tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22758281161930601112024-02-18T17:55:53.126-08:00 Our Discoveries and ExperiencesSharing Our AdventuresEarl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-75663130130755359222015-06-26T18:12:00.000-07:002015-07-07T22:42:51.005-07:00Adventure Caravans Traversing Michigan Tour 6/26/2015<span style="font-size: large;">Lansing Day 1</span><br />
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Yesterday was moving day. We left Ypsilanti and drove about 79 miles to the Cottonwood Campground in Lansing, MI. <br />
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It had rained the day before we arrived and the ground was still quite wet. We managed to get backed into our site without getting stuck, although we came close a couple of times. Here is our campsite and some of our tour mates.</div>
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This is a nice campground with lots of activities and a nice lake. The campground is aptly named as the cottonwood trees are numerous and are "cottoning" all over the place. We had cotton from the trees everywhere, not just the fluffy cotton part, but the whole flower stem full of cotton emitting seed pods fell to the ground.</div>
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Lansing is the Capitol of Michigan. We took a bus tour of some of the city today. Here is a downtown view. Taking pictures out the bus window can cause all sorts of reflections. Try to ignore them. </div>
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It looks like a humongous lug nut is on the top of this smoke stack turned cell tower. That is because it is honoring the auto manufacturing industry in the city. The lug nut is featured in many aspects of life in the city. They even have a baseball team named the Lugnuts. </div>
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The tour drove through some of the Michigan State University. These are some of the buildings on campus.<br />
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The school of art was particularly unique and ultra modern compared to the majority of the other buildings.<br />
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Lansing, like many other cities and towns at this time of year, was having a construction epidemic. Even the Capitol was getting a make-over. The dome is covered with scaffolding. <br />
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We thought that the turquoise or light blue port-a-potties hanging onto the edge of the building were interesting. It must have been an experience to use one of them. You wouldn't want to move around in there very much.<br />
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We were given a tour of the inside of the Capitol Building. The building is designed after the National Capitol. It is very ornate inside. This is the rotunda looking up toward the dome. You can see the balconies for the second, third, and forth floors. The flags in the cases are replicas of many of the flags used during the Civil War. The originals began deteriorating, so they took them to a museum for preservation. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up to the dome. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the dome and paintings surrounding it.</td></tr>
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Looking down, from the third floor, at the floor of the rotunda. We were told that it was designed to look like the reverse of the dome. In other words, it is supposed to look like the center is lower, even though it is level with the rest of the floor. Use your imagination.<br />
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This is our Adventure Caravans group along the railing of the second floor of the Rotunda.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">The Governor's office</td></tr>
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I said that the Capitol is designed after the National Capitol, so as such, the House of Representatives is on one side of the Capitol Rotunda and the Senate is on the other side.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senate </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House of Representatives</td></tr>
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The ceiling of each of the houses is made of glass squares, making them giant skylights. The squares have been etched with a design or embossed with the seal of each state. I tried to get a photo of them, but it was difficult to do because of the light coming in from the sky. What looks like red is actually gold, in most cases. I'm not sure why, but you get the idea of what the ceiling in those two rooms looks like.</div>
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These bronze chandeliers were in each hallway throughout the Capitol. The detail is amazing!</div>
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It was lunch time after the tour of the capitol. Some of us went to this restaurant, Kewpee, that was recommended by the tour bus driver.<br />
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It was a nice restaurant with a varied American menu of good food. There were Kewpee dolls and images around the dining area, but what impressed me was what I saw in the ladies' room.</div>
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After lunch, our city tour continued at the Michigan State University Horticultural Gardens and 4-H Children's Garden. Besides the many beautiful flowers and plants, this unusual display caught my eye. This is a bee hotel for your garden. The hotel is made from hollow reeds or pieces of logs with holes drilled in them, and other tubes of various diameters to attract different species. </div>
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These bees are not honey bees, but they are beneficial to the garden. <span style="text-align: center;">Some kinds of bees and wasps are solitary and do not live in hives with many other bees or wasps. </span>Each bee builds its nest and lays its eggs in a single hollow tube or hole then seals it, usually with mud. The wasps don't pollinate, but they collect other insects and put them in their nest for their offspring to eat, thus providing pest control.<br />
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There was a beautiful rose garden.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Being from California and having the drought there, it was a real treat to see all of the green lawns, trees and plants. </span><br />
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The Children's Garden had some interesting things, too. This is the entrance to that section of the garden.</div>
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There was a walkway with cow and chicken stepping stones.</div>
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The beautiful water lily had a frog sitting on a lily pad next to it.</div>
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The "Small World Globe" was set in a flower bed with a small pond behind it.</div>
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As we were leaving the gardens, I took this photo of the butterfly bench and the topiary peacock. I saw it when we entered the gardens, but didn't realize that it was a peacock until I saw it from this angle. I like the way the tail feathers flow out behind the bird and how the plants make its topknot. </div>
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Ice cream is very popular in this area. There seems to be an ice cream shop on every other corner. It was a nice warm day, which made us appreciate our stop at the MSU Dairy Store for some ice cream. They have all of these flavors, although they had run out of the three flavors that are covered in white. This university started out with an agriculturally based education, then it expanded into other fields of education. However, the agriculture studies are still a very important part of the university. The students make, serve, and sell the ice cream.</div>
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Like I said, it was a pretty warm day and everyone in the area was in the mood to get something to cool off with. When we arrived at the Dairy Store, there was already a very long line. We waited 20 minutes, maybe more, until the first of our group was served. That's how popular this campus store is. The public is welcome at the store, as well as the students and faculty, which helps to keep it very busy.</div>
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There is a small display of the history of ice cream at the university.</div>
