Nine Mile Falls, WA-3-31-07

Pic: Pat, Mike, Scott Jouppi

3-31-07-Saturday-60503-32-Nine Mile Falls, WA-Overcast temp +44@ 0830

Scott and Pat used to live in Alaska, where Scott was Shawns teacher a long time ago. We visited with Scott and Pat until after lunch. Scott got to talk to Shawn and Jason. Then we went to Uncle Tim’s(my brother, we just call each other Uncle), house about 28 miles away. We got to see Jan (Uncle Tim's wife), Tim Jr. (there son) and his wife Rebecca. The visit lasted until about 2000. I haven’t seen Tim Jr. since he was a little boy probably in 1978. We are staying in a RV park in Spokane, WA. Thanks Scott and Pat for having us at your home.

Spokane, WA temp +42 @ 2300

Snoqualmie, WA-3-30-07

Pic: Metal horse sculpture at Vantage, WA.

3-30-07-Friday-60205-298-Snoqualmie, WA-Sunny-temp +47 @ 0700

4 deer, 8 hawks

There is a wood carver shop we need to stop at next time we’re in Snoqualmie. We also stopped at the Candy Factory on Main Street and bought some taffy. We went to Jay St. Charles house and visited with him for about 2.5 hours. Jay St. Charles is one of two sons of Glen St. Charles who hunted with Fred Bear of Bear Archery. Glen, Fred and a couple of other guys hunted the Little Delta River in Alaska back in the 50's. I shot three different bows that he had made and they all shot very well. Roxanne received an archery lesson on how to shoot a bow and I think she surprised herself on how good she was shooting. Jay’s dad Glen is doing well and he is now 96 years old.

We finally made it to Scott and Pat Jouppi's house after stopping along the way to take some pictures. It was nice seeing them both; it’s been a long time. We talked until midnight.

Nine Mile Falls, WA temp +45 @ 2400

Ferndale, WA-3-29-07

3-29-07-Thursday-60041-164-Ferndale, WA-Sunny-temp +38 @ 0800

Saw 2 bald eagles, 1 hawk

We caught up on some house duties the drove south to Camping World in Fife, WA then north to Snoqualmie, WA and camped out in the hospital parking lot. Call Scott Jouppi to let him know when we would be at his place tomorrow. Scott gave me Jay St. Charles phone number to call him in the morning. He only lives four or five miles from where we are camped. We will pay him a visit and see his bow shop.

Snoqualmie temp +54 @ 2200.

Surrey, B.C.-3-28-07

Pics: 1 & 2) We saw this old farm house setting in the middle of a field, with no drive way. If it could only talk.

3-28-07-Wednesday-59949-92-Surrey, BC-Partly cloudy-temp +32 @ 0700

Saw 1 eagle, 2 hawks

In Surrey we went to visit the owner of Hi-Lite truck accessories & performance center in Surrey, his name is Harry Woolford. Harry is a very nice fellow and we talked about our idea of putting a Bigfoot trailer on our Unimog, a poor mans expedition camper. Harry’s company builds a lot of quality truck accessories but could not help us with the Unimog.

We decided to go and visit Hans Mross, owner of Mross Import Service. We meet Hans a few years ago when I ordered my first Unimog. Hans had moved about 4 or 5 years ago and it took awhile to find him because of bad directions. Hans remembered us and we had a nice visit, talking about Unimogs, guns and our idea about the Bigfoot. We may have Hans do the frame extension and mounting of the Bigfoot.

We finally crossed the border at 1830. The customs people had us pull over and go inside. They wanted to know what kind of food and meat we had bought in Canada. The only thing they confiscated was an open package of bologna because it had beef in it. We found out that if you had any wild game meat that you may be carrying, they could confiscate the meat unless it was packaged by a company in Alaska with their company name on it. The reason is they don’t know where you got the meat. So, don’t take a chance if you package your own meat.

We stayed the night in Ferndale, WA at Nor’ West RV Park.
Ferndale temp +32 @ 2330.

Armstrong, B.C.-3-27-07

Pics: 1) An avalanche tunnel that keeps the highway open when a avalanche goes over the top and on down the mountain; 2 & 3) In Surrey, BC, we found a propane dispenser that is similiar to the gas/diesel pumps (but an attendant still has to fill the propane tanks).

3-27-07-Tuesday-59682-267-Armstrong, BC-Overcast-Temp +30 @ 0730

Saw 1 rabbit

Today it started being overcast, then sunny with a high of +58. We went over a pass with an elevation of 5660 feet. There was quite a bit of snow and the temp went from +58 to +30 in about 3000 feet. Stopped at a Bigfoot dealer and looked at the new model trailer for this year. Arrived at Surrey, BC at 2030.

