• Day 12 London

    31 Oktober 2021, England ⋅ 🌧 55 °F

    Happy Halloween to all.
    Another rainy start day. Out as soon as it started to clear and off to the Churchill war rooms - a museum to Churchill as well as an audio tour of the underground rooms that were Britain’s war headquarters during WWII. I had been there previously but so much to see and listen to there I was able to “ relearn” it all o er again.
    Spent a wonderful afternoon doing one of my favorite things in London - walking the huge parks to enjoy the fall colors, the families strolling the well trodden paths, kids playing with the plentiful waterfowl and birds as well as the ever changing new sights. Walked through St James Park, Green Park and Hyde Park. We had a couple destinations in mind but mostly just wandered for a couple hours. Buckingham Palace, always a major attraction, but the queen is not “in residence” right now. 😂. Then a favorite spot of mine, the memorial fountain to Diana. A lovely location and built for children to enjoy, although too cold today. Cannot get a good picture as it is a large space with flowing water (think like a track oval with water). Next a walk to see the well know Peter Pan statue, now by the large Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park. And then a surprise and the most fun of the day - came across a doggy Halloween Party. There must have been close to 100 little dogs, all with Halloween costumes on!!! It was hilarious
    Back to the apartment for a short rest and back downtown for our first show in London - Six. An enjoyable show which is a big seller right now both here and Broadway. (Tried to see in NYC but the few tickets available were $500 😱 and I did not want to see it that badly) In London the theater is partially subsidized by the government and tickets are much less expensive. Show is a pop concert on a modern day version 6 wives of Henry VIII. Think Hamilton o steroids. Dinner at an Italian restaurant after and home for a well-deserved sleep. Walking App today: 7.5 miles
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  • Day 11 London

    30 Oktober 2021, England ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    A very early start to the day, both of us awake sometime between 4 and 5A. As much as I travel, I cannot solve the jet lag issue. 🤬. A rainy morning and fist had to do our day 2 COVID test which had to be scheduled to get into the country. Good news was that we could now do the rapid tests which are quite easy. However we could not figure how to upload the results photo into their website. Called and Emailed the lab and no response. Expecting someone to come and take us to jail any minute now. 😂. Some catch up on things his AM while waiting for the rain to take a break.
    Out around 11 to work on the next COVID test, the one we need to return to the US 😅. Found a place nearby that we could schedule for Monday, again a rapid test, so results right away.

    Weather clearing so decided to take a chance on outdoor activity and off via underground to Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens. I always love this place although more so in the Spring. About an hour out of London from our place and several tube changes. A stop for lunch at a Japanese cafe in the sun outside the tube stop in the upscale Kew Gardens community.

    Then into the gardens. Spent 3 hours wandering around, seeing the major sites. Tis late fall and this part of the world has had lots of rain and wind but still quite some fall colors in the magnificent huge trees that cover the miles of walking paths. Their special exhibition was a Japanese motif - a large installation in one on the greenhouses hanging from the ceiling of red strings with white paper on it. Picture does not do it justice. Lovely with music playing representing nature sounds. A peaceful place, even with the crowds. All in all a wonderful afternoon.
    Back to home with a stop at the grocery store to find food to heat up for dinner. Too tired to go out. Total walking mileage on my app today is 6.8 miles. (Yesterday 9.8)! No wonder we are tired.
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  • Day 10 London

    29 Oktober 2021, England ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    Thinking we were a bit tired. I slept 12 hours and Illene 14!!! 😃. So off for a walk! A break in last night’s rain so we decided to take a chance and try something outside. Considering the forecast is for rain almost every day we are here, 😩 there will be plenty of times for museums.
    On the “tube” to Paddington Station which exits onto the canal. We are on our way to Little Venice. If you have never done this in London, it’s a must do. We did the walk from the station to Regents Park. ( including a few wrong turns). All along the way are interesting canal boats, some are house boats and others quite in ruin. Some boat “traffic” on the waterway and lots of wonderful fall colors in the trees. The weather could have been better but still a great outside activity and away from the hustle and bustle of the City. Lunched at a restaurant on one of the many bridges over the canal. Great spot for a stop.

