AK ROAD TRIP, in memory of...

Sun-Mon, 6/30-7/8/2013.  Traveling east HIGHLIGHTS.....

7/1--HAPPY CANADA DAY!  Every province of Canada that we have visited are unique and the people are friendly.  Hope to visit the rest.  Backtrack through Icefield Parkway and it appears so different with the melted snow and ice.

 Arrive at campsite after 10 hrs of driving and try something new for dinner.... toasted english muffin with sliced spam, Yes! spam, topped with mozzarella cheese (melted in microwave).  Not bad for late night hunger pangs.

Next day ... up early, throw off the bed covers, stretch, feet on the floor...WATER LEAK!  Mr. Fix-It finds and repairs a hole in the incoming water hose.

 Hwy93S to Hwy95A through US Customs into northern Idaho! and to Blue Lake RV Resort in Bonners Ferry.  The next three days...  TIM DOWN...not feeling good.  Hang out at campsite.  The tiniest dragonfly is just as awesome as a giant bull moose. 

7/4...HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!!  Pancakes and bacon for breakfast..ummmm.

7/5...Drive into the town of Sandpoint and find Urgent Care Clinic  Five hours later, prescription meds for Tim.  Drive 20 miles Hwy200 to Hope.  Beautiful Beyond Hope RV Resort is on the lake with deer and beautiful sunsets. Hopefully Tim (and me) will get a good night's sleep. 

7/6...WHO IS 4 YRS OLD TODAY? MEGAN!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!  Lots of love,  Grandpa and Memaw.  Hwy200 to Hwy2 into Montana and settle early at Columbia Falls RV Park.  Tim is feeling better...grilled steak, fried onions, bacon and potatoes, and beets.

7/7...Glacier National Park...only touched the surface of this great park.

Is that Tim getting on a bus? 

7/8...Mail for us at Shelby, Montana, PO!, It's Patrick's book Should This Octopus Have Fewer Legs ?  A page from the book is posted right away at Mike's Thriftway! and the postings will continue throughout the northern US!

Our anticipated route for the next week will be northern North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin Michigan...through Ontario, Thousand Islands, NY and LI !   The magnitude of this journey will be 12,500+ miles.  All the words to describe this unforgettable experience are throughout the blog.  What an amazing roadtrip!  You appreciate the simple life, meet wonderful people and visit interesting places.  "A romantic tale of two people living and wandering in a home on wheels."

Rest assured, we are not RV junkies.  Our home is in a lovely village with great neighbors and friends that we miss.  We can't let too much time go by without seeing our beautiful and loving grandchildren!  ---



 

Ryan (6)

Megan (4)

Benjamin (18mo)



Nathan (7)

Garrett (4)

Caden (1mo)

And, as always, we miss our big kids-- Andy (congrats again to the MBA graduate!),  Eric and Susan (can't wait to see all the family + new addition!), Patrick and Daria (good luck with your new book!), Kate and Mike...Erin and Rob (looking forward to our Vermont time in August!), Cory and Hannah (you're getting married in October!)

Thanks so much Timmy and Jess for taking care of our home and pets!  Moose--miss you, we're on our way!  Thelma and Louise--hope you're still laying eggs.  There is sure to be more fishies in the pond.

Every time someone you deeply love is gone, you feel an emptiness...silent grieving.. achy heart...and memories.  We loved Zack for all 14 years of his life and losing him before this trip was very hard.  Zack was such a treasure!  He was a kind soul and he loved everything and everyone. 

He loved his pool in the summer and the Vermont snow in the winter. 

Always a HAPPY face  (well, not always!).















Zack never hesitated to jump into a vehicle as long as he would be traveling with us.  RV adventures were his favorite.

 

There are as many photos of Zack as a 1st-born child.  As part of the family with us, that was the case. 

This Alaska roadtrip is dedicated to-- and in memory of.....ZACK.


Miss you buddy! 

A RARE CATCH

.... Tues-Sat, 6/25-29/2013 .   Wait in line to board the MV Columbia. It's easy to get lost on this boat!  Do we sleep on the observation deck in lounge chairs under the heat lamps?  Prepared ones have set up their tents.   Date night for us-- delicious king crab leg sandwiches for dinner and the movie The Amazing Spiderman at the theater.  

Luck has it, a cabin becomes available...and Tim has his woobie.

Beautiful scenery on the water...

Next am, breakfast of mushroom & onion quiche + french toast....


and at 2pm, arrive at next island and town.

KETCHIKAN -  a city on Revilla Island in the heart of 17-million acre Tongass National Forest.  The world's largest collection of totem poles is found here.  It's a popular port for cruise ships.  Downtown's main drag is taken over by tourism.

Drive 14 miles to Clover Pass Resort.  Great location!  Scenic and friendly staff.  Boat rentals for those who want to get out into the water and try their hand at catching fish.   YOU BET!   Grilled baby back ribs, mashed potatoes and veggies. 

Next morning, pack up lunch and supplies...we're going fishing!!

 Was it mentioned there are 5 species of salmon?  King (chinook), silver (coho), reds (sockeye), pink (humps), and chum (dogs).  So excited...it's not the Time Bandit but this 20 ft bow rider skiff with 90 hp will work out just fine for this sunny, 70 degree day.   

Line, hook and sinker for catching halibut.  Down for 5 min and catch one!...a 32" halibut.  WOW.   Catch and release a few others. 

Another one?

WHOA, what's this unusual looking fish?  Call into harbor for answers.  It's a 2ft yelloweye rockfish (red snapper).   A rare catch.  Limit is one catch per year.

A wonderful relaxing FUN scenic day on the water!
Have fish processed and keep 2 halibut filets for dinner.  YAY.    Side dish?  Cook chopped bacon and green onions.  Add what's left in the freezer....2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes and a cup each green beans, carrots, and corn.  Cook til crispy.  Really good! 

In the am, pick up 4lbs processed fish.  Drive into downtown Ketchikan for a few hours and arrive at dock for ferry to Prince Rupert (BC).

 Leave port at 3:45pm.  Goodbye Ketchikan.  Goodbye Alaska......

A bit melancholy....we're leaving Alaska and realize what a wonderful, adventurous time we have had.

Arrive in Prince Rupert, BC,  at 11:15 pm.  Change to BC time 12:15am.  A 45-min wait in line at US Customs.  It's dark, a bit rainy.  Drive til we can no longer keep our eyes open and pull into a rest stop after 1am.

Sunlight through the shades wakes us up.  Open the door and..oops!  The sign says no overnight parking. 

Onto Yellowhead Hwy16E at 8:30am.  Misty, foggy in mountains.  Scenic nice road with Skeena (means "river of the mist" in First Nations language) River on one side, RR tracks on the other.  Tim catches up on sleep.


 Stop in town of Terrace and find a Farmers Market! and a flat tire! Hmmmm? Each go our own way and come back happy. 

Surprises down the road that you don't want to happen to you!  An RV towing a jeep careens off the road into a ditch.    A vehicle makes contact with a moose crossing the road (pic too graphic to post).  

Arrive in Telka and set up early at Ft. Telka Riverfront RV Park.  River is too high for fishing.  Take care of laundry and enjoy dinner of grilled ribeye, mashed potatoes and beets. 
WE'RE ON THE WAY HOME.... plan the route.