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

A better Glacier tour with Jack

Hi, We are in Seward, AK, it's the worst weather we have had so far. This is a Puffin at the local Aquarium but we have seen them on our Glacier tours.

Took this picture in a shop in Homer. The farthest western point you can drive in the continental USA. Its like KW, Outer Banks and Martha' Vineyard.

This is the color emitted from Icebergs.

The smokey part at the bottom of the glacier is ice falling off the side of the glacier, which is called calving. It's so cool to watch and doesn't happen that often.

Tomorrow we are taking a tour of Seward, then another cruise to see wildlife. Hopefully we will see Whales, Otters, Puffins and more.
After this we are still heading north and its cold!

Love Jack and Gail

Colombia Glacier Cruise and Anchorage

Hi, I'm on a cruise from Valdez in Prince William Sound (remember the Exxon Valdez oil spill) to the Columbia and Meares Glaciers. The trip was going to be about 9 hours. Our tour guides said it's always great weather but it wasn't this year. Jack decided to stay on land, which was a good thing. We spent about a hour in rough water on our way out to Columbia Glacier. This is one of the first Icebergs I've ever seen with Sea Lions on it. The Captain cut the trip short and we made it about nine miles from the Columbia because of the Iceberg flows and he couldn't find an opening.

Thats the Iceberg flow in the background. I haven't been this cold in 7 years but it was so cool!!!

To the left of my head, way back in the distance is Columbia Glacier. We had to navigate between the Icebergs and big Ice chunks. I got to hold a piece weighting about 10 pounds. Going back to Valdez we hit some more rough seas. By this time everyone on the caravan said it was a good thing Jack stayed on land. I really had a wonderful time and saw Otters, Sea Lions, Whales, Dolphins, Bald Eagles and other birds including Puffins.

On our way to Anchorage, via a stopover at Mendeltna Lodge Campground (in the middle of nowhere but a cool lodge and great pizza), we stopped at a Musk Ox farm. They comb the Ox for their hair and native american women weave scarves, sweaters and hats. This is an 11 week old Musk Ox named Storm. When he wasn't eating the grass, he was trying to eat anyone's shoes laces he came close to.

After a tour of downtown Anchorage, which has about 300,000 residents we took a tour bus to the Alaska Wlidlife Conservation Center about 50 miles south of Anchorage, near Portage. It's a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's injured and orphaned animals. Most cannot be released back into the wild and live at the center for the rest of their lives. Now we have seen about 6 Moose and this one was the friendliest. It didn't hurt that there the fence was between us. There were Bears, Elks, Musk Ox, Reindeer and baby Moose.

Tomorrow is a free day in Anchorage but we are pulling away from the pack and going to Whittier so Jack and I can go on another Glacier Cruise, where the waters are calmer. It's is 8:17 pm, the sun had finally come out after about 5 days, so hopefully we will have a little sun on the western side of Prince William Sound. We will be in Homer on Sunday. It's as far west one can drive on the American continent.

Happy Birthday, Kelly.

Later, Love Gail

Almost 360 degrees of Valdez, AK

Hi, The weather is pretty foggy and raining most of the time but it's still beautiful. We walked up to this lookout and could see all of Valdez. Looking forward to the Glacier cruise tomorrow.

Love Gail

Skagway to Valdez

Hi, We were so happy the weather was beautiful coming down the mountains into Skagway and when we left on Thursday, the 16th it was so foggy, it wan't that scary climbing back up those hills. We drove about 100 miles to Whitehorse, a stop at Walmart and saw the "Frantic Follies Vaudeville Revue". The next day was a 264 mile drive to Destruction Bay, YK. If you blinked you missed it. It was a construction camp during the building of the Alcan Highway in 1942. Now it has a population of 37 and 86 dogs. It's next to Kluane Lake (biggest lake in the Yukon), has one store, one gas station and a small cafe with a campground. We met a delightful man named Lauren , who owns the cafe and campground. He had quite a few stories of his life up there in the wintertime. This last winter he had 6 weeks where the temp. never got above -40 below 0 and darkness for 3 months. The lake froze 8 feet down and it finally melted June 16th. He made dinner for the caravan. BBQ and the best Potato Salad we have ever had. Even Jack had 2 servings! Lauren also entertained us with his singing and Guitar playing with a couple of locals. Lauren is in the middle and that's his dog, Shady. Horsetail Falls above Valdez

After leaving Des. Bay we drove 264 miles to Tok, AK, another camp for the building of the Alcan Highway. Its actual name of the settlement was 'Tokyo Camp" but was shorten after the Japanese attacked Alaska during WW11. Now its a stop over for campers and RVs.
Today we drove another 265 miles to Valdez. A drive 2700 feet up the mountains, over Thompson Pass, then a drive down to sea level. Weather was foggy and rainy. We stopped at the Worthington Glacier, Bridal Falls and Horsetail Falls. It has been raining ever since we got to the campground. The whole city is surrounded by mountains and glaciers. Hopefully we will see them tomorrow. On Tuesday we are taking a 9 hour cruise thru Prince William Sound to see Columbia and Meares Glaciers. I think Jack is going. We'll see.
Thanks for the comments and emails. Love Gail

Skagway, the Cruiseship Capitol of AK

Hi, We are in Skagway, Alaska and it's like being in Key West during season but wearing long pants and coats. Just today there are 6 Cruise ships in town, yesterday there were 5. Broadway St. is their Duval St. The streets are packed during the day, by 8:00 there's no one on the street and not one car. The town has almost the same shops as KW, except the Tee Shirt shops are beter hidden. Our high speed boat to Juneau to see 2 Glaciers was cancelled, so they offered a hour tour over a Glacier in a 4 seater single prop plane. Jack went with the camera and said it was the best experience he ever had. The wind on the ground was about 25 to 30 miles but once up he said it was very smooth. He saw Killer Whales and a couple of Mountain Goats. He took a lot of photos and it's hard to delete any of them. White Pass & Yukon Route Railway

Can you see the line and bridges about two thirds up. We are in the first car of the train and headed for that route. It's a 3 hour trip, about 20 miles to the White Pass Summit at 2865 feet (we started at sea level). Up there they unhook the engine, switch tracks and connect it to the last car up the mountains. So going down the mountains we are now in the last car. Jack and I spent the whole time outside and we had a blast. One side of the tracks is mountains straight up and the other side is straight down hill, crossing some bridges over rivers and waterfalls. We also went thru 2 Tunnel which were pitch black.
We are having a great time and enjoying the people we are traveling with. Tomorrow we will be in Whitehorse, Yukon to see a Follies show. It is the Gold Rush country.
Thanks for the comments, would love to get more. Love Gail

Finally in the Yukon, getting close

Hi, Everyone on the Caravan signed their names on the white sign above me and nailed it up at Signpost Forest in Watson Lake, Yukon. There are over 60 thousand, plus signs that people put up over the years since 1942.

At our campsite last night, about 50 Buffaloos and 6 Calves just wandered in while we were having a cookout. Very docile animals, thank God. Except when Jack got between a Calf and his Mom. He had to climb up a ladder to a top of a gas tank, 8 feet in the air before she would of charged him. I couldn't figure out where he went because he was up there for about 20 minutes. Until the Leader of the pack got the Calf up and moved him down the road.

50 or so Buffaloos GO where ever they feel like and this poor motorcyclist drove thru the parking lot and dumped his bike. You can figure out the rest.

This Mom and her babe checked in just before us!

Beautiful country and we have seen 9 Bears, 4 Moose, 1 Caribou, 1 Bald Eagle, LOTS of Buffaloos and a family of Ducks.

The people on the Caravan are very nice and seems to be a good group.

Should have internet tomorrow in Teslin, Yukon and will post more pictures. We have been briefed on the up coming Train ride on the side of a mountain and Catamaran trip to a Glacier
in the next few days outside Skagway, Alaska. Should be very thrilling!
Would love to hear from you, just click on Comment and at the bottom type in a message. Thanks for ones we have gotten. Love Gail

Begginning of Alcan Highway Trip

Hi, This is the group shot in our matching blue windbreakers at the beginning of the Alaskian Highway. Jack and I are in front and center. Everyone seems very nice and we had dinner at the George Dawson Inn to get to know each other.

Today we started the trip. 300 miles to Fort Nelson, BC. Saw this mama Bear with 2 cubs, 2 other Black Bears and a Moose. Got our first chip in the windsheild. Most windsheilds up here are cracked. Finally seeing Mosquitos and we are outside to get this done. So will write later. Laird Hot Springs, BC tomorrow. Love Gail