Surrey temp +42 @ 2100.

Armstrong, B.C.-3-26-07

3-26-07-Monday-59667-15-Armstrong, BC – Sunny-Temp +36 @ 0830

We stayed in Armstrong today. The high today was +60. Found a nice little place for breakfast that cost only $2.99 and lunch is only $4.99. Went to Big Foot industries to take a tour of their factory. They make campers for pickups, and pull type trailers.

Armstrong temp +36 @ 2200.

Prince George, B.C.-3-25-07

Pics: 1) Terrain along the way to Kamloops; 2) Michael when a small hail storm hit while we were taking pictures at Kamloops Lake; 3) one of the eight bald eagles we saw today.

3-25-07-Sunday -59271-396-Prince George, B.C.-Sunny-Temp +25 @ 0730

Saw 8 bald eagles, 4 trumpeter swans, of geese.

When we left Prince George there was a new light snow on the ground. We had lots of sunshine, some cloudy skies, and a small hailstorm along the way. The country from Prince George to Kamloops, British Columbia goes from mountainous, to high desert, to mountains, to farming. We saw some muskrat pushups, beaver lodges, and our first Badger Xing sign. It is definitely breakup in this part of the country.

Armstrong temp +40 @ 2130

Dawson Creek, B.C.-3-24-07

Pics: 1) Mile "0" of the Alaska-Canada Highway in downtown Dawson Creek; 2) some of the milled logs waiting to be made into lumber.

3-24-07 – Saturday – 59002 – 269 - Dawson Creek, B.C. – Sunny – Temp = +30 – 0730

Saw 2 moose

We had a very nice day in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. We took a few pictures of the mile “0” marker with the motor home driving by. We also took a lot of pictures of the paper mill stockpile of logs - millions and millions of them. We had lunch at the White Spot; it’s on Route 2 going south and is a good place to eat. We crossed the Rocky Mountains going through Pine Pass and took a few pictures of the highway and snow. Arrived in Prince George, British Columbia at 1730. Stayed at Southpark RV Park, 10 minutes out of Prince George on the Caribou Hwy (#97S).

Prince George temp +32 at 2130.

Fort Nelson, B.C.-3-23-07

3-23-07-Friday-58719-283-Fort Nelson, B.C.-Overcast, Temp +24-0830

Saw 6 moose. 5 of 6 we saw between Fort Saint John and Dawson Creek.

Stayed at East End RV Park. After breakfast at the Fort Nelson café we found the library and caught up on our email stuff. Got a late start “Proceeded On” at 1400. It was a beautiful sunny day to drive. The highway has a lot of up and down hills between Fort Nelson and Fort Saint John. Arrived at Dawson Creek at 1930. We have driven 1808 miles according to the GPS. Dawson Creek temp +32 at 2330.

Watson Lake, Yukon-3-22-07

Pics: 1) Buffalo herd; 2) buffalo; 3) Mike in Laird Hot Springs.

3-22-07-Thursday-58395-282-Watson Lake, Yukon-sunny-Temp +28-0930

Saw 35 Buffalo in one herd, 20 Buffalo in a second herd, 6 Caribou, 1 owl

The temp got up to +44 today. Stopped at Laird River Hot Springs and went in for a dip and did it ever feel good. Two days ago it was -20 at the hot springs, right now its +40. We saw the northern lights just out side of Fort Nelson, British Columbia.

Fort Nelson temp +26 at 2300.

Whitehorse, Yukon-3-21-07

Pics: 1 & 2) The signpost forest in Watson Lake.

3-21-07-Wednesday-58113-324-Whitehorse, Yukon-Overcast, windy-Temp +18

Saw 1 cow moose

Had a problem with the generator and got it solved before leaving Whitehorse. We left Whitehorse at 1100 for Watson Lake, British Columbia driving through a couple of snow showers, but the roads are in very good shape. Arrived at Watson Lake at 1730 and parked out in front of the Petro-Canada gas station for the night.

Watson Lake is famous for it's Sign Post Forest. It was started by Carl K. Lindley from Danville, Illinois a soldier in 1942 when he was helping to build the Alcan highway. He put up a sign that said his home town was 3,565 miles. Today there are 61,298 signs in the forest. They encourage everyone to put up your own sign. In 1992, for the 50th Anniversary of building the Alcan, they brought Carl and his wife to Watson Lake. He could not believe what he had started and I am sure that he was very pleased.

