Home again

It's Sept. 12th, and Tess and I got home about 7:00 PM. It was a great adventure, but I will sleep so good tonight, in my own bed with my own pillow! We never had any problems on the trip. No car problems, no health problems, and we only met friendly, helpful people. We are truely blessed. I don't think I'llever drive to Alaska again, but I'll fly up sometime. There were a few things I didn't get to, that I would like to do. When I have time to go through all my pictures, I'll post some of the really good ones.

Smithers, BC

Hi everyone, it rained almost all day again today, but it stopped by the time I got here (Smithers,BC). Tess and I took a long walk (about 3-4 miles) after we arrived.
I took a side trip on the Glacier Highway today. It was about 40 miles each way. The road goes to Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska. Even though it rained hard the whole way, it was worth it. The drive is spectacular, you drive really close th the bear and salmon glaciers. I went to try and see bears, but didn't see any today. At Hyder they have a bear viewing platform in the Tongass N.F. I really want to go back sometime in mid July to see it in sunshine. I did see a black bear and a coyote
on the cassiar highway today.

Dease Lake, BC

I drove about 515 miles today. It rained alot of the time, but it looks like it might clear for tomorrow. I didn't take any pictures today, but I'll share a picture of fall in Alaska. I'm traveling on the cassiar highway. All is well!

Back in the Yukon

Last night I stayed in Tok, AK, at the same cute little BandB I stayed at a couple weeks ago. Today I drove up Taylor Highway to Chicken, AK. Chicken has about 15 year round residents. They have no flush toilets, no internet or cell phone service. In the winter they are cut off for about 4 months except for mail delivery 2 days a week, when the plane can fly. I'm posting a picture of the out house, see if you can figure it out!
Next I drove the top of the world highway, to Dawson City, YK, it was beautiful with all the fall colors. The road was mostly dirt and gravel, but you can tell from the picture that the views were fabulous. Now I'm on the Klondike Highway, headed towards Whitehorse.
I saw a grizzley bear today, but it was a scared as I was. There was no way I could stop the truck, get the camera out, and roll the window down before he was long gone. After that I had the camera ready, but never saw another one.

Soldotna, AK

Just wanted to post a picture of the cabin Dick bought. It's really cute inside, and on over an acre and half. They were getting a well dug today, and will have electric installed next spring. The other picture is of Dick and Mary at the Gakona Lodge, a historic lodge we stayed at.

Denali Park

Were back in Soldotna now, after a week on the road seeing Fairbanks and Denali.I will start home tomorrow or the next day. I need to do laundry first. Denali was beautiful with all the fall colors. We took the bus into Katishna, the end of the road in the park. The sky was clear, and we had beautiful views of Mt. McKinley.
We saw moose, caribou, wolves, dall sheep, grizzley bears, red foxes, and golder eagles. It was a very good day. Not sure how long it will take me to get home, but I'm shooting for the 13th. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Fairbanks, AK.

Well, I'm getting pretty slow with my posts. We've been in Fairbanks for 2 and a half days, and busy all the time. I've taken some pictures and will post some when I get back to Soldotna. Everything is going well, and I will be leaving for home the first part of next week. Not really looking forward to the long drive this time, but it will probably go fast. I visited the north pole, to have Santa send greetings to Emma and Ken. I panned some gold, and have it in a necklace, a whole $15.50 worth of gold flakes. Yahoo! We spent today at the university, at the Museum of the North, and the large animal research station. All very interesting. The fall colors are every where now, but they say it only lasts another week, then all the leaves fall and winter sets in. They expect a hard winter this year, so I'll be glad to be back in Washington. Talk to you all later.