Yes, we did make it home after having trouble on the road. We had a warning light come up on the dash but, fortunately we were near a Ford dealer in Sioux City that could work on large vehicles.
We were lucky because we could drive to the dealer and did not require a wrecker to get the coach repaired.
The transmission had to be rebuilt and it was all under warranty. The dealer could not have been more helpful and we believe that the transmission will give several miles of trouble free driving.
For those of you who have been reading our blog we hope that it has been enjoyable and we will continue our blog when we are off on our next adventure.
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Monday, August 21, 2017
Homeward Bound
Crossing the border back into the United States went quickly
with no delay. We camped at Lewis and
Clark Campground again in Shelby, Montana.
That evening we were treated to one of the best
sunsets we have ever
seen. It was glorious!
On Monday we arrived in Bozeman and stayed at the Bozeman
Hot Springs campground. Adjoining the campground
were the hot springs which have recently been remodeled. It was a pleasure to
sit and let the warmth of the water relax every muscle in our body. We enjoyed
our second visit with family including the game Aggravation and soaking in the
hot springs.
Thursday was our anniversary and we took a drive to the
Yellowstone lodge for our lunch and like clockwork Old Faithful erupted on
time. It continues to be a popular
attraction which inspires all who see it.
Today we have been delayed due to a problem with the
transmission. We took the coach to the
Ford Dealer who ordered a part and should be on the road tomorrow. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
Bettie and I are looking forward to returning to Indiana and
seeing the Hoosier landscape and home.
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Ahh........Back to Civilization
We have learned what it is like to not have cell phone or
internet service. After leaving Skagway
we traveled through Teslin, Dease Lake, Stewart, and Smithers. Even the internet service that was offered in
the campgrounds was intermittent. So, we
have gotten behind in our posting of our trip.
a road through the bush to get it to the Teslin. You had to admire his ingenuity. He took his car to cross the lake to go hunting in the winter but, the dark car was easy to spot against the snow. So…he painted it white with house paint to blend in with the surroundings, and later in the year he gave it another coat of dark paint to again blend in with the darker foliage.
On our way to Dease Lake we stopped at Jade City. I was amazed at the size of the jade stones
which were being cut. All jade that I
had previously seen were small stones used to adorn jewelry. The jade at this shop were as large boulders. We watched the jade being cut by large circular saws into smaller pieces that could be carved into small statues or polished and used as jewelry. We purchased a few items including new earrings for Bettie.
had previously seen were small stones used to adorn jewelry. The jade at this shop were as large boulders. We watched the jade being cut by large circular saws into smaller pieces that could be carved into small statues or polished and used as jewelry. We purchased a few items including new earrings for Bettie.
We had our last dinner with the group at Smithers and headed to Bozeman on the Ice Fields Hwy. but, smoke from the over 120 forest fires prevented us from taking good photos of the amazing scenery.
Looking forward to the visit with the kids in Montana.
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Flowers Galore
the train engine with the rotary snowplow were in a peaceful park.
Today we visited the Jewell Gardens and Glassblowing Studio. We had a scrumptious lunch which ended with homemade rhubarb pie. We strolled through the gardens and admired the variety of showy flowers. There were also vegetables and fruit growing at Jewell Gardens. The gardens began in the early 1900’s with the main crop of rhubarb. The owner grew this crop because many of the early settlers suffered from scurvy which can be prevented by adding fruit to one’s diet. As we walked along the garden paths, we enjoyed the many whimsical animals of glass which had been placed there.
Tomorrow we leave Pullen RV Park and say goodbye to Skagway and head toward Teslin.
Juneau - The Capital of Alaska
After boarding the ship we saw more whales and sea lions,
and saw Elder Rock Lighthouse which is the oldest original lighthouse in Alaska
and the only remaining octagonal lighthouse.
If you find this interesting, is it up for sale by the Coast Guard.
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Prince William Sound Cruise
Everyone was in awe as we approached Meares Glacier. As we
neared the glacier we saw many icebergs with birds and sea lions resting on top. While viewing the glacier we heard the cracking of the ice just before calving. The Meares Glacier was breathtaking.
neared the glacier we saw many icebergs with birds and sea lions resting on top. While viewing the glacier we heard the cracking of the ice just before calving. The Meares Glacier was breathtaking.
Upon our return we saw fishing boats laying nets to catch salmon. It involved the fishing boat with a smaller boat pulling the net out into the bay in a circle which surrounded the fish. The net was then tightened until the salmon were trapped and, it was then pulled into the fishing boat. It was quite an operation.
Right before we docked the captain described the refinery,
oil pipeline, tanks, and the safety measures that are now in place to prevent
any future oil spills.
Friday, July 28, 2017
Valdez - A Menagerie of Wildlife
We arrived at Bear Paw Campground in Valdez and the
campsites were within walking distant to the docks. After setting up we visited the fish hatchery
which incubates salmon. When the salmon
return to the site where they were born, they are stopped from
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Kenai Fjord and Sea Life Galore
The Kenai Tour Company provides several tours to view the abundant sea life found in the Kenai Fjord. We took a six hour tour that provide many opportunities to see animals in their natural environment and to see several glaciers.

