Gulf Shores Adventure

New winter home, no snow blower or lawn mower needed

New winter home, no snow blower or lawn mower needed

Here we are in Gulf Shores with the goal of escaping Michigan winters. We found this rather cool townhouse that needs just a little TLC at least that was the first take.

Before pictures…

Ok, now what

Ok, now what?

Looks ok, do you really think we should paint it!

Looks ok, do you really think we should paint it!

How do you paint something that high

How do you paint something that high?

Interesting space

Interesting space

What is the old saying…no pain no gain!

Again, whose idea was this

Again, whose idea was this

Some folks get to have all the fun

Some folks get to have all the fun

The painting seemed to go on forever

The painting seemed to go on forever…25 gallons and counting

Wish this ladder was a few inches longer

Wish this ladder was a few inches longer

This renovation was all about ladders

This renovation was all about ladders

This ladder fits almost everywhere

This ladder fits almost everywhere

The control center...seems a bit disorganized

The control center…seems a bit disorganized

Looking better?

Looking better?

At least there is one place to sit down

At least there is one place to sit down

Potential?

Potential?

Glad we did not do this ourselves

Glad we did not do this ourselves

Nice view from a distance

Nice view from a distance

Detailed work

Detailed work…62 pieces and counting

Trying to add a bit of class?

Trying to add a bit of class?

It is good when a project comes to an end…

Breakfast?

Breakfast anyone

Finally a work space...

Finally a work space…

Ready for visitor's from the north

Ready for visitor’s from the north

Electric fireplace, who would have thought...

Electric fireplace, who would have thought…

The is ok from here

The view is ok from here

It is starting to feel like home

It is starting to feel like home

Finally a real place to sit down

Finally a real place to sit down

Yes, it was worth all the effort.

It all comes together

It all comes together, finally

Summer in Traverse City 2014

Fall cometh...

Fall cometh…

The first signs of fall are here already. The geese are starting their southerly migration. It is clearly a sign for the Traverse City Snyders to follow their lead.

TC Sunset

TC Sunset

West Bay sunrise

West Bay sunrise

Summer diversion

Summer diversion

South patio view

South patio view

Yard photo op

Yard photo op

Patio view

Patio view

West Bay view from the patio

West Bay view from the patio

Color in the shade...

Color in the shade…

We started the summer being a little dubious about spending a summer in one place. Now as summer comes to close, we find that it was ok. Being home worked plus the Traverse City area has so much to offer. With our morning coffee we enjoy seeing the ever-changing sunrises plus it is always interesting to watch the weather over the Bay. We were blessed with good weather this year, just a little on the cool side. The AC was only used one day, mainly to see if it still worked. The yard and flowers exceeded our expectations with a little work and some TLC. Breakfast on the deck and dinner on the patio were all easy to take.

Hard way to get a view

Hard way to get a view

DYI Replaced fence

DYI Replaced fence

Has it been five years already?

Has it been five years already?

That being said not all was fun and games, well at least for us wanders. Being on the road for several summers found lots of things that needed to be shored up to meet current expectations. It is now clear to us why folks who travel do not have a house. But we found getting your hands dirty still has its rewards, at least once completed. The two big projects were replacing the rail fence and painting the house…glad that is over! The RV got a good cleaning from top to bottom so it is now ready to go.

Uncle Larry at the Glen Lake overview

Uncle Larry at the Glen Lake overview

Larry and Jan downtown Glen Haven

Larry and Jan downtown Glen Haven

Jan and I were pleased that (Uncle) Larry was able to visit us. We had a good time touring the region and just enjoying time together. The plan is to catch up with him on our way south at the end of October. It has been cool to reconnect with Aunt Laura along with David and Ileana.

Drexel University downtown Philly

Drexel University downtown Philly

Dr Paul

Dr Paul

Family Drexel celebration

Drexel celebration

A highlight of the summer was heading to the east coast attending son’s Paul’s PHD graduation from Drexel. He had worked hard and long to make this happen. Jan and I were pleased and proud to be there for the ceremony and celebration.

Breakfast with Mark

Breakfast with Mark

Karl, Mark and Larry having lunch in Herald Square, NYC

Karl, Mark and Larry having lunch in Herald Square, NYC

Downingtown bridge near downtown

Downingtown bridge near downtown

Jan and Paul Longwood Gardens

Jan and Paul Longwood Gardens

Longwood impressive fountains

Longwood impressive fountains

Longwood diversity

Longwood diversity

Longwood Planetarium

Longwood Planetarium

Longwood tower and moat

Longwood tower and moat

Longwood Garden is huge

Longwood Garden is huge

Paul at the Rough and Tumble grounds

Paul at the Rough and Tumble grounds

Rough and Tumble grounds...all kinds of equipment from the past

Rough and Tumble grounds…all kinds of equipment from the past

George Washington from the River Walk

George Washington from the River Walk

Highland Park NYC

Highline Park NYC

Highland Park NYC

Highline Park NYC

Central Park in June

Central Park in June

Central Park has lots of people on the east side

Central Park has lots of people on the east side

It is always good to see sons (Paul, Karl and Mark) which translates to trips to Downingtown, PA and NYC. We spent two weeks catching up and seeing the sights. We can always expect a full itinerary for our visit. This time was no exception. We did so much and here are some of the highlights. Longwood Gardens is always impressive for us and it is highly recommended as a must do if you have the chance. A new experience was the Rough and Tumble, an old equipment show grounds. Its depth and breadth of old equipment is outstanding and we will go back again. We have been going to NYC for ten years and it is still stimulating. The river walk along the Hudson is spectacular with so much to see. A newer favorite stop is the Highline Park which continues to grow and improve. It is always easy to spend an afternoon in Central Park. We will be back next year and are already working on the itinerary!

Never get tired of our walks along the Bay!

Never get tired of our walks along the Bay!

Vibrant downtown Traverse City

Vibrant downtown Traverse City

TC Market (our backyard garden)

TC Market (our backyard garden)

Cool Microbrewery

Cool Microbrewery

Fun Microbrewery

Fun Microbrewery

One of the recurring themes from our road travel is there is never enough time. This really held true for the summer as well. We found we were planning at least two weeks out most of the time. A favorite pastime was walking along the Bay…the views are additive. There is always something happening in downtown TC. It is a fun place to be. The area now boasts over 10 microbreweries. Time was devoted to check them out! Being on the road we missed our hometown farm market. It was good to be back on home ground.

Home away from home

Home away from home

Plenty of options here and on the road

Plenty of options here and on the road

The Little Traverse Wheelway near Petoskey

The Little Traverse Wheelway near Petoskey

What is this about ducks in a row?

What is this about ducks in a row?

One of the summer goals for both of us was to shape up. We determined now that we are retired, job one is to stay ahead of the aging process. Jan has made great headway on eating healthy. Both of us spent a lot of time just being out there walking, biking and working out. Several years back I joined Anytime Fitness which is working great. Most weeks I spend over 10 hours there doing “my” thing. Interestingly, now we not only look for a RV site but does the local area also have an Anytime Fitness Center.

Love spending time at the Sleeping Bear National Park

Love spending time at the Sleeping Bear National Park

Favorite spot off the Treat Trail...

Favorite spot off the Treat Trail…

Lake Michigan light house

Lake Michigan light house

Still trucking!

Still trucking!

Little Traverse Bay at twilight

Little Traverse Bay at twilight

Sunset over Little Traverse Bay Petoskey

Sunset over Little Traverse Bay Petoskey

Great adventure can be found in the Bear Creek Valley Recreation Area

Great adventure can be found in the Bear Creek Valley Recreation Area

Bear River - Petoskey

Bear River – Petoskey

Legs Inn at Cross Village

Legs Inn at Cross Village

Ithaca - Just in Time Campground

Ithaca – Just in Time Campground

Sunset Ithaca Michigan...

Sunset Ithaca Michigan…

Camp Fire...Bay City State Park

Camp Fire…Bay City State Park

Bay City State Parks...folks on the next site for the annual Harvest Festival

Bay City State Parks…folks on the next site for the annual Harvest Festival

The Sleeping Bear National Park keeps calling us back. We visited several times this summer…there are always pictures. Unfortunately there were only two trips with the RV. Trip one to Petoskey right after Labor Day. We spent a week there biking, hiking and enjoying the area. We now love Petoskey maybe even a little better than TC. Trip two was to Ithaca and Bay City. We used Ithaca as a base to do some cemetery sleuthing for the ongoing family genealogy project plus a visit to see Jan’s sister in Breckenridge. After Breckenridge was the Bay City State Park. There we caught up with all my siblings for dinner except Duane who lives in Colorado. An added bonus was spending a day in Frankenmuth and making a road trip up the sunrise side of the State.

Anyone for a chicken dinner?

Anyone for a chicken dinner?

Frankenmuth...Cass River

Frankenmuth…Cass River

River tour

River tour

Frankenmuth downtown

Frankenmuth downtown

Oneida Days at Sleeping Bear

Oneida Days at Sleeping Bear

The Tillers International Society brings back life activities from the past

The Tillers International Society brings back life from the past

Jan gets a music lesson

Jan gets a music lesson

Buckley Old Engine Show train ride Opportunity

Buckley Old Engine Show train ride opportunity

Just like the one at Grandpa Snyder's farm

Just like the one at Grandpa Snyder’s farm

Wow, this brings back memories of my days on the farm

Wow, this brings back memories of my days on the farm

Tall Ships come to Traverse City

Tall Ships come to Traverse City

4th of July...official kick off for the Cherry Festival

4th of July…official kick off for the Cherry Festival

Blue Angels always impress

Blue Angels always impress

Heritage Day in Leeland

Heritage Day in Leland

Remembering Post World War II cars...Dad had a black sedan

Remembering Post World War II cars…Dad had a black sedan

Dad had a 50 Chevy with the first automatic transmission...his was a black sedan

Dad had a 50 Chevy with the first automatic transmission…his was a black sedan

Our 55 was green...

Our 55 was green…

Leelanau Uncaged in Northport...second annual festival right on M22 (main street)

Leelanau Uncaged in Northport…second annual festival right on M22 (main street)

Northport landmark

Northport landmark

Northport M22

Northport M22

If you come to Traverse City, you can always find a festival celebration somewhere. We attended so many this summer it is hard to remember them all. A first time event was attending the Michigan Gulf Shores Club picnic held here at our township park. We even made the committee to help with the event next year.

Here we are ending our summer stay in Michigan

Here we are ending our summer stay in Michigan

All things have their season. Summer is ending and winter is now closer than you think. Our thoughts here now turn to our new life in Gulf Shores. This is another chapter in our retirement journey ever changing life-style. We both are looking forward to the challenge of another renovation project and setting up a winter hangout where there is no snow. By the way, the plan is to have all the renovations done by Christmas. We can hear the beaches and bike trails calling us!

Check out the link to Jan’s Journal

Next - Gulf Shores - Small Town - Big Beach

Next – Gulf Shores – Small Town – Big Beach

Do stop and see us if you can…

God bless,

Larry and Jan

2014 Winter – Spring

Gulf Shores - Orange Beach

Gulf Shores – Orange Beach

June is here already. It seems like just last week there was a snow drift in the driveway that needed to be moved. The last five months is just a blur. What I did not realize is when one stops working full time, time speeds up. The last post here was the “Larry and Jan Christmas Letter”. I had good intentions to do a couple of more by now. The timing is probably ok anyway as we were grounded in TC until late March. Not much of interest happened other than the routine of daily life, catching up on some reading, the never ending genealogy project and oh yes, I finally finished scanning all the old photos. Would you believe there are over 100,000 photos that now have to be edited and organized?

Christmas Eve after church

Christmas Eve after church

Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning

Our Christmas Tree is Outside

Our Christmas Tree is Outside

Christmas Scones by Larry

Christmas Scones by Larry

Jan and I had a quiet Christmas at home. We even did a Christmas tree although it was outside on the front deck. Coping with not being able to travel long distances demanded some adjustments to our way of life as we wanted it.

Paul and Marty's New Year Visit

Paul and Marty’s New Year Visit

Paul Does Bimimbap

Paul Does Bimimbap

New Year Celebration Meal

New Year Celebration Meal

Paul on Snow Shoes

Paul on Snow Shoes

It was great to have Paul and Marty here in January. It was good to catch up, have some good food which also included a trip to Grand Rapids with stops at the San Chez Tapas Restaurant and Founders Brewery. Oh yes, there was a stop at fields Fabrics. These all are favorite hangouts for this crowd.

The Annual Christmas Photo for the Snyder Group

The Annual Christmas Photo for the Snyder Group

Here is a picture of the Snyder tribe at the Christmas gathering…all looking good but just a bit more mature!

Last Morning Staying on the Neitzke Family Homestead

Last Morning Staying on the Neitzke Family Homestead

Iconic Shot of the Engine House at the Farm

Iconic Shot of the Engine House at the Farm

In January we made the last trip to the Neitzke family farm to finish the projects there. Sadly In March Jan lost her sister, Donna. We miss her and finding carrying on life without her will take some time to accept.

The Snow at the Top of the Hill just kept getting deeper

The Snow at the Top of the Hill just kept getting deeper

The winter of 2014 was one for the record book

The winter of 2014 was one for the record book

The big red machine kept busy this winter

The big red machine kept busy this winter

The winter view of West Bay is always great when the sunshines

The winter view of West Bay is always great when the sunshines

Back yard winter scene

Back yard winter scene

After awhile the fence was completely buried

After awhile the fence was completely buried

The shadows on the snow add dimension to the winter scene

The shadows on the snow add dimension to the winter scene

The little creek in back of the house...

