We took an 83 day motorhome trip to Alaska in the summer of 2006. During the trip or shortly thereafter, Yahoo decided to cancel their photo storage and all our links to the trip have been broken. I finally uploaded over 1 GB of photos to Picasa Web Albums (Thank You Google) and updated the links on the original posts. So you can see some nice Alaska travel photos now if you want to follow the first posts in this blog.
Or you can skip the daily commentary and go directly to the daily albums here.
Thanks for Looking
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, August 11, 2006
North to Alaska and South to Texas Epilogue
May 16 - August 7, 2006 Longview TX to Longview TX Log 12,261 Miles
Alaska Day 1-83 Epilogue:
We had a fantastic summer. We started our trip with the Discovery Texans Rally at Shallow Creek and ended 83 days later back here in Longview TX. We traveled 12, 261 miles in the D and probably another 1200 or so in the Jeep. We went from summer to spring to winter and back to summer. It was just a little traumatic returning to 100d F. days. Most of our days were in the 65d range with the nights in the 40’s. We followed the Klondike Gold Rush Trail from Skagway- Dyea and the Chilkoot and White Pass to Dawson City. We missed the strike though by over 100 years. However
we found that the Canadians and Alaskans are still mining for gold from the many tourists that cover this route. We panned for gold on the Klondike and north of Fairbanks. We found about $9.00 worth of gold specs, which is more than most of the original seekers found. We walked on glaciers and watched whales feed in the Gulf of Alaska. We fished for halibut off the Kenai Peninsula. We were in the 4th of July parade in Valdez with our trikes and Jake. We took a dogsled ride with an Iditarod veteran. Jake swam in everything from mountain streams and lakes to the mighty Yukon River. We took 4, 218 digital pictures and 13 hours of video which we plan to use to make a DVD that we will share with you soon. For those of you who are worried about the cost of diesel these days, we spent considerable less than a two week cruise would have cost. We found that our mobile condo has the best back yard and view in the world, and we are counting the days until we can continue our Journey.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Herb and Wilma Stark
Alaska Day 1-83 Epilogue:
We had a fantastic summer. We started our trip with the Discovery Texans Rally at Shallow Creek and ended 83 days later back here in Longview TX. We traveled 12, 261 miles in the D and probably another 1200 or so in the Jeep. We went from summer to spring to winter and back to summer. It was just a little traumatic returning to 100d F. days. Most of our days were in the 65d range with the nights in the 40’s. We followed the Klondike Gold Rush Trail from Skagway- Dyea and the Chilkoot and White Pass to Dawson City. We missed the strike though by over 100 years. However
we found that the Canadians and Alaskans are still mining for gold from the many tourists that cover this route. We panned for gold on the Klondike and north of Fairbanks. We found about $9.00 worth of gold specs, which is more than most of the original seekers found. We walked on glaciers and watched whales feed in the Gulf of Alaska. We fished for halibut off the Kenai Peninsula. We were in the 4th of July parade in Valdez with our trikes and Jake. We took a dogsled ride with an Iditarod veteran. Jake swam in everything from mountain streams and lakes to the mighty Yukon River. We took 4, 218 digital pictures and 13 hours of video which we plan to use to make a DVD that we will share with you soon. For those of you who are worried about the cost of diesel these days, we spent considerable less than a two week cruise would have cost. We found that our mobile condo has the best back yard and view in the world, and we are counting the days until we can continue our Journey.Walldog, Willie and Jake
Herb and Wilma Stark
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Alaska Day 83 Home in Texas
Sunday August 7, 2006 Denton TX to Longview TX Log 160 Miles
We awake to another beautiful sunrise, this time with the orange ball appearing in the pink and glow of the sky. As we leave Denton, it begins to look a lot like Dallas -- (don't let Herb see Frye's Electronics!) --next the signs for Hwy 80 which runs thru Longview, and the sign for Tyler/Shreveport and we know Longview is in between them. Are we excited yet? Then comes the familiar pine trees and rolling hills. Longview is not far away.
We are silent as we approach our house, unhook the Jeep and back the Discovery into its garage. We dont close the door of the garage with the trikes still on, so we do not surprise our neighbors, David and Patti Harwell. We later learn that coming home "early" spoiled the surprise Welcome Home party they had planned, but promised to have it in another day or so. No details shared. We join them for a celebration of our homecoming and catching up on the news.
Pictures are here.
We awake to another beautiful sunrise, this time with the orange ball appearing in the pink and glow of the sky. As we leave Denton, it begins to look a lot like Dallas -- (don't let Herb see Frye's Electronics!) --next the signs for Hwy 80 which runs thru Longview, and the sign for Tyler/Shreveport and we know Longview is in between them. Are we excited yet? Then comes the familiar pine trees and rolling hills. Longview is not far away.
We are silent as we approach our house, unhook the Jeep and back the Discovery into its garage. We dont close the door of the garage with the trikes still on, so we do not surprise our neighbors, David and Patti Harwell. We later learn that coming home "early" spoiled the surprise Welcome Home party they had planned, but promised to have it in another day or so. No details shared. We join them for a celebration of our homecoming and catching up on the news.
Pictures are here.
Waldog, Willie and Jake
PS. This will be the last Journal for a while. We are taking care of our business and planning our next trip <Grins>
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Alaska Day 82
Saturday August 5, 2006 Clines Corners NM to Denton TX Log 565 Miles
We are greeted by sunrise of pink, orange and yellow reflected on the scattered clouds, and welcomed to Texas. It is comforting to see Texas, but it is also sad to realize that we are so close to the end of this part of our journey. Strange to again be seeing sights familiar, like TA and Love's fuel stop with Carl's Jr. restaurant, and to think we could be home tomorow. We are now afraid of the dark, as it comes upon us while we are still awake and lasts about nine hours, instead of zero.
In Texas along I-40 we see fresh plowed fields, crops growing, then a large burn area with a plowed fire-break. We really know we are in Texas now when we see a giant watermelon on a flatbed trailer advertising the store behind it. And cows.......... Then at Denton we head for Camping World like kids in a candy store, but all we purchase are a ladder and vegetable steamer basket.
Jake plays fetch the dummy until the 103 degree F chases him inside the RV for cooling off. Welcome to Texas!
