Still in Whitehorse

Yesterday we went back to the festival, they had a gospel hour in the morning, after they served a beautiful lunch of roast beef, artic char, salads desert, and coffee this was free how much better than that.

In the afternoon we went to visit my friends Daryl and Jean we had a lovely afternoon with them.  Thanks for the visit.

In the evening we went back to the festival for singing and dancing this was all the different clans from around here.

Today I went back to the festival to finish my paddle it needed to be oiled this sure brought out the grain.

This afternoon we went to Miles Canyon a very pretty place, they have a suspension bridge over the water, Rita walked on the bridge she is trying to release her fear of heights, she did very well.

After our trip to the canyon we went to the pool for a hot tub and swim, what a beautiful complex.  Moose Jaw should of taken a lesson from this place.  The complex has an arena, curling rink, walking track, fully equipped gym, a swimming pool, a lap pool, slide, a rushing river, hot tub, sauna, and childrens pool.  What a great place all under one roof.

This evening Rita took me out for supper we had fish and chips were they delicious.


                                                                                                  Miles Canyon

 

 

 

                                                                  Rita facing her fears

 

 

                                                    Two of the children dancers

 

 

                                                                  What is this guy thinking

 

                                                                  A neat place for dinner Thanks Rita

 

Whats in store for tomorrow July 1st

Whitehorse again

Yesterday morning started out with what will we do today we have a few extra days before we get on the ferry to Prince Rupert on 6th July, well we went to the info center and they told us about this festival going on in Whitehorse, only 100km away, so off we went.

We went to the opening ceremonies in the evening and they had some dancers and singers, we really enjoyed it.


To-day we were going around the artist booths and some were having workshops and some were just demonstrating


the young folk were starting to carve a paddle, of course I asked if I could be a young one and the teacher said he had one with my name on it.

We started to carve and shape around 10:30am, it takes quite awhile to get it shaped.  Then later one of the artists draws a pattern on it mine was a whale, then we get to paint it.  For me this was an amazing day I had a great hands on experience. Thanks to all who helped me.

Also yesterday we went to get our hair cut, before I left home I wanted to bring my phone book with some people I had met other times we had been here.  A few years ago Ray and I were in Newfoundland and met this couple from Whitehorse, then about 4 yrs ago I was in the RV store in Rockport Texas and I heard this ladies voice which I recognized as being the lady from our trip to Newfoundland, what a coincidence.  Well of course I forgot my phone book and couldn't remember their last name, but while at the hairdressers this lady with a British accent and Jean has a British accent, so I asked her if she knew a Jean and Daryl can't remember their last name but she said Johnson and gave me their number.  Called them up and will meat to-morrow afternoon. I sure am looking forward to that.

                                                   This is friends from Haines Junction Lyn, Thomas and Zoe
                                                                          met then in 1998 on our first trip north

 

one of the singers she also dances she has beaded this costume beautiful work 

 

                                                   starting to carve my paddle

 

                                                             The finished product

 

Haines Junction

Before we left Tok we went into a gold shop and the lady showed us a nugget that weighed 5 pounds it is worth over a half million dollars wowo just got to hold it for a second.  Drove from Tok, quite uneventful, except for the roads I cannot remember them being this bad in this area.  We crossed back into the Yukon, the fellow at the border couldn't crack a smile if you paid him, quite different to the ones we have had before.

On our way around Klaune Lake we saw the silt from one of the glaciers being blown so hard it looked like a sand storm.  Stopped in Destruction Bay to see if Charles a fellow we had met there before was still around, sure enough still there and still working, had a chat for a few minutes with him.

We saw 3 bears one black that was very skittish so no pictures.  Then we came across a grizzly just eating on the side of the road, she came beside the van then crossed over the road behind us.
About 10 miles down the road we came across another grizzly, not too concerned about traffic just kept on munching.  Down the road a bit we saw a wolf it was off in the distance.

We arrived in Haines Junction and went to look up another couple that we had met the first and last time we were here.  They have finally finished there house it is a log house but very different Lyn and Thomas took us thru very beautiful.  Down the road there is a Catholic Church that is made out of an old quanset hunt left from the time they made the Alaska Hwy.

