Alaskan Railroad and Anchorage and Home

8-19-12
After pictures and the fellows left for the Denali tour, Lenore and I took a walk along the river, I did some Internet in their hotel since I could get on there, but not at mine across the street, and we did some shopping in the nice gift store there.  Since the shuttle service got us to the train station a bit early, we walked over the the Welcoming Center the National Park.  It had some nice displays and we enjoyed a 1/2 hour or so of the center.  We caught our train and after some confusion, we were able to sit together.  It began to rain soon after our we left, but it was still a beautiful ride.  But the mountain didn't cooperate again and we never saw it on our ride to Anchorage.  The domed car made seeing the sights so easy and it was an 8 hour ride of pure relaxation. A young man gave a running commentary of what we were seeing the entire trip.  We even had a nice dinner in the dining car later in the day.

At about 8 p.m. we arrived in Anchorage and a shuttle bus took us to our nice hotel   We realized that we would need a second night so we even stayed in one place for almost 48 hours. It was a lovely way to start adjusting to a slower pace.  I believe we had been up at 6 a.m. or earlier, the entire convoy.  I was ready for some later mornings.

On Monday, we took at easy in the morning after a full breakfast at the hotel.  Just about noon, we took a walk and found the trolley that was suggested for an hour city tour.  It helped orient us and then we knew what else we wanted to see for the rest of our stay.  The town did not seem as big as the 277,000 population that they boasted.  We found we could walk to see most of the things we wanted to see.  After a nice salmon burger lunch, we browsed an antique shop,  had ice cream, and  ambled back to the hotel.  We decided dinner at an Asian restaurant in front of the hotel suited us fine.

On Tuesday, we again had a leisurely breakfast and then decided we would spend the afternoon at the Anchorage Museum and have lunch there.  It was a wonderful place and had displays that were very interesting on all the various First Nation peoples.  The museum lunch was near large windows and flowers were blooming there, as well.  Later we did some more gift shopping and we enjoyed waling since the day had finally turned sunny and comfortable.

We sat in the breakfast room and I did some Internet and we got organized for our trip to the airport at 9 p.m.  As we were being shuttled there, I asked the driver where one could possibly see Denali from Anchorage, over 200 miles away from the park? In the next few minutes he pointed, and sure enough, it had cleared and there it was in lovely blues and pinks, far, far away, but we did see the mountain!  I was so happy about that; of course the camera was in my purse!
 

Pretending we are in front of the Mountain!

A stuffed moose is a Moose, after all!

The train arrived and we got to sit together after all!

View from the train; it rained all day!

Cigar store Indian!

At the Cook Inlet in Anchorage

Sod roof on the City trolley store.

Flowers everywhere in Anchorage, too!

Lovely Mtns all day, a Salmon Bake and First Nation children

Lovely Mountains All Day, a Salmon Bake and First Nation Children Perform
 8-16-12

We had mostly all paved highway today so it seemed as if the drive was nicer than it had been, some days.  And then the Alaskan Range 7 the Wrangell mountains were in sight all day and they were lovely.  First we didn't see snow but then the snow did make an appearance.  Part of the day we had a stream right by us as we drove, too!

Glenallen was our destination spot this day and we heard the news earlier, that the RV park/Museum was going to have an all community salmon bake and pot luck for us.  After getting gas and checking into the Caribou Hotel, we got a few groceries and went to the RV park where many were staying.  We were just ready for internet and a bath, so we were glad that we had made the motel choice.  There was a cold wind all during the lovely potluck and presentation of the colors and First Nation children's entertainment.  The legion museum even handed out free snacks, pens, etc.  They were seemingly ready for a celebration.  Their town looked as if it were suffering from the recession with many closed store fronts, but their welcome was very generous!

Tombstone Provincial Park/ Arrival in Dawson City, YT

 8-13-12  Tombstone Provincial Park/ Arrival in Dawson City, YT

Since we were so close to our final destination this day was only  60 miles away, we were given the okay to come into Dawson City at our own pace. We did end up seeing a ptarmigan on the roadside on our way to visit the Tombstone Interpretive Center which was very interesting. I tried some herb tea made from the local plants. Tomstone Mountain is the prevailing mountain and range in this Provincial Park.

Imagine our surprise when we turned into our arranged fueling spot.  Bev Fischer had prepared homemade muffins and had hot coffee and they gave us all 15 cents off per gallon of gas.  In addition, the maintenance crew was allowed to use the station's tool shop and so everyone was a happy camper.  We ended up staying there for about 3 more hours as David correctly identified a Jeep problem and helped them fix it.  To think he was suppose to be in charge of communications, only.  But it pleased him greatly to solve yet another Jeep illness!

Later, much later, we got to our camp site at Bonanza Gold RV park. At that point I was totally ready for a dusting of myself and the ambulance so we shook bedding and swept out and then I got to the shower. BUT, after getting totally undressed and stepping in, I discovered that the shower to run,  took loonies, dollar coins. I quickly became decent and stormed out of the shower to find David standing talking to several convoy members. I blurted out my problem to hear David say he had no loonies. One of the other fellows was happy to help and the story became a humorous legend. I guess telling David, he could return my dirty underwear to the ambulance, as penance for not having coins, made it even funnier!

