Jun 23, 2017 - the long and arduous drive to Chicken, Alaska

I woke up especially early this Friday morning as it was the day of action. It was my decision to take the scooter across the river first, then park it on the other side and make it back to the RV. In my excitement I forgot having read a sign that the ferry which operates on demand 24 hours a day has maintenance on Friday morning from 5 - 6 am. Here I was the lone person waiting in line when I man approached me and explained that it would be best if I returned at 6:15 am. That I did and rode the scooter onto the ferry without difficulty....

Jun 23, 2017 - Still in Seward where fishing continues

I have been doing the combat fishing thing for three days now. I have given away as many fish as I have kept. The law in Alaska allows six fish per day in your possession. Some days I have still felt like fishing, so I keep giving away my #6 fish and get to continue fishing until I keep fish #6. Works for me and works for the chap next to me that is not having much luck. There is a trick to hooking and keeping one of these big salmon on the line. When they start dancing across the surface of the ocean and shaking from head to tail trying to...

Jun 22, 2017 - A sunny day in Dawson City, YT - Canada's Wild West

We settled in the Bonanza Gold RV campground. Found it a bit rough around the edges but functioning well enough for our well deserved rest. My early morning task was to locate a replacement motorcycle helmet. I did indeed succeed in a store selling sporting and industrial items. While this helmet with camouflage cover is no match for the one I lost by whatever means it may have been, it fit and serves the purpose. After a hefty breakfast I took Josef on a ride to the famous "# 4 Gold Dredge". Being that Josef is a prospective Eagle Scout I...

Jun 21, 2017 - Seward, Alaska June 21, 2017

I think it has been four or five days since my last post. Even though it stays daylight up here for 20 hours, there still is not enough time to do everything fun to do. I need to come home to get some rest. Well, maybe in four or five years.....Ha ha. Good news, my brother is home from the hospital and friend Marjorie is doing well after having open heart surgery. Thanks for the prayers, folks. It certainly helps. We have been off the grid for a few days while we were at the Russian river Federal Forest service campground. I viewed about...

Jun 21, 2017 - Wednesday, June 21st 2017 - Summer Solstice on the way to Dawson City, YT

We left Carmacks at 8 am and crossed the Yukon River for the first time in our lives. The Klondike Highway is actually quite good with some exceptions. The scenery is mostly mundane with some exceptions. We learned to look out for the little red flags planted along the road advising that bumps or potholes are ahead. Early in the drive we spotted a young Grizzly Bear on the roadside munching on Dandelions. Over the week end we learned of a 16 year old boy being mauled to death by a Black Bear in the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska's largest...

Jun 20, 2017 - the long road back to Whitehorse, YT and north to Carmacks on the Yukon

The day of our departure from Hains was a bit dreary and clouds hung in the mountains. By 5:30 am two cruise ships past silently up the Lynn Canal to Skagway. The second of them clearly a Holland America liner. While I kid Carlotta that she probably would rather be sipping wine and enjoy the luxury of a verandah cabin on board, I must confess that there are times when I feel so too! My argument on the subject of cruising on the ocean in the lap of luxury vs cruising on land in a motor home is that the earlier version requires very little...

Jun 19, 2017 - Monday, a mostly rainy day in Haines, AK

Our plans to ride up the 9 miles to Chilkoot lake and try a little fishing went down the drain as intermittent rain showers graced the morning. Haines is entirely dependent on good weather to be high on the appreciation list at least for visitors. We decided to tour the famous American Bald Eagle Foundation and were in time for the 12 noon Aviary presentation. Two young women, both apparently college ladies doing a summer stint gave us an excellent presentation about raptors. The museum hosts hundreds of superbly preserved animals in a life...

Jun 19, 2017 - Off to Valdez

Valdez, AK is not on the way to anywhere else. It's located on Prince William Sound on the southcentral coast of Alaska. The Richardson Highway, which runs north-south, connects Fairbanks to Valdez. During gold rush days, the highway was known as the Richardson Trail. When we left Tok we took the Tok Cut-off to the Richardson Highway, and headed south toward Valdez. Our first stop was the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Headquarters and Visitor Center near Glennallen. Wrangell-St.Elias is the largest national park in the US, and the...

Jun 18, 2017 - a sunny Sunday in Haines, AK

The day started early as Josef insisted to be woken at 5:30 am. He obviously had big plans with the fish he was to catch in the little bay this day. I am normally the first one up but this day's awakening went awry. When I looked on my trusty alarm clock it was 6:17 am and I was in shock. Josef was not terribly upset and said that he will rise at 6:30am. And so it happened. He had his kayak all set to go and rolled it to the boat launch. I followed him with final instructions. As Josef paddled away apparently a happy fellow it dawned on me...

Jun 18, 2017 - Ferry to Skagway

Had a great walk through town early in the morning. Saw lots of boats at the harbor. Drove around town and to Chulkoot Lake before heading to ferry. Watched everyone loading into the ferry (They made all trailers back in). Abby was so scared she set in Mom's lap. Took a nice walk around Skagway and hiked to a view point. This 10 miles or more day is killing us!! We need a vacation from our parents!!! Off to Canada tomorrow.

Jun 17, 2017 - Still heading north

Fairbanks is the northern most point we travel to in Alaska. The sun rose at 2.59am this morning and will not set until 12.45 am tomorrow morning. We are not seeing any night time at the moment. Although we are only 150 miles from the Arctic Circle it's too bright at night time to be able to see the Northern Lights. We would have to wait until winter to see them. This morning we were taken on a lovely paddle boat ride on the Chena River. Along the way a float plane took off and landed along side the boat. The pilot was in touch with the...

Jun 17, 2017 - the drive to Haines, Alaska

We did break camp at 8 am sharp but discovered that our fresh water supply was near empty. I made a reservation in an Ocean view campground but did not yet have confirmation. If the place was full we would have to opt for one of the two public lands campgrounds which typically do not have water or electricity. It was incumbent upon us that we should add to our fresh water supply, which usually takes 15 - 20 minutes. Now we were on the road and I had to look out for a truck stop fuel station equipped with an air pump that would produce more...