Day 58 - Haines, AK - August 26, 2011

The Brittons pulled out of Haines Junction, YT headed for Haines, AK.

The road was good and the day started out with sunshine but changed to mist and OVC as we motored on

The scenery was still beautiful.

Although, there was this now all too familiar site

But fortunately not for too long

We made it back into the USA

and continued along one of the most beautiful drives yet.

We made it to Haines, parked the rig right on the edge of the bay and went exploring.

Pam was the first (I wonder why? ) to spot the Brown (Grizzly) bears

They fished

and ate

and fished, we saw 5 total.

Folks were fishing the same river and it was good humor to watch them scramble towards safety as the bears came closer.

Then there were the Bald Eagles.  We lost count.

We saw eagles flying with salmon in their talons but couldn't get them on .... film?  Maybe tomorrow. But we did catch them watching.

We closed out the day meeting other RV'ers in the park around a campfire.  Nice people, great life, we wished J,G,H were here to share this with us.  Monday.....maybe.

Day 57 - Tok, Ak to Haines Junction, YT - August 25, 2011

Unfortunately the Britton's are still in a holding pattern waiting for the Cockerells to clear the Cummins service center in Anchorage.  While waiting for our dear friends we revised the plan and moved towards Haines, AK which takes you from Tok to Haines Junction, YT.  This by far is the worst of the Alaskan Highway.  It's 300 miles of which 200 miles of it is road repair, frost heaves and potholes.  While posted at 65 mph the usual speed is 25 to 40 mph.

There is beauty

and then the road

the beauty

and the road.

On and on for 200 miles

Pam gets to focus on the beauty

and Lon on the road.

Are you freakin' kidding me, haven't they heard about the BEARS?!?!

Finally, around Destruction Bay, the road smooths out and we both get a chance to enjoy the scenery.

Worn out, we pull into the Kluane RV Park in Haines Junction and this is our view

Pam prepares a wonderful meal,

and holds a sign to remind us that it's all relative

She's smart - that girl.

Day 56 - Tok, AK - August 24, 2011

Brittons Reporting:

Pam & Lon spent a down day at Tok RV Park in Tok, AK.  We are in a holding pattern trying to wait for the Cockerells to catch up.  We are hoping they will be back on the road by Saturday !!!!  We miss them and Heidi - it's not as much fun without them.

Lon woke up with a sore throat and cough.  We called our Doc back in Waterford, MI and he phoned a script into the "dispensary" (Z - pack) at the Tok Medical Clinic.  Pam went and picked it up while Lon waited patiently in the RV.  He should be on the mend in no time.  While Pam did laundry Lon decided to change the air filter on the coach.  He also checked all the fluids and added a quart of oil.

We are ready to hit the road tomorrow morning for Haines Junction, YT.  Then on to Haines, AK.  We will be traveling back and forth from AK to YT for this trip.  Hope we don't get hung up long at the borders.

Day 55 - Chitnia to Tok - August 23, 2011

Getting into Liberty Falls State Park the night before was easy, compared to getting out.  Tight, tight, tight, not for the faint of heart.  Should have got a picture.  Oh well,  back on the road to head to Tok, "The Gateway to Alaska".  Once back on the Richardson Highway the road was good.

The scenery continued.

 Mt. Hood in the background.

Float planes are definitely the way to get around.

Pam got this rainbow when we hit a shower.

Then we hit the Tok cutoff, Highway 1.  Six miles of good road until we hit construction.   Then 20 miles of gravel.  Dusty gravel, following a pilot car at 20 mph.  Should have got a picture.  Then another 30 miles of dusty gravel at 35 to 45 mph.  Too much dust for a picture.  The good news was we were the lead vehicle.  The bad news was I had to maintain speed to keep lead vehicle status.   The gravel beat the crap out of Pam's car.   Now, I need to change the air filter on the motorhome.  Then, I'll get back in my doghouse.

Day 54B - Chitina - August 22, 2011

Up and at 'em, the Brittons pulled out of Valdez at 10:14 headed for Chitina.  We were blessed with another nice partly sunny day.  The scenery along the way was again magnificent.

We tried to figure out the name of this glacier but couldn't.  There are so many glaciers, maybe they ran out of names?  We named it the "Heidi Glacier" in honor of her absence.

We made the turn off the Richardson Highway, east towards Chitina on the Edgerton Highway.  I guess if it's paved they call it a highway.

  About 15 miles down the road we found this Yak farm.  Musk Ox and Yaks in Alaska, who'd guessed?

        Well, now that we've seen Yaks, we checked Tibet off our bucket list.  Why else go to Tibet?

We continued into Chitina and got some good advice from US Forest Ranger Earl whose headquarters is this oldest building in Chitnia.

We checked out the Copper River where Native Americans were tending fish wheels catching the last of the Red Salmon run.

There was also a backhoe there loading a drop bucket with gravel that this helicopter was using to ferry gravel to some remote location.

Based on Ranger Earl's recommendation, Pam raced ahead with the car to Liberty Falls State Park to secure one of three spots that would hold our rig.  She beat out some other campers with tents by mere seconds for the premiere spot.

                                       We shoehorned the motorhome into this incredible site,

                                         poured a glass of Chardonnay and enjoyed the view.

                                                          Put a bottle in the river to chill

                                                    grilled some pork chops and started a fire.

                                            We enjoyed our fine meal at the foot of the falls

                                                          retrieved the wine and enjoyed the fire.

                                                      We'll do the dishes tomorrow.  Maybe.