Event Coverage North to alaska living the dream

Heck of a trip Bob! We had actually talked about a trip to the Badlands OR a trip to Alaska this fall. Cool that you get to do both. Looks like I get to have back surgery so I get to do neither. LOL

 

what an adventure. I finally figured it out. you are trying to find Santa's workshop that is why you are going so far north...

 

I am sooooooo jealous now.......I was born and raised in The Dalles. The grade you went up to get to the wonderful view of the columbia river is called the "Rowena loops". My very favorite road.
When my dad rebuilt the engine in his '29 model A in the late 30s, he drove it up the Rowena Loops for a shake down run..said it heated a little but passed the test.
The little wooded inlet on the river at the base of the loops is called simply "Rowena" after the town there. It's a great place to drink a little beer and fish. I once caught a fat bass there.

 

Every time I come through that section of the Gorge and actually time to take that loop it's so nasty out you can't see anything.
Great photos Bob, keep them coming. You might pass my friends on their sailboat Dream Ketcher as the ferry motors along. They will be in Wrangle over the 4th.

 

Man I wish I could do this trip

 

That gal selling cherries looks really happy to be there!

 

Glad to see you two have made it to the ferry !!! Will tell Tad where your at now !!!

 

So this is what a screwball looks like by a big screw. You, sir, are living the dream. Thanks for the photos for those of us who can't. Maybe I will get lost at the end of the driveway and see you at Bonneville, Torquefest, or somewhere on the road. Keep posting the pictures so the rest of us can keep dreaming.

 

From our trip in '79 in our back yard forever

 

You can have a bite @ Fast Eddie's in Tok.

 

Bob and Maggie

If your path out of Calgary heads south, please consider checking in with me in Great Falls, Montana for hospitality, rest, full shop facilities if you need to freshen up the ride.

We enjoy meeting and hosting "bucket-listers"...would love to do it some time!!

Russ V.

 

Sorry Russ: We will be taking the queens highway to Winnepeg and then home throught the twin cities.

BB

 

Let me know when your cruising thru dad!

 

Will do Son.

BB

 

We left the Bonneville Dam and headed down the gorge to the waterfall area. There a about 15 of them but 2 are noteworthy. The first is horsetail falls and the 2nd is the 2nd highest and the second most photographed after Niaraga.







The bridge up closer to the falls is part of the original roadway. NO I DID NOT WALK UP THERE.










Friday evening and the port of Bellingham Wa. we are waiting in line to board the ferry for our 3 day trip to Juneau with stops at Ketchakan, Wrangle and St. Petersberg. We will get off at Juneau for a 3 day side trip to Glacier Bay National Park.




A pretty tight squeeze while boarding.




Whoda thunk it, an elevator on a ship. Passanger cars up to the second car deck please, kinda neat.





Our palacial Stateroom. Why the hell do they call them staterooms, maybe they were thinking of Rhode Island. Actually the bathroom and shower are almost as big as the room itself.








Miss Maggie awaiting her dinner, actually we were surprised at the quality of the food and the pricing was reasonable also. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There were signs all over explaining that Tipping was forbidden by an Alaska state law.





Almost everything that goes to the communities on the inside passage must go by barge, you can see that the containers are stacked 3 or 4 high. There was one barge that had that configuration with a school bus strapped on the top of the containers.





Couldn't figure out why this backhoe boom was the only thing on this tow. Maybe going to one of the least inhabitated islands or maybe a private one.





When I did this trip in my Hippy Van "Mr. Mushroom" most of these tents and sleeping bags were occupied by kids in their teens and 20's. Now many of the folks are in their 50's and 60's. My idea of camping is a stateroom not a sleeping bag on a steel deck.




We are allowed on the car deck every 8 hours or so to retrieve items and for the pet owners to excersize their animals. The noise of the barking dogs is deafining when they realize that their time for temporary freedom is near.





The cherries were delicious and huge BTW




Approaching a narrow portion of the passage, it's amazing how close they get to the shoreline. The boat is almost 400 feet long but only draws 26 feet fully loaded.




Getting close to the 20 picture limit that is allowed.

To be continued.

BB

 

This guy had some neat totems in his front yard by his dock.





These two waterfalls were right next to each other on the way into Ketchakan.








Mrs. America in all of her glory.





A fog bank just before Ketchakan.








The totem village south of Ketchakan and some of the totems on the grounds.





A dunce totem.










Lookee here a HOT ROD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The onlyiest one we have seen so far.





World famous Creek Street which was the main drag of early Ketchakan.





Dolly's Whore House was a very popular place, and Dolly was quite a looker as well as a hooker.











Kinda neat the way they built them over the creek.





Really neat old buildings that are now restored and occupied after years of neglect.





A sea otter looking for salmon.





Getting close to the limit again.

To Be continued.


BB

 

Beautiful! I really want to go to Alaska someday

 

These are called Salmon Berries and they are good and plentiful.





The headwaters of the creek is really cool.





A bald eagle competeing with the Otter for the fish.





The early streets were paved with wood.





These steps are actually a street, the hill could only be accessed by these steps.








I must be getting old, I can't believe the size of them, 5,000 passangers is almost as many folks as the town I live in.





This is our ferry boat.





There are thousands of these little fishing boats.





See the back hoe, on top of the containers.





Great advertizing sign in Wrangle





A 310 lb Halibut that was just caught at a fishing resort in the Wrangle narrows. The captian announced it over the pa system, I assume he got the info over the radio.






A log raft in the Wrangle narrows.




Immature Bald Eagle on a light pole in the harbor at St Petersberg. It must be about 3 1/2 years old as you can see the start of the white feathers.





There is a Salmon Bake on Salmon Creek in Juneau the should not be missed, the fish is honey glazed and done over a wood fire and it is fun also.





Got to load some more pics to Picture Trail

To be continued.

BB

 

Awesome photos! Looks like a great trip so far.
When do you think you might be coming through Dawson Creek?

 

Great pics! Makes me want to go see for myself.

 

Bob K , keep the updates coming. You are in some beautiful country that is for shore. Thanks for taking us with you!

 

Enjoying your photo diary Sir, Say hi to Mrs Maggie from oz

Happy travels,

Drewfus

 

You have always been my idol but this trip is over the top !!

 

Beautiful.

 

Looks like late afternoon of the 28th, we have reservations in Prince Rupert for that night.

BB

 

Have lots of fun. and giggles

 

Fantastic trip BobK. Thank you for sharing with us.
Later,
Dick

 

Great read Bob.

 

Bob......you have reservations in Prince George, not Prince Rupert.
Bear in mind it is about four hours driving time from Dawson Creek to
Prince George, BC

 

Amazing! That ferry is pretty neat. I didn't know you could do that.