The Haley Hiatus

Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Dakota

2010-09-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

What a surprise this park is! After many miles driving through the rolling plains we crest a hill and suddenly are in an eroded valley reminiscent of the desert southwest.

Theodore Roosevelt Park is a hidden gem that is evidently avoided due to its out of the way location. Unlike Glacier National Park, we nearly had the place to ourselves. We were even able to camp right in the park and had a great spot.

The signs told us to be cautious of the wild buffalo. We saw evidence of their presence, but never did get an up close encounter. Trees rubbed smooth and footprints:

Still plenty of flowers for Karen to photograph.

There is plenty of unique geology to be seen here.

Took a hike to a prairie dog town. Had the trail and the entire town to ourselves. The dogs ignored us for the most part and just let us hang out.

This little guy followed Bill quite a ways up the trail.

We had a lot of good bird sightings, but didn't get much cooperation for good pictures.

Red-Headed Woodpecker:

Finally some buffalo on our way out of the park:

Glasgow, MT Into the Dakotas

2010-09-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

August 3, 2010 – Yesterday we made it as far as Glasgow, MT and had a pleasant stay in an RV park that was attached to a hotel. We were right next to train tracks, but were not affected since we’ve done it so many times before on this trip. Today, we continued on toward North Dakota with more treeless, rolling hills.

Using the road shoulders for hay like we saw in Alberta, Canada:

What the heck is that on the road up ahead?

It turns out to be a truck pulling a very large tank of some kind. They have to stop so a crew can raise power lines for clearance.

A momentary reminder of our Alaska adventure. Looks like someone gave up on the cold north and is moving south before the snow flies.

The Missouri River and a link to its famous travelers:

More flowers that caught Karen’s eye and amber waves of grain!

Into the eroded hills of western North Dakota. The day's destination was Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

East Across Montana

2010-09-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

August 2nd, 2010 - Our original plan was to continue south to Yellowstone and the Tetons, but we've been overwhelmed by the crowds of people after being accustomed to the wide open spaces of the far north. The idea of wading through people at Yellowstone is just not enticing. We'll save it as an excuse to drag the trailer back west someday.

The new plan is to drive straight east to the Dakotas to see the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, and anything else we stumble upon which looks interesting.

Leaving Glacier National Park behind us via US85:

The earth recovering from fire as far as the eye can see:

Browning, Montana is the capital of the Blackfeet Nation. Decorations on posts and dogs running free:

Traveling east across the northern part of Montana on US Route 2 from Browning.

Shelby, Montana stradles US2. It's an interesting looking old prairie town. The Roxy theater is on the left with three high rooves.

Grain dominates the land and the economy. The terrain is open and rolling. We see why they call this "big sky country":

Glacier National Park, Part 2

2010-09-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Bill enjoying Duck Lake, and Barkley not so sure about it:

August 1 A sweet little family on Duck Lake:

We left Duck Lake Campground because we were able to reserve one night a few miles down the road in Glacier National Park's St. Mary Campground. Some of Barkley's Duck Lake friends say good-bye (look at that sweet boy's crooked nose).

A border crossing contingent:

Our spot in St. Mary Campground:

A type of wild clematis? (with a bit of fireweed in the left background):

A folded-wing beauty:

On the trail between the campground and Glacier National Park's St. Mary Visitor Center:

The center is attractive with its modern design and native plant beds.

Osprey at the Visitor Center:

Wanting to do some hiking, we took the hour-long shuttle bus ride to Logan Pass on Going-to-the-Sun Road. But heavy rain and hail canceled our hiking ideas and packed the Logan Pass Visitor Center to the gills. We waited several hours for a bus that had room to take us back down to the St. Mary Visitor Center.

A rainbow at the Weeping Wall:

Wild rose bud:

Glacier National Park, Part 1

2010-09-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

July 30: Glacier National Park was established in 1910 and is celebrating its centennial this year.

Cows in the woods along the road to the park's fee station:

Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent Lake:

Fireweed and other wildflowers at the lake:

Columbian Ground Squirrels:

~*~ Some of the sights along the 2.6-mile loop trail around Swiftcurrent Lake ~*~

A momma bird (a type of grouse?) and one of her three babies:

Lupines and other wildflowers along the path:

A Red-tailed Bumble Bee in a Wild Geranium:

Nodding Onion:

The hotel and lake:

Could this little woodland plant be a type of wintergreen?

Alaska Rein Orchid (woohoo!):

Paintbrushes in a rosy magenta with other wildflowers:

Mountain Globemallow (with a wild geranium peaking out underneath):

POISONOUS Green False Hellebore (about 5 feet tall):

Pearly Everlasting in various stages of its modest bloom:

A lovely bud:

What is this little beauty?

A caterpillar we couldn't identify:

Paintbrushes in magenta and rose (with some wonderfully fragrant clover) along the road out of the park:

A grazer on the road:

Red Deer, Alberta to Babb, Montana

2010-09-19T15:53:00.001-07:00

July 29th, our last day in Canada as we head to Montana. It was neat to see that the grass on the sides of the road and in the median is mowed and rolled into hay bales. Once again, hay, canola, and windmills highlighted the landscape.

Cardston, Alberta (hometown of Fay Wray!) is a cute town that looked like a huge used-car lot when we entered because of all the colorful pendants strung across the road - all the way through town.

Chief Mountain is the spiritual center of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. It impressed us for miles and miles as we drove south through Alberta.

Waiting in line to re-enter the United States. Because we stated that we were carrying firewood, we were inspected by employees of the US Department of Agriculture, who were very thorough in going through the truck and the trailer. The only thing they took was a piece of bark. We were glad to see how careful they were, as bark is apparently an important vehicle in the spread of the various insect infestations that are killing miles and miles of trees throughout Canada and the US.

We stayed in Duck Lake Campground, which is run by Patty and Dale Fenner of the Blackfeet Nation. He is an archeologist who looks for dinosaurs and found the most complete (99%!) juvenile T Rex in the United States.

Bill with Patty's loyal companion, Fatboy:

Wildflowers and a small red grasshopper in the campground:

White pelicans at Duck Lake (one wearing a toupee):

We met Bob and Lynn Allison of Florida and their dog, Sweetie, in the campground. They are sailors and shared wonderful stories with us. They've enjoyed sailing to various islands in the Caribbean and also sailed up the Inter-Coastal Waterway, with a little open water around Delaware and New Jersey, and back through the States and into Canada. Lynn is a nurse, and Bob has been involved in the automated (manufactured) housing market for many years. He has designed a self-contained housing unit, with an integrated system for catching and using rainwater, that could seriously help the situation in Haiti, where lack of housing and clean water are still huge problems since the earthquake in January. Here's hoping the units are approved, manufactured, and shipped soon!

Charlie Lake, British Columbia to Red Deer, Alberta

2010-08-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Still traveling east and south on the Alaska Highway, we left Charlie Lake, British Columbia on July 27. Canola fields along the way:

An interesting business proposition:

Dawson Creek, British Columbia, where the Alaska Highway begins:

Wooden grain elevator and train car at the Dawson Creek Visitor Center:

Mile 0 designators:

Entering Alberta, where we saw plenty of windmills and gas wells.

Fox Creek, Alberta was notable for us only because our fifth wheel hit a low overhang at a fuel stop. It tore the rubber roof of the Sabre in several spots and smashed the bedroom's (plastic) sunroof. We're thankful that the only damage to the gas station was the removal of a face board and gutter, which landed in the bed of the truck.

Bill patching the roof and gaping hole over the bedroom with good ol' duct tape:

Edmonton seemed to be our best bet for having the Sabre repaired, so we stayed on the road until almost 11 p.m. when we spotted a Wal-Mart in Spruce Grove. We were exhausted, so Bill pulled in and we went right to bed. It was our first time staying in a parking lot, and we were almost stuck there. Bill woke up at 5 a.m. to the sounds of car doors slamming, looked out, and saw that we were being parked in by folks hopping a bus to a casino. He got out just in time to ask the driver of the last brick in the wall if he would move his van. The guy grudgingly did so, and Bill pulled us out of there with the bedroom slide still extended. It was quite a start to the day!

Canola fields ran for miles and miles before and after Edmonton. We read that the seeds are shipped to Asia for processing into oil.

Western RV Country in Le Duc, south of Edmonton was extremely disappointing. The guy at the service desk told us there would be a wait of a week to 10 days, as that's how far out they were scheduled. Bill asked what they could do for folks 3000 miles away from home with a hole in the roof. He said he could add us to the schedule, but it would probably be 10 days before they could do anything. Bill said it was an emergency, couldn't they do something. No, they couldn't. Bill asked if he could at least have a tech look at the patch job Bill did with duct tape to see if it would hold. No, all the techs were busy, but we could schedule the repair and they'd look at the patch job on that date - and then it might be longer than 10 days if they have to order any parts. So, Bill said, there's basically nothing you can do for us? And the guy said the most he could do was give us the name of another repair station, but they're all busy, too. Karen told Bill we should just leave because the guy didn't care at all and we were just wasting our time. Then the guy says, "Well, if she's going to be like that, I'm not going to help you at all!" Karen said, "You're already not helping us at all." This guy was a total jerk.

Thank God for Western RV Country in Red Deer. It was like night and day compared to the sister shop in Le Duc. As luck would have it, Rick Flint, the service manager in Red Deer, is the head of all three area shops, including the one in Le Duc. He was not happy to hear about the way we were treated in Le Duc and said that he would look into it. We believed him. He had us in the service bay immediately. An inspection showed that the entire rubber roof would have to be replaced, which is a very long job, so he suggested that they repair everything so that we could make our way home without further damage. And that's what they did. He also sent our insurer pictures of the damage and explained that full repairs would have to be made when we got home. What a wonderful experience! It made Karen cry (in happiness), after the bad experience we had earlier.

Our hero, Rick Flint:

Vern, who worked on the Sabre:

Mike

The greeter:

Within five hours, we were on our way, happy campers once more. We stayed the night in Red Deer's Lions Park Campground, which was very nice. Bill enjoyed a long conversation with a man who volunteers countless hours leading search and rescue teams.

White pelicans flying over our site:

Liard Hot Springs to Charlie Lake, British Columbia

2010-08-23T10:19:00.001-07:00

July 25th, back on the road.

The last suspension bridge on the Alaska Highway:

Stone Sheep:

Buffalo:

Part of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Sentinel Range is on the left, Peterson Mountain is in the center, and Terminal Range (the end of the Rockies) is on the right:

POISONOUS! Elegant Camas, also called Death Camas:

Stone Sheep:

Folded Mountain:

Caribou:

Summit Lake:

Four-parted Gentian:

Salmon and red Paintbrush:

POISONOUS! Monkshood:

Seed heads of a type of dryas, probably Yellow Dryas (if not, it's Mountain Avens):

Butterfly:

The Alaska Highway is constantly being repaired and kicking up dust.

Because there was no other choice in Fort Nelson, we stayed in Westend Campground (also called Triple G Hideaway RV Park). We were really packed in, with tight spacing side to side and RVs backed up to each other. We're trying to forget this one, so no picture.

July 26th, we drove to Charlie Lake Provincial Park.

Fireweed lining the Alaska Highway:

Our site at Charlie Lake Provincial Park:

The park was supposed to have wildflowers not found anywhere else. We didn't see those, but there were still some beautiful flowers.

Asters with moths or butterflies we couldn't identify - and a fly:

The same type of flying critters on another wildflower:

This type of clover has a wonderful, sweet fragrance.

POISONOUS! Baneberry plants will have white or red berries with black dots at the ends.

POISONOUS! Larkspur (this plant was about 5 feet tall):

Quite a raspberry harvest:

Resting our little buddy's leggies:

Back on the trail:

We were within 30 feet of a young male moose before we noticed him - after he snapped a twig. Alas, this is our best picture.

Roasting corn on the fire; mmm, mmm, good!

Teslin, Yukon to Liard Hot Springs, British Columbia

2010-08-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

July 24th and back on the Alaska Highway. Destination: Liard Hot Springs.

Nisutlin Bay Bridge in Teslin, Yukon territory:

An information sign in Watson Lake, British Columbia, explains that the US Army Corps of Engineers erected wooden signs with various city names and distances from the sign as the Alaska Highway was being built in 1942. Carl Lindley was a homesick soldier and added his hometown to the signpost in Watson Lake. Since then, countless others from around the world have added their cities - and their own names - to the Signpost Forest. We saw several signs from Pennsylvania, with Chambersburg the apparent winner with three. Grantville is the closest to our town that we could find.

We were unable to get a good picture of our favorite British Columbia billboard, which states, "Everybody who doesn't like a speeding ticket, raise your right foot!"

Watch out for buffalo!

