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Rambling North America
  • Rambling Bears
Jul 2017 – Jan 2018

Rambling North America

A 182-day adventure by Rambling Bears Read more
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    The memorial park to fisherman who have lost their lives in the area and the asons of anorway Hall.
    Sing Lee AlleySing Lee Alley.Just lazing around waiting for the sun to shineOne of the cool town rubbish bins.A pretty House with norwegian style shutters.

    A Break in the Weather

    August 18, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today is our last day in Petersburg and thankfully the rain has let up at least temporarily. So after breakfast we hit the streets, hopefully to see as much as possible while the weather lasts.
    Of course by the time we entered downtown it was time for coffee and cake. Once refuelled we were off again and the rain was still behaving itself.
    We headed up the hill out of town to a look out that I had read gave good views back to town and of Frederick Sound. Well ...... that was before the trees grew. Nowadays it would be a lovely peaceful place in the sun, should it be sunny. But no views. So with no stunning vistas of the town or sound to be had we walked down to Sandy Beach and walked along the pebbles for a while.
    Returning to the downtown area, we visited the local museum, just a small museum with references to their Tlingit and Norwegian heritage. The short film, "The Town that Fish Built" or words to that effect was excellent. Love learning about the histories of the areas we visit. On exiting the museum, the brollies were back in action as surprise, surprise, the rain was back.
    Lunner once again at Salty Pantry    Read more

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    Petersburg to Juneau

    August 19, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    We arrived in Petersburg to light showers, it drizzled for most of the time that we were there and we left with light showers so if nothing else the weather was consistent.
    Back on my favourite ferry to date, the Matanuska. It is another over nighter so it was time to sit back, relax and enjoy the changing scenery, What a relaxing way to travel. I am very much enjoying the Marine Highway and the Alaskan ferry system. It was a good choice for us. It was a shame about the weather in Petersburg as I had hoped that we would do a bit of forest hiking but you don't get to choose the weather and thems the breaks.Read more

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    Nearing Juneau Ferry Terminal. Mendenhall Glacier in the background.
    Our comfy but unusual room.Romeo, the black wolf that became a local identity and cruellly killed by hooligans.

    A Feather Bed and Mendenhall Glacier.

    August 20, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 10 °C

    We arrived is Juneau around mid-day. Unlike outside most Australian transport hubs and for that matter most other places to which we have travelled there rarely are taxis or buses waiting at ferry terminals in Alaska. There are courtesy phones available at the terminals for acquiring transport either public or hotel shuttles but I didn't seem to have a lot of luck using the one here in Juneau. It kept telling me I was making a long distance phone call and that that was not allowed. On to my mobile and a quick call to our hotel and a shuttle was on its way. Once the shuttle arrived it was quickly full and we were to wait until the driver returned. Our hotel's company had two hotels near each other and it appeared that tonight they were going to be full. While waiting we chatted to a delightful young local and eventually we were on our way to Grandma's Feather Bed.
    Grandma's Feather Bed, yes, that was the name of the hotel I had chosen. And why had I made that choice. Well two reasons - one because it is out of town not too far from the both the ferry terminal and Mendenhall Glacier and the other reason? The name of course. Who could not resist sleeping at Grandma's Feather Bed.
    The room was very comfy if not a tad unusual. The shower recess was a glassed enclosure opening directly into the room. No body secrets between Neil and I and just as well. The shower hid nothing! It was also a fancy spa shower that came sans instructions. Neil and I both ended up having a luke warm shower due to not knowing how to operate it!
    Once settled we called a taxi and headed for Mendenhall Glacier. This glacier is perhaps one of the more readily accessible glaciers and hence was being visited by the masses. That, however, in no way diminished the magnitude, majesty or beauty of the glacier. Of course the rain although absent for a brief period while we were first wandering the tracks around the glacier returned and we beat a hasty retreat before we were drenched.
    For dinner we walked in the rain to a nearby restaurant/sports bar. On our return I decided that I knew a short cut! The return journey was a lot longer than it should have been and the rain got heavier!    Read more

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    A glacier enshrouded in mist
    Is it a waterfall?A church? A monestary?Perhaps a lighthouse!In the fjord nearing Skagway.