The little creek in back of the house…

Lots of traffic in the woods even in the winter

Lots of traffic in the woods even in the winter

There is always that artistic shot!

There is always that artistic shot!

View along West Bay on a nice winter day walk

View along West Bay on a nice winter day walk

This was the winter that would not end. Many winter records were shattered with all the snow and cold weather. The Bay froze which had not happened since 2007. It was a good decision to get “that” snow blower as we would not have been able to deal with the amount of snow that befell us. The upside was there was sun and lots of excellent snow for skiing. It was also a great time to get out with the camera.

Getting ready to head south...which translated to digging out the RV

Getting ready to head south…which translated to digging out the RV

First night on the road...Yes, we finally left the snow behind

First night on the road…Yes, we finally left the snow behind

The good news was I got the medical go ahead to hit the road mid March. The bad news was the RV was stilled buried in snow and frozen in the ice. It took considerable intestinal fortitude to break it out of its winter bondage, however we were determined. Finally by the third week of March we got on the road heading south to Gulf Shores, Alabama. We had reservations at the Island Retreat RV Park. The park is in a central location, on the bike trail, next to the lagoon for kayaking and close to the beach. There is a large state park with an excellent trail system for biking and hiking.

Would you believe over 17 inches of rain in less than 24 hours

Would you believe over 17 inches of rain in less than 24 hours

The RV had to be rescued from this lake!

The RV had to be rescued from this lake!

The weather was interesting there this winter and bit unusual. The first couple of weeks there was over 12 inches of rain. Just before we left Mother Nature dropped another 17 inches of rain which flooded the RV Park where we stayed. Even my Alaska boots were not high enough to wade through the water to get to the truck.

The Townhouse at Gulf Shores

The Townhouse at Gulf Shores

The Great Room

The Great Room

The ceilings are over 20 Feet

The ceilings are over 20 Feet

Jan checking out the new kitchen

Jan checking out the new kitchen

We fell in love with the Gulf Shores area. The small town look and feel along with big beaches and other activities drew us in to thinking we would like to live there. To make a long story short, before we knew it, we had bought a townhouse. It is about the same size as our Traverse City home. The plan is to mix it up a bit. Winters in Gulf Shores, summers in Traverse City with several “bucket list” trips with the old RV. These changes all come under the heading of a less demanding travel schedule and a snow blower is not required equipment.

We are looking for plenty of folks to stop and see us in our new house in Gulf Shores. However the caution that I extend right now for the first three months this fall is if you do stop by bring your work clothes. Since the house is empty this is a good opportunity to take on all the upgrades to make it “ours”.

Looking across the lagoon...3000 feet to the Gulf

Looking across the lagoon…3000 feet to the Gulf

This is Lefty...a friend found along the bike trail on a daily basis...

This is Lefty…a friend found along the bike trail on a daily basis…

Alabama tourist site

Alabama tourist site

Mobile Botanical Gardens in the spring

Mobile Botanical Gardens in the spring

On the trail

On the trail

Alabama in March

Alabama in March

Chanute Kansas landmark

Chanute Kansas landmark

Hannibal Missouri

Hannibal Missouri

Cool livestock bridge in Kansas

Cool livestock bridge in Kansas

Jan paint Tom's fence

Jan paint Tom’s fence

Mississip River

Mississip River

There are not a lot of travel pictures so far this year. I did make friends with an Alligator called Lefty…who lost his left eye and front leg. He is a common sight along a favorite bike trail. After Gulf Shores, Jan and I headed to Chanute, Kansas for RV service. Once we got there we found additional repairs had to be made so we left it and headed back to Michigan. Two weeks later we went back (2,000 miles round trip) to pick it up. It is now ready to rock and roll again. The plan is the RV comes out of storage in September with the goal to be in Gulf Shores by the first of November.

New fence

New fence

First time building a cedar fence

First time building a cedar fence

Spring things do green up in Michigan

Spring things do green up in Michigan

Lots to do after several years being on the road in the summer...

Lots to do after several years being on the road in the summer…

It is great to be back in Traverse City this summer. Jan and I took on replacing the 35 year old cedar fence. It looks great. We find after being on the road for an extended period of time it translates to more work to get things back where we want them. There are lots of projects in play for the summer.

Morning coffee entertain this summer

Morning coffee entertain this summer

The Cherries look good this year

The Cherries look good this year

Here is a sample of TC in the spring!

Here is a sample of TC in the spring!

Life in Northern Michigan is great. The Cherry blossoms were spectacular. We are enjoying the sunrises over West Bay and just watching the changing weather over the water every day is a pleasure. We plan to spend time enjoying the Bay Region this summer.

Have a safe and happy summer. Stop and see us and please do keep in touch.

God bless,

Larry and Jan

2013 Christmas Greetings From Larry and Jan!

It is said variety is the spice of life! From our experiences this year, we find living the RV life-style is certainly a cool way to find adventure and have new experiences. We started the year as campground hosts at the National Seashore Park on Padre Island near Corpus Christi. Our campground was on the Inter-coastal waterway side of the island (Laguna Madre). One of the best wind-surfing locations in the US which draws lots of interesting folks. The weather was great (no snow). Our days were spent biking, hiking and on the water.

Padre Island National Seashore - Camp Ground Hosts

Padre Island National Seashore – Camp Ground Hosts

Not wanting to stay in one place too long, we headed out the middle of March spending some quality time in Galveston, New Orleans and Gulf Shores. In April we found ourselves back in Traverse City where we washed off the Texas dust and packed for a summer on the road heading north to Alaska, a trip we wanted to make for years. By mid-May, we were in Canada making our way around the North Shore of Lake Superior. The theme for this adventure was slow down, stop early and explore.

The Northwest Territories called us and we made it all the way to Yellowknife…that is as far as one can drive in the summer (the ice road being closed). Being early spring, there was a major washout on our planned route which translated to a 750 mile back-tracking adventure, lesson learned. Not having enough of the northern exposure, we caught the Alaska Highway, then the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay where we arrived one day short of the summer solstice. Yes, Jan and I waded in the Arctic Ocean. Two things that I can say about the trip…Padre Island was a long ways south and the Dalton Highway is definitely a once in a life time adventure! We can now check off the list all the Canadian providences and territories except Nunavut.

