Homeward Bound Day 5 - Fort St. John to Edmonton 9/27

Departed Fort St. John:  8:35

Arrived Edmonton:  5:30

Miles Traveled:  410.8

Weather:  Nice day, mostly sunny and warm

What a difference a day makes.  Today we reached Dawson Creek and left the Alaska Highway.  Shortly after we left British Columbia and entered Alberta.  The scenery today is very different.  No more mountains.  We’re seeing flat prairie and rolling terrain.  Also, four lane highways. That is a real treat.  

Ramada Inn provided a good breakfast, and Sal did her loading thing, we got gas, and headed out.  Dawson Creek was less than an hour away.  We stopped for a selfie at the start of the Alaska Highway and then walked to the Visitor’s Center.  Surprise!  Today is National Tourist Day and we got our choice of a free gift.  We picked out a great poster showing the Alaska Highway.  

Driving north last year, we had snapped a picture from the car of the giant beaver at Beaver Lodge BC.  We pulled over this trip to take pictures and read the signs.  While there, another car pulled over.  Roger is a retired attorney in town who occasionally stops by the beaver when he sees out-of-town cars.  He said his hobby is taking pictures and submitting write ups of visitors to the town paper.  He asked if he could take our picture and ask us some questions.  We agreed and had a fun 15 minutes with him.  He has our Bristol address and will forward a copy of the paper if anything is printed.  And turnabout is fair play, so we took his picture.

(I see Sal and I need to switch up our selfie poses.)

We lost an hour today crossing over into a new time zone.  We hit rush hour traffic entering Edmonton but made it to the hotel in time for their social hour.  Sal and I had a local beer and Brie and crackers.  It was a nice surprise.  We had some cheese and peanut butter crackers from our cooler bag to top off our dinner.  I think it will be an early night for us.  A longer day tomorrow to Regina.

Homeward Bound Day 4 - Muncho Lake to Fort St. John

Depart Muncho Lake 9:15am

Arrive Fort St John 5:45pm

Miles Traveled 395.8

Weather: AM temps in 30s. PM temps in 50s. Morning foggy and smokey. Afternoon sunny with some clouds.

We try to get early starts but bright and shiny things keep crossing our path and distracting us.   We decide to walk down to the lake before we leave.  The smoke is still around but the view is still pretty.  We meet a man who is in the area for work.  He is using lidar/ladar?? to map the AlCan.  He is driving the AlCan and all the offshoot roads in a pick up truck with the lidar/ladar equipment hanging off the back. He says his clients use the data to decide on building and construction projects. 

Northern Rockies Lodge

Boats and lake by Northern Rockies Lodge

The road towards Fort St John is winding and narrow for the first 100 miles.  This morning visibility is poor due to fog and smoke. I believe the smoke is from the Donnie Creek wildfire burning north of Fort St. John, British Columbia.

I am glad to have this truck's tail lights to follow through the combination of fog and smoke.

Noon comes; we've been on the road 2.5 hours and we have only traveled 100 miles.  

It is a red letter day when it comes to wildlife sightings.  We see caribou, deer, black bear and a black and orange fox.

We see two groups of Caribou.

There were three black bears.  Here are two of them.

Early afternoon we drive out of the smoke. We can see the scenery again.

Dinner is take out salads from The Chopped Leaf.  We have take out dinners so we can eat with Grey.  I am happy that he picked my bed to sleep on this evening.  He slept on my bed last night, too.  Sorry BB!

Sal

Homeward Bound Day 3 - Whitehorse to Muncho Lake 9/25

Depart Whitehorse:  8:30

Arrive Muncho Lake: 5:00

Miles Driven: 

Weather:  30s and drizzly in the morning, overcast, cool and hazy in the afternoon

Woke up at 7:00 and it was dark outside.  We had coffee and started packing up.  Packing always takes longer than I anticipate.  We scoot Grey’s big carrier in first, then fit in our overnight bags, backpacks and cooler.  Like puzzle pieces, everything has to fit just so.

I started off driving today.  In my mind, I was definitely going to drive two hours then see how much further I felt like going.  But our first bathroom break was at 1 hour, 52 minutes, and that seemed a good time to switch.  I definitely do not pull my share of wheel time.

