Alaska 2011 – Teslin Lake, YK to Whitehorse, YK

After having lunch with several friends at the Teslin Lake Café, we headed out to Whitehorse. We spent the first night at the Pioneer RV Park and then decided to move up the road to the High Country RV Park which was closer to town. We spend three more days in Whitehorse relaxing and getting caught up on things. The highlights of the trip were touring the S.S. Klondike, Beringia Museum, Miles Canyon, Frantic Follies, and having fresh Halibut Fish-N-Chips at the Klondike Rib and Salmon House. It was also very exciting for Nancy to visit the original home of Sam McGee. Nancy's father, Ralph, would recite the poem "Cremation of Sam McGee" written by Robert Service, while he shaved many mornings before going to work. We also enjoyed the visitor’s center and walking around the city going back into history ourselves.

Whitehorse, YK became the transportation center of the Yukon Territory in the late 1800’s. Whitehorse was named after the historic rapids on the Yukon River which flowed through Miles Canyon. With the formation of the hydro-electric dam the rapids have been eliminated, but Miles Canyon still exists today. In 1900, construction of the White Pass & Yukon Route steam railway from Skagway to Miles Canyon opened up this area for the gold fever excitement that filled the air at that time. Whitehorse was the take off point for Dawson City, YK and the riverboats on the upper Yukon River.

The Beringia Museum takes you back to the last great ice age. While the rest of Canada lay frozen under massive sheets of ice, a region encompassing eastern Siberia, eastern Alaska, and Yukon remained untouched by glaciers. Sea levels were so low that grassy tundra was present supporting astonishing varieties of animals, plants, and man-kind. The world’s earliest humans moved into what is now North America about 24,000 years ago. There were herds of wooly mammoth’s giant bison, camels, and many other huge four legged critters.

The S.S. Klondike, built in 1929, was the largest sternwheeler on the upper Yukon River. She was 240 feet long, carried 300 tons of cargo, and had a 40” draught for the shallow Yukon River. The Klondike was a “sternwheeler”, not a “side-wheeler”, which made it easier to navigate the fast flowing, shallow, winding rivers like the Yukon. The S.S. Klondike was originally built to haul 4,500 ore bags (125 lbs. each) coming from the silver mines between Dawson City and Whitehorse. She was powered by a wood-fired locomotive style fire-tube boiler. It held 15,000 gallon of water, drawn from the river. Sternwheelers were first used on the lower Yukon River in the late 1860’s to service the many trading posts and communities. At the height of the Klondike Gold Rush (1897-8), there were 250 riverboats on the Yukon River transporting supplies and people. The Klondike had a crew of 23, earning $25 a month, and provided one-way passenger accommodations for 32 (1st Class - $35 each) and 43 (2nd Class - $25 each). The Yukon River was frozen solid for 7½ months, so the shipping season was short. Each Fall, the boats were hauled out of the water and wintered on “skid-ways” in the Whitehorse Shipyard. After sinking in 1936 and being rebuilt the S.S. Klondike carried passengers and cargo on the Yukon River until 1955 – the last Yukon River sternwheeler in active service.

We have put together two separate slide shows. The first is on Whitehorse, YK and the second is a special presentation of the S.S. Klondike. Hope you enjoy!

CLICK HERE to view the Whitehorse, YK slide presentation.

CLICK HERE to view the S.S. Klondike slide presentation.

Alaska 2011 – Fox Island, WA to Teslin Lake, YK

We started our trip north to the “Last Frontier” on May 10, 2011 and headed up I-5 to Birch Bay. Neither of us had ever been to this area, so we decided to spend our first night on the bay. Early the next morning we headed over the Canadian border, at Sumas, and had a very smooth crossing. We passed through Hope, BC and spent the night in Clinton, BC. We then traveled to Prince George, BC where we spent the night, in the parking lot, at the Treasure Cove casino. Departing Prince George, we passed through Chetwynd, BC which is known as the “chain saw carving” capital of the world. We arrived in Dawson Creek, BC, which is “Mile 0” of the Alaska Highway. This is where we met up with 23 other RoadTrekers who were seeking the same goal. The weather was beautiful and the town very accommodating. There was a terrible fire east of us at Slave Lake, Alberta and the smoke was very bad the 2nd day here. The forest fire destroyed over 40% of the town, including the high school, library, several downtown buildings, and many private homes.

Departing Dawson Creek, we headed north to Fort Nelson. This was an eventful night. Eleven of us decided to park alongside a frontage road for the night. About 11:30 PM, the town’s hired hand knocked on all of our doors and told us that we either had to move or pay a $50 fine to the city. Many of us moved across the street and parked in the IGA parking lot, only to be kicked out of the lot at 5:00 AM to make room for the delivery trucks.

We left Fort Nelson and headed to Toad River, where we camped at a pull-out spot along the river. You really start to get a feel of what lies ahead with the beautiful rugged snow-covered mountains, ever changing vegetation, wild rivers, frozen lakes, and wildlife. We had to make a short stop at Testa River RV Park to enjoy their world famous cinnamon rolls and freshly baked sourdough bread. We waited for an hour, sipping tea and coffee, for our hot rolls to arrive on the table and it was worth every minute. Our baker was a third generation member of a family that has owned and operated this facility for over 80 years. The family was originally trappers and gold seekers in this area. A night around the campfire at Muncho Lake, still frozen, was spectacular and very entertaining. Then on to Liard Hot Springs which is at the end of a ¼ mile boardwalk and well worth the plunge. This is a totally natural hot springs (102 to 108 degrees) surrounded by forest vegetation. After our soak, we head up the highway to Watson Lake where we stayed for a couple of days to catch up on laundry, TREK cleanup, and just relaxation. Here we visited the world famous “Sign Post” park, which was started in 1942 by an American soldier working on the Alaska Highway posting the first sign remembering his hometown. There are currently over 72,000 signs from all over the world in the park. Tomorrow we will leave for Teslin Lake, Yukon and then on to Whitehorse, Yukon where we will stay for four days and enjoy the history of this community.

CLICK HERE to see our picture slide show of our trip from Fox Island, WA to Teslin Lake, Yukon. Then hit the slideshow button in the upper left corner to watch the slideshow.

TRAK's New Look!

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TRAK has a new look. We added a 2-piece removable bonnet (hardtop) to TRAK's top notch and a touch of Moloka'i for comfort. She has a 2" receiver on her tail for our bike rack and lots of storage area when we put the back seat down. She tows beautifully and likes her new TOAD responsibilities when we arrive at our destination. TREK and TRAK seem to be getting along just fine right now! We both enjoy having her in our family.

Sequim, WA (July 7-10)

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The weather was perfect, so on the spur of the moment, we decided to head to Sequim, WA for our TREK and TRAK maiden voyage. We got a late start in the day and arrived at Diamond Point RV Park which is about 7 miles south of Sequim off HWY 101 about 3:30 PM. We got a great camp site for only $10 a night with full hook-ups. After getting settled, we jumped in TRAK and headed north to Sequim. We drove around Sequim and then out to Marine Drive which goes through the beautiful lavender fields and along Sequim Bay. It was a spectacular drive and we enjoyed traveling through the farm country. Before heading home, we decided to stop at the Seven Cedars Casino for their fantastic buffet and try our luck on the slot machines.

The next morning we headed to Sequim again. We went to the John Wayne Marina and hunted down a couple of caches. We then headed out to the Dungeness Spit that separates the Straits of Juan De Fuca and Sequim Bay. We ran into a lot of very successful people crabbing. They were able to get six crab per person and they were pretty good size. After spending some time at the spit, we headed along the bay to the “Three Crabs” restaurant just to see where it was located. We decided not to eat there because it was so terribly expensive. We headed back to Sequim because we wanted to visit the famous “Railroad Bridge” Park. Now, you can ride your bike from Diamond Point all the way to Port Angeles. Most of the trail is now paved. There are some very challenging hills along the way, but it certainly is a great opportunity to see some very beautiful country.

The last day we wondered around the lavender fields and spent time relaxing at many of the small parks along Sequim Bay. We finished up the evening having the Prime Rib buffet at the Seven Cedars casino for only $14.00 each. What a meal finished off with peach and banana Flambe. The weather could not have been any better and we certainly got to see why so many people decide to retire in this community. We love having TRAK as it provides a whole new dimension for us to see and enjoy the countryside.

CLICK HERE to view our picture slideshow from the Sequim, WA trip.

God Bless America - July 4, 2010

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Give thanks and show appreication to all of those special people that have helped to insure our independence and freedom in America today - be thankful! Have an enjoyable, happy, and safe day with family and friends. Remember the foundation blocks that America was originally built on and let's work hard to get those principles and values back into our government before it is too late!

If Thomas Jefferson were alive today, he would NOT be happy celebrating July 4th -- because America is no longer free. The truth is, we have given up our freedoms to power-hungry politicians, liberal special interest groups, and the secret wealthy elite who are doing everything they can to maintain their power forever.

Independence? Let's get it BACK!

"Let FREEDOM Ring, Let FREEDOM Ring"

Cowboy Dinner Tree Restaurant

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This restaurant is a MUST when ever you are around Silver Lake, OR (Central Oregon). It is on your route to or from Reno, NV. The Fort Rock Park National Monument is about 21 miles away, so there is a lot to do in the area. In order to get a place to eat at the dinner table, you must have a reservation. They only serve two entree's - a whole BBQ chicken or a 2 lbs. BBQ sirloin tip roast. It all comes with a huge bowl of salad, their famous bean soup, homemade yeast rolls (12 per table), special desert, and all of the fresh lemonade or ice tea you can drink. They do not serve any liquor, but you can have all the wine, beer, or beverage of choice in the tepee outside the restaurant before dinner. There is no electricity, credit cards are not accepted, but they do have flush toilets. The Christmas lights hanging on the building are run off their truck battery. This is one of those "once in a life-time experiences". What a BLAST - GUARANTEED you will be haul'in some "grub" home!

CLICK HERE to see the menu for yourself and how to get there!

TRAK - Our New Toad

TREK is happy to have a new companion to drag along on our adventures. TRAK is a 2002 Chevrolet Tracker 4x4 that will be hauling Nancy and I to those high mountain meadows and lakes, streams, and desert oasis. TRAK will not replace our feet, kayaks, or bikes, but will add a 4-wheel dimension to exploring new pursuits and help us get to those more distant geocaches.