A few miles down the road, we saw a young black bear grazing. Another group of buffalo - three or four - was several miles after that. We also saw a red fox lying in wait, looking down a hole, earlier in the day. It was a great day for seeing wildlife.

We stayed in Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, British Columbia. (Some of the official pamphlets and signs we saw had "Hot Springs" and others had "Hotsprings.")

Look how thick this picnic table is!

This little red squirrel ran down a tree, across our campsite until he nearly ran into Barkley, beat a fast retreat, and went right back up a tree and chirped at us for about five minutes.

The hot springs are wonderful! A boardwalk leads through a marsh and woodlands for about 500 meters to Alpha Pool, which is around two to three feet deep and the hotter of the two pools. The boardwalk then continues on an upward slope for another 300 meters to Beta Pool, which is 9 meters deep and not quite as hot as Alpha.

These are a few of the wildflowers along the way.

An orchid, Hooded Ladies' Tresses:

Rush Aster and Grass of Parnassus:

Brook Lobelia (lower left), with various grasses:

Another orchid, Bog Candle:

Twisted Stalk, also called Watermelon Berry (these are supposed to be luscious and we wish we had tried them):

Field Mint:

A tiny beauty we couldn't identify:

Ostrich Fern:

Yellow Monkeyflower:

POISONOUS! Water Hemlock (the narrow, toothed leaves belong to the plant):

Alpha Pool:

This is Beta, the upper pool, which we had to ourselves from about 10 to 11 at night.

Wasilla, Alaska to Yukon

2010-08-11T23:14:00.000-07:00

July 22nd - 399.9 miles in the RAIN

A cute little camper on the Glenn Highway (we saw one of these pulled by a Volkswagen Beetle in the Painted Desert but missed getting its picture):

The sprawling Matanuska Glacier:

In this view, the dirt and greenery in the foreground is actually on top of the glacier:

More miles on the Glenn Highway:

Grass of Parnassus:

Shrubby Cinquefoil:

A Gray Jay:

Paintbrush:

In Tok, we turned off the Glenn Highway and onto the Alaska Highway to travel east and south. They've made a lot of progress on the new Tok River Bridge since we came through the first week in June. (Other than that, the Alaska Highway was still horrible and delivered some wolloping head- and back- aches.)

Entering the Yukon Territory (the preferred name since 2003 is actually "Yukon," but most still call it the Yukon Territory):

Rattlebox (look at those little white teeth!):

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory:

July 23d - After a night in the Snag Junction (Yukon Government) Campground, we put in 367 more miles, in the rain.

This black bear must still be growing into his long legs.

A respite between downpours for these poor cyclists:

Siberian Aster:

Now we see how this beautiful little plant got its names of Many-flowered Stickseed and Burweed.

A reconstruction of the Canyon Creek Bridge, which was used by wagons in the early 1900s:

We spent the night in Teslin, Yukon Territory, at the Yukon Motel and Restaurant's RV park. Our site was right behind the large tree on the left.

Anchorage, Alaska

2010-08-08T00:11:00.000-07:00

July 15th, from Seward to Anchorage:

Dall Sheep:

We stayed in Eagle River Campground, Chugach State Park, outside Anchorage. It was nice to have woods and space - and sticks! - again.

Unfortunately, as we've seen in most of the state parks we've been in, people are killing the trees by pealing the bark off to use as kindling. As seen here, they actually cut the trees to do it. Very sad.

July 16th: We woke up to find our camping gear container was gone. It had been under the trailer, where it was every night for the past 22 weeks. Never a problem before. When we told the camp host about it, she said that theft is rather common, happening mostly on weekends when kids from the surrounding area drive through at two or three in the morning and take anything that looks like it might be a cooler (loaded with beer). Ours was the third reported theft that day. Hmmmmm. Would have been nice to have been warned ahead of time. A simple sign at the self-pay fee station would have done the trick. White storage container with interlocking lid, Coleman lantern, lantern hanger, Coleman stove fuel, fuel funnel, box of strike-anywhere matches, two-gallon collapsible water container, fire knot (which Bill had spent hours preparing), kindling, folding pruning saw, various ropes and twine, retractable clothesline, bungee cords, pack of sandpaper, two citronella candles in glass pots, roll of pipe insulation, and probably other things we can't recall right now. All gone. Worse yet, all just dumped somewhere if the host was right about it being kids looking for beer. What a waste.

After some commiserating, we got on with the day. Bill and Karen did some chores, including buying a generator, and Sue enjoyed spending the day with Barkley, reading, writing, and getting to know the neighbors.

Sunset at 10:32 p.m. set the trees ablaze.

Of course, it was still almost like daylight, so play continued.

July 17th: Our neighbors for the weekend are stationed at Elmonton Air Force Base in Anchorage. Here's Hadleigh, with her mom Brittainy and dad Cody, enjoying kisses from Barkley.

And then Hadleigh got tired.

Sue saw this red squirrel come out of a hole below a tree, grab the mushroom, and run up the tree to eat it.

Sue and Karen loved picking wildflowers together, and Sue especially enjoyed finding baby spruce trees amongst the flowers. This is a very special bouquet; it's for Jerry.

Jerry Haley was Sue's husband and Bill's dad and passed away in 1999. Most of Jerry's ashes were left near the creek behind the farm he and Sue loved and lived on for eight years in Murphy, North Carolina. Sue kept some of the ashes, and sent half of that along with Bill when we left Florida in February, as Jerry had always wanted to go to Alaska. While Sue and Karen were out picking wildflowers, Sue was drawn to a beautiful little bowl in the woods, with spruce trees on each side of the entrance and a steep hill Jerry would have loved to climb. Sue said it would be perfect if she could find a baby spruce, and there it was. We looked all around, and it was the only one there. So this was it: Jerry's Grove.

It was the perfect day for Jerry's ceremony. The sun even lit the path into the woods.

Sue, preparing the spot by the little spruce tree:

The view from the entrance to Jerry's Grove:

Time to build the fire:

July 18th: It rained all day long and all last night; perfect reading weather. Because the state park limits stays to four days, we moved about 25 down the road, back to Big Bear RV Park and Campground in Wasilla. A couple more days of reading, and then it was time for Sue to pack up for her loooong flight back to Florida. She left Anchorage Airport at 1:40 a.m., July 21st. We miss her so much.

This is Sue's favorite wildflower bouquet. We left it in Wasilla for our neighbors to enjoy.

Kenai, Alaska

2010-08-07T21:08:00.001-07:00

July 13th, we traveled to Kenai. It rained all day. We stayed in the Beluga Lookout Lodge & RV Park, where there was barely enough room to extend our slides.

However, the park has a nice clean building with a gift shop, shower rooms, and laundry facilities. That's where Sue met ten-year-old Collin, a fellow book-lover.

We loved this bench, with its hand-carved momma and baby beluga whale design.

These are the biggest petunia baskets we've ever seen!

A neat picnic table, with all-around seating:

The RV park sits on a bluff overlooking Cook Inlet, where hundreds of men and a few women and children were fishing, most with huge dip nets.

The second Russian settlement in Alaska occured in what is now Kenai.

The Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church is still used by the congregation and is a National Landmark.

The rectory?

Oskolkof/Dolchok House, now Veronica's Coffeehouse with beautiful gardens:

Rosa rugosa at Veronica's Coffeehouse:

Saint Nicholas Memorial Chapel:

Barkley's favorite building, with the chapel in the right background:

Wasilla and Seward, Alaska Part 1

2010-08-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

July 3d: Traveling and sightseeing can grow wearisome, so we decided to take a break for a few days to get our shopping and laundry chores done and simply relax. Lots of construction on Parks Road to Wasilla:

In Wasilla, we stayed on the circle in Big Bear RV Park and Campground. The inside of the circle was a common area with a large pavillion and three propane grills for the use of all patrons.

There was also a large grass area behind us where Bill and Barkley played and played. Because his back legs still aren't quite right, Barkley's body is at an angle to his goal when he runs.

Since it was the 4th of July weekend, we heard lots of fireworks, and a family in the RV park was also setting off fireworks. Broad daylight is not the ideal backdrop for fireworks, but we did see a faint color splash here and there.

July 6th, and we're back on the road to Seward. Sights at a stop along the Seward Highway on Turnagain Arm (a long inlet):

Harebells and clover:

A marsh along the way:

Of course, it was overcast and raining most of the day.

At another rest stop:

We stayed in Bear Creek RV Park outside of Seward and were once again blessed to be in the same park as Colin and Betty Linton. It was bittersweet, because they would be staying in Seward until the end of July, so we knew we wouldn't meet on the road again. We hope to see them again, and so does Barkley.

Signs along Resurrection Bay:

Two Park Service vehicles being charged:

The road south of Seward along the Bay, where we stopped to take pictures of sea otters:

A type of wild pea:

At the Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Viewing Trail, we picked up miniature booklets with color pictures of the invasive plants in the Seward area. The advice is to pull invasive weeds wherever they are found, pack them in plastic, and pack them out to proper trash receptacles.

Bald eagles:

Glacial streams running into Resurrection Bay:

Seward, Alaska Part 2

2010-08-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

Still July 6th, we walked down the road from our RV park at 9 p.m. to see salmon coming up Bear Creek.

The weir on the other side of the road:

Barkley met two new friends at the weir.

On July 7th, Bill took a sea kayak out in Resurrection Bay.

July 8th, on the road to Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park:

Information signs (and a later talk by a Park Ranger) informed us that glaciers are made of layers and layers of snow that compact under their own weight until most of the air is forced out and the compressed snow turns to ice. Glacial ice can grow to hundreds of feet deep. The pressure of the ice's weight actually melts a thin layer at the bottom of the ice, and the glacier slides on that thin film of water. As it moves, the glacier pushes along all the rocks - and huge boulders - beneath it, scratching striations into the bedrock. The rigid top layer of the glacier also cracks as the glacier moves, resulting in crevasses (many of which are more than 100 feet deep in Exit Glacier). Even though Exit Glacier has been shrinking since it reached its maximum length in 1815, its movement still provides a constant supply of gravel for the Seward area.

Here are a few pictures taken along the trail to Exit Glacier.

Western Columbine:

A type of wintergreen known as Pink Pyrola, which grows from the little round leaves:

The glacier:

Glacial silt and ice, with all rounded edges:

When light penetrates the glacier, all the colors are trapped, except for a beautiful shade of blue.

Striations in the rock caused by the movement of the glacier. As the glacier shrinks, more and more of this rock is exposed.

After the Exit Glacier, we went to the Alaska SeaLife Center on the bay. The center has puffins and other seabirds, a few harbor seals, various fish, a touch-me area with star fish, and a great gift shop. In the front flower bed:

These two little seals were brought to the center as orphaned babies. They spent quite a bit of time with their faces pressed against the floor and wall, and then they dove into the water and started playing.

A large display about 1989's Exxon Valdez oil spill estimates the numbers of animal deaths at 250,000 seabirds; 2600 sea otters; 300 harbor seals; 22 orca whales; and billions of salmon eggs, herring eggs, intertidal plants, and intertidal animals. While in Fairbanks, we watched a program on a Native American station about the spill. An elder testified after the spill about witnessing the deaths of many animals, including a sea otter which gouged its eyes out, trying to clear out the oil.

Tufted Puffins, looking a bit like Groucho Marx and sometimes pretending to be turkeys:

Harlequin Duck:

In downtown Seward, an escaped pet rabbit?

Harding Icefield is the parent of many glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. Bill hiked the strenuous 8 miles to the icefield and back on July 8th.

Hoary Marmot:

The trail is steep!

We wish we could remember the Native American term for these peaks sticking up through the ice. It means "Lonely Peaks."

Seward, Alaska Part 3

2010-08-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

July 11th: The woods across the road from the RV park were so inviting. Sue felt like she was in a cathedral in the midst of the tall trees and lush vegetation. Sue, Bill, and Barkley are barely visible in this picture, even though they're not far from the camera.

Karen was thrilled to find these gorgeous little woodland flowers. Wood Nymph, Shy Maiden, and Single Delight are a few of its names. Only about 2" high:

Devil's Club bud:

Tiny growth on a log:

Sue looking through Devil's Club:

The reason it's called Devil's Club:

Each looking at something different:

Barkley, blazing his own trail:

Apparently, an animal hauled a bag of trash into the woods and rummaged through it. Sue, cleaning the cathedral:

Cow Parsnips near the road:

Later in the day, we walked down by the fish weir again. A juvenile bald eagle:

Kim's Forest Bed and Breakfast:

The same eagle we saw earlier?

Seward, Alaska Part 4 - Resurrection Bay

2010-08-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

After several days where the seas were too high for the touring boats to go out, we finally got our tour of Resurrection Bay on July 12th. The delay turned out to be fortunate, as our boat left the dock at 12 noon, and the usual clouds and rain were gone. The sun was bright for the first couple hourse, but by the time we got back to shore at 5:00 it was overcast and so windy it felt like it was below freezing.

