tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54395817631821029282024-03-05T00:13:18.690-08:00Jerry and Mary North to AlaskaThis is the blog for our trip North to Alaska 2009. Make this page a Favorite right now.
If you would like to comment on anything we post, just click on Comment and type in what you like. (Keep in mind that others will see what you wrote.)
Should you want to email us directly, our email addresses are:
(Mary)CAMBRIABYTHESEA@MSN.COM. (Jerry) GO2ICON@NETSCAPE.NET.
NOTE: To VIEW videos, pictures, and posts from the start of our trip, go to the BLOG ARCHIVES.
We hope you enjoy our Blog!Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-16356395171949236392009-09-20T21:03:00.001-07:002009-09-20T21:03:23.131-07:00Recap of Our Alaska TripHere is a recap of our trip.<br />
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a-6MMTgJvaw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a-6MMTgJvaw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-31057355446612375462009-09-20T20:54:00.000-07:002009-09-20T20:54:29.144-07:00Leaving British Columbia Tomorrow<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tomorrow we will be back in the lower 48 states, and will have concluded our most wonderful adventures in Alaska. Since the title of this blog no longer fits our going forward situation, we have started a new general blog for ourselves and for those of you who ever wonder "where are Jerry and Mary now?" The new blog is entitled "<a href="http://www.findingjerryandmary.blogspot.com/">Finding Jerry and Mary</a>." Our first posting on that blog will be after we get back into the lower 48. We will still post a recap of our trip on this blog at a later time. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But, since we are still in Rosedale, British Columbia (Canada), let me tell you about what we did today. We hiked up the mountain (only a 15 minute hike) to a waterfalls. Walking through the forest (even though there are warnings everywhere about bears) was exhilarating. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We both loved taking pictures.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tM1q8YLSAm5uVRdsM-64LakfeDqy8wHcPANveM5cS19SMl49tvlZWczXgyWrdyDFL-YHF9QMAFupuYuHhf6AdrFCkMe7-560Qyzsh2UcXkrtyoyIi_WSUK0YTJtqhB3tUWfizEasuS4D/s1600-h/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tM1q8YLSAm5uVRdsM-64LakfeDqy8wHcPANveM5cS19SMl49tvlZWczXgyWrdyDFL-YHF9QMAFupuYuHhf6AdrFCkMe7-560Qyzsh2UcXkrtyoyIi_WSUK0YTJtqhB3tUWfizEasuS4D/s320/012.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJCs1bJEd1ZHfqjhbqU7mZNo5P8s2MCszWuAalJ0lGRzfwrDKm43DLW9VpwhrJ6WU3ayaSIMK9hy5p5rlOkpYFu9_DaJ3y1NI87KQuceo04Eucf42HV1tHRn-xh9OGmectkohUrsRaBqf/s1600-h/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJCs1bJEd1ZHfqjhbqU7mZNo5P8s2MCszWuAalJ0lGRzfwrDKm43DLW9VpwhrJ6WU3ayaSIMK9hy5p5rlOkpYFu9_DaJ3y1NI87KQuceo04Eucf42HV1tHRn-xh9OGmectkohUrsRaBqf/s320/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+023.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The pictures of the actual waterfall do not do justice to the actual beauty of the falls and surrounding area.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5mVm_loreI0KeggwK_I2lmcJvhq8SNo5nyejMoBkDsxqU2OjK6K6-hOdAW1tvryosQJ-Y9djYcgXTdFMnDuqVIOrL-KEtlCng7iuFiulngvD1sLahZ0lnwvarOmSKE_nJSdoLwoWivUf/s1600-h/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5mVm_loreI0KeggwK_I2lmcJvhq8SNo5nyejMoBkDsxqU2OjK6K6-hOdAW1tvryosQJ-Y9djYcgXTdFMnDuqVIOrL-KEtlCng7iuFiulngvD1sLahZ0lnwvarOmSKE_nJSdoLwoWivUf/s400/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+007.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are a few more pictures.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGz4G3VLwbnPiiiwq9EsHJGrj8adhyphenhyphene1-cKtH9EgVkAhZZ49N24CKwI_h1pKwxoGJd8zJV3yUSfYKeycgw02UwC8WQz3dc1j1xX29zoM-PMrKMAT6CFY2iigt1hf1aCOeAlJdIMNPPzxI/s1600-h/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+019-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGz4G3VLwbnPiiiwq9EsHJGrj8adhyphenhyphene1-cKtH9EgVkAhZZ49N24CKwI_h1pKwxoGJd8zJV3yUSfYKeycgw02UwC8WQz3dc1j1xX29zoM-PMrKMAT6CFY2iigt1hf1aCOeAlJdIMNPPzxI/s400/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+019-1.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a great week, everyone. And, thank you for following our blog.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Jerry and Mary<br />
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</div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-60029321119024830572009-09-18T21:49:00.000-07:002009-09-18T22:43:28.367-07:00Camperland RV Resort in Rosedale, British ColumbiaHi Again,<br /><br /><div>Since we have fast internet tonight (as opposed to earlier in the evening when I couldn't even get my home page to come up), I thought I'd update this blog while the going is good. Today (September 18), we drove about 300 or more miles again to get to this RV park where we had reservations. We will be spending the weekend here.</div><br /><div></div><div>The drive to this p<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHd7VEGbblNX4Q0sPmpBBp_ZV9utYk5XVkJgz0cd4p2f4fna3ro4OG9mBZvP12agDNVqLsQksWFpCQtFiSecaJdyyp0ybogIL11OxDULwwPfKl4kpXM9rVTIYvW0SGkIc1cha0rfrd0QW/s1600-h/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+071.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 291px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383041888143836786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHd7VEGbblNX4Q0sPmpBBp_ZV9utYk5XVkJgz0cd4p2f4fna3ro4OG9mBZvP12agDNVqLsQksWFpCQtFiSecaJdyyp0ybogIL11OxDULwwPfKl4kpXM9rVTIYvW0SGkIc1cha0rfrd0QW/s400/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+071.JPG" /></a>lace was absolutely beautiful. I shot 105 pictures from the RV while we were driving, but could only resurrect about 35 of them. The reason? BUGS, BUGS and more BUGS all over the windshield! We didn't have bugs in Alaska and hardly ever had to clean the windshield. Alaska also doesn't have any fleas or ticks (per a vet we talked to up there). So, back to my pictures, I had to discard all those that were spotted with too many bugs. </div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQP2BRBoAs5eLRvaffFKOY0ItmnaAfnEbXMnfQVmPjZ7MGnCEfu1lIAvyWSPysfC0G5IHgKsUCZuBbCKVq188yGwcL6N7luIKrnii7NDxbQl3c2fePmOxdRtDbHOT9ai5BG5Fh5eJ3OX1c/s1600-h/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+034.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 229px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383044483742882226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQP2BRBoAs5eLRvaffFKOY0ItmnaAfnEbXMnfQVmPjZ7MGnCEfu1lIAvyWSPysfC0G5IHgKsUCZuBbCKVq188yGwcL6N7luIKrnii7NDxbQl3c2fePmOxdRtDbHOT9ai5BG5Fh5eJ3OX1c/s400/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+034.JPG" /></a><br /><div>The pictures I took speak for themselves. Lots of mountains, trees, rivers and the leaves turning at this time of the year made for a very pleasant drive today. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383043740156195250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_g4IBMtHqGuTka9T9N-9t2sdr3UENLEz6bHdp0zfCWANP8SUG7LEZfd2OyPgDWtq6F7bkt-O2XwpocUhmSfvl7B79u9BCboRL9GSFLDydvTOA-zSOBfc5XwSIEIRBYsqOe3ASpgR12iI/s400/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+086.JPG" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383042752180644322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrZJJxPvQLlZZYopUOjso05cocNnEg3vJ_C0GVn2BvpJftQdWKT063u-RrwALLTPbpB3Et4QXfMNUuYOA48EAxsrzMH_11_LPBsuWb7uTs-kzo_Nwea0P1y-C09JSo05rjuj0HaS-NX10/s400/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+081.JPG" /> <div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383041291443143922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdTnP1_88Bv9kdfQ8mY7b7AG51o-hi_Svc2d38RFgV_lTFXIP7HPNdgyfTm-TMh94-z9fgY6bwhWHZzKWhO1SiviK-I5a2ceEZzrxn7fzA_2z4NwoAxrJvC8RhvrWo81ZcinwcJ9-ed04/s400/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+078-2.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 397px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383042361138579410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbsKNd29csIpfz2RyTLi17SHMZBvleVID_qf2nn_HjX9T_f1g0NWbJqIxGigrlU67tQbt_Fr5Ha64DJVjN-AVdnf0co29y36WmsFtuGPGwsWaJNZci0DjjSRslH78YMDWuuOvn9J1poEN/s400/Rosedale,+British+Columbia+2009+045.JPG" /> <div>Back to Jay Leno. We heard an ad on the radio that he was on a local station tonight. And, guess what? He is on! Got to go.</div><br /><div></div><div>Enjoy your weekend.</div><br />Jerry and MaryJerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-62984058648473725422009-09-17T19:49:00.000-07:002009-09-18T22:30:22.697-07:00Prince Rupert, Burns Lake and McLeese Lake, British ColumbiaHi Everyone,<br /><br />We are making tracks through British Columbia. The trip on the ferry to Prince Rupert was mainly in fog. But, at one point, we saw pods of whales breaching the water. We almost missed the ferry because Jerry thought it left at 7:30 a.m., but it was scheduled to leave at 7:00 a.m. (And here we were debating whether we should first run into town to get a mocha or some coffee before going to the ferry. Had we done that, we would have certainly missed it.)<br /><br />After getting off of the ferry in Prince Rupert, we spent one night at an RV park in that town. The weather was misty and damp.<br /><br />Then, on Wednesday (Sept. 16), we drove 300 miles to Burns Lake, BC, and spend one night in that town.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 351px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383030669181051330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWGvtMryrmMp1EAbNt5y-27hJBwBjVhbNUnPlnVY2DHSpUFdv6SHLMnf9402aFUFN_7nj-87szgqxjoys1-fyUpA8OF0_AVIXpyfBDmVU0eCHa8ysUXCUqpslBW8ZKZrW1MStKbZrwYcF/s400/Burns+Lake,+British+Columbia+2009+041.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 363px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383031577815795490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tdUDf9XxWFnB9qfTl2vNMjdsMsbDgxZibSKVjihV1tWKqG3tX5993kCguR-_b7W-ooT1ysvo02nIYueQGqBYP68RVHd4Y-E2whwh0ieI938ndICqcBGVQ30w304CvyswByXKxOVKNGsl/s400/Burns+Lake,+British+Columbia+2009+031.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 354px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383029419203915986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFnmzgJYxwhStgRC5Th5I7-Nq4hpkuoLqOO-Vbn7B2fpz9WZ6w6F9ohKtAFWkhnHjvE-6Ra5Gk8vHFeRbx1_I06rEm6kmX_tH-HnOa98Xcxz3dxfUFbfBxnRSpOoxR1VT1no5XmZ3egYM/s400/Burns+Lake,+British+Columbia+2009+040-1.JPG" /><br />Today (Sept. 17), we drove another 300 miles to McLeese Lake, BC. We are at an RV park right on the lake. Jerry even bought wood and made a nice fire. We ate outside. It is almost a shock to our systems to be back in warmer temperatures again. It was 76 degrees when we got here. See pictures we took along the way and at the lake. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 386px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383034628541188706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAJtkpsFgO51RD_OUW_C-r2p_eoseCjhtuTrHbWbcVC4PaCmuYHgpIevsrLgZwa1HvM-GZ2Dc6ejVcUWngHjDLzX2m93AxgKOJFmcsc02aQyj4EcPTTrtbumgZZ94k4JAB5WRFRHgTBru/s400/McLeese+Lake,+British+Columbia+2009+002.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383033560014860482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXkjoqkK0jyA7kRb3aSG3T2e3097CzkD-0fYAUApdY8rzTQsCRHpe1jxmhyZw2tz-o7kfWT5W_tbf0I7tAzd_fy8mmOKd7W1CMMTgJtq2rLx8fnsEhvJPh25bWiu9MMt-VGhnPJXUynMe/s400/McLeese+Lake,+British+Columbia+2009+029.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 388px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383032629502695714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqoin32GAAgol290dCn97Yt6sxxDOYZvu8wbO5xcuU3okqi2HmbwtPbXXqz_pQLx8eC3o8Ay8qw0YC8owQ555B4zeyi6TJgUKMr8ohlZUiHhQ870AcrbQhW_hj7DaWJubzDnmz1FFlei3/s400/McLeese+Lake,+British+Columbia+2009+033.JPG" />The one thing we were reminded of was that we cannot get Jay Leno in Canada. Even if we try to catch the past episodes on the internet, the computer knows that we are in Canada and the program is blocked. Go figure!<br /><br />Still aren't using our cell phones, but we have had free wi-fi at each RV park so far.<br /><br />Next stop will be three days at one of our Coast-to-Coast membership parks, still in British Columbia.<br /><br />Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone.<br /><br />Jerry and MaryJerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-30058063481822048212009-09-17T19:47:00.001-07:002009-09-18T21:19:42.855-07:00Tracking Our 2009 TripHere is a Map that tracks our 2009 trip North to Alaska. Since it is a Google Map, you are able to move it about with your mouse, click on the location spots for more information, or even zoom in and click on the satellite view. Or, you can click to view the larger map on the Google website. We will update the Map as we move from place to place. (If you are having trouble seeing the map, zoom out (the minus sign) a number of times until the picture comes into view.)<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101627494497600822424.00046908066b204432519&start=143&num=200&ll=51.841022,-125.996704&spn=5.347365,8.536377&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101627494497600822424.00046908066b204432519&start=143&num=200&ll=51.841022,-125.996704&spn=5.347365,8.536377&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">North to Alaska RV Trip 2009</a> in a larger map</small>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-44857403248708532972009-09-13T15:37:00.000-07:002009-09-13T17:29:46.878-07:00Ketchikan, AlaskaGood Bye Alaska (for now)!<br /><div></div><div>We are spending our last stop in Alaska. </div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 436px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381111932268024786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeEPJ98JkytmOtU-8Nnu53kdwdSt3k4vQBVliZ9Bi-WdnkH9A8jKfQDjy0RAJ0prDio0PXzbZlkuLOP9OJB-wVsGwsIhCCGDQDqDOvuXLVawll4kFM17kKsBCkO8qAAC6dDhVwxkg5t4E/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+071.JPG" /> <div></div><div></div><div>We took the ferry from Petersburg on Friday. The ferry was late arriving, late in getting to Wrangell (its one stop) and late in getting into Ketchikan. What was suppose to be an 9-hour trip turned into an 11-hour trip. Thus, it was dark getting into Ketchikan. Rather than drive 14 miles to the RV park in the dark on an island we knew nothing about, we decided to take advantage of Walmart's offer for us to spend the night in its parking lot (along with 3 other RVers who got off of the ferry).</div><br /><div>But, let me tell <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOJxgKcU4a4XZ8-TUN2Nfrll6sck3pVoMWGmSk1IwQl5gPQwXcx5pG3NVlsONIVonFPJMhCjHafrzFAiOeO38kZ2wpyhbqGagmUCZZ_HpQQbxmC6yTZ5R5wADYgglnubawZQlHd2MUjxR/s1600-h/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+049.