The Land of the Midnight Sun: From the North Pole to the Kenai Peninsula!

We dry docked in the wilderness on top of a hill with this inexplicable view before reaching Tok, Alaska. 

Sometime thereafter, we made a quick stop off for some reindeer sausage at Delta Meat Co, yum-yum! P.s. Please don't tell Santa. 

After our quality time with reindeer sausage, we hit North Pole Alaska, where we were super blessed to talk and laugh with friends well into the night; or in this case, twilight as Alaska is currently having over 19 hours of daylight! 

We spent the night at the River View RV park which has full hook up except in our case, only had electricity (no water) because of "late break up" (snow cover turning to slush).

We stopped by the Santa Claus House because our friends told us reindeer were penned up out back. We saw them and I screamed, "Let my people...and my reindeer...go!"

On the road again...tally ho...Denali National Park or Bust!

Mike cooked reindeer sausage for breakfast and then he cooked bear chili in Denali National Park for lunch...I am enjoying my meat overload!

Denali National Park is like all over National Parks...phenomenal!

I think I'm "getting this cold thing"...layers are critical. My key to cold success is: Yoga pants, pajama pants, sweat pants, tank top, Hawaiian rash guard, fleece, scarf, gloves, sock hat, stay huddled up to my human heater (aka Mike) yay, I'm not "cold miserable" anymore! And I can almost last as long as Mr. Hawaiian Board Shorts Man (...not really)!

The drive from Denali National Park to Wasilla is literally indescribable, so I will attempt to show you!

We dry docked on Turn Again Arm, just south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway. Cook Inlet on our right and 3,000 foot mountains of Chugach National Forrest on our left with many waterfalls along our way...now you can understand why the only word I can utter is...indescribable! 

Full Return Update, The AlCan Highway

We apologize for the lapse in blog postings; however, we've been so far out in the wilderness on the AlCan Highway that we've had no wifi coverage for days. I have to admit, it's actually been very nice! We will update as we have coverage, mahalo for your kokua.

Before leaving Canada, we spent the night in Banff. It is a very cute town with many lodges and inns. We also hiked Cascade Falls, hit the many shops, and had dinner. The food and service have been excellent on our trip.

We stopped off at Lake Louise, what a beautiful sight! 

While we were there, my ohana made time for a snow ball fight. The number one rule of snow ball fighting is...don't get that cold stuff anywhere near mommy! 

Looks like fun...from a distance. That's ok, I'm good...standing here in my all dryness documenting the icy fun!

We spent a night at The Crossing which offers free rv parking, it has water and dump but no electric and is surrounded by mountains and very friendly people.

I really wish I could bottle this phenomenal cool crisp mountain air with its woodsy pine smell...so good, fresh, clear, and clean!

We enjoyed lunch by a glacier in the ice fields at Jasper National Park. Lunch by a glacier, that's a first! I ate haddock (local fish) for the first time at Jasper Brewing Co in Jasper town, again...great food-great service!

After leaving Jasper National Park, we spent the night at the Jasper/Hinton KOA. The facilities were great with a big playground, huge fire pit, and a large shower area with each shower stall having many hooks. All those hooks came in handy for all those layers of my clothing. 

We always enjoy hanging out with the "locals"!

We stopped off at Grand Prairie where we had lunch at a place called Boston pizza. All the food and service we received in Canada was top notch and very friendly. Much to my surprise and enjoyment, Canada has very fresh veges! That area of Canada looks a lot like Oklahoma farmlands.

Our route also included Dawson Creek and we spent the night at Ft. Nelson where we saw 
snow flurries, much to my children's excitement! 

Another leg of our journey, hitting the AlCan highway!

Of course we had to stop off at Tetsa River, Mile Post 375 and get a world famous cinnamon bun and obtain headgear! 

 
The Laird Hot Springs was a favorite stop off! 

We soon crossed Muncho Lake where we had to stop off and help a fellow traveler with a flat tire, then we were off to experience the beautiful Northern Rockies.

 This is SO AlCan Highway way!

We spent the next night in Watson Lake. The following morning, I opened the blinds and said, "Mike, there's snow on the ground." His response was, "That's so cool!" I said, "This is mid May." He said, "I know!"

That's it, he's been in the Yukon too long. Must get island breezes soon, very soon! 

In Watson Lake, we dry docked near the Signpost Forrest. 

Then we were off to the Continental divide! Along our journey, we were blessed with so much wildlife sightings...stone sheep, elk, carabou, moose, beaver, ptarmigan, rabbit, coyotes, fox, mule dear, white tail deer, porcupine, buffalo, mountain goats, black bear, and grizzlies! Yukon Territory is vast wilderness as far as we could see ahead, behind, and both sides. 

We crossed the United States Border at 11:23 pm and the sun was still shining as if to say, 

"Welcome to the land of the midnight sun!"

PLEASE NOTE: Never, ever approach a wild animal. These pictures may appear we were very close; however, we are not. We are using a very strong lens. Mahalo!

Words...I Have None...

Except to proclaim: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! 

(Psalm 8:9, GWT)

This is not a crooked horizon, the slant is a road :)

 

Jasper National Park, Alberta Canada

One of the most spectacular places on earth!