Homeward Bound, Day 4

We drove another long day, 14 hours, and made it to Edmunton, Alberta. We drove out of the mountains and out of fall, for the most part. Alberta is full of ranches and farm land. We saw cattle, elk, horse, and buffalo ranches. We were passed by a semi hauling cattle and Sarah said, "What's that smell? Oh, I've missed that smell!" Cow pooh? You gotta be kidding. Our day started at 42 degrees and got up to 85!!! We were smoldering in the sub because we didn't want to run the air and tax the engine any more than it already was. We've ended up at a new Best Western that is all glass, marble and tile..no paper or plastic here. It's the morning of day 5. There's an awesome pool with a two-story slide where Steve and the kids are hanging and getting some much needed play and exercise as I write this. We'll have a shorter driving day today so we can unwind a little here. We plan to get to brother Dave's tomorrow. We have to cross the great divide two more times before we get home. I better go take pictures of the kids at the pool.


Everything flattened out compared to the last few days and not much fall color.


It was good to see farm land again.


An elk farm.

Homeward Bound, Day 3

Got into Ft. Nelson late last night after a 13-hour day. Should leave here by 8 on a rainy morning. Yesterday was so amazing I just quit taking pictures and took it all in...God's beautiful creation. We drove through lots of mountains with narrow, winding roads. The kids did school work, we did a quick run through a museum, and we stopped at a bakery in the middle of nowhere (that we'd stopped at on the way up here) to buy carrot cake for Steve's birthday. He celebrated his birthday driving through beautiful Klondike country and buying a new trailer tire. Wildlife we saw; caribou, buffalo, stone sheep, a momma black bear with three cubs and four more black bear, deer, and a baby moose...cool.


Yukon river outside Whitehorse.




This year.....


Last year.


Muncho Lake...very large.


This year along Muncho Lake...


Last year...scarey ice and snow packed roads all the way.






This scene reminded me of a patchwork quilt.

Homeward Bound, Day 2

Early morning fog, midday sunshine, and afternoon rain today that started at 31 degrees and saw a high of 50. In Fairbanks there is rarely wind, which has been wonderful, but today brought back the reality of wind chill...brrr. Forty below with no wind is very bearable. Forty above with wind felt very cold as Steve changed a tire on the trailer. Yes, the Conestoga lost a tire due to the dips and dives in the road that can send you airborn if you're not careful...not good in an overloaded trailer pulled by an overloaded Suburban. The fender evidentally ripped into the tire and by the time we figured it out, the rim was ruined with very little tire left. Steve got it changed and the fender bent back into shape and things loaded back into the trailer in pretty good time. We thank God things went so well. We're staying about 100 miles short of our goal in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory because they have tire shops. Not a good idea to travel without a spare.

We made it through customs with no problems. Steve was supposed to have his handgun not only locked in it's case but a trigger lock on it as well, which he didn't know. The officer had an extra, from a confiscated gun, and he gave it to Steve--nice of him--and we were on our way.


The road ate a tire in Yukon Territory.


Moriah took this picture at a lake today. There were many more Trumpeter Swans. Other wildlife seen today: one moose (hunting season just got over so they're still in hiding), many bighorn sheep, a falcon, and a possible black bear.


Fall color in the Yukon.


Coming to Resurrection Bay. This lake (name forgotten) govers 154 square miles).


There are so many photo opportunities.

Homeward Bound, Day 1

We spent last night with Brei, watching a movie, eating pizza, and hanging on a little longer. We got off to a liesurely start today after a difficult good-bye.

FAIRBANKS TO TOK--The trip today was only four hours long. Our trailer and Suburbasaurus are overloaded and managing to bop down the 'wavey' highway just fine, (we look forward to the smoother roads of the Lower 48). We stopped in Delta Junction for what's become a tradition--buffalo chips; hot, spicey, deep fried potato slices with ranch dressing--YUM! The Fall colors are fading in some areas already.

Hope to get early starts from here on out. Tomorrow we'll cross into Canada, always a little nerve wracking due to all the laws and rules for what can and cannot be brought across the border. It would be awful to have to unload the trailer for them. Not to mention the special permit we had to get and paperwork needed to transport guns. You'll hear all about it tomorrow.


Fall colors and one of the bridges to........................home:~)


There's a whole row of these cabins near the little Steece post office that we frequented.


Shared what was left of our firewood and halibut with Dave yesterday and said goodbye.

The Kenai Peninsula!

This is the 40 pound Ling Cod that ate the fish that was on John's hook at the end of his line as he fished for Halibut from the Tomahawk II that rocked and rocked in Katchemak Bay while Steve caught fish too, while they vacationed in Homer, Alaska.

Day 1--We left bright and early on the 8th for our 12-hour drive to Homer. We enjoyed the sunrise on Mt. McKinley which, for once, had it's head out of the clouds (largest mountain on the continent). The fall color was at it's peak, a beautiful deep gold. We drove to Hope, recommended by Holly, and weren't disappointed in the quaint coastal village. On the way down we saw Beluga Whales, Dahl Sheep and other wildlife, but never a bear. We finally arrived in Homer and it was all I'd hoped. The weather was a mix of sunshine and drizzle but we were prepared and okay with both. The motel we stayed at was on Katchemak Bay with a rocky, sandy beach. I think we all would have been happy just hanging out at the beach the whole time, which we did plenty of, rain or shine. It was hard not to bring home lots of rocks, they were so awesome. There weren't many people around since it was just past Labor Day and some of the stores were closed. I enjoyed listening to the 'locals' talk about their 'good tourist season and weather' this summer.

Day 2--We found trails to hike, visited the Islands and Oceans Nature Center, booked a Halibut charter for Steve and John, checked out the grocery store, and hung out at the beach.

Day 3--Steve and John went out on the Halibut charter even though it was drizzly and windy. They caught their limit of two each and have some great stories to tell. The girls and I found an awesome mercantile/kitchen store, yarn shop, quilt shop, jewelry shop, and ate lunch at The Mermaid Cafe, a quaint, organic eatery in an old victorian house. Picked up the guys who were cold, yet happy after a successful fishing trip.

Day 4--Although we hated leaving Homer we couldn't wait to see Seward. It was just a few hours drive away. The town was more touristy, probably because it's a stop for cruises. We drove around, walked the town (found a great yarn shop, and a fudgery:~)and did the drive out to Exit Glacier. We hiked up to the glacier in Kenai Fiords National Park (saw a coyote). I was glad we'd worn layers because the breeze off the glacier was pretty cold! Our motel was at the harbor, what a treat. That evening we walked all over the harbor, where we had fun counting jellyfish, admired the boats, watched the cruise ships leave, and was entertained by a sea otter eating his supper.

Day 5--Last day of our trip and time to head home, pack up the house and load the trailer. Goodbye Kenai!

Back at the cabin--We've been eating Halibut for every meal except breakfast and cooking it in every way we can think of...scalloped, deep fried, grilled, chowder, fish sandwiches... It's so yummy, like morels in the spring, can you really eat too much? Even though he was ugly, the cod's good too. We've also shared some.

Enjoy the slideshow!

One Last Time

Our friend Dave, also Missy's Uncle, lives just 12 miles from us. We've had a good time getting to know him while we've been here. He's such a nice guy! He was going to join us for supper a couple Sundays ago. The weather was so nice that we talked him into having a cook-out at our favorite spot on the Chena River instead (didn't have to talk too hard). We had a great time. Steve cooked some awesome chicken breasts, we got to hang out with Dave, and we enjoyed the river 'one last time'.


Our friend Dave.

Our Winter Cabin

In July Steve and I prayerfully made the decision to move closer to family. In August a door opened for us to rent a cabin north of Ely, Minnesota from October 1st through May. We jumped at the chance to get nearer to family and try living in Minnesota since we have talked about possibly retiring where there's trees AND water. The kids were so excited when we told them that they started packing right away and 'thinning out' their stuff so all will fit in the trailer. Steve isn't planning to work for a while and is looking forward to canoeing, putting up wood again, ice fishing, skiing, hiking, helping homeschool, etc. during our stay there. Ely has a great winter festival, too! Of course we're hoping for company and thinking the eight hour drive to visit family will be a piece of cake after our drives to and from Alaska! We'll see... We leave this Saturday 9/19. We're excited to see Dave and Sheila in Montana on our way back, and hoping to see Matt as well, not to mention all the fall color and scenery on the way. Enjoy the pictures of the little cabin in the woods. Hope you'll come sit by the fire with us this winter or see what spring in northern Minnesota is like. Can't wait to see family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Woodstove (soapstone!!), funky chair, bedroom,(did I mention this cabin is fully furnished right down to towels, canoe, snow blowers,etc?).


A view of the loft.


Looking forward to cooking and baking here.


Pretty nice kitchen...

We just got back from a vacation to the Kenai Penninsula. That blog will be coming later this week. It was like everything else in Alaska...just beautiful.