5th Blog Update 7/21-8/5

Sorry about the gap between blog updates, we've not had wifi for some time @ the RV parks we've been in. On the 22nd of July we drove back to Anchorage and met Jan @ the airport about 7:30 PM. Sure is good having her here to experience this trip with us. We spent 2 nights there, stocking up on food and went through the temple the morning of the 24th. On the PM of the 24th we traveled about 100 miles towards Valdez and spend the night at a mtn. RV Park near a glacier. On the 25th we went another 200 miles and stayed on the Klutine river hoping to fish, but the Coho Salmon had not arrived there yet and no one was catching any. On the 26th we finished our drive to Valdez, which was a spectacular drive with water falls and glaciers that were breath taking. Spent two nights seeing the area and fishing. I caught 3 pink salmon, which we had for dinner that night. It rained most of the time while here.

We left Valdez on the morning of the 28th heading for Tok, AK (250 mi) and spent the night before leaving for Haines Junction, AK to spend the night. The road was very rought with many frost heaves, which are dips and rises in the road from frost. On the 30th we finished the trip to Haines, where we spent 3 nights. Fished for a couple of hours the evening of the 30th and the morning of the 31st, but only one bite. The evening of the 31st I fished again and cought a 2ft long, 5-6 lb pink salmon, which we ate for dinner the next night. On Sat the 1st of Aug we took a hour and a half airplane ride over the glaciers in glacier bay. As we got on the plane I fired up the video camera, but it failed, indicating the the recording head needed to be cleaned. Thus, I only got still shots while on the flight. The flight was GREAT, a little scary for Jan a couple of times, flying over the ice fields and in between mountain peaks. Sunday morning the 2nd we attended the Haines branch and enjoyed a great testimony meeting, sunday school and Phd and R/S mtgs.

After church we had to check out of the RV park, but did'nt need to be at the ferry terminal until 6:30 to go to Skagway. The ferry ride was only one hour long, but driving it would have taken 12 hours. Jan & Darlene shopped the next morning while Wayne and I drove around the area. Early PM we departed for Johnson's Crossing, YT where we spent the night @ a RV park that had a bakery, so I got some cinnamon buns for BK. From here we drove on to Dease River Crossing, BC and stayed on a beautiful lake for the night. From there we came on into Stewart, where we are spending 2 nights. We went back in Alaska, Hyder, to visit a bear watching sight on the Fishing River. After visiting for an hour I talked to the ranger and found that 6-7 AM and 9-9:45 PM is the best time to see them. So, tomorrow we will see about visiting the creek again.

After leaving Anchorage we spent the nights of 7/12, 13 and 14 in the Seward area. We took an 8 hr cruise into the Kenai Fjord and saw tidal glaciers (those exiting into the fjord) and saw some great calving faces of the ice. We saw all kinds of sea life, whales, sea lions, sea otters, and a great varity of birds, including and eagle. I went fishing and caught the 2 fish pictured with this blog. I snagged them with a large weight with 3 hooks coming out of the side of the weight. All in all we really enjoyed Seward, great weather, good fishing and sightseeing.

On the 15th we moved on to Soldotna where the river fishing is supposed to be great on the Kenai River. We say in this area through the morning of the 20th. I fished on the Kasilof River the evening of the 15th for 2 hrs with no bites. The morning of the 16th we watched Wayne's cousin's family Dipnet at the mouth of the Kenai. They got 12 that day and another 12 the next day. They walk out into the water with a net that is about 5 ft across and wait for fish to swim in. Only Alaskan's can dipnet. I fished the Kenai the the afternoon and got no bites. On the 17th I fished for about 5 hours and had 5 on but lost them all. However, we had BBQed salmon for dinner, thanks to the dip netters. I fished the Kenai again on the 18th, but no bites. On Sunday the 19th we attended church at the Kenai Ward and drove around sightseeing in the PM.

On Monday the 20th we moved on to Homor, in the rain, it rained most of the night. At Homor we drove out on the Homor Spit, which is a 2 1/2 mile muraine, a 100 foot wide row of gravel left by a glacier. The spit is lined with shops and charter boat facilities. There are some condos at the end. It will surely be wiped out some time in the future as a result of an earth quake, like it was destroyed in the 1964 quake. Homor is over rated as a destination to visit.

This morning, Tuesday the 21st, we returned to Soldotna for more fishing, I told Wayne that we could not leave this area before I catch a fish in the Kenai. I fished this afternoon and caught a nice red salmon, about 20-22 inches long. We cleaned and make salmon steaks of it before I could take a picture. I will try one more time in the morning, if it is not raining to much, before we leave for Anchorage in the PM.

Alaska Part 3

A G-e-r-a-t trip so far. I last update the blog while in Dawson City, Yukon Terr., Canada. We toured the largest dredge in North American, which was very interesting. Not much to Dawson City, but the view from the hill top above the city was wonderful.

