DEATH VALLEY ROADTREK ENCAMPMENT

Death Valley November 1 through 7, 2009

Off to Death Valley to visit with Roadtrek Friends. There were at least five of us who had been up at the Rally in Port Alberni, including our host in PA, Wendell and good friends Sid and Shirl from Penticton B.C.

This is what I wrote to send into the Roadtrek Cyberrally about the outing:

A full moon, warm days and fiddle music highlighted this relaxed “do your own thing” gathering. Thanks, Richard! (Richard spearheaded this event and then was unable to come because of illness) Your enthusiasm for Death Valley and the 49ers Encampment drew 17 Roadtreks and 27 trekkers to the middle of California the first week of November. Wendell N. led the pack with his Beaver and provided tours and lifts in his little 4X4. Each day there were activities, tours and special events. Bijou, Wendell’s new Havanese pup, won our hearts and placed in the Pampered Pup Contest. Every afternoon we gathered for munchies, music, memories, and Roadtrek talk. Dry camping leads too many interesting topics.
There were four new Roadtreks in attendance. Well, three planned RT attendees plus Vic and Emi and their new 190V. We found them at the top of Dante’s View and made them one of us.
All six of our new friends are planning to attend Western Area FMCA rally in Indio. Suzanne, one of our new gals, will be bringing her fiddle so be sure to pack your guitars, harmonicas and kazoos.

YOSEMITE August 23, 2009

With Karis and Daniel at May Lake

After returning from "The Big Trip" I went up to Toulumne Meadows in mid August but I guess I was blogged out. It is now November and maybe I will add a little

My grandkids came up with their Dad, Craig, and had their first over (2) nights backpacking trip. I hiked up to May Lake with them and we had a great time hiking around the lake. After they set up their tent I hightailed it back down to the Roadtrek for a good nights sleep.

HOME AT LAST

Friday, August 7

Ann and I spent the morning visiting and I hit the road about 1:00. It seemed like a long day... maybe last night's wine and conversation took it's toll. I stopped and took a nap about 3 and then headed for the barn.

I rolled into Lompoc about 8:30 this evening. To quote Sandy... Home Sweet Home.

The total trip mileage is 8768 miles. Wow!

This has been a marvelous experience. Memories keep exploding like a kaleidoscope of friends, places and experiences. The Roadtrek is a great vehicle and I am sure we will be on our way again soon.

Now, I'd better get to sleep 'cause I get to go walking with my buddies in the morning. It's Saturday!

BACK IN CALIFORNIA... Redwoods and San Francisco!

Two great places to spend the night, above and below

An early morning view of the Oakland Bay Bridge from Ann's condo in San Francisco

Portland to the Redwood Forests

Wednesday, August 5

I said goodbye to Gunnel and Phil early this morning and headed south. Phil is on his way out too. He is off to follow the Continental Divide with his motorcycle buddies.

By late afternoon I was at the California border and traveling through the coast redwood forests that dot the Northern California Coast. I checked out a couple of campgrounds near the Smith River but they were to near the highway to suit me. As I went deeper into the park I began to see the dreaded "campground full" signs. At Mill Creek campground I took a chance even though the sign said it was full and drove down a winding road to the ranger hut. What a sweet gal... she let me in... I must have looked handicapped by that time of evening.

If you ever want to explore the Redwood National Park this would make a wonderful base camp. In a beautiful deep forest with Mill Creek running through it, the campground has toilets and showers and a full ranger program.


SAN FRANCISCO with Ann

Thursday, August 6

I "lucked out" with Ann being available just as I did with Mary Ellen. Ann could have been in Florida or Bend, Ore but she was in San Francisco when I called. Yea!

We met when we were in Lamaze class together before Laura and her Doug were born so I have known her a very long time. I was a little nervous about leaving the Roadtrek on the streets of SF but all was well and we had a glorious time catching up with each other after about five years.

The last time we saw each other was when we took a trip up to Mendocino County to one of the places on my "Bucket List". I had eaten dinner at the Albion Inn and had always wanted to stay there. We splurged and had a great time. IF you go through Mendocino try to stop for a meal at least. The place can't be beat!