First, we saw many sea lions basking in the sun along the rocky ledges. As we watched the sea lions we also puffins on the rocks and in the water.
Next we saw otters floating on their backs relaxing in Holgate Bay and we were fortunate to find a pod of humpback whales. They swam around the ship, surfaced, blew water out their blowholes, and showed their unique tails as they dove back into the water.


After seeing several animals we saw the Holgate Glacier. What a dramatic sight. It was huge!


After seeing several animals we saw the Holgate Glacier. What a dramatic sight. It was huge!
Saturday, July 22, 2017
More Than Seward's Follies

This morning we visited the Alaska Sealife Center. We were treated to a presentation by an biologist who explained the life habits of the many birds that inhabit the area. We were especially interested in the cute Puffins who typically have one mate for their lifetime and raise one chick a year.
This afternoon we traveled to the Kenai Fjords which have several glaciers. It was a sunny day and we hiked up to the Exit Glacier Edge. On the trail they had placed signs with dates to indicate
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Surf Sailing on the Kachemak Bay
cliff which had a awesome view of the spit and Homer. It was hard to believe that we are camped on that narrow finger of land that looks like a sandbar. We also saw a few glaciers that were between the mountain peaks.
After supper we looked out the windshield to the bay and what to our surprise we saw someone surf sailing on the bay. It was cool and we did not expect anyone out on the water. I still would not have wanted to be out there even in a wet suit.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Head in the Clouds - Homer
We have a great site on the spit which a narrow strip of land. We can look out our windshield and see Kachemak Bay and also see Cook Inlet out the back window. What a fantastic setting!
We had a great view of the valley in the middle which had a glacier that flows to the bay.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Anchorage Adventures
A bus tour was planned for Saturday and we began by seeing a
movie which documented the history of Anchorage. The first movie was about the heroic trip by
several dog teams who were delivering serum for diphtheria from Nenana to
Nome. The native population was facing
an outbreak of this disease and was in need of the medicine. This event is still
celebrated today with the Iditarod race which is approximately 1049 miles in
length.
Sunday we visited a huge farmers market. Many local artisans displayed their
wares. Bettie bought a couple of
items. After visiting the market we went
to Turnagain Arm where we saw a statue of Captain James Cook.
In his ship the “Resolution”, he was looking
for a north-west passage. During his
exploration he found several dead ends and told his crew to “turn again”. From this frequently used phrase the inlet
was named.
After lunch we went to the Alaskan Native Heritage Center
where we learned about the 11 tribes who were located in this area. The museum had many interesting artifacts and
demonstrated activities that were common to their culture. We saw two young men demonstrate a game where
sitting back to back each tried to force the other on his stomach. This game developed strength and
agility. Dancing was also performed to
illustrate their entertainment from the past.
A village of native structures has been constructed to represent the
buildings and activities practiced thousands of years ago.
Monday, we visited Earthquake Park which provided
information about the earthquake in 1964.
It
was a 9.2 quake which lifted and displaced 100,000 square miles. This not only destroyed many of the buildings
but, also caused a tsunami. The wave was
40 feet high and traveled 100 mph. The
wave was also a flame from the oil that had been spilled and was floating of
the water.
The Alaska Aviation Museum was another stop. The museum had several planes that
demonstrated the development of aviation in Anchorage beginning in 1917. One plane on display was an early plane that
crashed but, it was salvage by being repaired on the ice. After being repaired is was placed in service
in Alaska for several more years.
Bettie was pleased that we got to visit the Alaska Botanical
Gardens. It has a wide variety of plants
that can be grown in Alaska. We saw
flower, herb, and a rock garden.
We are thoroughly enjoying our trip and encountering a
variety of experiences.
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