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 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 - 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 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 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...

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 - 8" of snow

Another beautiful morning in Paradise, left camp and found our first grizzly bear feeding on the side of the road. He was one big dude! Spent the day watching the clouds shift so we could see high mountain peaks. Crossed the pass, 3564 ft, highest on the Alcan Highway with 8" of fresh snow on the ground. Took several short hikes in the Kluane National Park. Mom and dad saw a spectacular waterfall but wouldn't let us go because they were afraid we would try to go swimming. We did swim at Kathleen Lake, the water was so cold we decided to...

Jun 16, 2017 - Back in Soldotna after Homer June 16, 2017

I am supposed to be nice, but really, I must be somewhat critical about my latest fishing adventure. Homer, Alaska is known around the world for it's giant halibut catches. My halibut fishing trip out of Homer turned into more of a boat ride than a real exciting fishing trip. A twelve hour plus boat ride to be exact. Maybe I was spoiled from my charter out of Valdez and my expectations were too high. We were on the water at 0545 hours and returned to port at 1815 hours (that is almost 6 am to a little after 6 pm for those who do not...

Jun 16, 2017 - The drive to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

we did enjoy Boya Lake PP a great deal. Carlotta and I did the hike along the wooded shoreline in alternately sunny and then overcast weather. Josef was in hot pursuit of the elusive fish. While I am a dedicated fisherman I have not proven to be a very successful "catcherman" to be of great guidance to the boy. Also if truth be told my daytime job of driving the Beaver is demanding at times. We have been blessed with alternatively good to fair weather and thank god in Boya Lake no trace of the mosquitoes that plagued us at Meziadin Lake...

Jun 15, 2017 - A day in the Alaskan Wilderness

We are now in the real Alaska. On our last day in Anchorage we did a short cruise on a lake that took us up to the face of the Portage Clacier. We then strolled down to Ship Creek where the salmon have started running and watched as local fisherman were casting into the fast moving River and pulling in enormous fish, the poor salmon have so many obstacles to overcome as they return home to spawn after four years at sea. After leaving Anchorage we had another cruise train that took us to Mt McKinley for the night. At Mt McKinley we visited a...