The black and orange boat to the right of center is the Poseidon.

Several Dall's Porpoises swam by and dove under the boat a couple times, but were too fast for the photographer. This sea otter was sympathetic and hung around for a few shots.

We were on the Northwestern, one of the boats used by Major Marine Tours in Seward. Every tour this company provides has a Kenai Fjords National Park Ranger on board to narrate the sights.

Within an hour or so, people in shirtsleeves had gone inside for the duration, and were soon followed by folks without windbreakers.

A Bald Eagle:

It's 2:00, and the clouds are dropping. A hanging glacier (it does not reach water):

A few of the waterfalls along the way:

Alaska's flag flying from the boat's stern:

Gorgeous blue water:

A lone house tucked back in a deep cove:

The water was so deep, the captain took the boat right up to the cliff, where the folks in the bow - with a warning beforehand - got a cooold shower.

During an earthquake, the standing dead trees on this narrow, long island were completely covered with ocean water, which killed and preserved them.

Another waterfall:

Small caves:

Sea lions, a few of their feathered friends, and a bit of park technology:

Mountain Goat:

A popular bird spot (with a few yellow wildflowers):

Horned Puffin:

The Park Ranger informed us that a humpback whale will swim along the surface for a short while, blow (exhaling old air) and quickly inhale fresh air, and submerge three or four times to fill its lungs for a deep dive, where it can remain underwater for up to 30 minutes. We were so glad to be able to see this beautiful creature, even at a distance.

The first picture is blurry, but you can see the spray from the whale's blow coming back down in front of the boat on the left. In the second picture, the spray is still visible to the left of the boat. In the third, the whale is just about to disappear beneath the surface.

Ten seconds later, and the whale is back up. Missed the blow again, but the spray is visible on the left of the picture, making the coast look hazy.

Again, ten seconds after it last disappeared, the whale is back up. It's amazing how far it travels in that short amount of time. We were never sure where it would resurface. (The photographer's excuse for missing every single blow.)

Twelve seconds after the last disappearance (spray to the left):

Twelve seconds later, the final blow (spray) - a big one - and the whale goes for the deep dive.

Talkeetna and Mt. McKinley

2010-07-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

On July 1st, we traveled from Byers Lake Campground to Talkeetna, but the trip started out a bit rough. As we started up the first little hill in the campground, the truck stopped pulling. Bill checked out various things, and the rig just wouldn't budge. So, he backed us up into a day-use parking area. Within a few minutes, a ranger stopped by, and he went and told the park host, Wayne. Wayne came immediately and happened to have a 2010 Ford pick-up, which he said had done some odd things. For one, the computer would indicate something was wrong, he'd turn the truck off and back on, and everything would be fine - like the computer was learning. True enough, the same thing happened to us. After unhooking the trailer and hooking it back up, all was fine. Our phone had no service, so just in case something went wrong with the truck, Wayne followed us 10 miles down Parks Road to the state park's Denali Viewpoint South. All was well!

Bill and Wayne at Denali Viewpoint South (where it was so cloudy, we only saw a tiny part of Mt. McKinley):

Also at Denali Viewpoint South, Brad Mims from Memphis, Tennessee loved Barkley (and so did his dad, Darrell).

Talkeetna is a cute little town with a general store, restaurants, cafes, arts shops, gift shops, and several places to buy specialty ice cream. We walked around town several times, but it was a bit too rainy to take pictures. An arts and crafts festival was held over the weekend, and the turnout was fairly good, despite the rain. We bought several jars of delicious homemade jam in fireweed, wild blueberry and cranberry, and rhubarb. Mmm mmm good!

Sightseeing trains behind Talkeetna Camper Park, where we stayed:

At 10:30 p.m., a nice RVer told us to get down to the river to see Mt. McKinley, so we high-tailed it down there, and McKinley was out! We finally joined the 30% club, consisting of tourists who get to see the full mountain.

Mt. McKinley from the Susitna River:

Mt. McKinley behind Bill and Barkley:

Sue, in awe of the mountain:

Mts. Foraker, Hunter, and McKinley:

Fortune was with us on July 2nd, as we walked to Talkeetna Airport for our flightseeing tour of Mt. McKinley. The sun was shining!

Sue with the Fly Denali office cat:

Bill meeting the pilot, Dave, and checking out the plane before our flight:

Since we were flying over Mt. McKinley, we had to use oxygen. Here's Sue.

Our first glimpse of Mt. McKinley, which we learned is the federal name for the mountain. Alaska has officially adopted the Native American name for it, which is Mt. Denali. From left to right: Mt. Silverthrone; Mt. McKinley, north peak at 19,470 feet and south peak at 20,320 feet; Mt. Hunter; Mt. Crosson; and Mt. Foraker

Closer in:

Lenticular (flying saucer or lens) clouds, one over the south peak:

Fluting:

Don Sheldon Amphitheater:

Don Sheldon Mountain House and outhouse at 6000 feet:

Hanging glacier above Ruth Glacier:

Ruth Glacier:

With our pilot and tour guide extraordinaire, Dave (Sue's stooping a little so we could all get in the picture; she's not quite that short):

Denali State Park - We Meet a Lynx!

2010-07-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

June 29th: Another rainy day in the neighborhood as we head south on Parks Highway to Denali State Park.

Hurricane Gulch and its bridge:

Cotton Grass near Hurricane Gulch:

Lupine seed pods:

We spent a couple nights dry camping in Denali State Park's Byers Lake Campground. Barkley and Granmaw keeping warm:

The next day we walked around the campground and enjoyed two trails, one to the Alaska Veterans Memorial (where it was so crowded we just turned around and walked back to the campground) and one to Byers Lake.

Wild Geraniums (the ones we have at home are smaller and pink):

Northern Starflower:

Bog Wintergreen, also known as Pink Pyrola, about 10" tall:

Probably a type of rue - possibly the female Western Meadow Rue

Twisted Stalk:

We came upon this mama bird - possibly a willow ptarmigan - frozen in the middle of the trail to the Veterans Memorial. A few babies hopped down off the bank and started walking up the path, but she stayed.

We thought she was trying to keep us away from her babies, but it turns out she was focused on somebody else. A lynx!

The four of us, including Barkley, were thrilled to see this lynx. We had never seen one in the wild before. Barkley wanted to make friends with it - and with the birds - but he keyed off Bill and knew he had to be still and quiet. The lynx was probably not thrilled with us for happening upon his hunting ground, but mama and babies (we think there were 8) were.

On the trail to the lake:

Nagoonberry:

Wild roses and irises:

Beeman's Cabin, which was built in 1959 (we couldn't find out anything about the man or the cabin):

Sue loved this little table in the cabin.

Red Squirrel:

Denali National Park, Part 1

2010-07-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

June 25th: Many miles of highway through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory are sandwiched between stony hills. The hills are quite inviting to folks wanting to leave their names behind in an eco-friendly manner. We found the same thing on the Parks Highway in Alaska, as we headed toward Denali National Park.

Wildflowers we saw along the way

Pineapple Weed (at first blush, these look like daisies with all the petals removed):

Squirreltail grass:

Our mystery cycling friend again, on the right:

As a base for our jaunts into Denali National Park, we stayed in the McKinley RV Park and Campground in Healy. We were once again pleasantly surprised when Colin called out Barkley's name. What a fabulous reunion!

What looks like snow coming down from the clear blue sky is actually cottony willow seeds. They floated around and coated everything during our stay in Fairbanks, and we enjoyed them again in Healy.

Sue, shining up the grill:

After setting up camp, we headed into the park. Without a special permit, private vehicles are allowed only on the first 15 miles of road in Denali. These are some of the gems we saw in those 15 miles.

Paintbrushes:

Red-tailed Bumblebee:

A large caribou and a few folks watching him:

Possibly a Mew Gull:

Wildflowers in McKinley RV Park and Campground:

Fireweed:

A type of Hawksbeard:

Tall Jacob's Ladder (we'd been seeing the smaller Beautiful Jacob's Ladder, but this is the first tall specimen we've seen):

Probably a Veined White butterfly:

Denali National Park, Part 2

2010-07-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

June 26th: Various shuttle bus, tour bus, and camper bus packages are available in Denali National Park. We bought tickets for an 11-hour shuttle bus ride, which took us on a 170-mile roundtrip to Wonder Lake and back. The morning half of the ride was quite rainy and muddy, but Nancy Russell, our driver/guide, carefully cleaned all the windows at every rest stop.

A Snowshoe Hare:

Alpine Aster:

Dall Sheep . . .

and a Gray Wolf!

It was so exciting to see the sheep, and suddenly Nancy cautioned us all to be quiet and pointed out the wolf. It crossed the road in front of the bus, entered the cover of scrub brush, and intently watched the sheep. It then decided that the best approach to the sheep was from a different angle, came back out to the road, and then hid in brush once more. When he sprang from cover, we all held our breath. It was exhilarating to see his speed - and that of the sheep. While we understand that the wolf's survival depends on his meals, we were still relieved to see that all the sheep survived. The wolf was simply out of his element on the steep rocks. We wondered why he was hunting alone.

Back to the scenery:

The Eielson Visitor Center is 66 miles inside the park, and is hardly visible from the road. Its sod roof, solar panels, and a curious Arctic ground squirrel:

Wildflowers near the center

Dwarf Fireweed:

Pussy Toes, only about 3" tall (the ferny leaves belong to a different plant):

Tundra Rose (also called Shrubby Cinquefoil), only about a foot tall:

Narcissus-flowered Anemone, about 8" tall (creamy petals and yellow center didn't come out in the photo, but it was such a great find, we had to include it):

Low-bush Cranberry, about 3" high:

POISONOUS! Monkshood! (Karen's been wanting to see one of these for years.)

Capitate Valerian?

Many-flowered Stickseed, almost covered by grass:

Hitchhiker on the bus:

We've seen gorgeous pictures of Mount McKinley reflected in Wonder Lake, but cloudcover kept us from seeing the mountain at all. Still, it was a lovely setting, and we could see a loon on her nest on the other side of the lake (and wished we had a zoom lens).

After the turn-around at Wonder Lake, the bus startled a mama moose, and she took off - with her babies keeping up as best they could. Nancy said she had never seen a moose take off like that before, weaving back and forth and in a sort of panic.

Nancy stopped our bus so that she could talk with the driver of another bus which was traveling toward us and had also stopped. The buses were no more than a foot apart, and this red fox calmly walked out of the brush, onto the road, and between the two buses. It then decided to take a break in the middle of the road.

This grizzly bear was lying on her back, nursing one cub while the cub that's visible here slept.

Mama and two babies lying back down for a nap:

Mt. McKinley off in the distance:

A mama grizzly playing with her cub, that is nearly as large as she is:

Denali National Park, Part 3

2010-07-10T04:31:00.000-07:00

June 27th: Karen balked at an (already paid-for) 8-mile hike in the rain, so Bill joined the group on his own. A park ranger led the group through woods, chest-high brush, and open meadows with a few streams to cross. He called out "Hey bear!" every time he was about to go around a blind curve or emerge from cover.

Mountain Avens:

June 28th: The three of us went on a 3-hour scenic wilderness raft ride on the Nenana River. The staff at Denali Outdoor Center helped us into our drysuits, which entailed pulling on a rubber turtleneck. This was tricky - and quite a stretch - for everyone, but Bill's rubber collar didn't look right from the beginning. It looked like it was made for a toddler. A staff member assured him it would go on, and it did . . . eventually. The veins in Bill's forehead immediately popped out, his face was red, and he looked generally like a tick about to pop. We immediately called one of the guides over, and he said it was a new suit and the collar would stretch in a few minutes. Bill kept stretching the collar during the ride to the river, and it kept coming back, tighter than ever. Finally, our guide cut the rubber in several places. It still wasn't the greatest, but Bill could finally breathe without pulling on the rubber with both hands.

The ride was a lot of fun, with all of us getting wet now and then, but Sue bore the brunt of any white water that came within 100 yards of the raft. At one point, she just sat down in the bottom of the raft while the water poured over her head. Here we are with our guide and sole paddler Joslin, in the middle, and in front, from left to right, Ray and Becky Peter from Elizabethtown PA (about 25 minutes away from where we live), and Sue and Teren (another mother/son team) from California. The picture was taken by a photographer at the Old Sourdough Studio, owned by Jimmy Tohill, whose own photography is on display in the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North. By the way, Bill's wearing a helmet because he was going on the wild canyon run after our mild wilderness ride, and there was no place in the raft to store his helmet!

Scenes along the Parks Highway between the RV park and the Denali Outdoor Center.