Alaskan Highway - Dawson Creek, BC

Alaskan Highway – Dawson Creek, BC

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories

"The" Dalton Highway

“The” Dalton Highway

Arctic Circle on the way to Prudhoe Bay

Arctic Circle on the way to Prudhoe Bay

Finally we got down to experiencing Alaska. Our objective was not to leave any stone unturned, of course limited only by places that are accessible to one pulling a RV. The major stops were Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, and Kenai Peninsula, Valdez, the Inter-coastal waterway, Juneau, Sitka, Skagway and then back to the Alaska Highway. This took us a couple of months. By mid-August, we were off for a two week adventure in the National Parks in the Canadian Rockies, but it was not meant to be. In British Columbia, Canada, Larry was struck with a blood clot which dramatically took over our lives. After a fairly long delay in Canada we headed back to Michigan arriving mid-September.

North to Alaska

North to Alaska

Fairbanks at Midnight

Fairbanks at Midnight

Alaskan Glacier...one of many!

Alaskan Glacier…one of many!

Kluane Lake...great stop over

Kluane Lake…great stop over

Top of the World View...

Top of the World View…

Muncho Lake

Muncho Lake

Alaskan Inter-Coastal Waterway

Alaskan Inter-Coastal Waterway

Denali (Mt McKinley)

Denali (Mt McKinley)

White Pass Steam Train...Skagway to Whitehorse

White Pass Steam Train…Skagway to Whitehorse

Summer in Alaska

Summer in Alaska

Alaska...Bears and Salmon

Alaska…Bears and Salmon

Native Totem Poles

Native Totem Poles

Fireweed Color

Fireweed Color

To make a long story short, we are sidelined in Traverse City until March. Winter travel plans had to be revised along with securing a snow blower to deal with that dreaded white “stuff” which keeps coming every day. However, you have to admit winter paints a beautiful picture. Right now we are on track to spend April in Gulf Shores, Alabama with a side trip to Kansas for a much needed visit to the RV factory for a major repair. Next summer will be enjoying our home in Traverse City and then looking for adventure in Utah for a couple of months starting in August. Next winter will be spent in a way to give the snow blower a rest!

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

Home away from home

Home away from home

Jan lost her Mother in February. She had a long journey and was 100 years old. We miss her and life will certainly not to be the same now that she is gone along with the ties to the historic family farm. Karl, Mark and Cully made the trip from NYC to visit us in October. It was so great to have them here and share what Northwest Michigan has to offer. We are looking forward to a visit from Paul and Marty in January. Good news, Paul is now Dr Paul having completed his PHD work and Fiona has finished her Masters. We plan a trip east next year to catch them on their home turf and take in some city life. It was fun to catch up with the “Snyder’s”at a gathering at brother Dale’s cottage this fall…picture attached.

Mark on the trail

Mark on the trail

Karl at Sleep Bear

Karl at Sleep Bear

Sand Dune...Cully, Karl, Jan

Sand Dune…Cully, Karl, Jan

Snyder's Fall Gathering

Snyder’s Fall Gathering

So as you can see…life is still good here! Keep in touch.

At the Arctic on the first day of Summer!

At the Arctic on the first day of Summer!

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Traverse City – 2013/2014!

The Cassiar HWY Then Back To Michigan

A: Skagway B: Whitehorse C: Teslin D: Boya Lake E: Kinaskan Lake F: Meziadin Lake G: Smithers

A: Skagway B: Whitehorse C: Teslin D: Boya Lake E: Kinaskan Lake F: Meziadin Lake G: Smithers

This is the final posting for our journey to Canada and Alaska for the summer of 2013. All I can say is the trip was awe-inspiring. The trip fuels the flame for more travel adventures. It was sad that it did end abruptly on a sour note. So now we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get on with life. Medical issues aside, life is good, we are bouncing back with updated priorities but have a new set of “marching orders”, at least for the next few months.

Looks like "smelling the roses" is over for this year!

Looks like “smelling the roses” is over for this year!

Along the road we noted summer is coming to an end as there were no more roses to stop and smell as the locals are now harvesting the rose hips. The final leg was from Skagway (South Klondike Highway), back tracking along the Alaska Highway and then heading south on the Cassiar Highway. These highways are spectacular as well as fun to drive. It was easy to find impressive places to stay. The Provincial Parks along the Cassiar are exceptional. Our pace slowed to take advantage of that place at that point in time.

South Klondike but south of Skagway

South Klondike but south of Skagway

Lots of folks make Emerald Lake a destination (Also called Rainbow Lake)

Lots of folks make Emerald Lake a destination (Also called Rainbow Lake)

You climb many hills on the South Klondike Highway...but it was worth it!

You climb many hills on the South Klondike Highway…but it was worth it!

South Klondike Highway - The Fireweed nearing the end of the summer

South Klondike Highway – The Fireweed nearing the end of the summer

The South Klondike Highway had a number of steep grades however the views are spectacular. There are many turnouts to get that “one more” Photo. We kept meeting the same folks along the way. Many of them were from the Skagway Tour Ships in rental cars out exploring. One destination for many was Emerald Lake…very colorful as well as beautiful.

Whitehorse - USS Klondike

Whitehorse – USS Klondike

Whitehorse MacBride Museum - Sam Magee's Cottage

Whitehorse MacBride Museum – Sam Magee’s Cottage

Heading into Alaska in June we run out of time in Whitehorse, YT. We took a couple of more days to finish up what we had missed. Back in the day in this part of the world the mode of transportation was the steamboat. Parks Canada has done an excellent job restoring the S.S. Klondike an icon from the past. It is worth a stop. Although a bit eclectic, the locally run MacBride Museum was interesting. Sam Magee’s cabin is housed there. Sam Magee was made famous by Robert Service, poet who wrote the “Cremation of Sam Magee”. Whitehorse is “the” city in the Yukon with a unique personality of its own.

Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre

Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre

We heard some nice things about the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Center. We planned an overnight at Teslin. The Provincial Park on Teslin Lake ended up being the highlight of the stop as the Heritage Center was ok but overrated. Over the course of the trip we did many native Heritage Centers and found that the price of admission had nothing to do with the depth and breadth of the materials presented.

Cassiar Highway

Cassiar Highway

Cassiar Highway

Cassiar Highway

Cassiar Highway

Cassiar Highway

Along the way we had heard a lot about the Cassiar Highway both good and bad. It is 450 miles south from the Alaskan Highway to the Yellowhead Highway. The Yellowhead extends from Prince Rupert to Edmonton and is a main route. The Cassiar is narrow with no shoulder on the north and widens as you head south and was an easy driving experience (at least we had experienced much worse). Once again the views are terrific and the grades were not as bad as expected. By the way there is a side trip from Dease Lake to Telegraph Creek (a native village) which is outstanding, if you can take driving the narrow road along very high cliffs. Those who have done it said it is over the top in the way of an experience. We did not take the time to do it but wished we had!

