SUMMER CAMP HAINES ALASKA 2010

Sunday, September 26, 2010

LAST POST - THANKS FOR FOLLOWING

We are glad to be home but it is hard to leave such a beautiful place! If you ever get the chance to travel to this area of Alaska you will not be disappointed!

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING OUR BLOG!

Bob and Dena

9-24 - FRIDAY

Today we got up at 4:30 a.m. - nervous, I guess. Quick breakfast and headed down the road in the dark. We crossed the border to the U.S.A. about 6:30 a.m. Drove about an hour and parked for a nap. We got home about 1:00.

9-23 - THURSDAY

Drove 10 hours again. It started raining about 3:00. We stopped in Hope, B.C. for the night. Got fuel, ate dinner, then parked for the night. It poured all night!

9-22 - WEDNESDAY

Up early and left by 7:30. Headed south again on the Cassiar Highway. The Cassiar is 450 miles. Last night we were camped at the halfway point. The next turn was east on Yellowhead Highway headed to Prince George. Time to put the camera away. We are now on a two lane highway (with stripes), power lines, and billboard signs, and small towns. We saw one grizzly bear in the morning and three black bears in the afternoon. Today we drove 465 miles and 10 hours. Staying in Vanderhoof, B.C. at an RV park.

GRIZZLY ALONG THE CASSIAR. IN THE PICTURE BELOW HE WAS STARING RIGHT AT ME ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN HE SPUN AROUND AND LEFT. THIS PICTURE IS ALL I GOT!

US PARKED ALONG THE CASSIER - READY TO BE HOME!

9-21 - TUESDAY

26 degrees out when we got up! 17 degrees when we got out on the Alcan. Some of the smaller lakes are already frozen and we hit freezing fog at one point. We turned south on the Cassiar Highway (Highway 37). This road is always a challenge. It is always under construction due to the harsh winter. The speed limit is 40-55. The Cassiar was closed earlier this summer for a forest fire. It is in pretty good shape right now. We drove 373 miles today. Stayed at a Provincial Park on Kinaskan Lake which is about 75 miles south of the town of Dease Lake.

9-20 - MONDAY

We both slept 9 hours last night! It was 33 degrees out when we woke up and 49 inside! We built another fire and finished packing up. Jen from the Parks Dept. came out to tell us goodbye. Then she went off to clean toilets which Bob was happy to let her do! We went down to the ferry terminal and waited an hour and a half to board. Louie and Matt (the guys that count fish at the weir) circled back and came to tell Bob good-bye. We were the first to board the ferry which of course means we were the last to unload. It only took about 10 minutes to unload everyone. In Skagway we made one stop at the T-Shirt Store, then drove the South Klondike Highway and ended up at Teslin on the Alcan Highway. Teslin is in Yukon Territory, 140 miles southeast of Whitehorse. 181 miles today. Clear blue sky but cold and the fall colors are beautiful. Got fuel and had dinner, and lost an hour on the clock because of the time zone change.

PICTURE DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE!

9-19 - SUNDAY

We had a BIG fire in camp this morning and used up the rest of the wood. Then went to town for showers. We stopped by the ferry terminal to check on taking the ferry from Haines to Skagway with the trailer. We have never done that before. We bought a ticket - $207 for the truck and trailer and 2 passengers. That is the charge for 44 feet of vehicle and 2 passengers. At 2:00 we went to the Rangers house for a BBQ with other park employees. The Ranger lives on Lutak Road right outside the park. At 5:00 we all went down to the boat launch and went around the lake on the flat bottom pontoon boats - just like tourists! A good time was had by all!

BMJ - LOOKING GOOD!

ALL OF THE CUBS ARE BIGGER !!

9-18 SATURDAY - ARRIVED IN HAINES

Today I rode the "fast ferry" from Juneau to Haines. The Fairweather travels at 36 knows and takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to get from Juneau to Haines. Bob picked me up at the terminal and we went to camp to unload my stuff and his stash of goodies and newspapers. Then we went to town to drop off more supplies at the parks building. The weather was gorgeous and we wandered around town and down at the boat dock for awhile. Then had a late lunch at the Light House Restaurant (halibut of course!). Stopped at the store then back to camp. Bob took a little nap before we went down to the river to watch for bears. There were 9 on the river tonight.

FERRY RIDE - JUNEAU TO HAINES

THIS IS THE FIRST THING I SAW IN CAMP!

THIS IS THE SECOND - THIS BEAR PRINT IS RIGHT BELOW THE "ROCK".

HAINES HARBOR

THIS STELLER JAY WANTED TO SHARE MY SUNFLOWER SEEDS.

9-17 FRIDAY - TRAVEL DAY

Today I flew from Portland to Seattle, Seattle to Ketchikan, Ketchikan to Sitka, and Sitka to Juneau. Arrived at my hotel after 8:00 pm. Up again at 6 am to be at the ferry terminal by 7.