Tomorrow I will sleep in my own bed!

PORTLAND...Family and Friends

Good food and company at Jake's with Mary Ellen and Gunnel

Monday, August 3... with Mary Ellen

I was so fortunate in Portland. I had three friends I wanted to see and in spite of their busy schedules I had time with each. I emailed my cousin Mary Ellen and was thrilled to find that she didn't have to work on Monday morning (Gunnel was busy that morning so it worked out perfectly). After leaving Cynthia's, ME and I met for breakfast and family chatter. We were discussing how I could get downtown to a special bookstore when she said "What the hey! I was just going to clean the kitchen floor today. Why don't I go with you."

The Seattle light rail is great and before long we were in Nordstrom's (for Clarins). We wandered around some of the downtown stores for a while on our way to Powell's Books. This is a bookstore that I've heard about for years. and it is a great find. I think if I lived in Portland I would spend half the winter here.

Gunnel called after her meeting and came on down and met us at Powell's. We ended up having a great time at Jake's which is one of Portland's landmark eateries. I wish I had seen their web page before ordering! I might have been more adventuresome. My salad was very good, though.

Tuesday, August 4 ... with Gunnel

This was a interesting display at Rex Hill Winery. Each glass contains an aroma that is discriptive of a characteristic that may be found in wine. Chocolate, figs, cherries, earth, spice.

Gunnel and I have been friends since Laura and Tina were about three. We have traveled together and always have fun. Today was no exception... we went wine tasting. We enjoyed the wineries we visited so much that we poked along and only made it to two places. Oh well, they were good ones.

Now it is really time for me to get home!

PORTLAND, OREGON….Visiting Friends and Family

Cynthia's has a friend who tranformed (painted) her dining area into a lovely gazebo. You can't tell if you are inside or in a beautiful garden. You can see a little of the art work to the right of the photo. The mirror behind Cynthia shows her real garden through the window.

Sunday, August 02

Last year about this time Laura and I were on a Gulet on the Aegean Sea. One of the friends that we met on that trip was Cynthia who lives in Portland.
I emailed Cynthia a few days ago and found that though she was committed on Monday that she was available to visit on Sunday and in addition I was invited to join her in late afternoon for a class she is taking on building bridges to Muslims. The Portland area in which she lives has a large Muslim population.
Afterwards we went to the Charthouse, high above Portland with outstanding views, for a light dinner and a good dose of catching up with each others lives.

SEATTLE - FUN WITH SCOTT

Seattle Skyline from Queen Anne Hill

Gutsy Mama.... at least I thought so. It was a great ride...
as long as I didn't think about what could happen.

Pikes Place Market.... every visitor comes here!

Saturday, August 01

Boy! Did we start slow today but then we had fun. Scott took me out on the BMW and we did some Seattle Neighborhood Touring. Up and down and all around with views of the city and some really upscale neighborhoods. Queen Ann is the only one I knew. Then we went down through town and Pikes Market on our way to Costco. Now we are back home with freshly made sausage and chard from the garden for dinner. Tomorrow I will head south.

DINNER WITH OLD TRAVEL COMPANIONS

Friday, July 31
About two and a half years ago I went on a trip, based out of Seattle, to India. I feel very fortunate to have met Bob and Maureen on that trip. They helped me part with a lot of money, first by educating me and helping me buy a wonderful silk rug and then again by introducing me to fine Indian jewelry. With their help and encouragement I purchased an emerald ring that I really have enjoyed. I never would have considered such a purchase without their expertise to guide me.
As things happen, they had a lovely house in Seattle that needed a tenant and I had a son that shortly would be leaving UW and looking for a home. Scott loves the house and I think Bob and Maureen feel as though they have a good tenant.

Maureen and Bob came over tonight for dinner and it was delightful to see them again. Good Halibut, good German Riesling and good conversation. What could be better??

PORT ALBERNI

We had about 45 Roadtreks at the Rally. Here are a few of them. One of our favorite pass times at rallies is to check out each others rigs for new ideas. It was just too hot to do that here.

In any case...THANKS WENDELL!

"It was a real nice clambake and we're all might glad we came!"

Wedneday, July 29

Port Alberni is the hottest place in Canada today! We are doing everything we can to keep cool.

Today that included a visit to Martin Mars Flying Tankers. We couldn't do the tour, though. It was 130 degrees in the aircraft. It's sister plane is down in California on Lake Elsinore to fight the forest fires. Take a look at the web sight. Impressive!

I forgot my camera today so... no pictures of the airplane.

After the tour we, Sid, Shirley and I, went down to a nearby lake looking for some cool. We found Kay and Bernie, other Roadtrekers, settled in for the day. We visited awhile and then went to town for lunch of halibut and crab-cakes.

All we wanted to do was to stay cool so we took turns deciding what to do. Sid and I wanted to get on the Internet so we did that. Then we went into Canadian Tire and found a thermometer so I would know how hot it was in the van and the temp in the fridge.

Then Shirley suggested Ice Cream. Here's a tip... when it is this hot get the ice cream that is the most difficult to scoop. That is the icecream with the least sugar in it.

Our last night was capped with a gift exchange and some lovely Hawaiian dances by Sara, Wendell's granddaughter.

LIVING FOREST CAMP GROUND TO RALLY

Greg and Susan were on the ferry
and then turned up at the same campground in the evening.

Monday, July 27

Living Forest Campground and RV Park is south of Nanaimo. It is quiet and forested with views out over the water. You feel as though you are in a Regional Park but with all the ammenities of a private park including a Coffee House overlooking a little beach area.

It is so pleasant that I hung around all morning, sorting pictures and puttering. I got to the Rally about 4:00 and found

Time to think about going again.

Cheese cake for dessert at Elizabeth's home

Saturday, July 25

OK. It's time to get going. Tomorrow I am off to Port Alberni on Vancouver Island for Wendell's Rally.

Way back when I was thinking about going to Alaska I was concerned about whether the rotator cuff surgery recovery would be going well enough to allow me to leave by May 15th. As a back-up plan I signed up for Wendell’s Roadtrek Rally on Vancouver Island. I figured that even if I couldn’t do Alaska that I would be recovered enough by July to go up and visit Scott and take in the Rally. I had expected that if I went to Alaska that I would forego the Rally.

Well……… Sandy and I decided to take our time and by visiting Penticton and adding few days with Scott I was able to stretch the days to fit the rally.

So… I am off again….

But wait! First there is another opportunity for good…no…great food. Dinner at Elizabeth’s house with her brother, sister-in-law and baby Oscar who are visiting from North Carolina. Sixteen months old and cute as a bug’s ear.

Elisabeth turns out to be at least as good a cook as Scott, and from me that is high praise indeed. Even a simple meal can be awesome when done well. Chips and salsa with Oscar helping, then yummy brushettes, a green salad and a salmon chowder topped off by Scott’s cheese cake. Of course I must not forget the good wine and an interesting drink made with Becherovka, a Czech liquor. Elisabeth had tasted it someplace and duplicated it. It was very good but the considered opinion of the guests was that it would have been better with ice. (Inside joke…ask me)

Sunday, July 26

Up early, disturbing Scott and leaving to catch the Edmonds Ferry. After arriving in Kingston it is about a 45 minute drive across the Olympic Peninsula to Port Angeles. I was in line by 9:00 am. I didn't have a ticket and had been told to get there by ten when I called the Black Ball Line.

There was another Roadtrek in the holding area but the occupants were gone and I wondered if they were going to the rally. It turned out to be Susan and Greg who had also been at Indio.

We visited a while on the ferry. They were thinking about going wine-tasting along the way. I had no plans and just sort-of wandered north along Highway 1, dipping down along small roads through the countryside if they looked interesting.

I was trying to decide whether to go on up to the rally site or find a RV park for the night. I followed two or three signs for parks before hitting on the right one south of Nanaimo.

I had to chuckle when I saw Susan and Greg's Roadtrek parked about four spaces from my assigned spot. I guess Roadtrekkers wander alike, too.

VEGing OUT AT SCOTT’S HOUSE

Up close on Scott's Cheese Cake

I'm still eating better than usual. This morning it was Scott's French Toast and farm fresh sausage patties.