    Walked a mile or two in the huge Regents Park, one of my favorites in London. (I once went to the outdoor theater here and saw Peter Pan). Back to our “home” tube stop and walked around the train station and had tea in the St. Pancras hotel there. Wonderful sculpture representing the historic train station and the lovers saying goodbyes. (Paul Day - sculptor)
    Back home for a “lie down” before our evening plans. Finally into “downtown” London; Piccadilly, SoHo, Coventry Garden and the heart of the West End - the theater district. People everywhere, as usual. Wended our way to St-Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalger Square, historic church on this site since Medieval times. Also a venue for classical music all year around. Tonight’s ensemble from the UK is playing Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart in a candlelight service. Wonderful familiar music well-performed. Still had lots of energy so stopped for a drink at The German Gymnasium. 😂. Huge, multilevel bar/restaurant and very busy at 11PM. A glass of wine and home to bed. 9.8 miles on my walking app today! 😱
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  • NYC to London Days 8 & 9

    27 Oktober 2021, England ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Up and out for our last day in NYC. Night flight to London around 8 PM. Packed first and then out for one last stroll on the NYC streets. A stop at Rockefeller center to admire the Halloween decorations and array of ornate sculptures. St Patrick’s Cathedral was right across the street so we stopped in there for a look around it’s amazing interior, especially the stained glass windows. Next church stop up the street was St. Thomas - Episcopalian. Spectacular circular stained glass window here as well.
    A very nice lunch at LaBonne - a French cafe in that part of the City.
    Back to Isabel’s to finalize the packing and say our goodbyes. And one last pic of Isabel’s cat, Agnes. 😂
    Airport check in amazingly easy after the hassle to get all the prerequisites together. Dinner and wine while we waiting for our flight. Flight went fast. (Shorter from NYC than SF. 😂).
    Arrived around 8 in the AM London time. Breezed thru the airport and found out way to the Heathrow Express, our train to Central London. Then the underground to the stop closest to our apartment and a 15 minutes walk followed. A bit early for our check in so found a cafe in the area to have a cup of tea - Kay (and a Diet Coke for Illene).
    Our apartment is as advertised. Compact but all the necessary amenities. A short nap and out to checkout the neighborhood. We are in Islington section of London, sort of NW - amour a half mile from the Kings Cross St Pancras underground stop.
    Headed towards the British Library, an amazing complex of buildings with the showcase 6 story glassed centerpiece- King George III personal library- pic below. Spent a short time in their Treasures exhibit which includes one of the four original Magna Cartas. A walk and some pics at the St. Pancras Hotel - now a Marriott - in the St Pancras train station. Spectacular Gothic building. Found a nearby pub for lunch/dinner and after one drink with out meal realized that we both “hit the wall” and needed sleep. Grocery shopping doe essentials on the way home, a bit it BBC and both to bed by 7:30P!!!
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  • Day 7 NYC

    26 Oktober 2021, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ 🌧 57 °F

    A rainy day in NYC. Poured during the night but a window of no rain from 11-7P. Did some “chores” - mailed some things home, went to Macy’s for Illene to buy socks and then to find lunch.
    Met Isabel at the NYC Public Library where they had an exhibition of the “Treasures” from the library. I love the reading room there however you cannot visit anymore unless you are on a tour. 😩.
    Walked back to Isabel’s for an afternoon “lie down” and off around 5P to Greenwich Village via subway. Walked the streets of the Village admiring the architecture and the numerous street restaurants. Ate dinner at a seafood/pasta place and enjoyed Isabel’s stories of the transition of the Village from artists and actors to now an upscale residential neighborhood. Struggling performers cannot afford the Village anymore.
    Walked to our show for tonight - Fairycakes. A comedy that is new to the NYC theater scene. A comedy and funny 😂. Enjoyable evening’s entertainment and different from anything else we have seen this trip. Great fun costumes and one of the actors was Mo Rocca, for any of you who watch the Sunday Morning show. (He should stick to his day job). Home in the pouring rain.
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  • Day 6 NYC