    Juneau to Skagway

    August 21, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Our stay in Juneau for the time being was just a brief one. Today we returned to the ferry terminal early in the morning to reboard the Malaspina bound for Skagway.
    We reunited with Ruth and Steve for our final leg together. The ferry time had been rescheduled to an earlier time. Ruth and Steve were lucky that the ferry crew were having difficulty loading a few vehicles as they were unawares of the time change and arrived in the nick of time.
    We arrived late afternoon in Skagway, a cute little town in the Klondike National Park. A cute little town dwarfed by the huge cruise ships. This will be another town that will be good at the end of the day when the masses have returned to their ships for dinner. Mile Zero is our BnB just a short walk from downtown. Well I think anywhere in Skagway would be a short walk from downtown. She just isn't that big.
    Neil hurt his bad leg this afternoon getting the luggage down from the trolley and seems to have torn or strained his adductor longus, the muscle that stretches from the knee up the inside of the thigh to the groin and across to the hip. He doesn't seem to be able to win a trick at the moment.
    Dinner was Thai, near to Ruth and Steve's hotel.    Read more

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    In the days before billboards advertising was paianted up on the cliff walls behid the town.
    Helicopters lined up to take the tourists flight-seeingDesignated fire-ring at Yukutania Point.Gold Rush CemeteryReid FallsHistoric Skagway Inn with their beautiful veggie and blossom garden.

    Skagway

    August 22, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Skagway owes its fame to the Yukon gold rush days. When the gold fever was at its pitch every man and his dog who had been bitten by the bug would catch the steamships from Seattle to Skagway to then try and cross up over the mountains through either the Chilkoot Trail or White Pass enduring horrific conditions. The story is an amazing one and Skagway like all other gold rush towns through Alaska, California and Australia was a rough old place back in the day. It was a lawless frontier town ruled by the villainous Soapy Smith who was eventually killed in a gunfight by the town hero, Frank Reid.
    Now Skagway thrives during the tourist season, busy when the cruise ships are in town and virtually shuts down during the winter. A handful of diehard locals remain to keep the home fires burning, the seasonal workers go back home or to another seasonal job in warmer climes.
    The main street buildings have been renovated and restored to their former glory but repurposed. There is not such a need for brothels, saloons and mining equipment stores nowadays.
    Today we explored the creek behind the town where there are thousands of hump salmon spawning (haven't seen enough spawning salmon lol), crossed the river to hike to Yukutania Point, back through the town to the other end to see the gold rush cemetery and Reid Falls. We had had a relatively dry day today but leaving the falls the showers were back.
    Making our way up through the town with our dining options. Tonight the four of us dined at Olivia's Bistro in the Historic Skagway Inn. They have a beautiful garden at the side of the Inn where they grow a lot of their herbs and veggies.    Read more

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    This photo chosen for the names - Happy Ending Saloon and Morning Wood HotelDidn;t buy any but loved the names given to the fudges.

    Sunshine in Skagway

    August 23, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Another day exploring the town and surrounds. There are some beautiful hikes here but we need to keep it fairly flat. Neil's leg is causing him a bit of grief.
    The pictures can do the talking.
    Tonight was our last dinner with Ruth and Steve - The Skagway Brewing Company. Tomorrow they get on the White Pass and Yukon Route train headed for Whitehorse. It has been a great deal of fun travelling with those two - great company and hilarious conversations. We will certainly miss their company.    Read more

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    Leaving Skagway behind.

