Well it has been almost a three week blog dry spell since we left Whitehorse in Yukon Territory. In June we traveled up the Alaska Highway from Prince George through Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake and then to Whitehorse. In August we returned on the Cassiar Highway. We returned to Watson Lake, but then headed due south to Kitwanga and East back to Prince George. We took side trips, one to Stewart, BC and little Hyder Alaska next door, and then another to Prince Rupert where we ferried to Ketchikan Alaska. We thought ourselves very smart to leave the RV’s in Prince Rupert and walked on the ferry: Not only did we save ourselves big bucks, but we avoided the anguish we watched when the owner of a million dollar Provost motor home tried to exit the ferry. He hooked his rear bumper on the ramp of the ferry and did major damage to the back of his coach. The unloading procedure was held up about an hour while they stacked blocks under his rear wheels to get him free.
This area of British Columbia is rich in native heritage. We have visited villages with exotic names like Kitwanga, Gitanyow and Kispiox. We have seen dozens of totem poles, many of which are over 100 years old in these villages. In other places we have seen native craftsmen building dugout canoes and carving masks and totems as they keep their heritage alive. Judy, Sonja and Audrey spent some time analyzing the craftsmanship of the native “Button Blankets” that are used for ceremonial garb. One guide told us about the “Talking Stick” tradition. In a meeting only the person holding the “Talking Stick” is permitted to speak. What a concept!
We have had lots of wonderful weather. The ferry ride to Ketchikan and back was on two days with perfect weather. We spotted Humpback whales and porpoises. In Stewart, BC we drove the length of the Salmon glacier on a clear sunny day. We took some incredible photos. Remember this is the part of Alaska that is rain forest with over 150 inches of rain a year. We saw nary a drop; but we don’t feel cheated.
After a full day of visiting native villages on a perfect day this week, we returned to our camp. Things started looking ominous so Al and I struck our colors; we rolled up the awnings. Twenty minutes later I even unhooked the power cord when the lightning started dancing around the neighborhood. Shortly a terrible wind storm struck and we closed up the windows and doors. Next morning we traveled on toward Prince George and saw many areas of snapped off trees and downed power lines. Many folks in the area were without power. To us it was just a minor inconvenience.
By the end of this week we expect to be back in Washington State. We are headed for a family gathering with Sonja and Judy’s sister, Genaveve, in Sequim.
We are leaving our Alaska adventure behind, but we have over a thousand photos to share with all of our friends. Hopefully we won’t find the door locked and the curtains drawn when we show up for a visit.
Gary, Judy, Al, Audrey, Sonja and Jack – from Prince George, British Columbia.