We left Dawson on Sunday the 5th via the Top of The World (dirt) road. It had rain enough that it was not dusty and yet was not muddy. The views were fantastics. We spent the night in Tok, Alaska at a RV park that held a sourdough pancake toss, trying to get one in 5 gal bucket, if you did you got a free breakfast. I did't, but bought the breakfast so that I could try the raindeer sausage and sourdough pancakes. The sausage was good, but the pancakes, so, so.

On the 6th we drove to Fairbanks, AK and spent two nights. Visited a great museum at the Univ of Alaska, toured an operations gold mine and panned for gold, finding 7 gm of gold flakes, valued at about $21.00. We then stocked up of food at good old Walmart.

On the 8th of July we moved on to the area of Danali National Park, staying at an RV park about 11 mile shy of it. That afternoon we toured a coal powered electric plant and arranged a tour of a coal mine for the next morning. On the 9th we took a 2 1/2 hour tour of the surface coal mine then caught the 2:15 PM 8 hour bus trip into Danali National Part. We were to go 53 mile into the part, but went 63, at the descression of the drive. Saw moose(Mother and calf), grizzle bears(2 mothers and 5 cubs, fox(5 pups playing on road), antalope, wolfs (way off), and no Mt. McKinley.

Left the morning of the 10th left for the Little Sue River to fish, but found that it was closed to fishing. So, on to Anchorage for 2 nights. Wayne's 2nd cousin moved back here while we were traveling here. Her husban just retired from the USAF and they wanted to come back to Anchorage. So, visited with them both days. They took us on a tour of Elmendorf AFB to see the new stelth F-22 fighters and to shop at the PX. We did catch one fish here, at Costco, a 17 lb Halibet, which we shared the cost of with the Sizelive's (Wayne's Cousin) and had fish fry at their house.

Today, 7/12 we attended church at the Bear Mtn Ward in Eagle River, AK and then departed for Seward, AK at about 2 PM. We got her about 5 PM arranged a glacier/salmon dinner tour at the three glacier locations on Tuesday, the 14th. So, tomorrow I will try my first effort at catching fish (Red Salmon). I guess you don't catch them, you snag them as they go up river.

Attache are a couple of pictures from the past couple of weeks.

Alaska trip Part 2

Great trip through Bennett Dam. After spending the night of the 29th of June in a Province State Park on Peace Lake, we drove to Wilson Lake and stopped for lunch. We stayed in our worst RV park todate that night. Over night we lost all power to the RV. Only conclusion was that their self generated power plant at the RV park blew the power inverter in the 5th wheel. We had to lay in the mud an hand crank the pop-out back in before leaving. It had rained for the last 18 hours.

From this part we drove to Ft Nelson & stopped for lunch. As we stopped a trooper approched my door and Wayne's door. He said we had tryed to run him off the road, not signaled, speeding, and stopped on the wrong side of the road. NO TICKET GIVEN. On to or best RV part to date at the Continental Divide RV park. No RV shops were in Ft. Nelson, so I decided to try and find the problem and found that the inverter had come unplugged from its power source and the electrical problem was solved, we didn't have to hand crank any more.

On to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory on th 1st of July where we stayed 2 nights in order to see that area. On the 3rd we sayed on an RV part at Stewart Crossing, YT where the mosquitoes about eat us alive.

Today, 7/4 we arrive here in Dawson City, home of the Klondyke Gold Rush. We visited sights here this afternoon, with intentions of going to Church here tomorrow before leaving. However, there isn't a branch here according to locals and the Church web site. Tomorrow AM we will cross the Yukon River via a free ferry and take the Top of The World dirt road to Chicken, Alaska where we can start using US money again. We will stay in Tok, AK tomorrow night.

When I tried to attach pictures it failed, so I will send some when I have a stronger internet connection. Love to all

2009 Alaska Trip

Left SLC on 6/15 to join Wayne/Darlene Weiss for departure. Left Roseville on the 18th due to medical test by Wayne. First night stop by Clear Lake, Ca then on to Arcata, CA, by Eureka on the coast for 2 nights. Visited the area and Wayne & I eat 3 dozen oyster at the oyster fest. Attempted to attend church, but GPS took us to a Bishop's house, then found bldg. and Stake Conf. was schedule later in the day.

Drove to Coos Bay, OR and stayed @ Sunset Beach. viewed sea lyons and local sights. Tues the 23rd we moved on to Seaside, OR. On the way we drove through the "Avanue of the Giants" to see the "giant redwood trees", which was a great drive. Wed. the 24th on to Bothell, for one night where we went to April's to do laundry and go watch Kylin's club team scrimage before leaving for nationials.

Thur the 25th we entered Canada stopping along the Frazer River Gourge at Boston Bay for the night. Then on to Quesnel, BC to spend the night last night. While there we toured a Pulp mill, which was very interesting. Then today, we traveled here to Chetwynd where they hold a yearly chain saw carving contest. Tomorrow will leave the trailer here and drive into Dawson Creek, where the Trans Alaskian Hwy begins at milepost zero. We will return and pickup the 5th wheel and spend the night tomorrow night by the Peace River and go through the Bennett Dam.

I will add an update in a few days. If I can figure out how to do so I will add some pictures to this posting.