A railroad trestle, with a bit of the Nenana River in the foreground:

A smaller railroad trestle:

Ravens:

Fairbanks, Alaska Part 1

2010-07-08T23:57:00.001-07:00

June 18th, a dreary day with off and on rain, saw us heading north on the Alaska Highway towards Fairbanks.

Robertson River is a beautiful glacial river, which is fed by the Robertson Glacier and runs to the Tanana River. Glacial rivers are called "braided," as they follow various paths (never flowing from bank to bank), depending on the amount of glacial melt, and leave braid-like trails - some dry and some full of water.

The bridge over the Johnson River has five arches.

The Alaska Highway ended in Delta Junction, and we continued north on the Richardson Highway. About 10 miles later, we saw the Alaska Pipeline - looking like a suspension bridge - crossing the Tanana River.

We've seen this cyclist before.

Universal Welding, North Pole, Alaska:

We stayed in Riverview RV Park, between North Pole and Fairbanks, for a week. As good luck would have it, Colin and Betty Linton were in the same park, so Barkley enjoyed some good Colin time.

We were in Fairbanks for the Midnight Sun Festival, a weekend-long celebration of the summer solstice. Persistent rain did not keep folks from going downtown and enjoying the food and music, but it did keep us from being able to take pictures. Fairbanks also celebrates the summer solstice with a night-time baseball game - played without lights - starting at 10:30 p.m. on June 21st and going past midnight into the 22nd. We looked forward to the game, but the stadium was already packed when we arrived at 10:00. So, we went back to the RV park and made a few last-minute changes to accommodate our new traveling companion . . . Maw!

"Maw" is Bill's affectionate name for his mom, Sue, who was planning to join us in California, and then Oregon, and then Washington. Each time, her health kept her from traveling. But, when we arrived in Fairbanks, Bill called her and persuaded her to hop a plane just three days later! Everything went off without a hitch, and we were reunited with Sue in the Fairbanks Airport at 1:45 a.m., June 22nd. An hour or so later, Barkley joined the celebration, laughing with glee and helping Sue unpack.

We are so proud of Sue, the author of Rainy Day People. It's a fantastic novel which combines a wonderful road trip with spirituality, a love of nature, and the growth of a relationship between two people who, like most of us, have been hurt in the past. Check it out here!

June 23d: After a day of relaxation in the RV park, we headed to the University of Alaska Fairbanks and enjoyed the Georgeson Botanical Garden.

Several varieties of columbine:

Students and volunteers:

Tiny groundcover flowers:

These lilacs smelled grassy, with no hint of the classic sweet fragrance we love. One hosted a tiger swallowtail who could fly fairly well, despite wings that have suffered a bit.

Altai honeysuckle:

Various members of the onion family:

Happy pollinators:

Hives of Carniolan honeybees:

Fairbanks, Alaska Part 2

2010-07-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

After the Georgeson Botanical Garden, we went to the Robert G. White Large Animal Research Station, where students and faculty observe muskoxen, caribou, and reindeer to determine how they act socially, how their bodies work, and how knowledge learned from these animals might be transferred to caring for other animals.

A large male muskox:

A young male:

Females:

Phillip, a yearling caribou, gets a willow treat from Emma, a graduate student in biology and music, an oboist, and a wonderful tour guide.

Look at those long eyelashes!

We learned that muskoxen have horns, that begin growing at birth and are like extensions of the skeleton. They are permanent, and if they are damaged, they cannot repair themselves. Antlers, on the other hand, are temporary, lasting for several months before being shed. Caribou antlers are incredibly heavy!

Emma also taught us about qiviut, the warm layer of wool muskoxen grow close to the body in anticipation of winter. While the qiviut protects the muskox from the cold, the coat of long guard hairs the muskox sports year-round protects the qiviut from the elements. When the muskoxen begin shedding the qiviut, groomers comb it from under the guard hairs in great sheets. It is then processed into qiviut yarn, which is thinner, yet warmer, than typical sheep's wool yarn, and does not irritate the skin.

On the 24th, we went into Fairbanks again. Beautiful artwork makes beautiful bannisters at the Post Office.

A raven at Golden Heart Park, on the Chena River:

This captivating bronze statue in Golden Heart Park is called "Unkown First Family."

A sign at the Yukon Quest (thousand-mile sled dog race) gift shop:

Miriam Cooper and Jim Langston set up behind the gift shop with some of the dogs from the Sled Dog Sanctuary. Miriam is the founder of the sanctuary, and Jim is a volunteer who puts in countless hours for the dogs. We were thoroughly impressed and smitten with Miriam, Jim and the dogs. Please check out Miriam's blog.

We could hardly tear ourselves away from the sled dogs, but we finally had to and continued on outside of Fairbanks to the Alaska pipeline viewpoint. Information boards and a couple retired pigs were on display. Pigs are routed through the pipeline to clean it out and to collect information about the stability of the pipe.

Next, we went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North, where we watched a wonderful video on the Northern Lights. Bill looked like a giant in the small auditorium seats, especially with Sue beside him.

Tok, Alaska II

2010-07-07T20:35:00.001-07:00

On June 17th, we headed back to Tok and stayed in Tok RV Village this time. Here we are waiting in line at the RV wash. The rig was so filthy, it took us two full hours to wash it.

Nice and clean again in our slot next to Colin and Betty Linton of Florida. Unfortunately, all the dirt in the air kept Betty inside, but Colin and Barkley hit it off immediately.

During our stay in the Tok and Chicken areas, a wild fire started after a lightning strike just outside Tok and headed north. This shop, with its sod roof (and waiting lawnmower), was selling "I survived the fire . . ." shirts before it was even extinguished.

Wildflowers in Tok RV Village:

POISONOUS! Elegant Camas (Death Camas):

Twinflower, a sweet little plant only 3" high with 1/2" bell flowers:

Laura, from Georgia, and her great aunt Lyn and great uncle Fulton, from North Carolina. Laura is just developing an interest in wildflowers!

Top of the World Highway and Dawson City, YT

2010-07-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Our original plan as we approached Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, was to detour north to Dawson City via the Klondike Loop and then continue on to Chicken, Alaska via the Top of the World Highway. However, before we got that far, Bill spoke with an RV'ing couple from Fairbanks who said the Top of the World Highway is so bad for so many miles that they'd never take their rig on it. Instead, they suggested we head to Chicken first, leave the trailer there, and take a day-trip to Dawson City. We gladly accepted this advice and changed our plans. We were thankful for having met the Fairbanks couple, as when we arrived in Chicken we met several couples who had just driven their full rigs - some towing vehicles - from Dawson City and totally regretted it. One of the towed vehicles had a cracked windshield, and the endless bumps jarred the electrical system on another rig loose. On the morning of June 16th, Karen decided that she had had enough of bone-jarring potholed roads for awhile, so Bill headed to Dawson City solo.