    25 Oktober 2021, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    On arrival in NYC we were talking with Isabel about what to do while we were here. Isabel said she had never been to Governor’s Island so that was the plan for today. Made ferry reservations and off via subway to lowers Manhattan and the ferry terminal. The terminal is next door to the huge Staten Island ferry terminal. Had a very enjoyable 3+ hours walking around the island. Governors Island is are the South end of Manhattan in NY harbor. The island was a military installation for the Revolutionary War. And more recently a Coast Guard installation until 1996. Currently partially run by the National Park Service and a Trust. Found all 4 geocaches on the island ! 👍. Beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan. A thoroughly enjoyable and quiet hours I’m the City.
    Back via ferry and subway for a very late lunch at Isabel’s. And a relaxing several hours before dinner - good for some catch up time.
    Great dinner tonight at a place Isabel had not been to previously. Oceans - beautiful decor, quite modern and wonderful food. We were all happy.
    Rain scheduled for later tonight and tomorrow and our walk home was the warm, very humid weather that I remembered from early years on the East Coast. The pic of the Empire State Building with the green top in the fog was from out walk home.
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  • NYC Day 5

    24 Oktober 2021, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Spent most of the morning getting our required Day 2 COVID tests purchased. Do not need to test before we go but do need to test the 2nd day after arrival. Good news is that they now accept rapid tests so cuts down the price a bit. We have to have them delivered to our rental apartment so gets a bit complicated. Then we needed to print several theater tickets so first has to fix Isabel’s printer. 😂
    Out around 11 and off to the 3rd museum of the trip - the Guggenheim. Exhibition we wanted to see was Kandinsky. Pretty far uptown so we took a cab. Enjoyed the show but loved the building more - a very well know Frank Geary architectural achievement. Took our time and had a nice lunch there while weather looked threatening.
    This afternoon Illene and Isabel are going to the Metropolitan opera at Lincoln Center and I am going to Chicago - a new remake of a classic Broadway standard. I walked back from the theater and wandered around a bit taking pictures of the City. Thus the Rockefeller, Times Square pictures today. We got back together for a drink at Isabel’s and then out to The Smith for a good dinner ar one of the numerous outdoor dining areas that dot almost every street in this area. Back in time for a bit of Niners football and called it an early night.
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  • NYC Day 4

    23 Oktober 2021, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    A late start to the day - lots of paperwork for international travel during COVID. 😡. Off without Isabel to the Frick art museum which is in a temporary location which Isabel said has done a great job with the exhibitions. Lots of the Master’s divided by country of origin. Renoir in picture below. We both enjoyed. Isabel came to the museum and we lunched there and afterwards a walk about Central Park. Primary “mission” was to see the new “Suffragette” 3 Women sculpture. Found it easily and then enjoyed a leisurely walk enjoying a fall Saturday afternoon in the Park. Saw about 7 or 8 wedding parties, ice cream vendors and New Yorkers out and enjoying the day.
    Isabel wanted to see another sculpture, Diane Arbus, a photographer who primarily photographed people in Central Park which was just outside the Park. Pic included.
    Back to Isabel’s for dinner, then Illene and I back out for tonight’s theater - To Kill A Mockingbird. So nice to be able to walk to the theater- about a mile away. Another great night in the theater!
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  • NYC Day 3

    22 Oktober 2021, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Another great weather day in NYC - feeling so lucky. Off towards the High Line (Hudson Yards) to The Vessel which we wanted to walk to the top however, currently closed. 😩. See picture - red ribbon edifice. Sooooo lunch with Isabel from the food carts - an old childhood - favorite- Philly cheese steak! Then Illene and I off to “The Edge”. Whn you look at the skyscraper building in the pictures below, you see a ledge jutting out almost at the top. This an outdoor “edge” on the 100th floor of the skyscraper!!! You can (for enough money) take a fancy elevator to that floor and wander around the “edge”. It’s all glass around with the skyline of Manhattan and the Hudson River as backdrops. The pic of me lying down is an are of open glass where you can see to the street below !!! Great fun.
    Had made reservations for The Drift - an immersion experience in The Shed. Interesting however not quite as understandable as the Van Gogh paintings. 😂. 4 large (look like) concrete blocks floating in the air making shadows and the lighting used to make the blocks look different lol the time. 45 minutes of this was a bit of a stretch. Several other light exhibits a well.
    Had early dinner reservations near the theater - tonight the Moulin Rouge extravaganza - winner of this years Tony award as Best Musical. A spectacular show. All the color, lights, music and dancing the makes Broadway Broadway.
    Another full rich day!!!
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  • NYC Day 2

    21 Oktober 2021, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Wonderful first day in NYC. The one thing that Illene and I wanted to do in NYC was walk the High Line again. A beautiful sunny day in NYC so off we go from Isabel’s - the 30th St entrance to the High Line about a mile away. For those of you who may not know the High Line, it is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan filled with art, nature and design. And it is constantly changing with new art (primarily sculptures) gardens and fantastic Manhattan skyscrapers. Entered at Hudson yard, now a wide open space with a new venue for art - the Shed. (More about that tomorrow as we found a show we are going to then.). Had a wonderful walk - enjoying the sculptures - see pics - , marveling at the beauty of the surroundings - gardens and buildings. Isabel had told us to make sure that we got to Little Island - a new park since we were here last. It is at the South end of the High Line and a whole new island built in the Hudson River. A wonderful multi-level park that looks like it is growing out of the river.

    Lunch on the island and off to the Whitney museum to meet Isabel to see the new Jasper John’s exhibition there. An artist I was not familiar with and an enjoyable hour. Early dinner on our way back to Isabel’s at a Korean fusion restaurant in the street - very good!

    First of 5 shows tonight - The Lehman Brothers. Isabel had already seen so Illene and I were able to walk the mile to the theater. A fantastic night of outstanding theater. Wonderful set and acting. Off to a great start. Tomorrow night Moulin Rouge!
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  • NYC Day 1

    20 Oktober 2021, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Early flight from SFO - 7 AM. Uber driver arrived at Illene’s at 4:15. 😩. Uneventful flight direct to JFK - with one exception. Water bottle in back pack leaked (spilled) as we were going out the door. Not much but quickly mopped it out as we were leaving. When we got to airport, I went to review the damage. Computer not working!!! 😱. Will need to deal with it in NYC.

    Arrived JFK around 3:30P to a beautiful warm sunny day on NYC. Uber to Isabel’s Manhattan condo in the snarl of NYC traffic. Isabel has appeared in previous Find Penguin’s posts, most recently in the travel to Morocco. Isabel lives on 30th street right around the corner from Broadway. Great location for access to anywhere in the City.

    After some catch up time, Isabel had a meeting at 7P so Illene and I out for a walk in the area and some dinner. As always, streets are lively with people and traffic. Ate at Wine 30, a nearby restaurant and enjoyed a glass of wine and light dinner after a long day of travel.
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  • Alaska Day 49

    24 Ogos 2019, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Last day!! 323 miles to Bodega Bay. Campground had pancakes for sale for breakfast so did not even need to cook. A familiar drive down CA Route 101. A stop in Eureka for gas and coffee for Alice. At 35 miles from home in Healdsburg we stopped for gas and someone, again, told us a tire was low! 😫👎. Long story but we could not get it fixed as it was Saturday evening. Had to leave it there and Uber the final 35 miles. 😂. RV was towed on Sunday and fixed on Monday. Phew.

    A great trip with a very good friend. A new experience for me and can now cross Alaska off my bucket list. An amazing state with so much to offer for those who like a quiet environment and the outdoor life.
    Final mileage: 6,420!
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  • Alaska Day 48 Tualitin to Crescent City

    23 Ogos 2019, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Out by 9:30 and on the road again. Destination today: Crescent City, CA. Decided to go down on 101 in California as it is very hot over on I-5 in California. So today down I-5 to Grants Pass and over to 101. Uneventful drive through Oregon. A stop in Grants Pass for wine and gas. (2 essentials).
    The campground we chose for our last night was a KOA just north of Crescent City. The first time we had done a KOA on this trip. A very nice spot in the Redwoods with all the required amenities. Kay managed to leave the sleeve that screws into the ground from the sewer system at the last campground (for the 2nd time this trip). 😫😱👎 so into Crescent City to the trusty Ace Hardware for a new one.
    I had been in Crescent City in May and knew where I wanted to eat for our last dinner. There is a new brewery in town near the water. A very modern design and architecture building and I had enjoyed it last time. Apparently the word is out on the restaurant as there was a waiting list however the bar was first come first served. So we did not wait long and the food was as good as I remembered. A very fun place with a good vibe for a casual meal. Back for some “TV”, we are now into The Family on Netflix - a bit scary. Last night in my little bed!
    No pics again today.
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  • Alaska Day 47 Vancouver to Portland

    22 Ogos 2019, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Ready for the final phase of our journey - about 950 miles - and 2 more nights in the RV before Bodega Bay. Plan to drive to somewhere south of Portland today. A short 45 minute drive and we were at the US border. a 30 minute wait, back in the US and on our way. The I-5 corridor through Seattle and Portland is just a zoo no matter what time of day you do it. Slow downs in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Portland with no apparent reason than too many cars. Have no idea how they are going to fix that problem with the increase in population in both of those cities. Arrived at our campground a bit south of Portland in Tualitin around 5PM. Lots of sunshine, a nice campground, 76 degrees and settled in early for the night. Pasta for dinner one more time. 😂. No pics today.Baca lagi

  • Alaska Day 46 Vancouver, BC

    21 Ogos 2019, Kanada ⋅ 🌧 64 °F

    A rainy day in Vancouver. Had hoped to spend the day in Stanley Park and their Theater Under the Stars tonight but not in the cards ♦️ for this trip. 😖. Rain supposed to stop by this evening but a little risky for planning - and it’s not real warm either. So breakfast and out to a nearby mega shopping center a short Sky Train ride away. Whiled away a couple hours with some last minute shopping. They had an interesting exhibit in their main atrium. Large animals made from discarded flip flops! Made by artists from Kenya. Fun. Back to the hotel in the rain for a late afternoon of communications catch up and “free” time from tourism. Walks to a nearby brewery for dinner.
    Off on final leg tomorrow.
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  • Alaska Day 45 Vancouver, BC

    20 Ogos 2019, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Ahhhh. A good nights sleep in a luxurious bed! 😂👍. Out to find a place for breakfast. Could not ding much and ended up in at a Cafe in a library across the plaza from our hotel. Quite the library, all spread out in a very modern architecture building. Next to tackle the Vancouver public transit system. Vancouver has an above ground subway - the Sky Train with 3 lines. A train station is right next to our hotel. After figuring out how to buy the right type of ticket we were off. Destination: the waterfront and Granville Island and downtown Vancouver. Sky train good all the way to the waterfront. It’s been a long time since I have been to Vancouver and I’d forgotten how beautiful their waterfront area is. We wandered around for awhile looking for a tourist information center. Finally found one and got directions on where to catch a bus to Granville Island, maps and other tourism data from a chatty agent.
    A bus ride through downtown Vancouver to Granville Island - a small Island right off of downtown Vancouver. Alice had been there years ago and wanted to go back and check it out. There is one major road across a bridge to the island. Quite the happening place. Shops, restaurants , a huge market and access to all the water transportation that you could imagine. We wandered around for several hours, some shopping but primarily people watching and trying to decide which of the establishments we wanted for lunch. Every ethnic variety food one could think of. Alice got Greek, I got Japanese. Spent an hour or so just watching all the watercraft scene on the very busy inlet from the Pacific.
    Took the local ferry down to the end of its run and walked a bit to get back on the Sky Train and to our hotel. Just in time for a manicure and pedicure close to the hotel - MUCH needed. Cocktail hour and a late dinner at the hotel, good kale Cesar salad.
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  • Alaska Day 44 Prince George - Vancouver

    19 Ogos 2019, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Up and out before 9AM. Passed our 4,000 mile mark yesterday. Destination Vancouver, about 450 miles. Early clouds/fog quickly turned to bright sunshine and a lovely drive through the British Columbia countryside. Lots of farmland, rivers and big forests. Pretty much drove straight through with one stop for gas and fast food. Amazing scenery through the VERY long Fraser canyon - 40-60 miles and 21 tunnels!
    Arrived at the Civic Hotel in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. Very nice and a big room with 2 queen beds. Our food is 3 times the size of the ban! 😂 “Unpack” (our duffle bags) and down to the hotel bar and restaurant for dinner. Had poke! Have been craving sushi for weeks. Not a single picture today.
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  • Alaska Day 43 Prince George, BC

    18 Ogos 2019, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    A lazy day of catch up - showers, laundry and a nap in late afternoon. Rain on and off all day. Early afternoon we went into Prince George to check out the city, population ~74,000 and home of the University of Northern British Columbia. We had decided to visit the Art Museum- Two Rivers Gallery. Pictures showed a building with unique architecture in the city center. Their current exhibition was very interesting and a topic which I knew nothing about - the history of the Residential schools for the Indians (now knows as First Nations) in Canada. From the 1920’s until 1996 all Canadian Indians were taken out of their homes and often away from their families and sent to Residential schools throughout the country. Most were run by priests and conditions were not good. Minimal food, no speaking their own language and also abuse issues. The exhibit brought the art leaders in the Indian population with the curators of the museum to tell the story in order to acknowledge the issue so as to help all move on. The story was told in various media, art, sculptures, videos, and film. Very worthwhile.
    The museum was located in a plaza along with the civic center, conference and a lovely park with sculptures and lots of flowers 🌸
    Found a place for a very good lunch downtown and then drove around the city for awhile. Since is was a Sunday all was pretty quiet.
    Back to our RV Park to get ready for another long drive to Vancouver tomorrow. Also finally enough internet to download pictures!!
    Baca lagi

  • Alaska Day 42 Meziadin to Prince George

    17 Ogos 2019, Kanada ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    Woke up to rain this morning. So a quick up and out by 8 AM. Destination today, the big city of Prince George BC, about 400 miles. Rain all day. Only one interesting stop was for gas in a very small Indian (all tribes called First Nations here). They have the largest collection of totems in British Columbia. More than show in picture and quite impressive. Pretty much drove straight through with only stops for gas, food and wine - the essentials. We truly feel that we are back in civilization as of today. Better roads, more traffic, fast food and many places with a population more than 100! 😃. And, the most exciting, internet! Phoned ahead for our campground, lots of choices here. Spent a lot of the afternoon planning the last week of our trip. Decided to go to Vancouver for 3 days, after a day of rest in Prince George. Also decided to splurge on a hotel in Vancouver. Thanks to daughter-in-law, Nancy, we made reservations at a Marriott in Vancouver. Looking forward to it. Did all our hook ups in the rain tonight - not fun. Have been really tired of "junk" food so we got sole, rice and broccolini - tasted wonderful! Both tired and early bed.Baca lagi

  • Alaska Day 41 Teslin to Meziadin Junct

    16 Ogos 2019, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F

    Out by 8:45, plan for about 500 miles today. We have decided to go south on the Cassiar Highway as opposed to the Alcan. Several folk have told us it is prettier AND it is 120 miles shorter. Both highways end up in Prince George, BC where we plan to be by Saturday night. May stay there 2 nights and give Alice a break from driving.
    A long drive without much change in scenery - trees, low mountains, lakes and rivers. 300 miles before lunch and gas stop 🛑. Highlight was seeing first, one bear who went across the road in front of us and a bit later, 3 cubs playing in the road until they heard us coming and then off into the brush. Never saw mama bear.
    The afternoon drive was more of the same but as it got later in the afternoon we started to see bears eating by the side of the road. Total, we saw 11 or 12 black bears, quite close - cubs and mamas and maybe one male alone. It was great! I finally really saw my real bears.
    Arrived at out destination a bit after 5P, only problem, campground was full!!! 😱. We had not have not had a problem this entire trip until tonight. There was a motel at the stop as well and for $235 we could have had a room! However all we want to do is sleep as we have the same distance to cover tomorrow and will be up early to start another long driving day. So we inquired about the next campground south, an hour away, and off we went. Arrived by 6:30 at a lovely campground by a lake. I think we got one of the last spots available. Phew!! 🎉😳. Really a pretty area, the Meziadin Lake Provincial Park. Most individual sites were quite separated, grounds are manicured, lots of big trees but no hookups. So dry camping tonight, much less work. 😂. Alice’s taco salad for dinner. 👍
    Baca lagi

