GOODBYE

THIS WILL BE "MY" LAST BLOG.  IT HAS BEEN A BLAST.  WE TRAVELED 8340 MILES.  I DON'T KNOW WHERE OR WHEN OUR NEXT ADVENTURE WILL BE BUT WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED.  ROBERT WILL BE ADDING HIS FOOT NOTES NEXT.  AFTER THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BOOK PUBLISHED.

LOVE YOU ALL,  KITTY MAY

CONDEMNED

ONE LAST THING FROM ME ABOUT THE TRIP.  WHILE WE WERE AT SKINNY DICKS IN FAIRBANKS WE BOUGHT THIS SIGN TO PLAY A LITTLE JOKE ON MY MOMS BAR.

IT SAYS:

CITY BOARD OF HEALTH

CONDEMNED

"THIS BUILDONG IS UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION, OR IS DANGEROUS FOR OCCUPANCY.  IT IS HEREBY CLOSED AND ITS USE PROHIBITED"

"MAYBE IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH FILTHY PIG DOGS WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS BUT YOU LEAVE US NO CHOICE.  YOU ARE VILE AND DISGUSTING AND FOR THAT MATTER YOU'RE UGLY TOO!''

YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO CLEAN UP THIS CESS POOL!

IN THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER WHERE THE ORDANANCE NUMBER IS IT HAS  " G.U.R.SO.DUM.

SO WE POSTED THIS ON THE DOOR AND HID IN THE BUSHES WAITING FOR BECKY TO OPEN UP IN THE MORNING.

BECKY'S ABOUT TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK.

WE'VE BEEN SPOTTED.

TIME FOR A LAUGH.  NOW WE HAVE TO CALL MOM.  TIME FOR HER TO BE SHOCKED.

SHE RIPPED IT OFF THE DOOR.  WELL THEY ALL HAD A LAUGH AND WE GOT A FREE BREAKFAST OUT OF IT.

PARTY TIME

SO THE DAY OF THE PARTY WE COOK A BUNCH OF HILIBUT, STEAMER CLAMS AND OYSTERS.  WE HAD A FEW FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS COME OVER AND HELP US CELEBRATE COMING HOME.

ROBERTS STEP DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND JON CAME DOWN FROM MADRAS.

FIRE PIT

WHEN WE GOT HOME I JUST MENTION TO ROBERT THAT IT WOULD BE COOL TO HAVE A NICE LITTLE FIRE PIT FOR THE PARTY.   WELL...............YOU KNOW ROBERT.

WHAT AN AWESOME PIT IT'S GAS AND THE FLAME IS ADJUSTABLE.  TOOO COOL.

YEAH OREGON!!!!!!!!!!!

HEADING SOUTH ON HWY 101. WE GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARADE IN DOWNTOWN SEASIDE.  AND DECIDE WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FISH.  SOOOO.....WE HEAD T0WARD WINCHESTER BAY TO GET 7 DOZED OYSTERS.  NOW THERE'S A PARTY.  ON THE WAY WE SEE THESE COOL SILOS. 

BACK IN AMERICA

WE DECIDED WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FISH TO TAKE HOME SO WE HEAD TO THE COAST.  WE GO THROUGH LONGVIEW, WASHINGTON TO A LITTLE TOWN CALLED SKAMAKUWA.  THERE WE STOP AND VISIT ROBERTS LATE WIFES COUSINS CHERYL AND MAURY MOER.  PLEASE EXCUSE THE SPELLING IF IT IS WRONG.  DELIGHTFUL COUPLE OWN AN ANTIQUE STORE.  WE FELT SOOOOO STUPID THAT WE FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES. 

IT'S A LONG BRIDGE INTO OREGON.  ONCE WE GET HERE WE HEAD TO THE DOCKS.  THERE WE BUY 100 POUNDS OF TUNA..  (ALMOST OUT OF CANNED TUNA AT HOME)  25 POUNDS OF STEAMER CLAMS AND 3 CRAB.  LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PARTY.  WE STUFFED EVERYTHING INTO THE BATH TUB AND COVERED IT WITH ICE.

FRASER RIVER CANYON/HELLS GATE

THIS HIGHWAY FOLLOWS THE FRASER RIVER AND IS A HUGE CANYON.  WINDEY NARROW ROADS.  I FINALLY YELLED AT ROBERT.  I WAS SCARED SHITLESS.  HE GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE, I HAVEN'T BEEN SLEEPING AND I AM GETTING "BITCHY".  I DECIDED TO GO BACK AND LIE DOWN.

WHEN I RECOVER I COME BACK UP AND WE SEE THESE RAFTERS, IT WAS PRETTY COOL.

