Alaska Journey Day 97

Back in the Lower 48 Day

We left early from the parking lot to miss the long lines at the border crossing, and we did! We were the only people there and across in 3 minutes. North Washington is fertile farm land and fruit stands. The stands were closed as early as we passed through. We went to a campground near Anacortes. Huge trees near our site. We left to explore where we could get a repair done (tomorrow) and found a nice state park, Deception Pass. We took a hike or two and spent an early night in the campsite where I grilled another slab of salmon. Nice dinner. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

I know the some of you expected to be drafted in the first round of staff picks but do not despair as we welcome highly paid volunteers to the herd. We are waiving all fees usually charged to staff volunteers for the initial sign-up period. We need coordinators in all of the states, even those I have not found yet. Also, many other skills like antler polishing, President of Vice and Chief of Cooking. So declare your skill in the comment section and join quick as these positions will fill up quick once word gets out. More good news is that Ms. McKinley will be joining the campaign for Mini Soda and for Maine. (She wants to see where I was from, sigh, she is so wonderful.)

Deception Bay Bridges - note the other one on the left of the photo

Alaska Journey Day 96

The Contrast Day

After Prince George we left the Yellowhead and picked up the Caribou Highway first through nice farms and ranches, then forest again. The road is up and down the hills along this stunning wide valley. As we neared the end of Caribou the land abruptly changed to high dessert, barren hills no trees and irrigated fields. Heading slightly southwest now we were along the Fraser River which was deeply forested again but we were not prepared for the big surprise of a long (80/90 miles), deep, gorge with the river far below, train tracks on each side of the steep cliff and a drive that was white knuckle most of the way. Steep inclines up and down, edge of the cliff narrow roads, tunnels, twists and, as an added bonus, we hit a heavy, windy rain squall. Very few services on this stretch of somewhat scary road. I needed a brake (snick) so we stopped in a rest area and Cindy fixed a nice hot dinner. We ended a long day in the Walmart parking lot in Abbotsville, 2 miles from the entry point to the US. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Big Announcement from the Cadillac Moose Campaign 2020 of first staff appointments.

Tom, Chief of Latte Acquisition, Maple Division

BrrICE, Chief of Personal Security (Rebecca Chief of Responsible for his behavior)

Mr. Mook, Chief Security Analyst and Chief Staff Photographer

Mrs. Mook, Chief of Patience (see above reason) 

Ellary, Chief of Cookies and Cakes

Joy, Chief Personal Photographer

Rachel, Chief Adviser for Posters & Promotion 

Addie, Chief of Lettering and Personal Painter

Janet, CFO

Rusty, Chief of Communications to the HP

Becky, Chief Historian

Beth, Chief of Schedules

Kellen, Chief of Transportation

Phil, Chief of Third Tier Minions

Old General Store along the Yellowhead Highway

Slash of Yellow in a Sea of Color

Alaska Journey Day 95

Highway Daze

Big news is that we changed from the Cassiar Highway to the Yellowhead Highway. You don’t get that kind of exciting news from just any blog. We saw a black bear after leaving camp, that was neat. Long day of travel to Prince George with only gas stops and a brief walk at Vanderhoof. Not much to say other than this country is simply gorgeous and we need to get some miles in and we are!

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Mr. Cadillac will end his seclusion tomorrow with another Big Announcement. Otherwise he may not be disturbed except for Ms. McKinley or the following: 

• Ice cream

• Fritos

• Maple leaf cream filled cookies

• Toasted pine nuts

• Or special orders from Chopped

• Maple or birch lattes

We earned our blog sobriquet on this trip - 14,000 mostly two lane and occasionally paved roads

Rest stop on the highway

Alaska Journey Day 94

Northern Lights Night Day, Take Two!

The clouds rolled in and, possibly, the Northern Lightsd just did not show. At any rate we did not see them at all. We have a second try tonight. 

Down the Cassiar Highway we rolled with just two brief stops until we arrived at Meziadin Lake. We parked the trailer in a pretty spot and then set out for Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK. That’s right, back to Alaska! The drive was glorious with many glaciers on the mountains. It started with a mom and two black bear cubs crossing the road as - ready for this, Bear Glacier came into view. We ended 15 miles up a terrible potholed, washboard, steep and narrow dusty road to see another glacier. We should have skipped that one. Hyder, AK seemed like the whole town was for sale - bargain prices I am sure. Stewart BC was a bit better and more things looked as if they would last until Tuesday. There is a Canadian border crossing to get back from Hyder, none on the US side to enter. There is also a boardwalk bear viewing place run by the USFS. We did see a black bear eating a salmon. There were hundreds of salmon in the small stream. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Mr. Cadillac is in seclusion working on his campaign. He may not be disturbed except for Ms. McKinley or maple or birch latte deliveries. He has added ice cream, Fritos, lemonade and water cress (fresh only) to the acceptable interruption list. 

Look me in the eye!

Blue Wing Teal

Birds in Flight (BiF) have been hard for me to learn. These two show some progress and are nearing acceptable. I just need more practice with this type of photo.

Alaska Journey Day 93

Northern Lights Night Day, Maybe!

We reached the point on the Alcan Highway where it insects with the Cassiar Highway and turned south. The first 20 miles were narrow and OK, then for the next 50 it was wonderful, smooth and scenic - best highway we were on for weeks. At Boya Lake we stopped to take a walk, nice colors and then on to Dease Lake. We are set for a great view across the massive lake for the Northern Lakes - which have a high possibility for tonight. The sky has soft clouds and just a little overcast, so conditions are great. Now we wait.

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Mr. Cadillac is in seclusion working on his campaign. He may not be disturbed except for Ms. McKinley or maple latte deliveries. He has added birch lattes to the acceptable interruption list. 

Peek through the trees on a short hike

Morning Light on the Tangle River & Lower Tangle Lake

Alaska Journey Day 92

Leaving Alaska Day

Our camp site was about 50 miles from the Canadian border so our journey in Alaska ended early morning. We are thrilled with what we saw, the people we met, and the experiences we shared. Our trip in the Yukon was uneventful, a great line for a long trip. Gas is way up again. Paying 2.80 a gallon for fuel quickly became 5.25 across the border. We stopped at the same campground in Whitehorse to refuel, charge, empty, and shop so we can leave most cell service and other services for 1000 miles stopping at every fuel opportunity, even as it climbs to $7 a gallon. Again beautiful views across the land today - the best at Sheep Mountain where we saw about 80 Dall Sheep at a distance on the mountain. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Mr. Cadillac is in seclusion working on his campaign. He may not be disturbed except for Ms. Mckinley or maple latte deliveries.  

Just some of the colors we are enjoying

An Etherial Evening Day

At breakfast this morning along the air strip under an overcast sky, we watched two Sandhill Cranes about 50 feet from our window in a mating dance. Pretty neat. Then a fox came along and they moved out to the middle of the runway. We visited Fountainhead Auto Museum where period costumes displayed with the pre WWII collection outshone the cars. After seeing a spot near the oil pipeline with an interesting lesson on the engineering challenges, we decided to get a jump on our 2200 mile trip to Vancouver. It tuned out to be a great choice. 

As we drove into the twilight, the scenery glowed. There were blankets of deep green spruce spotted with gold and orange trees that rolled up the mountain sides. The impossibly massive mountains capped with ice and snow were various shades of red and green and grey. The many braided rivers we crossed were tinged with turquoise from the glacier melt. The open tundra stretched like an ocean blazing with red and mauve and gold. The sky behind us began as a glow, then turned yellow, then a bit of rose. The cotton ball clouds in front of us were tinged with a soft pink and finally, as the darkness deepened, the sky changed to the color of the fresh grilled salmon. Every mile was a delight and each one more compelling than the last. God is an awesome artist and architect - a magnitude beyond our best imaginations. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

I got letters from Ms. McKinley. She said to shape up, pull my self together, quit moping about and get busy. She said she wants to date with someone with ambition and goals and we can continue to correspond while I campaign. See, she is smart too! Plus beautiful. Her plan is to come when I campaign where her cousins live. Not sure exactly where, but it is in Soda. The mini one, apparently. I will locate it and add it to the many states I am finding. So far I have uncovered 26, who knew? So, I sent Brr ICE out for lattes, many of them. Now on to the staff work. I need it done by Monday cause that is the day of the traditional campaign swings. Or something like that. Anyway, joy and delight are with me again. First I will write to Ms. McK. Then back to the campaign. 

Just a hint!

Alaska Journey Day 91

A Fair Banks Day

Leaving the area of the Denali Highway we went north to Delta Junction. Little here but we stopped at a small museum in an early 1900’s roadhouse. Kinda neat. En route to Fairbanks we stopped at the North Pole. It was predictably disappointing. The Cultural Center is well done and we enjoyed the movie here. Our camp site is at the edge of a private air strip owned by the fellow we met at breakfast in Telkeetna. We went to Creamer Field to watch flocks of birds feeding before the migration starts and to a large animal research center but they were closed and we could only see some at a distance. Dinner at the Cookie Jar and ice cream at Hot Licks finished our day. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Auuuuggggh! We did not go back to Denali. We did not go back to see Ms. McKinley. What am I to do? I wrote three emergency letters to her yesterday, maybe I will hear back today. Meanwhile, I am disconsolate, dispirited and sad. Brr ICE brought me a birch latte and it is sitting on the log getting cold. No energy for staff work, no interest in being president. Sigh. 

In for a landing, appropriate when you are staying on an air strip!

Alaska Journey Day 90

A True North Day

Off we head to Fairbanks. We chose the Glen Highway, not because it was an efficient way to Fairbanks but it was out of the fire district and we did not see much in the rain and smoke on the first pass through the Glen. It was stunning. After Glenallen and gas, we headed up the Richardson Highway, bouncing across the frost heaves, toward the Denali Highway a partially paved / mostly gravel transverse of the area ending in Cantwell near the Denali NP. We only went about 22 miles on that road to a nice, remote campsite along the Tangle River. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Auuuuggggh! We did not go back to Denali. We did not go back to see Ms. McKinley. Some nonsense about fire. What about the blaze in my heart! Auuuuggggh! 

Alaska Journey Day 89

Tom’s Day Out

Mr. Light had his last day (this trip) in Alaska today. We did  errands in the morning: ATM, oil change, truck wash, propane fill, re-packing, PO and three stores in preparation for leaving tomorrow. Picked Tom up downtown and went to a couple of tourist gift shops. (If you need a tourist, this is where you go.) Lunch was at the Spenard Roadhouse, excellent. After a walk along Cooks Inlet and a final moose hunt, we dropped Tom at the Ted Stevens International Airport and headed for Freddy’s, a local market, to finish getting our supplies for the start of the trip back. We plan to go by way of Fairbanks for the best opportunity to see the Northern Lights. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

I spent the day making tough decisions. First, I opted for a French Vanilla Latte, a bold move to bolster my international credentials. Then I decided to send the Chief of Ceremonies back to Mr. Mook for retraining. I think he has some limited potential but clearly Mr. Mook needs to be more rigorous in his training. I intend to reward the Chief of C once he shows progress. I sent the Chief of Personal Security to escort him to the plane parking lot. Brr-Ice reports that it went pretty well once he got out of the vehicle and insisted that the minion get on a plane. I think they will let him fly it cause he knows the way to Virginia. Then, since I am still in the secure facility, I started my list of Things to Change once I am president. It is a long list already and includes lots of saluting. Two more notes to Ms. M but we will be together again tomorrow, … bliss.  

Morning on the Talkeetna River.

Alaska Journey Day 88

A Fair Day

The Alaska State Fair is held in Palmer just a bit north of Anchorage. Cindy and Tom enjoyed it and I found it more interesting that I expected not being a fan of carnivals or fairs. We saw some huge vegetables, flowers, quilts, animals, crafts, food and photography exhibits. Some nice work. I talked a while with a woodturner and he gave me a beautiful pen he had made. I was so pleased - really neat of him - and it will find a home on my desk for certain. We ate fabulous gingersnap cookies. A lumberjack show was amusing and some interesting craft places to poke through. Some things met my low expectations - the seafood showdown was was behind schedule and the pie contest was a major disappointment. We arrived early to see the grand array they had only two entries. Two! Not worth an hour of waiting. We all ate some interesting things including Fry Bread, and did I mention my free gorgeous pen?

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

I made the mandatory campaign swing at the Alaska State Fair. I think I was the hit of the event as people were walking around with paper Moose antlers. What a show of support. I am ensconced again in the secure facility - more cool saluting. I have not heard back yet from Ms. M. only a day so not expecting to hear but she could have come to the fair if I knew. Missed opportunity. I did write her another note … or three! Tomorrow, back to the list making for sure. 

Alaska Journey Day 87

Unique AK People Day

A day with no plans except a camping move turned out to be very interesting. The family who rented the RV to Tom invited us to stay on their private property beside the Talkeetna River. Very pretty space. Breakfast at the 1922 Talkeetna Roadhouse was not your ordinary breakfast. I ate a massive berry pancake that was as good as it was large. Cool place with community tables. The man who sat by me had just flown in, and he offered his private airstrip for our RV parking in Fairbanks. Think we will do so. We explored Jonny’s small plane and watched him take off from the original 1920’s airstrip that ends a few yards from the Roadhouse. CJH and I went to the museum while Tom had coffee in a 1968 bus while making new friends. After walking more of the town, we had dinner at the Flying Squirrel. Nice bakery and cafe with pizza nights. There was a free Friday night concert in the park. We met Patricia who lives 11 miles past the end of the road and commutes on her “wheeler.” She was delivering a galvanized bath tub to Barbara who lives in an old bus she is converting to an RV so she can go to North Dakota to work on the sugar beet harvest. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Don’t know why we had to come here instead of more time at Denali. I wrote two notes to Ms. McKinley and plunged into work to distract myself. I should have the staff list up in a day or two. Meanwhile, the farce goes on as the Chief of Ceremony continues to try the impossible and teach a caribou. Credit to him for persistence, demerits for stubbornness and time management. Really miss Ms. McK. Oh, well, back to the drudgery of list making. First on the agenda, Chief of Latte Acquisition, I just don’t have time to traipse all over town looking for birch or maple lattes.

Getting worse not better.

Ptarmigan in the Tundra

Alaska Journey Day 86

Bits & Pieces Day

An early morning short hike and mid-morning moose hunt drive (two spotted) gas fill up, coffee at Three Bears and we were off to Talkeetna about 130 miles south. We did stop to see the Alaska Veteran’s Monument. Touching. After a quick stop for a birch ice cream we arrived at the campground and set up. We explored the town looking at some of the historic buildings and cabins built by trappers in the 1930’s but saved the museum for the next day. We ate dinner at Twister Creek. A bit of gift shop looking and then we settled in for the night. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Marsh grazing with Ms McKinley was the highlight of my life. Wow. She is so special. And wonderful. And smart. And beautiful. And clever. We are leaving today because of the critical need to complete work on my presidential planning but it is so hard to leave her. She but a brave front but I expect she is crushed. The good news is that I will write to her and that we are coming back. I am just a twitter with plans and thoughts but I need to concentrate. I’ll grab a latte myself, since my Chief of Latte Acquisition has not been filled. Meanwhile the circus continues with the salute teaching. Egad, this is awful. 

The stunning Ms McKinley

TWO DAYS of training on saluting and this is what I get. You just can’t teach a caribou.

Alaska Journey Day 85

The Dog Days of Summer

Tom and I went to the Black Bear Cafe in the morning to drink coffee and work while CJH enjoyed a time with the Denali sled dogs. The kennel held more than 25 friendly, energetic dogs she viewed and petted on her tour. They love to pull and get very excited when a sled is brought out. They are considered employees of the park and work transporting crews in the remote wilderness all winter. After lunch - shared pancakes from the cafe - and some maintenance on the trailer, Cindy and I went back to the Savage River trail. This time we climbed a hill at the end and continued down the valley on a “social trail” in search of a water fall.  A social trail is one that people have worn and is not signed, maintained or publicized by the NP Rangers. We did find the cascade, and I went a bit further to see a long way down the wilderness of the valley. We saw one moose pair on the way back - the bull was a huge one with massive antlers. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

The berry date was wonderful. Ms. McKinley is wonderful. The weather is wonderful. The scenery is wonderful. Ahhhh. I need to get back to the work of selecting my staff but somehow I don’t think I can do that today. Or maybe tomorrow. She is sooo lovely. We are going marsh grazing tonight. 

Photo Credit Cindy Hileman

Photo Credit Cindy Hileman

Photo Credit Cindy Hileman

Alaska Journey Day 84

The Day on a Bus

Sounds boring like a bus trip to Scranton - it is anything but. We board at 6:30 (which means up early, temp is 28) and trundle off to Eielson Visitor Center at mile 66. It is a slow trip not only because the bus is on a gravel road and there are some very steep drops requiring a careful approach, but there are also animals to see. The animals and the wilderness are the reasons for riding this bus. The driver is accomplished at spotting and stopping for caribou, moose, bear and smaller animals with the occasional view of the mountain, Denali. So the trip takes four hours one way. At the VC we planned not to return immediately but to do a tundra hike. The trail was not available because of a mud slide from last week’s torrential rains. On a different hike with Ranger Nick, we learned about the small animals of the tundra and research done in the park. After the ranger program, we continued further down the trails and I spied a family of ptarmigans up close. Neat. Then back on another bus about 2:10 for the return trip. Altogether we saw 13 grizzly bears, 10-12  caribou & two moose. Most were at a distance. Dinner at a restaurant it is easier. Early night.  

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Big speech went very well - small but enthusiastic crowd. They love the free drinks and assorted berries BrrICE managed to get together. Also he kept the crowds at bay - he is a good choice for Chief of Personal Security. My Chief of Ceremonies did not fare as well. First he got the caribou to salute but not the Moose, and it was not pretty. He did not know you cannot teach much to a caribou. So lots to do and one semi-decent minion is not going to get it all done. Over the next few days I plan to secure my staff. That is critical. Ms McKinley was a big hit and we are going to have a mid-afternoon berry date tomorrow. Look forward to a bit of R&R after this taxing week.  

Alaska Journey Day 83

On A Clear Day You Can See Denali

Crystal clear (cold, too) morning. We drove out about 12 miles to the first view point. Denali in splendor. We explored the bus and visitor center and then a steep hike down to Horseshoe Lake. It is a classic ox-bow lake that was once the main bed of the river, Nenana. Picturesque and serene place. New bird number 30 on the hike an Alder Flycatcher. On the culinary front, another excellent meal of the salmon Tom caught. Alaskan wild salmon really is different. 

Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint

Big speech to the Moose of Denali is tomorrow. I am trying to get a large crowd together so I am offering a nice tundra water infused lilly root and winter berry beverage that BrrICE is preparing. The Chief of Ceremonies is arranging a salute to the Candidate, really nice touch. And, I almost forgot - not really, just a surprise, but the gorgeous Moose, Ms McKinley, I met and wrote to here in the park is joining me on the platform. What a day tomorrow will be.  

Alder Fluycatcher