Hi Everyone,
Well, I was going to wait till Beech Mt., but I've got time now & probably will be busy then so here goes.
We're in a campground called "Prairie Acres" & yes, it is - maybe a tree or two in the distance & very
windy but warm - fields of grain (wheat) as far as you can see.
After Vancouver & the ferry back & forth to Victoria & visiting Peggy Schlapkohl on the west side which
was a beautiful but rough drive across the island, we finally got back in the lower 48 as they say.
We had planned to drive through Glacier Nat. Pk in western Montana but no vehicles over 21' were
allowed through the park because of bad roads (they don't know what we went through in Canada &
Alaska "top of the world highway"). So, we skirted the Park. It was extremely smoggy because of
fires north of Missoula. We could hardly see anything in the Park. The smog thinned a little as we
traveled across Montana on Hwy. 2 but didn't really clear yet. We're not sure if it's dust from the prairie
or from the fires. It's very dry everywhere.
We've decided to make a little detour north to Canada into Saskatchewan & Manitoba so we can
color in our small map of where we've all been with our RV. This is the first time for N.D. & we also
have to head south to pick up Nebraska. Pebbles is now a prairie dog.
We'll be back in N.C. probably next Sat. 8/27 - Catch you then - Erma & Bill
4 comments:
8/5/07
Hi again,
Everything is so awesome, I just had to write again. I have never seen anything like the
Columbian glacier cruise. We had a relatively small "ferry like" boat that took us through the
ice flows & icebergs. There were many, many sea otters perched on the bergs and along
shore we saw a couple of eagles. We crossed the moraine built up from the glacier which was
below water & the bergs would get hung up on it. But we did not see the entire glacier -
it was mostly in the clouds. We also passed the pipeline storage tanks and refinery built
for local use.
We then drove up to Tok where we had spent the night before & the next day to Destruction Bay.
The roads were the worst ever - up heaves & gravel repair for long stretches. However, it was worth
it - Destruction Bay was gorgeous. We camped right on the side of the lake walked the
pebble beach - & had our evening social down by the water. It is also the bear capital of
the area. Another couple did see a mama grizzle with 2 cubs on the way into camp but
Bill & I didn't see any ourselves.
From Destruction Bay we went back to Whitehorse for a night & then down to Skagway.
Today we take the train for a sightseeing tour (up & back). The train does go all the way to
Whitehorse which was the original way during mining days. It was tough for the train in winter
due to snow & and it burned a lot of fuel, just like the paddlewheels. It would have been a
better tour here if I wasn't putting up with a sore throat & cold.
The next morning @ 6:15 am we all lined up (first time following each other) and went down
to the ferry dock & waited in our assigned lanes. The big rigs went in first with the 18 wheelers
& trucks - then finally our little ol' 27 footer - it was a tight squeeze & we all had to leave our
pets in our RV's. Bill went down to the garage one time while we were docked at Haines to check
on Pebbles. Upstairs we had a very comfortable lounge & cafeteria with surprisingly good food.
The view was again gorgeous going through the fjords - and we saw some whales playing. We arrived
at Juneau (the capital) @ 4:30. Our camp Spruce Meadow (more like forest) was only 3 1/2 mi.
away. And about 6pm, we saw our first live, wild, black bear behind our motorhome - He ran.
Today we had a bus pick us up for a 3 hr. tour which included the famous Mendenhal Glacier -
it is awesome!! Then on to the salmon hatchery - sort of sad to see all the big fish struggling
up the manufactured rapids on their final trip in life. The hatchery takes the eggs & raise the little
fish & sends them back to sea - and as you know, they return to the same spot in a couple years.
Tomorrow's our long ferry ride down to Stewart - same deal - pets with RV's down in the hull.
However, this time we get a stateroom for the night. Our trip with the caravan is almost over.
We've made good friends & it'll be sad to depart. However, once again modern society helps-
we have each others email addresses & perhaps will see them on another caravan or visit.
It'll take us about 10 days to get back to N.Carolina so we'll write again when home.
Love, Erma & Bill
Hi Everyone,
Monday (July 9th) we arrived in Laird Hot Springs(still British Columbia). The campground was just
across the road but no water or sewer (we call it "dry" camping). However, with a soak in the
springs (first one above was really hot - hotter than a spa) & a lower pool of nice warm tub temperature,
people got their baths - however no soap. Between the 2 pools was a small waterfall under which
a bench was placed (underwater) so one could sit & get a nice back massage - it was wonderful.
The next day, we drove thru a town called Fireside. In 1982, the whole town burned from a forest
fire but is now rebuilt. Our overnight was at Watson Lake. We saw many animals off side the
road as we traveled - lots of free range buffalo, doll sheep, and elk, & some saw bears.
Yesterday, we arrived here in Whitehorse, (Yukon). Our campground is cut into a hill & not very
scenic but has all the facilities. The caravan (Tracks) presented us with a BBQ steak dinner &
this morning we took a bus tour to the center of town & learned what an important place it is
in history with the paddlewheel steamships coming up the river with supplies for the gold rush
miners. We toured the S.S.Klondike. Also the salmon come here to spawn. And now the river has
a dam & furnishes all the electric power to the area. It gets about 45 below 0 Fahrenheit here in
the winter & was only about 50F today. Tonight another bus will take us to the "Frantic Follies".