    Ferry to Juneau, Our Last Ferry Stop

    August 24, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 12 °C

    Ruth and Steve headed off on the next leg of their journey early in the morning and after an easy start to the day we had another wander around town before catching the Fairweather to Juneau. This ferry was a catamaran and a lot faster than the Matanuska and the Malaspina.
    We have an Air BnB in Juneau, a small and simple studio on the bottom floor of a beautiful home on the hill above the downtown area. The pine covered hills of Juneau are directly behind and above. It's in a great position and guess what. It's raining! Who'd have thought. But we are Alaskan now and walking in the rain has become second nature.    Read more

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    Downtown Juneau

    August 25, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 11 °C

    We saw the sun break briefly over the hills above us before the clouds and mists closed in again. The showers were back but not too heavy.
    Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is a small city spread out between the foreshore and the mountains that line the coastline. She is a wet city, possibly the wettest in Alaska and hence extremely green.
    Just around the corner and down the hill a little we found an organic supermarket. Yep that time again. New Airbnb means a grocery shop. One of the downfalls of travelling and doing your own cooking is that some of the essentials of cooking you are continually buying as it is too hard to take any leftovers along you. This is particularly so if you are not going to another for a while.
    So groceries out of the way we wandered down the hill browsing the many tourist traps in the old town to the harbour. We were able to jag tickets for Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer’s Glacier tomorrow with Adventure Bound. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute. Thankfully we made it by the skin of our teeth with just a few places left. Along the waterfront we came across a cute statue of the hound, Patsy Ann. Rather than repeating the story the plague relating it is in the photos.    Read more

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    Tracy Arm Glacier

    August 26, 2017, Coastal Waters Of Southeast Alaska And British Columbia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Stormy skies and showers greeted us this morning. We stayed relatively dry during the walk down to the harbour so all was good.
    The trip out to Tracy Arm Fjord was a three hour journey through heavy swells. The captain of the boat, a female, handled the trip with flying colours. The deck staff handled the growing number of sick stomachs with tender care.
    Once inside the fjord we saw our first icebergs. Bright blue and against the stormy skies they looked stunning. Continuing up the fjord we passed a massive waterfall with the captain bringing us right up close and personal to the water tumbling into the fjord, spray flying.
    Then the glaciers. It is hard to describe the impact that seeing these marvels of nature has on you. These were tidal glaciers and we were in the wilds witnessing these beauties. We were all in awe. The captain eased her way through the floating ice to bring us as close as she could to them. They towered above us. The second calved as we’re nearing it, the ice crashing into the water not metres from our boat.
    And to top off a magnificent day - we saw a pod of humpbacks breaching! No photos of them but the memory of the splendour of these giants is permanently etched on our brains.
    LOVE ALASKA!!!    Read more

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    Last Day in Juneau

    August 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Another overcast day! Such a shame. Juneau is such a beautiful city and I love to see it without the shroud of mist and rain. But it is what it is and we are lucky to be here, rain or nor rain.
    Today the Juneau Museum. Such a beautiful museum. Then our final downtown walk.Read more

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    Flight to Anchorage

    August 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    2pm flight today to Anchorage. The flight was under 2 hours and with a quick baggage pickup we were soon on our way to our BnB, Anchorage Walkabout Town.
    For dinner we walked to the Spenard Roadhouse. I didn’t know what to expect with the roadhouse but I guess I was just hoping it would not be like an Australian roadhouse. I was pleasantly surprised. It had a comfortable, friendly feel and was a bit like a family pub. It was relaxing and the. Earl was good.Read more

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    Alaska Zoo

    August 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Although our BnB is not that far from town it is uphill and we are trying to limit the distances that Neil walks at this stage. The bus stop is just around the corner so it was an easy decision on how to get into town to the tourist office to get our shuttle to the zoo.
    The zoo, the only zoo in Alaska, is located in the Anchorage Hills on the outskirts of town. It is not a large zoo and specialises mainly in Arctic and Alaskan animals. Most of the animals in the zoo have been injured in the wild or orphaned. The animals that remain in the zoo after treatment are those that can’t be returned to their native habitat. There were also a small handful of non native animals which were rescue animals - two of them my fave animals, the llama and the camel. The camels were Bactrian and I have never had the opportunity to see one before. The musk ox is an unusual looking animal and pretty cool. The porcupine was also really cute and the fellow they had, a real character. The moose proved to be elusive and I think that that might set the tone for us finding moose in the wild. They hid themselves right up the end of their enclosure.
    The zoo was a pleasant experience set on beautiful grounds and it was good to see many of the Alaskan animals on our bucket list that hopefully we will see out in the wild but also got the chance to see at close range.
    Back in town we had a mediocre meal at a Thai restaurant.    Read more

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    The Dragonfly Guest Cottage with the Window Tree Walk Up aboveThe door to our abode. Through the door and up the stairs.Nagley"s Grocery Store. The grocery store you have when not having a grocery store.Back yard leads into the wilderness

    Train Anchorage to Talkeetna

    August 31, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    We had to be at the station an hour before the departure of 8.15 so it was another early start to the day. No breakfast for us! We had been offered a brekkie box to take with us but the crew are busy of a morning making breakfasts for the other guests so we declined.
    A beautiful sky this morning. All augers well for the journey.
    It was a good journey. There is commentary along the way explaining points of interest and giving facts and other interesting information. The young girl giving most of the commentary was a hoot. Her moose call, “here moosie, moosie”, will stay with me forever, I think. She had the entire train laughing.
    It was raining when we arrived in Talkeetna and Sarah came down to the station to give us a lift.
    Talkeetna looks to be a quaint country town, quaint and small. The Main Street is tarred and the others are dirt, or mud as the case is at the moment as they got a bit of rain today.
    Our Airbnb is called Window Tree Walk Up and it is the upstairs section of the Dragonfly Guest Cottage. Cute! And cute it is. This will do just fine for a few days.
    A quick walk down to Nagley’s,the local grocery, and we realised that we wouldn’t be doing the meals ourselves in this Airbnb. The small range of foods was definitely catering for the carnivore with lots of frozen meats and very little else on offer. Apparently the locals do their shop in another community a bit of a drive from here. So .... creative thinking is in order. The Roadhouse is a bakery and has some options for breakfast that we can eat at home. It also has a small selection of vegetarian meals and we cam scout out the other options in town. There aren’t many mind, it’s a small town but they do attract tourists during the day so there are options to explore.    Read more

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    Wandering in the rain

    September 1, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Rainy day in downtown Talkeetna. When planning the journey I chose for us to stay here because it is a tiny country town surrounded by lots of forest and river walks. On a clear day down by the convergence of the three rivers, the Susitna, the Chulitna and the Talkeetna you can purportedly get a beautiful view of Mount Denali.Today it’s been rainy on and off all day and very muddy under foot once you are out of the main stretch of town. What to do? You can’t choose the weather! Get out there and walk in it like a true Alaskan! No gumboots- a true Alaskan wears gumboots, everywhere! They are wet weather gear, formal attire, the go getting boot and too cool for school!
    Down by the rivers the scenery is beautiful, as everywhere you look in alaska, but the mountains are shrouded in mist and rain. The base of Denali looks amazing!
    We visited the local museum housed in the original school house and wandered. The old log cabins are cool.
    In the afternoon on Fridays the locals stage a concert, Live at Five. Sarah’s brother is in the band. We were enjoying it till the rain came down and it was time to call it a night.    Read more

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    Not a real moose, but pretty just the same. "Here moosie, mooosie!"
    late lunch on the deck. A good spot, good food and a good beer.Another of the local houses. Love them!Still shrouded in cloud. Denali is quite elusive!

    Talkeetna Day 2

    September 2, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    What a difference a day makes. It wasn’t sunny all day and the mud is still there but it didn’t rain and we got out and walked. Not too far off the beaten track mind due to the amount of mud but out and about enjoying the sun. Around town first taking photos of the town, along the river at the end of Main Street hoping to glimpse Denali (nope, still shrouded in cloud), over the bridge and along the another river on the other side.
    Before venturing over the rail bridge in the afternoon we ate at the Denali Brewing Company, sat in the sun and enjoyed the ambiance.    Read more

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    Talkeetna to Denali

    September 3, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Back on the train. Sarah took us to the station. She is so lovely. There isn’t a taxi service in the town as it is way too small to warrant one and the walk dragging bags through mud and along gravelly streets to the station is way to far, so her offer was greatly appreciated.
    A day relaxing on a train watching amazing scenery pass by. No moose spottings but fingers are always crossed. The train slows down when we are passing points of interest. That makes getting getting photos from a moving train a lot easier.
    We were picked up at the Denali station by a shuttle bus and whisked into town to the Denali Salmon Bake and Cabins, our home for the next few days. The Salmon Bake is a sight to see! It looks as though it is ready to slide down the hill at any moment. It has already slid down the hill during an earthquake hence the wide building tips and tilts every which way. None of the floors are level and many of the walls no longer adjoin.
    Our cabin is in a better state to its mother ship, the bake, but it is also on a down hill slope.    Read more

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    Sunny Day Hiking

    September 4, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Down to the market next door to grab our juices, yoghurt and granola for breakfast.
    It was windy and icy cold yesterday afternoon when we arrived but the sun was shining this morning and, although brisk, when out of the breeze and walking up hill and down dale it got warm. Due to it being a good day today and bad weather forecast for tomorrow we decided to hit the local hiking paths and make our way down to the Wilderness Access Centre for shuttle tickets to the Eielson Centre. I’ve been looking at the tickets on line and they are booking out fast. Today may have been a no go anyway.
    We followed the Nenana River South then went cross country to the Wilderness Centre for our shuttle tickets. Luckily we did not wish to go early as all those were sold out. With tickets in our grubby paws we headed out around Horseshoe Lake and on to the Denali Visitors Centre.
    We learned first hand today why there is a saying, busy as a beaver. On our way to the lake we came across an area where maybe twenty trees had been felled. These showed all the hallmarks of beaver activity. The lake was some distance off so what they intended to do with them only the beavers would know. There was a beaver dam across part of the lake. It’s amazing what they manage to do.    Read more

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    Eielson Shuttle

    September 5, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    We woke to a windy morning, grey and cold. Good thing that most of our sight seeing today was going to be out of the windows of a bus.
    It was a brisk walk down to the Wilderness Access Centre arriving with enough time to enjoy a cup of coffee before leaving on our shuttle.
    There are several options for getting into Denali National Park - self-driving to Mile 15 (that is as far as a private car can go), various guided tours, or the shuttle bus that has options to how far you go into the park. It was a toss up but we chose the shuttle bus to Eielson Centre, at mile 66, as it was an nine hour return trip with time at the centre before returning. It was a good choice for us as it was enough time sitting on a bus. Most of the tours are longer and there are two shuttle bus options that go further into the park.
    We were extremely lucky to have a very friendly driver who loved to talk about the park and her experiences while working as a driver. She would stop at points of interest and, although we didn’t spot a lot of animals, whenever we did she would stop and give us time to take photos. We also had two comfort stops along the way which are also pick up points on the way back if there is room for extra passengers. On the shuttle system you can get on and off along the way up to your destination.
    For me the highlight along the way would be seeing Denali. Yes it was cloudy and the distinction between the top of Denali and the sky was not crisp but we saw it. We joined the 33 and a 1/3 club! The entirety of Denali can only be seen 1 day out of three. The whole area is magnificent but seeing all of Denali was the cream on the cake.
    Along the way we saw a grizzly walking along the river bank about 150 metres away, a mother grossly and her cubs digging for something up on tthe side of a hill, Ptarmigan by the side of the road, dall sheep way up on the mountains (there were a lot but they were mere specks) and a lone caribou.
    By the time we arrived at the Eielson Centre the wind speed had picked up and it was not pleasant to spend a lot of time outside. The centre itself is a proper centre not just a tent like the earlier stops and it had an informative display about the Park and the Centre itself.
    On our return to the access centre it was raining and we joined the crew from the Princess Lodge to get back to town on their shuttle. We would have copped a drenching if we had walked.    Read more

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    Sign on the small grocery store in Nenana Gulch Denali.
    Shades of autumn on the Tundra.

    Train to Fairbanks

    September 6, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    The train to Fairbanks was at 4pm so we stored our bags in the office area of the Salmon Bake and wandered around the small town are, had some lunch and talked to the locals to fill in the time. It is now the end of the tourist season and everywhere is getting ready to shut up shop. A limited number of rangers remain in the park but the town where we are virtually becomes a ghost town. In the winter season the only way to get around is by dog sled.
    Once away from the mountain range the scenery flattened out as we moved across the tundra and the vegetation was stunted due to the perma frost, but stunning.
    About 60 kilometres out of Fairbanks we passed through Nenana on the Tanana River. Nenana is home to The Nenana Ice Classic.
    Alaskans wager thousands of dollars yearly on the day and time of the break up of the Tanana River. A tripod is placed and secured in the river ice about 300 feet from shore. A watchtower is erected on the shore next to the tripod. Once the ice has thawed to the point where walking on it is no longer safe, a wire is attached from the watchtower on shore to the top of the tripod, and rigged up to a clock mechanism so that the clock will be stopped when the tripod moves 100 feet. When the tripod trips the clock, spring has officially arrived, and Interior Alaska's rivers are once more navigable. And someone or a group of people is/are a lot richer. A pretty cool competition. The prize money is generally over $300,000 US. Love Alaska!
    We were picked up by our hotel’s shuttle which was good and so ended our last train trip in Alaska.    Read more

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    Downtown Fairbanks and Visitors Centre

    September 7, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 11 °C

    The Regency Fairbanks Hotel where we are staying is a fairly large hotel that feels a bi like a ghost town at the moment as the tourist season is coming to an end. The day staff are lovely, the room comfy, there is a guest laundry, a basic breakfast is provided and we get to see a moose every time we go down into the lobby area? Just a shame he was someone’s trophy and his head is now mounted on the wall. The hotel is also within easy walking distance of downtown so many boxes have been ticked for our last accommodation in Alaska.
    Fairbanks is flat so walking is easy. And the hotel is in a good spot but only if you walk in the right direction around roadworks. No we didn’t go the right way and we saw a bit more of Fairbanks than we had expected. We did, however, find where we went wrong so that we don’t do it again!
    The Visitors Centre is positioned in the park on the banks of the Chena River. It houses a museum which was interesting and they run films on various aspects of Alaska and life in Alaska. We watched a documentary about Richard (Dick) Proenneke - Alone in the Wilderness. It was worth the sit- an amazing story about a man living alone in the wilderness in a cabin that he built on his own. The documentary was put together from his diaries and the film that he took of himself building this cabin. Well worth watching. Everything was made the traditional way- no nails. He made all of his furniture and most of his utensils. He lived alone for around 30 years and, apart from the occasional float plane load of basic supplies, he was self-sufficient, living completely off grid. At 82 the extreme cold and hard physical activity were getting too much for him and he moved to California to live with his brother until he died three years later.    Read more

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    Susan Butcher's Kennels. The dogs are pullng the quad on the far side of the water.CaribouAn old trapper's cabinTraditional native coat - all hand stitched and emboidered.Fish TrapsSmoking dog salmon.Two of the sled dogs going back to the kennels.

    Riverboat Discovery

    September 8, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 12 °C

    Yep it is touristy but it was an enjoyable day. Weather wise it could not have been a more perfect day.
    The riverboat was a paddle boat. We watched a bush float plane display, visited the home and kennels of the late Susan Butchart, an Iditarod champion, (we watched the dogs in action - not pulling a sled because of the lack of snow but a quad. They got very excited when the were harnessed up to the quad and obviously loved pulling it. Those who missed out went ballistic) and were immersed in the Athabascan Culture at mock Chena River native village.
    Like I said it was very touristy but interesting.
    With the weather as it was today and the vibrancy of the colours it is so hard to imagine that in perhaps just two months the winter weather will have set in, the river starting to freeze over and everything will be white. Locals will use the river as their winter highway for dog sleds. Would love to see it but it won’t happen this trip I don’t think.    Read more

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    Last Day in Alaska - Pioneer Park