We are going to Elizabeth's for dinner tonight and Scott is making a cheese cake. Here is the first layer.

Wednesday, July 22

What luxury to have nothing planned and plenty of time. Scott went to work this morning and I did a little banking and made some calls. It was so nice not to have a schedule. I think I could use another day just like this one!
Scott grilled lamb and roasted some little yukon potatoes. Along with chard from his garden, dinner was purrfect.

Thursday and Friday

I did get another day of repose on Thursday and then a most wonderful dinner prepared by Scott and his friend Elizabeth. Elizabeth brought an orange tart with orange carmel sauce that was to die for. It was one of the best deserts I've ever had. She even gave me the recipe (for all the good that will do!) I can't believe I didn't take a picture.

BACK TO SCOTT'S HOUSE

This is a great nature trail through dense forests near the campground

Tuesday, July 21

I just counted up! I left Scott's house for Vancouver Island on May 20th. It has been 62 days of awesome adventure and new friends since then but it will be good to be back in familiar surroundings again even though it isn't my own bed.

Thunder Woods Nature Trail

Sometimes it seems I have to learn the same lesson over and over. There is a wonderful trail nearby the campground. It's not long but it is through a marvelous old growth forest area that has been disturbed very little.
I would have enjoyed it even more if I had had my regular glasses with me. It was so dense that there really wasn't enough sunlight for me to see well with the sunglasses. I also didn't take any water which is always dumb!

This is so different than the California Parks. I can?t believe how quiet it is even during the day. There are people around but the forest must absorb much of the sound.

LEAVING CANADA

The Northern Cascade Nation Park

Glacial Action in the Cascades. We sure have learned a lot about Glaciers on this trip.

Leaving Penticton... Sid and Shirl's Roadtrek is the same as mine, only newer!

Monday, July 20

Penticton, B.C. to North Cascades National Park in Washington State, USA

I decided about a week ago that I really should change my oil and air filter and get the tires rotated and Sid had made arrangements for me to take the Roadtrek into his dealership. After a fond farewell to Sid and Shirl and their sweet family I rolled down the hill to the Chevy place. Sid had said they were just five minutes down the hill and he was right. They did a fine job and I was on my way by 10:30.

Wine Country
The Okanagan Wine Country is well known... just wasn't known by me. It is a lovely area surrounding Okanagan Lake, which must be nearly 80 miles long, running north/south. There's plenty of bench area with wonderful exposure. I didn't get a gook picture of it because of the fire. Sid and Shirley have a wonderful view to the east over the lake.

U.S. customs.

I went through customs declaring two bottles of wine plus the port that had come on the whole trip with me without being opened. Since I had just been traveling through wine country I asked what the procedure was if I had more wine. Apparently the duty is only a few cents a bottle and bringing in more is no problem. I also told customs that I had some celery, an apple and a half eaten pear. There was no problem with these items either. A customs officer did come in and take a look around, including my refrigerator. There were some sausages in there that I had forgotten about when asked if I had any meat but these also were apparently no problem. All in all it was easy and a good experience. Both Canadian and US customs throughout the trip have been courteous and, for the most part, pleasant. This was the first time anyone had “come aboard”.
Later I talked to Laura. They have been up to Yellowstone and were just crossing the Oregon/California border on the way home. I wonder what the California border folks would have said about my half eaten pear!

My last night on the road will be spent at Colonial Creek Campground in the National Park. It is very reminiscent of Canadian Cedars forest. It’s a lovely quiet place with large trees and flush toilets. Sandy would have loved it!

GOOD FRIENDS... Sid and Shirl's Luau

Shirley, John, Claire, Laura, Julia, Sid

Thanks so much for your hospitality!

Sunday, July 19

I met Sid and Shirley last January at the Roadtrek Rally in Indio. They had given me many suggestions about the trip since they went to Alaska last year and urged me to come by on my way south from the Alaskan Highway. One of the reasons I decided to go with Sandy as far as Jasper and Lake Louise was that Penticton lay on the route back to Seattle, sort of.

Sandy had stopped to see them on her way west, (my suggestion) and had taken pictures of Shirley’s vegetable garden in its early stages. I felt that I needed to record the progress of that garden and taste some of the results. I am here to report that the garden has done very well. There were a variety of berries, potatoes, carrots, beans, tomatoes, greens and much, much more. The corn is high but not ready yet.