Kayaking Boya Lake was fun

Kayaking Boya Lake was fun

Boya Lake is colorful but no fish

Boya Lake is colorful but no fish

Lots of Beaver action to check out around Boya

Lots of Beaver action to check out around Boya

Boya Lake sunrise over the mountains

Boya Lake sunrise over the mountains

Boya Lake and Provincial Park

Boya Lake and Provincial Park

The first stop was Boya Lake. It is big rig friendly. The park and the lake are outstanding. We got the Kayaks in the water. The color of the lake is breathtaking. However there are no fish in the lake.

Kinaskan Lake from the RV park

Kinaskan Lake from the RV park

Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park - nice beach

Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park – nice beach

The next stop was Kinaskan Lake. There we had another great spot on the water. This is a great fishing lake and a destination for many.

Meziadian is a huge lake with lots of small islands plus great fishing

Meziadian is a huge lake with lots of small islands plus great fishing

Great weather and views at the Meziadian Provincial Park

Great weather and views at the Meziadian Provincial Park

It is a great drive to Hyder, Alaska from the Cassiar

It is a great drive to Hyder, Alaska from the Cassiar

The final stop on the Cassiar was Meziadian Lake. This is a very nice park where we planned to spend some time. This is where the trip took that unexpected turn. The plan was to use the park as a base camp. The attraction was Hyder, Alaska about 45 miles west which is where the bears hang out feeding on Salmon this time of the year. This was highlighted as a must see by those who had been there. We ended up spending only one night before heading off to Smither’s to find me some medical help with my ailing leg.

Smithers, BC to Traverse City, MI 2.500 miles

Smithers, BC to Traverse City, MI 2.500 miles

Found more glaciers in the Canadian Rockies...

Found more glaciers in the Canadian Rockies…

The Canadian Rockies have great view too!

The Canadian Rockies have great view too!

Of course we have to make a stop in Wakefield Michigan where they make the best Pasties.  The City RV park over looks Sunday Lake.

Of course we have to make a stop in Wakefield Michigan where they make the best Pasties. The City RV park over looks Sunday Lake.

Seven Mile Beach a favorite stop in the Upper Peninsula

Seven Mile Beach a favorite stop in the Upper Peninsula

Good to see the Mackinaw Bridge only 100 miles from home!

Good to see the Mackinaw Bridge only 100 miles from home!

We spent about a week in Smithers. Once I was given medical clearance to drive home we took on the 2,500 mile journey. It took eight days to make the trip. The route was through the Canadian Rockies to US 2. US 2 is the northern East/West route across the US. It is mostly two lanes and much of it through the Plains. Lots of small towns to keep you entertained along the way. It was good to see the Mackinaw Bridge and knowing that we were only 100 miles from home.

Back Home In Traverse City

Back Home In Traverse City

It has been a little over a week since we got back. Our world is transitioning from life on the road to one of being home bound. The current read is we will be grounded here for at least the next six months. The fact that the house did not sell we now see as divine intervention. This gives us a nice place to hang out for the near-term. Although our winter plans have to change we are already starting the planning for next summer’s trip to Utah. Stay tuned to find out what comes next with the Traverse City Snyder’s.

For those of you who are planning a trip to Alaska we are always looking for opportunities to share our experience.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Unexpected turn of events!

Here is where the trip takes and unexpected turn!

Here is where the trip takes an unexpected turn!

Here is an unexpected blog posting. The drama continues! Last year on our way home from a summer on the road Jan had an encounter with a cab on her bike. It took us six months to fix everything that was broken. This year it is my turn. To make a very long story very short after leaving Alaska and about half way to the Canadian Rockies I was blindsided with a blood clot (DVT) which ended up being quite serious. The event was complicated by us being in a remote part of British Columbia where getting a confirmed diagnosis or treatment was not possible. We ultimately landed in Smithers, BC at the Bulkley Valley Hospital where we spent 10 days as an outpatient. The support we got from our family, the hospital staff and the local folks made the entire adventure much easier. We truly felt blessed so many came to our aid when we needed it.

The good news is instead of being forced to fly back to Michigan, I got the clearance to drive if I make regular stops at hospitals or medical centers along the way to make sure everything is working like it should. We found out that was easier said than done. So far so good and we are four days out from being back on home turf. It is looking like I will be grounded for the next three to six months. We will see what life brings us next as the saga continues…

Once I get back. I will post the final update on the last leg of the trip on the Alaskan Highway and the Cassiar Highway. Life is good as we relax tonight at the Red River Recreation Area in East Grand Forks, MN. In one way we are sad that trip is ending but on the other hand we are just happy we made it this far!

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Skagway (Continued)

Skagway (Continued From Previous Post)

Malaspina To Skagway Via The Inside Passage

Malaspina To Skagway Via The Inside Passage

We now pick up as we leave Juneau for Skagway. The ferry time of 7am translate to a 5am check in. It was a warm and sunny day for the 6.5 hours trip.

Inside Passage

Inside Passage

Inside Passage

Inside Passage

Inside Passage - Hazy View

Inside Passage – Hazy View

Inside Passage - Note the Glacier

Inside Passage – Note the Glacier

Coming Into Skagway

Coming Into Skagway

The views on the way are breath taking.

Overlooking Skagway From Road to Dyea

Overlooking Skagway From Road to Dyea

Skagway sits in a valley and was the natural seaport for the gold miners to start their 1,500 mile land journey to the Klondike Gold Fields. Today it is the stopping off point for tour ships up to 30,000 folks on the street on any one day…today being one of those days. Back in 1898 there were over 80 saloons in town and today there are over 80 jewelry stores…

Skagway Main Street Looking South

Skagway Main Street Looking South

Skagway Main Street Looking North

Skagway Main Street Looking North

Across The Tracks

Across The Tracks

The history of Skagway is being told today by the National Park Service. The NPS theme for Skagway is similar to that of Dawson City in the Yukon Territory. The NPS has a strong presence here and has bought up part of the town to tell the story much the same as in Dawson City with the Yukon Government’s role. The two cities history link is the gold rush. Dawson City is the home for the Klondike gold and Skagway was the port of entry. In 1898 30,000 people with Gold Fever passed through the town on their way to Dawson City.

Skagway Color

Skagway Color

Skagway Color

Skagway Color

Skagway Buildings Are Over 100 Years Old

Skagway Buildings Are Over 100 Years Old

Skagway Is The Land Of The Tourist

Skagway Is The Land Of The Tourist

There has never been a major fire here so many of the buildings date back to founding days. They are tastefully restored and now house shops for the very large tourist trade. There are over 850,000 visitors each year by tour boat and only 15,000 visitors by ferry or land.

Frank Reid - Town Hero Who Shot Jeff (Soapy) Smith

Frank Reid – Town Hero Who Shot Jeff (Soapy) Smith

Soapy Smith - The Original Town Con Artist - See The Play When You Are In Town!

