Friends and Family

Hi, Again I downloaded the pictures backwards. This picture was taken at Jack's father's favorite restaurant, the Claim Jumper in Scottsdale. I'm holding my grand nephew, Jacob (5 1/2 months), our Niece, Erika with our grand niece, Katelyn (5 years old and just started K), Jack's brother George and Jack. Along with our nephew, Casey and Erika's husband Erin, we climbed up the Phoenix Mountains Park & Rec Area and scattered Jack's parent's ashes, along with some of Jes's. It was a long climb up that overlooked Scottsdale and Phoenix but it was where John wanted to be scattered with Aggie. This area will never be developed so it's comforting to know their ashes will never be disturbed. We brought flowers and read a poem. Ending the evening at the restaurant was a wonderful way of remembering them.
Here our friends Mandy and Ryan. He had just come home in his Navy uniform and he is studying to be a PA. We had a great Mexican dinner with them and watched a beautiful sunset with Seals on the beach. It was great seeing them. We also had dinner with Norm the night before. It was great to see him in his hometown. We will see him again at Fantasy Fest.
We spent 3 days in San Francisco. We took a double decker bus tour of SF, walked up to Coit Tower, a boat tour that went under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz and a 4 hour Safari-like bus tour of SF and a tour of Alcatraz. We are at the top of Twin peaks and can see from the Golden Gate Bridge to Oakland. Berkeley is just above our head.
We are on our way home and we are in Van Horn, Texas. We are headed for Austin, TX and then New Orleanes. We have just been on the go and having a great time. Again, this country is BIG and there is so much to see. Should be home for Poker Run. Later, Love Gail

We are back in the USA

Hi, We finished up with the caravan on the 19th in Prince George, BC. Spent the night in Cache Creek, BC. We had dinner with our tour guides, George and Ceal at a weird Chinese Restaurant. It was great spending the evening with them on our last night in Canada.
The next day we were in Castle Rock, WA about 47 miles from Mt. St. Helen. We visited the first visitor center built after the eruption of the volcano on May 18th, 1981. It was clear so we did got to see the south side. It was the north side that did all the demage.
I have always wanted to find the house my Mother grew up in Portland, OR. With help from my Brother, Mark, we found my Greatgrand parent's farm in Warren, OR and the back field where Mark shattered my Mother's ashes. We got lost in Portland and ended right at the corner of my Mother's house. Picutre above. Someone is renovating it but I feel so great that I got to see it.
That night we were in Lincoln City, OR at a Casino overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Fun night!


We drove down the coast to CA to the Redwood National Parks. This is the "Drive Thru the Tree" park. Not big enough for our Rig. Just thought it was fun to take this picture.

This is Mendocino, CA on the coast and hasn't changed much in the last hundred years. Cute shops and restaurant but fun to walk around and do the Cliffwalk. This had been under Fog a half hour before. While we were having lunch the Fog rolled back in.

Met up with an old friend, Tony in Santa Rosa, after visiting a few Vineyards and Winerys in Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

Jack and I are now in San Francisco and will blog soon. We are here till Sunday and have walked about 10 miles, took a Trolley tour and a Boat ride under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. Tomorrow we will sail and tour Alcatraz. New Pictures soon. Love Gail

Funky towns in AK and YK

Hi, We thought it would be fun to show you some funky little towns up here in God's country. This is Hyder, Ak and the sign above Jack reads "Leaving Hyder, the Friendiest ghost town in Alaska". Right behind him is the border crossing and our campground was about 2 miles down the road in Stewart, BC. Hyder is where I took the pictures of the twin Grizzlys and Salmon Glacier.

I turned around and took this picture of downtown Hyder. Only 2 stores, 1 Pizza shop and 1 Motel. Everything else was closed or out of business.

This is in Dawson City, YK and all the streets are dirt and the sideways are boardwalks build above the streets. There is no drainage system so when it rains, the water just sits and slowly
softens the ground. Due to Permafrost, the ground sifts and sinks. These buildings are called the "Sisters" and will eventually fall into each other. In 1898 the population was 30,000 because of the Yukon Gold Rush. Today there are about 1900 residents. A lot leave in the winter to warmer climates. The town is about as big as Old Town Key West, about 1 by 3 miles.

This is Barrow, Alaska. Not much here. Dirt, dust, junk (cars, ATVs, snowmobiles), no trees, no grass and houses are unpainted Plywood and 50 year old Trailers. They do have a Mexican Restaurant! There is no road until the Artic Ocean freezes and then you can come and go via ice to Deadhorse. The only thing that saves this town is Alcohol is prohibited.

We left Tok, Ak and drove uphill on a dirt road in smokey, foggy and misty weather. It took 2 hours to arrive in Chicken, Alaska. They have a gift shop, Saloon and Cafe, all run by 3 women. They drive up every day from Tok and they said this was the worst weather they have seen yet. Someone ordered a Bloody Mary and the girl didn't know how to make one, plus they couldn't find Tomato Juice. Early miners wanted to name the town after the state bird, Ptarmigan. Unable to spell or pronounce Ptarmigan, they named it Chicken. The 2 birds look alike.
We drove another another 3 hours to the "Top of the World" but couldn't see anything until we got to Dawson City.

