Summer Trip To Denali

Earlier this month we made our annual trek to Denali National Park. While there I took a bus tour into the backcountry.

This photo has obviously been magnified. I wanted to give you a better prospective of what you are viewing in the following video. A Grizzly can run at a speed of 30 MPH. The video was taken from a distance of less than a mile. If my math is correct, that equals one mile in two minutes. Watch carefully: if the bear stops, stands and looks at us, should we proceed more cautiously?

A Mother Moose and her twin calves are confronted by a hungry Grizzly. I’m amazed by the respect and caution the bear displays in its pursuit. Equally awesome is the mother’s ability to end the chase by leading her young to water. Recommend viewing in Full Screen. Just click full screen button (lower right-hand side of picture).

The Redwoods, by Lesley

"This land is your land, this land is my land;
From California, to the New York islands;
From the Redwood Forests, to the Gulf Stream waters;
This land is made for you and me."

The redwood forests overwhelmed me. Those trees have been there for three thousand years. Henry VIII was only five hundred years ago. Dinosaurs roamed amongst the trees. Evidence of the redwoods living in the coastal plains up to two hundred million years ago is found there. I hugged those trees and felt like a real tree hugger! They are as beautiful as anything I have experienced and made me feel young.

As I went walking, I saw a sign there;
On the sign there, it said PRIVATE PROPERY;
On the backside, it said nothing;
That side was made for you and me...

So says a little known verse of the song by Woody Guthrie. We were shocked to find that the verse was correct for this famous section of the redwoods. The spectacular tree that has the road running through is privately owned. As we approached a voice said "Halt! Deposit five dollars at the kiosk. If you wish to drive through the tree, deposit ten dollars". This land is made for you and me!

Sedona Hike

A fellow member of the Palm Creek Hiking Club provided the pictures, and I created the video. “Hiking in the Sedona Valley”, hope you enjoy….

Returning Home for the Summer

We left our winter home in Casa Grande, Arizona, early on the seventh of April. We had reservations on the Alaska Marine Highway leaving from Prince Rupert, BC. Canada, requiring us to be at the terminal by 6:00 PM, on the fifteenth. With nine days to travel approximately 2800 miles, we planned to average about 300 miles/day.

Our return trip to Alaska would take us first to San Diego and then up the coast to Crescent City, California. From Crescent City we headed inland to Interstate 5, where we remained until reaching the Canadian border. It is a short 1000 miles through the Fraser River Valley and Canadian Rockies to Prince Rupert B.C. I say short because it is a spectacular and beautiful drive.

Our overnight accommodations were provided by Indian Casinos while in the US, and Wal-Mart in Canada. Before leaving Arizona I obtained a directory of casinos. Best purchase I could have made. Did you know they actually pay you to stop and spend the night? The parking is free, plentiful (often private), and sometimes comes with a dumpsite. Just go in, apply for a casino card, and enjoy $10 credit on their slots! The Breakfast Buffets are practically free as well. In Canada, Wal-Mart still welcomes you with open arms.

I like to think that while traveling, "the sun seems to follow us around". That was our experience on this trip. We had sunshine each and every day, during our voyage in Southeastern Alaska, and as the picture will attest, even in the Yukon!