Sept 14 - 28 Alaska to Kansas City
The Klondike Highway
Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake - a couple of acres in size
After not seeing wildlife for a few days drove by this herd of wood bison bedding down for the night. After being hunted to the point of near extinction they have been reintroduced in the NWT, Yukon, northern BC, and Alaska
Finally made it to Laird Hot Springs Provincial Park and it was wonderful!
Glacial moraine
Folding Mountain
Loved the floral displays outside the Fort Nelson Library
Our view for the evening on Loon Lake
Prince George Costco again for gas and poutine
Decided to leave the Alcan and explore other roads
So took the one that would take us to Whistler. Drove through and camped for the night in a campground in Marble Canyon Provincial Park
Seton Lake
Camped along the Fraser River
Which was a little unnerving because of the fire in the hills across the river. We took precautions, but I didn't sleep deeply. The fire was still burning in the morning
So I enjoyed my tea looking at the view up the river instead
Matthew's view
Log jam on Duffey Lake, called Teq in the L'il'wat language which means blocked
The opposite end of Teq
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
Cheakamus River on the Sea to Sky Haighway
After an slow crawl through customs we made it to the lower 48 and North Cascades National Park where we camped along a boat ramp on the Skagit River. Had a pleasant visit with an old hippy in the morning
And then enjoyed the park, including the Gorge Powerhouse
and toured the gardens that were planted by the second superintendent of the power plant
Can you spot the ptarmigan? Right after this photo 4 more joined it
Due to construction and traffic we didn't get to Portland until late but luckily Liz and McKinley were still up for a quick visit and some yummy gelato
Since Nate and Rux would be working we decided to dawdle along the way and so Matthew, knowing my love of water falls, picked a place to stop that had some. He forgot we had been there at the start of our trip but it was perfect because that time we only did the southern few falls. After a hassle to get a parking pass (no US cash on hand) we set off for what I estimated was a three mile-ish hike. Six miles and 8 falls later we were done
I'm not used to this heat!
Arrived in Springfield in time for supper with Nate, Ruxi, and Cessna
Next day had a lovely lunch with Sarah and Alan - but no hike this time. Next day walked down to Rux's work to tour the school. Passed this place in their neighborhood -love the garden wall with it's Luck Dragon
Went to Thirsty Thursdays at McShanes and had dinner with the family and newlyweds Jake and Christina. Friday Matthew helped Nate excavate a broken sewer pipe at his house so the plumber wouldn't have to
Only to have the plumber call at the end of the day and say he couldn't make it, so they fixed it themselves
Nate and their new puppy
Obligatory stop at Wall Drug
Then at the Badland National Park
And the Corn Palace in Mitchell to check out this year's theme - made entirely from corns, grasses, and grains. The theme and mosaics change every year
Spent the night along the Mulberry Bend boat ramp on the Missouri River in Nebraska and made it home in the late afternoon.
- Four months
- 15,587 miles
- 11 nights paid camping for a total of $164.85 (includes a week in Denali NP - Thank you Matthew for qualifying for the Lifetime Senior Pass 😉)
- I'm afraid to figure out how much was spent on gas, but we cooked almost all our own meals so that helps offset that, right?
- It was an amazing adventure!
- What I will remember most is the colors - of all the summer flowers, of the fall foliage, of the glaciers, of the rivers and lakes - it was beautiful!
