Day 34

Well, it finally happened.  We have crossed the Canadian/United States Border and I could KISS the ground.  We had to stop one last time to prepare lunch in the rig right after we cleared customs.  The sun was shining and I was delighted.  My cheese and lettuce sandwich tasted like a prime rib roast and all the fixings.

As we near Lake Forest Park, I'm thinking, where shall I begin to unload the rv.  After 4 hours of unloading, my legs are giving way to tiredness and are slowing down. 

I mentioned in an earlier blog that one person in our group is always on the look out for a Golden Corral Buffet Restaurant.  So I have promised that one person, that we'll take him to Old Country Buffet in Lynnwood for dinner.  He was as happy as a mosquito landing on a big juicy arm.  There must have been a notice sent out, Old Country Buffet appeared to be very well on Wednesday with kids meals at 99 cents from 5:00 - 9:00pm.

Well, this OLD body is giving up the ghost.  It's around 10:00pm and it just won't go any further. 

I would like to personally thank all our followers as we journeyed many miles but mostly want to acknowledge that it was God's hand on us that we returned safe and sound, so giving Him the glory and honor, THANK YOU MY LORD AND SAVIOR for your traveling grace and mercy.  

This is the end of our trip for John and I but our prayers will be with June and Anna as they continue to travel back to home.  Until we meet again, God Bless!

Day 32

July 15 - Monday

We finally had to say good bye to Chetwynd and the wonderful wood carvings that will last in our memory for years to come.  Yesterday we decided to take a ride and see what the Canadian's First Nations were about. As we traveled over paved and mostly dirt roads, we found two communities of First Nations.  Very modern living, nothing like the First Nations on the Coastal areas.  They maintained their own schools, health department, if you will, and a community area that sometimes held a past rodeo, maybe a baseball park, and a large Day Care Center.

I think I have seen enough of roads, houses, museums and parks.  I'm ready for this trip to be over.

On a sad note while driving to Quesnel, BC, a baby deer was on the side of the road and it became very confused what to do.  Both rigs stopped but the other side (going North) apparently was in more of a hurry and slowed down but not stopped and YES, the baby deer was hit.  It fought it's way across the street down a ravine and was not spotted after that.  I just don't understand why we (as a people)are in such a hurry especially when wild animals are on the roadway and there is plenty of time to stop and wait for the animal to move.

The RV park that we have stopped for the night is very, very nice.  REAL grass and NO mosquitos.  The RV Park (Airport RV Park) had been a drive-in movie theater at one time.  Those born before the 60's will remember them and what a great time one could have waiting for it to get dark enough to see the picture on the big screen.  I think many babies were conceived during this era, don't you?  Something about their pizza's were the best and OMG the hot dogs, YES!!!!!!

The hosts have managed this property for 20 years and just recently (4 years) have managed it as a RV park.  They have applied for Good Sam's approval as a RV Park.  I'm sure they will make it from what I can see.

I just happened to ask a Good Sam's approved RV park just how did they become part of the Organization.  And they in fact were having their RV park inspected by Good Sam the following day.  There are certain amenities RV parks must have in acceptable conditions. 

Well, this is my input for the day.

Day 31

Day 31, July 14 – Sunday

Chetwynd is known for its chainsaw wood carving contest in the second week in June.  This is the event we had just missed a week late on our way north so we decided to come back on our way south and look at the sculptured pieces.  There are 130 plus sculptures which have been distributed around the city.  They are placed at businesses and parks and the city had developed a map with pictures of each sculpture and either walking or driving directions.  They still have sculptures on the main highway to draw visitors attention, which it does, for you see, we are back. 

I believe June and Anna have taken all the pictures of the wooden sculptures.  Anna said she will give a presentation on her trip at her church but she is only allowed 3 minutes.  THIS WILL BE AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT.  There is NO WAY Anna can do that.  However, Anna has Plan B.  Plan B will be to have the pictures all printed and everyone can view the pictures and ask her questions.  I see Anna spending one hour at least explaining the pictures.   It may take several years to explain all the pictures.  Anna is having a great time. 

