Homeward Bound

On our last leg through Canada we traveled on the “Icefield Highway” through Alberta.  The views continued to be beautiful and showcased several glaciers.

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.

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.

The mountain views were awe-inspiring as we traveled to Teslin.  After arriving at Yukon RV Park we visited the George Johnston Museum.  He was a Native American who lived in the Teslin area all of his life.  He was bold and innovative. He was the first person who purchased a Kodak Brownie camera and documented events and activities of the residents.  Today he is still respected for his photos and praised for his efforts in chronicling the life of his clan.  In 1928 he purchased the first car in the Yukon when there were no roads.  That did not stop him.  He had it shipped by ship, and he cut

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.

Next we traveled to Stewart which is near Hyder, AK.  Up to this point in the trip we had only seen bears in the distance or quickly moving along the road before disappearing into the bush.  We drove to Hyde which is known for bear viewing.  Hyder Park has a wooden boardwalk which is designed to be a safe way to watch bears close by in safety.  In the morning we saw a black bear catching fish but, no grizzle bears.  We left and drove to Salmon Glacier.  What a rough road….we traveled at 15 miles an hour but, the journey was worth it.  The road took us to a peak where we could look down on the glacier and appreciate the vast area that it covered. That evening we went back and saw two grizzle bears which were no more than 10 feet away.  Now I have a least a dozen pictures.  It was exciting.

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. 

Flowers Galore

 During our stay at Skagway we took a train ride on the White Pass narrow gauge railroad up to

White Pass also known as Dead Horse Trail because so many horses died on this treacherous trail during the gold rush.  As we wound around the tight curves, passed over trestle bridges, and chugged up the steep grade, we appreciated the challenge the early miners faced on their journey to Dawson City to search for gold.

Back in Skagway we toured the quaint town and enjoyed the sights.  The Old 52 Steam Engine and

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.

The glassblowing studio had several hand blown glass pieces for sale that had been produced at this location.  We found one vase that we purchased as a reminder of our visit to Skagway.

Tomorrow we leave Pullen RV Park and say goodbye to Skagway and head toward Teslin.

Juneau - The Capital of Alaska

Traveling from Destruction Bay to Skagway was a glorious trip.  Finally the greens were greener, the blues bluer, and the snow on the mountain top sparkled like glass.  As we rode along Hwy 2 South we saw a spectacular lake which was named Emerald Lake or Rainbow Lake by the Native Americans.  It had a luminous glow that is caused by micro organisms that live in the lake.  

The next day after arriving at Skagway we took a cruise to Juneau which is the state capital.  It can only be reached by boat or plane and in the 1980’s there was a effort to move the capital closer to Anchorage, but the effort died after it was found that it would cost over 2 billion dollars to make the move.  While in Juneau we ate at the Red Dog Saloon which still reminded one of the old west. Inside there was an eclectic collection of items from the past.

On the ride back to the dock where we were to be picked up by the boat, we stopped at Mendenhall Glacier.   We walked a trail that allowed great views and photo opportunities of this huge glacier.  The area receives over 100 feet of snow annually.

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.