Grey was unsettled today.  He bit me going into his carrier and then he cried intermittently for three hours before he settled down.  He is resting on Sally’s bed now.  He apparently is mad at me.  Sorry buddy, seven more days to go.  Wish you could understand you have the most comfortable space in the car.

The scenery today was similar to yesterday, but maybe a little less fall color and more evergreens.  We are still repeating in reverse our trip up the Alaska Highway, and we stopped at some of the same gas stations.  We made one stop in Watson Lake for gas and coffee at a building across from the Sign Post Forest we had visited on our way up.  We got the gas but the coffee didn’t look very appealing.  We ate our lunch, a bag of Alaska potato chips and water, while driving.

We stopped at the Continental Divide.  That is always interesting to me.  We read in our Milepost book that the waters to the west flowed into the Bering Sea and Pacific and to the east entered the Arctic Ocean.  Sally got out to read the interpretive signs.  She said they gave the same information as the Milepost, so I stayed put.  Whoever sits in the passenger side has a file box, food bag and cat food at her feet and a backpack in her lap.  Sometimes it’s easier to stay in the car than to shuffle everything to get out then rearrange it all again once seated.

Thinks got more interesting when we crossed over into British Columbia.  Immediately signs were posted to watch out for bison on the road and to be aware of smoke from fires.  We saw both.  We passed two groups of bison lounging by the road, maybe close to 80 in total. We watched a couple big trucks roar by and the bison weren’t bothered at all by the noise.  

Then we started noticing the haze and then the smoke smell.  The smoke was never too heavy, but it was definitely noticeable. 

Our home for the night is Northern Rockies Lodge on Muncho Lake. It’s nice.  We had a good dinner in the room, cheeseburger and salad for Sally, pork schnitzel sandwich and salad for me.  I expect we’ll catch up on all the latest on the internet then turn in early.  It’s a bit shorter day tomorrow to Fort St. John. And Sally says it’s supposed to be sunny.  I may wear clean clothes!  A clean shirt, anyway.

Homeward Bound Day 2 - Tok to Whitehorse 09/24

Depart  Tok 9:20am. 

Arrive Whitehorse 7:00pm.

Miles traveled 394.9

Weather: AM temps in the 30s. PM temps on the 40s. Cloudy with occasional sunshine

Our plan to be on the road this morning by 8:30 was out the window by 8:00.  We meet the other couple staying at the lodge at breakfast.  They are from Texas on a 2 month road trip.  We have too much fun trading travel stories.

We are on the road by 9:20. We don't go many miles before we have the first in a series of incidents made to test our patience. 

Major roadwork is taking place on AK-2 between Tok and the Canadian border. We are stopped twice; about 20 minutes each time.  

When we reach the border US Fish and Game is performing a game check.  Do we have wild game, fish or any pieces/parts there of?  Well....we have a moose antler packed in the car top carrier. The Officer completes a form that he says will make entering Canada easier.  We worry about having to show the antler to Canadian Customs. We have trouble with the carrier's locks and don't want to open the carrier until time to unload in Bristol. We also remember we have Alaska grown carrots in the car.  We aren't sure whether we will be allowed to take them across the border. Will we have carrots and a moose antler after we enter Canada?

There is a line at Canadian Customs.  Our wait is about 40 minutes.  I spend some time watching a raven.  It is hanging around the cars. The car behind us is tossing it food.  Apparently this is a normal food gathering routine for the raven.  The phone rings while we are waiting. It is our Virginia family! Talking with them helps pass the time.

We easily pass Canadian Customs. No questions at all about wild game, fish or any pieces/parts there of.  No questions about fruits or vegetables. The officer does not want to see Grey's expensive vetenarian report that states he is a healthy kitty. She did take the bear spray/pepper spray I had. However, I didn't want it but didn't know how to properly dispose of it.  Problem solved.

We loose an hour when we enter Canada.  It is now 1:30.  We have traveled 100 miles. We kept our patience for the most part and the Officers we interacted with at both borders were helpful and courteous.

We recognize and reminisce about things from our trip up last summer...the Welcome Signs at the border, the World's Largest Gold Pan at Burwash Landing, the Village Monument (AKA Cupcake) in Haines Junction and places we stopped for gas, to eat and sleep.

Today's highlight is the scenery.  The mountains are capped with snow.  The birch trees are a glorious yellow gold and really pop when next to the dark green spruce. Definitely a time when a picture is worth a thousand words.

We arrive in Whitehorse at 7:00.  BB calls in a dinner order at Whiskey Jack's.  We have time to drop off luggage at our lodging before picking up our chicken Cesar wraps.

At the border.

My raven friend hoping for food.

Scenery

Sal

Homeward Bound Day 1 — Anchorage to Tok 9/23

Hours on the road:  7

Miles traveled: tbd

Weather:  40s and mixture of sunny, overcast and a few light sprinkles

Sal and I woke up to our 7:00am alarms and promptly reset them for 7:30.  We had our final Anchorage coffee sitting on our blow up mattress, the only furniture left in the apartment.  An unexpected treat were chocolate donuts which a neighbor had brought by last night.  

We saw our 10:00 ETD come and go, but by 11:30 master packer Sal had all our stuff in the car with a sight line that was acceptable.  Goodbyes were said to neighbors, a freaked out Grey was loaded into his carrier, the apartment was cleaned and swept, keys were turned in and we pulled out onto Lake Otis Parkway for the last time.

We had to head north before we could go south.  We took the familiar  drive to Palmer and on to Glenallen.  Alaska in September is a whole other level of beauty, and the fall color and snowy peaks were gorgeous.  

At Glenallen, we turned left and headed north to Tok.  We stopped for gas before checking out our evening’s accommodations, and a group of very noisy motor bikes and ATVs ROARED into the station. Saturday night in Tok, I thought.  Shortly after an Alaska trooper pulled in and we heard him ask the boys, and they did seem young, for “a word.”  Wish I could have listened in on the tropper’s “word.”

Fox and Fireweed is our home for the evening.  We are very comfortable and have eaten dinner out of our bag of goodies provided us by friends.  Grey is enjoying his freedom.  He has inspected the room thoroughly and picked his side of the bed.  He is totally zonked out now.  Sal and I will probably read a little then turn out the lights.  It has been a fun, stressful, surprising, tiring and wonderful last week in Alaska.  A real bed will be fabulous after a month on a blow up mattress.  I hope we sleep well.  Up early tomorrow, and we’ll cross the border into Canada.

Our Year of Raffles

RAFFLE: a means of raising money by selling numbered tickets, one or some of which are subsequently drawn at random, the holder or holders of such tickets winning a prize.

BB and I support local businesses and organizations whenever we can.  One way we do this is by participating in raffles and similar fund-raising events.

Recently BB and I discussed the many raffles we participated in this year and laughed at our lack of winnings.  I decided to review our year in Alaska by revisiting the raffles.

The raffles won:

         Score:  Raffles:  14   Alaska Sisters:  2

 

NOTE: If the raffle is mentioned in a previous post I noted the posting date in parentheses.

   The Great Alaska Quilt Show 

One Saturday last September we were looking for something to do.  We saw a notice in the Anchorage Daily News (ADN) about the Great Alaska Quilt Show put on by the Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters. BB and I enjoyed looking at the quilts at the State Fair so we decided to go.   There were lots of beautiful quilts.  We purchased tickets for a quilt up for auction.  No surprise when I say we do not have a new quilt decorating one of our beds!

Besides seeing beautiful quilts, two other fun things happened.  

I found out about Dave Allgood.  He is a news anchor and journalist.  His stories are produced under the "Allgood News" franchise he's built over several decades in radio and TV.  Dave says "Everybody has a story, what's yours?" Dave was there creating an Allgood News feature on the Quilt Show.  I see Dave's posts on NextDoor and on the local news.

Someone recognized me!  Terri from Pilates class at the Y came up to say hello.   Wow! In Anchorage 4 or 5 weeks and I run into someone I know!

   2023 Fur Rondy Raffle 

Multiple posts in February and March document the fun we had attending Fur Rondy activities.  Proceeds from the raffle helped make all those activities possible.  This raffle had multiple prizes we would have loved to win, including two round trip tickets on Alaska Airlines.  We didn't win any of them.

  2023 Iditarod Winter Raffle 

Proceeds from the 2023 Iditarod Winter Raffle fund operation of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  We really became invested in the race.  (Refer to several posts in March).  We attended the Mushers Banquet, the Anchorage Start, the Willow Start and followed our favorite mushers.  This summer we saw the documentary movie about this year's winner Ryan Redington, Redington's Run, at the Bear Tooth Theatre Pub.  This raffle awarded cash prizes, Grand Prize being $101,000.  No prizes awarded to us.

  The Great Alaska Duck Race 2022

We attended The Great Alaska Duck Race (09-11-2022) last year and had so much fun we talked about participating again this year.  (But we didn't; the weather was cloudy and drizzly so we stayed home.  Very UnAlaskan to stay home due to bad weather!).  The Great Alaska Duck Race is Alaska's premiere statewide fundraising event for youth sports, education, and local community organizations.  Grand prize was $10,000.  We didn't win.

What I liked about this raffle was that you got to designate the organization you wanted to receive your money when you purchased your ticket/duck.   We decided to support Alaska Trails.  The end goal for Alaska Trails is a long trail, 500+ miles, that goes from Alaska's Pacific coast (Seward) to the interior (Fairbanks).  This ADN article announces a name for the new trail, Alaska Traverse.

  The Haines Bald Eagle Festival

We enjoyed Haines and the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival (11-15-2022).  Many individuals, businesses and organizations donated items for this raffle.  Raffle participants purchased tickets and then put the tickets in jars in front of the items they hoped to win.   BB and I placed multiple tickets in the jar for a trip we hoped to win.  We also placed tickets in several empty jars.  We didn't want anyone to feel left out.  I won one of these which was a Yukon Wildlife Preserve T-Shirt, postcards and stickers.  The items hadn't arrived yet from the Yukon Wildlife Preserve so the Bald Eagle Foundation said they would mail them to me.  They never arrived.  I never followed up on it.  I didn't really want the items and didn't want the Foundation to spend the time and money doing follow up.  So I won, but not really.

  Palmer Colony Christmas 

Inside the Historic Palmer Deput was a Christmas Tree Raffle to benefit Mat-Su Special Santa Programs (12-12-2022).  We didn't go home with a tree, but we saw Santa and enjoyed the parade and fireworks.  

  Anchorage Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Many downtown Anchorage shops were open longer hours the day of the Tree Lighting (12-01-2022).   Receipts from purchases from participating shops could be used to enter a raffle for two round trip tickets from Alaska Airlines.  We both made purchases and entered the raffle.  We didn't fly Alaska Airlines home for Christmas.

  Best of Alaska Showcase

The Best of Alaska Showcase gathered the 2022 winners at the Dena'ina Center one January Saturday.  As we entered the convention center we were handed a booklet that listed the businesses participating in a raffle.  As we visited the different vendors we had them stamp our booklet.   Turning in the booklet made us eligible for prizes.  We became eligible but not winners.

It was a fun day.  The highlight was spending time with Seymour!

  Fur Rondy Melodrama   - Peaceful...Well It Was!

Each year members of Alaska Sound Celebration, Alaska's premier women's a cappella chorus put on a melodrama during Fur Rondy.  We attended this year's melodrama, titled Peaceful....Well, It Was! and enjoyed the play, the music and the popcorn throwing (03-11-2023).  We also bought raffle tickets, proceeds to support Alaska Sound Celebration. Grand Prize was two round trip tickets on Alaska Airlines.  Again, not a winner.

  Nenana Ice Classic 2023 and 2024.

Nenana, located at the confluence of the Tanana and Nenana Rivers, is a small town about 55 miles southwest of Fairbanks on the Parks Highway.  We pass through it on our trips to Fairbanks.  Nenana is where President Harding signified the completion of the interior Alaska Railroad by driving in the Golden Spike on July 15, 1923.  It is also famous for the Nenana Ice Classic.  BB and I bought tickets while on our way to Fairbanks to attend the WEIO games.

Here is how the Ice Classic works. Each ticket, or guess, costs $3.00.  Complete the ticket with your name and contact information and with the date and time you guess the ice on the river will break up.  Winner(s) share the jackpot, which in 2023 was $221,101.

Proceeds from ticket sales benefit many organizations:

        American Cancer Society
        Boy Scouts of America KUAC
        Fairbanks Food Bank
        Nenana Public Library
        Nenana Senior Center
        4 Scholarship programs
        And many other groups

   Palmer Colony Days

Palmer Colony Days (06-21-2023) celebrates the city's roots as a 1930's New Deal farm colony.  Events include arts and crafts markets, walking tours and a parade.  Most of the events we attend in Palmer are near the Depot, so that is where we tend to park and start our wanderings.  When we arrived in Palmer on June 10 we parked near the Depot. It was our first stop.  Inside we found the Festival of Flowers and a raffle.  Proceeds of this raffle support Kids Kupbard, an organization that works to end child hunger.  We didn't go home with a pretty plant for our porch, however we did enjoy the day in Palmer.

   Fairbanks WEIO 2023 Raffle

The WEIO Games were definitely a highlight (07-21-2023)!  Proceeds of this raffle support WEIO's Mission, which is to promote the culture, social games, skills, dances and traditions of Alaska, Greenland, Siberian and Canadian Eskimos and those of the American and Alaskan Indians and Aleuts.  This was one of the few times we were present for the drawing.  Alas, we did not win the grand prize, two round trip tickets on Alaska Airlines, nor any of the other prizes. 

   Valdez Gold Rush Days 

Valdez Gold Rush Days is a 5-day festival honoring all things Valdez.  As suggested by the festival's name, Valdez was founded in 1897-1898 as a port of entry for gold seekers headed for the Klondike gold fields. This year it was held August 2 to August 6, 2023.  Activities included an arts and crafts market, wine walk, historic walking tours, parade and community picnic.

We arrived in Valdez early afternoon on the last day of the festival.  It was a cloudy rainy Sunday.  We were interested in three events; the market, parade and community picnic.  The market was quiet as the rain has driven some of the vendors and many of the shoppers away.  A stage was set up by the market and we stayed long enough to catch a few songs by an Elvis impersonator.  We headed over to the parade.  My favorite entry in the parade was a group of 10 to 15 GOLDEN RETRIEVERS. (I admit I was slow making the connections:  Gold Rush...Golden Retriever , duh). 

We learn about the raffle at the community picnic.  The proceeds from the raffle support scholarships for seniors from the local high school.  Grand prize is $5000.  The drawing was at the picnic.  Neither BB nor my names were called.  However, we enjoyed the food and the conversation we had with the locals who shared a table with us.

  Highlands Apartment Community Events

The management of The Highland apartment complex frequently sponsors get togethers for the residents.   BB and I attended The Highlands Woofmas Hour in December (12-12-2022) and the Valentine's Day Grab and Go in February.   Highlands Management does great food and decorations.  We enjoy attending these both for the great food and the socializing with other residents.

Highlands management had a Pizza and Desert Grab and Go in July.  This event included a raffle for gift card prizes.  Oh, how surprised I was when my name was called!  I won a $50 Uber Eats gift card!

  Friday Fling, Palmer's Outdoor Market, Moose Poop Palooza

Friday Fling is a huge, outdoor farmer's market held in Palmer on Fridays, May through August.  The area around Palmer is a big agricultural area (Reminder, this is where the colonist / farmers came in the 1930s), so we were excited to go one Friday in July.  We had fun checking out the food vendors, admiring the local produce and the various arts and crafts.  Then we see something called Moose Poop Palooza.   If you know me, anytime anything moose related crosses my path I have to check it out.

Moose Poop Palooza is a fund raiser of the Kiwanis Club of Palmer.  Funds raised go to support many scholarships, Key Clubs, K-Kids, and support numerous other community groups like Little League. I'm not exactly sure I understand how it works. I think a bunch of moose nuggets are collected and numbered. (Don't ask me how!). A fireman climbs to the top of the ladder on a fire truck. Below the truck is a target. The fireman drops the nuggets and the numbered nugget nearest the target wins. Grand prize is $3,000. Once again, not a winner.

Feed the Musk Ox Qiviut Raffle

A month left in our stay here and BB and I decide we can't go back to Virginia without visiting the Reindeer Farm and Musk Ox Farm in Palmer.  Sunday, August 20, finds us on the road to Palmer.  The Reindeer Farm has reindeer along with many other

animals; chickens, pigs, alpacas and yaks.  No reindeer raffle.  The Musk Ox Farm lives up to its name and only has musk ox.  However, it also has a raffle.  Prizes are items made from qiviut.  Qiviut is the downy-soft underwool from the Artic musk ox.  It is eight times warmer than wool and extraordinarily lightweight.  The drawing is in December.

Sal