Sunshine and Bears in pictures!

Thursday, 17 September 2009 15:35:25 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska | Canada | USA

THE BEARS!!
We find ourselves still dreaming of the Dalton and our experiences along the only highway in Alaska to cross north over the Arctic Circle, in all the glory of the Arctic tundra in the fall! Next stop along our travels was at the Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park. We have really enjoyed our time at these State Parks, which are dry camps and very often beside a lake. Phil had a successful fishing session and we had Rainbow Trout for tea and then breakfast the next day! We crossed the Border back into the States and arrived in Hyder, Alaska. WOW – it was just as good as we had been led to believe and well worth the journey! We visited Fish Creek Wildlife Site, which has a board walk for the viewing of wildlife........ Grizzly and black bears come to this creek to catch Chum and Pink Salmon which spawn in the creek, during the summer months. The spawning fish were our first glimpse of an activity of nature which we hear about, but are rarely in a position to observe. We had to be patient for the next few hours as activity was scarce, but just as we watched a pair of Bald Headed Eagles as they sat majestically in the tree – up the river came a GRIZZLY BEAR, in search of an early tea! An amazing sight – we were lucky enough to be able to watch two grizzlies as they ran through the water and grabbed their salmon tea that day. They would catch one and then leave the water to eat, before re-entering the water for another go. They both settled on three fish each........and we have over 20 minutes of video footage which we watched over that same evening at the Bear River Campground in Stewart (back in Canada!) Our hearts took a good few hours to return to a normal beating pattern as the adrenaline took hold about the sights that we have been so honoured to see. There is something exhilarating about being that ‘dangerously’ close to nature- to a GRIZZLY BEAR, who was within metres of us and could have easily come and joined us up on the boardwalk if he had so wished! This experience has excelled what we have all been waiting to see, and we all feel elated and absolutely content with our memories, photos and video footage! To be in such close proximity to a mighty and powerful wild animal – born and living free – we only hoped that these bears didn’t have a headache or a grudge to bear!! As we left Hyder, just for a bonus, a Black Bear decided to walk out in front of Nessie – Wow again! When we stayed at Seeley Lake the following night, we were all still buzzing from our ‘time with the bears!’ For many, bears are obviously just part of a way of life –but to us they are the most amazing creatures to be able to spend a snippet of their time observing! Lions in Africa could well be our next stop.......! On Labour Day weekend there were lots of children at the camp we next found ourselves at (Fraser Lake), as this would be the final long weekend break before school returned after the summer vacation (8th September)in Canada. We believe that many of the US schools went back around August 17th. So, as all the children were having a blast on their bikes and in the play area, we were ‘surprised’ when they were all advised to go back to their pitches, as a bear had been seen in the camp! Once again, this made living amongst ‘the wild’ a very real experience for us and the children too!
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 18:32:04 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [1]  Alaska | Canada

THE BEARS!!
FACTIODS: • The Tongass National Forest is nearly 17 million acres in size and is the largest National Forest in the United States. It is also the largest contiguous temperate rainforest in the world. • Stewart holds the Canadian Record for snowfall: 911.2 mm or 27 feet in one season.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 18:30:37 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska | Canada

THE BEARS!!
WILDLIFE HITS-Continued: • Dall Porpoise • Wolf • Marmot • Red Fox • Salmon – Chum, Sockeye and Silver • Stellar Sea Lions • Harbour Seals • Lion-Necked Jellyfish • Kittiwakes • Common Murres • Stellar Jays • Alaskan Black Bears • ALASKAN GRIZZLY BEARS!!
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 18:29:16 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska | Canada

and the rest!!

Tuesday, 08 September 2009 18:53:34 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska | Canada

Lots of photos to catch you up with us!!

Tuesday, 08 September 2009 18:45:58 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska | Canada