As you can tell, we're having a wonderful time & have great RV travel companions. Tomorrow
we'll be taking the Klondike Loop road & dry camping @ Minto which is halfway to Dawson City
(still in the Yukon). Love, Erma & Bill
P.S. We're not the oldest on this trip. One couple is from Minnesota & they're both 81 & in
excellent shape - they are farmers there. Several others are our age in their 70's Therre's
one younger couple who get up early & take the old hwy. when they can - they have a
small RV too & are crossing old bridges & hiking etc. - a little more than we can handle.
PPS. Pebbles chewed up one of Bill's hearing aids again so he's only got the right side. It's
surprising the dog's still with us. At least his insurance is up to date this time.
7/6/07
Howdy & Bon Jour,
Yes, they have signs in English & French up here.
Made it across the border into Canada from Shelby, Montana with only a few questions - easy.
One of the "big rigs" said they checked everything including the safe, refrig., & magnets on the
outside plus dog sniffers.
On our way north, we drove thru Calgary, then west to Banff & Lake Louise, then north thru the
National Park (saw a beautiful glacier near Jasper, Alberta) & stayed overnight in Hinton just
outside the northern end of the Park. It was an interesting campground. The motorhomes were
parked in a circle (we were in the center circle - 2 more circles around us) inbetween 2 praire
like hills just like the wagons circled in those western movies.
The next day (July 4th), we drove a beautiful scenic road to Dawson Creek where the Alaska
Hwy. (Alcon Hwy combined Alaska & Canada) begins. We're at mile marker "O" in our
"Tubby's" RV park. There's quite a history with building the Hwy. begun in 1941 for Military
purposes. Besides surveying through wilderness, the construction crews (army) had to suffer
cold, mosquitos, and small rations of food (2 small biscuits for lunch if they got that). The
Road was completed in 1942.
The first night in camp here, we had a social (camper chairs in a circle & bring your own beverage.
All went well till the group broke up & as I was leaving, my napkin blew away. So not to be
a litter-bug, I went after it,- reached for it, stumbled on a pebble, fell, & twisted my back. Some
nice men helped me up (now everyone in camp knows me - Honest! - all I had was ice tea).
Our dog Pebbles (a black, longhaired, min.dachshund) is very happy. It seems as if every
"rig" has a dog. There are 16 "rigs" plus the wagonmaster's & the "tail-gunner's" big rigs.
It's a great group from all over the country - one other is from Parrish (near Tampa) Florida.
We'll be heading out Sunday (July 8th) first thing in the morning. Catch you all later.
Love, Erma & Bill
6/30
Dear Friends & Family,
As you know we were counting the days till all my tests/scans came in and Dr. Recio gave me
thumbs up. (It was like the kids counting the days till Christmas.) And finally we got the good
news that PET scan showed no activity, the CA125 was 13 (way within normal of under 30), and
my blood count was almost back to normal. Wow-what a super Christmas gift. I don't even have
to go for blood tests along the trip and my next appointment is Oct.3rd. What a relief for both
Bill & me.
We managed to get off at noon yesterday (after setting the alarm & it went off after going back
into the house for a last min. item). Well, that wasn't the only time. My daughter Tia called today
to inform me the alarm went off at 4am this morning & she was called. She & Marty drove up to
Boynton (police had already been there) to discover the electricity (breaker) had been shut off
apparently when Bill turned off the hot water heater and the alarm system was running on
batteries. Hey - at least we know that Brinks Security is on the ball!!!
Bill & I were really on a "high" after the good news & drove to just north of the Florida border
stopping at a nice campground called the Eagles Roost. The next crisis was trying to find the
electric cord/plug for our indoor grill. After a panic attack, it was discovered in the crock pot
stored in a cupboard'---- and not left at home.
Today Thurs.6/28 was a beautiful day for traveling. We drove all the way to Nashville & have
found a place about a block away from Opryland. At the moment we have another little rain
storm but nothing serious. It just feels good to relax and watch the rain.
Best wishes to you all - will keep you up to date when we get to another campground with
wireless hookup.
Love, Erma & Bill
PS- Would you believe, a bolt of lightening nearby blew something in our computer so we
waited till the next campground just before Kansas City. It still didn't work so Bill called
AOL who told him he had to call HP which ended up putting us on a warranty for $95.- &
then she proceeded to tell Bill how to correct it.
PPS - We missed most of the heavy rain (a foot of rain) in Kansas City (mostly to the south
of us). We also spent an hr. at a garage trying to get one of our jack levelers to work.
They couldn't do it so I guess we'll have to find a place on Monday. At present we're
about 80 miles southeast of Denver - the weather is beautiful, lots of sunshine. The
campground will have an "all you can eat" pancake breakfast with sausage & coffee
tomorrow morning from 7am on. Glad the computer works again (we're on wireless).
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