Back in the states and will be in Portland tomorrow. Later, Love Gail

Hyder, Ak, with Grizzlys and Salmon Glacier

Hi, This is Hyder, Ak where they have builded a bridge over Fish Creek and can watch bears catch salmons and wrestles with each other. While Jack took a side trip to Salmon Glacier, I got to watch these 4 year old twin Grizzlys play, catch fish and wrestle for about 2 hours.

Still figuring blogging, so you are getting the twins twice.

This is Salmon Glacier, one of the largest glacier in the southeastern part of Alaska.

Our friend, Marilyn took this picture of Jack in front of Salmon Glaicer.

This is our last night of the caravan and we had a nice dinner at the Keg Restaurant in Prince George, BC. We have made a lot of friends and will miss being a part of a traveling group. We are on our own tomorrow and heading for Portland, where my mother was born.

Now we have to make our own plans and make it back to Key West. More blogs to come.

Love Gail

Dawson City, YK to Watson Lake, YK

Hi, This is Joel, go to www.sourtoecocktailclub.com . We are now members!

This is at the top of Dome Road overlooking Dawson City, Yukon. It's where the Yukon and Klondike Rivers come together. That why there are 2 colors to the river. The cut in the hill past the river is the road we came in on, then took a small ferry to Dawson City. It's the dustiest town we have ever seen. All the streets are dirt.

I'm panning for gold with George's help. I'm in the Bonanza River where the Klondike Gold Rush started in 1896. One of the largest gold field in the world and they are still looking for it. We got about 8 flakes. This spot is open to the public for free and is not claimed. If you pan on claimed land they can shoot you.

This is a DC-3 fully restored and on permanent display at the Whitehorse International Airport. It's a weathervane that pivots on its mount and always points into the wind.
The Yukon Transportation Museum next door is one of the best museums we have visited. All about the Gold Rush, Airplanes and the building of the Alaskan Highway.

We are back in Watson Lake and tomorrow we will leave the Alaskan Highway heading for Iskut, BC on the Cassiar Highway to Steward, BC and Hyder, AK. George has been rating our Drives on a scale 0f 1 to 10. He says between Steward and Hyder is a 10. We have 6 days left with the caravan and will head towards Seattle. We are having a cookout with the group tonight. We have made a lot of new friends.

Hopefully we will have WiFi at the next couple of Campgrounds. Our cell phones don't work at all in Canada.

This the Yukon River. We took a boat tour on the M.V. Schwatka past that bridge. Part of the river has rapids so it was a little thrilling.

Thanks for the emails. Love Gail

Fairbanks and Barrow

Hi, We have 10 minutes to do this blog. This is showing you how they cut up the blokes of ice for an ice competition in Fairbanks.

Jack standing under Whales Bones at the Artic Ocean.

Welcome sign to Barrow, AK, with Whale Bones. It's the northernmost point in the USA. Air temp. 39 degrees and foggy and water temp was 35.

Jack standing under the Alaskan Pipeline by the Tanana River outside of Fairbanks, on the way to Tok, AK.

Downtown Chicken, Alaska. Gift shop, Liquor store and Cafe. Overpriced but cool. Last town in AK before entering back into the Yukon. Road to Dawson City mostly dirt and straight down mountains (on my side). Here for 3 days and will blog again soon. Phone service bad so email if you want.Love Gail

Mount McKinley

Hi, Since we last wrote we have traveled from Seward to Fairbanks. Wifi service is hit or miss. When we were in Seward, the town flooded so we missed the city tour. We did go on the "Star of the Northwest" for a four hour tour thru the Kenai Fjords. It was by far the worst cruise because of rain and high swells. We did see Sea Lions, Puffins and one person saw a whale. Our side trip to Whiittier was the best water tour. We did enjoy a Halibut Fish Fry cooked by our tour guide, George. The Best!
The road you are looking at is the road we drove on a bus tour thru Denali National Park to view Mt. McKinley. It's 20,320 feet, the tallest peak in the world from sea level. About 20% of people on this tour get to see the whole mountain. We so lucked out when the clouds opened up. An amazing view! The road scared the bageebas out of me. We saw Moose, Hares, Bears, Dall Sheep, a Fox, a Golden ealge, Bald Eagles and a Grizzly Bear walk out in front of our bus and crossed the road.

The next day we took a side trip and did an ATV tour thru the hills and dry river beds in Healy. About 20 miles from the bus about the book "Into The Wild", where that young man died. The bus is still there.

We had dinner last night at the North Pole, AK. This morning we visited the Ice Museum in Fairbanks, unbelievable ice sculptures in 20 degree rooms. Haven't been that cold in 7 years. What talent! We also visited the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum Of The North and the Georgeson Botanical Gardens. Tomorrow we are panning for Gold.

Wednesday Jack is taking a 3 hour flight to Barrow. Northernmost point in the USA.

I'll try and download more pictures next time. Having a blast and can't believe how big this country is. Love Gail