On Top of the World...............
Our next challenge was to be the Taylor Highway – otherwise known as the Top of the World Highway.....this would lead us through the Canada Border and to Dawson City in the Yukon Territory. This road was once again unpaved and more challenging than the Dalton Highway as it was muddy, narrow, hilly and windy. For the first part of the journey the weather was lovely and so the views were breath taking. The track was hair- raising in places as it passed along the very tops of the mountains, with narrow passes and no guard rails! Being right hand drive, Phil did not feel honoured at being on the steep drop side of the vehicle for much of the way – especially when the fog and snow hit, as we approached the Canadian border! Our time in Chicken was fun in this quirky old time gold mining town-the home of the Pedro Gold Dredge. We visited ‘downtown’, with its row of two shops and a western-style saloon Bar. It was very interesting to talk with the locals, and Downtown Chicken proprietress, Susan Wiren, to discover that the community now has around 50 members for the summer months and maybe as few as 5 permanent residents during those fast approaching winter months! As we had a pint in the Saloon, we met local gold miner called Kirk, who now spends about 5 months in Chicken at work and then returns to the warmth (?) of Fairbanks for the winter! There is no electricity, no plumbing, no telephone and post arrives twice a week by Bush plane- to help keep the community of Chicken alive and kicking – and long may it continue. For our final night in Alaska, we camped along the Top of the World, at Walker Fork Campground-the best state park we have found, to date. The sunset that evening was the most amazing ever – we sat around the campfire and watched as the mountain tops appeared to be on fire, with the blazing burst of colour. Our first aid kit was required (and skills remembered from the first aid course that we both did, before we left on Macswayround), as Ben managed to cut the palm of his hand quite badly, with a knife, when he was busy whittling his wood. As we were in the middle of nowhere, many hours away from a hospital – this was not an option and so Phil cleaned up, added antiseptic cream, and bandaged Ben’s hand up. Phil wanted to put a stitch in it and we think that Ben would have let him but Jemma was having none of it! Ben was a brave soldier and has begun to understand the importance of self preservation in these remote parts! The journey along the Dawson Highway up to the Arctic Circle and indeed the following journey along the Taylor highway (Top of the World) to Dawson City was a most amazing trip. We have been continuing to drive through some of the most spectacular scenery, with an array of beautiful colours – the most vivid we have ever seen in a natural setting. It has been as if we are travelling through a painted picture, for mile, after mile, after mile! We have caught the autumnal colours at the perfect time and before we get stuck in the snow (hopefully!). The camera has not stopped clicking....... We travelled through Dawson City – rich in Klondike Gold Rush history, from 1896 when gold was found. This created, arguably, the world’s greatest gold rush stampede, as almost 100,000 people tried to strike it rich in the Klondike gold fields. The town was declared a National Historic Site in the early 1960’s and is it decorated by many brightly coloured buildings and restored cabins. There are tour opportunities and many chances to try your luck at gold-panning! Back in the Yukon Territory, Canada, we camped at the Klondike River......another fire and more stew! Leaving early the next morning, we spied two Canadian moose along the water’s edge. We got some miles under our belts before stopping for breakfast with yet another gorgeous view at the Five Finger Rapids Recreation Site! It has been excellent for us to be able to move our home along with us and to change the view out of our breakfast window, each and every day! After a long drive, but beginning early in the morning (Phil says that this is easier than having to wait for the girls to wake up!), we arrived into Whitehorse and after a few chores we set up camp at the Pioneer RV Park. 1st September, 2009 saw us return south on the Alaska Highway and after a spot of relaxing fishing, our day was to be taken over by the matter of tyres! We had a blow out (actually a completely wrecked tyre) and two broken valves – all on the same day! That makes it 50% of the tyres! Was Nessie trying to go for the record or just telling us that she needs a couple of duvet days?! Hans passed us, and offered help, as we were emptying our fresh water tank, to reduce weight, while we crept along to find a flat place to change the wheel. As he was on a push bike, he was grateful for his drinking water bottles to be filled up! We wish him luck on his adventure from Fairbanks to Vancouver (for this trip!) and for the other routes he has planned in the future too. So –with a brand spanking new wheel and 2 dodgy valves, Nessie cruised us into Watson Lake for the night. We had a warm welcome at the Downtown RV Park and were able to sort Nessie’s valves out and give her another bath too! We called back into the Signpost Forest and added another Macswayround sign to the collection – one that Phil had prepared earlier-so now we do have a permanent spot in the forest and Macswayround can live on in there! As Nessie was clean and rested – we decided to hit another unpaved route along the tracks to Hyder....we found a most beautiful camp spot at Boya Lake where the turquoise waters and stunning reflections reminded us of the Croatia lakes that we know and love. The boat was pumped up once more and fun was had by all. There were lots of little islands that the children rowed to and then got out to explore! Later we met Marilyn and Al, who had bought had Angus, Dakota, four dogs and two kayaks with them. Jemma and Ben’s faces lit up, children to play with, kayaks, dogs.........who could ask for more! Jemma and Ben’s charms (or persistence?) soon won the kayaks over and they had a blast! Ben even had Digger the dog sitting on and sometimes in the kayak with him! Obiously a very trusting dog but he could jump ship if he needed to! Those four dogs were the greatest swimmers we have ever seen and absolutely loved their time in the water too! After telling Jemma and Ben that it was far too cold to swim – Marilyn was diving in with a swimming costume on and swam around the lakes for a good hour and a half. We suggested that maybe she should swim the English Channel next!
Saturday, 05 September 2009 18:16:11 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska | Canada

On Top of the World...............
FACTOIDS: • Legend tells how miners working over 100 years ago hunted Ptarmigan as a food source, but since they could not spell the grouse’s name – decided to name their new home CHICKEN instead! • Chicken was once home to 400 gold miners, but when gold was discovered in Dawson City in 1896, most of the miners went east to find their riches. • The Top of the World Highway brings travellers through some of North America’s most remote and pristine backcountry scenery.
Saturday, 05 September 2009 18:14:56 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska

On Top of the World...............
WILDLIFE HITS (ongoing list): • Gulls • Mountain Goats • Hump Back Whales • Killer Whales (Orca) • Sea Otter • Tufted Puffins • Horned Puffins • Arctic Ground Squirrels • Rabbits • Arctic Terns
Saturday, 05 September 2009 18:13:43 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska

More Alaska pics.......

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 08:14:36 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)      Comments [0]  Alaska