Saturday:  we drove to the end of Glacier Highway; you can do that here because there's just 40 miles of main highway (and over 240 miles of trails).  We saw many, many eagles flying, nesting, and probably eating fish because they didn't move much from the waters' edge.  Our pictures are a bit distant because when you move, they fly off and have you ever tried taking a picture of a bird in flight - just doesn't work well.  We also went to Glacier Gardens Rainforest http://www.glaciergardens.com and enjoyed a wonderful tour.  Then it was off to the Alaskan Brewery for an information session (they don't do tours anymore), tasting (gulp, gulp), and purchasing.  We passed up the Salmon Hatchery and the Alaska Cannery but did drive up Basin Road to the Last Chance Mining Museum: very cool.  Regina couldn't pass up a last chance to buy postcards and hat tacks so we walked (with many, many cruise passengers) along Franklin and Front Streets; bought some fudge, too; Paul took pictures of the Red Dog Saloon and other points of interest.  We head to Haines on Sunday; probably no wifi there.

It's really Friday now.  We have been out for over ten hours; our first stop was the Centennial Hall visitor center with free parking.  Juneau has narrow streets, one way streets, and not much parking at all.  We walked up to the capitol but took the easy way: into the State Office Building, elevator to 8th floor, through the atrium, and out on street level to the capitol.  We did the self-guided tour of the 1931 building that was originally the territorial and federal building; the Senate and House Chambers are closed off for restoration; the marble throughout the building is from Prince of Wales Island and other Alaskan communities; Sarah wasn't in today.  Right across the street is the Juneau Douglas City Museum with a great film on the history of the area.  Then it was back to the SOB for the Friday noon pipe organ recital in the atrium; snack bar right there for lunch, too; and out on the large patios we could see most of downtown Juneau including a great view of the Governor's Mansion.  We took the elevator down to that ground level and walked the block to the Alaska State Museum; the displays of Alaska Native Cultures were outstanding as was the history going back to the 1741 visit by Vitus Bering;  the Natural History ramp was superb; go to www.museums.state.ak.us  After the three hours in the museum we walked back to the truck and drove through the "cruise ship" shopping area, passed a few historic sites, and came back to the Mendenhall area for another glimpse of the glacier and back to the campground.  It was a very good day but it feels good to have our feet up.

This is really Thursday evening back at Cruiser:  arrived on ferry and set up camp; immediately headed to Mendenhall Glacier; watched film; took pictures; saw eagles and mountain goats; spectacular three hours.

Thursday a.m.  Just a quick hi as we prepare to board ferry to Juneau.  We had a great time in Skagway. More later.

It rained all night and now we're packing up in the rain. Teslin today.  How many of you have maps?

Today is the summer solstice, the longest “day” of the year.  What did we do?  Drive…It is sooo cold and wet.  We drove in rain all day; didn’t see the sun at all; of course it's daylight for 21 hours.  When we stopped for our lunch it was 46 degrees outside and 62 degrees in Cruiser.  Brrrr.  Clouds are low and hide the full view of the mountains.  We stopped at the Continental Divide Lodge for gas and also got a free slice of rhubarb pie, a cranberry and corn muffin, and a coffee.  Since we’ve been buying liters of gas we have paid anywhere from $4 to $5.87 a gallon.  The signs along the way have read either “Super, Natural – British Columbia” or “Larger Than Life – Yukon”.  After we crossed the Nisutlin Bay Bridge, the longest water span on the Alaska highway at 1,917 feet and metal grating, we headed to the George Johnson Museum but skipped the Heritage Park because of the rain; this was an excellent collection of artifacts and photos.  The Tlingit Heritage Centre had excellent carvings and artifacts but most of the information was given on overhead  speakers that Paul can’t hear; the carvings by Keith Wolfe Smarch were excellent and the fact that his family has been here forever makes it more interesting.  The Northern Wildlife Gallery exhibited an extensive and excellent collection of mounted animals. It turned out to be an interesting day if not a comfortable one.  And the forecast is cold and rain for the next week; we’re getting out our long underwear and lined jeans.

This was designated a work day.  Regina did laundry, figured mileage and stops from here to Skagway, Juneau, Haines, and Tok.   Paul did a whole lot more: computer updates, google earth a few places along the route, pictures for website, wash truck and mirrors, haircut.  We both went to the grocery; we have got to eat better.  Tonight we went to the Northern Lights Centre for the show and gift shop.  Tomorrow off to Teslin.