After a quick dinner in camp, a spinach salad with chicken breast from a can, we went to the Diamond Girty Casino for a live show.  The four dancers were terrific, the singer excellent with real stage presence and a wonderful keyboard player and drummer.  Even our leader Terry Shelswell and a maintenance fellow were pulled on stage.  It was a definite good ending of the day.

But wait, I forgot to mention that when we came out of the theater in full light at 9 p.m., we got the report and saw a picture as proof of a bear wandering up a street while we were inside.  Since the light was still good, we decided on a trip to the dome which is a very winding and steep ride up to a extremely high bluff above the city.  The entire city spread out in front of us and we could clearly see the Yukon River and Klondike join forces below.  Finally, I caught the sunset at 10:30 p.m. 

Caribou/reindeer again with solar panel to heat Center

Terry with Diamond Tooth Gertie showgirls; a singer and two others did an entertaining show

Pictures later of 10:30 setting sun, cooking by the Klondike, Bev by a caribou, and other amazing things.  I can definitely say the Alaska is behind in Internet connectivity and speed! 

 Tombstone Interpretive Center

Sunset on the Dome above Dawson City at about 10 :15 p.m.

Yukon and Klondike rivers come together at Dawson City, YT

Alaskan Veteran's Memorial and Denali Park

8-18.12

Heading North, on Sat. morning, we were soon informed that we would have views of Denali by our bible Mile Post magazine (has every detail of the roads in Alaska and on our highway). Unfortunately a weather front had come in from the West and despite early clear blue skies, the clouds just continued to build. I kept trying to find a break in the clouds as we traveled, and took some photos but in no way am I sure I didn't get clouds instead of snow.

We had an hour stop at the Alaska Veteran Memorial which was also suppose to have a clear view of our highest mountain in the U.S. I stared at the spot and watched each imagined mountain top, actually turn into a piece of dark cloud. The Memorial site was very impressive and we took some more photos of our group. This stop actually even had women's restrooms, a rariety. When we stopped for long events like this, we had very short lunch stops so it was another day of peanut butter and jelly lunches.

We arrived outside of Denali Park at our Grizzly Bear campgrounds/motel. I had bit the bullet and paid for two nights in the beautiful western styled hotel and it was lovely and warm with a fridge but no microwave. Unfortunately, the Wifi didn't work here either, so I was quite frustrated when I had some time to get on Sunday morning. Ironically, Donald and Lenore's cruise add-on to Denali, included a hotel right across the road from ours, so we met around 7 when they were retuning from the tour of the day and had a nice dinner together.

Their frustration and mine was that the add-on train left Sunday and not Monday as they had thought, so I missed a trip into the Park but instead left at noon for Anchorage. I got the laundry done and packed up my extra stuff that wasn't needed so Donald would have some room in the camper and prepared to leave in Sunday a.m.  By the time we realized the mistake, most of the friends I thought I would say goodbye to on Sunday at left for their dinners and in the morning were leaving early for their tours of Denali.  It was bittersweet, in a way, to leave the companions of three weeks.  But there will be other convoys, and I am sure we will join them.  

Dad was in the Army but from OHIO

Most of the Ohio Motorpool pose near the Alaska Veterans Memorial

The foursome briefly

The twins together for 18 more days!

Metamuska Glacier and Heartstopping Hatcher Pass

8-17-12 We headed straight West toward Parks Hwy and Denali this a.m. The road, again was paved, and incredibly, a MOOSE walked right across the road in front of us while we were still in the town of Glenallen, and I include the photo to prove it.

Finally, we see a moose close up, almost too close!

The day again was filled with mountains, mostly on our left, again the same Wrangell range.
 Our first stop was heaven for all, Sheep Mtn. Lodge. In their greenhouse they provided hot coffee and a variety of home baked goods. I had to take David his goodies, because in the bushes by the airfield we stopped at there was a junkyard which included an ambulance like ours and an old studebaker and many, many models of Volvos. Matt look for Volvo Doctor in google if you ever need parts. The cabins were lovely and flowers were totally amazing.

The first glacier we see is soon after this lovely goodie stop., the Matannuska Glacier that came very near to the highway.  It was impressive to us!

At Palmer, we were interested to know that during the depression FDR encouraged mostly MN farmers to settle in the valley and they were given a plot of land and a home to begin production of wonderful agricultural products for Alaska. Because of the good soil, long days, and relatively long growing season, the area grows huge vegetables and is the site of the Alaska State Fair.

A wagon of flowers at Alaska State Faird

Summit Lake in Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass was between Palmer and Willow and only the shorter vehicles were allowed to go. It is incredibly steep and winding roads and after we reached Summit Lake, we stopped nearer to the bottom of the pass and there was a photographic shoot of our vehicles. This pass was built for access for 1940 gold mines and the remnants are still visible.

Plane took the convoy vehicles going over Hatcher Pass.

Wild flowers for our ambulance!

We joined the rest of our group at Hatcher RV in Willow. We decided to stay at this camp even though, at the school location, showers were available. I was hopping for laundry and wifi and got neither again, but the porta potties were amazing with hot water, heater and flush toilets. And besides the RV provided a wonderful barbeque with great baked beans, potato salad, hot dogs or hamburgs and soft drinks. In the morning, we were surprised again with homebaked cinnamon rolls and coffee for free.

For a change we had our driver's meeting in the a.m and were on our way fairly soon.

All's Well that Ends Well with chicken in CHICKEN, AK

8-15-12

Top of the World Hwy. (it was)

A huge and steep dirt road hill faced us in the morning, right out of camp, and a few folks struggled to get to the top. We were now on the Top of the World highway, and indeed it was beautiful but filled with many hairpin turns and steep inclines and hills. Just before we reached Alaska, we got word from the back that one of the jeeps had rolled over! Fortunately, they rolled toward the inside of the hill, had a roll bar and even though the windshield shattered, no one was hurt and by that evening, the jeep was back on the road again. There is great wisdom in having a maintenance crew follow all the units. Until the night stop, the Jeep rode on the back of a trailer but the fellow had brought a sheet of plexiglass so the new windshield, after some straightening, was duct taped into the frame.

On the 11th day, we arrive!

Jeep had a windshield and ran by dinner.

Of course the convoy had slowed for this challenging road but then we waited for the doctor in our unit to check out the two fellows, with no scratches at all, and for us all to catch up. The rest of the day, we all reflected on our good fortune and also probably became more alert drivers. They think the fellow hit a soft spot on the side and his trailer just pulled him over.

We arrived in Chicken, Alaska at about 3:30 p.m. The first order of business in a convoy is to get all the vehicles refueled, then find campsites, and then start to relax. Four of us paid to have a young women give us a tour of old town Chicken which has been made a bit famous by the book Tisha, written by a young pioneering inexperienced, young teacher who came to to the town and then wrote a book about her experiences with the natives, the half-breeds, and the citizens. It is a good read full of the early history of Alaska, and I highly recommend the book. Her home/school house still exists but the floors are very wavy from the heaving of the permafrost, and the building is in disrepair as are all the buildings in the old town.

All of downtown chicken

Tisha's school & home in old chicken

Our friend Rooster, finds several friends!! 

 Later, we had an excellent barbequed chicken and homemade pie in downtown Chicken which is one gas station, two campgrounds and a string of buildings that house a gift shop, liquor store, bar, chicken yard, and the restaurant. Yes, I said a chicken yard, Rhode Island Reds! We had fun taking pictures of the gigantic metal chicken set up on a hill in front of the town. One of our unit leaders is nicknamed Rooster, since he has that sound of horn on his vehicle. Check out our picture. We laughed a good deal that night and some even had a few more drinks, I guess partly in appreciation of our good luck to be alive and having fun, after our earlier scare.

Returning to the Gold Rush Days in Dawson City

8-14-12

Monday found us determined to see as much of this historical gold mining town as possible. First stop was back to Fischer's gas station since the donuts she had planned to serve us finally arrived by plane at 4 p.m. The day before (thus the homemade muffins) So many of us drove back out to their station, topped off our tanks and enjoyed a second round of Klondike hospitality. The next activity was a must for mechanical types and was Dredge #4, made early in the 20^th century in Bellfontaine Ohio and shipped in pieces up the Yukon to Dawson City. We had at least an hour tour in this 3 story monster that processed the gravely stream beds to find gold through about 1966. It was an amazing machine run by only 4 men. I could now give a whole lecture on gold production but later!

We then hurried to the home of the poet Robert Service, in town, and had a marvelous interpreter give an hour talk on the life of this poet who made the Yukon famous with his poetry early in the 20^th century. Remember the poem, “The Cremation of Same McGee”? David use to be able to recite it, himself. Nearby was the home of Jack London, but they didn't have a interpreter at this log cabin. Next there was the Museum of Dawson City and I heard about using a wooden gold separator. We followed this up with a visit to the train museum next door and then the first Commisioner's home, a Mr. Black, which was a lovely home with a guide with much to add. Beautiful flowers surround this residence.

We made a stop at the one and only grocery for high priced bananas and bread, shared an ice cream, and waited for about 45 minutes to cross the Yukon River in the government proveded free ferry. We had been instructed to go to our river side campground, the Yukon Territory Provincial Campground a few at a time, since the ferry doesn't have immense capacity. Later that night we had a camp fire and ate our first somemores, which we shared with a fellow from Florida whose partner couldn't come at the last minute. This was another night of pit toilets and no water, but beautiful, wooded, peaceful campsites.

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Klondike Bar near its namesake river

Town's welcome sign and goodbye

Jack London's cabin and food storage

Robert Service's cabin.

Museum ladies demonstrate a method to find gold other than dredge or pan.

Gold rush era hotel in D.C.

Commissioner Black's residence,  1st governor of the YT.

Ferry to the Yukon Provincial park campground for the night