I managed to arrive during their annual family gathering. It was a pleasure to meet their sons and their families and what a great bunch they are!

Five years ago the kids arranged a Hawaiian trip for the whole family to celebrate Sid and Shirley’s fiftieth anniversary. Now, every summer, they commemorate that trip with a Luau. There were lovely drinks complete with pineapple and flowers and a delicious dinner featuring roasted pork and other Hawaiian delicacies. I was privileged to be a part of their celebration. Thanks so much, Sid and Shirl!

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK to PENTICTON

Trestles and stone pillars were built in the late 1800's

over the river in a looping figure eight pattern to

gain altitude.

Remaining pillars. The closest one was destroyed

by an avalanche.

Old growth Cedar trees. The underside of those lovely leaves, and

their stems, have one inch thorns.

The Giant Cedars Boardwalk

Looking south towards Penticton, 3:30pm




Loop Brook Trail

Loop Brook Trail is a National Historical Site. It highlights the stone pillars which once held the trestles that carried the Canadian Pacific Railroad back and forth in a figure eight fashion over the brook allowing the rail line to climb the pass at a gentler grade similar to the Spiral Tunnels. These parks are full of interesting history and trails to pique your interest.






Giant Cedars Boardwalk

This is a beautiful stand of old growth forest. The boardwalk makes it easy to see how impenetrable this forest was and what some of the difficulties of building a road or railroad would have been even before encountering the mountains.

Fire

When I was about an hour north of Penticton I saw a column of smoke south of me. Since I knew that Sid and Shirl’s home was straight south I called them to make sure that the fire wasn’t affecting them. It turns out that they were quite a bit south of the fire and I was seeing the fire just a few minutes after it started. Now, 24 hours later the highway has been closed and over 5000 people have been evacuated. Sid and Shirley have a home high in the hills above Okanagan Lake. All day we could see tankers flying by taking water to dump on the fire. Shades of San Diego and Santa Barbara.

FAREWELL FOR NOW

Sandy pumping. She has to hold down a switch located

near her door jamb in order for the pump to work.

A safety feature, I guess. My way is simpler.

Judy dumping. Look Ma, no hands needed!

Bye!


Friday, July 17

It is somehow appropriate that our last activity together would be dumping our Roadtreks. Sandy’s Trek is one year newer than mine and has an “improved” system where she pumps out her gray and black tanks through a small hose. I have to depend on gravity to dump my tanks. What we have found is that I am able to dump in much less time and in some ways, less effort.
So… we dumped and then hugged goodbye.

We have had a great time and figure that there are likely to be some withdrawal problems since we have been together for nearly two months. As soon as we hit the USA we can alleviate the withdrawal on the phone. We are in the habit to talking on the walkie-talkies as we drive and, sure enough, Sandy was no sooner out of sight that I thought of something to tell her but… now both walkie-talkies are with her.

Bye-bye, friend!

Now it’s on to Glacier National Park and then to Penticton, British Columbia to see friends Sid and Shirley.

LAKE LOUISE TO GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Kicking Horse Canyon

This is one heck of a drive…beautiful and somewhat scary. I came away very impressed with the Canadian engineers and Canada’s road building skills. The roads are carved into the sides of very steep mountains.

On the way up there was a pull-off that I did not take to a lookout called The Spiral Tunnels in Yoho National Park. There were a lot of people looking and I found out at the entry to Glacier that it was a method of gaining altitude for the trains when they first built the railroad through these mountains in the 1880’s. The Rogers Pass Discovery Centre, named for Mr. Rogers who discovered the pass for the railroad companies, is full of history and explanations about the surrounding area and well worth a stop. The campgrounds in the park were full but I was told about a picnic area where I could overnight near a rushing river. I made some waldorf salad and had leftover baby back ribs for dinner. Perfect!...but I missed Sandy and dominos.

JASPER TO LAKE LOUISE… our last day

The perfect "last desert"

Lake Louise - actually the water is the same color

as in the picture below.

The blue of Lake Moraine

Thursday, July 16

The drive down the Ice Fields Highway from Jasper National Park to Lake Louise takes much longer that you might expect because it is hard not to keep pulling off the road to take pictures. The scenery continues to astound. I know that it may seem that I have photo after photo of mountains and glaciers but I can’t stop. I just wish that the photos could capture the beauty of the colors in the rock formations.

After getting settled in Lake Louise’ RV Park we went out to explore Lake Moraine and Lake Louise. These are real Jewels, aqua in color and surrounded by granite peaks.

We could not have chosen a better place for our last dinner together. Planning where to eat has never been a high priority for us and we just wanted to poke our heads into the Chateau Lake Louise. The original Chateau was built in the 1890’s and has been redesigned a number of times to accommodate the increasing number of travelers to the area. We decided to have a drink overlooking the lake and that turned into a perfect dinner of bisque, smoked duck salad with snow peas and asparagus and wonderful crisp apple strudel with sour cream ice cream.
A perfect ending!

Actually, then we went back “home” and played dominoes until after 11:00

JASPER - EDITH CAVELL MEADOWS

Wednesday, July 15

Wonderful walk (almost) to a high alpine meadow.

Edith Cavell was a heroine of World War I. She was a British Nurse serving in Brussels in 1914. When she refused to leave her patients she was executed. Canada Parliament has honored her by naming one of the most magnificent peaks in the Canadian Rockies for her.
If you come to this area then this is the hike to take. It is a gradual climb up through forest land with a view of the glacier at the base of Mount Edith Cavell. The climb up to the meadows takes about three hours. Sandy got tired just a little before the path leveled out some and I went on for about another 40 minutes. The meadow was only a little further when I turned around to rejoin Sandy. Our day was lovely and perfect for photos. We saw some new (to us) flowers and a Hoary Marmot, too.

GRANDE CACHE TO JASPAR NATIONAL PARK

Dominoes in the evening

Monday, July 13

A lazy morning… it is already 9:00. Time to get going!

Highway 40, which at first we were a little concerned about being slow is a grand way to get down to Jasper. Originally we were considering going over toward Edmonton on the freeway and then south and back west. On the map highway 40 looks like a third class road and I thought it might be so slow that the longer route might be faster.

The Canadian National Parks have a daily pass for $9.80, a 4 day pass for about $45, and the senior yearly pass is $58. This gets you into all of the National Parks. The closest campground to the north entrance is Pocahontas which suited us just fine since it is also on the road up to Miette Hot Springs. These are the hottest springs in the Canadian Rockies. There are two pools, one shallow and one that gets gradually deeper. They are cooled off to about 40 degrees C (104F) The setting was beautiful but these are my least favorite of the hot springs we have visited. The pools are kept fairly uniform in temperature and the they are more commercial feeling than the other springs we have visited. It’s just like being in a hot swimming pool.
Pocahontas is a nice campground, quiet and treed, with a new variety of flower we had not seen before. The wood lily is bright and cheerful even in cloudy weather.

JASPER - MALIGNE LAKE HIKE

Tuesday, July 14

We drove into Jasper this morning and went straight to the Park information center and asked how we should spend our two days here.
After getting settled in at Wabasso Campground south of Jasper, we retraced our steps and drove up to Maligne Lake which is the largest and deepest lake in JNP. It is about 15 miles long and has many hiking trails including some small loop hikes. We had some chicken salad that Sandy had made earlier and the had a leisurely hike up to Moose Lake. A 40% chance of intermittent showers had been forecasted for the day and we managed to be out hiking for most of the 40%.
After the Moose Lake walk we went down to one of the other sights recommended by the Park Staff, Maligne Canyon. This is a steep gorge of limestone bedrock cut through by the rushing waters from Maligne Lake. It was raining when we arrived so we headed for the “Tea Room” and had some tea and apple strudel. We sure haven’t shorted ourselves in the desert department!
After the rain stopped we wandered down over five bridges over the deeply cut gorge. It was very impressive but I’m not sure the photos will do it justice. The power of that water cutting through the narrow canyon is immense.

DOMINOES! Sandy brought dominoes with her and we played a game the first night we met at her cousin’s home on Vancouver Island. For some reason we haven’t played since until this week. Now I’m really enjoying it and Sandy is going to take her tiles and head for Florida.
I think that Daniel and Karis would like dominos and I’m hoping that I can find someone(s) (you know who you are) to play with me in Lompoc.

DAWSON CREEK to GRANDE CACHE, ALBERTA

We are heading out onto the prairie today. At least that is what I think since Dawson Creek seems to originally be a farm town.

No, it wasn’t just farmland today. There were mixed forests of evergreen and deciduous trees interspersed with areas of farming carved out of the forests. I guess the real farm land is more to the East of Dawson Creek.
Deer were often along the highway. I was excited when I saw a moose that already had horns developing. Up to now they have all been bare-headed. Then I saw an elk with a full rack. I tried to get a picture but it was too blurry.
Grande Cache has a surprise as you come into town. There is a large generating station which looks as though it also mines coal. Major industries are oil and gas, coal, power generation.
The municipal camp ground is very nice with electricity and even wi-fi if you take your computer up to the laundry room!

FORT ST. JOHN to DAWSON CREEK

Dawson Creek Elevator. There used to be a whole row of these along the Rail Road Track.

Our "farewell" Dinner

Saturday, July 11

Fort St. John is a lovely little town. We stayed in Charlie Lake Provincial Park which is about 5 miles from town. It is Saturday so there was a Farmers Market to check out.

There were lots of baked goods and some nice fruits and vegetables. A number of the stalls featured Saskatoon Berries which are about the size of blueberries but grow on a tree. We bought a rhubarb and Saskatoon berry crisp to share and some rhubarb/Saskatoon berry jam.

Fort St. John has a WalMart. In Fairbanks I purchased a camera at WalMart because my camera was acting weird. Last year in Turkey it broke down and when I got home I sent it to Canon and it was repaired. I thought the same thing might be happening again and didn’t want to be caught without a camera.

The camera has been ok and the one I bought did not have the zoom capability that I like so I went to return it. Sandy thought I should tell you the story of the “return” but for now suffice it to say that it took nearly two hours AND I still have the camera.

It was a short drive to Dawson Creek but it was nearly 3:00 before I got there.

This is Mile Zero on the Alaskan Highway and was to be the end of our trip as originally planned. Sherrie and I would have been heading toward Seattle while Joyce, Ron and Sandy would head East.
The Alaska Hotel which Ron and Joyce had planned as the location of our “farewell” dinner has closed its restaurant so we had our “dinner” at Caruso’s and gave a toast to our missing travelers. Joyce, Ron and Sherrie, we have had a marvelous time and we have missed being able to share it with you. God willing you will all be able to do “Our Trip” next year.

I liked Dawson Creek immediately. As you enter town from the northwest there is a large old grain elevator proclaiming that you have arrived in Dawson Creek. It was so familiar as it reminded me of the farming communities in Kansas.

We visited “Ground Zero” and took a photo and then went to the Alaska Highway House which tells the story of the Alaska Highway. We watched the PBS documentary on the construction of the highway. It was very interesting to watch AFTER the journey. Now we can say “Oh, Yes, I remember seeing that”. Both Sandy and I had watched similar films before our journey.

WATSON LAKE TO LIARD HOT SPRINGS

The boardwalk through the lush plant and boggy land made it

easy for us to get to the Springs. I wonder how the boys did it in 1942
Liard Hot Springs 2009

I can't imagine how much these soldiers enjoyed the springs.

The work on that highway was brutal. The shifts were 12 hours on, 12 hours off.

Since it was mostly daylight they could work all around the clock.

Liard HOT Springs, 1942

Wednesday, July 08

We have been told a lot about Liard Hot Springs. We hope to get there in time to find a spot at the Provincial Park.

Later…
This is a wonderful little park. We hurried down the road today in order to get a place in the Provincial Park since if you stay there the cost of the hot springs is waived. We found a spot and by 2:00pm we were soaking our cares away.
In the evening we followed a ranger down the boardwalk (to the springs) and learned a little about the plant life in the area and how it has adapted to the warm waters. The walk is planed so that the ranger ends up at the Springs and everyone can go soak again. The place was just full of people and I had forgotten to bring my camera (again) so I walked back to the camp with Sandy.

I decided to earn my hot springs experience by washing all the windows on the Roadtrek before returning to a very peaceful and nearly deserted pool. The water ranges from tepid at the lowest pool to hotter than you can stand at the upper end. What luxury! I slept like a baby!

LIARD HOT SPRINGS TO TETSA RIVER REGIONAL PARK

Thursday, July 09, 2009

I am usually relatively good with East, West, North, and South. Those who know me know that I am “right-left” challenged but that I know where North is.

Therefore, it was annoying this morning after driving for ten minutes to realize that I was headed back towards Whitehorse and points north. I was going west when I should have turned the other direction and be going South East. I wish I could say it was overcast but it really wasn’t. The sun just seems to behave a little different up here. It’s not exactly in the “right position”. Sandy asked me if I looked at the compass installed in the rearview mirror of the Roadtrek. Duh! I did eventually when I “felt” that something was wrong.

In any case, the drive today was through some beautiful country with unusual striations in the mountains. They were all buckled up by the movement of the continental shelf and appear to have been folded in upon themselves. The erosion of the last 45 million years has now exposed that long ago action.

Animals were all around today. There were bison, black bear, elk, caribou and the small stone sheep which is indigenous to this area.

Tetsa River Regional Park was a good choice. It was a peaceful evening with a view out the back window of the river. The folks next door are from Eugene, Oregon but didn’t know cousins Michael and Mary Foster. They looked like teachers so I thought the might. J
They are on a fishing trip and I shared my book, Guide to the Alaska Highway, written by Ron Dalby. It is a good book with lots of tips on the highway, where to find fuel, campgrounds, out of the way places, and fishing holes. I figure that friends Jan and Rich are going to inherit it for their trip to Alaska next year. Rich fishes, I don’t.


TETSA RIVER REGIONAL PARK to CHARLIE LAKE PROVENCIAL PARK

Friday, July 10

If we had been told how far we would drive today I would have said “No Way!” Our original plan was to drive a little over 200 miles but when we came to the park that we had selected from the Milepost we had second thoughts. The fact that it had been raining some and there were muddy puddles and potholes to drive through may have prompted our decision to press on. We checked out a couple of other RV parks and then just decided to press on to Charlie Lake. We ended up driving nearly 300 miles.

DAWSON PEAK RESORT TO WATSON LAKE

Dawson Peak Lodge was chosen for last night because of a book I read a few years ago, Dead North by Sue Henry. It turns out she has quite a following. The book I read involved a lady detective, a small RV and a trip through up the Alaskan Highway.

There was a couple at the campground who have read all of her books and have chosen the parts of Alaska and the North based on her discriptions. They suggested I get her first book, Murder on the Iditarod Trail and read them in order. :)

Tomorrow we will travel to Liard Hot Springs, the subject of another of her books.

LEAVING ALASKA

Monday, July 06

It’s a bittersweet day. The journey is not over but today we leave Alaska for the last time on this trip. This is beautiful country and I would urge you to make your plans and come up and experience it yourself. I know that I want to come back. The Northern Lights and the Ice Sculptures in Fairbanks in February, the Yukon-Charlie National Wilderness, the Cassier Highway… there is so much more to experience up here. I’m just leaving and already I am being called to return. If God is willing, I will!

BENNETT LAKE…the END OF THE CHILKOOT TRAIL

A thrilling ride on a narrow gauge track

Trail through Dead Horse Gulch on the White Pass Trail of 98. So many animals were lost on this trail that it had to be closed for a month because of the stench. This trail was the alternative to packing your 1 ton of supplies over the Chilcoot Trail.

Replica of the boats that were built at the top of the Chilkoot.

Bennett Lake where the Chilkoot Trail ends and the Stampeders built their boats for the ride down to the Yukon River

Sunday, July 05

This is our last day in Alaska and we spent it on the White Pass and Yukon Narrow Gauge Railroad which runs from Skagway, Alaska to Carcross (Caribou Crossing) in the Yukon. It used to run all the way to Whitehorse.

(See post on July 3rd for more on this trail.)