  • Alaska Day 40 Haines, AK to Teslin, YT

    15 Ogos 2019, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Moving day today and starting to wend our way home. We chose to take the ferry, a very good move. By ferry we are only 15 miles, 45 minute ferry ride, from Skagway. If we drove we would have to back track about 250 miles. Cleaned up and moved out a bit early so as to have time for a couple stops before leaving town. A few groceries, some "goodies" from a good bakery we had found, a few pictures around town and off to the ferry. Sailing was at 1 PM but needed to be there by 11. We will not spend time in Skagway but start driving as soon as we arrive. Our plan is to drive about 150 miles this afternoon to Teslin, YT.
    Nice cruise up to Skagway, 4 huge cruise ships in port ! One of the cruise ships was a Disney. Did not see much of Skagway as we wanted to keep moving as ferry was a bit late leaving. Shortly after leaving Skagway we turned the 4000 mile mark on our adventure. 😳. Another 2500 and we will be home. More spectacular scenery after Skagway and back into Canada - British Columbia first then the Yukon again. This trip has also been. Real lesson in geography.
    Fall comes early to Alaska and this part of the world. The last several days it feels like we could see the 🍁 on the deciduous trees turn from green to yellow. Now whole hillsides may be yellow.
    Arrived in Teslin bit after 7PM - Yukon Motel and Lakeshore RV Campground. We would have driven more but accommodations are sketchy for the next 900 miles so need to stop where available. Quiet evening, campground on the shore of Lake Teslin, an enormous lake that must be about 60 miles in length. Planning an early start tomorrow.
    Baca lagi

  • Alaska Day 39 Haines, AK

    14 Ogos 2019, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    A morning of more RV work. Alice working on a new latch for a drawer that will not stay shut when we drive, Kay cleaning the floor of the RV. We both soon had enough of that so headed out in the opposite direction from yesterday to the Chilkat State Park. A long gravel road but finally really reached the end that opened up from a dense forest to huge bodies of water on each side of us and mountains with glaciers, so beautiful. Quiet out here, we just walked around enjoying the scenery and decided to have a picnic on the beach. Made our tunafish sandwich and enjoyed the views.
    On the way into the park we saw an Art Gallery right as we entered. Stopped on the way out and what a surprise it was! A great small gallery with all types of media - paintings, jewelry, pottery, fused glass, mosaics, etc. All very nice work. Alice got to talking with the artist and soon we had all the information on the art community in Haines and where they had all shown there work (some quite impressive shows). This was all in a small home with a spectacular view through the trees of a mountain with a glacier. We got to be on a first name basis with John who was quit the information source on places to eat and drink in Haines. A fun stop.
    Back to RV to "dress" for dinner at John's recommended restaurant, The Fireweed. I have been hungry for a steak for weeks so decided to have one tonight - excellent choice! Also different side dishes, all in all a very good meal. Back to our RV for our nightly "TV" (Kay's Ipad) and to bed.
    Baca lagi

  • Akaska Day 38 Haines, AK

    13 Ogos 2019, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    A morning of "running around" and RV attention. No propane so out for breakfast. Nice cafe in Haines - Chilkoot Cafe and Bakery. Filled up the propane but still not working, went back later to the propane place, problem was the switch got turned off! 🤣😂 not sure how, maybe with all the erratic road conditions yesterday - who knows. Also took the time to clean the floor of the RV, take everything out and reorganize a bit. We wanted to wash the RV but the wash place was closed. 👍🤣.
    Off to the Chilcoot State Recreation Area. A lovely drive along the Lynn Canal (a huge fjord) , more mountains and water everywhere. Lots of fisher people in the river. The draw to this area is that the salmon are swimming upstream to spawn and the bears come down to the river to fish. This paark is the destination of a lot of the nature tours. Ugly road with many potholes but we finally arrived at Chilcoot Lake - quite the spectacular scenery. Everyone is looking for bears. We passed a group on our way in that had spotted a brown bear across the river bit that wa to be out closest encounter to a bear for the day. I think a certain amount of patience is involved. (Not my strong suit) 😱.
    However on our way out we saw one of the Nature Tour groups with a monocular mounted on a tripod. Just then a bald eagle flew overhead to the top of a large tree across the river. Through the monocular you could see the nest with eaglers. Soon both mother and dad were there feding the babies! 👍. Pretty amazing.
    Back to town for a beer at the local Fogcutter Saloon. Then back to RV for dinner. Finished Seasin 1 of Fleabag.
    Note: Pictures coming, cannot download them with WiFi at this Park. 😕
    Baca lagi

  • Akaska Day 37 Beaver Creek to Haines

    12 Ogos 2019, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Up and out by 9AM for another long day of driving, 350 miles to Haines. For the first time it got downright cold last night. Had to get dressed under the covers this AM. 😱. Out quickly as we did not like this campground much. Roads better all day today, especially the 2nd half of the drive. Drove about 3 hours through the Yukon on the Alaska (aka Alcan) highway. Scenery was forests, primarily spruce trees, rivers, lakes, tundra and mountains. One really gets an appreciation of the size of Wrangell-St Elias Nathional Park (250sq miles) as we can see it now from the oher side. Stopped at a view point, a UNESCO world heritage site. This entire area joins 4 National Parks, 2 Canadian and 2 US to make the largest area of National Parks in the world covering the Yukon and British Columbia in Canada and Alaska. Pretty amazing. A stop at Haines Junction for gas and a cute bakery for lunch. Then left the Alcan Highway on a spur of 150 miles on the Haines highway to Haines. Easy drive, through customs, back into the US and we recovered the hour back we lost yesterday.
    To Haines in time to checkout 2 campgrounds to decide which one we liked better. One clearly the best with lots of space between vehicles. For cleanliness and amenities this is our favorite so far. Immacuate and run by a couple from New Jersey. Have had several campgrounds in the woods and, for location, they are my favorites. A quick run out to the ferry as we want reservations for Thursday to Skagway. A very interesting geographic note for those of you who want to look at a map. Skagway is 15 miles by boat away from Haines however if you drive from Haines to Skagway it is 355 miles!!!😱😂. Got our reservations and back to campground for wine and dinner. Our after dinner entertainment has been watching something downloaded on my Ipad. We are currently into Fleabag
    Baca lagi

  • Alaska Day 36 Valdez to Beaver Creek

    11 Ogos 2019, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    On the road by 8AM today. Next destination:. Haines, AK - 700 miles away. We need to go inland quite a ways, catch the Alcan highway and then back to the coast. Most of the driving today was in Alaska but we crossed the Canadian border into the Yukon Territory at about 350 miles. Scenery today was mountains, not snowcapped, forests, lakes and rivers. . I am sure that the world will never run out of spruce trees!!! We planned to drive to Haines in 2 days. The roads are not great - lots ofups and downs (called frost heaves), road construction, gravel patches and pot holes. Hard tomake good time and a driving challenge for Alice.
    We made one stop at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. A huge area of lakes, rivers and grassy marshes. This is a test stop for migratory bird and waterfowl. Visitor center of openso did not learn much but a nice area to stretch out legs and look around.
    Our campground for the night was in Beaver Creek,Yukon shortly after the Canadian border. Not much but "home"for the night. Time change one hour and the price of gas doubled! 😱. Back to the US tomorrow.
    Baca lagi

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