                                                                                                  Gold Nugget beside a quarter

 

                                                         First Grizzly

 

                                                                  Second Grizzly

 

                                          The Catholic Church still being used today

 

                                                                        

                                                                                                                      The Wolf

 

 

 

                                                                   Onward tomorrow to Haines Alaska

Tok

We left Valdez in rain and fog, we were not going to leave today but the weather was horrible, so we decided to start up the road toward Tok, not planning on going all the way, but the weather said don't stop.  We arrived around 4 pm and went to the visitors center and watched the film again on the inside passage, wanted to get a few tips on where to go on the islands that we are stopping at.

Made supper then went to a bluegrass show there were 4 in the group a young girl from Hawaii who played the guitar, a young man who played the banjo, his sister who played the fiddle these 3 young people are 17 to 19 yrs old and can they play those instruments.  The other gentleman played the guitar.  As a group it was a wonderful hour of music.  We had ice cream and now we are on line.  Taking advantage of the free wifi.

There are no pictures to-day the weather stopped that.  See you next time

Valdez-2

Still here in Valdez, last night we went back to see if we could find a bear well we did, it was a grizzly she was eating grass beside a pond, got many pics of her.  We came back to town and stayed the night by the opening to the marina, watched some otters for awhile, started to watch a movie but fell asleep.

This morning we went to the 3 museums here in town, they have a lot of interesting things, we saw a movie on the earthquake that devastated the old town, saw some interesting facts about the pipeline, and the last one was a native one with some beautiful hand carved ivory and lots of clothing that has been beaded.

Had a rest this p.m. then had supper, went for a drive to maybe see some more wildlife, not to be tonight.  Went to see the Valdez glacier well it is not visible from the road you can see some ice burgs in the water but not the full glacier.  We were told tonight by a ranger that on a clear day there are 31 glaciers visible from Valdez.

 

looking across at the terminal of the pipeline no more tours not allowed to go too close with the boats

this all happened since 911

 

probably leaving here tomorrow so don't know when we will have wifi

Turnagain arm

June 21, 2014
This post was not published I made a mistake so here it is a little late
To-day we woke up to rain it was raining quite hard overcast and no sign of letting up.  We went to the bakery for breakfast.  After breakfast we decided to go to the Alaska sealife Centre, what a wonderful place, lots of birds, mammals and touch tanks, talks of all kinds so good to see the little ones getting excited when a seal would come by in one of the huge tanks.

When we came out it had stopped raining so we went for showers and did laundry.

We went to the visitors centre  to use the internet to use skype to call home.

Left Seward to go to a small town Moose Creek that was having a Solstice party, saw some crafts walked around a bit listened to some very loud music, then left.  Went down the road and pulled off to make supper.

Onward to Girdwood to check out the tram, decided not to take this one there will be others in British Columbia.

Went back to the place we stayed on Turnagain arm, to stay for another night.

 

June 22, 2014

 

I did this blog in 2 days.

We are back in Anchorage, went to church this morning. Very welcoming people, went to IHop for lunch or should we say late breakfast, now at Lowes doing our internet.

 

                                                                                                                      Puffins these are cute birds

 

              don't know the name of this bird but thought it quite colorful

 

 

                                               This  father and son Harbor seals

 

                                                                          Otters playing

 

 

Thought you would enjoy the otters we watched them for quite awhile.

 

Onward toward Valdez could take a couple of days before we are back on line

Valdez

June 23 2014


Since I left you yesterday, we drove to Chitna, took our time stopping for scenery along the way. Stopped in Eklutina a native village to see the spirit houses  We went across the Glenn Highway stopping to see the Matanuska glacier, to see these glaciers and how they have receded in the few years since I saw them is amazing the climate change that has done this.  We also stopped at a Musk ox farm but it was closed but were able to see them thru the fence.

We arrived in Chitna very late but up here it is daylight almost all night.  Went to the river where we stayed for the night watching the fishermen catching salmon the copper reds are running right now.  If we had gotten there sooner we would have seen a lot more fishermen. 

This morning when we got up we met some fishermen who had been fishing and cleaning fish all night I offered to make these guys coffee for a fish what a deal, will cook it later in the trip, and save a little for Phil when I get home. The people we watched filled about 8 of the very large coolers, there was 6 in their group, they also caught a few kings 1 was over 45lbs.

