Ferry, Yukon, Grizzly

We are sitting on a beautiful lake in Destruction Bay, Yukon.  The campground host said there is a grizzly which strolls through the campground evening or dawn.  I was up early hoping for a glimpse but she strolled through well after sunrise.  I was only 20 feet away when we spotted each other, she just snorted and loped off. Camera in camper.  First light.  I always try to see the east for first light, that moment when the very first rays appear. Hymns of praise and thanksgiving for the new day. 

I want to post photos, but the internet here at the campground is more than slow so I will wait.

We boarded the M/V Columbia in Bellingham, WA heading for Haines, AK.  Three nights, small quarters but larger than camper.  Amazing vistas.  Islands with NO people, porpoises, humpbacks, a few sea lions, eagles in trees along the shores and looked tiny even in binocs, glaciers, even an iceberg (the size of a VW Beatle, but the real McCoy).  Communities along the route included Ketchikan, Wrangle, Petersburg, Juno - all sea or air only access.  Haines Eagle Preserve - nary an eagle.  Scenery is really grand scale. 

Grand Coulee, Barn Swallows, Cascades

 

Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River is one mile long, has the highest capacity for electrical output in the USA, and was originally built to provide irrigation for crops.  Turbines came later with the increased demand for power. I wish I had a day to spend to go on the tour; however, the Visitor Center was interesting with lots of information.

Another beautiful campground, Pearrygin Lake State Park, WA.  Altho' the park was almost at capacity, we had a lovely corner site with no neighbors.  Campers in the West seem more mellow than other places we have been.  The photo is off a nest of baby barn swallows.  The nest is under the eaves of the bathhouse.  Grand Coulee was after the camping today.

 

We drove through the Cascades, amazing visits. There is some persistent snow on the high peaks.  Edgy roads and steep drop offs had me hanging on and sort of not looking too much into space.  Folks with big rigs were going up and over on Route 20 also. No thanks! 

 

Bellingham, WA tonight and tomorrow line up for the ferry.  I went for a long walk in the arboretum, where stately Douglas firs and huge ferns predominated. The park is within walking distance of the Days Inn where we are spending the night getting ready for the 3 days on the ferry.  We will not have access to the camper.  We did go to yet another REI, the one here in Bellingham, WA.  Bob researched where REI's along our route were and incorporated a visit to each. 

 

 

 

Almost in Idaho

 

We are almost in Idaho at a lovely, spacious campground in St. Regis, MT. There are carved bears about. We drove most of the day through rolling hills and mountains rivers and livestock.  A train line paralleled the highway which Bob says he did not know about when he picked the route. Lots of very long coal and oil trains moving slowly with three engines. 

 

we stopped at the REI in Missoula but how many photos of me outside REI does any one blog need? 

 

 

Have you seen the Big Bang Theory where Sheldon tries to use behavior mod on Penny using chocolate? It works, only now Bob says, "Look, I am not looking at the map while driving."  OK, he gets the chocolate.

 

 

 

In the morning while Bob is driving, I read the daily readings from Day by Day, then one or two other selections from books that I want to read or that I want to preview for Companions in Christ.  It's a nice way to start the day. 

 

 

 

 



Bits and Pieces

Up early as usual but it gets worse as we head west.  We change the clock, but not my internal chronometer.  Himself is in his bunk happily snoring, and as long as he is, I know I have not made too much noise puttering about in the galley, only about 3 feet away.  I did not mention that I had never been in North Dakota before.  This trip will bag my last two states, ND and AK.  A question:  Why would people live in a place like Montana, bring a trailer to a RV park and spend the summer in one place just a few feet from other "campers?"  Hardly camping, more like a summer cottage.  I suppose the freedom from chores has something to do with it, along with seeing old pals year after year. 

I have decided that folks out here are open and friendly but not bubbling over the top. This is not a criticism: folks down in the SE, will tell you their life history, aches and pains, employment or lack thereof, all in a speedy check out line at the grocery. 

Bob was excited last night.  Apparently, he discovered that there is a Golden Corral in the area.  It's hard not to eat too much at a buffet.  My own fault, I guess, I filled his Christmas stocking with gift certificates for travel restaurants.

We will maybe make Idaho today. 

North Dakota and Montana

 

 

This warning was at a roadside rest area in Montana.  OK, I'd really like to see a rattler in the wild, but not enough to risk wandering through the grassy areas. 

 

Back to North Dakota.  We stayed at Valley City RV Park, public, run by the city and right downtown.  I have found a couple of unusual places for us to spend a night on this trip and in the past in a cool little publication called Gypsy Journal.



The journal features free or inexpensive places to spend a night while on the road.  Some states allow RV's to spend the night at rest areas.  Another North Dakota highlight was the many motorcyclists heading for bike week in Sturgis.

 

Tonight we are in a private campground in Billings, MT.  All those times I have heard about Big Sky Montana, WOW. It's cloudy but I'll bet the night sky is spectacular. We have seen hardly any wildlife, disappointing.  A few rabbits, hawks, and a pileated woodpecker. We keep hoping for more sightings but may have to wait for Alaska. 

 

 

 

 

Huge REI

 

Bloomington, MN.  The shoe department is as large as our whole floor at REI Framingham. The pinnacle is really tall.  We poked around a bit, but took only a couple photos. 

 

George Sampson.  Is he still considered a brother-in-law?  He is a  

 sweet and funny guy.  We told old tales and some new ones.  I don't think we have seen each other since the 70's. 

 

 

Third try on a blog

Had some logistical problems trying to post a couple messages so I'll try this morning (at 4AM.  I guess I'm still on EST). If all the posts ever show up, there will be some redundancy.  About the photo of Himself driving with the map - I caught him with the camera.  This is the man who editorializes when he sees drivers texting or talking on phones. 

Barbara Heath has a sweet little book, Comfort Prayers, collected by June Cotner. I copied the following selection by Susan Norton. Visually, each line with punctuation should be a new line in text, but I'll condense it.  "A Miracle is Coming." 

Get ready, prepare yourself, expect it, then accept it. 
Don't get too busy, too self-concerned to miss it.
God loves to do great things in your life.