Soapy Smith – The Original Town Con Artist – See The Play When You Are In Town!

Where Dawson City was very safe and well protected by the Canadian Mounties Skagway was wide open. The original “bad guy” was Jeff (Soapy) Smith. A man named Frank Reid took him out in a shoot out becoming the town hero in 1898. Of course we had to visit the graves in the Miner’s Cemetery like everyone else.

White Pass - Steam Engine Tour

White Pass – Steam Engine Tour

The railroad played an important part in the history for Skagway. It is now a tour attraction. Back in May we signed up for the White Pass Meadows Steam Engine Tour. Highly recommend this trip…however if you are on a ship tour you get the better seats.

Looking Forward From The Platform

Looking Forward From The Platform

Looking Back From The Platform

Looking Back From The Platform

You Can Reach Out and Touch the Cliff

You Can Reach Out and Touch the Cliff

Keeping An Eye On The Tracks

Keeping An Eye On The Tracks

Standing on the Platform...Camera In Hand!

Standing on the Platform…Camera In Hand!

Another View From the Platform

Another View From the Platform

Inspiration Point!

Inspiration Point!

inspiration Point View

inspiration Point View

Passing the Old Tressle - Photo Opt!

Passing the Old Tressle – Photo Opt!

Near The Moonscape Area

Near The Moonscape Area

Near the Meadows Area

Near the Meadows Area

Glacier Stream Along The Tracks

Glacier Stream Along The Tracks

Small Stream Along The Tracks

Small Stream Along The Tracks

White Pass Summit

White Pass Summit

Near White Pass

Near White Pass

Border Crossing

Border Crossing

Entertainment for the Photographers - Letting Off Steam!

Entertainment for the Photographers – Letting Off Steam!

The photos tell the story of the journey to the Meadows and back again.

Plenty of White Pass Rail History To Be Found In Skagway

Plenty of White Pass Rail History To Be Found In Skagway

Would You Believe This Snow Blower Was Built in 1898

Would You Believe This Snow Blower Was Built in 1898

There is plenty of train history here. There are lots of places to hear the story.

Other Tour Options -  More Modern Locomotives

Other Tour Options – More Modern Locomotives

Other train tour options are by the newer locomotives…

Letting Off Steam

Letting Off Steam

However I still like the old steam engines…

Taiya Inlet Near Dyea - Foot of the Chilkoot Trail - From Here The Miners Took The Water Route

Taiya Inlet Near Dyea – Foot of the Chilkoot Trail – From Here The Miners Took The Water Route

Dyea Town Site Harbor - 1898 This Was Open Water

Dyea Town Site Harbor – 1898 This Was Open Water

Dyea Town Site - Now A Part of History

Dyea Town Site – Now A Part of History

We did a side trip to Dyea, a town that no longer exists…a tour is provided by NPS. It was competing for the miner’s dollars with Skagway and played an interesting role in how Skagway developed. It is also the trail head for the infamous Chilkoot Trail used by the hordes of miners heading north. Today it is a popular three to five day hike. The views getting to Dyea were good and driving the one lane road along the cliffs kept your interest.

Summer's End?  The Fireweed has Gone to Seed!

Summer’s End? The Fireweed has Gone to Seed!

Is summer over? The Fireweed is done and is going to seed. This may be a sign to find a route and start heading south. Sadly tomorrow we are off to Whitehorse, YT and yes we will be leaving Alaska. The only way out of here by land is back north to the Alaskan Highway. The plan is to spend another month in Canada with the ultimate goal to experience the Canadian Rockies National Parks (Jasper, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay). We will be traveling south on the Cassiar Highway which will be another adventure all by itself. Plus there will be several side trips along the way. For those of you following the blog there will not be many more glacier pictures but you can expect more photos of the Canadian mountains.

The next post will be from Jasper in a couple of weeks.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Haines – Juneau – Sitka (Skagway Continues In Next Posting)

Alaska Route:  (A=Haines_ (B=Juneau) (C= Sitka) (Back To B=Juneau) (D=Skagway)

Alaska Route: (A=Haines_ (B=Juneau) (C= Sitka) (Back To B=Juneau) (D=Skagway)

Inside Passage - Malaspina Coming into Port

Inside Passage – Malaspina Coming into Port

The Alaskan journey for Larry and Jan continues. The blog now picks up in Haines where we catch the ferry for our travels on the Inside Passage. This leg of the journey took us to Juneau, then Sitka, back to Juneau finishing up in Skagway. We did make the two day trip to Sitka with the truck but without the RV. Once again Alaska has exceeded our expectations. Our time here (17 days) went very fast with more than enough to hold our interest and keep us very busy. We truly enjoyed the experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. The lesson learned here was our RV is almost too large for this ferry system. The ferries generally load from the side and require tight turns getting on and off. The length of our truck and rig is 56FT which was right on the edge. It required some tight maneuvers that seemed quite unnatural. Leaving Juneau the crew was much better at positioning the loading and communicating the delicate maneuvers required. To make a very long story short…when we arrived in Juneau in order to get off I had to back off (about a quarter mile) and then with the tight turns the RV was actually hitting the cab of the truck. However once we were loaded and unloaded the ferries were a great experience. Our favorite stops were Sitka and Skagway in that order.

Dalton - Set for the Movie White Fang - At Haines, AK

Dalton – Set for the Movie White Fang – At Haines, AK

Lutak Inlet at Haines, AK

Lutak Inlet at Haines, AK

Chilkoot Lake

Chilkoot Lake

Chilkoot River

Chilkoot River

Salmon Run - Chilkoot River

Salmon Run – Chilkoot River

Haines is a nice little town. No real downtown however. There is a book here written by a resident called “If You Lived Here I Would Know Your Name” which about sums it up. The movie White Fang was shot near here and the set has been moved to the Fairgrounds. Fun little experience and they even had a micro-brewery. The local museums were ok. We had a nice trip along the Inlet out to Chilkoot Lake. The lake is fed by a glacier and empties into the Chilkoot River. The Salmon were running and the fishermen were hauling them in. We had three nights here which was more than enough.

Downtown Juneau

Downtown Juneau

A Temporary Juneau High Rise

A Temporary Juneau High Rise

Juneau was a bit different than I expected. In the summer there are over 30 tour ships a week so there are crowds of people. You can readily see the downtown theme is one that caters to the tour ship clientele. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails so one is able to get out and enjoy the area without the crowds.

Inside Passage in the Mist - Going to Juneau

Inside Passage in the Mist – Going to Juneau

Going to Juneau - Back Where the Sun Sets!

Going to Juneau – Back Where the Sun Sets!

Traveling to Juneau from Haines was late in the day and very overcast. The views along the waterway were still great but the photos are not outstanding. It was interesting for us to be back south and find that sun does set. The ferry was two hours late departing and we were the last one off the ferry. We ended the day parking the RV after midnight and in the dark.

The Tracy Arm Fjord

The Tracy Arm Fjord

Just Going is Half the Fun - Tracy Arm Fjord

Just Going is Half the Fun – Tracy Arm Fjord

Glacier Blue Water - Tracy Arm Fjord

Glacier Blue Water – Tracy Arm Fjord

Where There are Glaciers, There will be Waterfalls - Tracy Arm Fjord

Where There are Glaciers, There will be Waterfalls – Tracy Arm Fjord

Closing in on Sawyer Glacier - Iceberg That Just Flipped

Closing in on Sawyer Glacier – Iceberg That Just Flipped

Iceberg Blue

Iceberg Blue

Ice Flows - Getting Closer...

Ice Flows – Getting Closer…

Sawyer Glacier - Kenai Peninsula - Tracy Arm Fjord

Sawyer Glacier – Kenai Peninsula – Tracy Arm Fjord

Sawyer Glacier

Sawyer Glacier

The Closer You are the Bigger it Gets...

The Closer You are the Bigger it Gets…

One Large Piece of Ice...

One Large Piece of Ice…

Calving Action Shot!!!   First the Rumble then the Wave!

Calving Action Shot!!! First the Rumble then the Wave!

Admiring the View

Admiring the View

Second Sawyer Glacier...Smaller but Taller

Second Sawyer Glacier…Smaller but Taller

Just Plain Impressive

Just Plain Impressive

Sawyer Glacier (The Dark Blue is Compressed Ice)

Sawyer Glacier (The Dark Blue is Compressed Ice)

Tracy Fjord - Heading Back to Juneau in the Rain

Tracy Fjord – Heading Back to Juneau in the Rain

Side Trip Into a Cove...Note Water Color

Side Trip Into a Cove…Note Water Color

We strongly recommend the Tracy Arm Fjord tour. We booked this trip back in May based on the reviews. It is a nine hour trip and even though it rained much of the time, it was still a great experience. On the tour you visit two of the Sawyer Glaciers. The pictures tell the story.

Mendenhall Glacier Near Juneau

Mendenhall Glacier Near Juneau

Falls From Juneau Ice Field At The Mendenhall Glacier

Falls From Juneau Ice Field At The Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Iceberg

Mendenhall Iceberg

Two miles from our RV Park was the Mendenhall Glacier. It is easy to access. We spent three to four hours hiking the trails and enjoying the scenery. The visitor center has good resources and a show that is worthwhile.

Sitka Fast Ferry

Sitka Fast Ferry

Inside Passage - Going to Sitka - No Rain!

Inside Passage – Going to Sitka – No Rain!

Inside Passage On The Way to Sitka

Inside Passage On The Way to Sitka

Inside Passage

Inside Passage

Inside Passage - Narrow Channel

Inside Passage – Narrow Channel

Next was the trip to Sitka. We left early morning (up at 3am). It was a beautiful day as you can see from the photos.

Sitka Harbor

Sitka Harbor

Sitka From Castle Hill

Sitka From Castle Hill

It was fun being in Sitka. They only get five to six tour ships a week. The hotel we chose was the Westmark which was a decent choice. The view of the harbor from our room was one of the best things.

ST Michael's Cathedral - Russian Orthodox Church - Downtown Sitka

ST Michael’s Cathedral – Russian Orthodox Church – Downtown Sitka

Russia played a key role in Sitka’s history. St Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church is right in the middle of the city. It still has a strong presence today. Finding your way around is interesting as the city follows the Tlingit trails of the past. We found the city very interesting and again wished we had one more day to tour the area.

Russian Bishop's House - Restored By The National Park Service

Russian Bishop’s House – Restored By The National Park Service

National Park Service - Tlingit History - Impressive Display of Totem Poles

National Park Service – Tlingit History – Impressive Display of Totem Poles

The National Park System has done a good job telling the story of Sitka. The Russian’s Bishop House is where you can learn about the Russian side of history. The National Park Visitor Center tells the Tlingit story. Yes, there are plenty of totem poles to see.

Sheldon Jackson Museum - Alaskan Native Collection - Run By State Of Alaska

Sheldon Jackson Museum – Alaskan Native Collection – Run By State Of Alaska

Sheldon Jackson Collection

Sheldon Jackson Collection

Another recommendation is the Sheldon Jackson Museum. There are other museums in town but this one is the best (our opinion). Sheldon was a Christian Missionary. His collection of Native Artifacts from all over Alaska is outstanding. We had three hours and it was not nearly enough time to get through everything.

Tongrass National Park - Coastal Rainforest

Tongrass National Park – Coastal Rainforest

Tongrass National Park

Tongrass National Park

Tongrass National Park Hike

Tongrass National Park Hike

Tongrass National Forest

Tongrass National Forest

Tongrass National Forest - Ocean Side

Tongrass National Forest – Ocean Side

Juneau and Sitka are both in the Tongrass National Forest (a rain forest). We managed a hike and enjoyed the time on the trail. It is a very interesting area being very green with lots of moss everywhere.

Back To Juneau In The Rain

Back To Juneau In The Rain

Covered Deck on Fast Ferry The Fairweather?

Covered Deck on Fast Ferry The Fairweather?

Back to Juneau In The Rain...Still Awesome!

Back to Juneau In The Rain…Still Awesome!

All good things do end and we headed back to Juneau in the rain…

This is a long post so the decision is to break it up to make it more internet friendly. The Skagway portion of the trip continues in the next blog…

Dawson City and Beyond

A=Valdez, AK; C=Tok, AK; B=Dawson City, YT; D=Kluane Lake, YT; E=Haines, AK

A=Valdez, AK; C=Tok, AK; B=Dawson City, YT; D=Kluane Lake, YT; E=Haines, AK

This section of the trip has taken us back inland. We truly enjoyed being along the coast for a bit. Following the route on the map you will see we started at Valdez then to Tok via the Richardson and Tok Cutoff Highways. Tok being the junction you come through both coming and leaving Alaska. After Tok we headed north on the Taylor Highway to Chicken. The RV got parked at the West Fork Campground (50 miles from Tok) while we made our way to Dawson City via the Top of the World Highway. After spending a couple of days in Dawson made our way back to Tok then East via the Alaskan Highway to Destruction Bay on Kluane Lake where we hung out for two days. This is a beautiful area. The final leg of the trip was to Haines Junction on the Alcan then South to Haines from Haines Junction. After Valdez there were four border crossings which are always different and sometimes can be interesting (…hopefully just entertaining). The weather and experiences were outstanding again. However the trip on the Alaska Highway in Yukon Territory was challenging. The frost heaves and pot holes were significant (much worse than in early June). We suffered some damage to the RV which made for a bad day on the road. However the Congdon Creek Park Territorial experience quickly put the Yukon back in our good graces!

Mount Wrangell - Active Volcano

Mount Wrangell – Active Volcano

MT Drum - Wrangell Mountain Range

MT Drum – Wrangell Mountain Range

The time on the Richardson and the Tok Cutoff Highway was outstanding. After learning about Kennicott Mines and Wrangell Mountain Park wished we had planned time for a visit. The Wrangell Mountain Volcano and Mt. Drum were spectacular from a distance.

Chicken Welcome Sign...Old Dredging Crane

Chicken Welcome Sign…Old Dredging Crane

Downtown Chicken

Downtown Chicken

Downtown Chicken

Downtown Chicken

Chicken was a fun, hokey and interesting stop over. The assessment was glad we did not stay there. The West Fork BLM campground was big rig friendly and close to the river.

Top of the World Highway

Top of the World Highway

Top of the World

Top of the World

Top of the World...Seems to go Forever!

Top of the World…Seems to go Forever!

Top of the World View - Continued...

Top of the World View – Continued…

Yes, It Rained Going over the Top of the World!

Yes, It Rained Going over the Top of the World!

The drive over the Top of World Highway was easier than expected (110 Miles from Chicken). We could have made it with the RV in tow. Going there was rain and fog. Coming back the views were much better with just a little haze. The Yukon portion of the highway was easy. The US section (about 40 miles) is very narrow and not as good shape. There are great views from the top along the entire stretch.

Dawson City Looking up the Yukon River Towards Whitehorse

Dawson City Looking up the Yukon River Towards Whitehorse

Photo Taken from the Dome Looking Down the Yukon Towards Forty Mile

Photo Taken from the Dome Looking Down the Yukon Towards Forty Mile

Downtown Dawson City, Yukon Territory

Downtown Dawson City, Yukon Territory

Life Without the RV is not that Bad - Nice Experience

Life Without the RV is not that Bad – Nice Experience

Dawson Color

Dawson Color

Dawson Restored

Dawson Restored

Dawson New Construction

Dawson New Construction

Fun Themes Through Out the Town!

Fun Themes Through Out the Town!

Tin Cover Building made to look like Stone - Old Bank Building

Tin Cover Building made to look like Stone – Old Bank Building

Tin Covered Building Gone Bad

Tin Covered Building Gone Bad

Victims of Permafrost

Victims of Permafrost

Palace Grand Theatre - Beautiful Inside

Palace Grand Theatre – Beautiful Inside

Diamond Tooth Gerties - Gambling and Can-Can Show

Diamond Tooth Gerties – Gambling and Can-Can Show

Dredging for Gold  came after the Rush

Dredging for Gold came after the Rush

Dawson City exceeded our expectations for two days and needed a third. The history of the area is rich with stories and how the area evolved from boom to bust then a tourist area managed by the Yukon Territorial Government and the Canadian Park Service. The selection of tours, exhibits, performances are plentiful and we did all that time allowed. The buildings are interesting with an active restoration program. I could do an entire blog on just Dawson City and the Gold Rush but will let the pictures tell the story. Today there is still considerable dredging activity trying to sort out all of the remaining gold. The total gold mined from the area is over a billion dollars.

Dempster Highway to Inuvik, Northwest Territory

Dempster Highway to Inuvik, Northwest Territory

Dempster Rough but Colorful

Dempster Rough but Colorful

Coffee Break Along the Dempster...Almost as good as Starbucks

Coffee Break Along the Dempster…Almost as good as Starbucks

Is this what they call Tailgating!

Is this what they call Tailgating!

The Dempster Highway a 400 mile plus road to Inuvik ranks up there with the Dalton and Top of the World as a travel challenge. Although a trip to Inuvik was calling us we resisted the call and opted to do a short one day trip to the Tombstone Territorial Park (80 miles up the Dempster). Staying at the 5th Avenue Bed and Breakfast was a great experience, strongly recommended. However always needing a bit more coffee fix had to do the tailgate thing…

Tombstone Territorial Park - Worth the Trip

Tombstone Territorial Park – Worth the Trip

Goldside Hiking Trail...another nice climb!

Goldside Hiking Trail…another nice climb!

Goldside Trail View of the Tombstone Mountains

Goldside Trail View of the Tombstone Mountains

Another View from the Goldside Trail

Another View from the Goldside Trail

More Goldside Trail

More Goldside Trail

Goldside Rock Outcropping

Goldside Rock Outcropping

Fireweed comes after the fire!

Fireweed comes after the fire!

Photo Shot Along the Dempster

Photo Shot Along the Dempster

More from the Dempster

More from the Dempster

Tombstone Territorial Park

Tombstone Territorial Park

Tombstone...

Tombstone…

Very Varied Terrain Along the Dempster

Very Varied Terrain Along the Dempster

Tombstone

Tombstone

The side trip to the Tombstone Territorial Park was an exceptional experience (an easy day trip from Dawson). The lack of time seems to be a constant theme for this trip as there is always just one more hike that is calling us. The Goldside hike was outstanding. The views are breathtaking. We travelled the entire length of the park along the Dempster and enjoyed seeing the varied terrain.

Tombstone Two Moose Lake

Tombstone Two Moose Lake

Two Moose in Two Moose Lake

Two Moose in Two Moose Lake

Artic Fox Along the Taylor Highway

Artic Fox Along the Taylor Highway

Sighting wildlife (except at Diamond Tooth Gerties) seemed to be the exception. We did catch a couple of moose and a black Arctic Fox along the road.

Back on the Alaskan Highway

Back on the Alaskan Highway

Alaskan Highway View...Another Nice Day

Alaskan Highway View…Another Nice Day

Making our way to Haines we had to get back on the Alaskan Highway. We got to see the mountains this time (which were grand) that we had missed due to rain when we came into Alaska along this section of the road.

Congdon Creek Campground on Kluane Lake

Congdon Creek Campground on Kluane Lake

Kluane Lake

Kluane Lake

Kluane Lake

Kluane Lake

Perfect Setting to Launch the Kayak!

Perfect Setting to Launch the Kayak!

After seeing the Kluane Lake coming in to Alaska we had decided to stop on the way out. The lake is in a great setting and while we were there the weather was “picture perfect”. It was good to get away from the private RV parks and enjoy the Yukon Wilderness up close and personal.

Road to Haines, AK

Road to Haines, AK

I think I said that the mountains to Valdez on the Richardson Hwy was a favorite. We now have to update that to the mountains from Haines Junction to Haines are even better (if you do not mind very large hills with steep grades).

Seasoned Travelers taking a Break Outside Haines, AK

Seasoned Travelers taking a Break Outside Haines, AK

We are now settled in at the Hitch up RV Park in Haines. Looks like there will plenty to do here until we catch the ferry to Juneau.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan