myWildAlaska!

Joey got a job as the city's accountant, so he doesn't have to drive to Anchorage in the snow next winter (yay!).  Whittier's buzzing w/tourists - a new cruise ship every day. We got the beemer ready to roll today, & got out on the kayaks again this past weekend. Next weekend we'll take the bike down to Homer. Life is good! :-)

 

 

 

We got out on the kayaks yesterday and had a great time.  On the way out, Gwennie took the solo boat while Joey & I took the double.  About 2 miles out, we took a break on a beautiful little beach. Then Joey took the solo boat on the way home. Days like this remind us how fortunate we are to live in this beautiful place.

 

Joey has a few interviews this week, so we're updating resumes & studying for the inderviews. The tunnel's still closed, so he'll take the train & bus into town, then rent a car.  He'll grab some groceries while he's there.

We've been home for three weeks now.  On the 10th I flew to DE to work for a week, & then visit Mom & Dad for a few days.  After dropping me off at the airport, Joey got thru the tunnel just before a rock slide closed the only road out of Whittier.  It'll be several more weeks before the road is cleared.  In the meantime, the train takes people between Whittier & Portage, & buses run between Portage & Anchorage.  It's taking a little adjustment, but we're doing fine.  While I was gone, Joey got a bunch of our stuff unpacked & arranged, so the condo looks great now.  Joey will be working for one of the local glacier cruises thru the summer.

 

Today we got a chance to get out for a quick hike over Portage Pass.  We saw a bald eagle & a few porcupines, but no bears yet.  The pass was cold & windy, but the view was nice, and it was fun hiking with Joey.  I've missed snowshoeing.  Soon we'll be able to camp & kayak.

 

After a grueling day of driving over frost heaves, we made it to the condo late last night.  The drive thru the Mat-Su valley was particularly beautiful yesterday, so we stopped to snap a photo to share.

 

During the trip thru Canada we saw:

- 1 dead grizzly bear (freshly killed by a truck)

- 1 moose

- 4 mountain goats

- 2 red deer

- 1 fox

- 1 ermine (now dead - sorry, ermine...)

- 1 owl

- 2 bald eagles

- herd of caribou (several on the road)

- herds of buffalo (MANY on the road)

 

We'll post more pics after we unload - and Joey wants to add his own thoughts.

 

Thanks for YOUR thoughts & prayers as we made our way home.  We can all relax now.

 

We're resting in Dawson Creek tonight after a completely uneventful (sunny, warm & dry) 12-hour drive from Lethbridge.  Tomorrow we'll get an early start on the Al-Can highway to Watson Lake, then decide whether to continue on to Whitehorse or make camp at the lake.  Joey spotted a pair of red deer today, and we saw several other deer as well.  I expect we'll see much more wildlife on the Al-Can tomorrow and Wednesday.  We'll take some pics tomorrow to post tomorrow nite.