THIS POOR GOAT CAME OFF THE MOUNTAIN AND WAS RUNNING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. I WAS AMAZED IT DIDN'T GET HIT. 

THERE ARE ABOUT 10 TUNNELS IN THIS STRETCH OF THE ROAD.  GET ME THE HELL OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.

WE FINALLY GET BACK TO AMERICA.  AFTER ABOUT 12 HOURS DRIVING WE GO TO THIS RV PARK WE FOUND ON THE GPS.  WHEN WE GET THERE THEY SAY THEY HAD FILLED THE LAST SPOT AND TO GO UNDER THE BRIDGE, TURN AT THE ROCK AND THERE IS A NEW RV PARK THERE.

W O W !!!!!!

WE PULL IN AROUND 10:30 AND THERE IS MUSIC AND PEOPLE ARE SINGING.  THIS GUY PULLS UP IN A CART AND SAYS FOLLOW HIM AND HE WILL FIND US A SPOT.  THIS IS A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR PARK WITH HUGE FIRE PITS CENTRALLY LOCATED AND THE ARE SINGING KARAOKE.  THIS GOES ON UNTIL MIDNIGHT.  WE MET THIS KID WHO WILL TURN 16 NEXT WEEK.  HIS NAME IS AUSTIN SCHNEIDER.  HE WILL BE AN AMERICAN IDOL.  HIS VOICE IS AMAZING. 

WE LEAVE BARKERVILLE AROUND 5PM.  WE DRIVE UNTIL 10:30 AND PULL INTO THIS LITTLE RV PARK IN LAC LE HACHE.  PLAYING ON THE TELEVISION STATION IS "RVING" WITH ROBIN WILLIAMS.   IT WAS SOO FUNNY AND SOOO APPROPRIATE. 

AND STILL THE INTERNET WON'T WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!

BARKERVILLE

BY THE TIME WE GOT TO BARKERVILLE IT WAS TOO LATE TO GO IN SO WE WENT BACK TO WELLS, THIS LITTLE TOWN BEFORE BARKERVILLE.  THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT.  IT'S ABOUT 30 MILES IN.  THAT NIGHT WE HAD ONE HELL OF A THUNDER STORM. IT  PUT DOWN A LOT OF WATER.  OF COURSE WE'RE HERE!!!!

WE FINALLY GET INTO BARKERVILLE.  OLD FASHIONED TOWN.  EVERYONE IS IN CHARACTER. 

IT IS POURING DOWN RAIN ALMOST ALL DAY.  WE ARE SOAKED.  WE SAW THIS LITTLE PLAY BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET ME TAKE PICTURES.  HAD A WONDERFUL LUNCH IN CHINA TOWN.  THEY HAD A LITTLE SHOP THAT SOLD CHINESE SILK HAND EMBROIDERED PICTURES. SOME OF THEM WERE SO AMAZING WE HAD TO BUY ONE.

THIS BLACKSMITH WAS PRETTY AMAZING. WORKS ALL DAY LONG SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.  HIS ARMS WERE HUGE.

HEY GERRY HERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR ANTLERS.

PLEASE DON'T.

ON THE ROAD TO BARKERVILLE

ON THE ROAD TO BARKERVILLE WE SAW 3 MOOSE, SOME DEER AND A BEAR FORAGING  FOR BERRIES.  IT WAS REALLY FUNNY AT THIS ONE POINT.  WE SAW A CAR PULLED OVER SO WE PULLED OVER TOO. AT FIRST WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, THEN THE GUY IN THE OTHER CAR WAS POINTING, WE LOOKED OVER AND SAW THIS BABY MOOSE.

IT'S MOMMA HAD HER HEAD DOWN IN THE WATER FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE LIFTING IT AND LOOKING AROUND AND THEN GOING DOWN FOR MORE.

HEADING SOUTH IN BC

ON THE WAY UP I WANTED TO GO TO BARKERVILLE BUT THE TIMING JUST WASN'T RIGHT AND SINCE I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO DAWSON CITY IN THE YUKON BECAUSE THE ROADS WERE WASHED OUT, WE HEAD FOR BARKERVILLE.

ON THE WAY WE COME TO THIS COOL LITTLE TOWN CALLED CHETWYND AND EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE AN ANNUAL WOOD CARVING CHAMPIONSHIP.  HERE ARE SOME OF THE AWESOME SCULPTURES.

JUST A COUPLE OF MANY.  PRETTY COOL HUH?

DAWSON CREEK

JEFF AND S CROW LEFT US ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF DAWSON CREEK. 

I WANTED TO GO TO DAWSON CREEK TO SEE WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.  WHAT A WASTE OF TIME.  THE ONLY THING THERE TO SEE WAS IT WAS THE OFFICIAL BEGINNING OF THE ALASKAN HIGHWAY.

WE FIND A PLACE TO STAY SOUTH OF TOWN.  ROBERT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH BAILEY TO FIND BEAR.  HE YELLS BEAR AND BAILEY START LOOKING AROUND FOR A BEAR.  SO PARKED RIGHT NEXT TO US IS THIS FIFTH WHEEL WITH A BIG BEAR PAINTED  ON THE SIDE OF IT.  BAILEY LOOKS OVER AND FINALLY WITH HER FAILING EYESIGHT SHE THINKS SHE SEES A BEAR.  SHE STARTS BARKING AND GROWLING AND LOOKING AT ME. THEN JUMPS OUT OF THE MOTORHOME TO "ATTACK" THE BEAR. ( I DIDN'T SAY SHE WAS SMART).  WHEN SHE GETS ON THE GROUND SHE IS STILL BARKING AND GROWLING AND SNIFFING THE AIR.  WHEN SHE FINALLY REALIZES IT'S NOT REAL, I UP INSIDE THE MOTORHOME LAUGHING SO HARD I ALMOST PEED MYSELF.

ROBERT LETS HER SIT ON HIS LAP WHILE HE IS DRIVING AND LOOK OUT THE WINDOW.  SHE HAS HIM TRAINED THAT IF SHE SCRATCHES AT THE WINDOW HE WILL PUT IT DOWN AND SHE CAN STICK HER HEAD OUT.  AND THEN THEY BOTH BARK AT THE CARS GOING BY.  THIS ADVENTURE MAY BE  GOING ON TOO LONG.

ON THE ROAD

GOD I WISH THEY WOULD FIX THESE ROADS.  ON THE WAY WE SEE THIS YOUNG CARIBOU.  I DON'T THINK IT WAS WELL.  IT WAS ALL ALONE.

THOUGHT THIS WAS KIND OF A COOL MOUNTAIN.

THIS IS A STONEY SHEEP.  IT'S CAMOUFLAGE ABILITIES ARE AMAZING.  AFTER ROBERT TOOK THIS PICTURE HE LOOKED UP AND FOUND THE REST OF THE FAMILY.

LAIRD RIVER HOT SPRINGS

THE HIGHWAY IS LITTERED WITH HUNDREDS OF BISON. 

WE PULL INTO THE CAMPGROUND AT THE LAIRD RIVER HOT SPRINGS  AND FIND A SPACE.  I FIXED DINNER AND WE BUILT A CAMPFIRE.  NO ELECTRIC AND NO RUNNING THE GENERATOR AFTER 10:00 PM.  THERE ARE TWO POOLS THE ALPHA POOL WHICH IS THE CLOSER POOL AND THE BETA THE FARTHER ONE.  WE ARE TOLD THE THEY ARE HAVING GRIZZLY PROBLEMS AND CAN'T GO INTO THE BETA POLL AS IT IS OCCUPIED BY A MOMMA GRIZZLY AND TWO BABIES.  THEY ALSO ARE COMING INTO THE CAMPGROUND.  

WE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND IT FEELS LIKE SNOW.  IT'S 44 DEGREES.  I'M NOT GOING INTO THE POOL.  THE GUYS MAKE ME FEEL GUILTY SO I AGREE TO WALK DOWN AND CHECK IT OUT.  IT IS 700 PACES ALONG THE BOARD WALK.   

OKAY THE POOL IS BEAUTIFUL.  IT'S ABOUT 108 DEGREES AT THE TOP AND AROUND 100 AT THE BOTTOM.  THE POOL IS APPROXIMATELY 3-5 FEET DEEP.  THE WATER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR WITH A SMOOTH GRAVEL BOTTOM.  I HAVE TO GO IN.    

THERE IS A WATER FALL IN THE POOL WHEN YOU SIT UNDER IT AND ROCK BACK AND FORTH IT GIVES YOU ONE HELL OF A MASSAGE.  IT MAKES YOUR BACK TINGLE. 

WE WERE GOING TO JUST STAY FOR A FEW MINUTES WE ENDED UP STAYING 2 HOURS.  ALL OF MY ACHES AND PAINS WERE GONE.  IT WAS TRULY AMAZING.  IT SMELLED A LITTLE SULFURY AND THE MINERALS IN THE WATER TURNED MY SILVER BRACELET A 100 YEARS OLD.  BUT POLISHED MY GOLD.

ON THE WAY BACK WE SAY FRESH BABY GRIZZLY TRACKS ON THE BOARDWALK.

  THERE WAS A LITTLE SIGN TELLING ABOUT THIS RARE FISH THAT LIVES IN THE HOT WATER.  VERY INTERESTING.

I DEFINITELY NEVER GOT COLD ON THE WAY BACK.  WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCED.