WHERE WERE YOU THIS SUMMER??

For some of us summer has been all about adventure, travel, new places and new friends.  Some of our members were at the International in Bozeman and then on to other places.  Some of us joined one of the great caravans that take us to places others dream about.  Some of us traveled on our own.

Our summer travels were the latter.   We had talked about Alaska for several summers and this year we headed north to this amazing place.  Careful planning, good travel aids and reference material and a willingness for adventure makes this trip well worth making.  

A few hiccups along the way like blowouts in Kentucky and Illinois and loosing a wheel in Minnesota had us questioning our judgement to make this trip.  It wasn’t like the tires were old or badly worn.  They were almost new.  Losing a wheel was the real shocker.  Someplace in north central Minnesota along I-90 lies an aluminum rim with a very new tire..  The lug bolts were all broken off.  Oh well!!

Driving the Alaska Highway is a new experience..frost heave, construction, rain and mud.  A never ending cycle.

We met a fellow Airstreamer with a 25′ Argosy in Dawson Creek.  Traveled  with them for a couple of days.  We ran across them several more times during our time in Alaska.

As luck would have it this was one of the coldest and wettest years on record.  Needed the furnace to take the edge off in the morning.  We did put in a good word with Santa and Mrs. Claus at North Pole.   You can expect goodies in your stocking this year.

The day we visited Denali National Park the visibility was the worse they had experienced in 2 years.  It didn’t stop our enthusiasm to experience this  magnificent national treasure.  Our shuttle driver told us he was glad when we started back from the new Eilson Visitor Center.  The ride was made exciting when the bus blew a tire and we waited to get transferred to a different shuttle.  The brown bear that wandered across the road at the turn around was a real highlight.   Oh ya…..did someone say moose.  We caught 2 bull moose munching on the willows as they stopped to enjoy this treat.

The boat tour at Seward was amazing.  Although a bit overcast, the many sea creatures and birds were a memorable view.  We got a real show as we watched the calving glacier creak and groan before crashing into the water.  It is hard to believe that 1200 year old ice flows from the ice fields to finally break off and fall into the water. 

At Homer we watched fishing trawlers filled with Halibut being off loaded for the markets in the lower 48.  Halibut is great and we didn’t miss several opportunities to eat our fill. 

Then there is Stewart BC and Hyder Alaska off the Cassier Highway.  A place where Highway 37A ends in Stewart BC. It is like stepping back in time and across the border, Hyder is 100 residents and one old F___.   There is no US customs station at the border crossing between Stewart and Hyder, but you must clear Canadian customs each time you travel from Hyder to Stewart. 

A trip to Hyder would not be complete with out a stop at the "Bus" seafood eatery, an old blue school that serves as a kitchen and 3 outside tables and a small inside building for seating.  Diane serves the freshest Halibut you can sink your teeth into.  Her husband catches all the seafood she serves. 

We were told that the only bank for Stewart and Hyder closed a year ago.  Now business people travel 140 miles to do their banking. Now that’s living in the sticks!!  

One of the great wilderness areas just outside of Hyder is Fish Creek in the US National Forest, a place where salmon come to spawn.  The bears love it and the US Forest Service has a platform to view the excitement.  The day we visited we were entertained for almost an hour as a brown bear demonstrated his speed and hunger for fresh salmon.  They are amazing fisherman and can consume a 4 pound salmon with little effort.

As we write this blog enroute home, we are enjoying some great wine from our stop in Olive BC in the Okanagan Valley. We hope this snapshot of our Alaska trip will wet your pallet to consider this memorable adventure.  

August 31 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »