BEARS...finally!! (pix) 6-18-2011 From Hyder, AK to Dease River, BC

There are so many glaciers on this trip.   But one can see how they are slowly receding and receding.

This was our first siting...mama just meandering across the street.

Didn't even look our way.  They sure do walk gracefully tho!!  If you click the picture, the larger pix gives a better view.

Another siting.....a cub.

Then mama comes along....

Driving down the road I saw something, thinking hey, maybe more bears.  They

were these creatures, complete with a bell on them.  But who knows where they came from, there was not a house or barn in miles and miles.

I think this is a coyote, I need to research on internet :)

Ooops...roadway sign to the left LOL.  All these pictures have been taken from the rig while driving so they are best they could be.  Pull outs are far between.

6-16-2011 Hazleton, BC to Hyder, AK

Love when the clouds are in the mtns.

Bear Glacier

Bear Glacier

The hot Air Balloon is in the rigLOL..

Hyder, AK

Dolly Varden fish....our dinner!

The other side of town, where Hyder originally was.  It was originally built on stilts, still visible.

This was a lovely drive, and we saw a black bear cub on the side of the road today.  No picture again :(((  Driving too fast, but it was adorable.  I think my voice yelling at Al to tell him it was there, scared the cub more than the sound of the rig LOL.... The glaciers pictured below are of Bear Glacier.  This time customs was on the Canadian side and not US, so we managed to keep our food :)  The two towns of Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK are so close (2 miles), and really small towns, population 699 and 100 respectively.  As you can see from the picture, the town (Hyder) is really small, and quite a few of the buildings are boarded up or closed.  So sad...wondering what keeps people working here.  We did see a lot of lumber mills so maybe they drive quite a ways to work.  Al caught Dolly Varden, so that was our dinner tonight.  After dinner drove to a spit where the town dock was.  Again, beautiful scenery.  Hoping to see sea otters or something, but nothing around.  Maybe tomorrow night.

6-15-2011 Vanderhoof, BC to Hazleton, BC

These totem poles were in a small village area occupied by Native Americans.

Wildlife today!!!  Deer and fox, however, driving in the rig so no photos :(  Another great scenery day.  We did see some Totem Poles in Vanderhoof and Hazleton.  They were really disappointing to us...we expected them to be taken care of, and maybe have some color.  No so.  There is a lot of handwork that is involved, so it's sad to see them deteriorate so.  Not many vehicles on the road today, and what we see mostly is headed south, not north like us.  We were the only RV in the campground.  Travelling throughout BC one notices all the different colors in the landscape, which is just beautiful and full of snow, greens, blues, etc.  Wondering if Alaska will be the same as far as lack of rigs travelling.  In 2004, there were many many rigs.  The owner of the campground said that usually the snow is gone from the top of the mountains by now.  Hummmmm....while I don't like cold and snow, it does add beauty to the landscape!

6-13-2011 Bow, WA to Clinton, BC

At the Border, they had us discard our potatoes and apples :(   Lots of camera's for people going into the US,  not so many for those of us going into Canada.  The drive was a lovely drive today!  No wildlife however.  The campground was lovely, and even offered a BBQ for a fee; internet for a fee.

Entering Canada

Hi Ya'll,
Leaving Bow, Washington and entering Canada (for about two weeks) tomorrow.  No pix for this post, but when I get back after two weeks, there'll be lots for sureLOL  Just costs too much for internet in Canada.  Hoping that we end up in a few campgrounds that have free wifi, then I'll be all set.  Went to Whidbey Island NAS today.  Nice scenic trip with great weather.  Wish I had remembered my camera.
Later folks!.....

Al's Cousin and Seattle

While in Monroe, WA, took a field trip to Independence Falls.  Lot's of movement and spray.  Wonderful sight.  Met with Al's cousin Jeannie and her husband Lynn, and of course Muffin.  Had a great dinner at their place and nice conversation.  How come all of my sewing/quilting friends live so far away :(.  Had a little show and tell of our projects.  The next day Jeannie and Lynn took us to Seattle proper...saw the Needle, Pike Place Market, a world famous fresh fish company, where fishmongers throw fish (if you look closely or expand the 11th picture of the marketplace, you'll see the fish being thrown).  Plenty of beautiful fresh vegies, etc.  Neat place!  As I've said many times, the best part of travelling is being able to see friends and relatives!   Ended the evening at the Spagetti Factory, yummmm!

Mt Ranier National Park, Washington

Al happened to see Mt Ranier on the map and thought it would be nice to see.  As it turned out, it was awesome!  Actually, it is the highest point in Washington state.  (We didn't get to the top, left our rock climbing gear homeLOL.)

 Though most of the area has been reforested now, this picture will show you how huge the timber really was way back when.  Actually, some are still very huge, but not quite like this.

This doorway leads to the "facilities"...ladies and mens' room.

This shot will give you an idea of the size of the reforested trees...still huge.