    September 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 12 °C

    Our last day in Alaska. So sad! It has been an amazing journey. I love the wilderness of Alaska - it is undoubtably harsh for 2/3s of the year and living here is possibly something I could not do (at least not year round) but it appeals. All Alaskans that we have met have been characters, friendly and willing to pass the time of day. The rush of the city doesn’t exist here. And so it is the last day.
    Our walk took us down to the river and along it’s banks to The Pioneer Park, another tourist attraction but without the tourists. All of the buildings in the village are originals not reconstructions. Many were cabins and shops from Fairbanks in her earlier days so it was good that they were moved into this area and repurposed to conserve the local history.    Read more

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    817 East Georga St - our home for the next five nights.
    A plaque outside the house next door. Once was the house of Jimmy Hendrix grandparents! Cool!MacLean Park, just 50 metres from our place. Great for families, dogs, everyone.Sun Yat-sen GardensNeil with dinner and our bedroom behind.Neil, dinner and the lounge-room.

    Red-Eye to Vancouver

    September 10, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    On the move again and leaving Alaska behind. Our stay in Alaska has been an amazing journey. Lots of things have been ticked off the bucket list - cruising the inland passage (via the ferry system, but cruising none the less), hump back whales breaching, sea otters, bears, puffins and glaciers. And so much more. I would highly recommend Alaska's wild frontiers to anyone and we have seen such a small part. There is so much more. Across the arctic circle up to the North Sea - aah well we have been so blessed to see what we have and it is such a big world. And onwards we must forge!
    How uncivilised to have a 1.30am flight - a red eye flight out of Alaska down to Seattle and a connector on to Vancouver. We slept a bit I'm sure and we arrived in one piece so all blessings are counted. Immigration was a breeze, a train ride then a taxi and we were at our Air BnB. We have lucked it again with a beautiful studio on the ground floor of a heritage house in Strathcona.
    Of course we needed to settle and do a grocery shop then two very tired souls decided to have a small exploration of our neighbourhood and down to Chinatown and the Sun Yat-sen Gardens. Two even tireder souls trudged back, had dinner and dell into bed!    Read more

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    Downtown Vancouver

    September 11, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    OK so I'm anal! I had to start the day with us walking to the Central Station to get our connector tickets to Vancouver Island later in the week. Did it have to be done now? Yes, then that box would be ticked and we could enjoy Vancouver. No, we couldn't buy them there as they only sell two hours before the departure time - it had to be done on line. A hot dusty walk walk for nothing. Well we do now know where the station is at least.
    Skyway train to Burrard St Station and we were finally set to explore downtown Vancouver.
    The sun was shining gloriously and Vancouver is a stunning city, a city of towering buildings, a city of glass, a city with a beautiful harbour and a great shopping district. By the time we had walked from the station up to the visitor's centre, along the harbour walk past the cruise ship terminal, around a marina, over the hill to Robson Street, along Robson Street window shopping, along a myriad of other streets, through Chinatown and home we had walked a long long way. I guess we had not had the intention of walking that far and I do try to be mindful of Neil's sore leg but it was a long, long way and Neil's leg was quite painful during the night. But it was an amazing day.    Read more

  • Rambling BearsRambling North AmericaRambling Bears

    It Had To Happen Eventually!

    September 12, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    She who never gets a cold or the flu is down and out with a case of the flu. Well not out but definitely not feeling myself. Fevers and a general not feeling up to anything much had me back on the bed after breakfast.
    Neil went out for a wander on his own. Always a worry as his sense of direction is not brilliant but he found his way back, thankfully.
    Neil offered to find a pharmacy to get me some tablets but I decided to go out with him. After we got some tablets we continued walking along Hastings Street East to Gastown.
    Hastings Street East is an eye opener. It is sad, very, very sad. It is the street along which the homeless and drug addicts congregate and the numbers are many. We witnessed people shooting up in the street without much attempt to hide what they were up too and there are a number of safe injecting rooms along this street but many don’t seem to be able to summon the energy to get there.
    All this is happening just around the corner from Gastown, the gentrified working class area that is now a big tourist attraction.
    We found a great vegetarian restaurant/bar then walked back home.    Read more

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