 

This happened on Wed:  Along the way there was a sign that read “All those who hate speeding tickets raise your right foot”  Just north of Fort Nelson we saw a bison herd ranch; also saw a least a half dozen bicyclists along the highway.  We are having rain, rain, and cold with a few spots of sun along the way; no more clean truck and trailer.  So far the Toad River area is more beautiful with waterfalls, mountains, and a variety of vistas.  But then--- we came to Muncho Lake nestled between the Sentinel Range to the east and Terminal Range to the west; it is seven miles long and a clear green, blue, teal green water that comes right up to the road; rather the road was built at the foot of the mountains right at the waters’ edge.   We saw several bison before the sign saying to watch for bison.  Paul has commented “this is a totally unique road trip” several times. We drove over the Liard River Bridge and pulled into the Liard River Lodge; while we were discussing where to spend the night Linda and Bob pulled up; they had just been to the hot springs where there were no sites available because of a caravan coming in for the night; they were going on to Watson Lake.  We went in and registered then decided to go check out the hot springs; it was okay – hot and bubbly where the water comes out but cooler further down; also saw moose tracks, ostrich fern, and cow parsnip, and butterwort.  We drove through the campground and found Ginny and Ron who had been there two days already.  We came back to the Lodge, hooked up, then went to the restaurant for dinner; stuffed ourselves with baked spaghetti and walked home to find a bison wandering the campground; he hung around a good while; he likes the tasty greenery along the back of the campground; it’s interesting to watch him with the little birds at his feet; he looks bigger than the ones we saw in the Black Hills; we have since found out that this area has “massive one-ton Wood Bison: the largest native terrestrial mammals in North America; they are dark brown have a massive head, a distinct beard, a high square shoulder hump, and large front legs.”  Go to www.woodbison.com; www.bisoncentral.com; www.Canadianbison.ca   There are only four of us parked for the night (the other three are 40’ motorhomes and then there’s us); and several motorcycles camped in tents.

 

Thursday, in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory.  Ginny and Ron were here for the day; we met them at the visitor information center right next to the Sign Post Forest.  This is their second trip so they found their sign from the 2003 trip and added 2009.  They are on their way north; we are camped at the Downtown RV Park next to Wye Lake; everything is just a block away so we are walking around town.  More later.

Lots of animals along the highway: we’ve seen deer, black bears, birds, lots of birds, and a moose.  Paul had to slow down as one black bear crossed the highway.  We are enjoying the vistas and all the green; still seeing snow in the mountain tops.  Can’t imagine how anyone could make this trip without The Milepost: it gives a mile-by-mile description of everything along the way; the Church’s Alaskan Camping is invaluable also: it even has GPS coordinates.  We drove through Fort. St. John and will spend some time there on the return trip; the visitor center is very complete and there’s lots in town.  We camped at the Sikanni River RV Park Monday and walked along the river to see the steel stanchions left from the wooden bridge destroyed by arson in 1992.  Nights are very relaxing but they do last late until we decide to close the windows with the blackout curtains: sunset is nearing 11 p.m.  We have met several Rvers from various parts of FL and GA.  One couple was taking their 80-year old mother and her sister up to Alaska for a visit.  This is really a great way to travel; we see so much. 

Today, Tuesday, was the first day of daytime rain since we left Florida in April; we have been really lucky until now: the truck and trailer were dirty…so Paul went to the RV high-pressure wash here at the campground.   Mount Yakatchie was buried in the rain and clouds but we could still view its mesa-like topography.  We saw a couple fir trees decorated for Christmas, as well as a few bears and deer.  We also saw a guy riding a bike along the highway!  It kept getting colder, too, until we finally put on jeans and a jacket.  We are sure to fill up every chance we get, also; several of the stations along the way are closed or out of gas.  We visit an ATM at a bank every couple days, too; traveling along here it is easy to understand why prices are higher- transportation to here must be expensive.  We spent several hours at the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum, a treasury of old stuff from the 1940’s and kept current; every imaginable machine is on display.  When we finished dinner at the campground restaurant we met Linda and Bob from Ellenton just arriving; we first met them in Seattle, then again in Chetwynd where they were waiting for mail to catch up, and now here in Fort Nelson; they are heading to the ‘top of the world’ for June 20^th.  Well, sunset is 11:36 tonight; we are on Pacific time.

Said goodbye to Ginny and Ron until we meet up with them again. Drove up highway to the historic curved wooden Kiskatinaw River Bridge, 531 foot long only original timber bridge built along the Alaska Hwy in 1942 that is still in use today; then went into town for groceries, gas, errands, and Brownie Buster Blizzard; and home to get caught up on email and computer needs.  The weather has been unusually warm for this time of year and we are appreciating each day. 

Another lovely day with a cool wind as we walked the Dawson Creek Trail into town for pictures and lunch with Ginny and Ron.  This was more exercise than Regina has seen the whole trip (but something she should continue).  More Mexican dominoes and a "summer" evening meal (some 'er this, some 'er that) since we had a big lunch at the White Spot Restaurant.  It was great to share travel stories and make plans to meet up again along the highway.