Onward to Valdez, on the way we stopped at a Yak farm quite interesting to see. The people around there love the meat  it is quite lean and supposed to be very good for you we didn't try it.  On the way we stopped at Worthington glacier, when Ray and I was there 10 yrs ago we could walk right up to it now it is so far away.  Stopped at Keystone canyon and saw where there had been an avalanche last winter that covered the road 50ft deep it took 2 weeks to clear it.  Saw a beautiful waterfall, then  went over to where I had seen bears fishing the last time I was here, 2 yrs ago it was too early in the day to see bears, will go back later to-night.  Checked out the info center and here we are now.

                                                                                                             Spirit Houses

 

                                                                           Musk ox

 

                                                     the different colors of the mountain

 

                                                                  This was taken @ 1 am

 

                                                                    Some of the fish

 

 

                                                                 The Yak farm

 

                                                                   Worthington Glacier

 

 

                                                                        Whats left of the avalanche

 

                                                                          Bridal veil falls

Seward Alaska

Yesterday we left Homer to come to Seward, a beautiful drive here.  When we arrived we went to see Exit Glacier, this glacier has receded a lot since I was here, all the glaciers are receding here because of climate change.

Then we went to the visitor center to see about going on a glacier trip to-day.  We chose the one that would go to 2 glaciers and had a salmon and prime rib dinner.  We had supper and went for a drive around, things have changed here also.
Stayed at Safeway over night.

This morning we had to catch the boat for our 7 1/2 hr trip. The weather couldn't be better in the 70 degrees.  The list of wildlife was incredible.  Humpback Whales, Orca (killer) Whales, Fin wales (the 2nd largest whale in the world). Steller Sea Lions, sea otters, Harbor seals, Dall's Porpoise these swim in front and beside the boat great to watch, Salmon, Puffins, Kittiwakes Cormorants, and Common Murres,

Went to 2  tide water glaciers this means they end at the waters edge they are just huge.  Saw one calving, that means breaking off and falling into the water.

                                                                                         Looking back at the Homer Spit
                                                                 

 

 

                                                                  Exit glacier

 

 

                                                                 Humpback whale tail

 

 

                                                                       An orca fin

 

 

                                                                         Dall's Porpoise

 

 

                                                                         Ice burgs

 

                                                                Aialik Glacier calving

 

 

                                                                      Sea Otter with baby

 

 

                                                                              Harbor Seal

 

 

                                                                            Steller Seal Lions

 

 

                                                                             Fin Whale

 

 

                                                                    Bear Glacier

 

 

                                                                 Holgate Glacier

 

 

To-day was a wonderful day couldn't have been better

Homer Alaska

Yesterday we came down Homer the weather was beautiful lots of sunshine.  We stopped in Clam Gulch but the tide was in and nobody was clamming.  Headed to Ninilchik to see another Russian Church we were unable to go inside this one but hopefully be able to on our way back.  Went down the road a bit and finally saw a moose with 2 calves.

When we arrived in Homer we went over to where the Eagle Lady used to be, she passed away in '09 and she is missed by the people here and the eagles that she used to feed.

Went for Halibut and fries very good, looking out the window we were able to see 2 otters playing, then went to the Salty Dog for a beer.

Stayed outside the Salty Dog for the night.

This morning we went to the swimming pool for showers they felt so good, no time limit there.  The other places charge $7:50 for 20 min the pool with a swim if you would like is $4:00.

Cleaned the van did dishes as it was a little cloudy and misty out.  Right now we are watching the people that caught their Halibut getting them cleaned.




                                                                                          Moose with twins

 

 

                                         Russian Orthodox church in Ninilchik

 

                                                            Russian Village of Ninilchik

 

 

                                                      Eagle Ladies Gate & Shed

 

The tree that the eagles sat on at Jean the Eagle Lady

                                               When she fed them                                                  

                                                                   

 

                                                The Salty Dog Bar

 

                                             The dollar bills hung all over

 

 

                                                     The otters playing not a great pic

 

                                                                    Eagles beautiful birds

 

                                                                    On the Spit in Homer

 

                                                                   Hanging Glacier

 

                                              Halibut the large one was 150 lbs

 

 

To-morrow we are heading to Seward.