Montana Trip - Day 13

[up around 0800 this morning - didn't have to do much this morning to leave - on the road by 0830 - good drive on AB-5 (nice mountain views) - entered Waterton Lakes park around 0930L - beautiful views of Prince of Wales Hotel and pretty lake - stopped at visitor center and encountered a crotchety Quebecois ranger (no help) - another visitor told me to go up to Cameron Lake - with gas tank nearly empty, still figured I could make it - drive was relaxing (far fewer visitors in the park!) - views of the Lake were tremendous - southern end was nearly a rock face that went straight up (Montana border) - decided to walk the Akamina Pass trail - it went uphill all the way to the British Columbia border - encountered a ladies hiking group and a woman who popped out of the bushes as I neared the top - very pleasant - reached border (and Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park boundary) - decided to turn around (thought I had gone 1.5 miles up but forgot they measured in kilometers... - no wonder it went so fast!) - back down the hill to the car - stopped at the site of the first oil well in western Canada - drove into the little town of Waterton (VERY pretty!) - got gas (pricy) at the only station - they recommended I eat at Trappers, across the street - I sat outside there and had to eat breakfast (they don't serve lunch until 1200L) - ate buffalo meat, eggs and spuds (skillet) with toast - afterwards, ate some Saskatoon berry pie (mmmmmm!!!) - bought some souvenirs - walked around town, along the pretty lake - great views of historic hotel - I actually did not want to leave - weather was great, town wasn't busy - still, needed to get going - drove towards exit, stopping at Prince of Wales Hotel on the way out - also drove up to Red Rock Canyon (interesting river views - small, different layers of red) - left park and got on AB-6 to the border (great view of Chief Mountain) - glad I didn't come this way last night because they close the gate at 1800! - got quizzed a lot (and searched) - drove down MT-17 and back to US-89 - mail in Babb - got on Going to the Sun Road at St. Mary (stopped at visitor center) - glassy lake surface (St. Mary) with amazing reflection - stopped several times for photos (Jackson Glacier), but wanted to make sure I got across the pass before the major road construction impacted my goal to reach Missoula - as I got to Logan Pass, had to wait about 20 minutes for road work - one of the ladies there told me that the road had only just opened in mid July - and that the road and visitor center had been damaged during the long winter - a HUGE line had formed, so after we got escorted to the Pass, I decided not to stop there - but, after getting going again, I got immediately delayed for another 20 minutes just below - saw herd of elk very close to the road - with the huge line of cars and the significant construction, the drive was severely affected (scenery and enjoyment wise) - after I made it through the Loop, let cars pass me - made just a few stops on the way down - best view was Lake McDonald (glacial lake) - break at Apgar (souvenir) - drove out of park on US-2, down to where it intercepted US-93 - first cell signal in nearly two full days - drove through [Kilispell] and on to Flathead Reservation - got dinner at Burger King (ate in car) - road meandered along beautiful Flathead Lake - mountains of the "Crown of the Continent" in background... - would have stopped if it was earlier: St. Ignatius Church (Father De Smet) and National Buffalo Herd - made it to the edge of Missoula (I-90) around 1930 - didn't get on interstate, found hotel (Redwood at truck stop) - watched TV, emails, money (etc.) - bed around midnight.]

Vancouver, BC (Canada)

[CFLSW Inspection Trip] It wasn't my choice but my Boss told me we needed to get out to Whidbey Island this week. I always like to travel - especially anywhere in the Northwest - but I was still adjusting to the Central Time Zone.  This made things interesting... After driving to DFW Airport, I met with our mini-Inspection Team (only five people - including me - this time). Our Alaska Airlines flight departed Texas at around 1400. This was the first time I've ever flown with this carrier and the experience was better than what I've been seeing with American Airlines.  There was more leg room, they offered rental of a mini-TV for $6, the choices for food seemed better and prices seemed more fair. They even gave us bags of pretzels (that sure is a blast from the past...) and served drinks twice. They only odd thing was watching the amount of effort they made for us to sign up for a credit card...  We landed at Seattle-Tacoma at around 1500L (early) and I said goodbye to the rest of the team. The reason for this was that our travel office thought it was a great idea for us to wait an hour, change to another airplane, fly to Bellingham and then get a rental car. None of that made any sense to me and seemed like a lot of wasted time.  Plus, that city isn't even that much closer to Whidbey Island.  So, before departing on this trip, I'd cancelled the flight and got a rental car from Alamo at SEA-TAC (picked up at 1605).  My original intention was to get together with my cousin (Courtenay) for dinner, but that didn't work out. As a result (and since I didn't have to ride any busses to get my rental car), I was on the road by 1615. Traffic on I-5 was immediately a factor (I knew it would be), but I still made it to Mount Vernon by 1715 (still ahead of my teammates, who'd just boarded their Bellingham-bound flight back at SEA-TAC). The weather was so great during my drive, it occurred to me that today would be a good day to Vancouver!  With that decision made, I continued north.  There were mountains and tall trees all the way - nice scenery. Traffic really thinned out north of Bellingham and I "virtually waved" to my Navy buddies as I passed the airport. I arrived at the US-Canada border by around 1830 and the crossing was pretty easy. The sun was going down over Vancouver Island as I drove up BC-99 into the city - it was all very pretty. I didn't realize the amount of time it would take to get from the border to downtown... By the time I arrived, it was clear that not having a map would make it difficult to find anything. I drove around for about an hour - checking out neighborhoods and attempting to get a feel for the city that just hosted the Winter Olympics. Different highlights included: flashing green traffic lights, "tweeting" crosswalk signals, busy night clubs and quaint restaurant areas, tons of college-age kids walking and biking everywhere. Off in the distance - from nearly every vantage-point - I could see mountains with lighted ski runs. As it got dark, I realized that I might have trouble getting back easily, so I gave up and headed back to the border. Before crossing back into the US, I checked out the Peace Arch and shopped in the Duty Free Shop. Crossed back into the US around 2100. The drive back towards Whidbey Island was OK - especially after I discovered that my rental car had Satellite Radio... Got on WA-20 near Mount Vernon and had no problems (just some slower traffic) getting to Oak Harbor. Fortunately, I remembered where we stayed with our team last time we came for an inspection (see SEP 2008). Checked into my room at the Navy Lodge just before the front desk staff was going to close for the night (2230). Spent the rest of the evening getting ready for work - bed around 2330.  What a day!

Alaska Trip - Day 18

Got up and packed up tent (etc.). Eileen and Cathy wrote Glenn a thank you note. Left 1/2 hour later without showers (none available) - this was a very unpopular decision... Later stopped for bathroom - out of order. Another traveller gave us some water to pour over us - the sulfer smell of the hot springs was beginning to wear on everyone. Finally found another campsite with running water and we had a chance to finally wash hands, face and hair of the smell. Even the bug juice smells like sulfer (why?). Cathy and Eileen were much happier and started to sing Country songs. Eileen mentioned that she needed a theme for her Resident Advisor room decorations so we all started to brainstorm. Finally came up with putting ice cream cones with names on the scoops. She wants to stop somewhere (good luck!) to pick up colored paper and scissors... Took ALCAN to Dawson's Creek. Saw "Mill O" sign. Ate at McDonalds and picked up supplies for RA project. Cathy and Eileen worked on decorations in the back. Went out Route 2 to Grand Prairie and later found a dead end (oops...). Turned around and got directions at a gas station. Saw waterfall mural on side of a phone company building. Took Route 34 to Route 43 in Valley View. Later on Trans-Canada 16. Found a $50 hotel room in Edmonton. Cathy took a half hour shower - she told us this would help us get out of here early in the morning (I'll bet she wants another one anyway...).

Alaska Trip - Day 17

Woke up late (sunny/hot). Drove over to Kluane Park Visitors Center - open this time. Eileen called home. Picked up coffee and some sweet baked goods. Drove to Whitehorse, Teslin via ALCAN. Cathy got a bloody nose and started to throw a fit (she is definitely tired of the car). We stopped for ice cream and chips - that improved the mood. Met an Indian who helped us find our way in the right direction. Found a forest of road signs along the highway. Had mac and cheese for lunch at a Country/Western bar. Guys tried to pick Eileen up - grabbed Cathy by the leg - they came running back to the car. Later, they both fell asleep as I continued to drive the ALCAN. Stopped at hot springs. We took in the extremely hot water - it was not what I expected (definitely an acquired taste). Met a guy named Glenn who was going to hike up into the bush near the hot springs. He said we could borrow his campsite for the night and he left. Ranger woke us up later but when we told him about Glenn he left us alone.

Alaska Trip - Day 6

Cathy woke us with cries about a spider bite. Frosted flakes for breakfast - yaah! Headed out on the gravel road (Cassiar Highway). Ran into some construction after a few hours of driving. Talked to the flag girl - she was from Prince George. Eileen called her mom near Dease Lake. We stopped again at Simmons Lake. Cathy and Eileen wanted pictures on the Teslin Bridge - even walked sock footed out to the middle! Cathy then dragged Eileen around the next gas station. I think it is a sister thing... Saw rainbow just before Haines Junction. Had to borrow can opener for some lunch. Hit Alaska-Canada (ALCAN) Highway near Watson Lake. Missed a speeding ticket near Whitehorse (whew...). Passed Kluane Park visitor center just after dark - closed (maybe on the way back?). We are staying in the Cottonwood Campground in Kluane, Yukon. Eileen is enjoying the frigid weather.

Alaska Trip - Day 5

Cathy was out of the tent early - bugs! No milk at the store, so no frosted crunch - too bad. Cathy and Eileen took a walk, escorted by a local guide (dog). They brought back all sorts of flowers - fireweed, yarrow & delicate purplish daisy-like things - for the cashier of the store. We lounged in the campground until 1100. As we left the KOA, we had a good laugh about the satellite dishes on the campers. Took Highway 16 to Highway 37 at Meziadin Junction. Saw a black bear along the road around 1230 - he ran away before Cathy could focus or Eileen could find her camera (great packing...). Lunch at Glacier Gulch/Twin Falls. Cathy got splashed. Saw a porcupine later in the day. We are now on a gravel road - ran about 130 miles today. Stopped to admire some huge totem poles just before dark. Found great camping cabins at the only campground we had seen in hours (Eastman Creek Campground, BC). They had a wood-stove and cots. No matches left after first successful attempt for fire - stove went out in the night. Brrrr...

Alaska Trip - Day 4

Woke up for oatmeal in hotel room. On Highway 16 all day... First tape of the day - Bryan Adams. Cathy enjoyed cleaning bugs off windshield. We discussed the possibility of taking the Ferry to some areas in the Inner Passage (probably not enough time). Saw Massachusetts license plate between Edson and Hinton. People gladly pulling over to the right side shoulder to allow us to pass them! Groceries and snacks in Hinton. Saw mountain goats in Jasper National Park. Decided against going to Miette Hot Springs because it was such a hot day (hopefully can visit on way back). Saw moose just outside of Prince George. Went wading in Moose Lake (took photos for Jamie AKA "Moose"). Sprinkled a little in the early evening, but the coolness was appreciated. Stopped for night in Freeport (Burns Lake), British Columbia. We used the KOA - they had showers!! Heard loons out on the lake and a mysterious canine (dog? wolf? coyote?) near our campsite.

Summer Family Vacation - Day 48

[date uncertain - more driving towards the east - stopped at Glacier National Park and then continued on to Banff - spent the night there (?)]

Summer Family Vacation - Day 47

[date uncertain - morning in Vancouver - driving all day to the northeast - Kamloops - Salmon Arm - stayed the night near Mount Revelstoke National Park (?)]

Summer Family Vacation - Day 46

[date uncertain - driving across Whidbey Island to I-5 - north to border crossing - Vancouver, BC for the night (?)]