We are greeted by sunrise of pink, orange and yellow reflected on the scattered clouds, and welcomed to Texas. It is comforting to see Texas, but it is also sad to realize that we are so close to the end of this part of our journey. Strange to again be seeing sights familiar, like TA and Love's fuel stop with Carl's Jr. restaurant, and to think we could be home tomorow. We are now afraid of the dark, as it comes upon us while we are still awake and lasts about nine hours, instead of zero.
In Texas along I-40 we see fresh plowed fields, crops growing, then a large burn area with a plowed fire-break. We really know we are in Texas now when we see a giant watermelon on a flatbed trailer advertising the store behind it. And cows.......... Then at Denton we head for Camping World like kids in a candy store, but all we purchase are a ladder and vegetable steamer basket.
Jake plays fetch the dummy until the 103 degree F chases him inside the RV for cooling off. Welcome to Texas!
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Alaska Day 81
Friday August 4, 2006, Cortez CO to Clines Corners NM Log 300 Miles
We leave beautiful country and enter beautiful country. Different shaped rock formations that we have been seeing, and deep washes where streams once ran. Ship Rock, 7178 el, is just south of CO/NM line on Hwy 491, and near the town of Ship Rock NM. Then come the clouds, quiet for now, and we wonder if they are the same ones causing the floods at El Paso.
Jake finds a nice large pasture for exercising, as he has been sleeping all day. At Clines Corners we did not buy the fudge, but we can just TASTE the chocolate!
Pictures are here.
We leave beautiful country and enter beautiful country. Different shaped rock formations that we have been seeing, and deep washes where streams once ran. Ship Rock, 7178 el, is just south of CO/NM line on Hwy 491, and near the town of Ship Rock NM. Then come the clouds, quiet for now, and we wonder if they are the same ones causing the floods at El Paso.
Jake finds a nice large pasture for exercising, as he has been sleeping all day. At Clines Corners we did not buy the fudge, but we can just TASTE the chocolate!
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Friday, August 04, 2006
Alaska Day 80
Thursday August 3, 2006 Soldier's Summit Tucker UT to Cortez CO Log 312 Miles
Our day begins with a view of the sunrise reflecting on clouds that moved in over night, and we capture the moon just above. Darker clouds appear and we wonder if we will have the predicted storms Meryl told us about. The sun returns.
We drive Hwy 6 over Soldier Summit at 7490 el heading for I-70 and south to Arches National Park. Lots of steep grade and rock. Dust from the road machines in the construction area.
As we approach the Arches park, the mountains turn salmon colored, which we learn is Entrada Sandstone; then we see the sand colored, which is Navaho Sandstone. The campground at Arches is full, even tho we arrive before noon, so we have to settle for driving thru the park.
The beauty of the rock formations, arches, and desert vegetation, as well as slowly decaying fallen trees is indescribable. There are many trails for hikers, and we are warned that the temp could get to 110 F. We head for Colorado.
We see a field of sunflowers and are amused at all of them facing the sun..............
At Cortez CO we find a Passport American campground, La Mesa RV Park, and the host tells us of an Indian dance presentation at the Cortez Cultural Center.
The side of the Cultural Center where we sit has a life-like mural of an Adobe house. The performers are from Gallup NM and are decended from the Lakota and Dineh (Navaho) people. They tell us they compete in song and dance at Pow Wows and invite the public, but at sacred dances, there are no outsiders, no lights, no electronics. One of the performers is Blue Star Boy, who looked to be about four years old. He first dances with his grandfather Norman, and steps like his grandfather does. Each performer describes his/her dress, and the most interesting one was Romona's red dress circled with rows of silver bells. It is called the Jingle Dress, and she wears only one feather in her headdress. Her beige dress is buckskin. Norman wears a more elaborate one, called Roach. He does a dance with hula hoops with which he forms a flying eagle, a horse he rides while roping a calf, and makes a form of the world. At the end we spectators are invited to do the round dance with them and Herb persuades Wilma to join them while he photographs.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Alaska Day 79
Wednesday August 2, 2006 Ontario OR to Tucker UT Log 477 Miles
We know we are in cattle country when we stop at the Rest Area for traveler information and see a sign at the pet leash area that prohibits unloading livestock or horses. Lots more wheat and irrigation of crops. We exit Oregon, cross Idaho and get into some traffic around Salt Lake City UT. Flying J country. Oooops! Elsie reminds us about Joe and Justine being at Detroit State Park in Oregon, but we have turned a more easterly direction. We do find it on the map and wish we could have visited with them.
Now come the mountains again, and beautiful red hillsides. Suddenly we see stripes of strata and then the hills turn to greenish gray in the soil and stone.
We find our day's end at a rest stop with a small stream running through and two domesticated sheep slowly grazing just outside the guardrail from the highway. Before long they wander in and Jake-on-leash walks nearby. (Where is that video camera -- there is sure to be action!) Each approaches the other in small increments until Jake poised for attack or play -- not sure which -- but for some reason the sheep spook and run. Jake really missed a good play time and his Woof Woof friend Willie.
The rest stop we spend the night at is at Soldier's Summit at 7000 feet.
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
We know we are in cattle country when we stop at the Rest Area for traveler information and see a sign at the pet leash area that prohibits unloading livestock or horses. Lots more wheat and irrigation of crops. We exit Oregon, cross Idaho and get into some traffic around Salt Lake City UT. Flying J country. Oooops! Elsie reminds us about Joe and Justine being at Detroit State Park in Oregon, but we have turned a more easterly direction. We do find it on the map and wish we could have visited with them.
Now come the mountains again, and beautiful red hillsides. Suddenly we see stripes of strata and then the hills turn to greenish gray in the soil and stone.
We find our day's end at a rest stop with a small stream running through and two domesticated sheep slowly grazing just outside the guardrail from the highway. Before long they wander in and Jake-on-leash walks nearby. (Where is that video camera -- there is sure to be action!) Each approaches the other in small increments until Jake poised for attack or play -- not sure which -- but for some reason the sheep spook and run. Jake really missed a good play time and his Woof Woof friend Willie.
The rest stop we spend the night at is at Soldier's Summit at 7000 feet.
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Alaska Day 78
Tuesday August 1, 2006 Grande Coulee WA to Ontario OR Log 393 Miles
We said goodbye to Bob and Myrna as they drove down the hillside from our balcony RV site, and readied ourselves for our day's journey, which took us through more wheat fields. The day starts out smokey from the large forest fire about 20 miles north of Grand Coulee.
WA Hwy 21 South follows section lines except for some areas where Farmer Brown insisted it go around, or when it needed to go around a stubborn rock. It was interesting to see the stacks of bales of wheat chaff ready for feeding the cattle in winter.
Along the way we come upon an RV pulling a truck loaded with four-wheelers side by side. We marvel and take a picture. At the massive roadside produce store of fresh fruit, veg, and other tempting items, and where we opted not to buy blueberries, a man tapped Herb on the shoulder, asking how he liked his recumbant trikes. He was the guy towing the four-wheelers.
Oregon has quite a few dump and fresh water stations at rest areas. Their signs state no camping, though, and are posted at the truck rv lanes. We opt for the Wal-mart Supercenter in Ontario for a quick overnight and to restock our supplies.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Alaska Day 77
Monday July 31, 2006 Grand Coulee WA Log 0 Miles
In search of excitement today, and with Bob and Myrna along, we drive a circular scenic route up the countryside, first passing by Grand Coulee Dam and the bigger than life bust of FDR, who authorized building the dam, and a reulting Lake Roosevelt. Much rock and lava rock beauty along the way, and at one point where traffic was stopped by a flagman, we find it is because of a helicopter lifting logs from the mountainside near the roadway -- not road construction.
Near the town of Omak we visit St. Mary's Mission, where there is the only boarding school in the state of Washington. A great mix of religious icons and totems grace the grounds. Wilma and Myrna take many pictures inside and outside the mission. After lunch, we stop in Okanogan for a visit to the Okanogan County Historical Museum. It is a well organized display of artifacts from the early days of this area. This includes the old-fashioned main street with its buildings of the day, farm implements, apple industry display, and a settlers cabin. We find very interesting an "in a word" explanation of how the most unusual terrain of the area was formed; one point made was that the lava flowed up through crevices, and was not a result of a volcano eruption.
Our circular route continues past Chief Joseph Dam, a Corp of Engineers site. On back into our home of the past three days brings us by another great view point of the Grand Coulee Dam. We decide that it may be a little better than the previous night's spot to see the laser show. After dinner we drive up and watch the laser show again. The audio portion we find is broadcast over an FM radio station. So our front row seats are warm and comfortable in the Jeep. Just like a drive-in movie without the PIC. All the mosquitos must be "North to Alaska."
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
In search of excitement today, and with Bob and Myrna along, we drive a circular scenic route up the countryside, first passing by Grand Coulee Dam and the bigger than life bust of FDR, who authorized building the dam, and a reulting Lake Roosevelt. Much rock and lava rock beauty along the way, and at one point where traffic was stopped by a flagman, we find it is because of a helicopter lifting logs from the mountainside near the roadway -- not road construction.
Near the town of Omak we visit St. Mary's Mission, where there is the only boarding school in the state of Washington. A great mix of religious icons and totems grace the grounds. Wilma and Myrna take many pictures inside and outside the mission. After lunch, we stop in Okanogan for a visit to the Okanogan County Historical Museum. It is a well organized display of artifacts from the early days of this area. This includes the old-fashioned main street with its buildings of the day, farm implements, apple industry display, and a settlers cabin. We find very interesting an "in a word" explanation of how the most unusual terrain of the area was formed; one point made was that the lava flowed up through crevices, and was not a result of a volcano eruption.
Our circular route continues past Chief Joseph Dam, a Corp of Engineers site. On back into our home of the past three days brings us by another great view point of the Grand Coulee Dam. We decide that it may be a little better than the previous night's spot to see the laser show. After dinner we drive up and watch the laser show again. The audio portion we find is broadcast over an FM radio station. So our front row seats are warm and comfortable in the Jeep. Just like a drive-in movie without the PIC. All the mosquitos must be "North to Alaska."
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Monday, July 31, 2006
Alaska Day 75
Saturday July 29, 2006 Paradise MT to Grand Coulee WA Log
A pretty drive today shows us lots of places to fish, and Bob tries his luck at one. It was quite a challenge to work his way down the precarious rocks on the banks, but he makes it and enjoys casting for a time. Only his need to find a campground for the night tears him away.
We cross Idaho with no luck on reservations, but do see a Wal-mart truck and a Mcdonald's truck -- strange things seen under the daylight sun!
At Fairchild AFB we saw an air show with spectacular vapor trail formations. Five planes. What precision!
Lots of flat land, valleys, and farming. The wheat fields are beautiful, and we keep looking for crop circles.....Miles and miles of "amber (or wheat colored) waves of grain." We begin to then see scrub bushes and lava rock, which surprises us. Then more lava, hillsides of lava and the terrain turn to mountainous and desert.
Our accomodations for the night are at Grand Coolee RV Park in Washington near the intersection of 174 and 155 and Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, and the largest hydroelectric dam in the US.
Our site is on the side of the arid mountain, at the top of the park, with West Texas type scrub brush all around. Our neighbors are Bill and Lois Keller, Escapees (Livingston TX), so we get the tradition hug and feel right at home. They leave all too soon, possibly for their place on Lake Mead NV.
Dinner is the long awaited steak with trimmings
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
A pretty drive today shows us lots of places to fish, and Bob tries his luck at one. It was quite a challenge to work his way down the precarious rocks on the banks, but he makes it and enjoys casting for a time. Only his need to find a campground for the night tears him away.
We cross Idaho with no luck on reservations, but do see a Wal-mart truck and a Mcdonald's truck -- strange things seen under the daylight sun!
At Fairchild AFB we saw an air show with spectacular vapor trail formations. Five planes. What precision!
Lots of flat land, valleys, and farming. The wheat fields are beautiful, and we keep looking for crop circles.....Miles and miles of "amber (or wheat colored) waves of grain." We begin to then see scrub bushes and lava rock, which surprises us. Then more lava, hillsides of lava and the terrain turn to mountainous and desert.
Our accomodations for the night are at Grand Coolee RV Park in Washington near the intersection of 174 and 155 and Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, and the largest hydroelectric dam in the US.
Our site is on the side of the arid mountain, at the top of the park, with West Texas type scrub brush all around. Our neighbors are Bill and Lois Keller, Escapees (Livingston TX), so we get the tradition hug and feel right at home. They leave all too soon, possibly for their place on Lake Mead NV.
Dinner is the long awaited steak with trimmings
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Alaska Day 76
Sunday July 30, 2006 Grand Coolee WA Log 0 Miles
We visit St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Grand Coolee, and following "coffee hour," we are invited to go out for breakfast, but Bob has already invited us for his special vegetable soup and cornbread, and Wilma never turns down hot buttered cornbread, so we regretfully decline. St. Dunstan's is a small mission, and the Vicar is the lady in the pictures whose dress has some red. We learned a bit of their history during the coffee, and they asked us "20 questions" about the different churches we had visited during our Alaska and Canada travels, which we enjoyed sharing.
In the afternoon we drove to the Grand Coolee Dam, which is the largest concrete structure in the United States. We took a tour of the Visitors' Center, which is to be the site of a laser light show at dusk (10 P). A very interesting exhibit was a mock telling the story of making and using electricity, with a generator leading to the switching house (stepping up the voltage for traveling) to the transmission lines to the transformers (stepping down the voltage for consumer use) for homes. We saw the lasers which would be used in the evening show.
Dinner was at a recommended local Mexican restaurant, with some different menu items, and then back to the RV for our warm coats, blankets and lawn chairs. We find a front row spot for the laser light show, and sit back while an amazing show is given. It tells the story (audio included) of the building of the dam and its uses. One impressive part was Neil Diamond's song about coming to America, which indicated how important this dam is to the northwestern part of America.
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
We visit St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Grand Coolee, and following "coffee hour," we are invited to go out for breakfast, but Bob has already invited us for his special vegetable soup and cornbread, and Wilma never turns down hot buttered cornbread, so we regretfully decline. St. Dunstan's is a small mission, and the Vicar is the lady in the pictures whose dress has some red. We learned a bit of their history during the coffee, and they asked us "20 questions" about the different churches we had visited during our Alaska and Canada travels, which we enjoyed sharing.
In the afternoon we drove to the Grand Coolee Dam, which is the largest concrete structure in the United States. We took a tour of the Visitors' Center, which is to be the site of a laser light show at dusk (10 P). A very interesting exhibit was a mock telling the story of making and using electricity, with a generator leading to the switching house (stepping up the voltage for traveling) to the transmission lines to the transformers (stepping down the voltage for consumer use) for homes. We saw the lasers which would be used in the evening show.
Dinner was at a recommended local Mexican restaurant, with some different menu items, and then back to the RV for our warm coats, blankets and lawn chairs. We find a front row spot for the laser light show, and sit back while an amazing show is given. It tells the story (audio included) of the building of the dam and its uses. One impressive part was Neil Diamond's song about coming to America, which indicated how important this dam is to the northwestern part of America.
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Alaska Day 74
Friday July 28, 2006 St. Mary MT to Paradise MT Log 226 Miles
Upon rising today we notice that our twenty something tents of young church group people are packing it up. Herb sees one young lady with a suitcase bigger than herself, and guesses it contains all her stuff and makeup.
As we head out from the KOA, --Yea! we find a Wal-mart, but with only a grocery shelf, but then a Smith's Food Store with fresh veggies and meats. Nice to be fully stocked after the scant supplies we found around Glacier area. We drive through more scenic countryside and are disappointed that Flathead Lake RV Resort is booked for the weekend, so we drive on in search of a place to stay for the night. At just about the time we should stop anywhere, we find a large turnout with running water at Paradise, northwest of Missoula. A man has stopped to fill his jugs. Herb asks what the deal is, and is told it is an artesian well. Many locals stop -- about every ten minutes -- and some with five gallon containers, some load their vehicles with all it will hold. Depends on who you ask, where the water comes from. Some say it is runoff from a mountain stream. One lady said said she had it tested and they found E-coli, but she allowed as to how her jug may have been contaminated. No-one in the town gets sick. The water is cold, and if you put your foot into the flow, you will get "cold feet."
We filled our pitchers and jugs and Jake's water bowl. After dinner, it seemed like a good idea to wash the RV, so we did. Mountain water should cure any ails the coach has! By this time we have noticed the railroad tracks twelve feet from our RV, and we laugh about whether we will get a good nice sleep. Herb and Bob test it by watching the first train go by, and hoping that this is not a whistle place. The engineer waves, passes by, we sigh relief, and then comes the whistle for the crossing ahead of him.
We slept well.
Pictures are here
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Upon rising today we notice that our twenty something tents of young church group people are packing it up. Herb sees one young lady with a suitcase bigger than herself, and guesses it contains all her stuff and makeup.
As we head out from the KOA, --Yea! we find a Wal-mart, but with only a grocery shelf, but then a Smith's Food Store with fresh veggies and meats. Nice to be fully stocked after the scant supplies we found around Glacier area. We drive through more scenic countryside and are disappointed that Flathead Lake RV Resort is booked for the weekend, so we drive on in search of a place to stay for the night. At just about the time we should stop anywhere, we find a large turnout with running water at Paradise, northwest of Missoula. A man has stopped to fill his jugs. Herb asks what the deal is, and is told it is an artesian well. Many locals stop -- about every ten minutes -- and some with five gallon containers, some load their vehicles with all it will hold. Depends on who you ask, where the water comes from. Some say it is runoff from a mountain stream. One lady said said she had it tested and they found E-coli, but she allowed as to how her jug may have been contaminated. No-one in the town gets sick. The water is cold, and if you put your foot into the flow, you will get "cold feet."
We filled our pitchers and jugs and Jake's water bowl. After dinner, it seemed like a good idea to wash the RV, so we did. Mountain water should cure any ails the coach has! By this time we have noticed the railroad tracks twelve feet from our RV, and we laugh about whether we will get a good nice sleep. Herb and Bob test it by watching the first train go by, and hoping that this is not a whistle place. The engineer waves, passes by, we sigh relief, and then comes the whistle for the crossing ahead of him.
We slept well.
Pictures are here
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Alaska Day 73
Thursday July 27, 2006 St. Mary MT Log 0 Miles
Jake had an early morning walk, romp, and swim with Willie and then we said goodbuy to Bobbie, Duff and Willie, as they left for Colorado. The rest of the day consisted of a nice lunch with strawberry/rhubarb pie a la mode, naps, windshield washing, haircuts and dinner.
Wilma is excited about the ficus cutting she brought along the trip, and can see the difference in the growth pattern with Longview daylight hours versus the 18 hour sunlight of Alaska. Now there are tiny limbs sprouting with tiny leaves emerging on them. Miracle!
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Jake had an early morning walk, romp, and swim with Willie and then we said goodbuy to Bobbie, Duff and Willie, as they left for Colorado. The rest of the day consisted of a nice lunch with strawberry/rhubarb pie a la mode, naps, windshield washing, haircuts and dinner.
Wilma is excited about the ficus cutting she brought along the trip, and can see the difference in the growth pattern with Longview daylight hours versus the 18 hour sunlight of Alaska. Now there are tiny limbs sprouting with tiny leaves emerging on them. Miracle!
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Alaska Day 72
Wednesday July 26, 2006 St. Mary Montana Log 0 Miles
A trip through Glacier National Park was to begin the day for us with Bob and Myrna, and took us to some awesome waterfalls, rapids, and beautiful rock formations. The Jackson Glacier has retreated until almost not much to see, but there was still lots of snow around.
Altho we did not get to do our walk for exercise early in the morning, (wanting to beat the tourist crowd), Wilma and Myrna got theirs big time, as every time we drove on the mountain where the cliff was on Myrna's side, she literally leaned into Wilma's lap (afraid of heights, eh?), so Wilma offered to change sides of the car with her. This happened time and time again.
Herb tried to reassure her that she was not in danger, and that even if she were on the rock side of the road and the car went over the cliff, her side of the car would go over also. :):) She did not think that scientific fact figured into her emtions here. We had a lot of fun at her expense, but she is a trooper and still contributed to cooking supper in the evening.
As we were driving home, and Wilma was dosiing, Herb yelled, "Look!" and she woke just knowing that was a black bear that she should photograph. But he had seen our friends from PA that we met in Homer AK -- Bobbi and Duff Chambers and Australian Shepherd Willie. He made a U-turn and we chased them down, persuaded them to return with us and spend a night at the KOA. While we briefly caught up on happenings since we had seen them, Jake and Willie ran and tumbled.
Later, we and the Chambers took a walk down to the stream that feeds St. Mary Lake to let Jake and Willie sit in the water to drink, retrieve the stick and negotiate the weir dam. We were surprised to see that they became very competitive for the stick.
Dinner was fresh sweet peas Bobbi and Duff had just got in Canada (and customs was not interested in), parsleyed new potatoes that Myrna fixed, and halibut Herb caught in Homer. Dessert was Myrna's special recipe of jello with yogurt, topped with Wilma's almonds and whipped cream from Texas, and Okanagan cherries from Canada .
Pictures are here.
A trip through Glacier National Park was to begin the day for us with Bob and Myrna, and took us to some awesome waterfalls, rapids, and beautiful rock formations. The Jackson Glacier has retreated until almost not much to see, but there was still lots of snow around.
Altho we did not get to do our walk for exercise early in the morning, (wanting to beat the tourist crowd), Wilma and Myrna got theirs big time, as every time we drove on the mountain where the cliff was on Myrna's side, she literally leaned into Wilma's lap (afraid of heights, eh?), so Wilma offered to change sides of the car with her. This happened time and time again.
Herb tried to reassure her that she was not in danger, and that even if she were on the rock side of the road and the car went over the cliff, her side of the car would go over also. :):) She did not think that scientific fact figured into her emtions here. We had a lot of fun at her expense, but she is a trooper and still contributed to cooking supper in the evening.
As we were driving home, and Wilma was dosiing, Herb yelled, "Look!" and she woke just knowing that was a black bear that she should photograph. But he had seen our friends from PA that we met in Homer AK -- Bobbi and Duff Chambers and Australian Shepherd Willie. He made a U-turn and we chased them down, persuaded them to return with us and spend a night at the KOA. While we briefly caught up on happenings since we had seen them, Jake and Willie ran and tumbled.
Later, we and the Chambers took a walk down to the stream that feeds St. Mary Lake to let Jake and Willie sit in the water to drink, retrieve the stick and negotiate the weir dam. We were surprised to see that they became very competitive for the stick.
Dinner was fresh sweet peas Bobbi and Duff had just got in Canada (and customs was not interested in), parsleyed new potatoes that Myrna fixed, and halibut Herb caught in Homer. Dessert was Myrna's special recipe of jello with yogurt, topped with Wilma's almonds and whipped cream from Texas, and Okanagan cherries from Canada .
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Alaska Day 71
Tuesday July 25, 2006 Snookumchuck, BC to St. Marys, MT Log 227 Miles
We stopped for diesel in the community of Crowsnest Pass, where an old settler welcomed us and informed us of a sight we should not miss just up the road. Frank Slide was a rock slide in 1903, when a wedge of limestone 1 kilometer wide, 425 meters long and 150 meters deep broke of the crest of Turtle Mountain, and boulders bounced and rolled down the side for 90 seconds. The sound was heard for miles around, and many of the 600 residents of the coal mining town lost their lives. The night shift mine workers were able to tunnel their way out, after the slide closed off the opeing of the mine.
The highway took us up to 5000 feet at Waterton National Park in Alberta, and we also came through quite a bit of rolling hills and farming country.
Then back into the Lower 48 and good ole USA (eh). One of the border crossing officials at Chief Mountain, Highway 6 Canada and 17 USA, was originally from Abilene. Back to cell phone service and our own 24/7 rolling-down-the-highway internet. Our home for the evening is the KOA just outside of Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, where we look forward to meeting up with Bob and Myrna, our Longview neighbors. Bob had made our reservation there because they had cabins for them, and we noticed how cute the cabins are when we drove in.
Wilma is surprised that she is given a site in the middle of the row, and not at the end near a cabin. Upon inquiring where her friends are, she is told they are in the site next to hers; "no, they are staying in a cabin." "They are in a site just like yours." At this point, Wilma does not feel she should argue with the clerk, so she goes back to the RV and tells Herb about the conversation. We have exactly three minutes to decide:
(a) The clerk's computer is wrong.
(b) Bob does not want to stay too near Herb.
(c) Bob-full-of-surprises rented a motor home.
(d) Bob-full-of-surprises bought a motor home.
When we drive into our site, we see Texas plates on the motor home next to us, and then we look for Myrna's black car -- and there it is! We quickly agree that when we hug hello, we will not act like anything is different or unexpected, that it is normal to have our neighbors in a motor home. We want to ignore Bob's surprise. But that doesn't last long, and we have a good laugh over his secret that David and Patti (other Longview neighbors) kept from us. A nice dinner together in the evening.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Alaska Day 70
Monday July 24, 2006 Columbia Icefields Jasper Park, Alberta to Snookumchuck, BC Log 218 Miles
We woke to whistling wind, a little rain, one lightning flash, but soon the sun was out. We said goodbye to the glacier and settled in to looking for wildlife along the highway. Then we saw two mountain goats grazing on a steep hill by the road. Farther on, Herb topped a hill doing about 50 mph and saw several cars and a couple of campers parked on both side3s of the road -- not entirely off the roadway -- but one after another a car would pull back onto the road into the oncoming lane. It was not safe for a vehicle our size to stop on the side, and we knew why they stopped -- the bear cub!
Our plan was to check out Lake Louise before we left the Icefields Parkway, but once we had turned into the town, we knew it was a mistake. Traffic congestion in a tiny touristy town, so we made a U-turn and continued our trip. 93 South proved to be a most beautiful drive. We had a wild ride down into the town of Radium Hot Springs, beginning with several warnings of 8% or 9% grade one right after the other, and then right in the middle to town it began 11% grade. Fantastic! No pictures of it here, as Wilma was too busy videoing, Herb was busy guiding the RV, and Jake was in a deep sleep.
We found a "mom and pop" campground, Springbrook Motel and RV Park, in Skookumchuck that had WiFi, the lack of which we were suffering, so we spent most of the evening doing laundry and catching up on correspondence. No cell phone service yet. Full hookups and Wi-Fi $25cdn. What a deal. We even washed the Jeep, as they needed the water for the grass.
Pictures are here.
We woke to whistling wind, a little rain, one lightning flash, but soon the sun was out. We said goodbye to the glacier and settled in to looking for wildlife along the highway. Then we saw two mountain goats grazing on a steep hill by the road. Farther on, Herb topped a hill doing about 50 mph and saw several cars and a couple of campers parked on both side3s of the road -- not entirely off the roadway -- but one after another a car would pull back onto the road into the oncoming lane. It was not safe for a vehicle our size to stop on the side, and we knew why they stopped -- the bear cub!
Our plan was to check out Lake Louise before we left the Icefields Parkway, but once we had turned into the town, we knew it was a mistake. Traffic congestion in a tiny touristy town, so we made a U-turn and continued our trip. 93 South proved to be a most beautiful drive. We had a wild ride down into the town of Radium Hot Springs, beginning with several warnings of 8% or 9% grade one right after the other, and then right in the middle to town it began 11% grade. Fantastic! No pictures of it here, as Wilma was too busy videoing, Herb was busy guiding the RV, and Jake was in a deep sleep.
We found a "mom and pop" campground, Springbrook Motel and RV Park, in Skookumchuck that had WiFi, the lack of which we were suffering, so we spent most of the evening doing laundry and catching up on correspondence. No cell phone service yet. Full hookups and Wi-Fi $25cdn. What a deal. We even washed the Jeep, as they needed the water for the grass.
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Alaska Day 67-68-69
Friday July 21, 2006 Eastman Creek Rest Area Cassiar Highway BC to Hyder Alaska Log 160 Miles plus 65 miles for Jeep road at Hyder.
Scenic vista overload today. The last 150 miles of the Cassiar Highway more than offset the first 200 miles of rough and broken road. What fantastic views! Even with the low overcast day, we had great scenery. Breaks in the clouds gave us a sneak preview of what was to come.
At Camp Run-a-Muck where we stopped for the night, we were given a map and info brochure on Fish Creek Bear Watch and Salmon Glacier, and we headed up Salmon River Road with anticipation. It was too early for the bear fishing, so we drove north. Salmon Glacier is the fifth largest in Canada and seemed to go on forever, with its two toes. The dark edges on either side that curves along with it are moraines, which are formed with silt being carried along. On the far side, as we drove past, we saw crevices, some of which were filled with snow. Then we saw blocks of ice and the remnant of a pond that nine days earlier was quite large, but drained when some ice blocks broke away. Keith Scott from New Brunswick, author and photographer, told us we could drive a maintained road for seven more miles and see the Berendon Glacier, which seemed to be formed from two split sources. Both were beautifully blue!
Along the way we saw a few eagles, and at one point when Wilma had stepped out of the jeep to film, a marmot whistled at her to move along. So she turned around and videod him. Back to Fish Creek to wait for the bear fishing, and we enjoyed seeing a few salmon making their nests for spawning. All of a sudden there was the grizzly! It was a young one, who was not skilled in fishing yet, and put on quite a show while he dipped for fish and ran down the middle of the creek. What a time to run out of battery in both cameras!
At 9:00 P we go back with good batteries and stay until the Rangers close the area at 10 P. On the mile long drive back to the RV park, we become part of a traffic jam, as someone sees a black bear chowing down on fish in a wide, shallow place in Salmon River, where we have to peer through some brush. We stay a few minutes just enjoying his activity and are able to get a zoomed photo. What a thrill!
Roxie, just so you will know, we took the bear spray with us everywhere we went the entire time we were in Hyder -- so did almost everyone else! -- and we were glad we did.
Pictures are here.
Waldog, Willie and Jake
Saturday July 22, 2006 Hyder AK to Prince George BC Log 438 Miles
Up early in the morning to head back to Fish Creek for bear viewing, Herb walks Jake in the campground, but comes back to the RV for a Necessary Bag, and tells Jake to sit obediently by the steps. Wilma happens to glance to the front windshield and sees something black about two camp sites over by the edge of the woods. Coal black. There is no human clothing that black. She knows what it is! Where is that fully charged camera???
We head down to Fish Creek, but the salmon are few this morning and apparently the bears are resting. We decide to leave Hyder and head farther south, totally happy with having seen bears a number of times, only to see the top of a black bear's head in the bushes by the roadside, and then another as we traveled on the highway back in BC. Mission accomplished!
As we got farther south and west the countryside became more flat, with rolling hills, farmland, and forest products industries. Not the same scenery as we had been having, but pleasant to the eye. Disturbing was the number of dead trees -- sometimes two or three, sometimes total hillsides -- that may have become infested with pine bark beetle.
We are stopped by a flagger with her sign out saying accident scene. She tells us it will be a wait while they try to upright a motorhome that appears to have run off the road. They tried for about 30 or 40 minutes while we are there without success. They finally took a break and let us pass. It was 90 degrees F ambient temp. When we stopped for the night at Wal-mart the low temp was 70. What is happening here? We awake in the middle of the night and it is DARK. We have not seen darkness since we left High River Alberta nearly two months ago. Wilma said she was afraid of the dark.<grin>.
Scenic vista overload today. The last 150 miles of the Cassiar Highway more than offset the first 200 miles of rough and broken road. What fantastic views! Even with the low overcast day, we had great scenery. Breaks in the clouds gave us a sneak preview of what was to come.
At Camp Run-a-Muck where we stopped for the night, we were given a map and info brochure on Fish Creek Bear Watch and Salmon Glacier, and we headed up Salmon River Road with anticipation. It was too early for the bear fishing, so we drove north. Salmon Glacier is the fifth largest in Canada and seemed to go on forever, with its two toes. The dark edges on either side that curves along with it are moraines, which are formed with silt being carried along. On the far side, as we drove past, we saw crevices, some of which were filled with snow. Then we saw blocks of ice and the remnant of a pond that nine days earlier was quite large, but drained when some ice blocks broke away. Keith Scott from New Brunswick, author and photographer, told us we could drive a maintained road for seven more miles and see the Berendon Glacier, which seemed to be formed from two split sources. Both were beautifully blue!
Along the way we saw a few eagles, and at one point when Wilma had stepped out of the jeep to film, a marmot whistled at her to move along. So she turned around and videod him. Back to Fish Creek to wait for the bear fishing, and we enjoyed seeing a few salmon making their nests for spawning. All of a sudden there was the grizzly! It was a young one, who was not skilled in fishing yet, and put on quite a show while he dipped for fish and ran down the middle of the creek. What a time to run out of battery in both cameras!
At 9:00 P we go back with good batteries and stay until the Rangers close the area at 10 P. On the mile long drive back to the RV park, we become part of a traffic jam, as someone sees a black bear chowing down on fish in a wide, shallow place in Salmon River, where we have to peer through some brush. We stay a few minutes just enjoying his activity and are able to get a zoomed photo. What a thrill!
Roxie, just so you will know, we took the bear spray with us everywhere we went the entire time we were in Hyder -- so did almost everyone else! -- and we were glad we did.
Pictures are here.
Waldog, Willie and Jake
Saturday July 22, 2006 Hyder AK to Prince George BC Log 438 Miles
Up early in the morning to head back to Fish Creek for bear viewing, Herb walks Jake in the campground, but comes back to the RV for a Necessary Bag, and tells Jake to sit obediently by the steps. Wilma happens to glance to the front windshield and sees something black about two camp sites over by the edge of the woods. Coal black. There is no human clothing that black. She knows what it is! Where is that fully charged camera???
We head down to Fish Creek, but the salmon are few this morning and apparently the bears are resting. We decide to leave Hyder and head farther south, totally happy with having seen bears a number of times, only to see the top of a black bear's head in the bushes by the roadside, and then another as we traveled on the highway back in BC. Mission accomplished!
As we got farther south and west the countryside became more flat, with rolling hills, farmland, and forest products industries. Not the same scenery as we had been having, but pleasant to the eye. Disturbing was the number of dead trees -- sometimes two or three, sometimes total hillsides -- that may have become infested with pine bark beetle.
We are stopped by a flagger with her sign out saying accident scene. She tells us it will be a wait while they try to upright a motorhome that appears to have run off the road. They tried for about 30 or 40 minutes while we are there without success. They finally took a break and let us pass. It was 90 degrees F ambient temp. When we stopped for the night at Wal-mart the low temp was 70. What is happening here? We awake in the middle of the night and it is DARK. We have not seen darkness since we left High River Alberta nearly two months ago. Wilma said she was afraid of the dark.<grin>.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Sunday July 23, 2006 Prince George BC to Columbia Icefields Jasper Park, Alberta Log 306 Miles
Climbing a steep grade yesterday we notice the low coolant warning came on. It went right back off when we attained the grade. So Herb checked the coolant and found that it was up to level so must have just been the angle of climb for the sensor. Herb cleaned about a quarter cup of dirt from the the new air filter, we should not have to replace it again this trip. A check of the oil level and tires and we are ready to roll.
Leaving Prince George, we cross the Fraser river, one of several crossings we will make today as we travel along its length to its head waters near the Jasper Icefields Parkway. Michner's fictional Englishmen in his novel "Journey" traveled the Fraser after starting to the Klondike from Edmonton. We enter the Jasper National Park on the East Yellowhead Highway. Our fee is $15.30 cdn. At the park highway intersection, we turn north into the historic town of Jasper for diesel. Very crowded, very congested and tight turns to get to the pumps. Wilma gets down from the coach and locates the diesel lanes while Herb threads through the obstacles.
Lunch is at Slim Creek Rest Area along the Fraser River, where Jake plays retrieve the stick in the river, and burns off some energy. Then burns more as he dries off. Interpretive panels tell of the mountain pine beetle infestation, and that it is a natural order of things, but currently it is considered a massive epidemic. The forest industry does salvage much of the timber by harvesting it as soon as it dies, then seedlings are planted to renew the forest. Driving on, we see a new-to-us purple flower and cotton grass along the highway.
We leave the rolling hills and haymeadows to enter the Canadian Rockies and unbelievable mountains again. We see a white mountain goat near the highway, and Herb gets a quick glimpse of a moose in a pond out the side window.
