Yukon Territories

The Journey from Hesston KS to Vancouver took us through the high plains and dessert that exists between the Olympic Mountain Range through to the Rockies. The elevation to Denver CO was 5000 ft, then just past Cheyanne WY we reached 8600 ft before leveling out to 7000 ft, Larimie WY, a trailer park along the highway, staying there cramped amongst one of many derelict appearing trailers, then to Mountain Home Idaho, KOA campground, Big Sky country.

The next morning we remain in this Dessert, sagebrush and antilope grazing in the expansive ranges. We descend to one burg after another along the banks of the Snake River, crossing portions of the river as it winds and empties into the Columbia River. The striking contrast of one side of the road, dessert, sagebrush and dust, the otherside, lush green with enormous sprinkler systems watering cash crops and grazing lands. We plung into the Cascades following the Yakima River as its origins assend towards Seattle Washington. Canyons of forests and winter ski resorts dominate the landscape. We head into Seattle at rush hour and are part of the stop and go traffic, eventually, getting gas in Marysville, North of Seattle, travel a side road, found a campground along a lake and settled in for the night. Dinner at a local eatery and to bed.

With minor detours we arrive in Vancouver Airport, only to be misguided by Google directions, double parking our camper at the International Departing Flights unloading section, and unloading since there is no parking lot for campers. We travel through Vancouver to the North End, through and older portion of the City, filled with little shops and all well maintained. After some detours we find our parking lot, shuttle to one hotel, use our coupons to go to the Airport finally finding our luxurious room. Expensive meal later, to bed.

Finally, our cruise begins with the flight to Whitehorse Yukon Territories. Dominating the conversations, the tours and literature was talk of the gold rush in 1898 and the "Stampeders" who treked from Skagway on the coast, over the Chillcote Trail to Bennett and the beginning of the navigable portion of the Yukon River. Down the Yukon to Whitehorse, so named for the rapids that gave the appearance of white horse manes. Shooting the rapids, was hazardous and deadly, Just below Whitehorse YT, the Yukon River becomes more navigable again; eventually sternwheeler river boats made the 240 miles, down river but North to Dawson City, the area of the Gold Rush. The Yukon travels North and emties into the Berring Sea.

Today was our site seeing day for a wild life preserve trip, a WhiteHorse City trip including the stern wheel paddle boat SS Klondike, and then a Yukon River Cruise. Pictures to follow. Lots of Bus riding, lots of things to see, do, and learn about.

Tomorrow we leave by bus for Dawson City and the Klondike where we pan for gold.

On My (Our) Way

Opening words to a Porgy & Bess Operetta song by George and Ira Gershwin as Porgy, riding in his goat pulled cart, starts off for New York City to find Bess who has gone to seek her fortune.

Instead of heading North as Porgy did, Kathy and I are headed West. We met Andre & Sarah on the South side of Chicago to transfer cat & car, and then began our journey in earnest heading Southwest on Interstate 55. Interstate 55 follows the reminants of US route 66, a roadway in legend and lore, from Los Anglos California, following a Southern course, to Chicago Illinois via St. Louis Misouri. No longer a designated highway, one has to watch for the "Historic Route 66" markers but soon we were able to travel both I 55 and US 66, the Interstate overlaying the original route, diverging at times, getting back together for another high speed run. Sustained headwinds of 25 to 30 MPH, gusting to 40 and 45 MPH profoundly impacted our gas milage (13.5 down to 9.5) so we pulled into gas stations often onto Historic Route 66. Our first night we spent in a clump of trees upon a flat land of knee high corn, "Camp-a-While" RV site of 2 acres, 15 RV's mostly permanently situated, and self-serve. Put cash or personel check in an envelope with your name and address on it, put the envelope in the locked mail box with the red flag up, and plug in your electricity. We were helped in this process by a permanent resident who proceeded to tell us about the expected 50 MPH winds predicted for the night. He also was a long term aficenato of Historic Route 66, giving us information and recommendations for our next segment of travel. We parked Rudy, plugged in the electricity, opened all the windows, roof vents and door, listened to the wind in the trees, and fell asleep. Up in the morning, all possessions intact, stopping at the Lincoln Illinois Welcome center, to find a non-fast food breakfast resturant in town, and so we did. The head of the local Chamber of Commerce guided us to Arcade Cafe, open from 6 AM to 2PM, cash and local personal check only. More information on Route 66, the 167 mile garage sale this coming weekend, and the "must see" attractions in Springfield Illinois. The Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library provide insite into pre presidency life and times, and the difficult Civil War times. Striking were the cartoons and charactures of Lincoln from the War's beginnings, holding him personally responsible for the mounting casulties, criticism that he was not doing enought, too much. The Emancipation Proclamation was characterized by abolitionists as a political "trick". The Lincoln Museum presents the context of the Proclamation, New York Times editorials; personal comments: "its not what he says, but what he will do"; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Taney, "Negros are property not people". Not until after Lee's surrender at Appomatix Summer 1864 and the 13th Amendment to our Constitution in January 1865 did the person vs property issue get settled and became the law of the land. Very moving experience for Kathy and I. Continuing our Route 66 nostalgic encounter, we stopped at Cozy Dog, the site of the original Corn Dog, a legacy of a 1942 GI cook's attempt at adding variety to the "dog face's" menu, a hot dog on a stick, dipped in a corn meal batter, deep fried. KK and I shared one. Mid afternoon we left the Illinois State Capital and continued our Journey to St. Louis, then onto Columbia Missouri and beyond. At the Arrow Rock State Historical Site, some 13 miles North of Interstate 80, we pulled in for our campground night's stay. Again, self serve, although a little while later the campground Host, baseball cap bedecked, riding a green golf cart, registered us, took our $14 cash, and then informed us about the impending weather: "Tornado Watch from now until 4 AM; severe thunderstorms and large hail possible. The fire department will come and warn us if there is a Tornado Warning, then we should drive to the Visitor's center an 1/8th of a mile down the road for protection. If there is not time, go into the Shower stalls and wait out the storm." The night was hot (95 degrees) and humid. The wind was still blowing at 25 to 30 MPH, the darkening sky with lightning bolts was to our West and North. Try as we might, we could not get to sleep until turning on the air conditioning, cooling Rudy and ourselves. By 6 AM, we had a cold front in our area, (low 50's) I shut off the air conditioning, opened the windows, doors and roof vents, and we slept until 8:30 or so. Bright sunny day, cloudless, gentle breeze, we pack up and head out on a two lane windy road, more or less headed to Kansas City. Eventually we met up with I 80 and proceeded more directly to our later that day destination, Hesston Kansas. We arrived in the early afternoon, proclaiming to all who would listen, that we had brought the fair weather (70's), breezy; Kansas at this time, lush green. JD and Vilma's Wedding Reception, State's side, began with a slow accumulation of guests, from around USA, munchies and beer, culminating in a champaign toast, and, as Leah would say,"burgers on the barbie". Late night for us, we slept in a local hotel arising somewhat before the sun had reached its zenith. Today is casual until late afternoon, then a more formal get together. Tomorrow, Sunday, up early, a chinese firedrill of people coming and going back home, we are headed first to Laramie WY at 8600 feet elevation. Monday, onto Mountain House Idaho 630 miles further, then, onto Vancouver Tuesday. Wednesday is a allow-for-delays and schedule changes. We leave Thursday, 11:30 AM, Air North, for Whitehorse, North West Territories (NWT).

News from the Bruce Peninsula

Take a deep breath in: the smell of cedar and balsam waft into your nose. The senses are alive as I sit on the island deck and watch the orange fireball sun set over Little Pike Bay Point. A trail of orange sunlight is reflected off the mirror Bay waters. There is not a breath of air. Sounds dominate the evening. There is the flock of geese that honk qualesomely over the water, winging to a comfortable setting, to land in the water and rest for the night. The seagulls give high pitched squaks as they fly and dive over and into the water. Bull frogs croak, signaling one another. And then there is silence. A dog can be heard barking several miles away. A jet plane, likely headed to London from Chicago, breaks the stillness, leaves it trail in the sky, and is gone. The afterglow, the evening when the sun has set, is layered in pinks and grays. The water, reflects the sky.

I have come into the cottage since the sun has set. It is warm, and the day has been warm and humid; a summer's day, here in early June. I've turned on the radio of the ball game between the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers. I will eventually listen to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons Basketball game later on. I am connected, to the internet and the world in general. I am by myself, listening to the silence.