Let me tell you about our dinner plans.  When we reach our day destination, sometimes the question will be, what do you (John, Anna, Conne, June) want to eat?  And usually the answer has been, I don’t know.  One person in our group is always on the lookout for Golden Corral Buffet, another person maybe looking for fried chicken and the other two are just puzzled at the question.  Well in Chetwynd we saw a sign that said “Buffet” Friday and Saturday, 5:00pm – 9:00pm.  The time was 4:30pm so we had ½ hour to kill or wait.  So we went chainsaw sculpture sighting.  After a while, we decided it was at least 5:00pm so we went back toward the restaurant.  We found another restaurant on the way and decided to look at their menu before we decided to eat.  We went next to the Buffet Restaurant and compared the two menus.  The choice was given and no one wanted to make the call, so we flipped an imaginary coin and the restaurant that won was NOT the Buffet one.  Needless to say, someone had a very strange look on his face thinking we were going back to the buffet restaurant.  Sometimes you buffet and sometimes you don’t.

Speaking of food, you never know what your meal really will look or taste like.  Believe me here, I have had many surprises.  Even breakfast items, simple breakfast, eggs, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, the basic breakfast items can be a surprise - another personal lesson I’ve learned.

That saying, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks is so untrue.  Not only have I learned new tricks, but the tricks keep coming. 

God has a lot on His hands.  Pray that He survives.  hahahahahaha 

Day 30

Day 30, Saturday, July 13

It rained the entire day while traveling.  The Fort St. John Visitor Center was great.  The young lady that helped us was very helpful in giving us ideas or suggestions what to do and where to go on our way South.  At first she was kinda pushy, wanting to know our plans, which we really never had any solid plans from jump street.  But after a while, we were able to connect with her after we showed her our tentative route.  From there it was all good.

With more brochures in hand and a new breath of life, we were off to check out Ft. St. John.  We found Tony Roma's, a Restaurant known to have great BBQ. Our waitress appeared to be pregnant but she wasn’t.  This was determined AFTER Conne asked her when she was due.  Do I really need to complete this sentence.  Some you win and some go in a different direction not expected.

After dinner, we decided to try our luck in a casino.Som ebody won!  Somebody lost!

And two somebodys'  just stood around with folded arms and strategized how to win.  Everyone has their calling.

Day 29

Day 29, July 12 – Friday

 

This is washday for me but going to the RV parks' laundry center, I’m not the only one with that idea, so tomorrow will be the day to wash, maybe early in the am before new campers/RV'ers come in for the day.  In Alaska and BC, folks drive for long hours because it never gets dark, especially in AK at this time of the year.  Speaking of which, it has been challenging going to bed at what I call a decent  time (10:30pm) because it looks like 4:00pm.  We cover the windows with aluminum insulation that you purchase at places like Home Depot, Lowes, or any home improvement store.  Then you can cut to your specific size.   It helps quite a lot but still the light manages to come through.  I’ve taken pictures in Fairbanks at 12:30am and the sun was shining bright.  SO UNBELIEVABLE!  I guess it’s all what you get used to and what you are willing to accept.   The other side of all this day light is it catches up with Alaska and then they have 20 hours of dark.   Now that would be the breaking line for me to stay away during the winter.  It’s bad enough when day light starts around 7:00am and the  sun sets around 4:00pm around October so I guess I’ll never experience a winter in Alaska.

One RV park is starting to look and feel like the next one.  They are all dusty, rocky and Lord if it rains, muddy.   Not only are the RVs dirty outside but there is no stopping the dust inside in the living quarters as well as all the cargo hold.  At every stop Anna and I are busy wiping the dust away off the tables, counters and dash board.  I don’t know about the boys but the girls always feel dusty when we stop.  So I guess I don’t have to tell you that at each stop the car windows are caked with road dirt, just like a real country road after the rain.  There are many lessons to be learned on this trip, some personal but mostly how to travel more efficiently with a tow vehicle.  Before anyone gets the wrong idea about personal, let me extend this sentence.  Slip on shoes are far better than tie up shoes.   One, for dusty RV parks or when it has rained, it’s easier to slip them off at the door than try to walk into the RV with dusty muddy shoes.  Boots are good.  Get in your mind that you are not going to a 4-5 star RV park so don’t expect a cement pad.  Everything has been rocks and what’s left of weeds, almost like the KOA’s campsites in many parks.  We encountered two wild fires and the first one I wished I had a kerchief so instead I lifted up my blouse over my nose as a barrier from the smell of smoke.  So you see there are several personal lessons I have learned.  OK enough of that.

One thing I’m missing on this trip to Alaska are the real 1^st Nations' villages.  John suggested maybe they are more inland which we have been keeping on the main highway and adventuring off just a little.

Tomorrow we are heading to Ft. St. John, a place we didn’t stop on the way up.   

Day 28

Day 28, July 11-Thursday

No one suggested that we eat at the restaurant this morning so I guess we’ll all have our normal breakfast in our rigs before we move on.

There is a point of interest (Toad River) at Milepost 422 that brags about having the largest collection of hats in the world.  So off we go into the wild cloudy and rainy yonder.  Feels like home and I’m in my memory zone.
 

Part of the hat collection at Toad River

Well, someone may have told the truth about the hats.  There were many, I say, many hats of all kinds.  Baseball caps seem to be the most popular display but there were also straw, military and cowboy hats.  I was fortunate to see a hat that had “OPRAH’S CREW” written on it.  I wonder if Oprah’s crew really came by here.  This stop included:  a Post Office, restaurant, gift & souvenir shop, grocery store & the Greyhound Bus Stop all within this 40 x 40 sq. foot building.  They even offered fresh baked goods.  It’s amazing how much they had squeezed into this space.  However, there was a down side to all of this in one place, especially if you wanted something to eat.  It appeared several people had waited for service to eat and I think they finally gave up.  Not enough help.  It’s one of those situation, when it’s slow you have more help than you need and then you turn around and folks are piling in and you don’t have enough help.  It’s damn if you do and damn if you don’t.  Sorry for the language.

Well this visit didn’t last too long, it seems that our timing was the same as many as other vacationers reading the same books or brochures and want to pack in as much as possible on their adventure or journey.  I couldn’t  persuade John to leave his NAARVA (National African American RVers Association) hat or June his Vietnam Veterans hat.  Maybe next time.

Day 27

Day 27, July 10 – Wednesday

We are finding internet service not working in most places even though RV Parks advertise Wi-Fi but good luck in getting on and being able to stay on.

Right now, I’ve decided to stop taking pictures for the most part.  How many Bison and Moose pictures can you take and still be interesting?  THAT MANY!

Our stop is at Coal River RV Park today.  It’s pretty windy and of course dust is flying around.  This has been one trip where everything has gotten dusty and dirty.  I’ll take at least one week to clean everything.

Tonight we’ll eat at the restaurant.  Why did I say that!

John and June had Bison burgers, Anna had a Denver omelet sandwich and I had a veggie omelet.  I’m glad we have food in our rigs for the following day.

As you can tell not much happened to day so I’ll stop the unnecessary chatter. 

Day 23 Fairbanks to Tok

 

 

 

Official end of the north terminus of the Alcan Highway at Delta Junction

Oscar hitching a mosquito ride while "Dad" looks on

Conne's not too sure if this thing will attack!

Knotty Shop burl wood creations

John has tamed these two monsters

Day 20-21-22 Fairbanks

We have been having trouble getting a stable internet connection, so we have not been able to post for a few days. Finally, in Teslin, Yukon Territory, we are able to use the WiFi, so will try to catch up on pictures for the moment.



In Fairbanks, we settled in at the Riverside RV park.

We started our day with a visit to Pioneer Park for a 4th of July celebration.   