Dawson Creek, BC; Mile '0' Alaska Highway; historical downtown; Safeway; Walmart; Pioneer Village; Dawson Trail walking path into town from campground; 2149' altitude; Dairy Queen; Subway; Alaska Highway House museum and documentary on "the building of the Alaska Highway" and models; happy hour, dinner, and Mexican dominoes with Ginny and Ron (RV friends since our first year out in 2001) doing their second trip to Alaska; sunset at 10:45 p.m.; and on and on.  We are here!  http://www.tourismdawsoncreek.com

Chetwynd is hosting their 5th International Chainsaw Carving Championship this weekend; we watched the "by invitation only" competition this afternoon.  Then we walked around town to view the more than 60 sculptures from previous years; amazing that the intricate details were created with a chainsaw.  Paul washed truck and Cruiser today, too; lotta bugs on the road.  Our neighbors are from Ellenton; we also saw them in WA a few weeks ago.  Hope to meet up with Ginny and Ron in Dawson Creek tomorrow.  We are having way too much fun!  Did I mention that we've seen bear and moose already?  http://www.chetwyndbc.com

Mosquitoes are out 24/7 now- and they aren't little buggers.  Paul says they bite ferociously and itch, itch, itch.  He is trying everything to stay safe; Regina must give off a dangerous scent because they buzz around but don't land -lucky, lucky.  A strange occurrence - we are not as cold at 50 degrees as we thought - possibly because we have gradually moved north.  We still enjoy the 75 degrees in the sun and usually put on a jacket in the cooler shady and windy areas.  We have not adjusted to the humidity, though, and are using  Jafra lotion every day.

Regina got a new hat for sun protection; also bought some snow and fudge at the Cariboo Wood Shop along Hwy 97 today.  We had more construction today than yesterday.  We are on the road through British Columbia to Alaska.  Going through customs at Sumas was very easy.   Trans Canada Highway 1 through Abbotsford and north was an easy drive through towns and countryside; the Fraser Canyon was alive with the river, train trestles, winding roads and 7% grades.  Now we are on BC Hwy 97 that will take us to Dawson Creek and the Al Can Hwy – how exciting.  On Monday we shopped at Safeway; filled up with many, many liters of gas at $1.07 per liter which is $4+ per gallon; bought stamps at the post office in 100 Mile House to send postcards to the states (98 cents a stamp); and picked up dinner at Subway.   We spent some time at the 108 Mile House Museum and 13 buildings along the lake; this is a collection of buildings from a variety of “mile” locations.  We want to see more but one roadhouse looks like another.  We have been going through the towns which are right along the highway for the most part.  So excited to have wifi tonight.  Oh, the days are getting longer; sunset isn't until after 9 these days.  More later.

Back from Victoria and the San Juan Islands.  Additional info:

Our first ferry trip was on the Yakima from Anacortes to Orcas Island; cousin Fiona ferried from her home on Shaw Island; she drove us to East Sound for lunch and the pottery barn as we became acquainted again and caught up on family news.  We feel very fortunate and thankful that the four “California” cousins made time for us as well as our uncle and aunts and 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th cousins.

We finally had to wake up to an alarm: we needed to be in line at Anacortes for the ferry to Victoria at 6:45 so we awoke at 5:15 to get ready for the 40 minutes drive.  The 3½ hour ferry trip took us through the San Juan Islands before docking at Sidney, B.C.  One of the first things we did was get some cash from the BBC ATM on Douglas; then we spent some time at the Parliament; it is right at the harbor and just next to the British Museum and across from The Empress.  We walked around town, had lunch at Bastion Square then drove to Butchart Gardens.  The gardens are impossible to describe adequately; the walk from the parking lot to the entrance was overwhelming; go to www.butchartgardens.com for your own tour.  The three days on ferries and in Canada were a good preview for our trek to Alaska.

Cousin Lucinda and her fiancé kindly drove up from Seattle to visit; we met Chip for the first time; it was good to share travel stories with them over a delicious Mexican dinner.  Our five days parked at the Elks Lodge in Mount Vernon, WA, were very productive.

 

Pictures up; must pack to set out for Anacortes.  Will visit cousin Fiona on Shaw Island tomorrow and then Victoria, B.C. on Thursday.  Later.

Since last blog we toured Salem, OR, and Olympia, WA, capitols and museums and cities, each with their own special flavor.  Now we are in Seattle for a few days.  Can't believe tomorrow is June already.  Okay, the website thinks it is already tomorrow; it is 9:15 here in Seattle but tomorrow in the east.  It is very strange to be three hours behind all the news...  Hope to get some pictures and descriptions up the next day or two while we have good wifi.