The Top of the World Highway is 108 miles long, and the first thirty miles or so from Chicken to the Eagle (Alaska) cutoff road is a narrow, winding, rutted dirt road, with steep drop-offs and no guardrails. It smoothed out considerably after that. After crossing into Canada, the road was primarily paved but was still patched and potholed.

The drive was worth it. The road rises above the treeline and offers vistas to the north and south. The Canada side of the road is especially scenic.

Vistas from Top of the World:

Lingering snow:

A ferry ride across the Yukon River is required to get into Dawson City.

Bill enjoyed Dawson City for a couple hours. This means eating lunch and drinking a local brew before checking out the town.

The road winding back toward Chicken:

Chicken, Alaska

2010-06-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

June 15th, and we're on the road to Chicken, Alaska! This is the Taylor Highway, which degrades from asphalt to dirt, gravel, and potholes. You're seeing the results of the "Taylor Complex Fires," which burned 1.3 million acres during the summer of 2004.

Our spot in the Chicken Creek RV Park. Notice that the rig has acquired another - even more persistent - layer of grime.

The four-business complex in Chicken, all owned by one person. We enjoyed a fantastic lunch in the cafe, although it was a bit disappointing for Bill because they were out of chicken!

Awaiting his master at the Chicken Creek Saloon:

The Pedro Dredge, a gold dredge, is a National Historic Site located at the Chicken Gold Camp RV Park (Chicken's only other RV park). It was sort of a mechanized form of gold panning, with a conveyor belt of three-cubic-foot buckets that scooped the creek bottom and then separated the gold flakes from the tailings. It was used from 1938 through 1967, first in Pedro Creek, north of Fairbanks, and then in lower Chicken Creek.

The stage used for the Chickenstock Music Festival each summer at the Chicken Gold Camp RV Park:

A male Yellow Warbler and various wildflowers in Chicken Creek RV Park:

Possibly Sheep Sorrel:

Paintbrush:

Fireweed:

Dwarf Fireweed:

A coooold night in Chicken:

Chicken's Post Master (in the gray sweatshirt) and Post Office, where mail is dropped off just twice a week:

Tok, Alaska I

2010-06-27T22:32:00.000-07:00

June 14th was a short driving day for us as we continued on to Tok, Alaska. Crossing the White River:

The trees were quite stubby in this area of the Alaska Highway.

Part of the Alaska Highway is built on permafrost. Traditional road-building caused the permafrost to melt, and the soil actually liquefied and subsided. When the soil re-froze, it expanded. The same freeze-thaw cycle happens again and again, causing the road to buckle and crack. Troughs also form, snaking their way through the road in every direction. It makes for a dangerous - and very uncomfortable - situation. Canada and the United States share responsibility for this part of the road and are working together to improve it. These vents are part of the Alaska Highway Permafrost Research Project.

You'll see several photos of this cyclist throughout our blog. We wish we could have met him and learned the story of his ride.

Swans in one of the many ponds along this stretch of the highway:

Lots of lines with old-style glass insulators:

A Pale Tiger Swallowtail at a rest stop along the way:

Strawberry Spinach, with grass growing through it:

More bicyclists:

The bridge over the Tok River:

We met Glenn Fenster a little after 5:00 in Tok when he rolled into Fast Eddy's Restaurant, where we happened to be eating. He began his journey in Miami and will complete it in a couple days in Anchorage. His son has epilepsy, and Glenn said he rides each year to bring attention to epilepsy one mile, one person at a time. Check out his website at destinymaker.org.

A helicopter flying over Fast Eddy's:

We stayed in the Tundra RV Park in Tok, surrounded by trees and wildflowers.

The rig was filthy after two days on rough roads. The dirt was like concrete on parts and had to be beaten off with a big stick.

Low-bush Cranberry (tiny plants, rising just a few inches above the ground):

POISONOUS! Elegant Camas, the first one we've seen:

Close-up of a lupine:

Close-up of the tall phase of the Pasque Flower:

Wild Rose buds:

YT, heading to Tok AK

2010-06-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

June 13th, and we're back on the Alaska Highway (still in the Yukon Territory) again, heading north and slightly west. Horses grazing along the road:

Five minutes later, we saw our first grizzly bear.

Our first glimpse of the Kluane Ranges (the snowcapped mountains far off in the center background):

Old Man Mountain:

Again, the gorgeous Kluanes:

At a scenic rest area, we had the pleasure of talking with Ronald from a village in Switzerland, who said that it was just like being home, except that everything here is so vast. He said that traveling the distance from the rest area to the Kluanes at home would take him far out of Switzerland. Wild Blue Flax and other wildflowers at the rest area:

Wild Sweet Pea:

Stickseed is also called Blue Bur, and has pretty little 1/4" flowers. The ferny leaves in the first picture are from a yarrow plant growing with the Stickseed.

Beautiful Jacob's Ladder; each flower is about 3/4" across:

Sweet Peas and White Locoweed lined the road.

A hardy couple heading south:

We saw a young grizzly bear along the side of the road, but could not get a picture. Thirty miles later we saw a mama and two baby grizzly bears on a 30-foot cliff at the side of the road, but again couldn't get a picture. It was so cute to see first the mama looking down, and then the two little heads peaking over in tandem.

Kluane Lake, the largest lake in the Yukon Territory:

Tachal Dhal, formerly Sheep Mountain, an important area for Dall Sheep:

When we stopped for road construction, the flag man came back and pointed out a Bald Eagle, perched nearby in the rain. We came upon many road construction sites in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, and all the flag- men and women were very friendly.

We stayed in the White River Crossing RV Park (about 33 miles south of Beaver Creek), which had just opened a few days before and was still preparing for business. A crew of 18 was expected (by helicopter) in two days to complete the lodge, office, and several cabins.

Many US Army vehicles were left behind in Canada and Alaska after the Army built the Alaska Highway in just eight months (some articles say 10 months, but either way that's a phenomenal feat!) during World War II in 1942. These vehicles can be seen here and there along the highway, and White River Crossing RV Park has a collection of them.

Barkley, checking out a truck . . .

with Bill.