism &
Culture, who dropped all that he was doing to advise us on the best “must see”
trails, waterfalls, and points of interest.
He was a wealth of information on the archeological, geological, and
anthropological history of the area.
Traveling at “paved-road speeds,” Grande Cache might seem just a wide
spot in the road but one could spend a month here and never see all that the
area has to offer. This is one of those
“treasures laying between destinations where adventure is to be found.” If Alaska is beyond your reach, the next best
alternative, in our opinion, would be to visit </span><span style="background-color: white;">Banff National Park and Grande
Cache.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Taking in the scenery and
hiking along the Smoky and Sulfur Rivers became our objective while in Grande
Cache and we were not disappointed.
Admitting that the abundance of bear warning postings took their toll on
our intrepidness, for the most part we forged ahead. This said, we saw no bear scat nor signs on
our walks…to say that we were pleased would be an understatement. Hiking to the confluence of the Smoky and
Sulfur Rivers, we were able to stand on platforms overlooking this gorgeous
spot. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-qk9OKkL1fUF46jZ0aIYd91J68NYZnCYEwVE4X84Y5K-QjiUQi2d5jvruoCQ1as_ZnWOoWHqZjb0xCANq6ksF75_HGgAg5uOqt9aEr0VEKM3acDvk9dlQtoAYTr3phGYHCGWVr8FJxSe/s1600/IMG_6295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-qk9OKkL1fUF46jZ0aIYd91J68NYZnCYEwVE4X84Y5K-QjiUQi2d5jvruoCQ1as_ZnWOoWHqZjb0xCANq6ksF75_HGgAg5uOqt9aEr0VEKM3acDvk9dlQtoAYTr3phGYHCGWVr8FJxSe/s320/IMG_6295.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">"What!! Grizzlies climb trees?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">While there we met a Canadian
couple from the area. They spoke of how
their father ran a trap line in the Willmore Wilderness upriver from where we
were standing but he was pondering that it might be time to pack it in…he is
82!! I love these people. They know no limits and live life to the
fullest!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Spending my 68<sup>th</sup>
birthday in Grande Cache among people who have a vivacity for life, love where
they live and feel no compulsion to pattern their lives as dictated by
society’s norms was a fine gift indeed.
Sharing this with Andrea made it all the better.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6aUPOpnN4T2ctLrWlopyy0MDJHT281mjAmyA3ztM11tps7ydBSopJS5Drp_d7DyhFve_L9JGsBZymabonk6RYinVgoYjlqhOK6a9vkvwgmkiO1j9kxS2xRmnlvdzhsxkVjMkj4LoIdW0/s1600/IMG_6298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6aUPOpnN4T2ctLrWlopyy0MDJHT281mjAmyA3ztM11tps7ydBSopJS5Drp_d7DyhFve_L9JGsBZymabonk6RYinVgoYjlqhOK6a9vkvwgmkiO1j9kxS2xRmnlvdzhsxkVjMkj4LoIdW0/s320/IMG_6298.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoky River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQmWstW-sGq8iEMkTVwNlyTdE_ySwkxWEA-MfX60lBRuQ0OJvy_-b7EkT-hka8TX92PwJDoapTmgNgTqXlr0I7uIPN9DdDvp31qE1vh1U7eGaHALdnpiZiC3VNkDsuLldd87c1Pqf8sZE/s1600/IMG_6292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQmWstW-sGq8iEMkTVwNlyTdE_ySwkxWEA-MfX60lBRuQ0OJvy_-b7EkT-hka8TX92PwJDoapTmgNgTqXlr0I7uIPN9DdDvp31qE1vh1U7eGaHALdnpiZiC3VNkDsuLldd87c1Pqf8sZE/s320/IMG_6292.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Snow on the way to Grande Cache<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInL-3vU0wrZBf8lOsrOG4QNnNzQc1fV-vEhFZzfGxjCX2dvL7GgQEX88PxWYMvlXum5jflmHqQb1aHJnMVbjIXdtjli9PU17M5CJQ_VpljPmfK1P_Fb32UY7aaW7CUi3VVYvldYE5Qfn7/s1600/IMG_6320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInL-3vU0wrZBf8lOsrOG4QNnNzQc1fV-vEhFZzfGxjCX2dvL7GgQEX88PxWYMvlXum5jflmHqQb1aHJnMVbjIXdtjli9PU17M5CJQ_VpljPmfK1P_Fb32UY7aaW7CUi3VVYvldYE5Qfn7/s320/IMG_6320.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Trail to Muskeg Falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSfGG6QBMGkQVi21n395DlhdPgRfBj137E5dm4VvG6tlw7607yVM6UPleBWMaPnzBod0wLuGnOSqy4nFSW2snvck36s4MZTe-X3cOFer0_6lVP0M-ggSz8K1tIakN07r0W9fYHWaG8Otd/s1600/IMG_6319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSfGG6QBMGkQVi21n395DlhdPgRfBj137E5dm4VvG6tlw7607yVM6UPleBWMaPnzBod0wLuGnOSqy4nFSW2snvck36s4MZTe-X3cOFer0_6lVP0M-ggSz8K1tIakN07r0W9fYHWaG8Otd/s320/IMG_6319.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sign on trail to Muskeg Falls<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMlytyTLcmr67qC1_U1Lh-cZ95zDQCVyx-N2TI0czKJwPLY1sTppnzIzaY8GBe9DrfKY8aCWTKT5GdjSJgGrGhxRT2SNdt_sdRG9ww8vE8CkbAQVDvDwagC4fOLMCkxRWOZgMHUkhfAZV/s1600/IMG_6307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMlytyTLcmr67qC1_U1Lh-cZ95zDQCVyx-N2TI0czKJwPLY1sTppnzIzaY8GBe9DrfKY8aCWTKT5GdjSJgGrGhxRT2SNdt_sdRG9ww8vE8CkbAQVDvDwagC4fOLMCkxRWOZgMHUkhfAZV/s320/IMG_6307.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confluence of the Smoky and Sulfur Rivers near Grande Cache</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hlVLUg73mqNQTQ8ia8eh19yVXhmzIe5wrSVFh4N7wPzX3qkx98-xDDYa5wB6vLApC2STW6Q0v4IE8_o2nPcSCKsKqvij15mPtO5-uiq5pErHYolVtEsW7GvoV2IFgtW1guQa8pBy7dBS/s1600/IMG_6311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hlVLUg73mqNQTQ8ia8eh19yVXhmzIe5wrSVFh4N7wPzX3qkx98-xDDYa5wB6vLApC2STW6Q0v4IE8_o2nPcSCKsKqvij15mPtO5-uiq5pErHYolVtEsW7GvoV2IFgtW1guQa8pBy7dBS/s320/IMG_6311.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulfur River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQAfzIdEgrjJ_CmNB1XdYD_8JFsS7m0r_De09hsYal_xcLRaS2SBGGx5d-Fej3tbeD5XZ_FYTDNZvLIjC8un0l1K9vzn_HS9t9f4JRW_cDobzh_iTb4HZ9W-Fo0BvKtunP3-ruAWzMzVn/s1600/IMG_6314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQAfzIdEgrjJ_CmNB1XdYD_8JFsS7m0r_De09hsYal_xcLRaS2SBGGx5d-Fej3tbeD5XZ_FYTDNZvLIjC8un0l1K9vzn_HS9t9f4JRW_cDobzh_iTb4HZ9W-Fo0BvKtunP3-ruAWzMzVn/s320/IMG_6314.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea,,"Are you sure there are no bear here?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p>Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-31559562953759132752016-05-23T07:24:00.001-07:002016-05-23T07:24:57.524-07:00Day 20, 2016 – Friday Yoho National Park – Banff National Park – Jasper National Park<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="background: white;">“</span></i></b><i><span style="background: white;">When I’m in
Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like.” <b>Fresh
Quotes</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWc8kPt1qz3k9ALA0JaTyN624uj1L6QGwDs8wQ51rLHQtVjXEk0PXg4v6-8MD9XJ6nurlTdfJOf7z7QTb_NrvaT5TKIoUSzaXFfuTdKtJHHsv9j7aPs0Dio27ZRxwnr07DfHD0S8RllYk7/s1600/IMG_6191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWc8kPt1qz3k9ALA0JaTyN624uj1L6QGwDs8wQ51rLHQtVjXEk0PXg4v6-8MD9XJ6nurlTdfJOf7z7QTb_NrvaT5TKIoUSzaXFfuTdKtJHHsv9j7aPs0Dio27ZRxwnr07DfHD0S8RllYk7/s320/IMG_6191.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Banff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Banff to Jasper
Highway</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml2QGDptLhQO2T9EY4ufnw63EX7Yv43-DRFv86XiDJJhDW5YwSh-r_ihyphenhyphenO8CYF55gvazKKOUuSyPP3jbqq-JNHm3s4B-BM_cT9UceTswLuVxksAvvNbtbEBJDouNe4egwsm4qNzZ7LpyX/s1600/IMG_6243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml2QGDptLhQO2T9EY4ufnw63EX7Yv43-DRFv86XiDJJhDW5YwSh-r_ihyphenhyphenO8CYF55gvazKKOUuSyPP3jbqq-JNHm3s4B-BM_cT9UceTswLuVxksAvvNbtbEBJDouNe4egwsm4qNzZ7LpyX/s320/IMG_6243.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banff to Jasper Highway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Banff to Jasper Highway has never failed to conger a mixture