We arrive at the large rv parking lot in view of the glaciers at Columbia Icefields. The park allows overflow dry camping here. We circle the lot until we find a spot that is level enough for us to set up and we are home. Our backyard has a fantastic view tonight.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Monday, July 24, 2006
Alaska Day 65-66
Wednesday July 19, 2006 Whitehorse Yukon to Turnout Mile 706 Alaska Highway Yukon Log 200 Miles
We spend the morning getting ready to move. We use the internet connection at Rick's All Day Grill to return phone calls and clear up our emails. We are hooked up and in the parking lot of the post office by 3 PM. The clerk asked us to wait until about 4 PM to see if our mail arrives with the airmail delivery. It does not, so we leave instructions to "Return to Sender," as the song says (Escapees in Livingston), "Addressee gone South." We will have it sent later to us in the US where it does not have to clear customs to get to us.
We say goodbye to Whitehorse and head south down the Alaska highway, traveling out on a section that we traveled in on nearly two months ago. Compared to some of the roads we have been on recently, we marvel at how smooth the coach is riding.
Our turnout and home for the evening is just inside the Yukon on the British Columbia-Yukon border. Our neighbors for the night are a motorhome and a small fifth wheel. We have a long cleared vista ahead of us as we set up for the evening. We just know that we will see some wildlife at this location during the evening or early in the morning. We do not.
The sun set at the position of 7 on the virtual clock, and appeared in the morning at the 10 o'clock position. Small arc, even as far south (relatively speaking) that we are.
Thursday July 20, 2006 Turnout Mile 706 Alaska Highway Yukon to Eastman Creek Rest Area Cassiar Highway BC Log 343 Miles
We begin our day about 68 miles from the north end of the Cassiar Highway. We stop at Beaver Dam Lodge just before the Highway intersection and find a wi-fi to check our phone calls and emails. At the intersection of the Cassiar we plan to fill up with diesel. The station here is closed and out of diesel. Rather than start the Cassiar with only a half a tank, we elect to detour 14 miles to Watson Lake so we can start this highway with a full tank of diesel. We pay $1.189 Canadian per litre. Roughly translated, that works out to just over $5.00 US per gallon. The most we paid so far has been at Dawson City, $1.299 Canadian per litre. Even so, we are still spending less than a nice cruise would cost, we have Jake with us, we get to see the Interior, and look how many days we have been exploring this beautiful country.
Having left early in the morning, we see some beautiful sunrise scenes, and one of the interesting ones is the pink of the sky reflected in the shiny treads of the highway.
With a full tank of diesel, we return to the J-37 and head south. Almost immediately, Herb spots a large black bear starting across the highway from our right. The bear sees the coach and reverses direction. Wilma misses her first photo op of the day. Bummer. Since we had just left the intersection, she really thought Herb was making a joke, and looked at him incredulously, rather than to where he was looking. Shortly afterward, we both see a grizzly, medium size, on the left. We are passed too quickly to get a photo, but are able to stop, where Wilma steps out onto the steps to get a shot behind us. (He was the exact color of the two cubs she dreamed about last night. The cubs were very friendly, and one of our grandchildren was carrying one around.)
We began to see a little snow on the mountain peaks, and read our altitude at Gnat Pass at 4004 feet. We drove about ten hours today, averaged around 30 mph, and the slowest we went was 15. There were several gravel sections -- washboard not as bad as Destruction Bay area -- but slow going. We think the worst was the quick breaks in the pavement where they had replaced a culvert, but not re-laid the seal coat, yet.
We checked out Kinaskan Provincial Park, which was treed, by the Kinaskan Lake, but there were no pull-throughs available, and we were feeling lazy. A good night's rest at Eastman, but no grizzlies seen. The creek was named for George Eastman, of Kodak fame, who hunted big game here before the road was built.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Alaska Day 64
Tuesday July 18, 2006 Whitehorse Log 0 Miles
No mail again today; Canada Customs can be unpredictable, we are told. Ricky's All Day Grill (with WiFi for customers) has become our Home Office and it seems we do spend all day there. It will be good to be back in regular communications soon.
Lunch was at Klondike Ribs and Salmon, where we had a terrific halibut chowder, read a bit more on the behinds the scenes of Robert Service's writing, and the his and hers were labeled Sourdough and Sweetdough.
Our neighbor left his RV and drove to Skagway for the day, and we began to hope it was just for the day, as his alarm system sounded about every hour. We were afraid he would find out that Skagway was interesting enough to spend several days there, as we did.
Our hearts are heavy as we learn of the passing of Wilma's brother-in-law, Louie, and we praise God for his life, his life in the Lord, and that we were able to share it.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Alaska Day 63
Monday July 17, 2006 Whitehorse Log 0 Miles
The Post Office opens at 8:30 AM, so we make a trip to see if our mail has arrived. The clerk tells us that there will be a delivery from the airport at 2:30, so we can check back at 3:30 to see if ours has arrived.
We say goodbye to Dan and Sylvia as they head to Skagway. We finally wash the Discovery and tank up on fresh water for another stay at Wal-mart.
3:30 PM and still no mail, we are told that it may take some time for it clear customs. We take a long walk down the river trail by the Yukon, which we learn is part of the Trans Canada Trail. We take Jake back home and pass by the library, where he is invited in. While we were on the south end of the park, it rained at the north end where we live, and we come upon a double rainbow. Then over to Ricky's cafe for a glass of wine and use his wi-fi to check our emails and voice mails.
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
The Post Office opens at 8:30 AM, so we make a trip to see if our mail has arrived. The clerk tells us that there will be a delivery from the airport at 2:30, so we can check back at 3:30 to see if ours has arrived.
We say goodbye to Dan and Sylvia as they head to Skagway. We finally wash the Discovery and tank up on fresh water for another stay at Wal-mart.
3:30 PM and still no mail, we are told that it may take some time for it clear customs. We take a long walk down the river trail by the Yukon, which we learn is part of the Trans Canada Trail. We take Jake back home and pass by the library, where he is invited in. While we were on the south end of the park, it rained at the north end where we live, and we come upon a double rainbow. Then over to Ricky's cafe for a glass of wine and use his wi-fi to check our emails and voice mails.
Pictures are here.
Walldog, Willie and Jake
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