Happy Birthday, Hailey! (today)

We also received the great news that we have a new granddaughter, Elenore Rose Scott, born last night (03/20/07) to Roxanne's son, Scott, and his wife, Emma. We will be seeing them all soon.

Still over cast, Watson Lake temp +21 at 2015.

Tok, AK-3-20-07

Pics: 1) The Alaska sign on the Alaska side of the border; 2) The US-Canadian border, with the mileage sign in Alaska territory and the cleared line in the trees where the actual border exists (and is cut on both sides of the road as far as the eye can see-and beyond); 3) the Yukon sign in Canada.

3-20-07 – Tuesday - 57726 – 387 -Tok, AK - Sunny & cold - Temp -10, low -20

Saw 2 caribou, 1 cow elk

Left Tok at 1030, crossing the US-Canadian border at noon (had no problems). The temperature was +6F. There were millions of bunny tracks along the highway in this area. Arrived at Whitehorse, Yukon Territory at 2030 and parked at Trails North Hotel, 4 miles north of Whitehorse, for the night. I was thinking about how many trips I have made up & down the Alcan--I made a one-way trip in 1970, a round trip in 1978, one-way trips in 1994, 1996, 1997, and a round trip in 2001, 2003, and 2007. A total of 6 round trips up and down the Alcan. This will be Roxanne's third round trip on the Alcan. Whitehorse Temp at 2300 +16, windy.

Palmer, AK-3-19-07

Pics: 1) Matanuska Glacier; 2) Wrangell-St Elias National Park as viewed from east on the Glenn Highway, driving into Glennallen, AK.

3-19-07-Monday-57434-292-Palmer, AK-Sunny & cold.

Saw 1 moose.

We are trying to only drive during daylight hours so we can enjoy the scenery more and take pictures for the website. We left Palmer at 1115 but stopped a few times to take some pictures along the way. We arrived in Tok at 1930 and had supper at Fast Eddie’s, filled the gas tank and camped in Fast Eddie's parking lot. Tok's Temp. -8 at midnight.

Palmer, AK-3-18-07

3-18-07-Sunday-57422-12 – Shawn’s house-Sunny & cold

Wished Happy Birthday to Kyle (grandson) (today) and Erin (tomorrow). Fixed spare tire rack, put in carpet, and insulated bedroom windows in RV. Had supper then left Shawn’s at 1930. Last minute shopping at Carr's then, since it was so late and getting dark, we camped the night in Carr’s parking lot in Palmer. Thanks Shawn for your help with our motorhome.

Anchorage, AK-3-17-07

3-17-2007-Saturday-57376-46-Anchorage, AK-Sunny & cold.

Saw 5 moose.

We left Jason's house and headed over to visit with Jenny & Tyler. After a quick visit we followed our noses to Shawn and Erin’s for a day or two visit before leaving the state. Thanks Jason for putting us up when we come to Anchorage.

Anchorage, AK-3-16-07

3-16-07-Friday-57335-41-Anchorage, AK - Sunny & cold

More errands got done today and we are almost ready to leave.

Anchorage, AK-3-15-07

3-15-07-Thursday-57283-52-Anchorage, AK-Sunny & cold

We wished Happy Birthday to Shawn today. We visited with Dave & Ciesta Williams (our good friends on McClellan Cir) before leaving on our trip since he may be out of town by the time we return. More errands are done. We called Pete & Becky (our good friends who we will visit later in the journey) and to let them know we would be leaving soon (we shipped some packages to them for us as well).

Anchorage, AK-3-14-07

3-14-2007-Wednesday-57258-25-Anchorage, AK-Sunny, cold and windy

Trying to get our errands done. I took Tyler (grandson) to the orthodontist then dropped him off at Jenny's work. We said Happy Birthday to Jesse (grandson), he's 9 and saw Shawn (son) & Erin (daughter-in-law) in their car for a few minutes.

Anchorage, AK 3-13-07

3-13-2007-Tuesday-57200-58-Anchorage, AK-Sunny, cold and windy

Lots of errands to take of before "Proceeding On". I took Jenny (daughter), Tyler (grandson), Jason (son), Hailey (granddaughter), and Roxanne (wife) to dinner at the Cattle Co. for Jenny's birthday (it was actually on 3-11-2007).

Our Journey Begins-3-12-07

Pic: This picture of our house was taken on January 2, at midnight, temp -15 degrees.

3-12-2007-Monday-57035-165-Soldotna, AK-Sunny and cold

Our Journey Begins --left Soldotna at 1630, arrived in Anchorage at 2215. We are staying at my son Jason's house while we are in Anchorage.