20030812                      Open new window with today’s pictures.

August 12, 2003
Tuesday


Start:   Cottonwood RV Campground, Kluane Lake YT
End:     Oceanside RV Park, Haines AK
Miles:   200
Hi Temp: missed it - about 65
Lo Temp: missed it - about 50


This was a drive and look at the scenery day.  We ate and got onto the road in good fashion.

The Alaska Highway south from here for 30 miles or so is old and tired.  They appear to be totally upgrading sections of it each year; they'll probably get to this section soon.

We went down the shore of Kluane Lake, a large arctic lake, and then over a summit and down into Haines Junction.

The Haines Highway from there to Haines starts in the Yukon, goes through a section of British Columbia, and ends in Alaska. Each of those three have worked on their parts of this road; it's in really good shape.  The scenery is outstanding - miles and miles of beautiful hills and mountains and glaciers and ... you get the idea.

We found the campground (on the waterfront, next to a marine engine repair place) easily and installed ourselves there.

The campground lady recommended the Bamboo Room for lunch, so we went there. It's in a building with the Pioneer Bar and has rooms upstairs. At one time it was a bordello and has been just about everything since.  Lunch was good.

Then we took off with the truck to look around.  We went south and got to the end of a housing area.  Then we found the end of the road in the southwesterly direction in a state recreation area that looks across a sound to two glaciers, one that ends in the water and one that ends up in its valley.

Then we went north to the end of the road, passing the Alaska Marine Highway System ferryboat complex in doing so. At the end of the road is the Chilkoot Lake recreation area.  The lake has a short river running down to the bay that the local salmon fishermen favor. There were scads of people in waders in the water and on the rocks and on the shore trying to tempt a salmon to bite.  There's a weir that herds the salmon through a small opening so the Fish and Game folks can count them.

People have seen bears at this stream. We saw eagles but no bear.

We came back to town and walked around a bit, looking through the bookstore and gift shops.

Then back to the little house on the shore for a simple dinner.  We took it easy the rest of the evening.

 

20030813                       Open new window with today’s pictures.

August 13, 2003
Wednesday


Start:   Oceanside RV Park, Haines AK
End:     same
Miles:   0
Hi Temp: 70.7 (last two days)
Lo Temp: 46.7 (last two days)


We awoke to find new scenery in the harbor.  The Holland-America Lines cruiseship Ryndam was tied up at the Port Chilkoot dock.  It dominated that corner of the harbor.

We got out and around. Dolores wanted to look for bears again, so we made a trip to Chilkoot Lake. No bears.

We went to get diesel fuel and filled up with 22 gallons at $1.99 a gallon (still cheaper than Canada).

Then we went back northwest of town, out the Haines Highway some 20 miles to a spot where eagles congregate when the chum salmon are running.  But that happens in October through January, so no eagles were here. We couldn't see any goats on the mountainsides, either.

We're begining to think the town overplays its wildlife. But it’s just timing.

We came back and walked around town. We wandered through most of the gift shops and artist galleries, sharing space with folks off the Ryndam. They were everywhere but in the trees.  It seemed as though we found some wherever we went. Dolores found a nice little necklace and bought it.

Then Dolores wanted to look for bears again, so we went out to Chilkoot Lake again.  No bears.

Then we came back to the little house to put up our feet for a while.  I took a nap while Dolores read.

The Ryndam hooted thrice, backed out smartly, turned and went down the fjord called the Lynn Canal.  This is the longest, deepest, fjord-type waterway in the US.

Fort Seward was the first Army post in Alaska, and the only one for years. Most of the old post's buildings (all wood) still stand here.  When the place was shut down in the 60's, some locals bought a good part of it and refurbished the buildings into hotels, B&B's, and condos. One large unused building is the old barracks; it's not looking good at all.
The old post exchange and bowling alley building now houses the Fort Seward Lodge. It contains a small hotel, a restaurant and lounge, and one section is living quarters for the owner. Dolores had the Dungeness crab and I had sockeye salmon, both quite good.

We went out to Chilkoot Lake again, for a last look for bears. No bears.

So now we're doing computer chores and reading.  We're off on the ferry to Skagway tomorrow.