of wonder and awe in all who venture forth on this two lane road that parallels
the Canadian Rockies’ Continental Divide. “Promenade des Glaciers” as Hwy 93 is
called by French Canadians is featured in National Geographic’s <u>Drives of a
Lifetime</u>. This highway, completed in
1940, displays nature at its best! Spectacular
Alp like summits slammed into the heavens by gigantic forces freefall into
colossal valleys below scooped out by glaciers and roaring emerald teal rivers
is too stunning to fully comprehend. One
vista after another keeps knocking the traveler back on their heels and this
goes on for 140 miles. We have beat the
busy tourist season where in July and August the forest service reports more
than a 100,000 vehicles traverse this highway on a monthly basis. Teaming with wildlife, travelers can expect
to see elk, bighorn sheep, bear and the myriad of other creatures that call
this wonderland home. Having traveled so
many beautiful spots around the world, this, in my opinion, is the most wondrous
sight on earth. Having taken this drive
dozens of times while living in Canada, I am never less than awestruck with
each visit and ALWAYS discover something that I failed to observe on an earlier
trip. If given only one day left in your
life…spend it here. It surely is natures
path to Heaven.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCAcwphr55pHJn4zEBf2rbHkO-cHh7yhxB12ySHILlZYu0j7OhVFB4BsSl8CMMU3c3SN_u7akpRvyJOPoX-rSpXDWWx93EcAdqwdY4EcxhXzVJDf3dx7vD1JNftC-04J2k-RPIySmkx9k/s1600/IMG_6265a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCAcwphr55pHJn4zEBf2rbHkO-cHh7yhxB12ySHILlZYu0j7OhVFB4BsSl8CMMU3c3SN_u7akpRvyJOPoX-rSpXDWWx93EcAdqwdY4EcxhXzVJDf3dx7vD1JNftC-04J2k-RPIySmkx9k/s200/IMG_6265a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bighorn Sheep along the Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGw0eHOxfw_casxSKoGFVNnECFQKU0VayOg0L9yaukKZDHp8ZKQ5Y74Zh9azmyqXavDky0iVjr0qiJmC-iBB-rgXB8m4twNviEUCCPlViaipm-xGa4LfBVrD09aV5ak140rZ7Ieh8gwiq/s1600/IMG_6221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGw0eHOxfw_casxSKoGFVNnECFQKU0VayOg0L9yaukKZDHp8ZKQ5Y74Zh9azmyqXavDky0iVjr0qiJmC-iBB-rgXB8m4twNviEUCCPlViaipm-xGa4LfBVrD09aV5ak140rZ7Ieh8gwiq/s320/IMG_6221.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banff to Jasper Highway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUySEkXVUJmoqvDk_c4KQRz1kYboj45alf45UsStdsazcQaUHFB-JpEgCzxyRFCnbBFX0umFvdT2qGD8mQgbcjac_WSPzRTDLoBS8v9L0FqZgCZ9jWWj_5pM56EW8Oh3ET4gh95LxneQ3R/s1600/IMG_6255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUySEkXVUJmoqvDk_c4KQRz1kYboj45alf45UsStdsazcQaUHFB-JpEgCzxyRFCnbBFX0umFvdT2qGD8mQgbcjac_WSPzRTDLoBS8v9L0FqZgCZ9jWWj_5pM56EW8Oh3ET4gh95LxneQ3R/s320/IMG_6255.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athabasca River near Jasper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXO6VWYJ_glXxzywUb5hlszJVv2lEvvrh-cp71D_NeKZ2-F1-_jQmNXp8p_qF3O3QJ32uoHogqZvFceW_vsm6AGnwtr6md1dRioiMa0XUTH4p3eDtAxHRQFQkkcW0xCaDvZlNgAR3BJRML/s1600/IMG_6231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXO6VWYJ_glXxzywUb5hlszJVv2lEvvrh-cp71D_NeKZ2-F1-_jQmNXp8p_qF3O3QJ32uoHogqZvFceW_vsm6AGnwtr6md1dRioiMa0XUTH4p3eDtAxHRQFQkkcW0xCaDvZlNgAR3BJRML/s320/IMG_6231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve,at home and taking it all in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-DTIFx5TNXdXwf6DJcvm6FUZeZpW2SOPc4DGRFSxhtO5Yda_8JVOfvGs4JMEvJspG6OtgH8u7GxklU1wi5RLh7uBLNjvTSTO-L2gnm5eaV4gv5OQR9YhUOVy7xDYrPf_xWKfIMLsEG3A/s1600/Bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-DTIFx5TNXdXwf6DJcvm6FUZeZpW2SOPc4DGRFSxhtO5Yda_8JVOfvGs4JMEvJspG6OtgH8u7GxklU1wi5RLh7uBLNjvTSTO-L2gnm5eaV4gv5OQR9YhUOVy7xDYrPf_xWKfIMLsEG3A/s200/Bear.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear Crossing Road Near Jasper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-38096599664769298962016-05-22T11:35:00.000-07:002016-05-22T11:35:17.679-07:00Days 17 - 19, 2016 – Tuesday - Thursday Potlatch, Idaho – Yoho National Park<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Tk2wSjF0NXIc7N3sp3O9QjIW8vR8L6hntjEcwQ8Xl18UpckW8ewSN8gw3oKKnkTSP9pAnRI74L208vbs8hecEKcdCLgRsq6T6OmOVuXPddTMUKcL9g5EcrUVYBJoNzyBG3_rnbAN7yD9/s1600/004+Idaho+Panhandle+5.18.16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Tk2wSjF0NXIc7N3sp3O9QjIW8vR8L6hntjEcwQ8Xl18UpckW8ewSN8gw3oKKnkTSP9pAnRI74L208vbs8hecEKcdCLgRsq6T6OmOVuXPddTMUKcL9g5EcrUVYBJoNzyBG3_rnbAN7yD9/s320/004+Idaho+Panhandle+5.18.16.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idaho Panhandle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;">“The proper function of man is to live,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> Not to exist;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> I shall not
waste my days in trying to prolong them;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white;"> I shall use my
time<b>.
Jack London</b></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Potlatch </b>to<b> Coeur d’Alene, Idaho<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We are running out of adjectives to depict the beauty of
all that we are seeing. Idaho’s
Panhandle area with its rich forests and stunning mountains, British Columbia,
and Alberta’s Rocky Mountain region with its soaring crags, surging rivers, and
abounding wildlife defy description.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLDkIjIUtaAdSBR3BiIO4MID4zGAuiXcZ4xZLX7N2a7yeI6xUPmL_cj4F3Dzy-vs9vvyAOVUx0WfoYCQ6yq0QffF9VilYmC8_bevXoMKDnvCZuh6ZOI1TCVaAlGT2yv7B6jxorsQzttOz/s1600/008+Crossing+in+BC+Canada.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLDkIjIUtaAdSBR3BiIO4MID4zGAuiXcZ4xZLX7N2a7yeI6xUPmL_cj4F3Dzy-vs9vvyAOVUx0WfoYCQ6yq0QffF9VilYmC8_bevXoMKDnvCZuh6ZOI1TCVaAlGT2yv7B6jxorsQzttOz/s320/008+Crossing+in+BC+Canada.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing into Canada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Traveling Hwy 95N from Potlatch we came to Coeur d’Alene
and were stunned to discover that with less than 50,000 residents it offers
more amenities than anything that we could hope to have in our little town of
Decatur, Illinois. Progressive,
beautiful, and clean, it radiates pride in ownership. People living there love it and are quick to
share what they love about <span style="text-align: center;">it. Great
shopping, affordable housing, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErpYHJJccjcI_ktXzZ3cmvZgfSBjrdu1mTqijNIvym5OHrtRaWNhydpfCZXly8k_fhBjCNTN2wp-2FX3vgJF3ElnZJRkOblTn0AuK_JdbSYdSajn3Un9pvykU3x_Hs7FvQAw1GpJPNErv/s1600/010+BC+Canada+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErpYHJJccjcI_ktXzZ3cmvZgfSBjrdu1mTqijNIvym5OHrtRaWNhydpfCZXly8k_fhBjCNTN2wp-2FX3vgJF3ElnZJRkOblTn0AuK_JdbSYdSajn3Un9pvykU3x_Hs7FvQAw1GpJPNErv/s320/010+BC+Canada+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">College/University setting, top notch medical services,
low property taxes, recreation, and its proximity to travel hubs endears it to
old and new residents alike. It will
definitely be on our list for a revisit.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Canada<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Back to Canada via East Gate, north of Bonners Ferry,
brought back memories of when we lived in Canada in the 80’s and 90’s. As dual citizens, there was no need to have
our passports stamped. We just slipped
in easy as could be…everyone does, citizens or not. The border guards were very nice, as always,
and wished us safe travels.
Question: Does Canada have a
queen?<o:p></o:p></div>
You betcha! Who is it?
We will let you look this one up.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXcsHHtItPhw70woQw29mSnL0T9xDuSZCH7WuPV9ihT2A4oKfJbh5sis4lluo6E69kdsfuLUVytPbdJQopzI6KlZSVsuX1BczvrRPwb5nJ3V6_U2nzOTr5Owu0qHINCwPfH1Rxq8IR8zA/s1600/014+South+of+Cranbrook+BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXcsHHtItPhw70woQw29mSnL0T9xDuSZCH7WuPV9ihT2A4oKfJbh5sis4lluo6E69kdsfuLUVytPbdJQopzI6KlZSVsuX1BczvrRPwb5nJ3V6_U2nzOTr5Owu0qHINCwPfH1Rxq8IR8zA/s320/014+South+of+Cranbrook+BC.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canadian Rockies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Onward north on Hwy 95 with the scenery becoming ever
more stunning with each mile. Gassing up
in Cranbrook and exchanging US for Canadian funds we were again on the road until
we reached Wasa Provincial Campground where we spent the night. Rain…Hail…Rain!!! but we were snug as bugs in
our nice warm RV. What a great way to
travel! The next morning we hiked on an
interpretive trail that described how this part of the terrain is within a
“rain shadow.” Hard concept to grasp
while getting rained on. It was a
beautiful hike nonetheless.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CVFHitKa54x-RwHH6Yyiv49ZHbJxTZOqLEYiOfxUaFI2s-C2wDHKNyhVWHsf5hGBfNxAeaaufQ_LlqJQmUM8zdGwFBAXiDLxZh6rs7c877B8_RhTj9NNreW98TbyBLt2bfi5qS81E0VS/s1600/019+Canadian+Rockies+5.18.16+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CVFHitKa54x-RwHH6Yyiv49ZHbJxTZOqLEYiOfxUaFI2s-C2wDHKNyhVWHsf5hGBfNxAeaaufQ_LlqJQmUM8zdGwFBAXiDLxZh6rs7c877B8_RhTj9NNreW98TbyBLt2bfi5qS81E0VS/s320/019+Canadian+Rockies+5.18.16+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oh Canada..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8YgklbZyBZTS4c9BVA6dDAJGkEL8L5fxLKiDci_NBO3baZjiX1Ep6eN9MyS1XJUWLYwOi2hppwpD37i2KREB-r0SALzV9dIwhN0oa8XdcqS8xHLB65edxnu0lFdJpKojRF1j-VmG3wNM/s1600/001+Wasa+Lake+Provincial+Park%252C+BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8YgklbZyBZTS4c9BVA6dDAJGkEL8L5fxLKiDci_NBO3baZjiX1Ep6eN9MyS1XJUWLYwOi2hppwpD37i2KREB-r0SALzV9dIwhN0oa8XdcqS8xHLB65edxnu0lFdJpKojRF1j-VmG3wNM/s320/001+Wasa+Lake+Provincial+Park%252C+BC.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea out for her morning hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Next morning it was off Yoho National Park in British
Columbia. “Yoho” is a Cree expression
meaning “awe and wonder” and most certainly the landscape did not fail to live
up to this expression. Continuing on to Golden, British Columbia and then into
Yoho we spent the night in Monarch Campground.
Here we were surrounded by towering snowcapped mountains that reached up
into the clouds and beyond. Our campsite
was stupendous!! Faced with simply
homesteading and building our “dream log cabin” or moving on, we chose the
latter the next morning.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB94uMi2qYgxabIQLnfdfYcS7RpuJYkDMKTUP9pnKZL36Q28sa1Ijxd0KxFDckT5XRuUPNLvugSp-27tySLWA3XRne6LiDuaUahl0Q2GanPVKqE4gMVqq1G5YR5gsosba5zsrpdeXhPaBR/s1600/015+Rainy+Days+near+Yoho.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB94uMi2qYgxabIQLnfdfYcS7RpuJYkDMKTUP9pnKZL36Q28sa1Ijxd0KxFDckT5XRuUPNLvugSp-27tySLWA3XRne6LiDuaUahl0Q2GanPVKqE4gMVqq1G5YR5gsosba5zsrpdeXhPaBR/s320/015+Rainy+Days+near+Yoho.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why is everything so green?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyzj6Eh5p-HEPJW-0Rv9stTyZmHNPqqQd1R43sKrEq4rP14GtpLAIHrv_4Wek7ZrNinNN2Q4lQjlinYB8eCeIuw6IS421cp3rmd-9LrutlthlUFpkPaHsqd4oic9539YhuMfazoWrloO2/s1600/006+Morning+Visitor%252C+Wasa+Lake+Prov+Park%252C+BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyzj6Eh5p-HEPJW-0Rv9stTyZmHNPqqQd1R43sKrEq4rP14GtpLAIHrv_4Wek7ZrNinNN2Q4lQjlinYB8eCeIuw6IS421cp3rmd-9LrutlthlUFpkPaHsqd4oic9539YhuMfazoWrloO2/s320/006+Morning+Visitor%252C+Wasa+Lake+Prov+Park%252C+BC.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Visitor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b-5MQ498OR1Fp0MUpE3lwsQeDTVrDa943Lkm5fg61HSTm_zx0IfXqnF2g4lDPQhv3j6Z83HuryGC3k-XKHOUCxenuKtM6TSKZcKkAekiex8Jc8zpWbLG4tl01iELaCR5oqTy8vm3DWOP/s1600/013+Canadian+Rockies+near+Yoho+Nationa+Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b-5MQ498OR1Fp0MUpE3lwsQeDTVrDa943Lkm5fg61HSTm_zx0IfXqnF2g4lDPQhv3j6Z83HuryGC3k-XKHOUCxenuKtM6TSKZcKkAekiex8Jc8zpWbLG4tl01iELaCR5oqTy8vm3DWOP/s320/013+Canadian+Rockies+near+Yoho+Nationa+Park.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty Abounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmPN6Z-2x7v7qTDM4WK4uSGcQai99KXhuObY7rCJUV9o0i7I2VHiYUAIRD-702l_WKqDWoZBy-caixJ0NNUBxQMkwrogzAAaC1IdvblrGyQVh7wTnqgMUoBePCaNLJCODXs99bw-rfj_-/s1600/003+Wasa+Lake%252C+BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-3856449953271990082016-05-18T05:57:00.000-07:002016-05-18T06:02:39.181-07:00Day 16, 2016 – Monday Orofino, Idaho – Potlatch, Idaho<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUiG3nkaepTECJayNtPh7zihIP-Zhh9y42WKp6AoC7qIcZRyss5r5lA2F-fA-PdpZ69GzCJ2kfkbSSbdFxlpz1X0VkMTAIz96u6dPhbHxCx9fSLuLFkGRNfWkEh5mPX6ij_bueEuXNUXL/s1600/Wards+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUiG3nkaepTECJayNtPh7zihIP-Zhh9y42WKp6AoC7qIcZRyss5r5lA2F-fA-PdpZ69GzCJ2kfkbSSbdFxlpz1X0VkMTAIz96u6dPhbHxCx9fSLuLFkGRNfWkEh5mPX6ij_bueEuXNUXL/s320/Wards+012.JPG" width="320" /></a><i>“If you cut down a
forest, it doesn’t matter how </i><i>many sawmills you have if there are no more
trees.”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i>Susan George<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Idaho Rivers<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj159r_wDbRt7IPTXOwGV-M0wBWfCTYqw84172UDlD4QqWXvvg86NYT0hYO0gd1kWjunt6sFQNtUtX6UwTvRpa5dMTO0nEEl4B12tAvr_fOmVIrageOFJmspqOHA1Ci2ve51hqVaNLm3gbx/s1600/Wards+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj159r_wDbRt7IPTXOwGV-M0wBWfCTYqw84172UDlD4QqWXvvg86NYT0hYO0gd1kWjunt6sFQNtUtX6UwTvRpa5dMTO0nEEl4B12tAvr_fOmVIrageOFJmspqOHA1Ci2ve51hqVaNLm3gbx/s320/Wards+002.JPG" width="320" /></a>“Idaho has more than 107,600 miles of river, of which 891
are designated as wild and scenic.” <span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">(National Wild and Scenic Rivers System)</span> The
Boise, Payette, Little Salmon, Salmon, Clearwater, Owyhee Rivers and so many
others within the state all pour down from snow covered summits to supply
moisture to a stunning array of vegetation.
Giant ponderosa, Douglas Fir, White Pine, Cedar, all seemingly endless renewable
treasures, drew lumbermen and fueled mill towns, perhaps none greater than Potlatch,
once the world’s largest mill. Founded
in 1905, it was a company town through and through. The mill supplied all that was needed by it
employees; houses, a church, hotel, school, general store, recreational
amenities and WORK. Modeled after company
logging towns in Illinois, it ran full tilt until cheap timber fell short and logging
profits started to fall in the 1970’s and 80’s.
In 1981 the mill closed and the town was sold to the residents. Spending the night there, we found deep community
pride in its history and a town that is in the midst of reinventing
itself. Small by many standards, we
found Potlatch, Idaho picturesque and a great place to camp as we made our way
up the panhandle of Idaho.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo-EdTKvVoB2oB_aj-IhxaQ0FfetvAf11CH_XLgqJm1divMIQ3rwWGf0h3k1cxNtWX3Z9fBMNz03tnnv-nc11FV89vj-8PhJaIOdKxQXrs-NpbNhx27j42jPd2XJZ5HolY0pzZiS_WKYM/s1600/Wards+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo-EdTKvVoB2oB_aj-IhxaQ0FfetvAf11CH_XLgqJm1divMIQ3rwWGf0h3k1cxNtWX3Z9fBMNz03tnnv-nc11FV89vj-8PhJaIOdKxQXrs-NpbNhx27j42jPd2XJZ5HolY0pzZiS_WKYM/s320/Wards+007.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtqq6_unuvW3OzdHLYDQz0PZxpW4LqVNsUU3MVpsSyUTzC3HUKTRYv8e5LZB6ytWV6pCGlt426u_qDZ4rkkpQGTmWHrGx0wz5E7ry-8kX-_92RTqFG3PsEiq_8TV-MnG7PFtdriafmXUq/s1600/Wards+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtqq6_unuvW3OzdHLYDQz0PZxpW4LqVNsUU3MVpsSyUTzC3HUKTRYv8e5LZB6ytWV6pCGlt426u_qDZ4rkkpQGTmWHrGx0wz5E7ry-8kX-_92RTqFG3PsEiq_8TV-MnG7PFtdriafmXUq/s320/Wards+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-11023649089279708672016-05-16T15:58:00.000-07:002016-05-16T15:58:08.971-07:00Days 13 - 15, Friday – Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15, 2016 Missoula, Montana – Orofino, Idaho<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Weddings and
funerals…joy and sorrow… <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>with both, the
family convenes and embraces.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSR0kjeW0zeYotUCu5Nq0-RzB3wBuYJ9IdBZWzziKVH2Apq-Kedf0rf7qjY9REyK5bQ0dqLuIQNOizMkl80BduDS-mK_Qnj_bED-UWpSDEFXXWRjDFhhmSpHYnw9yQ07E8Nc0YVUQLXC3/s1600/Family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSR0kjeW0zeYotUCu5Nq0-RzB3wBuYJ9IdBZWzziKVH2Apq-Kedf0rf7qjY9REyK5bQ0dqLuIQNOizMkl80BduDS-mK_Qnj_bED-UWpSDEFXXWRjDFhhmSpHYnw9yQ07E8Nc0YVUQLXC3/s320/Family.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Outing at Andy Arvish Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Orofino, Idaho<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The family came from all parts of the country to commemorate
the life of Andrew J. Arvish, Andrea’s dad and the patriarch of the Arvish
Clan. While sad in so many respects, it
was such a joy to see the community of friends and family that gathered to say
their last goodbyes. The family gathered
for a BBQ in the small park named after him where there were stories told, much
laughter and an assemblage of three generations. He would have like<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PICc0WTJ-EYRDFBEx5bmy5pefCEPGu5Xjkx5zfdzoUPYRLqlDEbe5mCBK8o-6RlRTgzaJ1YPWt-Mkb3e2EN5pWX0O2oyGpnjIeYqSqD-oyvSQUPEa2B86TCeq5GykyPsXQsGqywp6G3n/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PICc0WTJ-EYRDFBEx5bmy5pefCEPGu5Xjkx5zfdzoUPYRLqlDEbe5mCBK8o-6RlRTgzaJ1YPWt-Mkb3e2EN5pWX0O2oyGpnjIeYqSqD-oyvSQUPEa2B86TCeq5GykyPsXQsGqywp6G3n/s320/IMG_1869.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funeral for Andy along the Clearwater River, Orofino, Idaho</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
d it.</div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-68418890719028067182016-05-13T10:20:00.000-07:002016-05-13T10:20:00.456-07:00Days 7 - 12, Saturday – Thursday, May 7 - 12, 2016 Missoula, Montana – Orofino, Idaho<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnXtjuDtMR9qeduOP7ypLeZCI_BgPEekYRl6whfiAciRRwowewSKUgqmsSkmb4DAt4jsJORYl3vobm_ukKiFg5L4HkRUt4gdqpZLC-4-7q4ITZHLVeBUMnBDgzd26ToJCAQF-XTo5t9u2/s1600/Springtime+in+Montana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnXtjuDtMR9qeduOP7ypLeZCI_BgPEekYRl6whfiAciRRwowewSKUgqmsSkmb4DAt4jsJORYl3vobm_ukKiFg5L4HkRUt4gdqpZLC-4-7q4ITZHLVeBUMnBDgzd26ToJCAQF-XTo5t9u2/s320/Springtime+in+Montana.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Springtime in Montana (Courtesy of Emily Heffner)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“When it’s
springtime in Montana,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> And the gentle breezes blow,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> About seventy miles per hour<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> And it’s fifty-two below”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i> Cowboy
Fun<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Family Gathering<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaGtLWv5pzakN4MmRUGl1VaZYMnUUk-RLSqS-UzYx7j-V7FsW-qeDfYV61Rd9X4nO4lSQAiUkUdNpFW_UgkkmNnjAVxB55e_DBL6OFn06ek8WWmD78LWH321KBWfE_8bD3kijlBSRnMma/s1600/Elk+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaGtLWv5pzakN4MmRUGl1VaZYMnUUk-RLSqS-UzYx7j-V7FsW-qeDfYV61Rd9X4nO4lSQAiUkUdNpFW_UgkkmNnjAVxB55e_DBL6OFn06ek8WWmD78LWH321KBWfE_8bD3kijlBSRnMma/s320/Elk+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Exhibit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Andrea and family call Montana and Idaho home. Her dad, returned from the war, attended the
University of Montana on the GI Bill, and received his degree in Forestry that
led the family on a path of living on ranger stations located throughout Montana
and Idaho. Their life, surrounded by
nature’s beauty, was idyllic in so many ways.
Isolated as they were, the family relied on life’s simple pleasures as
well as one another’s company. The result
is closeness and warmth that is so comforting as they come together to honor
the life of their father. Children,
grandchildren, and great grandchildren now gather once again in this most beautiful
of settings as they prepare for their last goodbyes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WsqyZ3cj7k9Yizxxx3JCnKo4GYCwwOOZXUclkzuzFMwLv4UPiVb3JeqRuKnEJLC7BFHvzh0Ef8DBchHHWkixb0Gyznubr5MbBzzuPSCj-KM-XNf3Lz38s-W5jjvRJNCRlnr7oSnj5g6B/s1600/Elk+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WsqyZ3cj7k9Yizxxx3JCnKo4GYCwwOOZXUclkzuzFMwLv4UPiVb3JeqRuKnEJLC7BFHvzh0Ef8DBchHHWkixb0Gyznubr5MbBzzuPSCj-KM-XNf3Lz38s-W5jjvRJNCRlnr7oSnj5g6B/s200/Elk+2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Springtime in
Montana<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysMm1xqbgc7e34xMxv4Wr7OE-EGu4_XxmnkyVKBiugNGtjYRuWHjckHy7HtDBPJXPgstXFZfMEFPjPD1lMDhryNnvgf1bGdsKNhjaPFmoGS-dXwWpPrGz579eKyA8j_1PeQZ7MCS61OnG/s1600/Lolo+Trail+Crossing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysMm1xqbgc7e34xMxv4Wr7OE-EGu4_XxmnkyVKBiugNGtjYRuWHjckHy7HtDBPJXPgstXFZfMEFPjPD1lMDhryNnvgf1bGdsKNhjaPFmoGS-dXwWpPrGz579eKyA8j_1PeQZ7MCS61OnG/s320/Lolo+Trail+Crossing.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewis and Clark Country</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Traveling from all parts of the country and venturing
into Montana in the spring offers not only beautiful landscapes but unpredictability
in weather conditions. Beautiful and
sunny one day and snowing the next makes traveling an adventure. We stayed in Missoula, Montana long<o:p></o:p></div>
er than
anticipated as it was snowing on Lolo Pass and we did not want to tackle this
in our RV. Delaying our departure was
not only prudent but it gave us a little extra time to visit some of Missoula’s
sights. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is
a “must see” and it is free. It is rich
with interactive exhibits that the kids will love and it offers insight into
elk habitat, preservation steps, and has a great nature trail. <br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX_LsmD56QW69djWzjeICdRLFZWZrZe-xN97WB6xjvFqmbt-zlgRSQOeL_fwRUii0Vvn1y_vR-o3He3rQQdB0Yjikbv1h7ykInobqToNy0W77x51DnmVpbAdSUAt2SzDk0jpZ3AJ8YZru/s1600/Selway+Bitterroot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX_LsmD56QW69djWzjeICdRLFZWZrZe-xN97WB6xjvFqmbt-zlgRSQOeL_fwRUii0Vvn1y_vR-o3He3rQQdB0Yjikbv1h7ykInobqToNy0W77x51DnmVpbAdSUAt2SzDk0jpZ3AJ8YZru/s320/Selway+Bitterroot.jpg" width="320" /></a>Highway 12, built along the route that the Lewis and
Clark Expedition followed and designated as the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway,
connects Montana and Idaho by way of Lolo Pass that traverses the Bitterroot
Range. This is perhaps one of the most
scenic highways (if you call a narrow, twisty two lane road a highway) available
in the Northwest. Not completed until
1962, Andrea’s dad was assistant ranger at Powell Ranger Station before its
completion. This offered the family a pristine
view of this very remote landscape. Even
today, with the highway completed, it remains pristin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBayD7jEInzz0g_jHnju3Di-2ZLRyI_sXf_kDY5eefbz3MI1osVKCVQre0vKzV-fVqNSxDtrJTcziRzMRGm_Y7DQ4g-GY8jrwUl4QVG7VfH5ZRaNP-0q1RY9XyLO2wFtZ4aEElShCUdBv/s1600/IMG_2904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBayD7jEInzz0g_jHnju3Di-2ZLRyI_sXf_kDY5eefbz3MI1osVKCVQre0vKzV-fVqNSxDtrJTcziRzMRGm_Y7DQ4g-GY8jrwUl4QVG7VfH5ZRaNP-0q1RY9XyLO2wFtZ4aEElShCUdBv/s320/IMG_2904.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
e. We have never grown tired of traveling this
route, and it remains one of our favorite spots on earth where we have
backpacked, camped, and commuted back and forth from Montana to Idaho where
family lives on both sides of this range.
Mountain views, tall timber, the crystalline waters of the Lochsa,
Selway, and ultimately the Clearwater Rivers offer breathtaking views.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arriving in Orofino, we set up camp at Clearwater
Crossing RV Park with a stunning view of the river out our back window. It was here that Andrea graduated from high
school and then attended the University of Idaho where we both graduated. Her dad was very active in the Orofino community,
named Citizen of the Year while he lived here, and has a small park named after
him. It is fun to be back in familiar
surroundings.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtg6AGxsG4VgKuQ8zXtnWiB2M0B-Ah0THhBUdYsXv3Np2rjzJ6aCS2qZresWtm7QYMvmNLT8PgTKlz5MB8YG3omphnrbKxXj4WOtcoY5BYUAvmPY0iha_6HohZUx7pFeu0WcWH7Mcw1Rp/s1600/On+the+Road+Again.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtg6AGxsG4VgKuQ8zXtnWiB2M0B-Ah0THhBUdYsXv3Np2rjzJ6aCS2qZresWtm7QYMvmNLT8PgTKlz5MB8YG3omphnrbKxXj4WOtcoY5BYUAvmPY0iha_6HohZUx7pFeu0WcWH7Mcw1Rp/s320/On+the+Road+Again.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montana Side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzuwgyP99k3TgwLkkSOJvQGPYwLnQb6pBjH2i9etXBgaExOFGCMJgoOk_GDAM-eoDd9aEhAB9KsQzz8uSlYNCtuvkw1tkXDhrupvMnUjgb_LTEfyYRdWdtw4dFIvnQt22VEv1m6_1IqdP/s1600/Road+to+Idaho.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzuwgyP99k3TgwLkkSOJvQGPYwLnQb6pBjH2i9etXBgaExOFGCMJgoOk_GDAM-eoDd9aEhAB9KsQzz8uSlYNCtuvkw1tkXDhrupvMnUjgb_LTEfyYRdWdtw4dFIvnQt22VEv1m6_1IqdP/s320/Road+to+Idaho.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idaho Side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvatIgP7oPIiaQ_i7PrCKd0-i8BDtqjGMa-ovtXfC-PlB9G1Abo3xswa9fP9m-hx-4PjR6jO6vBZPxN5vj2aKHMJ7nm6BFeQJrGmGC3gFnmg68JrWqkZdAZsvxHcgSW9BIQbddF1cBpJdK/s1600/Travels+with+Maggie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvatIgP7oPIiaQ_i7PrCKd0-i8BDtqjGMa-ovtXfC-PlB9G1Abo3xswa9fP9m-hx-4PjR6jO6vBZPxN5vj2aKHMJ7nm6BFeQJrGmGC3gFnmg68JrWqkZdAZsvxHcgSW9BIQbddF1cBpJdK/s200/Travels+with+Maggie.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie takes it all in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-43663554029885590142016-05-09T18:30:00.001-07:002016-05-09T18:30:19.866-07:00Day 6, Friday, May 6, 2016 Missouri Headwaters State Park, Montana to Missoula, Montana<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirM6XLMEztLNfVOjWxr2MVtouz0JZcezkOnYhxSXFV7la0kFRfXOiywR72gS9Q3QejHItPv1l5Ov77vytm2FtDKaCsil7t94qd3GcQOTHZUg__voeq-EtLeTCZsfn2Hf5OVmsJRxkI7Zev/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaYeN52RjkzX6ryjrRMJMa1LyVsvc6IyXBabFmX1owtFKCY78zkTX5l4UsFfgbHo24toBJQtssxUwJ01uzAAWekD7PHAilxdV_CFas3Kmlf5g6cg8fHWj3sRbAHjWJ2lTsru6M9N5gqnk/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaYeN52RjkzX6ryjrRMJMa1LyVsvc6IyXBabFmX1owtFKCY78zkTX5l4UsFfgbHo24toBJQtssxUwJ01uzAAWekD7PHAilxdV_CFas3Kmlf5g6cg8fHWj3sRbAHjWJ2lTsru6M9N5gqnk/s200/IMG_2805.JPG" width="150" /></a><i>“Yes, the weather
here is wonderful</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> So I guess I’ll hang around</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> I could never leave Montana.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> Cause I’m frozen to the ground!”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i> Hunt Talk Forums<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>The Back Roads Pay
Dividends!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Invariably our route to Missoula, Montana is via I 93
through Butte to Deer Lodge and then Missoula.
Andrea and I decided to try something different…as many back roads as
possible, discovering what is between the “start” and the “destination.” Veering North on Hwy 287 from Three <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_NmJ2q_cp2VNSatNUbntL3sg8zTZCh4q5d3yGvshCvPLjRGinxXm9VBZoXwTbQyc8hVwfdQ9bdccuvTF-BRysfmNZAMxB2bv_mgutl20LLBLGf09T4snRuzKJRVeup9k_B76t0lmisoX/s1600/IMG_2768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_NmJ2q_cp2VNSatNUbntL3sg8zTZCh4q5d3yGvshCvPLjRGinxXm9VBZoXwTbQyc8hVwfdQ9bdccuvTF-BRysfmNZAMxB2bv_mgutl20LLBLGf09T4snRuzKJRVeup9k_B76t0lmisoX/s320/IMG_2768.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Forks,
Montana (named for the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin
Rivers) we arrived at Wheat Montana Farms Bakery & Deli, the first store
they established. It is here that they
produce some of the most amazing Cinnamon Rolls known to hungry travelers. Fortified with these delectables, we continued
north and passed through beautiful irrigated wheat fields surrounded by
towering mountain peaks. With Helena
National Forest on the left, Lewis and Clark National Forest on the right and a
myriad of other mountains, the scenery was stunning. The further we traveled on Hwy 287 the better
it became, warping into breathtaking majesty especially after we turned onto
Hwys 12, 141, and 200 where we encountered little towns with names <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmosu3VVRQ-oEYL7Y2YvN7YatQFmwRWU8d4npKRlGi69XQTWwx0rYgFg3wS10iHDZFybFN3Cn1eMqjzvxIiBJdYuH5_kaA-h_9Z1Jir9Jmq47XJTSBjLK_wKhr-xi3NxaZ-Eg8YQvVoUa/s1600/IMG_2777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmosu3VVRQ-oEYL7Y2YvN7YatQFmwRWU8d4npKRlGi69XQTWwx0rYgFg3wS10iHDZFybFN3Cn1eMqjzvxIiBJdYuH5_kaA-h_9Z1Jir9Jmq47XJTSBjLK_wKhr-xi3NxaZ-Eg8YQvVoUa/s320/IMG_2777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
like Ovando,
Clearwater, Potomac, Bonner and ranches that seemed straight out of “The Horse
Whisperer.” Passing over a cloud
shrouded pass we connected with the Blackfoot River. It is along this river where Andrea’s sister
and Brother-In-Law (Bonnie and Gary) have a place nestled in the
mountains. Over the last two years
visiting them, we have yet not to have a bear approach us as we have sat in
their front yard. This along with the
ever present wild turkeys and deer make this a great site to visit. Unfortunately, it is not an option in the RV
as the road into their property is gravel, narrow and steep. Along with the turkeys, deer, and bear, they
routinely have elk as well as the occasional mountain lion and wolves in their
hay field. As remote as they are, Gary
had to plow the road in the winter and neither Gary nor Bonnie missed a day of
work before they retired. Gary, with
more rifles and handguns than Bonnie has sewing needles, does not hunt nor
allow hunting on their property. As a
result, it is a pristine sanctuary where they have lived for more than 40
years. The whole family loves it there and
Gary, as eccentric as Bonnie is normal, is loved by all. Beware, cross his locked <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx0CjuPN3OnZqGsiuBhI8uBziW3XPGy2fzeXRekGClVKHGQ3f4AFtb5-vEa1H5_OIQReEfttdh1TKIFlKLSE9z1vWuoZlVyPgkuk3fXFLrakBjW40kQ_JAjqjxOhqV0HX_f1PB1n-7SRs/s1600/Rockies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx0CjuPN3OnZqGsiuBhI8uBziW3XPGy2fzeXRekGClVKHGQ3f4AFtb5-vEa1H5_OIQReEfttdh1TKIFlKLSE9z1vWuoZlVyPgkuk3fXFLrakBjW40kQ_JAjqjxOhqV0HX_f1PB1n-7SRs/s320/Rockies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
gate at your own peril. Leaving your car to cross the gate, walking
the mile or so downhill to their home through plentiful bear and mountain lion habitat,
one then may then find themselves facing the owner, rifle in hand, gently
directing you back to “the Hell where you came from.”<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2paTbucW1tmU6O8tq-gVW4BRoR2BtOCrtHZXGBMSm1S-I4cCmkXoQ5cFxmLwfKnFWJwEcSZ9aStPL3pgxw1FHY3hETHXjSYFazHwnls0z7NU2TfriKNMrhYSl6L2coJ1J94mEGro9VjG/s1600/IMG_2804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2paTbucW1tmU6O8tq-gVW4BRoR2BtOCrtHZXGBMSm1S-I4cCmkXoQ5cFxmLwfKnFWJwEcSZ9aStPL3pgxw1FHY3hETHXjSYFazHwnls0z7NU2TfriKNMrhYSl6L2coJ1J94mEGro9VjG/s320/IMG_2804.JPG" width="320" /></a>This area of Montana is a habitat wonderland. With the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area
adjacent to the Scapegoat, Great Bear Wilderness Areas as well as Glacier
National Park, this “creates the second largest corridor of wilderness in the
lower 48 states.” This provides the habitat needed to harbor some of the
greatest wildlife diversity on the North American Continent. I have never backpacked in the Bob Marshall
Wilderness Area, albeit I would like to, but I do not travel with any protection and thus feel terribly vulnerable in <i>Ursus arctos horribilis</i> habitat (Grizzly). I’ve run into black bear a number of times
while camping/backpacking and these are scary enough without protection…but the</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Grizzly…I admit, I’m a sissy. I camped
with a couple of buddies (Joe Delaney and Jack Nichols) last summer and they do
backpack in the Bob Marshall Area. I’m
pretty confident that I can outrun either of them so maybe they will invite me
to join them sometime…hint, hint. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZSkGbB3HUBw2Z8XODmY-kyXDwCOuuAOzVPsx586-t0gbcXItdxgpUTq8mgjX9Y1qYexoSa1a6TxGarRHM6zG-EBns-9Mz0vsRpTcRpu1GvQ4Lp-QLWMkMq1Tif-CmWHepanZoNslBdC4/s1600/North+to+Alaska.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZSkGbB3HUBw2Z8XODmY-kyXDwCOuuAOzVPsx586-t0gbcXItdxgpUTq8mgjX9Y1qYexoSa1a6TxGarRHM6zG-EBns-9Mz0vsRpTcRpu1GvQ4Lp-QLWMkMq1Tif-CmWHepanZoNslBdC4/s320/North+to+Alaska.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capt. Andrew Arvish<br />U.S. Army Air Forces<br />1942 - 1945</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We will be stationed here in Missoula for a number of
days visiting Andrea’s mom. Then it is off
to Orofino, Idaho for her dad’s memorial as we lost him last winter. He was a wonderful, mountain of a man whose career
in the U.S. Forest Service took Andrea’s family to some of the most remote and scenic
areas in Montana and Idaho. We miss him
terribly and the whole family will be gathering for the memorial. <o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew7njZBQPsBQy6AKFRdFmv3IBXpXhdNMAc-iHBJAFcEvvLA2SKjJ2Z1_c_Gnq41PKQdt3ZbsQrY6PRq_SIlRbuJPuDYaS8QP3ikmTvD47D1bHCPtFBEEwq6cAIovdfBc-LpklvS5Xfkqg/s1600/Rockies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-47355017148312702582016-05-07T20:55:00.000-07:002016-05-07T20:55:09.045-07:00Day 5, Thursday, May 5, 2016 Red Shale Campground, Montana to Missouri Headwaters State Park, Montana<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“Bring me men to
match my mountains,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rDxeAIy3KxzTrJBPIBcKQFdo2n5L94CdwxTrn6rzNw9xGlwHrF8gcTpznPJGSePiqQlHXvfQWJ27n8bdhB9yUWUio9naTakj8q_p93O6zW5rD-X9Hn8aKarPl5bUAgu56R86enN7Eroq/s1600/IMG_1681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rDxeAIy3KxzTrJBPIBcKQFdo2n5L94CdwxTrn6rzNw9xGlwHrF8gcTpznPJGSePiqQlHXvfQWJ27n8bdhB9yUWUio9naTakj8q_p93O6zW5rD-X9Hn8aKarPl5bUAgu56R86enN7Eroq/s320/IMG_1681.JPG" width="240" /></a><i> Bring me men to match my plains,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> Men with empires in their purpose,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> And new eras in their brains… </i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><b>The Coming American, Sam Walter Foss</b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0ouGAwl5Y6vgsDeNNNYRXOR9zSy7Mo2cnBVtkdbhlnO5WYYuS2dH4O0Q2720ai9lqfLcOE87HQf2O0An2PvVTURVKc8GF1l2ZBVANPVD7T1iUwotf43BgPVFS33QaPefLbXo8m3b3cVy/s1600/Rockies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0ouGAwl5Y6vgsDeNNNYRXOR9zSy7Mo2cnBVtkdbhlnO5WYYuS2dH4O0Q2720ai9lqfLcOE87HQf2O0An2PvVTURVKc8GF1l2ZBVANPVD7T1iUwotf43BgPVFS33QaPefLbXo8m3b3cVy/s320/Rockies.jpg" width="320" /></a><b> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>The Roads and the
Sights<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtD9hfmnv4WjPzvh9SqC_bmOt4iaHVZKTx0mhyphenhyphen-Fz5RQbNO0vKluRK8KpG3i-LxN_D4sgGA5m0-6OHxfcs-ugZu1UKggtGvLuj2b5ar2CsYNMhL6AeWCZ_TzzxRsKDjjAdMXMOR2WgdVob/s1600/Missouri+Headwaters+State+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtD9hfmnv4WjPzvh9SqC_bmOt4iaHVZKTx0mhyphenhyphen-Fz5RQbNO0vKluRK8KpG3i-LxN_D4sgGA5m0-6OHxfcs-ugZu1UKggtGvLuj2b5ar2CsYNMhL6AeWCZ_TzzxRsKDjjAdMXMOR2WgdVob/s320/Missouri+Headwaters+State+Park.jpg" width="320" /></a>Highway 212 continued leisurely through forested
mountains, high prairies, and rocky cliffs.
Passing through first a Lakota Community (Lame Deer) and then the Crow
Agency before rejoining I 90. We found
it interesting that these once arch enemies now live in peace side-by-side
sharing in the bounty that their adjoining lands have to offer. Further on, we beheld the beauty of the
Absaroka Mountain Range that is the demarcation between Montana and Wyoming. Soon it was the great Rocky Mountains that we
beheld, their spiraling peaks completely surrounding us and remaining sheathed in
last winter’s snow. Even from the
interstate, we were served one beautiful panoramic view after another. Taking
in the Rockies majesty, we knew full well that no better nor plentiful view
could be had by those who own the grandest of mansions. This scenery belongs to those of us who seek
it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUngND7nCWXbCE6sorIZPoxXFegmq8xgPRCFxq3g9qtVXQlM9kx9Jacuevol_F1r1AvBjnKiYy-5tNMS0rk6DcO0q9rYjt8rMWLQfBMq9VkJHB6r7sRdHYnpUs1b6K9wuqVaKWfpvcoLkl/s1600/IMG_1680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUngND7nCWXbCE6sorIZPoxXFegmq8xgPRCFxq3g9qtVXQlM9kx9Jacuevol_F1r1AvBjnKiYy-5tNMS0rk6DcO0q9rYjt8rMWLQfBMq9VkJHB6r7sRdHYnpUs1b6K9wuqVaKWfpvcoLkl/s320/IMG_1680.JPG" width="240" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>The History<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is Lewis and Clark country and it is here that in
1805 they and their Corp of Discovery traveled on their way to the Pacific
Coast. Daunting as they were, the
Rockies failed to block their endeavors but did rock their confidence. Nothing like them had ever been encountered
by any in the party and morale was low.
It was through divine coincidence that two native kidnap victims,
captured by marauding bands, would set the stage for their success in facing
the rigors of the Rockies. Sacagawea, captured
earlier but now the wife of a guide hired by the Corp of Discovery, was Shoshone
and it was her family band they encountered near the headwaters of the Missouri
River when horses were desperately needed.
When food, time to recover, and canoes were needed it was the Nez Perce
they encountered. Among the band, there
were those who thought it best to destroy these intruders. To the Corps’ rescue came “Watkuweis” an old
woman who too had been captured but was treated well by “the whites” when she
came into their hands. “Do them no harm”
was her message and it set the course for friendly relations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPZDXCfpxNmkiHOSWWzu0sWaccdY4kiEFhoZeJIGsN_TX2nmt_tQysnMFuzKhgih6QtOKPKtDzBSYZqk6XQ02ZTuv9DGO3WUBxDJRP4ITiQCq6OB2CrxitvS0wrmYb7ppnfh3p0SzzlRk/s1600/Headwaters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPZDXCfpxNmkiHOSWWzu0sWaccdY4kiEFhoZeJIGsN_TX2nmt_tQysnMFuzKhgih6QtOKPKtDzBSYZqk6XQ02ZTuv9DGO3WUBxDJRP4ITiQCq6OB2CrxitvS0wrmYb7ppnfh3p0SzzlRk/s320/Headwaters.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJyP2371g1EVcZjU_bZdml6X3q5rE-wiViyU4Xjp0FASrEkPGbOFpo0n7Acu9ECzVx4-0SuIoqwXvzsEoQdsEUA0YKxT86LReZ73rsRLwWhLrNvr9nmrsWMTqFLDxoMgK8s0KhkPv3Twb/s1600/Madison.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJyP2371g1EVcZjU_bZdml6X3q5rE-wiViyU4Xjp0FASrEkPGbOFpo0n7Acu9ECzVx4-0SuIoqwXvzsEoQdsEUA0YKxT86LReZ73rsRLwWhLrNvr9nmrsWMTqFLDxoMgK8s0KhkPv3Twb/s320/Madison.JPG" width="320" /></a>We spent the night in Missouri Headwaters State Park where
the Missouri River starts at the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison, and
Gallatin Rivers, and it was here that Lewis and Clark visited on July 28,
1805. It was they who named these
confluent rivers after the then President, Secretary of the Treasury and
Secretary of State. The campground,
while small, is surrounded by the majesty of the Rockies. Another interesting fact was that two of Lewis and Clark's party later became trappers in this area. It cost John Potts his life and nearly did the same for John Colter when for sport the Blackfeet striped him naked, gave him a head start and then pursued him for deadly purpose. He lived to tell the story but perhaps is best known for being the first white man to discover the area later known as Yellowstone National Park. His descriptions of the geysers, bubbling mudpots and steaming pools of water were referred by some with tongue-in-cheek as "Colter's Hell."</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is beautiful country where stories abound but it is off to Missoula tomorrow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmxCOz-cHtBag9VAMI4u8oR5pjtU2nkBcMmsPB05j3w7zNh5Ska-gn_Be-HgaPj8a3Ni72iBuq7eYykKJJgOiJBTsUBHx0VQqj0JI4StL-PxLtNjK-HyFmGxRgVFfacfB8_XdRVrDXRIx/s1600/Colters+Run.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmxCOz-cHtBag9VAMI4u8oR5pjtU2nkBcMmsPB05j3w7zNh5Ska-gn_Be-HgaPj8a3Ni72iBuq7eYykKJJgOiJBTsUBHx0VQqj0JI4StL-PxLtNjK-HyFmGxRgVFfacfB8_XdRVrDXRIx/s320/Colters+Run.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-63915602278095664682016-05-06T19:04:00.001-07:002016-05-06T19:04:21.891-07:00Day 4, Wednesday, May 4, 2016 Midland South Dakota to Red Shale Campground, Montana<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqfP8qLXju-1pdmZM3jLH3L9nRNRZ6xGvklLmrlaffKyX6iYR3yHgxQ8fPKiZOJW4Xv7crKiYrlxeTw9m22ybzylyJJh1G4lgV82IDqQTUSatVIx5jkWJROIqXugXKQqNYf6F1-VtV43H/s1600/Red+Shale+Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqfP8qLXju-1pdmZM3jLH3L9nRNRZ6xGvklLmrlaffKyX6iYR3yHgxQ8fPKiZOJW4Xv7crKiYrlxeTw9m22ybzylyJJh1G4lgV82IDqQTUSatVIx5jkWJROIqXugXKQqNYf6F1-VtV43H/s320/Red+Shale+Sign.JPG" width="320" /></a><i>“One does not sell
the land people walk on…” Crazy Horse,
Sept, 23, 1875<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>The Roads<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o3K2BFQ1QwOKW1cJKexS5jqpsx748at9png9B4uzZ6zbJ6sWJ86fReVDnOui9TLgdYTL8BGC8OF_15I_Tq8RMhamCPia7d4q5ET_IuChupXP1tvUuMhpF_cBhJvHraGLshrm424Ubo-Q/s1600/Rushmore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o3K2BFQ1QwOKW1cJKexS5jqpsx748at9png9B4uzZ6zbJ6sWJ86fReVDnOui9TLgdYTL8BGC8OF_15I_Tq8RMhamCPia7d4q5ET_IuChupXP1tvUuMhpF_cBhJvHraGLshrm424Ubo-Q/s320/Rushmore.JPG" width="320" /></a>From the endless prairies through the Badlands National
Park and into the Black Hills National Forest, each offered a vista of beauty
punctuated with nature’s wonders.
Pronghorn Antelope, geese, songbirds, conifers, and rock cathedrals
graced our journey and the scenery was a feast for the eyes. Leaving I 90 shortly after Sturgis (home of
the great motorcycle gathering that occurs each year) we ventured onto a small
byway (Hwy 34) that cut through Belle Fourche, South Dakota where we connected
to Hwy 212. This small highway traversed
through peaceful landscapes where the trip took on a leisurely pace as we
passed through the Northeast corner of Wyoming before entering Montana from the
Southeast. Picnicking along the way, we
were able to enjoy nature at some of its best as we meandered to Red Shale
Campground in the Custer National Forest, our destination for day 4.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNIsrmOFpfWqHgC77vKIUnYGf5mJlf1PX9_soqDzlUzO_zT3yGBbu7SeTwwT7nvChTy5QWpuUYcR84NSHNCuWVevOKLLe0LezaKL2j1LDYZ3AgpbGYcvZgPTk-vIWIjC9RwjnFYXSN_rJ/s1600/antelope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNIsrmOFpfWqHgC77vKIUnYGf5mJlf1PX9_soqDzlUzO_zT3yGBbu7SeTwwT7nvChTy5QWpuUYcR84NSHNCuWVevOKLLe0LezaKL2j1LDYZ3AgpbGYcvZgPTk-vIWIjC9RwjnFYXSN_rJ/s320/antelope.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>The Sights<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Badlands National Park houses an abundance of fossil beds
where the remains of rhinos, ancient horses, saber-toothed cats and others once
roamed. Now the home of bison, bighorn
sheep, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs…and tourists, it encompasses almost a
quarter a million acres. Striking
geological formations were the result of sedimentation known as Sharps,
Rockyford, Brule, and Chadron deposits, all with different colors and exposed
through erosion to create a mosaic of colors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba4b9tyJUpVHacvwg8c9ZuD1akfWOYNrLmKuzVrw-RUNVSV88TF-oFvDnCq38QnyTQflOPpRODpyXfdgJMeQyjLIc5KkTnlWXUouILHUe9GXf-J2zcbny4uTk-ievL2CiorhcM7gUzXZ3/s1600/Red+Shale+RV.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba4b9tyJUpVHacvwg8c9ZuD1akfWOYNrLmKuzVrw-RUNVSV88TF-oFvDnCq38QnyTQflOPpRODpyXfdgJMeQyjLIc5KkTnlWXUouILHUe9GXf-J2zcbny4uTk-ievL2CiorhcM7gUzXZ3/s320/Red+Shale+RV.JPG" width="320" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Black Hills have a rich history as once the home of
the Cheyenne and Lakota tribes until the discovery of gold when white
prospectors displaced them. Rising out
of the plains, these series of peaks reach 7000+ feet and extend from western
South Dakota into Wyoming. Perhaps best
known for Mount Rushmore, the area is a welcome transition from the great
plains and is rich in scenic beauty, lush forests, and an abundance of
game. Soon we will be passing through
Custer State Park where George Armstrong Custer and 263 of his soldiers died
fighting the Lakota and Cheyenne and were buried where the fell.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p>Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-71328548510851019352016-05-04T08:33:00.001-07:002016-05-04T08:33:21.454-07:00Day 3, Tuesday, May 3, 2016 Worthington, Minnesota to Midland, South Dakota<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“Sometimes it’s the
journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” Drake<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6K3H4lQVoejN0blFDbV7VSNGrB_NEHj-tX2zasATsqzHeFTEV5U1Ins1JXy2Am4sv4yWgcs7HXv1Bb4cVQBH5r15RHLkPJ0RGyaxXSfYlAXdqLcS-bnXDVnne8lSaZM13uTfWKnCrf7Sq/s1600/S.+Dakota.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6K3H4lQVoejN0blFDbV7VSNGrB_NEHj-tX2zasATsqzHeFTEV5U1Ins1JXy2Am4sv4yWgcs7HXv1Bb4cVQBH5r15RHLkPJ0RGyaxXSfYlAXdqLcS-bnXDVnne8lSaZM13uTfWKnCrf7Sq/s320/S.+Dakota.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>The Roads</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Leaving Worthington and then traveling on I 90 left
little for distraction. Straight,
unrelenting, and continuous, the interstate, viewing it from the cab of our RV,
seemed an asphalt line disappearing into some vanishing point out in the great
beyond. This sight repeats itself at
every crest…mile after mile…straight and narrow…on and on. There is a consistency in the scenery until
one takes the landscape as a whole. The
sky, terrain, and vastness engenders a hypnotic pull on the conscience if you
let it. One must wonder what went
through the minds of the early settlers as they passed through these lands at
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetc4RsLIcnqFmwfeXTifK675w5R0cB3dFs9RFgKZozty_jl1BMM8MoFXMIqRLlb8PsrnH1mA1jrMubou4W5t_4BJXOBtHErIn889zpnn1RCilMJ-dS1c2gZ9tuxKqU4uh2ivJxLluiPSZ/s1600/Old+Town+Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetc4RsLIcnqFmwfeXTifK675w5R0cB3dFs9RFgKZozty_jl1BMM8MoFXMIqRLlb8PsrnH1mA1jrMubou4W5t_4BJXOBtHErIn889zpnn1RCilMJ-dS1c2gZ9tuxKqU4uh2ivJxLluiPSZ/s200/Old+Town+Sign.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
oxen speed. Of course there were the flocks
of passenger pigeons in Eastern South Dakota that could literally block out the
sun and awe the observer. The remaining herds
of buffalo must have been a wondrous sight as well. The indigenous dangers, scarcity of good
water, and the vast expanse must have been daunting. Certainly when I bicycled across similar terrain
in 2014, with only my thoughts as company, I found the best coping mechanism
was to simply live in the moment.
Remarkably, I found there is a gentle peace in this…no distractions…only
the journey…only the path immediately in front.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEtkoOU2SPNCqiHkcvN9h2ZcXG6TOVfT9lzZmJl7nIRa1ZHUPFPcv-6PEUAh9fhU-eoEc66ZgpC9dqQBh2-wpjqxIcbNiuEZNNgzStvfr4YwAfM5_xVf1DNM58foHQoV8ITlVpTTfakZr/s1600/Old+Town.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEtkoOU2SPNCqiHkcvN9h2ZcXG6TOVfT9lzZmJl7nIRa1ZHUPFPcv-6PEUAh9fhU-eoEc66ZgpC9dqQBh2-wpjqxIcbNiuEZNNgzStvfr4YwAfM5_xVf1DNM58foHQoV8ITlVpTTfakZr/s320/Old+Town.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Belvidere East KOA<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Exit 170 on I 90 offered a reprieve from the endless
interstate. First could be seen the
recreated 1880’s town and then there is a small lake alongside which reside
longhorn cattle and a solitary camel. It
seems that in the 1850’s the U.S. Military used camels, on and experimental
basis, as a means to cope with the scarcity of suitable watering holes. It is a nod to this historical oddity that a
camel (Otis) resides as part of the display for this 1880’s recreated
township. The longhorns have a long
history here, their rugged tenacity for survival, paved the way for fortunes
won and lost on these great plains.
There may be few trees, shrubs are at a minimum, and while the land is
vast, there is a serene beauty, a quiet meditative quality, that can grow on
the traveler. While seemingly barren, we
went to bed to a symphony of amphibian residents near and in the pond and awoke
to the morning songbirds. All in all,
four star accompaniments, free of charge, thanks to nature.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsUx2gtvRvxvQKofuQkvVZHIJCrVwRWVB_ApAwdDCVwq3ZjMuf7eHmmoFHVJiTTsL5xgacNSDlvXl2g1hGzCnI-UKjK7esScRNbWbBkwcE_4N3ptN3CGPDA0QUEn0SYXXxpAGeFjUKkYJ/s1600/Barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsUx2gtvRvxvQKofuQkvVZHIJCrVwRWVB_ApAwdDCVwq3ZjMuf7eHmmoFHVJiTTsL5xgacNSDlvXl2g1hGzCnI-UKjK7esScRNbWbBkwcE_4N3ptN3CGPDA0QUEn0SYXXxpAGeFjUKkYJ/s200/Barn.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6uLXaVdijY8F1VLej7T_uPbiwg6RsxfvdqxX7PcIDughWyuJfg-y95BJqBs6sGjHl56y6LPO8ij-_cvxf6a5ugfdnxwkmt2Qs48RgljLf6iPSiInkiL6YB-zDXU7-6oQmU0yiKFqLI6o/s1600/Bull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6uLXaVdijY8F1VLej7T_uPbiwg6RsxfvdqxX7PcIDughWyuJfg-y95BJqBs6sGjHl56y6LPO8ij-_cvxf6a5ugfdnxwkmt2Qs48RgljLf6iPSiInkiL6YB-zDXU7-6oQmU0yiKFqLI6o/s320/Bull.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2gATY-DSm18qClpBk5qLo0ZoMEfRSgGziSfNqWepQd6H1qaC_54VGZPp_xNrfyxyHr-16Yb70wxxMPT61u60gmL3r58WkDGPTRaHzayN4tgldQH-TWID-KnzyCNwr7e_gaIs6alB2OQ2/s1600/Bull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p>Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6831152272551959837.post-20980474882822413632016-05-03T17:30:00.000-07:002016-05-03T17:30:35.508-07:00Day 2, Monday, May 2, 2016 Palo, Iowa to Worthington, Minnesota<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr-Ym_oTp2EZUBtPlt3PWBDubqhJqLHX4uTFZRxaze1YAg8FgxZVwAbhXo58_0M0_vlw47W-SA1V3jVT_LGjZcXh1QI4Fls70GmJHZ8P19Def3yaQ6Vb5VUAigbR4henYscuHCQtyVAWh/s1600/Olson+Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr-Ym_oTp2EZUBtPlt3PWBDubqhJqLHX4uTFZRxaze1YAg8FgxZVwAbhXo58_0M0_vlw47W-SA1V3jVT_LGjZcXh1QI4Fls70GmJHZ8P19Def3yaQ6Vb5VUAigbR4henYscuHCQtyVAWh/s320/Olson+Park.JPG" width="240" /></a> <i>“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent arriving.” Lao Tzu</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>The Roads<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Driving through Iowa after leaving Palo was pleasant with fair skies
and mild temperatures. While wind
turbines are plentiful in this area they were making no electricity today as
there was not the hint of a breeze. This
would have been a perfect day for cross-country bicycling as wind, when blowing
head-on, is the bane of traveling through this part of the country as I learned
in 2014. Taking back roads until hitting
Hwy 218/18 to Hwy 35 and then I 90, there was no construction until near the
town of Blue Earth, Minnesota. It was
here that a 20-mile stretch may be under construction for quite some time. Even so, it was a day of good traveling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycuBAIMq_QRKCw63Xdi-xgPqa8d8mPWl3qwITuRZshhpFrnDJ5Ns8XLAGcE4Dn0GAXVfMvn1tpGNx-zRC7G83cE0uRDEDltCo7LB596u2NcWv-mMOcPcusZBhhblI9ZIn57t3pSgHLyTs/s1600/Campground+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycuBAIMq_QRKCw63Xdi-xgPqa8d8mPWl3qwITuRZshhpFrnDJ5Ns8XLAGcE4Dn0GAXVfMvn1tpGNx-zRC7G83cE0uRDEDltCo7LB596u2NcWv-mMOcPcusZBhhblI9ZIn57t3pSgHLyTs/s320/Campground+2.JPG" width="320" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lXz3mvgHX_6gJgF9NahYr77mGLp-HYNTTXV65fFkSHWfslKKLp-t3BbVt7UWn3FN_cpsYOveFscLrv_5p3znpjkMzJ7IWgwSgvob6q0XWgn1vvihCPcCRGYomXSBburwEGPZ5Bhzsugz/s1600/Floating+Islands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Olson Park and Campground</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Worthington, Minnesota was a great stop for the night with its friendly
citizens and lovely park that sits alongside a picturesque lake that seems to
be the central point for recreational activity.
Signs noting small floating vegetative islands are posted alongside a
walking/biking pathway and notes that this project is directed at creating an
environmentally friendly way to</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TgjOS0lGn_mZZRN9eg5IwKZCuXN7s1ZuUrmyENprS_P5Nk3oUqWs7LX6sZgUpSFRdcSd8WrSp1vlR1FxXELUZTLNSYyxImqvlAQ42KRlRBsGKqacpXonMltb3l_fqn8-_lQZkzk7koQr/s1600/Floating+Islands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TgjOS0lGn_mZZRN9eg5IwKZCuXN7s1ZuUrmyENprS_P5Nk3oUqWs7LX6sZgUpSFRdcSd8WrSp1vlR1FxXELUZTLNSYyxImqvlAQ42KRlRBsGKqacpXonMltb3l_fqn8-_lQZkzk7koQr/s320/Floating+Islands.JPG" width="320" /></a>purify the water and create habitat for fish
and fowl. With only 12,000+ population
it somehow seems bigger and perhaps this is due to the presence of Minnesota
West Community and Technical College as well as what they call their “Active
Living Plan.” This project, created by
the city, developed by the Southwest Regional Development Commission and funded
by the Statewide Health Improvement Program is designed to make the city a
“more walkable and rideable community.”
My kind of city!!!! Near Olson
Park Campground that sits alongside the lake, the homes are modern, well
maintained, and passersby smile and offer greetings in the typical Midwestern
fashion. I could live here easily.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A80PYr3QJoMx79YIlmeePV1UPVRsGGuND50znF0Jvq_SVzSVlCn7XVmp1I6R9WW-VG_SlahDwOcgcC3EQoiJSf8JcrvjzDJDNhD7O_QYthJnxaqYUCw467YfKjDePgc8-0pPyStjf6nu/s1600/New+Islands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A80PYr3QJoMx79YIlmeePV1UPVRsGGuND50znF0Jvq_SVzSVlCn7XVmp1I6R9WW-VG_SlahDwOcgcC3EQoiJSf8JcrvjzDJDNhD7O_QYthJnxaqYUCw467YfKjDePgc8-0pPyStjf6nu/s320/New+Islands.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQOy0uOL8Q32d5tGD7khWZSeXwDuzHbuaIskAFmDKGM_us2h8wJgkey5vllngpDOE_Stt7XuHhXkGJUBk55M8MYbmzrsKwaQgyp86L_pmd5dI2pp9Ao8OWGnuvVAuomF16KjI_NaKvkdB/s1600/New+Islands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: black;">Floating Island Project</span></b></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
We were just packing up to leave when Andrea observed that a crew
had just arrived and were working on additional “floating islands”<b> </b>that were to be placed in the
lake. Taking the opportunity to chat
with this crew, I met Dan Livdahl, Administrator of the Okabena Ocheda
Watershed District, who was overseeing a work crew of young adults. Articulate and personable, he explained that
these “biohaven floating islands,” designed to remove excess nutrients from
water<span style="text-align: center;">bodies and provide habitat for aquatic life, were a relativly new
project that depended upon public and private funding. Each island, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6bLW62wFo7XfNxyssBHoCPUr_zFCa5fkH6Q7QoPOZw-HAkecmv6rqMymKWbixG2JQFGCPVJxYeQ96iZffGcgAZxSAYsN3qmgQsRQdJrEJbOKdPi8qqw5NAW3OS3YiUQ1CtSSBWc81xLO/s1600/Island+Crew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6bLW62wFo7XfNxyssBHoCPUr_zFCa5fkH6Q7QoPOZw-HAkecmv6rqMymKWbixG2JQFGCPVJxYeQ96iZffGcgAZxSAYsN3qmgQsRQdJrEJbOKdPi8qqw5NAW3OS3YiUQ1CtSSBWc81xLO/s320/Island+Crew.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
planted with grasses and
flowering species, cost about $1500. The
materials of construction are fairly unique and challenges facing the project aside
from cost has been finding a way to prevent their unmooring when subjected to
40 to 50 mph prairie winds. Another, how
to prevent geese from taking over and destroying the vegetation on these
floating sanctuaries during their nesting season. Both challenges are being tackled with better
anchoring and fencing that discourages nesting.
Even so, the droppings from the geese seemed to “provide additional
nutrients” and the floating islands recovered well. This progressive and ingenious approach to
environmental preservation is yet another example of how the city of
Worthington seems foster creative approaches to fostering an enviable quality
of life for and by its citizens.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Crankyspokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363970971071937705noreply@blogger.com0