“HAPPY 4^TH  OF JULY”

What do you think of when you hear “Theme Park?”  For many, theme park will mean super duper roller coasters, endless rides that may have your stomach playing “will I or won’t I”.  Well, allow me to tell you about another type of Theme Park.

Pioneer Theme Park was very unique.  First of all, it was free to enter and the only cost involved special shows.  Because this was the 4^th of July, our US Army men and women were abuzz and American flags were given to all by several Boy Scout troops as they entered the park.  It was a very festive atmosphere to celebrate our freedom.

A paddle wheel boat was decorated with Old Glory Banners.  The ceremony began with remembering our country and the ones who had kept and those who are still keeping it safe from harm.  This is always a very emotional time for me to reflect for those who have paid the ultimate price, just as Jesus paid the ultimate price for one and for many, and for those who continue to defend our country by leaving their families for the sake of many families. 

For those wondering about this Theme Park, it revealed not only our past but how much we have advanced in technology.  Following is a collection of pictures of items I remember as a little girl or items before my time.  So follow me through the 20’s, 30’s and on to today,

Oh! By the way, there was only one electric ride in the whole Theme Park.  It was the carousel.  This Theme Park had the theme of the Alaskan past.  One new event that was the first for me since this trip was a contest between sled dogs.  The dogs pull sleds different weights and it continues until there is a winner with the fastest time. The winner pulled a sled that weighed almost 2000 pounds!!!!! As you can see, most of the dogs were Saint Bernards

This sternwheeler plied the rivers of the Yukon.

We made another short trip to view the famous Alyeska Pipeline.

The pipeline runs 800 miles from the oil fields at Prudoe Bay to t he tanker terminal at Valdez. Remember the EXXON Valdez tanker that ran aground in Prince William Sound spilling 11 millions barrels of crude?

Cross-section of the pipeline showing a "pig" that is used to clean the inside of the pipe.

The pipe is 4-feet in diameter and is covered with an insulated jacket.

 Then we were off to pan for gold and strike it rich in the gold fields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think there is some gold in here!

 

 
 Yep, there it is!!!!!

 

 

 



Gold Dredge #8

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Anna’s Musings 3

My grandson asked me while visiting Alaska, would I go to the North Pole and ask Santa how is he behaving. Will his Christmas list be filled this year with his request?.

 I did go to the North Pole but I had to stand in line with a lot of other parents and grandparents to get pictures for their children and grandchildren. (but I was very lucky Santa went to lunch at noon.

I saw only four of his reindeer resting in their sheds.

Well, let’s get back to some serious activities, like panning for gold. Gold Dredge 8 had this activity that supplied a “poke” filled with pay dirt right out of their sluice box. It was guaranteed that you would find Gold. You would be happy to know that I found three little specks, so I put them in a little container and in my pocket it went for a souvenir.

I went to see another one of Alaska’s wonders, the famous TransAlaska Pipeline and actually touched it.

A breathtaking view of the highest mountain in the US, the four-mile high Mt. Denalil (previously known as Mt. McKinley) was seen from Denali National Park.

Day 19 Mt. Denali

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday was quite cloudy with misty rain and a very chilly wind. Today the sun is out and we were hoping for great scenery and wildlife viewing on our 53-mile bus trip to Toklat River today. I hope we are not disappointed.

Our 53-mile trip from Visitor Center (top right) to Tolkat River (above Eielson Visitor Center). Mt. Denali is at bottom left.

We were very fortunate to get a view of Mt. Denali's twin peaks in the clouds above the spruce tree in the foreground.

A closer view of Mt. Denali's twin peaks. Look closely in the clouds and you can see them!

Blond and brown Grizzly bears. I think the brown bear is trying to make a move on the blond bear.

There is a caribou cow and calf out there in the river bed. The cow is on the left and the calf is a tiny dot about 2.5 inches to the right of the cow.

Close-up of the caribou cow.

Yes Anna, there is a Dall sheep up there. It's that little white dot in the grassy area above the brown patch of rocks.

There are a few places where the road is one-lane with no shoulder or guard rail.

This antler from a 14-year old moose weighed about 20 pounds.