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 262px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381110304909161378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOJxgKcU4a4XZ8-TUN2Nfrll6sck3pVoMWGmSk1IwQl5gPQwXcx5pG3NVlsONIVonFPJMhCjHafrzFAiOeO38kZ2wpyhbqGagmUCZZ_HpQQbxmC6yTZ5R5wADYgglnubawZQlHd2MUjxR/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+049.JPG" /></a>a bit about this particular ferry trip. First of all, the weather was perfect (at least no rain). At the first part of the trip, the captain had to steer the ferry through the Wrangell Narrows, which at some places is only 300 feet across. There was a "spotter" at the bow of the ferry to watch for any unexpected obstacles. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 431px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381107428252115874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4EY1ttIOOzbZ38Tn-aan51Vf001prI2kTBKhiNbTEZo7Wc15-1tWSJPk0xecwv1KqfRJuAG4Bbll_Oe2F7xDQz55o20f8fMeFWWGsAHEe1Vsq1w3EK2O5UZNLPR8uvP1ocRg4MIzzsB7/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+004.JPG" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 431px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381106075192097874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1wsigPRYZOxv7Nliq-AioBIT4Dxoh8bq5uWpTNrOsbCqgzOuej5E09bUc3BYQDuYPUbO8myXFuiLYMSGUE2oelX6jXmZpGr3tX9zQur0NEJY9hP9tzq0AC4ePbUrPkUADIYwK2xkdth4/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+015.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 440px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381104758841198946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRKhYqCnaq9xJ82v4KcwMeBRevc_oufPL_vSHxJefhn2QW3kkOKutVAyNUyoYFcLUbWr_6Y0_ZNelann1kffwzlXLT8lLNOgPYEYZrr-IlLDW7sF6jDzapTEmTk0jac7ok7CdZXwALanJ/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+050.JPG" /> <div></div><div>The trip felt long, but the scenery was beautiful. The ferry made a brief stop at Wrangell before continuing on to Ketchikan. There were 174 people on the ferry. Here are some more of the pictures we took along the way, including one of the ferry coming into Wrangell and of the deep red sunset. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 426px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381103396076520178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PP7jeTlcW7LGTu9vmJ7jZ2ov65y76ZVh27KHCGuLap9-zN2YCPU_lxty-oPv86xxMFyo9Mm8RO8m2KYt5LUNSApzj7dHd1igVUXefrGYwj_18O2gsZyx4JuLrVVGqDtz8C7cwPhp1E2a/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+051.JPG" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 443px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381101062943530658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthdL-C3YTD2FvBsA3Y96l6o6EDWP3MGuaNqNu1_5dCwu0YjPzq0KMTmqqSW8TgeIA0zT7f9Wku0M0r6qoRekq5ryQvy9wqxdU9P1XS6WmfAHIlC1cViP78ss6pgE15FFNsBGT-E-QxJ_y/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+056.JPG" /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 442px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381099746535885362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1Ny6_iUBszibBF2iQU_-sPRVfOlQtIChPvhqNQkgm_p29_Mm_hsMbQGAN0hfZHQR1WFLlz_-QuelFSah__dEWCXzyKfEBfM3js7KdCeN8PgjuNCvGOxhLeTlqwdvjR0XxmiPfAT0SPNm/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+019.JPG" />We arrived in Ketchikan at 8 p.m. and drove a couple of miles to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrXhgK4-kkAaNLVOg0VmzE9CXaqRKUTGM75a6j4JxHwtEh35LONiV2jOVgQ9sQ9Woqaq1tjn2lgWNSWuw7Jehz_yUkGWIn35B6de7rNb5Wwv_1zFLzikLkT02GgKIKQZvHKy2kr6aWJI-/s1600-h/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+066.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 265px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 138px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381098498047043378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrXhgK4-kkAaNLVOg0VmzE9CXaqRKUTGM75a6j4JxHwtEh35LONiV2jOVgQ9sQ9Woqaq1tjn2lgWNSWuw7Jehz_yUkGWIn35B6de7rNb5Wwv_1zFLzikLkT02GgKIKQZvHKy2kr6aWJI-/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+066.JPG" /></a>Walmart. The next morning, we decided to drive into the town before going out to the RV park. We walked the streets, shopped, had mochas, saw the largest cruise ship we've seen so far (the "Island Princess") and bought something special for ourselves to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary this year.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 440px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381097189642913842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrdovDt8v59NHMSbfAwpxCKe9RW5SgWk_fyFIHafQedfftnq7KZEBwGHxrbb_Xayu9trtjRI3Ih37dttX2TOrKMoTAtnA0vFg8hj85hci8E0oKpTC8XwYGXeQrlvB6gQj-Ql3O4o2cdje/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+068.JPG" /><br />We then drove to the Clover Pass Resort and Marina RV park. As we were in Homer, our coach faces directly into the marina. Right now it is Sunday (Sept. 13), and the skies are blue, the clouds are puffy and white, the water is deep blue, the trees across the water are thick and green, fisherman are coming and going, birds are sitting on the poles, there is a slight breeze, and the temperature is 60 degrees. An absolutely perfect way to spend our last days in Alaska.<br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 452px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381095343400431650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv607UT3tdkrBq3q6Y95q9yOyQi8uXK98zpG3YLPYDVTpNx3AAyOiNIAyXCxDG3MO7kFM9cxL6GLtbWlqPn_zRceqFsRydVyEDB6q72hUfKgxAipL_mVT_iZETVY6LpCTemzzbmVmG4w2/s400/Ketchikan,+Alaska+2009+037.JPG" /><br /><div>On Tuesday, we take our last ferry trip out of Alaska and into British Columbia. For the next week we will be in Canada where we will turn off our cell phones again. Unless we get to an RV park with wi-fi, you'll have to wait a week before we update this blog.<br /></div><br /><div>Wishing everyone a great week ahead, and keep living the life you love.<br /></div>Jerry and MaryJerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-30330470327471073342009-09-10T14:11:00.000-07:002009-09-10T15:42:13.484-07:00Petersburg, AlaskaHi Everyone,<br /><br />Yes, we arrived in Petersburg on Tuesday (Sept. 8) by ferry from Juneau. Again, the weather was a bit rainy during the 4 ferry hour trip. But, as with most of Alaska, the scenery was magnificent -- glaciers, snow capped mountains, lush greenery. We even saw hump back whales breaching the water.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379969795259990882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr50Z9CsG_SbTLIelHN2dBWHZ0Xqi1srNKhB5WyeyBS9MHBov8ez4HPzrXXhT-nY0t6PIeQb66Z4VLjQr12xRZa4xymn11PRxmMr2RNw_E390yOvT05BrvRdSXR-52PN0NiGF1sMDixTj/s400/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+006.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379964368076591730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME-7qXJ31US5J6xjuLQyp-xN2s_K05n1AIYiFJeRMMosxQoY5G49jCoBCQqXFwr7JsQhOmU92PLzBkffcwbg25yJCZg3iDijp44LtNiaRRzlSvxMTWoGGkvM-wBQ4j_Z53fRgBVjHwshg/s400/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+034.JPG" />We passed a finger off of the main waterway called "Tracy Arm." We were told that it is a spot of absolute beauty and that people take day trips to see it. Here is what we saw at its entrance.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379967691662913426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicB9uLGQ9FreZCkpDaE2QYUoFme2tpaV9zZccHTEi0uchEAmkxGxCCXL6LG34Q1whTCqMJkS08XVHgMYXU0Wrd6IQlhG_LrwnOxCkFUnu2h39VsWlGTUEp77HJeKxynt0o6PCMdCALOA7/s400/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+079.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379965920335676370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8INbTnlxkEVld0Lz6zHJZZNddSAODUrXcs-y0HacbJviv_ZsYNnMkoUgycUwSfOvEum4ZbX5yQ6jkLrvvuQE227OKnxd6lVAJ7JWKT8BzK_Qutoq9a0OkB4NMhYZ3am4RIF0U5QcqzAqZ/s400/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+076.JPG" /><br />Petersburg is a fishing city of 3,000 people. One of our fellow traveler<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oYNxZWLXSY1IQeJUbUMbGjCGQSGyq9yuZVjUtSnw8Y1d1elcPMwJz6f2ZwUYrVAOz-qDNGqokNsTFy4BBbRX7YoTJidVZpeUTSxQo9ZigrhLNBPNhInJwx-BgzbR-BesU5a4og_NZLvf/s1600-h/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+048.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379956945395014706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oYNxZWLXSY1IQeJUbUMbGjCGQSGyq9yuZVjUtSnw8Y1d1elcPMwJz6f2ZwUYrVAOz-qDNGqokNsTFy4BBbRX7YoTJidVZpeUTSxQo9ZigrhLNBPNhInJwx-BgzbR-BesU5a4og_NZLvf/s400/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+048.JPG" /></a>s on the ferry told us that Petersburg has the highest per capita income in the US. Fishing is definitely big business here.<br /><br />Petersburg is actually located on an island called Mitkof Island. It is only 23 miles long and 6.5 mile<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN6o4g361GuKzimFOv-HsOTlC-flWa6sLR_QVCzxDD_6Rm7H-a60p8I3_riqjemxax-XVBbuBLCHDze0AH2SO-ZoUx0uqRITz5VBwYaA8A_-XQvhUfzxtMTTMDR6sEdmrKxVnfFKP3wfH/s1600-h/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+055.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 314px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 189px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379959311452340754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN6o4g361GuKzimFOv-HsOTlC-flWa6sLR_QVCzxDD_6Rm7H-a60p8I3_riqjemxax-XVBbuBLCHDze0AH2SO-ZoUx0uqRITz5VBwYaA8A_-XQvhUfzxtMTTMDR6sEdmrKxVnfFKP3wfH/s400/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+055.JPG" /></a>s wide at the lo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxsHPXFWlSQ9JMLaFimeWJpP5h0EjrGBGGdDUVLcXd3x1kFwD_Ey7Mo8IX9pchV1KADeYFcEkrT9ktFFRMoeh_TeLMsopiD2QXHJ7pZ0c9qvptCu-Y9mxXqCf1LF5ou545FocyKlio1wP/s1600-h/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+049.JPG"></a>ngest and widest points, and covers 211 square miles. There are three RV parks here, and we checked them all out before settling in on the Trees RV Park. When I say "settling in," that is what we have been doing since we arrived because it has rained heavily each day so far. Even if we wanted to explore this island, we were told that the road only goes 10 miles further. It's actually a good time to catch up on other things we need to do. Jerry has been working on his book and I'm doing some hand knitting.<br /><br /><br />While we were still in Juneau, Jerry passed a black bear while out on his run. He ran back to the RV to get his cameras (something all the instructions say not to do) to try to get a picture of the bear. We'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fQmrkPk4cmu-3ILXRgoXYhKQteqZfrY-WcWNRhey_ulShtJIOSBwFlOGsGC2SYtFCvuLwuCXtlQZgo-Q2v4lDP4XRZ8bZWDyCLblUGzUondRIHoKkQ8lsogvjyrInHcUs7w84rxDSG_t/s1600-h/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+058.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 216px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379961564664868562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fQmrkPk4cmu-3ILXRgoXYhKQteqZfrY-WcWNRhey_ulShtJIOSBwFlOGsGC2SYtFCvuLwuCXtlQZgo-Q2v4lDP4XRZ8bZWDyCLblUGzUondRIHoKkQ8lsogvjyrInHcUs7w84rxDSG_t/s400/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+058.JPG" /></a>ll post the video later with all the other animals we've seen on this trip.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 370px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379962518813082882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftAuNo0mw2w_GzpcWjVYpVDZpw3Tj6-HU6Kw0UL-bSmeK3zw_3Y3Iw0EtDwtPuarbZpoY0ypwbtdVUcVnQ2wymHecgoBFSAxwmtsL7CQvh9Jec1JA1MBk-Xfejaayqp_Vr-9szzlDKwLu/s400/Petersburg,+Alaska+2009+061.JPG" /> <div>Tomorrow we leave early to catch the 8:30 a.m. ferry to Ketchikan. It will be an all day trip, 8-9 hours. Chanti (our dog) stays in the RV and handles it quite well. We are told that we will get to go to the RV at some point to take her for a walk.<br /><div>Right now, we do not have any cell or TV coverage. But, we were able to hear President Obama's speech to the joint session of Congress on the radio yesterday.<br /><div> </div><div>Until next time, stay safe and healthy. </div><div> </div><div>Jerry and Mary </div></div></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-58198557975859379212009-09-06T16:21:00.000-07:002009-09-10T15:44:08.521-07:00Juneau, AlaskaHappy Labor Day Weekend!<br /><br /><br />We hope everyone is enjoying this long weekend. We are enjoying it in Juneau, Alaska. Arrived here on Thursday (Sept. 3) on the ferry from Haines. Juneau is the capitol of Alaska, and is accessible only by air or sea. About 32,000 people live here. Since it is located in a rain forest, it averages 220 days of rain per year.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 464px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378558939091255666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq6n7SJgXFivtLGoUhA4jhyphenhyphenVn2af8YbyfbMKwPb0EGaEbIijEB7q0MPfOh4KLfLheMY_XlDu0aqnI6BjdFG0TLBpAiXkMDCDrid0d315GkIAMlpIbESkodkeBWmnO8vgv-JgNWGIyDyxz/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+057.JPG" /><br /><br />On Friday, we took the loc<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLdYHJ33nvZ5nL5CrObgwW6gwbT1vntcdzIh6gp3gq5zVFgc_Q8quV0ddB314txwErySPraAOx2-WENroaEHWKD-Bu_uPHfWwDZmn2-17SHTxQ5QPAwD-r49LG6NX7xT6zuz-3y9_lya9/s1600-h/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+062.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 280px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378549491006659554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLdYHJ33nvZ5nL5CrObgwW6gwbT1vntcdzIh6gp3gq5zVFgc_Q8quV0ddB314txwErySPraAOx2-WENroaEHWKD-Bu_uPHfWwDZmn2-17SHTxQ5QPAwD-r49LG6NX7xT6zuz-3y9_lya9/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+062.JPG" /></a>al bus from the RV park to downtown Juneau, a distance of 14 miles, to explore the place. Lots of locals got on and off of the bus during our one-hour trip to downtown. Once we arrived, we saw that hundreds of tourists were exiting some of the largest cruise ships we've ever seen to also tour/shop downtown Juneau.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 464px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378565708610792626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7CDNj-wKYV-DbEhFzkCwAmCPC56Z2Qq8QZYSlIk2pXHC3Jd78yMP3BaNWcqm8hlgRyehbLyvbZTODd3-Jcoo7Pi89q3fJRNDLLtoido19ep3ldEE4u3jsndEzEwWu1SoQBE-2JKpbuHd/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+060.JPG" /><br /><br />First, we ate at our favorite place (Subway), and then walked the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRj4XUBcG1z20auNREVQkhW0LzbQa3JDLr2kTLSKvJsMIhW3tVPKMBpekKMsvAiUDlXJRKNlhrWDY8FttZmeDsIXx2ormPZ9hWcptMxuDqQOVp2CNJNJZR3sEKcx83j8HWZn89VsQFYWT/s1600-h/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+068.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 294px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378542733360219154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRj4XUBcG1z20auNREVQkhW0LzbQa3JDLr2kTLSKvJsMIhW3tVPKMBpekKMsvAiUDlXJRKNlhrWDY8FttZmeDsIXx2ormPZ9hWcptMxuDqQOVp2CNJNJZR3sEKcx83j8HWZn89VsQFYWT/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+068.JPG" /></a>downtown area. Two places we found especially interesting were right next to each other. The first one, called Glacier Smoothie (no, it is not a drink), is one I had previously read about. This family-owned business holds a patent on making soap using the super fine powder of mineral rich clay left behind as glaciers recede, mixed with glycerin. Pat, the owner, is a very friendly person.<br /><br /><br />The place next to it is called the Alaska Crepe Escape. The young woman who owns that place graduated from a culinary scho0l and now has had her little crepe and espresso business for two years. She made us an apple pie crepe, which was out of this world, and delicious mochas.<br /><br /><br />There was a light mist/rain as we walked around. But, the one thing we learned quickly is that no one carries an umbrella in Alaska (except for the tourists). Alaskans feel that "umbrellas are for wimps."<br /><br /><br />Then, on Saturday, we biked four miles to the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Waterfalls. This Glacier is one of 38 large glaciers and more than 100 smaller ones in the Juneau Icefield. The weather was perfect, blue skies, with temperatures in the low 60s.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 464px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378541130243086306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZwtn6ow0LH1fmabkRRGyabG0r5nSALKGh0Jih6lVZILEfmzzpr5UYAIOsmAUXZoRPSnixMRlSHdFkNrkYGbHJxJyAF4ouwVv0I6Dtd85aD2NE_wdByIjEgDCBSbbrsR_bBwMabg1yphZ/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+039.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 461px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 343px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378539102267494018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8PV85Y8h7nkOOS4TbDt2p5ewXQp5C3d_IK7tARrRRvLdvLu5E2NRHIgAuhEAB0p2mSD9Ppl9ILSujGaeBBsjpFWxGMJV7Fw-zNI4uw28fwvfMLVJ1CoQGys9aqNkqybI6T0LwD37g1BJ/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+079.JPG" /> We've heard and read various explanations of why glaciers are blue. This one makes sense to us. Glacier ice has a unique crystalline structure that aborbs all colors but blue. That is why the most intense blue color occurs deep in the crevasses and fades as the ice is exposed to air and the crystalline structure breaks down. We saw some awesome blue in the Mendenhall Glacier. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 466px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 331px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378534890290614882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf97Le43Aga4iWtMIcbEb2ilvuIqKXVXWKhjYjtUmaknP2y4IYnB6It7PBum5G9YnYxQ10WDT-Oy5bk8BspIqk7WwQE_bHUHnB2kF1ptLUVeMAi9WxUTD-T1v8Qwgdf69T27qELRdBKH6/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+094.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 468px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378530865771596066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1Lx5Flu5ryjHCJt5xKs2-jgZEALrkOrD4edM8DTDTOzjvSvbfM-JQB2nAAMzt5AwptWpJPd52qVF5mc0OOtzIVnr0LWc9JpsUQVgg12hNB-eJHcn8AJxK-KAyKglja3owDxUbMPmIdZu/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+056.JPG" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHICDQ27RF5HsP9WUfess5TnEzChE9_xD7BYknvagh1vszMCrvKUYjCHIaHDT4_qLiG9cMGq3fALDtMAxGn6npe5DytFi4thFUCuQHmLSkvgmoBtk0YLkDxNKxDd2fd4K847x6_MllU1sm/s1600-h/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+112.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 236px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378528357452726546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHICDQ27RF5HsP9WUfess5TnEzChE9_xD7BYknvagh1vszMCrvKUYjCHIaHDT4_qLiG9cMGq3fALDtMAxGn6npe5DytFi4thFUCuQHmLSkvgmoBtk0YLkDxNKxDd2fd4K847x6_MllU1sm/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+112.JPG" /></a><br />There is a modern Visitors Center on the top of a hill near the Mendenhall Glacier. We watched a short video on the glacier in years past. The glacier recedes an average of 80 feet per year, but in 2008, it receded over 600 feet (global warming, anyone?).<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 439px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378517970960018258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPYfMztJm6ZUGLXyYeEGlXeJnTBGKeTCS9m4y92wXYjBuKsbarZs88Tc15E9E7T0RenUfwQY2gu7yrtX-lcQYYsM2H9lFWaIwqe8vH5n-wSqaerBJfYxhKjXNwECMbEXWCYxRSEaRllgt/s400/Juneau,+Alaska+2009+089.JPG" /> We walked the 3/4 mile to the base of the waterfall. The energy and sound of the falls is all-encompassing. What an experience! See the video below.<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mQoSdLdZgjM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mQoSdLdZgjM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />On Tuesday, we board another ferry for Petersburg.<br /><br /><br />Have a great week, everyone. And, continue to enjoy the life you love,<br /><br /><br />Jerry and MaryJerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-29900546065107539652009-09-02T20:29:00.000-07:002009-09-02T20:35:05.960-07:00Haines, Alaska Hammer MuseumHi everyone,<br />We had a great bike ride today and we stopped at the Hammer Museum. Take a look.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PDVu0W641Kg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PDVu0W641Kg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-69740016471418593032009-08-31T16:47:00.000-07:002009-08-31T20:37:07.600-07:00Skagway and Haines, AlaskaHi Everyone,<br /><div><div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>What a beautiful day in Haines, Alaska. We were up at 5 am to catch to<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSc70pGUYgfogiNUs3AGVtYFtugSNbumbn6DdpQu-TD_-7wghLlzV_qZTZZo5dTj-xqRdwJCuAi5u4oEmt73szQVG-Y1dsQbZRZG5rnpYBUsTtIidHENyDFNMFOqwbNCEXdTFmFPUTm5xY/s1600-h/Haines,+Alaska+2009+027.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 231px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376324218249161202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSc70pGUYgfogiNUs3AGVtYFtugSNbumbn6DdpQu-TD_-7wghLlzV_qZTZZo5dTj-xqRdwJCuAi5u4oEmt73szQVG-Y1dsQbZRZG5rnpYBUsTtIidHENyDFNMFOqwbNCEXdTFmFPUTm5xY/s400/Haines,+Alaska+2009+027.JPG" /></a> 7 am ferry from Skagway to Haines. It was a one hour trip by ferry. We left Skagway in fog and arrived in Haines with blue skies, a few white puffy clouds, temperature of 64 degrees F, and just a little wind. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>After leaving the ferry, we checked out the three RV parks in Haines and settled in on the one that caught our attention the most. After eating breakfast, taking a nap (we aren't used to getting up at 5 am), and eating lunch, we set out to explore the town on our bikes. It was a perfect day for that. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>We stopped f<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zpnLh3mcCbPql3f4IfOzo1GziohJIjj5mTpaeFwV9n9_rp2vDTfDUEIvPmmuLfGPxeAeMliBCsZjFugGPC2AH96lE8Qz90-dRtH9S2PAp2sBRs_xLEf8l0MfxeTRVeV8Ma-DoX415KIh/s1600-h/Haines,+Alaska+2009+042.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 227px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376314429522171746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zpnLh3mcCbPql3f4IfOzo1GziohJIjj5mTpaeFwV9n9_rp2vDTfDUEIvPmmuLfGPxeAeMliBCsZjFugGPC2AH96lE8Qz90-dRtH9S2PAp2sBRs_xLEf8l0MfxeTRVeV8Ma-DoX415KIh/s400/Haines,+Alaska+2009+042.JPG" /></a>irst at the American Bald Eagle Foundation and toured the small facility. We learned that nearly 3,000 bald eagles gather along a four mile stretch of the Chilkat River, close to Haines, every fall to feast on the late salmon run. We will miss the event because it happens in October and November and is the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world each year. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkVp69NVkCNYSSt0N3OT1GVnfqHQRJK-6wUh_zFQFfyKWNuYfcoWfc5c6LOR9Kwe2K_nksp7DD3xf8tYVVd6qDFNbiEGkedJkYueGictRe7Zv7wkTcH2ATj7F3rGNdlS2MPDWGjBRLVXU/s1600-h/Haines,+Alaska+2009+043.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 232px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 141px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376319288612448642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkVp69NVkCNYSSt0N3OT1GVnfqHQRJK-6wUh_zFQFfyKWNuYfcoWfc5c6LOR9Kwe2K_nksp7DD3xf8tYVVd6qDFNbiEGkedJkYueGictRe7Zv7wkTcH2ATj7F3rGNdlS2MPDWGjBRLVXU/s400/Haines,+Alaska+2009+043.JPG" /></a> While at the Foundation, we saw over 300 stuffed animals, birds and fish. Even though they are dead, it is interesting to see them up and close. The picture is of a blue heron.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 417px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376311491480824674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzf2csrp0hE5yr-0VYCwIunWuWUzcyrsIDp7EmPPjdZO0MukwZIdpH2Kn1YSFyIJiz0jLqBbCj7UYwPJEh87xGFfGuw7-wceZMpsPMwTjvLd7MQh95T-JuYuTE6tw6swG1pMd3tPqhXDAC/s400/Haines,+Alaska+2009+055.JPG" /> </div><div><div>Here is our take on Haines thus far. It is night and day from Skagway. Where Skagway was a quaint conclave of small gift shops, one right after another (60% being jewelry stores), Haines is more or less like the small town I grew up in -- where people actually live here. The few gift shops that are here are scathered here and there around Haines, a town of 2,300 people. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376306868089702530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN332zYGScTi6fb4KWxWwl8NSPkK164_TTaINK7_vtak01GLP_dEzoTMr8H0FIqAUl9bOA16o4AXKrxdDgKGlfOCDSxVOB2JcZiilRr1FGJ3ZVPTde0iMEuj9G8e0qGaWNa2WShrQsMPr/s400/Haines,+Alaska+2009+013.JPG" /><br /><div></div><div>But, the cruise ships still stop here. And we can see why. Like Skagway, the town of Haines is surrounded by mountains, trees and water.</div><br /><div></div><div>Yesterday, in Skagway, Jerry went on a hike and video-taped it. Here it is.</div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3OF95Aqy2Dw&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3OF95Aqy2Dw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><div></div><br /><div>We leave on our next ferry going to Juneau (the capitol) on Thursday. </div><br /><div></div><div>Enjoy your week! Continue to live the life you love!<br /></div><div>Jerry and Mary</div></div></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-72326143526442450142009-08-29T12:03:00.000-07:002009-08-29T14:46:11.515-07:00Whitehorse and Skagway, Alaska<div><br /><div>Rain, rain and more rain! Can't really complain, though, as we've had the most fantastic weather on this trip thus far. It was bound to catch up with us at some point, though. But, before we get into that, let's talk about Whitehorse.<br /></div><br /><div>It did not rain during our stay in Whitehorse earlier this week. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375493512901861490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoawwVKkwIjN5upapXFRPumiQBXmezz80lAlIK5wUfWAtBR93eaLjYdfVKRYXj2QnjwEgnsKtW8HrZydmI3sivhRupbdaLrQr3YcU_KI0V9CgIqFgy_hDY-uVGRIX9Hhn0pbUiJ-cePpA/s400/Whitehorse,+Alaska+(2)+2009+012.JPG" /></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375490768031660562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyD7BsNjMMZzgCHP6TvkwSQZa2vf6uMPmh9bzwtJRJxF0ZFJhkDtMHtqINUxcrYuEBCgFNSt5xhYtc83dzvdqUmkUfA9pPvUsRM1Di_tTwcGnMOq479rEcGLX2lJsxI81fcbbt7-bWyUzn/s400/Whitehorse,+Alaska+(2)+2009+001.JPG" /></div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQSkJzE0yKqbWPwEoIMgnC3PAlJU9N_bMzxdcfkgLNdizrBpOvgcMTEtKJ49gzwKgbQfD1MCZmOsK2aIICbJrx-VLtQprII2AoUDAYbo9Coj0PxWdPqdNHV5IVufYCCiMjaDuAYH1YKth/s1600-h/Whitehorse,+Alaska+(2)+2009+002.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375497827528779906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQSkJzE0yKqbWPwEoIMgnC3PAlJU9N_bMzxdcfkgLNdizrBpOvgcMTEtKJ49gzwKgbQfD1MCZmOsK2aIICbJrx-VLtQprII2AoUDAYbo9Coj0PxWdPqdNHV5IVufYCCiMjaDuAYH1YKth/s400/Whitehorse,+Alaska+(2)+2009+002.JPG" /></a><br /><div>We were even able to get out our bikes and travel into town. It was smooth going downhill for about a mile after leaving the RV park, but murder trying to get back up the hill to the camp. We had to walk our bikes up the hill facing into extremely high winds. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjeO7sONca6zkp8ofomjAUnk1XayaIWwjYWC2CU9gdjsfdJpYF4U-ym_rQA4IUNN7-yp2Sj4RUia8TabDIjOsDS2GPAUPg1WfWSN7gi6DcHCfpoFIHbBEYn9qi0PPUd9N3gx8yfXNUMMd/s1600-h/Whitehorse,+Alaska+(2)+2009+003.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 244px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 138px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375500633816100530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjeO7sONca6zkp8ofomjAUnk1XayaIWwjYWC2CU9gdjsfdJpYF4U-ym_rQA4IUNN7-yp2Sj4RUia8TabDIjOsDS2GPAUPg1WfWSN7gi6DcHCfpoFIHbBEYn9qi0PPUd9N3gx8yfXNUMMd/s400/Whitehorse,+Alaska+(2)+2009+003.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Whitehorse has a great bike bath that took us past the historic SS Kondike riverboat.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375484105293520258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGWAo-kBb7dMqhyPa28di-K6dAOApSXNLCWu3HahFa3_lNlOtymtlNK063lA2UgF46WtHKv6lAE3VVhGuW6D_vtMJ_5Bn4ockt5IPbIDa_WEtDc6UAmp5dWNwmRd5qzeNbrqWxESHWT31/s400/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+024.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 396px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375485837835673890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltp3aWb_De9iKDfc0bO4qgq-JRqbJBtlenIYEzojeu2Zkq-7_6XMmRTTqNZfaE59QI2EI9nebjl-3AibNVux4RJTWbuhIH3waadsr8Y61u1vCK7BDBmiu0ZY90M4J0yyI4dFXQrMKJYMn/s400/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+017.JPG" /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrAX-uIPeiHAQ-KrcWpn18l1LS7KHUcd_Wxn7R29BHiRdYENxvWvJY-FTRrfsYqwewfIGHL3gM4X5oRtNGwSI8homtFNrKnUnGYj1CJJFGbgyPonGplM5ZKXWfCl2BBHXwXnEgAJ1mfVL/s1600-h/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+029.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 260px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375476570646734882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrAX-uIPeiHAQ-KrcWpn18l1LS7KHUcd_Wxn7R29BHiRdYENxvWvJY-FTRrfsYqwewfIGHL3gM4X5oRtNGwSI8homtFNrKnUnGYj1CJJFGbgyPonGplM5ZKXWfCl2BBHXwXnEgAJ1mfVL/s400/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+029.JPG" /></a><br /><div>On Thursday (August 27), we drove to Skagway. It started to rain that day, but even with the rain, the scenery was beautiful. We stopped along the way for lunch. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzna_Sfu1ntiXtuh-CPmiyCDZ3c1UtZHcRsCactlVZXNh-lVTY1oYhJV5jdeKKVJP9g6cPG62ql4XibFlxeoytevpRjQ6hpVo8i61XYFGOuEmIxZpZw7F_2pdxfb19Tuvg2lSHuII25uA/s1600-h/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+041.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 274px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 155px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375478897610748482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzna_Sfu1ntiXtuh-CPmiyCDZ3c1UtZHcRsCactlVZXNh-lVTY1oYhJV5jdeKKVJP9g6cPG62ql4XibFlxeoytevpRjQ6hpVo8i61XYFGOuEmIxZpZw7F_2pdxfb19Tuvg2lSHuII25uA/s400/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+041.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>At one point, we had to go through extremely thick fog, almost as bad as in Cambria at times. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSGrm1_9nzIsyK1SvtHY6zSj-QdpRUlUIfmuJtSXKxSCKeUeLr1xnnv4o8KB4FlbqXONLaNniituH5BlwnnCkU3nW9rOjm1022JfbI4pSg-Eakca97Nns3HwkpW_p4-Y7-PF8CUKcVzAu/s1600-h/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+017.JPG"></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>We are parked ne<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtbJ8iqMkwVwRIl-BxHIKQhlS_7EKvtBZJRB_qT7Ehk4eLh7MNu8TOjG1YcHC7HeyG-95ORV95P_EtBn8zQeKbkQ3Kt8SgQDhgDdv6tZFh55qvQkItid0sESr2R6DGGGhUvuZ5ALTmAIm/s1600-h/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+075.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 259px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375472933236724578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtbJ8iqMkwVwRIl-BxHIKQhlS_7EKvtBZJRB_qT7Ehk4eLh7MNu8TOjG1YcHC7HeyG-95ORV95P_EtBn8zQeKbkQ3Kt8SgQDhgDdv6tZFh55qvQkItid0sESr2R6DGGGhUvuZ5ALTmAIm/s400/Skagway,+Alaska+2009+075.JPG" /></a>ar the water in Skagway and can see the extremely large tour vessels coming and going each day. Skagway has a population of 800 and has over 800,000 tourist coming through this small town each year. There is really only one main commercial street in the town with lots of shops along both sides of it. Nearly every other shop is a jewelry store with very high priced items. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We are parked a couple of blocks from the center of town. We've walked the shops on one side of the street yesterday and will go back to check out the other side before we leave on Monday, putting the RV on a boat as we travel by cruise down to Haines. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Very poor internet here, so will keep this blog short.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Have a good weekend.<br /></div><br /><div>Jerry and Mary</div></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-91129869452745799212009-08-24T15:56:00.000-07:002009-08-24T20:33:21.369-07:00Delta Junction, Tok, Chicken, Top of the World Highway and Dawson CityHi Everyone,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD3Fk4lHwOw4-1RcP4SStdWE94TQHjySFTS1zM-SztvPvZ6CgXX_rVR3rexPpyx1xPOzyvnBB7eihyphenhyphenO2H607bI1ueZ-IqXnFjAJnI9yUApuojvTRJDS93xyT5OSPOw_cQUTQ6cDkTRNaK/s1600-h/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+041.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 156px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373734058155671618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD3Fk4lHwOw4-1RcP4SStdWE94TQHjySFTS1zM-SztvPvZ6CgXX_rVR3rexPpyx1xPOzyvnBB7eihyphenhyphenO2H607bI1ueZ-IqXnFjAJnI9yUApuojvTRJDS93xyT5OSPOw_cQUTQ6cDkTRNaK/s400/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+041.JPG" /></a><br /><div>What a week! After leaving North Pole, we drove to Delta Junction which is the end of the Alaskan Highway -- 1422 miles from Dawson Creek. We stopped to take some pictures, eat our lunch on a bench outside the Visitor's Center and pick some juicy sweet choke cherries on a tree at the Center. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 448px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373733120664265906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4n-wg8ekX9ymBqjsQ17RLFc5tNoRRk1l-_QqBogod1_ICl3C7zhKgK-06EsS-fuZ-R-bZ8flIanoyVCr5PyeGAu0BK7U6lFfFTYMVxXrFIAV44aKq-rrg_40uYqcX4lQiMYsder0nrap/s400/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+043.JPG" /> <div>Then, we moved on to Tok for just a stop over. (We were in Tok at the beginning of our trip in June.) We took the advice of Ron Dalby who wrote an article in Motorhome Magazine recommending "Fast Eddy's," a restaurant. Hey Dave and Dorothy, we had some of the best pizza at Fast Eddy's that we've ever had.<br /></div><br /><div></div><div>For nearly two months, Jerry was vacillating on whether or not to drive to the town of Chicken and take the Top of the World Highway. We heard all kinds of horror stories about that particular road, including from some travelers staying at North Pole who just arrived from taking the trip over the Highway. Unfortunately for them, the day they drove the Highway it was raining and foggy. It made for a miserable trip! Others have said that the road is not conducive to big RVs as big trucks can force one off to the side of the road, and that the road is very narrow, unpaved and the scenery is bland. But, others said that the trip was definitely worth it. Jerry, not really a believer in astrology, happened to read his horoscope that said he should "take the high road." Jerry also felt that, since 45 foot tour buses can make the trip, our 40 foot coach should also be able to make the trip.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div>First, let us tell you abo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdynqALga36uN_94XDPvDIVFbZIgpqNL6JvjnakrLH1Ar3wPuR2HQ3i0tfTRLPiRoms60VntCjOUnXaHpk0914iMkL6osaVDJHn2to8xNa1VqcNhR-PlbFX1vQfgMUHGUxMFZ2YKxRMgw/s1600-h/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+103.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 309px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373720718447909410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdynqALga36uN_94XDPvDIVFbZIgpqNL6JvjnakrLH1Ar3wPuR2HQ3i0tfTRLPiRoms60VntCjOUnXaHpk0914iMkL6osaVDJHn2to8xNa1VqcNhR-PlbFX1vQfgMUHGUxMFZ2YKxRMgw/s400/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+103.JPG" /></a>ut the town of Chicken, 78 miles from Tok. Its population is 15 in the winter and 30-50 in the summer. We stopped in Chicken where we had the pie I've been waiting for all summer long. Susan is the baker and owner of the Chicken Creek Cafe, Saloon and Mercantile Emporium. Her pies are the attraction and written about in many articles about Chicken. Her pie lived up to its reputation. We even took a couple of pieces with us to have later that evening. Then we continued on to the "Top of the World Highway." </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5gC7PYOvOqEul2rnJMt47a89IpYOs0H_VQqcH84Q93UaroLPCuds2gjL675fDDaDYq0pChe5EEqEMLde8pVnF-1b2KpPj-3_2UxNxfSISXRaOngcHymD1eGWQJRGIOTuUc1ZzEr1hqys/s1600-h/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+301.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 425px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373727004390507218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5gC7PYOvOqEul2rnJMt47a89IpYOs0H_VQqcH84Q93UaroLPCuds2gjL675fDDaDYq0pChe5EEqEMLde8pVnF-1b2KpPj-3_2UxNxfSISXRaOngcHymD1eGWQJRGIOTuUc1ZzEr1hqys/s400/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+301.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulvS5VMLbjBso2361tFH-FvHVPvNiVXBQc34zq8JQLTyUtRB59V9nxn-nLKXZ-C-V_FHBlOIft8JACeKLaIItYK4ufxFJPB5Io8NqcdyqcyTynbsDnPLQZEsK1bymBicoP76uyHDUOgwk/s1600-h/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+304.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 425px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373716218190825410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulvS5VMLbjBso2361tFH-FvHVPvNiVXBQc34zq8JQLTyUtRB59V9nxn-nLKXZ-C-V_FHBlOIft8JACeKLaIItYK4ufxFJPB5Io8NqcdyqcyTynbsDnPLQZEsK1bymBicoP76uyHDUOgwk/s400/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+304.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>It is called "Top of the World Highway" because of the spectacular<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziPm9n2SD9A5A8KLxIX_ffpxwg8izu_qG7pYor8FepqrUmPgCFRDO0owVsuR2YasfzzM7ZMk-EWyqlueLbPna4lb7mIRQ6wzCnq2Z4UXd8W-vAKdwVHHiZzBiHAvOCobLiNvVRc_bljLV/s1600-h/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+171.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 165px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373703256889927138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziPm9n2SD9A5A8KLxIX_ffpxwg8izu_qG7pYor8FepqrUmPgCFRDO0owVsuR2YasfzzM7ZMk-EWyqlueLbPna4lb7mIRQ6wzCnq2Z4UXd8W-vAKdwVHHiZzBiHAvOCobLiNvVRc_bljLV/s400/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+171.JPG" /></a> views and vistas. It is high above the trees and you feel like you can see forever. But, to call it a "Highway" is stretching the definition of a "highway." It is "high" up, th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilynu-Q9SYBsWgf8uE-AB1x_w0z_J-5S40wblO4dWle_zGnco3p6bc5C1EAnTiSBYZIzTjVV27-GdFRXvTugT2I7PDuziW9cQymGe5wdXefE0XjS3qmXYYvLRm4NINJJWlpMQM3AyGKWFU/s1600-h/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+227.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 287px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373708743808031778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilynu-Q9SYBsWgf8uE-AB1x_w0z_J-5S40wblO4dWle_zGnco3p6bc5C1EAnTiSBYZIzTjVV27-GdFRXvTugT2I7PDuziW9cQymGe5wdXefE0XjS3qmXYYvLRm4NINJJWlpMQM3AyGKWFU/s400/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+227.JPG" /></a>ough. And, at times the gravel road was a bit bumpy and washboard-like, narrow, and with soft shoulders. See saw one incident in which a driver of a small RV misjudge the shoulder and slid off of the road.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>But, had we not made the trip, we would have missed out on one of the most awesome experiences we've had so far in Alaska. Granted, w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JzSrI2UGyoNHOUwB1PWEi4WXXE7BMMWWiOA7EGzEvZawP_vxGfjs_d2NB3wxa_BUpBhyDU3I3xrM95ZOV_ApiuDDfY8cGxJ4iGydP2PAujfh0pXaXQrO0IBTn5kBegXsTWrZ5NEXaaz2/s1600-h/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+341.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 304px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373711418400928514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JzSrI2UGyoNHOUwB1PWEi4WXXE7BMMWWiOA7EGzEvZawP_vxGfjs_d2NB3wxa_BUpBhyDU3I3xrM95ZOV_ApiuDDfY8cGxJ4iGydP2PAujfh0pXaXQrO0IBTn5kBegXsTWrZ5NEXaaz2/s400/Top+of+the+World+Highway+2009+341.JPG" /></a>e lucked out with the weather and the particular day and time of the year to make this trip. The Highway is 108 miles long from Chicken. Yes, it took us over 6 hours from Tok (and another 3 hours, with both of us working, to clean the RV after the trip), but it was definitely worth it! From Chicken to Dawson City, our average speed was 24.8 miles per hour. At times, the road had so many pot holes, that we slowed to only 15 miles per hour. About 90% of the road is unpaved dirt and gravel. Half way along the road, we passed from Alaska into the Yukon territory.<br /></div><div>Below is a slide show of pictures taken mostly from the RV as we traveled the "Top of the World Highway." </div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v89Ir3ioyNg&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v89Ir3ioyNg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>The Highway <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCj7G5ZuqGeXTDyzJUlfh2eJbKYeqzj86j4HQtbSVkxl98jRV8-6Q9vfuUa0XxU10gQjngprigg4Hxn_LtBkDrmvJ1v9kEozoGrRCzTq7_rek_wmpzrscgEjDFn4O6bR7o9s70DKZIAUVq/s1600-h/a+011.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 270px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373701260427645938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCj7G5ZuqGeXTDyzJUlfh2eJbKYeqzj86j4HQtbSVkxl98jRV8-6Q9vfuUa0XxU10gQjngprigg4Hxn_LtBkDrmvJ1v9kEozoGrRCzTq7_rek_wmpzrscgEjDFn4O6bR7o9s70DKZIAUVq/s400/a+011.JPG" /></a>ends at the Yukon River. We had to take a ferry across the river to Dawson City. We have been in Dawson City for three days now. Yesterday, we road our bikes into town and checked out the place. It feels like the old west. The streets are dirt and the buildings are both historical or designed to look like the late 1800s. </div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 444px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373699206851872946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9PdgNJS8qge1C-AzKLNhyphenhyphenJ2KQupAd7COizy3e_ufRKK_Il9zSKn9081GqG8VEn1AKy7EDPyv3fSZmVQCiELpUtxl5HSgDJ3CxBGGcsNErJJVpMSgcdOe2x2hkc4mPiux6I5VAJIin0C6/s400/a+008.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>Since we are in Canada, we have turned off our cell phones until we get back into Alaska at the end of this week. We will be in Canada until the end of the week, when we will cross back into Alaska to get to Skagway where we will travel down the in-land passage on a number of ferries. We leave here tomorrow (Tuesday) for Whitehorse.</div><div></div><br /><div>Enjoy your week!</div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-68880462152977794182009-08-20T22:42:00.000-07:002009-08-20T23:22:40.156-07:00It's Christmas Every Day at North Pole, Alaska<div><div><div>Hi Everyone,<br /></div><br /><div>We are at the mo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6BR-_lqTgp2GzFds1Zs1hDrfFyxfWwj4zhjVtrVJ891qAhSh7frhKEhxiMPP7J_5nIiag7-oOIqemsypFW6R9e9edLJZoM3bIbAZVhjVdlh1sxZnQGKmMGaLQ1gOAZwULBxi3xJyS-BO/s1600-h/North+Pole,+Alaska+2009+016.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 270px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372296005055220882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6BR-_lqTgp2GzFds1Zs1hDrfFyxfWwj4zhjVtrVJ891qAhSh7frhKEhxiMPP7J_5nIiag7-oOIqemsypFW6R9e9edLJZoM3bIbAZVhjVdlh1sxZnQGKmMGaLQ1gOAZwULBxi3xJyS-BO/s400/North+Pole,+Alaska+2009+016.JPG" /></a>st exciting place to be any time of the year! North Pole, Alaska -- where Santa and his elves are busy making great gifts -- and we got to see some of the new ones for this coming Christmas. We saw Santa's reindeer who are grazing and relaxing 364 days a year while getting ready for the big night, Christmas Eve. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHd5FhFuLGOT44GGUff-pRSjLFMZNHa_gagjzyLuknz7hzosPb_bpYRkhgH2SwwGU7ssPmE1YEhEH3W-Ufut3KWjtkPjXuh2gSfaSx_RG0SER5MTp2htEv_7IPQLaC040m2eii8xUtGUL/s1600-h/North+Pole,+Alaska+2009+008.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 285px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372294009009543794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHd5FhFuLGOT44GGUff-pRSjLFMZNHa_gagjzyLuknz7hzosPb_bpYRkhgH2SwwGU7ssPmE1YEhEH3W-Ufut3KWjtkPjXuh2gSfaSx_RG0SER5MTp2htEv_7IPQLaC040m2eii8xUtGUL/s400/North+Pole,+Alaska+2009+008.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>I was so honored that Santa took some time to talk to me about Natalie, James, Angela, Christian, Samantha, Erin, Sara, Brenna, Ivan and Daniel. Santa whispered a special message in my ear for each of you that I put on a post card and mailed today. Look for yours in the mailbox next week.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 418px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372297398453385170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht12HDYai30af7qu3Z_hq6uw46jkQIiDSyxL2JS3HbaDq6kwV3c3uMYj3cf2jXr8RVw_TUVLFQhCDuczLFFulgCYgo2D8zGo9T1TybL4BWqJgT-O1S1RBY8QXODCG-vgnUuaoRADYrIlQF/s400/North+Pole,+Alaska+2009+004.JPG" /> <div></div><div>It was a beautiful day today at North Pole -- 70 degrees. Now, if only it will stay this way for the next week as we are about to travel the Top of the World Highway. More on that next time.</div><div></div><br /><div>Enjoy your weekend, everyone.</div></div></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-26452951582285083292009-08-19T18:28:00.000-07:002009-08-20T22:35:30.554-07:00Fairbanks, Alaska<div>Hi Everyone, </div><div></div><br /><div>We arrived on <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZtXa2MrnJXF6tdoZ2Zhlh2bP3tbIuC-7E8FZjhBYwR_hAJ-x3TGmzoeyNq38CSKRTFiX4LSnUlydndrAdV1O788XoSqrpmNBkBVNyU3P7YO2EABMK9XY-MUiC42QdA1iNq5glXFeLs-y/s1600-h/Anchorage+-+Denali+-+Fairbanks+2009+006.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 277px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371854190896256178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZtXa2MrnJXF6tdoZ2Zhlh2bP3tbIuC-7E8FZjhBYwR_hAJ-x3TGmzoeyNq38CSKRTFiX4LSnUlydndrAdV1O788XoSqrpmNBkBVNyU3P7YO2EABMK9XY-MUiC42QdA1iNq5glXFeLs-y/s400/Anchorage+-+Denali+-+Fairbanks+2009+006.JPG" /></a>Monday in Fairbanks and are staying at the Pioneer Park. It is basically a city park with a large parking lot and with many activities going on and things to see inside the park. It has real fast free wi-fi! We've walked all around the place (it goes on for blocks).<br /></div><div>Buses with tourists arrived constantly, dropping off loads of people who come here for the "all you can eat" dinner (prime rib, salmon, halibut, and cod). </div><br /><div>Jerry wante<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTGzkqTu1fu8cNZE6Y1pVFla1jCDqxU7iykBKbBr4ET-7zlhVDb19CKjiLtAJmMyuolPOrCK4Prin0CZis0EITml0jyIkcyMHcLxQJSyXpRL7liLMMEsHL-cliDK6725uEmS7Jo8GeHFf/s1600-h/Anchorage+-+Denali+-+Fairbanks+2009+031.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371859795771788162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTGzkqTu1fu8cNZE6Y1pVFla1jCDqxU7iykBKbBr4ET-7zlhVDb19CKjiLtAJmMyuolPOrCK4Prin0CZis0EITml0jyIkcyMHcLxQJSyXpRL7liLMMEsHL-cliDK6725uEmS7Jo8GeHFf/s400/Anchorage+-+Denali+-+Fairbanks+2009+031.JPG" /></a>d the ultimate Alaskan experience - what it feels like at -40F degrees. (Having spent many years in North Dakota, I had no desire to re-experience that again.) He lasted three minutes!!<br /><br />We also took the local bus line around the city today, stopping first at the highly recommended University of Alaska Museum of the North. Let me tell you, it is probably one of the nicest museums we have ever been in. It is ultra modern (re-done in 2005) and contains award winning exhibits focusing on the culture, wildlife, geography, and history of Alaska. </div><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 446px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 327px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371862366315343682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciG9Ozui4eL_LC3r515aMrTAO2teCFePG9kjoTevUISa_lEETLrKLrlUCnQtmFFvLpi7Z9ukF_1WeQP7wdzfhZmhAFR3l_YpOaimmwQ-dEhDZ16I_MObQ76byn6kq0CHPCd1ah3WZwC7q/s400/Anchorage+-+Denali+-+Fairbanks+2009+011.JPG" /> (The architechural team designed the museum to evoke images of "alpine ridges, glaciers and a diving whale's tail" per its brochure.) Here are some more pictures we took inside the museum.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 389px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372284992651939970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WbfSdeDs6SQsaLbWWgJzO686Gcd0IQiGCV-5hGEFwXe428xwHx9nb_7fbSx0o9DYU2Jlf5b1hgm-lpDzp2bUHqMeg3jGkjl4aQCKQ28lSqofVFbZ1sv6t6uTAvGvmW5rHueBMr5TqNRc/s400/Fairbanks,+Alaska+2009+006.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371866827653882818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDowdtBhlxaD8lgyTnpfpBhk7N6LQZ9771i7V5oaSVL1nC3RFAUSwrLeSsQzaLGXx8-h6Eq-3VP_7M_l4Z2V540UpuFzw_lkyFDqSN-UB0EIuGOeO-hoZs2qVl2BbPU-a9nTCDo0dewVHm/s400/Anchorage+-+Denali+-+Fairbanks+2009+004.JPG" /> Something I really enjoyed was the "The Place Where You Go To Listen." It can't be described in words. It has to be experienced. But, here is what the designer had in mind: </p><p><em>"We are immersed in music. The earth beneath us, the air around us, and the sky above us are filled with vibrations. Most of these vibrations are beyond the reach of our ears. </em></p><p><em>In this room you will hear some of this music. </em></p><p><em>You will hear no familiar musical instruments or sounds of nature. Yet every sound you will hear is connected directly to natural world, here and now.</em> </p><p><em>The atmosphere of sound and sight changes with the movements of the sun, the rhythms of day and night. Daylight sings like a choir of bright voices. Its colors are yellow, orange and red. The voices of night are darker. Its colors are violet, blue and cyan. </em></p><p><em>The moon rises and falls, appears and disappears, like a solo voice.</em> </p><p><em>When the aurora borealis is active (even if hidden by daylight and clouds) bell-like sounds float across the ceiling.</em> </p><p><em>When the earth quakes (even imperceptibly) the walls and the floor shudder and rumble like deep drums.</em></p><p><em>The music has no beginning, middle or end. Even in moments of apparent stillness, it is always changing. But it changes at the tempo of nature. To experience its full range requires listening in the day and night, winter and summer. </em></p><p><em>This is an ecosystem of sound and light that resonates with the larger world around it. When no one is here, the forces of nature continue to reverberate within this space. </em></p><p><em>But the awareness of the listener brings it to life. </em></p><p><em>The Place Where You Go To Listen is not complete until you are present and listening." </em></p><p><em>John Luther Adams</em></p><p>Jerry took a picture of me in this room.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 435px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 342px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371877965843544786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63CCMtY8cbJB_ypzP5SORDr8NwDT6lj7DXLeaC356dJB-Fjdi3BY7w5WiFu4bZ9vCNR0j9SFCXcm-XiyNwgxF1yyhWwfWSqAmi8RL9ZAJejiIkaglFNG0j5LoCfTvXw43_IUTDDE0eD_l/s400/Anchorage+-+Denali+-+Fairbanks+2009+007.JPG" />From there, we took the bus to downtown. Pictures of the downtown area are shown below and on the side of this blog.</p><p>Until next time - take care.</p>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-56100638531762340692009-08-17T17:32:00.000-07:002009-08-17T18:31:34.782-07:00Denali National Park<div><div><div><div><div><div>Hi Everyone,<br /></div><div>When someo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6UerDOnrPy58DnHzTbEsimPiRo7wg1UjMUevle-DeJbd3e6vD2iMIdSB8ps5B-1mHlXaRON604o6WdfTAMIrx7rTVohfW6BfwkslXrG_UHjUU_pWChO700b4AXqImJttCbnpyiXc1PE_/s1600-h/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+014.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 209px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371099799230928546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6UerDOnrPy58DnHzTbEsimPiRo7wg1UjMUevle-DeJbd3e6vD2iMIdSB8ps5B-1mHlXaRON604o6WdfTAMIrx7rTVohfW6BfwkslXrG_UHjUU_pWChO700b4AXqImJttCbnpyiXc1PE_/s400/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+014.JPG" /></a>ne says "Denali National Park," one immediately thinks of Mt. McKinley. But, did you know that only about 20-30% of the people coming to see the Mt. actually see it? It is so high (nearly 4 miles high) that, as they say around here, "it creates its own weather pattern." Thus, most of the time, the Mt. is shrouded in cloud, fog or mist. We took a shuttle to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e07i6g8MmxzP72aL3RtCil94qxoIFUtDcfOI14F3Zzznt4W4TlqQwwJ6cl20bxaMiEWQ3wsYS_qCKbXF_CEFbBN3ES50ENQjHRJFn3MdORH2B8ia1_xHz3H7mi2buYhSE0fVWgaq8gLl/s1600-h/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+004.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 294px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371102656840303282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e07i6g8MmxzP72aL3RtCil94qxoIFUtDcfOI14F3Zzznt4W4TlqQwwJ6cl20bxaMiEWQ3wsYS_qCKbXF_CEFbBN3ES50ENQjHRJFn3MdORH2B8ia1_xHz3H7mi2buYhSE0fVWgaq8gLl/s400/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+004.JPG" /></a>try to see the mountain, but ended up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqecI4wc-5ILZYill7o4p-SIz3Nw39imTe5H65Vy-8Yx0wsV_RhxWZkrcpvjHAsUYd24L7OfokoSF_HkKzFaCGKBrOjQuZOJxRaORiGN_ybQfOS_G78Jd-b3memOMKavIFFJmyFevARhuf/s1600-h/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+018.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 242px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371103568917275538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqecI4wc-5ILZYill7o4p-SIz3Nw39imTe5H65Vy-8Yx0wsV_RhxWZkrcpvjHAsUYd24L7OfokoSF_HkKzFaCGKBrOjQuZOJxRaORiGN_ybQfOS_G78Jd-b3memOMKavIFFJmyFevARhuf/s400/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+018.JPG" /></a> in the 70-80% of the people who did not see it. Jerry even asked the shuttle bus driver to stop so that he could get out and take a picture of what he can't see. The shuttle bus driver (who has been driving the bus all summer long) said that he has seen it only four times. He also said that sometimes one can see it going into the park, but cannot see it coming out again.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371107855509855826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmtp5qdNRh6OAaEfr2pAHTUsmmFU_5pRftT6jORBedVWg0WbnUTJcQUHYaEn4uZ5QrXEgOgL_ZlzeOpsBhMvkOWD8yBU6Hk3jyIK_EZTf1rDxFCPgvuOVdm965Lz_19qQ1aSgBr0phlf_/s400/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+036.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371106743934307746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoPrLFmz_sK8tzlpVdjTpbCpt-PTckWVMzg75VxN_nEVK9aQa4ArvtLRiMEaEX7Jv3ntFshd9EAhbOqfHlHiU3dAOG5elomqnn1pA5uCY8ETICc_2PaY3_5yg4uUAEWdPUf202rnK3wzm/s400/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+025.JPG" /></div><div>Unfortunately, also, it rained off and on every day we were in the park, including the day we had planned a hike. Notwithstanding, we did take a bike ride (in the rain) around the area to see the various sites. Except for a few pictures, there is not much more for us to say about our experience in this beautiful park.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Today (Monday, August 17), we traveled from Denali to Fairbanks. The scenery was quite nice.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371109362826332002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yajJFAhLESZ1b__rthIzrwb1WDzzmHBHOrleK7pHWRDIPuUm9oWH6GJX_bGJU63ZJ0f9AXX6HU0ijv_qT8VQZDZyHtoI8oeLaPs7z5uAnvMmgW3_HD9dOZUM2522Gd7p19OeFkpo7hfw/s400/Denali+National+Park,+Alaska+2009+002.JPG" /></div><div></div><div></div><div>(See another picture below.)</div><div> </div><div>We are staying in the Pioneer Park right in town. Will tell you more about Fairbanks in the next blog -- but from what we have seen thus far, it is a clean and modern city (compared to Anchorage) with wide double-lane streets. I think we will have fun here.</div><div><br />Until next time, have a great week.</div></div></div></div></div></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-60167887314266581352009-08-13T18:24:00.001-07:002009-08-13T20:02:57.956-07:00Whittier, Anchorage and Willow, AlaskaHi Everyone,<br /><br /><div>We are the road again! The scenery on the drive from Seward to Whittier is just breathtaking. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369638144928072850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWywHxRcWTetMbJVS_5yo0Tmf1zdvQWabb5Y6VZbtbrfAQCq7I6I7J1Ugmjoj8e4y-VaUeqBeKeUZWP6lf_9vv2WtlWjfcHQpiN_oX_Ykp7k8iY_vao0pSH3EGnclnO7Oi7JyLgfVEXtP/s400/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+047.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369637557279984530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbC2w4cMOroGnefw3VMZJ_n2yyBxUdFFiSL1S0tzrhiDnCqPsdCRDMgqV7VLiGkhTqH2PmteUz2pREd_lKMtrje0DeeYeUt7inLCKrcVibqdFFwqInem2lruy7qT6byZ1416WgLuXUlDMo/s400/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+041.JPG" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369636849406740066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUTp84GB63wWEhXwX0-2AjKiEaPshiSqSWW548LAIvsWeR4u8D-p5NC_H3iqbVkx3StuhAHqdlqmeKVSxf77Ha2BmEAA1H0K_23TBGTL9wZ1FapdUEtGATAGvGQa2eCyIUffOQIt5PS_9/s400/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+037.JPG" /><br /><div><br />First, we went back to Whittier because, again, it is an awes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOIrGt81AiXKWYZVE1idnepL7x0bErmLl95I1I-IYkes0EiQD_zOKMTedaLcJbUUHJKmZbnqPcQC8kUCbucZALG4uMFVnecK9IZH4uVa1CAx0Uk8B_WIlb2wEqHEJ-ubiFTAi4BZvlIdu/s1600-h/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 282px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369625689353402850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOIrGt81AiXKWYZVE1idnepL7x0bErmLl95I1I-IYkes0EiQD_zOKMTedaLcJbUUHJKmZbnqPcQC8kUCbucZALG4uMFVnecK9IZH4uVa1CAx0Uk8B_WIlb2wEqHEJ-ubiFTAi4BZvlIdu/s400/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+009.JPG" /></a>ome place -- the most beautiful campgrounds we've ever seen -- everything paved, private, large sites, and surrounded by high mountains with snow and glaciers all around. Plus, it has the most wonderful bike/walking paths though the woods and along the waters that you can find anywhere.<br /></div><br /><div>We stayed two days and took a long bike ride one of the days. We saw salmon spawning, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZzHVmZmifmS133WNcRAaukrNs-xFOgEY-kQokJpPv8gaUspPrZ0k88dmcRCan1lLwPVyiCU_ulxGNYyhjv9NUjS75k4O-C7fT_XaRrx1FdWgNTg_QSEFz8hoIgagU3sD4pLSIb_jnnUV/s1600-h/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+052.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 283px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369627740815973442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZzHVmZmifmS133WNcRAaukrNs-xFOgEY-kQokJpPv8gaUspPrZ0k88dmcRCan1lLwPVyiCU_ulxGNYyhjv9NUjS75k4O-C7fT_XaRrx1FdWgNTg_QSEFz8hoIgagU3sD4pLSIb_jnnUV/s400/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+052.JPG" /></a>rode up close to the glaciers, took a look at what was left of the iceberg in the water (see earlier picture below of all the icebergs we saw the first time we were in Whittier), and basically hoped we wouldn't run into a bear (as they were in the area). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_Y0BbJrYdfMfb3sWqocaftFxHwZKo9L2OWrBCgcGZbtYAVcf0cXbEuYFYKikeRmUoyGc4GqyMPzURDT-7QGA0qoSnlYWRk6OkGfA9igtLBnQ-i9jwWNMD_9nr09QtpvMyP5NaVMXZ-oi/s1600-h/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 275px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369630661472349618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_Y0BbJrYdfMfb3sWqocaftFxHwZKo9L2OWrBCgcGZbtYAVcf0cXbEuYFYKikeRmUoyGc4GqyMPzURDT-7QGA0qoSnlYWRk6OkGfA9igtLBnQ-i9jwWNMD_9nr09QtpvMyP5NaVMXZ-oi/s400/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+007.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwn7vxWb5iZUn0cz9AH7mgU4fM1A4VS1MY-gTWaIYSiG2vx5lQCBtOAewnSDwuzaLGQe2qr0SXHNaVH-_jLqCh-JajQsknydx47FgdTcBdfDwXdrn7hR-cb5vEmtBsTcOV03SqF1VNNMB/s1600-h/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+022.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 301px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369632978801511586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwn7vxWb5iZUn0cz9AH7mgU4fM1A4VS1MY-gTWaIYSiG2vx5lQCBtOAewnSDwuzaLGQe2qr0SXHNaVH-_jLqCh-JajQsknydx47FgdTcBdfDwXdrn7hR-cb5vEmtBsTcOV03SqF1VNNMB/s400/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+022.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Then, at night, Jerry built a fire. Here is also where he decided to document the wonders of the mosquito zapper. See video below.<br /></div><br /><div>The weather was in the low 60s most of the time, and overcast with a few sprinkles.<br /></div><br /><div>From Whittier, we drove to Anchorage (our third time in Anchorage). We met with a Toastmaster friend from our Central Coast area and all went out for Mexican dinner. It really taste good after all the halibut we've been eating. </div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftFlSLCkAMrGFR8L9UEVr2KyCHnczfJJVVKd_HXCfmleZm-DvU3TV_dDPdScNSbMcy6WROahcv1yqIRi0ekpjsnbCaufgMQpByYec0EbccqPcGV3XekSq0t7BzMQoPCnoNlfw-JuFC0GK/s1600-h/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+015.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 226px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369642628669223842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftFlSLCkAMrGFR8L9UEVr2KyCHnczfJJVVKd_HXCfmleZm-DvU3TV_dDPdScNSbMcy6WROahcv1yqIRi0ekpjsnbCaufgMQpByYec0EbccqPcGV3XekSq0t7BzMQoPCnoNlfw-JuFC0GK/s400/Whittier+(2),+Alaska+2009+015.JPG" /></a> <div>Unfortunately, the RV parks in Anchorage (and there are three of them) are just stopping off places as we move on to other more scenic parks. Here is a picture of our neighbor in the Anchorage RV park last night.<br /></div><div>Today (Thursday, August 13), we drove to Willow and are at a very neat RV park right on a river. After salmon spawn, the female fish do not eat and eventually die. Guess that is what is happening at the river right in front of our RV. </div><div></div><div>We expect to move again tomorrow, as we continue to make our way to Denali National Park.<br /></div><div>Until next time (which may be awhile if we don't get internet connection), enjoy the life you love.<br /></div><div>As always -- Jerry and Mary</div></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-36965796916220060502009-08-12T21:58:00.000-07:002009-08-12T22:01:45.564-07:00Dealing With Mosquitoes in AlaskaHi Everyone,<br /><br />Watch this video. The mosquito zapper is cool!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EEQ1uPGbTLk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EEQ1uPGbTLk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-35548300171931805572009-08-09T13:41:00.000-07:002009-08-09T15:38:31.264-07:00Seward (again), Alaska<div>Hi Everyone,<br /><br />We moved on to Seward on Thursday (August 6). The scenery on the trip from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Seldotna</span> to Seward is beautiful. (See pictures below.) We were in Seward on the front part of our trip to A<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECWsNbm5kbfDVIBl_kZ-xBXqtU360eacAcHJHZeu2idQ82WVemyXUR1PGvQREjNb-gJe27CkUyCI1AxWRaqkUyOwhqRK74NgL3SHVpXOf63PWWAhc8Wplw6TMakPYAxxUeIBbYfyaPeWo/s1600-h/Seward+in+August+045.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 282px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368091169188039634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECWsNbm5kbfDVIBl_kZ-xBXqtU360eacAcHJHZeu2idQ82WVemyXUR1PGvQREjNb-gJe27CkUyCI1AxWRaqkUyOwhqRK74NgL3SHVpXOf63PWWAhc8Wplw6TMakPYAxxUeIBbYfyaPeWo/s400/Seward+in+August+045.jpg" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">laska</span>, but it had rained most of the time when we were here last time. It was the only real rain we experienced on this trip so far. We wanted to see Seward without the rain because it is such a beautiful city on the shores of Resurrection Bay. We were lucky enough to get a spot for our RV as this place is filled with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">RVers</span> this time because the silver salmon fishing season opened this weekend.<br /><br />We weren't here 5 minutes and guess who showed up again!! It was great. We had two more days with Dorothy and Dave.<br /><br />On Friday, the four of us went to visit the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska's only public aquarium. It is a learning center, enabling <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">visito</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbTvZD1dMndlRWlfJY7VC6fInhACxfzJEEK_GaHTVExrknAjOLK-cPTC4U88EtxwrmcRRQOBI7Ry1MTspJM5apdA1aK_0aANkufAwsQAafWc5WsagIVzzuRExrTNKt3yu0yGXiCJiMy9k/s1600-h/Seward,+Alaska+(2)+2009+049-1.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 203px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 127px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368088080289087954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbTvZD1dMndlRWlfJY7VC6fInhACxfzJEEK_GaHTVExrknAjOLK-cPTC4U88EtxwrmcRRQOBI7Ry1MTspJM5apdA1aK_0aANkufAwsQAafWc5WsagIVzzuRExrTNKt3yu0yGXiCJiMy9k/s400/Seward,+Alaska+(2)+2009+049-1.JPG" /></a>rs to view an assortment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsD7LpyddcV3GQVqJds8surY2LlLltUUYV8KE-SptKI9p_pMujjfDHxQyKWlptkRXMc6ES7P5nwCYUoSVL_UGR8Rc4W31mOHrAJIQ33nmpK2E8iR6HkS1QnBiVrAKUv-5-Rbfjgl_XV1u/s1600-h/Seward+in+August+034.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 227px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 162px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368089228892666018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsD7LpyddcV3GQVqJds8surY2LlLltUUYV8KE-SptKI9p_pMujjfDHxQyKWlptkRXMc6ES7P5nwCYUoSVL_UGR8Rc4W31mOHrAJIQ33nmpK2E8iR6HkS1QnBiVrAKUv-5-Rbfjgl_XV1u/s400/Seward+in+August+034.jpg" /></a> of birds, fish, sea lions, sea urchins, and experience various interactive displays. We listened to yet another presentation on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">devastation</span> of the Valdez oil spill some twenty years ago by now, and were told that the oil is still hanging around some of Alaska's shores.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 462px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368088631303143202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3Kz2vmuQhZL4VKg_uMwrR0QIQ54TSmjpQ2dRt-B3Ce8PFGvYsBvAXIvUunQ_oGJg8DXmB2QqvCWvdQWGqdrBUQve0sFce7n7MpHJtznvGdaJa7ZHFBv7-yF1nvQle0tl_IUXCdDtfRhw/s400/Seward+in+August+037.jpg" /> Jerry and I took our bikes out for a ride around the place yesterday, and, of course, we stopped for a mocha.<br /><br />Last night, we all had a great salmon dinner with Dorothy and Dave. Afterwards, we said our "good byes" once again. Only this time we think it is for real. So, for those of you following Dorothy and Dave's trip, you will just have to wait for Dorothy's post cards to arrive.<br /><br />We will leave here tomorrow and head north towards Fairbanks and Denali National Park.<br /><br />Until next time, have a great week!</div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-35567873866856519302009-08-04T20:25:00.000-07:002009-08-04T22:21:18.417-07:00Anchor Point and Seldotna (again), AlaskaWe finally moved out from Homer after spending nearly two weeks on the Homer "Spit." We said our "good-byes" to Dorothy and Dave as each of us were now going to go our own ways for a while. But, when Jerry and I got to Anchor Point (only a few miles up the road) and stopped to eat our Subway sandwiches we purchased in<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6qEOiFq9XXrGHbxPte5vLcswgu-9Ree089rPIVLyimfk-NjKVKV7WHgQY0qrUP0cloXLNKCdjLcJSQfSKrbzxwOEG3auYzAu89h2jh6So6QLvYQyyg1_RgfSzs0kBhOPTzv0Nfn8X3Ax/s1600-h/Anchor+Point,+Alaska+2009+013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366333723010744674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6qEOiFq9XXrGHbxPte5vLcswgu-9Ree089rPIVLyimfk-NjKVKV7WHgQY0qrUP0cloXLNKCdjLcJSQfSKrbzxwOEG3auYzAu89h2jh6So6QLvYQyyg1_RgfSzs0kBhOPTzv0Nfn8X3Ax/s400/Anchor+Point,+Alaska+2009+013.JPG" border="0" /></a> Homer before we left, who comes knocking on our door but Dave and his friend. So we ended up spending the night in Anchor Point and joining Dave, Dorothy, our pilot, his wife and grandson, Dave's new friend and his wife for a fish fry. Later, they sat around the fire while Dorothy and I (with Chanti) took a long walk. <div><div></div><br /><div>Anchor Point is the furtherest road west that is inter-connecting with other paved highways. You cannot drive further west on any highway in the USA. (Is that Russia over there?)</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366334794188895906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 503px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 369px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXNoWHkeVjvQhZmRy7vO0A3RXhXSCy4fSVk8sYJqDBwIrLkAgwEwsqIUlg2MM9_kjf7ZKvTdxb76vHlmCTIVBssDrGaEUINrTpdKs-noaH3fyW4OCiToE0h7LF8TeVdldnyRfpuTanW3f/s400/Anchor+Point,+Alaska+2009+038.JPG" border="0" /> <div>This morning, we again say our "last good-byes" while we moved on to a new RV park in Seldotna. Guess who just showed up at our door???? More to follow!<br /><br /></div><div>We're adding a video to this blog from the charter fishing that Dave and Jerry did last Saturday out of Homer. Hope you enjoy it. </div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZA91vHMxZCg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZA91vHMxZCg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><div>It is about 65 degrees outside and raining. We will probably stay here for a couple of days before moving on. Right now there is a fire burning 25 miles from Fairbanks and that the reports we are hearing are that there is severe smoke in and around that area. Thus, we will take our time getting there.</div><br /><br /><div>Until next time, enjoy the life you love.</div><br /><br /><div>Jerry and Mary </div></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-66182530894365766412009-08-03T21:00:00.000-07:002009-08-04T17:48:47.307-07:00Kachemak Bay Alaska Air Tour<div><br />Hi Everyone,<br /><br /><div>The one thing we have discovered in RVing is that yo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWQN7cw-0oQ-HigokQEsjtW3UdmtzCdXTud4u5qlwd407muCH5G4sCk0wGZmSYUTcarV1vtEWbiHtQ5qlfC3eQxTAgXyVewlYhDtRUW3fLIebGDpyP7S1RhbZpPUBBDp7yjMc3BpqZ1RZ/s1600-h/Homer+Airplane+Ride+2009+136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366269061737091746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWQN7cw-0oQ-HigokQEsjtW3UdmtzCdXTud4u5qlwd407muCH5G4sCk0wGZmSYUTcarV1vtEWbiHtQ5qlfC3eQxTAgXyVewlYhDtRUW3fLIebGDpyP7S1RhbZpPUBBDp7yjMc3BpqZ1RZ/s400/Homer+Airplane+Ride+2009+136.JPG" border="0" /></a>u meet the nicest people -- and you often keep running into the same ones at different places as we all keep moving around. Well, David and Dorothy struck up a friendship with a couple who knew a retired Delta pilot who owns a Stetson (they stopped making these planes in 1948). He worked for Western Airlines at the time I also worked for that airline -- small world. He was willing to take us on an air tour of Kachemak Bay. </div><br /><div>So, on Sunday,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3Jf4nuHpOWecBUGmZQYDLzTdTQ_p5ITzS3mSXvmuAt9QVzp3qYJQsgs64bEPl1V-fH-YiWD4gDOEQP5pb5Zz-TawS31ddENDBiNWE9_-PwF1Oq2Sf2o03lT_CxEa8M2K2XgLObaazK4E/s1600-h/Homer+Airplane+Ride+2009+076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366266096524536946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3Jf4nuHpOWecBUGmZQYDLzTdTQ_p5ITzS3mSXvmuAt9QVzp3qYJQsgs64bEPl1V-fH-YiWD4gDOEQP5pb5Zz-TawS31ddENDBiNWE9_-PwF1Oq2Sf2o03lT_CxEa8M2K2XgLObaazK4E/s400/Homer+Airplane+Ride+2009+076.JPG" border="0" /></a> he took Dorothy, Dave and me (Mary) in the airplane. (The plane seated only four people, so Jerry didn't go along.) We wore headsets and listened to music, including Louie Armstrong's "It's a Wonderful World" as we took in the beauty of Alaska from the air and he described the various sites. </div><div></div><div></div><br /><p>We saw a small <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelVc1xyJ8VQ1RuzneEUqjBDxzKAtaE-xWki5H4SB6Fny6-jiEt5ZDrMIVNLdYI2rTvOTi6-FYwU2VKR_qaVSQofJuN8wqVGOGZy8fASeHOqBsj7UQKma4aWFGU2B8aD9YM0tP2q2IWzDo/s1600-h/Homer+Airplane+Ride+2009+011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366264612345669682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelVc1xyJ8VQ1RuzneEUqjBDxzKAtaE-xWki5H4SB6Fny6-jiEt5ZDrMIVNLdYI2rTvOTi6-FYwU2VKR_qaVSQofJuN8wqVGOGZy8fASeHOqBsj7UQKma4aWFGU2B8aD9YM0tP2q2IWzDo/s400/Homer+Airplane+Ride+2009+011.JPG" border="0" /></a>Russian village that is most difficult to get to. The pilot told us that there are three such very remote Russian villages along the way. We saw goats on a mountain, glaciers, waterfalls, lush greenery, blue waters, snow, and then ended up in Seldovia. (W<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNq39ApRA59nAH3Dl1XIGxpyz-byKCWKb6An4mfhyvtkmpHXz05bzh4vdgHxgMjSrZqJSE6wO7M2nfy5OrB8tlwMKLMhsSR2_M4HWMwlxUn7-BAmrr0b-7a5aWaQLX0PHfYWrIz8B_S7F/s1600-h/Homer+Airplane+Ride+2009+098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366268064754391474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNq39ApRA59nAH3Dl1XIGxpyz-byKCWKb6An4mfhyvtkmpHXz05bzh4vdgHxgMjSrZqJSE6wO7M2nfy5OrB8tlwMKLMhsSR2_M4HWMwlxUn7-BAmrr0b-7a5aWaQLX0PHfYWrIz8B_S7F/s400/Homer+Airplane+Ride+2009+098.JPG" border="0" /></a>hen Jerry and I left Seldovia the other day, I had no idea I would be back there within a week.) After stopping for lunch, we walked a path along the river where the salmon were arriving to spawn. We found and tasted berries, including salmon berries, which I never heard of before. </p><p>We have some video that we will put up on the blog at a later point; but in the meantime, here is a slide show of some of the scenery we were blessed to see.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JRJcULbMz0M&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JRJcULbMz0M&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-89514691785682780452009-08-02T23:25:00.000-07:002009-08-03T16:35:49.341-07:00Still in Homer, AlaskaHi Everyone,<br /><br />So much to do and see in this place. Everyone has to visit the Salty Daug <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV_Y5fnUqILagw5ullLJdXkipEWNiU3-dEtPJDEfZOa3LZWTVdZdmfCxZp9EoeniITxSHXFrmuv7UwNqSY9dghNYJlZiR58hzucPV0Ox_GqYlsGICfvplnGNm9-eRcKkS2OX2vCNFWyYQ/s1600-h/Homer+2009+006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365620699981293170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV_Y5fnUqILagw5ullLJdXkipEWNiU3-dEtPJDEfZOa3LZWTVdZdmfCxZp9EoeniITxSHXFrmuv7UwNqSY9dghNYJlZiR58hzucPV0Ox_GqYlsGICfvplnGNm9-eRcKkS2OX2vCNFWyYQ/s400/Homer+2009+006.JPG" border="0" /></a>Saloon, which we did on Thursday. It is a landmark here in Homer. Inside, p<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlr1VyjfAeg4BdyYi5Eml6Ayt2TKfI0pE49hXqIOd918Z0_rFgsdIDnwcV1TXHn7hTn3Q1A-9d5xaARSRal7ndIeHsdxglFv7Dw_4MwbfpvLrKYIIyfORf4MqMGXgx62PaLa-oLzRw7b8/s1600-h/Homer+2009+012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365621449557338946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlr1VyjfAeg4BdyYi5Eml6Ayt2TKfI0pE49hXqIOd918Z0_rFgsdIDnwcV1TXHn7hTn3Q1A-9d5xaARSRal7ndIeHsdxglFv7Dw_4MwbfpvLrKYIIyfORf4MqMGXgx62PaLa-oLzRw7b8/s400/Homer+2009+012.JPG" border="0" /></a>eople hang dollar bills, business cards, underwear, and whatever on the ceilings and walls!<br />Here we are outside of the place.<br />(Remember that you can double-click on any picture in this written blog and enlarge the picture on your monitor.)<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365622058189238082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 370px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39sy1FQKKsEs29f_7Y9kN6dQ3XlAqbA5nh1NNnmPBsSQl3gOZtg4ncrDN8cbWamu3Fq-WUbU55onAcjYubKEtjjWpR6GwLZg9lAUcBj3RYnazYgGisTEUgY83yTOdZBcInEnnwJ0oOD1l/s400/Homer+2009+008.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Then on F<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wPHBG6wKJbspdpslxFkSgaoqyxe8OJFGi10U7xgZs9OhkItMaKVPFuR6S5YXLGN2nZr2NP7pouWhOFhdGSWm3Tldgt3xGTNpFuv6fLULZ8afg13AhNar5ibS-Ap5JRIam9EQ_ZGm8526/s1600-h/Homer+2009+063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365625132500056594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 253px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wPHBG6wKJbspdpslxFkSgaoqyxe8OJFGi10U7xgZs9OhkItMaKVPFuR6S5YXLGN2nZr2NP7pouWhOFhdGSWm3Tldgt3xGTNpFuv6fLULZ8afg13AhNar5ibS-Ap5JRIam9EQ_ZGm8526/s400/Homer+2009+063.JPG" border="0" /></a>riday, Jerry and I biked into town to see the Homer Visitor's Center. This is a "must see" place for anyone coming to Homer. The Center is an ultra-modern structure, artistic, and over flowing with pertinent information on Alaska's marine and wildlife, volcanoes, birds, glaciers and hands-on aquatic life experiments and learning projects. </p>From there we biked to the Pratt Museum, another <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KIlwiwnZ0RmkAUBVFNx8olyReVnZ8hl5txgTBlS5VbNRInj6eA51Zd-zaVdgR7h7I49ZIB78PujvjQEdgusH2Gs5cjpA_ZfLmfWyMbm09RJMxLTcGG0Bj5RTdtTKmfJgwjwra9zvpaNX/s1600-h/Homer+2009+020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365625844036643650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KIlwiwnZ0RmkAUBVFNx8olyReVnZ8hl5txgTBlS5VbNRInj6eA51Zd-zaVdgR7h7I49ZIB78PujvjQEdgusH2Gs5cjpA_ZfLmfWyMbm09RJMxLTcGG0Bj5RTdtTKmfJgwjwra9zvpaNX/s400/Homer+2009+020.JPG" border="0" /></a>very special place. Between the Visitor's Center and the Pratt Museum, you can get answers to any questions you may have about Alaska's natural resources. One interesting thing we found was that they have cameras in the wild and out at the bird rookery (the one we saw on our way to Seldovia the other day) that beam back live action continuously. On one of the screens, we watched a wolf near a running stream, trying to decide if he should cross over to the other side.<br /><br /><p>Then on Saturday, Jerry and David took an all-day charter boat out to go hal<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoKUL3a8LxSjQ0t4Qb59hyphenhyphengBqBifPrKuNGnnMxWo0InAE6_1f4EQN_pGP1BCAmiLRfHkUV0Wk58bI9BItb5ZFNtqr0DCxT_q_L0zfE46U2mYOYmUL9EV101-yhx8bOvof0jmE-wlqOYSg/s1600-h/Homer+2009+077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365630877191530834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoKUL3a8LxSjQ0t4Qb59hyphenhyphengBqBifPrKuNGnnMxWo0InAE6_1f4EQN_pGP1BCAmiLRfHkUV0Wk58bI9BItb5ZFNtqr0DCxT_q_L0zfE46U2mYOYmUL9EV101-yhx8bOvof0jmE-wlqOYSg/s400/Homer+2009+077.JPG" border="0" /></a>ibut fishing. They had to be there at 6:30 a.m. which was a bit hard for both of them to do -- but they made it on time. By 1:00 pm, everyone on the boat had<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoKUL3a8LxSjQ0t4Qb59hyphenhyphengBqBifPrKuNGnnMxWo0InAE6_1f4EQN_pGP1BCAmiLRfHkUV0Wk58bI9BItb5ZFNtqr0DCxT_q_L0zfE46U2mYOYmUL9EV101-yhx8bOvof0jmE-wlqOYSg/s1600-h/Homer+2009+077.JPG"></a> caught their limit (2 halibut per person). Guess what we will be eating for the next month? While they didn't catch th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso0zz5Dd6ca1uK39u4kocIGtHrrrqFCpyrhxhnz3S-gBOeNaD46_TyqlOqGD60ClFzA0F40HkdkVC2Dr7LeIVjzC7AVH59WOXoj4OLY0JrqsmcvK10_lfNa-FBxzU_u6Z0WzxLoovNb0j/s1600-h/Homer+2009+013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365630412029459794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 169px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso0zz5Dd6ca1uK39u4kocIGtHrrrqFCpyrhxhnz3S-gBOeNaD46_TyqlOqGD60ClFzA0F40HkdkVC2Dr7LeIVjzC7AVH59WOXoj4OLY0JrqsmcvK10_lfNa-FBxzU_u6Z0WzxLoovNb0j/s400/Homer+2009+013.JPG" border="0" /></a>e biggest halibut of the 14 persons on the boat fishing, one person on the boat did land a 145 pound halibut. But, not as big as the one we saw the other day of the guy that caught the 292.4 pound halibut. (See photo on the side.)</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365629885196335986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 437px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 352px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFHx0WY-0lhU4CX_xbY2GYJlZsogLmKozOb5OPmnSS4J5kulBV11I_2qXjo7zS4nibcA608b1IKZQz_3MxDNpbkFceKJRhnSaKVdUz0zQ9ZZs7-WzEJNUA_nD1uZie8SyZ3SbzaWeBNOl/s400/Homer+2009+023.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>Will write more about our experiences here in Homer in the next blog. Until then, have a great week!</p>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-573065394643100732009-07-28T21:15:00.001-07:002009-07-30T16:54:53.162-07:00Seldovia, AlaskaHi Again,<br /><br />On Tues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8olmHjcXeU2AqEV1cUCwXiaQrpr-wZj0SB7YMifEYDGnCjsHmyc2daOBRUnBekK79lc9UDSe86yO27t6VpWH5hrNysFNNcCZLQQfIAjt2zvIcbElCjIgyj05qIBYkIszsXFkkJV9_ISGA/s1600-h/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363745292554876402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8olmHjcXeU2AqEV1cUCwXiaQrpr-wZj0SB7YMifEYDGnCjsHmyc2daOBRUnBekK79lc9UDSe86yO27t6VpWH5hrNysFNNcCZLQQfIAjt2zvIcbElCjIgyj05qIBYkIszsXFkkJV9_ISGA/s400/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+113.JPG" border="0" /></a>day, July 28, we took a water taxi charter boat called the "Discovery" from Homer across Kachemak Bay to Seldovia. The only way to get to Seldovia is by air or water. There are no roads leading into this small town of 282 "friendly people and a few old crabs." (Actual words from the Seldovia Chamber of Commerce Welcome Flyer).<br /><br />It took almost 2-1/2 hours to get there because the folks running the charter took us past various islands, coves, and passageways to see the thousands of birds in a couple of bird rookeries and beautiful scenery along the way.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363952468801137826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOzn6Hjd6a4it8wZZHaZX6fUBtJ1M2iop0Bcr-eviFT8YJjH-ZWKhdDJrkdHgGJBhwL6tXeKoDnLDM2zRQaPkk5Srgt73nU6mlay4hBZKJTuqXew1OoMpNaVSqICk1zcTj_M7YFRzrsHq/s400/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+087.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363749850368793250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6mTqBeuu3c0NDL7WCkwRBtYyDjh2MISI6H_VXMoy_qbZMk03SvVCGU9ObF-16FkBDmOPOdjbcKDJh-k6gKffDtkgosFMZ8_gav2DNsNkBdZP2w1JAZiyFjnAUzrnCR1ZMM8srpJ0Jjbv/s400/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+025.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363763380939069282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShgMVzpE8IBAIOjd_1UBbc6Xtj3WP05pgZxr9ytGCYtf6UuvGrX9IIN-W7Go-NV64vxRxMNSHGr_QuMGqW2jpcDjR6dRr0lLy3Vt8uki8jpMwaxJ4ThS0a6bdQ6SU743n9NjxUq5Vm8Q2/s400/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+032.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363758700740277218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfC-WLypEI8w3e0nW9REjtOYHpqBTgQgTOGT5Ly0U96mqlNwqpuZAg5V5THPiHg46SjqyKRtEnoBuzny0gHqC2hHZJL0h7ZrmuZO59rOMW7q06gde3hfns7orw1WF_zQ7-5d1HsQZVqaqh/s400/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+029.JPG" border="0" /><br />Also, when w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqrdefqDJiA6in5pfswEFUrniamCGh2poj7b-1-tRYm6961Pj8diONCamZlJuu4zsJ8KuAwhQNWjg64vWRrr1pK7dDCeUtdwoFClyX1FokRIwlMXOWjza54LyIKZsMLGX73DAqANSvscA/s1600-h/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364399900059286818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqrdefqDJiA6in5pfswEFUrniamCGh2poj7b-1-tRYm6961Pj8diONCamZlJuu4zsJ8KuAwhQNWjg64vWRrr1pK7dDCeUtdwoFClyX1FokRIwlMXOWjza54LyIKZsMLGX73DAqANSvscA/s400/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+108.JPG" border="0" /></a>as the last time you saw two dozen sea otters floating on their backs and, seemingly, waving at us as the boat goes by? The weather was a bit rainy and overcast at times, actually kind of mystic, about 60 degrees temperature, and the sea was calm.<br /><br />After arriving at the port, most people looked for a place to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHa9fuZ1Dru2x9e5sRKjMBLyJQidpcgkKIMi1YQITh6EEFbtoWp8svQD_mNKmKTtKtWM_u7hx4S2heNGv5iW9myit7XYafNb7DgXosgvNzQYqSYPspW6Q1ELbhI9a-fnRnPPfjTK2jhqB/s1600-h/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364401951777542258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 253px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHa9fuZ1Dru2x9e5sRKjMBLyJQidpcgkKIMi1YQITh6EEFbtoWp8svQD_mNKmKTtKtWM_u7hx4S2heNGv5iW9myit7XYafNb7DgXosgvNzQYqSYPspW6Q1ELbhI9a-fnRnPPfjTK2jhqB/s400/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+117.JPG" border="0" /></a>eat. We found a great restaurant, with a table near the window overlooking the sea port, and had a wonderful lunch, including a salmon coconut bisque soup. Then, we walked the town (down the middle of the road because there was no traffic -- in fact, they don't even have sidewalks) and, we saw the St. Nicholas R<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTYTKGFLHcVBtWD4agw4KbxL1peTQpn79ushfJweG4MJTGq4PUjpYzKqrjabduByviXlZ1-iiifXUy24xlfEpUSgT_cr-xGI1BiAAQdJ4ke1bUSJaDrCP06zKza3JghqBYrfSwK8UFpZs/s1600-h/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364404890714893778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 252px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 156px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTYTKGFLHcVBtWD4agw4KbxL1peTQpn79ushfJweG4MJTGq4PUjpYzKqrjabduByviXlZ1-iiifXUy24xlfEpUSgT_cr-xGI1BiAAQdJ4ke1bUSJaDrCP06zKza3JghqBYrfSwK8UFpZs/s400/Selvodia,+Alaska+2009+143.JPG" border="0" /></a>ussian Orthodox Church (built in 1895), what's left of the old boardwalk after the 1964 earthquake, wood cravings located along the streets, picturesque old houses, and flowers.<br /><br />It took only 1-1/2 hours to get back to Homer. We left Homer at 11 a.m. and returned at 5:15 p.m. It was well worth the trip. If you are planning a trip to Alaska, make this a side trip - six hours of spectacular views for $45 a person.<br /></p><p>Still planning on staying here in Homer until Sunday. Dave and Dorothy arrived here today, Wednesday. Tomorrow, Dave and Jerry are going out halibut fishing (if the sea is calm). Dorothy and I plan to walk the little shops on the spit tomorrow.<br /><br />After they arrived today, Dorothy and I decided to walk into the town that is nearly 3 miles out. We left at noon and didn't get back until after 6 p.m. Except for a 30 minute sit-down to grab a bite to eat, we walked the whole time. And, Dorothy had already walked 5 miles before we did this. Both of us are very sore and should sleep well tonight!<br /><br />More to follow. </p>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-42380888401236443522009-07-26T14:55:00.000-07:002009-07-29T23:25:07.790-07:00Homer, AlaskaWe like Homer, Alaska! What more can we ask for. We are on a peninsula (the "spit"). Water all around us, mountain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUFkWUjrjOkULBLLQKNEeZtyRZvrQtxdTaCcXErAy0tKpcgy3leaKwGtXoLBB70LLNNc7ZH36Wi_iG8NS1KR6AF80xnP4E3gefyICu3L8qz1OP7JTU_7LXH6lj9U4fmxFqJHpZSnOK_tQ/s1600-h/Homer,+Alaska+2009+006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362930446001176082" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUFkWUjrjOkULBLLQKNEeZtyRZvrQtxdTaCcXErAy0tKpcgy3leaKwGtXoLBB70LLNNc7ZH36Wi_iG8NS1KR6AF80xnP4E3gefyICu3L8qz1OP7JTU_7LXH6lj9U4fmxFqJHpZSnOK_tQ/s400/Homer,+Alaska+2009+006.JPG" border="0" /></a>s with some snow dripping down them, puffy clouds hanging around the mountains, blue sky between the clouds, absolutely no noise (except for an occasional boat or airplane), a bit of a slight wind -- and our RV now faces right into all of this.<br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362933300510250818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 541px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 352px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK08pE62dlYja2izFAXC3TvTy4lvWJoq3wjOZbRmCq1gAquB2WJcLulNykK6yeGFjXv7d4Lf_iNWM1OvD-fdCNlFRU9VB269Ldonepiuaj4hnjQKgmaWnHTZRvmDMk9wrJZyiFXIUkvM-Y/s400/Homer,+Alaska+2009+001.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>We arrived in Homer on Wednesday (July 22) and stayed at a private RV park (same scenery as above) for four days until moving here today (Sunday) to the City of Homer RV Park. The difference? Better spot here and much cheaper! The negatives: no hook-ups (but they do have water and a dump on site). With our generator and inverter, we do just fine dry-docking.</div><br /><div>Yesterday, Jerry took a really small water taxi (with a few <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4qjYtTHNeo8DrTpwD5R5dd2woWhxQp2yX4ZH3yWdD2egcHE7yQ-cONAxf2w3L-L1cen88jTwlOJNFg2kpsOtYyS1BFq5EzWOj3Gms0LDxSe1bFMb3_hu7zBUblXlhW4xivrvV4cImdjh/s1600-h/Homer,+Alaska+2009+007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362935214531856850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 186px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4qjYtTHNeo8DrTpwD5R5dd2woWhxQp2yX4ZH3yWdD2egcHE7yQ-cONAxf2w3L-L1cen88jTwlOJNFg2kpsOtYyS1BFq5EzWOj3Gms0LDxSe1bFMb3_hu7zBUblXlhW4xivrvV4cImdjh/s400/Homer,+Alaska+2009+007.JPG" border="0" /></a>others) to a cove across the bay to dig for clams. I didn't go because that is just not my thing. He really got a work out! After seeing his video, it confirmed for me that I made the right decision by not going along. To top it off, it was a cold, rainy, and windy day. But, we had the most delicious, best e<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsJemh6M81rGsSfkeOAyLMXQshxbUWyLVyeB91PNyjjBOjzbqWcarNO7vFr_u7Qs8vpySPEQuWYGlxro20x4U8vFzQx39aIjni77UzWTMBpxej852k9vYLyAe-GpvQd-Xk81KToYsYJPi/s1600-h/Homer,+Alaska+2009+015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362937013075568114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 347px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsJemh6M81rGsSfkeOAyLMXQshxbUWyLVyeB91PNyjjBOjzbqWcarNO7vFr_u7Qs8vpySPEQuWYGlxro20x4U8vFzQx39aIjni77UzWTMBpxej852k9vYLyAe-GpvQd-Xk81KToYsYJPi/s400/Homer,+Alaska+2009+015.JPG" border="0" /></a>ver, clam linguini with garlic bread la<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEY8MN34KlsX78yOD5mOVlQWvFTZi_fx1Eka1_Iw9Egik1gI4BRg-eNk03rXjeZekqkcgWd2iA5n-TguBXFubNkoUAnDyNfTHPXnpTDAOWk5258c9Xmi9e_ijEQnjJO2a9QsDHRsIcYW-/s1600-h/Homer,+Alaska+2009+027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362937944318370946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEY8MN34KlsX78yOD5mOVlQWvFTZi_fx1Eka1_Iw9Egik1gI4BRg-eNk03rXjeZekqkcgWd2iA5n-TguBXFubNkoUAnDyNfTHPXnpTDAOWk5258c9Xmi9e_ijEQnjJO2a9QsDHRsIcYW-/s400/Homer,+Alaska+2009+027.JPG" border="0" /></a>st night. </div><br /><div></div><div>We are planning to stay here for the whole week, take our bikes to explore the place further and walk all the little shops again (we missed a lot of them on our first walk) and check out the down town. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1L5z6eQrJtw4fQPSQYkuUcTSdQCr1l8qcUubGpUeWXRJiCCEA81H42uLmMNyt8Uy7k4TA32BUtqlKDkwd72TlcQljm7UO6Y83U47HThnfbNg-HlOreTl5ZBZ1aPqtNkV2lILXd2t1xNC/s1600-h/Homer,+Alaska+2009+025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362942040194693714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 169px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1L5z6eQrJtw4fQPSQYkuUcTSdQCr1l8qcUubGpUeWXRJiCCEA81H42uLmMNyt8Uy7k4TA32BUtqlKDkwd72TlcQljm7UO6Y83U47HThnfbNg-HlOreTl5ZBZ1aPqtNkV2lILXd2t1xNC/s400/Homer,+Alaska+2009+025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oL0GYICPlwkwF4NVCwKXEVoG2wcHJoQOLVi58yX2pcUpH5S6IduM1VHSZhEJHKRu588uLFDLVh6o9p_vWhFNiLXm77p8oY0PnfCmIgaumv-XDo6RnxRVgjnlEx6Y7RPIJeRAgOS9qVcO/s1600-h/Homer,+Alaska+2009+020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362940493506634818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 315px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oL0GYICPlwkwF4NVCwKXEVoG2wcHJoQOLVi58yX2pcUpH5S6IduM1VHSZhEJHKRu588uLFDLVh6o9p_vWhFNiLXm77p8oY0PnfCmIgaumv-XDo6RnxRVgjnlEx6Y7RPIJeRAgOS9qVcO/s400/Homer,+Alaska+2009+020.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlCkGL0IGdU&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlCkGL0IGdU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><div>Talked to Dorothy and Dave last night. They are still in the Glenn Highway area heading towards Anchorage. Should be in this area later in the week.</div><div> </div><div>Will add more to this blog later this week. Enjoy your week!</div></div>Jerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-57982300007308908482009-07-23T15:17:00.000-07:002009-07-23T17:44:54.820-07:00Hope, AlaskaHi Everyone,<br /><br />What a find! Beautiful road leading into this s<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9wTJM3TKRc0wRKe47T0z4aJ1prXiAtIS_e4ImTnBKTJ1FBL3Z0OEnAL2nVAm4MoTuRIqUIOInk5sEM3yHbF9AChHeXCKGx9RcDA2Upmq88K_nylBiDCK_GWFLKhyphenhyphenRcXziGaY5vAm1qMt/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+017-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361811705756378162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 148px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9wTJM3TKRc0wRKe47T0z4aJ1prXiAtIS_e4ImTnBKTJ1FBL3Z0OEnAL2nVAm4MoTuRIqUIOInk5sEM3yHbF9AChHeXCKGx9RcDA2Upmq88K_nylBiDCK_GWFLKhyphenhyphenRcXziGaY5vAm1qMt/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+017-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>mall town of a few hundred people and easy access to fishing. Below are some pictures of the scenery on the way into the city of Hope. The picture on the top is pretty much the whole town.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNPecwDVx4oceDIoiZBvEOHBBTjVJbM0wxEVLlezAlth3SIdeeA6sSE7El0XI8BhErXMWmcw4x6JdRvsLJOd4NRM28Rb6y8DAFa4GBmuyKwMlNUa9j3LufxEJTsPQC1O43cJOZ-hkuxVr/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361791072717891698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 492px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNPecwDVx4oceDIoiZBvEOHBBTjVJbM0wxEVLlezAlth3SIdeeA6sSE7El0XI8BhErXMWmcw4x6JdRvsLJOd4NRM28Rb6y8DAFa4GBmuyKwMlNUa9j3LufxEJTsPQC1O43cJOZ-hkuxVr/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+020.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXpF4yh8E9JcBMskWTwP07V_GfSV8a7KQD5L2k3GO-X9B2Jq2vRJkLTksmDObhf_EgAhY3aWyf4AwciP5dGCVOeUvCi-_pGTeMyJ2EyBXmkjs1lEHhJmBAQ5rV5hI_dwfbTGyvqXhpxLH/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361790172683953602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 490px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXpF4yh8E9JcBMskWTwP07V_GfSV8a7KQD5L2k3GO-X9B2Jq2vRJkLTksmDObhf_EgAhY3aWyf4AwciP5dGCVOeUvCi-_pGTeMyJ2EyBXmkjs1lEHhJmBAQ5rV5hI_dwfbTGyvqXhpxLH/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMbXcFRRIWD-0WqLj2pX2tgb3z3nETbfch6qnP5bIOh4h5eWbEk4d6caP_de-mriCHxfUPKOhV28OZQSMRAogRya5ys3V1Y4ThDNpbTytUKMRPbe6oOZ5yfn1K3F7ekJE_hdc0SfQiXJi/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361787603861966162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 489px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMbXcFRRIWD-0WqLj2pX2tgb3z3nETbfch6qnP5bIOh4h5eWbEk4d6caP_de-mriCHxfUPKOhV28OZQSMRAogRya5ys3V1Y4ThDNpbTytUKMRPbe6oOZ5yfn1K3F7ekJE_hdc0SfQiXJi/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KlIUsayn7kORdNl5KZrPTGKDGGjqTJv8jjb1aoFU91M4z9uAEagrChvTzIBaReR5Q3RG8p0FGd6_BIS6LJB-ciWUL6RvMibDhvQUDsL6lYIiPyahXyoMh7-lX71iSTD_TFfliG-Zvp8f/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361786488638466162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 488px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KlIUsayn7kORdNl5KZrPTGKDGGjqTJv8jjb1aoFU91M4z9uAEagrChvTzIBaReR5Q3RG8p0FGd6_BIS6LJB-ciWUL6RvMibDhvQUDsL6lYIiPyahXyoMh7-lX71iSTD_TFfliG-Zvp8f/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAvCGHvhI3tLog62yIhbMjJ_9JHAUklX5rn7jFJ8DgV5iUI88kZBne7hvtzjUT3VLCP8V8qzE9CRkBRKURQFPBa50nLbdK40SMtkJ6KKow5iSy0Gxe_Wtfp_h7935XfPuICPU3x5a3fOR/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361812641851415458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAvCGHvhI3tLog62yIhbMjJ_9JHAUklX5rn7jFJ8DgV5iUI88kZBne7hvtzjUT3VLCP8V8qzE9CRkBRKURQFPBa50nLbdK40SMtkJ6KKow5iSy0Gxe_Wtfp_h7935XfPuICPU3x5a3fOR/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+032.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We parked with the back of the RV towards the river. So, all we had to do was walk a hundred feet or so to the river.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3eg0WexK9RaFv0RZuuY2gY9UkdsdGxAkK8HsJH7vupkCyS-OJt_wu9W0BEsXS4BRRIfExzeeZft0O09kfd3wOwUQkGC2ujgTSZl0uc5BWATTzOFXMARE8hDLSisylvaLizTXcaRSayBt/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361813715699745154" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3eg0WexK9RaFv0RZuuY2gY9UkdsdGxAkK8HsJH7vupkCyS-OJt_wu9W0BEsXS4BRRIfExzeeZft0O09kfd3wOwUQkGC2ujgTSZl0uc5BWATTzOFXMARE8hDLSisylvaLizTXcaRSayBt/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+038.JPG" border="0" /></a>Jerry, after a bit of a learning curve, caught two pink salmon. There is something special about eating the salmon that you caught yourself and served on my birthday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS03kGEeQvXI-BbJplFQmD_F7vVcUdcs7B4aftvMTB6zm84No37KmKYbquv94Wb0sBBZfM1fn-Egf8kYF4dVk-rg4vKhKNWGP1SWNVnk5jHA5q2ThMmCGFsc_GQDQZnffKpfP688-HpR9m/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361814515589589714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS03kGEeQvXI-BbJplFQmD_F7vVcUdcs7B4aftvMTB6zm84No37KmKYbquv94Wb0sBBZfM1fn-Egf8kYF4dVk-rg4vKhKNWGP1SWNVnk5jHA5q2ThMmCGFsc_GQDQZnffKpfP688-HpR9m/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXHfyHoPas2FlGXPjD_pRphfn8NGjXWPecqHbDybfKvykXTzuxBGITlGOKE71u6czxetlnjNJ_ZcLNenFbb7rI_VIr6wMZzfk9XojelnAscasCQYjbYDLyqq9AdizEvdN7kCs_ytt36AW/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361817070431630706" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXHfyHoPas2FlGXPjD_pRphfn8NGjXWPecqHbDybfKvykXTzuxBGITlGOKE71u6czxetlnjNJ_ZcLNenFbb7rI_VIr6wMZzfk9XojelnAscasCQYjbYDLyqq9AdizEvdN7kCs_ytt36AW/s400/Hope,+Alaska++2009+007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZu-WqYra5bVqrA4I7rqiRhjqmdGes_aZIC4BaV4AmFqGeO4E7H3p7yumD7_CyPlVlrGMnmgKOYZ65NGGyJlS8NB3JNkPtnpOLq3kUpDgb2W8qz4wMW82vGcgQ6lHHd7tfxEWmM0-_x8NA/s1600-h/Hope,+Alaska++2009+007.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The weather report for the whole Kenai peninsula shows rain. But, that doesn't always mean a thing because more than half of the time the report is wrong. It did rain a bit in Hope, though, and one night we had very high winds that rocked the RV all night long. Put me to sleep and kept Jerry awake!<br /><br />We've moved on to Homer and will tell you more about Homer in the next posting.<br /><br />Until next time, enjoy the life you love. And, thank you to those who emailed or called me on my birthday yesterday.<br /><br />Jerry and MaryJerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439581763182102928.post-13205886567701060912009-07-18T17:43:00.000-07:002009-07-18T23:01:33.645-07:00Wasilla, Alaska - Home of the Iditarod Trail HeadquartersWell, today we learned more about the famous Alaskan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Iditarod</span> at its Headquarters here in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wasilla</span>. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Iditarod</span> Trail sled dog race takes place every March and represents the ultimate <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDU30xK0Zy4U1xiwpg9X0T0wIWvsaI45HTHc89Lf-jkScEWw9DUoHxYHfEVwjeQM3t5bEkllS1YKdhTGK6O-KqHjYzs8B049wV72d-nYQXKiaW4A9vTnXX8psXmpPCtnulv4V1CzIQIoLX/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359993093928995954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 164px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDU30xK0Zy4U1xiwpg9X0T0wIWvsaI45HTHc89Lf-jkScEWw9DUoHxYHfEVwjeQM3t5bEkllS1YKdhTGK6O-KqHjYzs8B049wV72d-nYQXKiaW4A9vTnXX8psXmpPCtnulv4V1CzIQIoLX/s400/036.JPG" border="0" /></a>challenge in outdoor adventure. For the 70 or more brave souls (ranging in age from 18-69 this year) who start the trip, it is a human and animal trial of unimaginable weather and terrain conditions from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, a journey of over 1,049 miles. Each person,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkI9cPPqGnUa1pyK5qpiJQ1l6tvEmzpogZBDSetK3fnPk1LmEUIvYu7R5GGDrl7bgPvUZpZzZmjngcmMPKiWA5p1FMwEYZBawZnZr5qv-Id9Dv3I5F17nUf5TCXXyCog4ta8zMM-USVuf7/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359999418916879586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkI9cPPqGnUa1pyK5qpiJQ1l6tvEmzpogZBDSetK3fnPk1LmEUIvYu7R5GGDrl7bgPvUZpZzZmjngcmMPKiWA5p1FMwEYZBawZnZr5qv-Id9Dv3I5F17nUf5TCXXyCog4ta8zMM-USVuf7/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /></a> in their own way, bonds with their dogs and with nature. It certainly takes courage, stamina, endurance, skill and a little luck. One woman has done it 30 times and has come in the top 10 for the last 20 years. This year was the 37<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> running of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Iditarod</span>.<br /><br />At the Headquarters, we saw the puppies that will later <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bec</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5k-jQqq2tALUnBFbS9y-JhOsB-twyw2H6_TXpOHerXaoD5ipAiCQJJxuiMtZyjnwjX9_KKdnd6hjBxEgdIFcOjD59TKI5nx8ePMCLlO_mfRIPjfRFwLRRKfCKtdb3YP1_m0ESNIOYXvS/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360003601283930530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5k-jQqq2tALUnBFbS9y-JhOsB-twyw2H6_TXpOHerXaoD5ipAiCQJJxuiMtZyjnwjX9_KKdnd6hjBxEgdIFcOjD59TKI5nx8ePMCLlO_mfRIPjfRFwLRRKfCKtdb3YP1_m0ESNIOYXvS/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ome</span> sledding dogs. We also had a chance to experience a ride pulled by actual musher dogs. Picture on the right is Jerry taking a ride and video-taping it. See Jerry's video and pictures below and on the side. (If you double-click on any of the pictures in the written blog, they will enlarge on your screen.)<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/H80HaKot7Tc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/H80HaKot7Tc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />The weather forecast has called for rain for the last three days and into the coming days. However, it hasn't rained during the day, just at night. The temperature is about 68-70 degree<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj865jp0N6nbi0GFXyPez1O7PtgeyplMiPj_NSESk-4y7ulgsDdnw3fhkkXRdZpotAQEsYEytyx-nBgY_22E_dwQfBt_zeDTGDc-TyTWSVceU5slSZyaDJTmoZmCMYAKYHyVKvyj24hdqIM/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360043095997391490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj865jp0N6nbi0GFXyPez1O7PtgeyplMiPj_NSESk-4y7ulgsDdnw3fhkkXRdZpotAQEsYEytyx-nBgY_22E_dwQfBt_zeDTGDc-TyTWSVceU5slSZyaDJTmoZmCMYAKYHyVKvyj24hdqIM/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></a>s. Perfect for biking, which we did to get to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Iditarod</span> Headquarters, and yesterday, to bike into town for our usual Subway sandwich. Jerry brought back wood for burning at night and we have eaten all of our meals outside -- cooked on the grill by Jerry. (For those of you out there that do not know this by now, I don't cook. Jerry makes all of the meals. Can't beat that! And he loves to cook!!!)<br /><br />Tomorrow we move on to somewhere else. We will figure out where that is tomorrow. After dry camping for four or five days, we like to go to a place that has full hook-ups.<br /><br />Until next time, take the time to enjoy your life.<br /><br />Jerry and MaryJerry and Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339490346676830251noreply@blogger.com2