Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, totally worn out, shouting "Wow...What a Ride!"
Showing posts with label Adventure Caravans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adventure Caravans. Show all posts

Saturday, September 10, 2016

61 Day Alaska Caravan: Day 55-61


September 4-10, 2016

Day 55

Only 309 miles to travel today, a nice ride and for the most part on roads we’ve already traversed. An overnight stop in Nugget City at Baby Nugget RV Park. We are in the wooded area and it’s actually quite nice, water and electric only and no cell signal so no wifi, but a few cable channels.


Great spot for lunch




 Not bad for an overnight stop
Day 56

Today our drive was a 197 miles long, since most of it was on the Cassiar Highway the going was slow. The Cassiar Highway is a narrow 2 lane road, at the moment most of it has no line stripes, a bit of construction here and there but all in all not a bad road. Not many towns but lots of beautiful scenery. We arrived at our destination, Mt Shadow RV Park in Iskut, about 2pm. While the park itself is nice, there is no Verizon reception or cable tv. There is a long list of don'ts in their hand out and nothing about being welcomed to their park.



 Day 57



Today's drive was 193 miles, finally made it to the end of the Cassiar Highway. We arrived in Stewart BC around 1pm, our campground is Bear River RV Park which we are sharing with the Fantasy RV Caravan group. The park is nice enough if only the rain would quit.









After our travel meeting we headed out to dinner with our friends Jack & Dixie to a place in Hyder AK called The Bus.







Next to Stewart BC is a little slice of Alaska, Hyder AK known for it's bear viewing along the Bear River. 


 Day 58



This morning we headed out for some nature viewing. Our first stop was the Hyder dump where we found a momma bear and her cub.






Later when we came back to town we found what we think was the same momma bear and cub. 



Our friends Liz & Mike have a motorhome and tow a jeep so today they took us for a ride up to Salmon Glacier.





On our way out of Hyder we stopped at the Boundary Gallery for some fudge, it's right across the street from the Glacier Inn.




Late afternoon we stopped back at the Glacier Inn so Dave, Mike & Liz could get "Hyderized", one of us, me, had to stay sober so we could get back into Canada.


The Glacier Inn was opened in 1956 by this woman's parents. During the summer (tourist) season they are open everyday, by the dead of winter they only open on Friday evenings. 






Round two for the boys. 



Another one of those places with walls lined with money.









Day 59

Today's drive was 212 miles of rain, scenery beautiful scenery but too much rain to get any good pictures. We are finally back into civilization, our overnight stop was at Fort Telkwa a few miles south of Smithers BC.

Day 60

Up and on the road early, 225 miles to go, rain most of the way but the roads get progressively better. We got into Prince George in time to accomplish a few things. A stop at Costco while pulling the RV, not something we usually do but we managed it successfully. Onto our campground, Southpark RV and then a trip back out to Walmart for a few groceries
and Petro-Canada for fuel. Since we will be heading back into Banf NP soon we wanted to take advantage of shopping to restock. Back at the RV we got a cheesecake going in the oven and baby back ribs rubbed for our dinner tomorrow.


Our farewell dinner was held at Fore Bistro which is at a local country club. Dinner was great and the presentation put on by our wagon masters was a great recap of our trip.




Day 61

One final breakfast with our caravan family. Hugs, tears and see you down the roads, what a great group of new friends we have. The caravan adventure is over, time to get back to real life again. I will post in the next few days our thoughts of traveling with a caravan.
The End

Until next time...

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

61 Day Alaska Caravan: Day 52-54



September 1-3, 2016

Day 52

Our first full day in Skagway was a free day. The morning was devoted to maintenance work on the RV. Our living room slides have never closed tightly, today was the day Dave decided to work on them. As is usual in this lifestyle, if you raise your vehicle hood or start working on your RV guys will gravitate around. Shortly after starting Dave had lots of help dropping by, soon our slides were adjusted and closing more tightly than they ever have.

About 1pm we headed out with our friends Mike & Liz, off to the Yukon Suspension Bridge we went. This is the same ride we had done on the way into Skagway, this time though we were able to stop for Dave’s picture taking. 









After the Suspension we rode out to what is left of the town of Dyea AK, once a thriving community but now there is little trace of the people who once lived there. We ran into Jack & Dixie, more caravan friends, on the way to the old town site.









Afterwards we headed to Skagway Brewing Company where we met up with some more of the caravan members. 

Day 53

Today excursion was a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Train Ride. The train gains 2200’ in elevation in 11 miles, quite an accomplishment. The trail the train follows was at one time a gold mine trail across White Pass.








A stop at the Red Onion Saloon followed by dinner at the Skagway Fish CO finished off another great day with friends.





Day 54
Our day started early with boarding a boat to cruise the Lynn Fjord up to Juneau.








A stop in Juneau, of course a stop at the Red Dog Saloon for lunch.



A tram ride up Mt Roberts for a birds eye view of Juneau.



Then a stop at Mendenhall Glacier, with time to walk out to Nugget Falls, boy did it feel good to get a nice walk in.

Then it was time to board the boat to cruise back to Skagway.




We had a wonderful time in Skagway, we'll be on the road for 3 days to reach Stewart BC. 6 days left of the caravan.
Until next time...