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This is an original half gallon ice cream package. The Dairy Store sells packaged ice cream, shakes, sundaes, and other ice cream related items as well as cones.<br />
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Back at camp, we had another beautiful pink sunset. As you know, I like taking sunset pictures. It was hard to find an area that had a clear view of the sky, from the campground, that is why there are so many trees in the picture.</div>
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Tomorrow is a free day for us to explore some suggested sights in the area at our own pace. </div>
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We are planning to go to see a couple other attractions. </div>
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Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-82312637542033097552015-06-24T20:36:00.000-07:002015-07-05T12:34:42.899-07:00Adventure Caravans Traversing Michigan Tour 6/24/15<span style="font-size: large;">Detroit Tour Day 2</span><br />
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We slept in this morning because it is a carpool/ride share/do your own thing day and we were tired from not sleeping very much during the severe thunderstorm night before last. Once we got going, we headed back to Detroit and the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. <br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The Henry Ford Museum is very large. It covers the history and development of energy and technology in the USA. There are many original and one of a kind items. There are also a lot of progression samples, such as these vehicles used by U. S. Presidents.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwIhYGcS3fQfl-2FVJD2sofKj7nSWYCXpJeuvX85dOKpSZa6H8EeMrdjvpUBbePQFQpuFqO8H9lo_1LPIfilA1J_HeZoLv5bOxSjTbxrhtpb-loenQSYbr6Gp-RcZYIV8e8bhJqzc5rrk/s1600/P1110481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwIhYGcS3fQfl-2FVJD2sofKj7nSWYCXpJeuvX85dOKpSZa6H8EeMrdjvpUBbePQFQpuFqO8H9lo_1LPIfilA1J_HeZoLv5bOxSjTbxrhtpb-loenQSYbr6Gp-RcZYIV8e8bhJqzc5rrk/s320/P1110481.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Theodore Roosevelt's Carriage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdam4hGsV2w4J3Rx7bQJ1wosSn57Yks-DRsBzHWDjPO1eF-ogQ8MmexHTlpVSFJKdWAWZf01OeHzM6PpMd_IkjNYCxEs9UIzcYMGIp0t2mnsahRC23wch5vC1yE-uQooWzaToUfXVST27K/s1600/P1110477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdam4hGsV2w4J3Rx7bQJ1wosSn57Yks-DRsBzHWDjPO1eF-ogQ8MmexHTlpVSFJKdWAWZf01OeHzM6PpMd_IkjNYCxEs9UIzcYMGIp0t2mnsahRC23wch5vC1yE-uQooWzaToUfXVST27K/s320/P1110477.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Ronald Reagan's Car</td></tr>
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There are more cars, but, of course, I can't put everything in the blog. There are some highlights that I found interesting because they jogged my memory about something or I learned something that I hadn't known or realized. For instance, I remember listening to Charles Kuralt's "On the Road" program on the radio and TV. Well, they have the last of several motorhomes that he used on display. Interestingly, neither he nor the crew that traveled with him ever slept in any of the motorhomes. Each of the vehicles was modified into a broadcast studio and was used to transport the crew around the back roads for his stories.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlK91HOTflUoRBl8z83X2-hbAxtMAiYzIUS6lWkZCiONEzQo3jI3mXRE7Wsj6NH8lsWBcVYKlgERszXzdnh7g4MlVufTZc3babUy1XjfvBmGnLv5TmnsWm9ySN49thUnUXsFTDEcVQsQO/s1600/P1110526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlK91HOTflUoRBl8z83X2-hbAxtMAiYzIUS6lWkZCiONEzQo3jI3mXRE7Wsj6NH8lsWBcVYKlgERszXzdnh7g4MlVufTZc3babUy1XjfvBmGnLv5TmnsWm9ySN49thUnUXsFTDEcVQsQO/s320/P1110526.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1975 FMC Motorcoach</td></tr>
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Many of you will recognize this vehicle. It is the 1952 prototype vehicle, built in the original 1937 Oscar Meyer design, that was used for the 1988 fleet of Wienermobiles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWLeI2UPSw9xWu1fwPJC7P2YEi9wYNB2xaxjNTBDDUMuVNaBRH2rqpq2NDGnpVj9juuD7qyC2VjZjaRkD6h50-D0quyHnUNgEKFk8736lNKp9Ogwp9JdpRhPMNGhzJ9talLS56ZoEwugV/s1600/P1110572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWLeI2UPSw9xWu1fwPJC7P2YEi9wYNB2xaxjNTBDDUMuVNaBRH2rqpq2NDGnpVj9juuD7qyC2VjZjaRkD6h50-D0quyHnUNgEKFk8736lNKp9Ogwp9JdpRhPMNGhzJ9talLS56ZoEwugV/s320/P1110572.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1952 Wienermobile</td></tr>
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Also in the automobile section of the museum, is this display of race cars from over time.</div>
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And here are samples of some of the first baby car seats and more modern versions</div>
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Of course, when you travel by automobile, you need to stop for food. Here are a couple photos with that theme.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jMjUV_a57K2EtT0DJQ8aJ2ItuiPMX077z67eGLxidu7aU0ySBwU-QCpXCWI6BF4N_uEYFrZtykacUtOVY-I0A_NkcVgAurAi1u1H5Hh1RuggK-yZFEwJlLRCOA5EAXoFzcKB2aEmcv_0/s1600/P1110505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jMjUV_a57K2EtT0DJQ8aJ2ItuiPMX077z67eGLxidu7aU0ySBwU-QCpXCWI6BF4N_uEYFrZtykacUtOVY-I0A_NkcVgAurAi1u1H5Hh1RuggK-yZFEwJlLRCOA5EAXoFzcKB2aEmcv_0/s320/P1110505.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Multiple signs for different fast food</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bEb0xZdSFBk20KtKU-NbTRgk2lw3dc_-IVY-xSBAfgvm1KIniHkwxo_dE26Rm6MzZwWWfEGgvuX8jOnniWWLJ8khJlNAk2ySDR3p7NAFQMzW7FQqW83YSBw7C2R9UjDuV9csk1uJR799/s1600/P1110506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bEb0xZdSFBk20KtKU-NbTRgk2lw3dc_-IVY-xSBAfgvm1KIniHkwxo_dE26Rm6MzZwWWfEGgvuX8jOnniWWLJ8khJlNAk2ySDR3p7NAFQMzW7FQqW83YSBw7C2R9UjDuV9csk1uJR799/s320/P1110506.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a working diner where you can buy snacks in the museum</td></tr>
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In the agriculture section of the Museum. there are old and newer pieces of farm equipment.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruXrGOAw8_W4R9WcOrHExN28fUOBMZf5YS9tWi9Wx7uOZZsf_1MQsyUK4DzLw35tPEa1kYFqr1GOxhuqgSk4N0_IUKuMtjAMcW3Axe7zbWltzogHUli4Mlgi3_8IV5eihJCoJCgZiGrGa/s1600/P1110571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruXrGOAw8_W4R9WcOrHExN28fUOBMZf5YS9tWi9Wx7uOZZsf_1MQsyUK4DzLw35tPEa1kYFqr1GOxhuqgSk4N0_IUKuMtjAMcW3Axe7zbWltzogHUli4Mlgi3_8IV5eihJCoJCgZiGrGa/s320/P1110571.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old farm equipment</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxdLm8C4ft4OpL_4evlEPmOgHeg33ewVWXdDo46gM0_sePPhddjf7Eedl9GBuyoBelIgBtmG7KjJz6kd2VFtWHsuwPpvML0wk0bbVPQwu1LjrALa4l6EoLbSKeUVaJ9WwsXT8KsY7b-Fz/s1600/P1110568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxdLm8C4ft4OpL_4evlEPmOgHeg33ewVWXdDo46gM0_sePPhddjf7Eedl9GBuyoBelIgBtmG7KjJz6kd2VFtWHsuwPpvML0wk0bbVPQwu1LjrALa4l6EoLbSKeUVaJ9WwsXT8KsY7b-Fz/s320/P1110568.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newer farm equipment</td></tr>
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In the railroad section, I hadn't realized that this type of train was made back in the beginning. It looks like a bunch of stagecoaches hooked up behind an early steam engine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKgvxqVVb5dI2yOGbCy1chibiiDsVEKdVABKybXHRrjRvCSFwKd26X1dP8V85OsYVir90-t4N2yKcZkoC-tLt0Nvc_6Nh2SW1FuwREsoCz53YDaLkbzXgv2BsXvuGMWjksKkqSo3IGNBS/s1600/P1110482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKgvxqVVb5dI2yOGbCy1chibiiDsVEKdVABKybXHRrjRvCSFwKd26X1dP8V85OsYVir90-t4N2yKcZkoC-tLt0Nvc_6Nh2SW1FuwREsoCz53YDaLkbzXgv2BsXvuGMWjksKkqSo3IGNBS/s320/P1110482.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engine for the Dewitt Clinton train</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_1eNmfPG8nj7ag4fgZIzkPnw7orPkab0tVJ70gXekzH07MZzeY50u2xdlUih7ZtDQk436oa0c3B62b4ZdSwnXhBIVUSeVDmMRj61VZgwnFfM6lJ35KSIZmLgNPxNwi8A6FrEw8G_KVVV/s1600/P1110483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_1eNmfPG8nj7ag4fgZIzkPnw7orPkab0tVJ70gXekzH07MZzeY50u2xdlUih7ZtDQk436oa0c3B62b4ZdSwnXhBIVUSeVDmMRj61VZgwnFfM6lJ35KSIZmLgNPxNwi8A6FrEw8G_KVVV/s320/P1110483.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carriages used as railroad cars</td></tr>
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Then there was this interesting snow removal engine.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIZroV39_O8Un-k5A0fBtgi7y0BsE3PrKWc4Ib82o56zsg8iuCI8uAI3XTWsgp85KbaLiZ9kJBnD2KJeBjLL8zyprKhKS3cOhzoqUt4f7EZ878G-Bh8tYcUOFTa1P9lmP64p6r_-8ZyAX/s1600/P1110487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIZroV39_O8Un-k5A0fBtgi7y0BsE3PrKWc4Ib82o56zsg8iuCI8uAI3XTWsgp85KbaLiZ9kJBnD2KJeBjLL8zyprKhKS3cOhzoqUt4f7EZ878G-Bh8tYcUOFTa1P9lmP64p6r_-8ZyAX/s320/P1110487.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canadian Pacific Snowplow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOxK6uFGZsHvhh2tbQ2hyphenhyphenMjXTVHaseLHDgT7kRaRpB9XBIGtiANB_nqQguRo5fYRjC03QJJvjcXur4mbTHnKWHkQWC1ab1_3M8xtvtdnnA5axfVQD0MK-98YPrn3-la3qsP1c7ia013j3/s1600/P1110490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOxK6uFGZsHvhh2tbQ2hyphenhyphenMjXTVHaseLHDgT7kRaRpB9XBIGtiANB_nqQguRo5fYRjC03QJJvjcXur4mbTHnKWHkQWC1ab1_3M8xtvtdnnA5axfVQD0MK-98YPrn3-la3qsP1c7ia013j3/s320/P1110490.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Model railroad. This is about one-third of the display.</td></tr>
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There was a aircraft section that contained this original Wright Brothers first airplane.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8Fl7XNnItWYY-DrUWkakz-lC2e8SA3h0QmUQk2NVYuYZ7pkM8_U3_KCsfgQlkrhmokhXdGP-C4Bx_EFkDdXcTvFmEJIsc5dMmQ93wTPg6pX4tAPiSKSIq-ft3AP_57fGgujw_uArWZes/s1600/P1110511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8Fl7XNnItWYY-DrUWkakz-lC2e8SA3h0QmUQk2NVYuYZ7pkM8_U3_KCsfgQlkrhmokhXdGP-C4Bx_EFkDdXcTvFmEJIsc5dMmQ93wTPg6pX4tAPiSKSIq-ft3AP_57fGgujw_uArWZes/s320/P1110511.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wright Brothers' first flight plane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This airplane, below, looked like it had corrugated metal covering the outside of the fuselage and wings. It also had three propellers, one on each wing and one on the nose. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY7qtVkCWEtVPVwfd1GYlQfZZhyphenhyphenAZDvqDDk_raM9jV_irP0bDnDp9hH-fy-MuZRiywermvolnG2QDdabdCkGnAaQ7Bk223VARMwNp0KUkU1rbVhZigKhXZP4zed6Go1fxK9798Z3mQrdK/s1600/P1110507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpY7qtVkCWEtVPVwfd1GYlQfZZhyphenhyphenAZDvqDDk_raM9jV_irP0bDnDp9hH-fy-MuZRiywermvolnG2QDdabdCkGnAaQ7Bk223VARMwNp0KUkU1rbVhZigKhXZP4zed6Go1fxK9798Z3mQrdK/s320/P1110507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This helicopter never made it into production. This is the only one made. It did everything except fly forward, however, they figured that out eventually, but it was not a profitable design.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfxrl2NCB9v3PjeI9hilKD37YRvYKsLhpr_vAwlsWle_gF8h4vYpmWyvpfqlly0yH-FcFEguf5Cq3shLLO63aMwuSg2B60b96qfFOXeiC6ZPRhtKX-iuKQnBJ-zOhILfLCNNRBRjwO2oF/s1600/P1110517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfxrl2NCB9v3PjeI9hilKD37YRvYKsLhpr_vAwlsWle_gF8h4vYpmWyvpfqlly0yH-FcFEguf5Cq3shLLO63aMwuSg2B60b96qfFOXeiC6ZPRhtKX-iuKQnBJ-zOhILfLCNNRBRjwO2oF/s320/P1110517.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1940 Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thomas Newcomen built the first successful steam engine in 1710. The power section of the Henry Ford Museum has the oldest surviving steam engine in the world, the Newcomen Engine built in 1760. This machine was used to pump water out of mines. The first photo shows the pump mechanism that would be put down in the mine to suck the water to the surface. The second shows the other end of the machine where the steam forces the gears and levers, etc. to crank the pump up and down to bring the water up from the mine.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvcFN8cKDH_vQ_TcbcJDMIIsAFPihxjsRF_uNrUO6iaRqhyphenhyphen3a5IJh0J33LpnLnrDKOXU6OaUUpWI2SVgSwrIPT131L6x6SjH4bFH7wz-NkFQDZ-GcrtMyYTnE5gGBVnXkqo3PXhccxS14/s1600/P1110540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvcFN8cKDH_vQ_TcbcJDMIIsAFPihxjsRF_uNrUO6iaRqhyphenhyphen3a5IJh0J33LpnLnrDKOXU6OaUUpWI2SVgSwrIPT131L6x6SjH4bFH7wz-NkFQDZ-GcrtMyYTnE5gGBVnXkqo3PXhccxS14/s320/P1110540.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newcomen engine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFsDJ-a3n9w_9zmRCp_5YbDfATEYnAH61rjQ1dxHU1cmXDjUzu3aVTVanYYBkJjLDs0BURkTqNbfESMpVN4Lv0padcCJpTTJ71pwNUs3KibPGRLJYDLSE5FtYL5Mfi2TWiPsMH1jqee4v/s1600/P1110534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFsDJ-a3n9w_9zmRCp_5YbDfATEYnAH61rjQ1dxHU1cmXDjUzu3aVTVanYYBkJjLDs0BURkTqNbfESMpVN4Lv0padcCJpTTJ71pwNUs3KibPGRLJYDLSE5FtYL5Mfi2TWiPsMH1jqee4v/s320/P1110534.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newcomen engine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This interesting painted steam engine was cast with arches. No one knows for sure, but it is thought that perhaps the manufacturer wanted it to fit into the Gothic style that was popular at the time, around 1855. It was used to produce electricity - 150 horsepower or 112 kilowatts/ hr. at 32 revolutions/minute.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrRlpd7UflJWAuFc0U9GB3q6Rz8O689IsF3Z_9y5f48jj-iH2mEGxENwh07asfioio-YMhj9Jj4YJGUACGOeZwHcvx0XRuYq68G1OT9VLIf29KLj1Ti9536em2qj_omcT4bLstK-2z_Q7/s1600/P1110545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrRlpd7UflJWAuFc0U9GB3q6Rz8O689IsF3Z_9y5f48jj-iH2mEGxENwh07asfioio-YMhj9Jj4YJGUACGOeZwHcvx0XRuYq68G1OT9VLIf29KLj1Ti9536em2qj_omcT4bLstK-2z_Q7/s320/P1110545.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stationary Steam Engine, 1855</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Before we left the museum, we had to check out the House of the Future (as predicted in 1946). Here is the floor plan. It is a prefab house made in a circular design and made from the new materials of aluminum, plastic, Plexiglas, and Naugahyde. It had unique features like rotating closets and many compact, efficient storage solutions. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3Z5NDz5lj4PFuRexFA9cQFOrbzfTUZIzjZgv_CNHNk9kUoji6BUlU49-P2wsTInl9FqodYf7sZpJGVfaIZQ1EvwVSnmMxR5AXFVY3Zro4M6bPrfjBmno3XFdTI588rQumA7EbwTyJaCo/s1600/P1110552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3Z5NDz5lj4PFuRexFA9cQFOrbzfTUZIzjZgv_CNHNk9kUoji6BUlU49-P2wsTInl9FqodYf7sZpJGVfaIZQ1EvwVSnmMxR5AXFVY3Zro4M6bPrfjBmno3XFdTI588rQumA7EbwTyJaCo/s320/P1110552.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circular floor plan of the 2 bedroom house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aKwRE5Nk-WB4DxptcQWAvOop-P7vwu6fFTNG_vZb98WY3_gGxhxuI3IkeVlgHxdmVGBfmXCgRqk_CohPYx3ISV8CSgHLimgbOF8nlVQwfKvaOwJWU123IsRwnF34DYLdKP0NC4IeSEBC/s1600/P1110565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aKwRE5Nk-WB4DxptcQWAvOop-P7vwu6fFTNG_vZb98WY3_gGxhxuI3IkeVlgHxdmVGBfmXCgRqk_CohPYx3ISV8CSgHLimgbOF8nlVQwfKvaOwJWU123IsRwnF34DYLdKP0NC4IeSEBC/s320/P1110565.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are a couple of photos of the inside of the house.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPORekiZ_ADKBC5XUDdRq7QAo_WqJws7otT6UoCS4SPxqK0-QQ5nlXDI-dFI2bOkNKWJOmPqiFWwZU8swA31ls5l8e77l79J8woq3rzDHmPfhsErYpOLcj_503hD1LT0ZFeTr4_TZEMYwr/s1600/P1110556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPORekiZ_ADKBC5XUDdRq7QAo_WqJws7otT6UoCS4SPxqK0-QQ5nlXDI-dFI2bOkNKWJOmPqiFWwZU8swA31ls5l8e77l79J8woq3rzDHmPfhsErYpOLcj_503hD1LT0ZFeTr4_TZEMYwr/s320/P1110556.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revolving closet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6hMUrGgcsHFwXSa79bVH6g2SrVe1YZAtysZfXelJW9ciGUGZXsOTYfBx5jh12pDA8x966n714bao8FqrZYfNCOQ6VYVc4pCqmVuwRrRJ0D8hBE8mNJM0D_g_kVGV3sXurrtM8J3n9T6G/s1600/P1110561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6hMUrGgcsHFwXSa79bVH6g2SrVe1YZAtysZfXelJW9ciGUGZXsOTYfBx5jh12pDA8x966n714bao8FqrZYfNCOQ6VYVc4pCqmVuwRrRJ0D8hBE8mNJM0D_g_kVGV3sXurrtM8J3n9T6G/s320/P1110561.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunO5b4WmEFsMkJpkZbHD6MqOgkwk2mdFM6UbwXf1sW5jS7MAPZPKQicTTGZOV0mLRoRyOrHGGaUBgmS7-RQUGHb5-BliiTGAzn4nmgrqRPn6zcsy-TaD8ZC84gtYmJ_KGePv0oDJu-Jc1/s1600/P1110563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunO5b4WmEFsMkJpkZbHD6MqOgkwk2mdFM6UbwXf1sW5jS7MAPZPKQicTTGZOV0mLRoRyOrHGGaUBgmS7-RQUGHb5-BliiTGAzn4nmgrqRPn6zcsy-TaD8ZC84gtYmJ_KGePv0oDJu-Jc1/s320/P1110563.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living/Dining room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is only a prototype. The homes never went into production.<br />
<br />
We left the Henry Ford Museum and walked over to Greenfield Village, which is next to the Museum. We were expected back at camp at 5:30 PM and were running out of time to see much more, so we decided to take the train that circles the village then see if we had enough time to see anything else.This is the train being pulled by an Edison coal-fired Engine.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNpJgtho52tGFAZuOkLBPDbHJeq1UfAAelU2FjJH2MI8q4KazupyGVvVpKhP5ZVpgKHPd7bzU7fU6SnpASQnnWVUuqB0musdUMoaLpClI89lPlro9GhyDpWoIBzfERk0iGWQjBRYUDUCD/s1600/P1110579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNpJgtho52tGFAZuOkLBPDbHJeq1UfAAelU2FjJH2MI8q4KazupyGVvVpKhP5ZVpgKHPd7bzU7fU6SnpASQnnWVUuqB0musdUMoaLpClI89lPlro9GhyDpWoIBzfERk0iGWQjBRYUDUCD/s320/P1110579.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edison Steam Engine.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_LgwLjGHmG-kpgJBs_BQiEwjRYzcE_6vkgCyaSSl0WbH6-1JC0HWEZ3xtO4WvvhTKdHx5WPFFcvnVjMmxnBlQDOysVoOhkMbd86HvoC7AJR2Q0cQEGk_5TCii9oVxPMyX3S25FuqgM_h/s1600/P1110581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_LgwLjGHmG-kpgJBs_BQiEwjRYzcE_6vkgCyaSSl0WbH6-1JC0HWEZ3xtO4WvvhTKdHx5WPFFcvnVjMmxnBlQDOysVoOhkMbd86HvoC7AJR2Q0cQEGk_5TCii9oVxPMyX3S25FuqgM_h/s320/P1110581.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoveling coal into the firebox</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist7mVbOR6BCiXb76H3pNOFKKbOpMCkjrUt4yCqjskxVoNlXefTKfOvExCYOqTnGq8e1shexL_8p3EJDowodWjgFdTzjp5_dAR5Lt7DEVxtUGh8e2VWCQIKbvbELNS94Yc4DjR0CYu7uKR/s1600/P1110612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist7mVbOR6BCiXb76H3pNOFKKbOpMCkjrUt4yCqjskxVoNlXefTKfOvExCYOqTnGq8e1shexL_8p3EJDowodWjgFdTzjp5_dAR5Lt7DEVxtUGh8e2VWCQIKbvbELNS94Yc4DjR0CYu7uKR/s320/P1110612.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Away we go... See the smoke and steam coming from the smokestack?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTMvg0fQr_XJnyOXDj66ByZNwq51tJx-mAH-Mzv6RGUvaTteOcwyIs9XBnbYE2vXMe80tFHC7t33bPdLbFO3mKR9hCh4oE8nSUKrz2NkIJca_wzZcf3CNCNIR6nGnXAItT11KtR3RPx6Q/s1600/P1110593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTMvg0fQr_XJnyOXDj66ByZNwq51tJx-mAH-Mzv6RGUvaTteOcwyIs9XBnbYE2vXMe80tFHC7t33bPdLbFO3mKR9hCh4oE8nSUKrz2NkIJca_wzZcf3CNCNIR6nGnXAItT11KtR3RPx6Q/s320/P1110593.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is some of the soot that landed on my backpack and everything and everyone else.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Here are some of the scenes along the way around the track encircling the Greenfield Village.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimt07xQCbyvHL_CGEqcK23zGkXLmg24GoMghOcpfbzGm_Q7x2-2gTsxn30bT1emVdfORzYiSvG7pXwL5w2zwSsXXd1EEcJY6FDH-4bMpAwVOYdLXCyyLNrYPUKGaPZVfE3q2MSyopTjAEX/s1600/P1110586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimt07xQCbyvHL_CGEqcK23zGkXLmg24GoMghOcpfbzGm_Q7x2-2gTsxn30bT1emVdfORzYiSvG7pXwL5w2zwSsXXd1EEcJY6FDH-4bMpAwVOYdLXCyyLNrYPUKGaPZVfE3q2MSyopTjAEX/s320/P1110586.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old farm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJWfTcg9WAi7yeMGMwE-jIK9mqSBbzWFUNhzmBW8AOyZl1wUY3KevrFIYOrMNNZ5QiWduMnJh-VQu-aGR6GrYu1Pu5YBYK_JhsH2O3Zk4V7CwHK1QlzRTlaRA2QLB6oryGzLlFb_rndgt/s1600/P1110589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJWfTcg9WAi7yeMGMwE-jIK9mqSBbzWFUNhzmBW8AOyZl1wUY3KevrFIYOrMNNZ5QiWduMnJh-VQu-aGR6GrYu1Pu5YBYK_JhsH2O3Zk4V7CwHK1QlzRTlaRA2QLB6oryGzLlFb_rndgt/s320/P1110589.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the homes and an old truck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
When we got off the train, we walked through some of the village. Everything has been brought in from the 1800's to early 1900's. The volunteers walk around in period costume. There are horses and horse drawn carriages and early autos and trucks traversing the streets. Here are some of the things we saw. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horse-drawn carriage and windmill on the farm</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clock tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjfaEM4F7q8ss915Ck0I90_9jTqduCZQjvBH_9B3Qy64LyiAVdYeMxmdOzEnWYP_am4EYJNqvl0lREiUV1-keaBMS_BbpFUYj6WXULhtvfmeR9gTnXYJ_OXL29VuyypaT6gUx84kDYDyb/s1600/P1110623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjfaEM4F7q8ss915Ck0I90_9jTqduCZQjvBH_9B3Qy64LyiAVdYeMxmdOzEnWYP_am4EYJNqvl0lREiUV1-keaBMS_BbpFUYj6WXULhtvfmeR9gTnXYJ_OXL29VuyypaT6gUx84kDYDyb/s320/P1110623.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super cool playground</td></tr>
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We had to get back to the campground so we could have the spaghetti dinner that the Adventure Caravans staff had prepared for us. It was delicious. After that, we started to prepare to move to Lansing, MI, tomorrow, for the next stop on our tour of Michigan.<br />
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<br />Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-6784189651969651362015-06-23T12:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T15:31:14.594-07:00Adventure Caravans Traversing Michigan Tour 6/23/15<span style="font-size: large;">Detroit Tour Day 1</span><br />
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Well, last night was interesting. We had severe thunderstorms that kept us awake for the early part of the night. Then at 2 AM, there was a frantic knock at the door. "THERE ARE TORNADO WARNINGS. GET DRESSED AND MEET AT THE CAMP OFFICE," the voice said. We rushed to get dressed while listening to the weather radio. I thought I heard them say that the tornado watch had been cancelled for the county that we are in, but I wasn't sure of how to pronounce the county name, Washtenaw, and could have misunderstood the electronic voice of NOAA radio. So, we continued to get ready, as requested. We put on our hiking boots and tromped through the ankle deep puddles of water on the way to the office. As we neared the gathering point, some of the members of our group were already heading back to their campsite. They asked us, "Didn't you hear the siren?" No, we had not heard the siren and the weather alert had not gone off to say that there was a tornado warning. Oh well, it was good practice and you never know about the weird weather that has been going on around the country. Of course, we didn't get much sleep last night with the thunder and the rain pelting the trailer roof. Things slowed down around 4:30 or 5:00 AM. Then we had to get up to get on the bus for today's tour of some of Detroit, with only a couple hours of sleep.<br />
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There was enough time since the last rain for the water to dry up somewhat before we had to line up for the bus. This is what it looks like whenever we take a motor coach tour with Adventure Caravans.<br />
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To make sure that everyone gets a chance to have a good seat, every morning we draw a card from the deck of cards that the tail gunner has. The color and number on the card determines which seat you get for the rest of the day. Red is on the driver's side and black is on the curb side. You count seats back from the front until you get to the number on your card. Here is Earl picking the card for today.<br />
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The first stop for today was the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. </div>
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This is a statue depicting Henry Ford and his dedication to educating and providing for his employees. There was a lot of on the job training in the early days of the company.<br />
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They make F-150 pick-up trucks there. Photography is not permitted on the assembly line, but we could take photos through the windows of an observation deck. Ford is trying to go green as much as possible. You can see that the whole assembly line building is covered with ground cover type plants to help provide insulation. Also, there are six humongous Skylights as well as many smaller skylights on this roof, to provide natural light. The ivy on the outside walls also helped with insulations.<br />
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Looking off in the distance gives you and idea of how huge the factory in Detroit is. </div>
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Many of the individual Ford factories have closed or reduced the production greatly from before, but the industry is starting to come back from the recession of 2008-2009. Here is a sample of the trucks that have been completed and are waiting to be test driven and/or shipped around the country. These (in the foreground and background) are all new vehicles and the ones in back are located near the railroad tracks. We were told that all of the trucks out in the lots and on the assembly line had actually been ordered by a dealer for a customer or for their dealership showroom.<br />
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The next stop for the day was for lunch at the American Coney Island. It has been owned and operated by the same family since 1917.</div>
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Their specialty is the "Coney Island Hot Dog" with chili and mustard. That is what we had, plus a drink and a small Greek salad. Very yummy! Here is what the place looked like after our caravan group took over the place along with all of their other regular customers and tourists.<br />
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After lunch, we went to the birth place of Motown. It is where all of the Motown records were recorded from 1959 - 1972, when the operation was transferred to California. Now, the buildings, which were houses that were made into the recording studio, are a museum dedicated to the artists of the Motown style of music. We took a guided tour of the museum, but no photography was allowed.</div>
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Next, we had a guided bus tour around Detroit. There is a monorail people mover that winds around the city.<br />
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There are many old buildings. Here is one.</div>
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The dog park was different. It had a fence around it like other dog parks, but there were some fake dogs, like this one, in the park as well.<br />
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Here, you see the fake one from the previous photo as well as the real one by the tree.</div>
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Detroit is a sports town as well as a motor town. This is the Ford Field for minor league ball. They are in the process of building apartments next to the field. Those residents will be able to sit in their living room or on their patio and watch the games.<br />
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Comerica Park, home to the Detroit Tigers, was another notable attraction. The theme is definitely tigers.<br />
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Our last stop for the day was the General Motors Building. This is the outside of the building.</div>
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This is the main entrance that faces the Detroit River which makes the border between the USA and Canada. Clouds are reflected in the mirror-like windows.</div>
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We walked around inside the building for awhile. All of the GM vehicles were represented.</div>
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We went outside in front of the building to wait for the bus to return to pick us up. There is a riverside park where they have decorated the sidewalk with a world map in the concrete. As a sample, here is North America and Hawaii. The countries are somewhat to scale. We had to look closely to find Hawaii off to the side and away from the U. S. The thing that looks like a washer is a light, I think. Those were all over the map. You can barely see some on the Mexico and southern California areas, too.<br />
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This is the view of Windsor, Ontario, Canada from in front of the General Motors Building.</div>
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When we got back to the RV Park, I took a photo of some of the Adventure Caravans participants all lined up. Everyone has a yellow sticker on their vehicles.<br />
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Tomorrow, we will be going back to Detroit for some more sightseeing and touring. This time we will be driving on our own so that we can spend as much time as we want at the pre-chosen sites.<br />
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<br />Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-25472828403664838172015-06-22T18:46:00.000-07:002015-06-27T11:59:35.676-07:00Adventure Caravans Traversing Michigan Tour June 22, 2015<span style="font-size: large;">Chelsea and Ann Arbor, MI Tour </span><br />
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Today, we boarded a bus to go sightseeing in this part of Michigan. First was a tour of the Jiffy Milling Company, home of the Jiffy Mix collection of baking mixes. The Jiffy plant in Chelsea is the one and only place that produces Jiffy Mixes.<br />
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Earl and I (Fran) posed with the Jiffy Box Mascot outside the entrance.</div>
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They have many elevators that hold the various types of grains used to produce the many flavors of mixes.<br />
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We started the tour of the plant by watching two movies, then we had to "dress" for the walking tour through the plant. They gave us hair covers and beard covers as demonstrated by this couple.<br />
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We were able to see how they make everything on site, from the boxes the product goes into, to the milling of the grains that are used, to the mixing of the ingredients for the particular baked goods, to the packaging and shipping of the items to the stores, restaurants and institutions around the U. S. A. and the world. No photography was allowed in the assembly line area, so no pictures of that to post. It was all very interesting. We even got some samples and a goody bag of items at the end of the tour. As we were getting ready to get back on the bus to leave, a very large semi-truck was arriving to get a load of Jiffy Mixes to take around the country.<br />
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Chelsea has a very old clock tower. It has been refurbished, but the clock, itself, was not working when we saw it. There are some reflections on the window that I was taking the picture from, but I think you can still see the clock tower.<br />
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From Chelsea, we traveled to Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan. The tour of the stadium that we were supposed to take was cancelled because the new football coach (Jim Harbaugh formerly from the San Francisco 49ers) wanted his team to be on the field for practice. This is as much as we got to see of the U of M Stadium.<br />
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We rode around campus. Here are a couple of the buildings. </div>
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This is the Medical Center Campus.</div>
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The Michigan Theater was our next stop. This is an original theater that has been historically preserved and is still in use. Back in the early days, before TV and radio, people got all of their news and entertainment at the theater. There were many theaters in Ann Arbor, as well as other cities and towns of the time. Each neighborhood had one where the people would gather. Over time as other means of communication were developed and became popular, the theaters gradually had to close. This is the Marquee for the Michigan Theater. <br />
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The lobby. The concession stand was added later</div>
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Half of the grand staircase. The other half would be to the left of the picture. </div>
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Close-up view of the ceiling under the area at the top of the staircase.</div>
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Then we went into the main theater. It is the very original theater. This photo is taken from the front, looking back at the balcony and ceiling.<br />
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There was an orchestra pit with a live orchestra, in the beginning. Then the organ was developed and replaced the live orchestra for the silent movies and newsreels. This is the organ. The pipes and instruments were hidden in the wall behind the window-like grill. We had a short demonstration of the organ.<br />
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Currently, the theater is used for various kinds of performances and a newer theater addition is used to show movies, independent films and documentaries daily. The seats are plush and a rosy pink.</div>
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The wall on each side is painted with a mural depicting several of the old theaters that were in Ann Arbor during its early days.<br />
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This was a busy day of touring. Tomorrow is going to be another touring day, this time in Detroit.<br />
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<br />Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-59917239648199992682015-06-21T19:32:00.001-07:002015-06-21T19:32:21.597-07:00Adventure Caravans Traversing Michigan Tour June 19 - 21, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ypsilanti, MI, Arrival and First Day</span></div>
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We arrived at the Detroit/Greenfield RV Park on Friday evening. We checked in with the wagonmaster for the Adventure Caravans Traversing Michigan Tour, then set up camp before dinner. After dinner, we just rested and watched TV after having traveled over 2400 miles during the last week. <br />
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Saturday, we finished settling in because we will be here in Ypsilanti for a total of six nights before we move to the next location that we will be exploring on this adventure. The RV Park is very nice. It reminds us of Lake Tahoe in California only with deciduous trees instead of evergreens. Otherwise, the sites are worked in among the trees and on forest floor dirt. No cement pads or gravel here, which is nice.<br />
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You may have noticed the yellow squares on our truck and trailer. Those are our identification as members of the Adventure Caravans Tour. This is our third "adventure" with them, the other two being rallies at the Rose Parade and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Here is the front view and the rear view close up.<br />
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In addition to putting the signs on the truck and trailer, every unit that is going on the tour is pre-inspected by the staff to try to catch any minor or major problems that need to be taken care of before we start out.<br />
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There are a lot of activities at this campground. It is also used as a day use park for the public. There is a lake with swimming and play equipment. We saw some folks fishing, but I don't know if they caught anything.<br />
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They also have a very nice playground</div>
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and a miniature golf course.</div>
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Our new friends that we met at the RV Park in Shelby, NE arrived Saturday afternoon, so we three couples went to dinner at a Chinese buffet. We were careful not to overdo it this time even though the food was very good.<br />
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Today, Sunday, was the official beginning of the tour activities. We went to a restaurant, Haab's, that has been in business since 1934. We had a meeting where we found out that there are 22 rigs and, I think, 42 people in this caravan. We are Number 11, alphabetically. There is an 11 on our yellow sign. The leaders told us what we can expect on this caravan tour and a little about what we would be doing tomorrow, then we had dinner.<br />
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After dinner, we were told about a "bingo" game that we would be playing sometime during the trip. A card with 25 pictures of things that we would be seeing during our tour, arranged 5 X 5 like a bingo card, was given to each of us. We were to have twenty-five people each sign a different square, then sometime we would use the card to play a bingo game. Here everyone is trying to get the signatures that they need.<br />
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We need to be on the bus at 8:15 AM tomorrow, so I will continue with our adventure later.<br />
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<br />Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-37440275819046961712015-06-19T22:11:00.000-07:002015-06-20T22:15:58.568-07:00Traveling to Michigan June 13 - 18, 2015We have spent the last week driving to Michigan to meet with the Adventure Caravans' Traversing Michigan Tour. We left home on Saturday a little after noon, expecting to be able to get at least half way across Nevada before we stopped for the evening. That was not to be, as the traffic was so congested that we were more or less stopped for long periods of time. It took us six and a half hours to get to Nevada, a trip of 208 miles that we would usually expect to take 4 - 4 1/2 hours. We decided to stop in Verdi, NV and get a fresh start on Sunday. Here is the sun setting behind the hill at our campsite at Gold Ranch Casino and RV Resort.<br />
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The Gold Ranch Casino also had a Sinclair gas station, so before we left the area on Sunday morning, we got fuel for the truck, to keep from having to stop later on. Well, my love of cute signs grabbed me when I saw this sign at the entrance to the gas station. I guess it meant to watch for people walking across the drive.<br />
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There were also several model Dinosaurs around the property. Each had a sign next to it.</div>
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We made it all the way across Nevada on Sunday. That was a 407 mile trip under partly cloudy skies and hot 90s for temperatures. We stayed at the Wendover KOA in West Wendover, NV, which is on the border with Utah. We got set up just in time to watch the last 5 minutes of the Golden State Warriors vs the Cleveland Cavaliers Game 5 of the Finals. Warriors won!!!<br />
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Monday, we traveled across the Salt Flats of Utah. It wasn't too hot, even though it was mostly sunny. This view is looking north from the Eastbound side of I-80. The dark line is the Westbound direction of I-80.<br />
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You can see the mirage in the photo below. It looks like the mountains have been undercut on each side or a reflection on water that isn't there.</div>
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Here is a train making its way across the Salt Flats.</div>
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It was time to get fuel again, just before we got to Salt Lake City. While we were parked at the Flying J, we got a new hood ornament. You may say, "Seagulls in Utah, so far from the ocean?" Well, The Great Salt Lake is like an ocean that has some of the same salt-loving plants and animals that the ocean has, so they find plenty to eat. He stayed there even when we were getting in and out of the truck. Finally, he moved when we started the truck and started to move out of the parking space.</div>
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Because we don't like driving up the long grade on I-80 going east out of Salt Lake City, we went north on I-15 then onto I-84 east to meet I-80 at the top of the grade. The canyon that I-84 goes through has a feature that is called Devil's Slide. I think you can see why it is called that. It goes right down to the edge of the river that flows along the side of the freeway.</div>
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This is another scenic view along I-84.</div>
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Later in the afternoon on Monday, it started to rain. We had watched the clouds ahead of us for several hours. There were even lightning bolts that lit up the clouds. They stayed ahead of us until about the last hour of our day's drive. We stopped at RV World Campground in Rawlins, WY. Look at the dark clouds that have just dumped on the campground. </div>
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During the night Monday, we were awakened with heavy rain hitting the trailer roof, but by morning, the clouds had given way to a nice sunny day. We drove to Ogallala, NE and camped at the Country View Campground on Tuesday. After we got set up, the clouds began to gather as you can see in these two photos.</div>
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The interesting thing about this campground was that the TV cable connection was different from most others that we have encountered. They gave us a TV controller, we connected our cable to the wire that they had at the site and tuned the TV to channel 3. There was a cable box located on the post and we used the TV just like a cable box at home. We watched the Basketball Finals Game 6 and while we were watching the game, we could see a lot of lightening in the distance to the west. Well, the rain started and it was a strong windy storm. The lights flickered a couple times, but that was all. <u>The Warriors won Game 6 and became the Champions of the 2015 Season!!!</u></div>
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On Wednesday, we continued our trip by driving to Shelby, IA and stayed at the Shelby Country Inn and RV Park. There was no rain today, just sunny skies. Our challenge at this campsite was hooking up to the water. They had a special key, sort of a hex wrench, that opened a door and then was used to turn on the water flow. I turned it on to clean off the faucet and couldn't get it to turn off. We eventually got the hose attached and decided to worry about turning it off in the morning.</div>
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Of course, there is a sunset shot. Not as vibrant as in the desert southwest, but nice.</div>
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Thursday morning, while we were getting ready to move on, we met our "next door neighbors", Seth & Robbi and Duane & Pat. It was fun to discover that they were also headed to Michigan to attend the Adventure Caravans tour. We got our water turned off by using a wrench on the wrench to tighten it. I hope the next folks that have that space can get it loose after we got it tightened.</div>
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Thursday was our last day out before getting to the campground where we all meet for the beginning of the tour of Michigan. We traveled across Iowa and saw some beautiful green fields.</div>
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There was an area where we could see windmills/wind generators every direction that we looked. They were spread all over the countryside, unlike in CA where they are placed in even rows on windmill "farms".</div>
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We arrived at our last stop before getting to Michigan. It was at the RV Park at the Hollywood Casino in Joliet, IL. The site was nice and wide and big enough to park the truck across the front. </div>
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Since we were at the casino, we decided to go to the buffet for dinner. The only problem with that was that we arrived about 30 min. before they closed, so we filled up our plates and gathered much more than we needed because we didn't want the serving line to close before we had gotten what we wanted. We ate waaaay, too much.<br />
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Friday morning, we went to the complimentary breakfast that they provided to the motel and RV Park guests. It was very nice and we watched how much we ate this time. After breakfast, we headed off to Michigan and will let you know how that goes.</div>
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Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-42422158148578201972015-02-23T23:00:00.000-08:002015-02-25T23:31:15.102-08:00White Tank Mountain Regional Park 2/23/15<span style="font-size: large;">S<span style="font-family: inherit;">ome of the Flora in the Desert</span></span><br />
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We have been exploring White Tank Mountain Regional Park for a couple days. The desert plants are so unique and interesting. I had fun capturing some of the unusual cacti that are here in the desert southwest of the United States, while we hiked some of the trails. The cacti in the foreground and background (low white plants) are called Jumping or Chainfruit Cholla. The reason for the name is that the plant reproduces by dropping segments on the ground where they sprout into new cholla. They look very soft and cuddly, but the white spines are barbed and extremely easily attach to anything that even lightly brushes up against them, thus the name, Jumping Cholla. Once attached, they are very painful and difficult to get off. Pliers are needed to detach them because you certainly do not want to touch them with your hands. There are also two examples of Saguaro cacti in the middle of the cholla forest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYz_u6l3jmWFOauHJLZgkIbBLilHgb8gQSkLWItEWIN6Q0rlbtxV9ilLPIRIG6TonwsGX7P3_HsC92YKPSFhkMLi2eIdpxiBQJu-ddPJd4W6vJFz4fR498lkjSBxFMmnqbZd-vZJ4zXTu/s1600/P1100287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYz_u6l3jmWFOauHJLZgkIbBLilHgb8gQSkLWItEWIN6Q0rlbtxV9ilLPIRIG6TonwsGX7P3_HsC92YKPSFhkMLi2eIdpxiBQJu-ddPJd4W6vJFz4fR498lkjSBxFMmnqbZd-vZJ4zXTu/s1600/P1100287.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are many varieties of cholla. Another one that is common in the park is the Buckhorn Cholla. The segments of this cholla are thinner and longer and don't have the number of spines that the Jumping Cholla has. That makes it look more open and scraggly. Here are two examples. <br />
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I showed Saguaro cacti with the Jumping Cholla. Saguaro are the ones that have the appearance of people with their arms, however, after awhile they get way too many arms to look like humans any more. The Saguaro are very long living plants. At first, they grow as a straight columnar plant with a ribbed surface and spines along the outer edge of the ribbing. After at least 50 years, arms may start to sprout from the main trunk and flowers begin to appear on the ends of the arms and trunk in the spring. Here is a Saguaro that is just getting its first arms. <br />
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Saguaro can grow to 40 - 50 feet tall. The older the Saguaro is, the more arms that it has. These Saguaro are quite old. Eventually, woodpeckers and other birds build nests in the trunks of the plant. The ribs of the Saguaro are vertical, but for some reason, perhaps the direction of the sun shining on them, they appear spiraled around the branches. The enlarged slideshow version should look more normal.<br />
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Another type of cactus is the barrel cactus. There are many varieties of barrel cactus. I'm not sure of which one/ones that I have photographed, but they start out as round cacti that have sharp hooked spines. Some grow quite tall, but they look like fat barrels. I guess that I didn't take a picture of the larger barrel.<br />
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One variety is called the Many-headed Barrel.</div>
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Some of the cacti grow in clumps. They are called Hedgehogs. I was unable to determine, from my Cactus Guide book, which variety I was seeing, but there are two different looking types. One has whitish spines and the other has more golden or brownish spines. These are about 12" tall and stay about that size.<br />
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All of the above cacti have blossoms in the spring, usually at the tips of the branches or top of the plant, and grow a fruit that is eaten by animals, birds, and/or humans. It is too early for the flowers to appear although we did see buds beginning to form on some of the cacti. Years ago, we happened to be in the desert in May and the flowers were beautiful! It dismissed all of my preconceived ideas of how barren the desert was.<br />
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There are some flowers in the desert now. This is a close up of a Creosote Bush and the whole bush in the second photo. It is kind of spindly, so it is hard to see at any distance. Parts of the plant were used as medicine by the Native Peoples long ago and is still used, although not necessarily recommended, for various ailments by some people today.<br />
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Friday was rainy for much of the day. We went to the Nature Center and Library, just outside the gate for the park. In addition to the library, there were displays of live rattle snakes, lizards, spiders and scorpions, as well as a gift shop. We learned that the White Tank Mountains got their name back in the 1860's, when gold was discovered in Arizona. A road was built along the base of the mountain range, near the Gila River, leading to the gold fields. There was a natural depression or basin/tank that held water. It was the largest source of water for 20 - 30 miles, at the time. There were white granite cliffs surrounding the tank, thus the name White Tank Mountains. No one knows where the actual tank was located as heavy rains, over time, have eroded the cliffs, causing them to collapse. They are just going from historical writings. There were no surveys done before the collapse. Outside of the Nature Center, we saw this plant. It was not in my Desert Wildflowers guide book, so I do not know what it was, but it was in full bloom. I have a close up of a smaller bush and a photo of several larger versions that have sort of formed one big bush.<br />
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The clouds parted enough to make a very interesting sunset on Friday evening. Here it is at the beginning, most intense and almost gone.<br />
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Tomorrow we will be going to the Phoenix International Raceway to attend The Camping World Good Sam Rally.<br />
<br />Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-36918334170523897492015-02-22T09:54:00.000-08:002015-02-25T20:23:11.051-08:00White Tank Mountain Regionl Park 2/21/15<span style="font-size: large;">Arrival at White Tank Mountain Regional Park</span><br />
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We arrived at the campground early in the afternoon to meet our friends, Rich and Cathy and George and Estelle. More couples will arrive over the next two days until we have a total of nine couples. On Tuesday all of us will be caravanning to The Rally at the Phoenix International Raceway. In the meantime, we are going to explore this park in the Arizona desert west of Phoenix.<br />
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We left home on Thursday morning and drove to the River Run RV Park in Bakersfield. I wrote about it in my January blog. It makes a nice waypoint for our travels into the southwest part of the country.<br />
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Friday was a long day of driving, about 379 miles, to Quartzsite, AZ. At this time of year they are one hour ahead of California, so we had one less hour of daylight, according to the clock. This view in the side view mirror caused us to pull over to the side of I-10 in southern California to get some photos. I like the way the reflection in the side of the trailer makes it look like the trailer is transparent. The tiny crescent moon and Venus can be seen in the upper left corner of the picture. Perhaps it will be easier to see if you enlarge the picture by clicking on it.<br />
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We found a nice spot to park, for the night, on BLM land near the freeway on the east side of town. This is our camp as seen in the morning when it got light again. Quartzsite is much less active and less populated than it was when we were here in January.<br />
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Here is some of the scenery that we saw along I-10 in Arizona. This is what the desert along I-10 looks like most of the way from Quartzsite to Buckeye, AZ. That is, flat or slight rolling hills with some bushes and a few trees and mountains in the distance. Sometimes, there isn't much scrub greenery and there is a more sandy appearance.<br />
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<a href="http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/white_tank/" target="_blank">White Tank Mountain Regional Park</a> campground is set in a beautiful native desert. The sites are surrounded by vegetation and are spaced a good distance from each other as seen by the surrounding area of our campsite. We have a large amount of room that is designated as our campsite.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WBulnoRTcdDr76CFg-ditVcanE4hEOR9lLqRtu2udzC2JguE9CW5NancOp6a22iTU_MspJT4-45gGQc__rW4E67NajeTk0acCSu5wLzH0wJxmu0LDGGYAcGkYFUYgBK7iCFWO_OEtOG0/s1600/P1100300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WBulnoRTcdDr76CFg-ditVcanE4hEOR9lLqRtu2udzC2JguE9CW5NancOp6a22iTU_MspJT4-45gGQc__rW4E67NajeTk0acCSu5wLzH0wJxmu0LDGGYAcGkYFUYgBK7iCFWO_OEtOG0/s1600/P1100300.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're the trailer in the middle.</td></tr>
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After we were set up, we took a bike ride around the campground then went out on a trail that winds around behind our campsite. These photos give you an idea of the surrounding area and the beautiful plants in this park. The first is looking at our site from the trail. You can see Phoenix in the distance. The second is a general desert scene of a multitude of desert plants. </div>
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We are looking forward to spending the next two days here.<br />
<br />Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-45287585729642741952015-01-22T23:49:00.000-08:002015-01-24T22:13:17.734-08:00Quartzfest 2015 Part 5<span style="font-size: large;">Antenna Walkabout</span><br />
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Today, there was an antenna walkabout. This is a show and tell about the different types and mountings of antennas used by RVers and anyone who needs to set up temporary or mobile communications for emergencies or pleasure. When we arrived at the gathering point for the walkabout near the main fire ring, we saw the results of last night's Burning SandHAM Ceremony. Poor guy.<br />
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This is the Hex Beam antenna that was used for the event station.</div>
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The owner of this antenna combo was showing us how he had developed a method to raise it from the convenient transporting position into a perfect transmitting height and position. He used compressed air to push the collapsible multi-sectioned mast into the air about 25 feet or so.</div>
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Sharp desert rocks did not deter this person from going barefoot during the walkabout.</div>
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This dipole antenna is usually onboard a boat. It is painted with special yellow paint to protect it from the sea's salt water spray.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGTIqv1g1Vw7iFGVUYXK6R109cFtR8Y46yidoZxkuhCg_66Db_o0Ub6W6_V_lFHAjsNE86ArV1GnxLV8C742IgTYE7pJ5a8XbAEZm02B88ddG8bbw2eDvmB9t1HHgZLpV4AnK5plO-0gJ/s1600/P1100115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGTIqv1g1Vw7iFGVUYXK6R109cFtR8Y46yidoZxkuhCg_66Db_o0Ub6W6_V_lFHAjsNE86ArV1GnxLV8C742IgTYE7pJ5a8XbAEZm02B88ddG8bbw2eDvmB9t1HHgZLpV4AnK5plO-0gJ/s1600/P1100115.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are the many and varied types of antennae that are used for the California Rescue Communications base when they go to the location of a disaster.</div>
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This spider antenna is mounted on the front tongue of the trailer. There is a flexible, foldable solar panel draped over the rock shield for the front window.</div>
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Another interesting antenna mounted on the ladder in the rear of the trailer.</div>
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It is definitely a Ham Radio gathering when you can see so many antennae such as in this view across the campground.</div>
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This evening, our group of friends had a potluck. Everything was delicious. After dinner, we all gathered around the campfire to relax and visit for awhile. </div>
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When it got darker, we decided to send up a Chinese lantern.</div>
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Trying to get the waxy fuel to light so that it will heat up the envelope of the lantern.</div>
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Finally! It is lit.</div>
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It is almost ready to take off. I couldn't get photos of the lantern in flight. It was too dark and the lantern moved too fast for the camera to focus. We see Chinese Lanterns floating through the skies almost every evening here in Quartzsite. It is interesting to watch them to see how high and how far they go, especially if there are many up at one time.</div>
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There was another beautiful sunset tonight. I decided to try some night shots and some time lapse starry sky pictures for a change. Here I have the whole sunset photo and a zoomed in version showing the Moon with Mars (the tiny yellow-orange dot to the left of the Moon) and Venus below.<br />
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This is Orion in a 30 second exposure. It is amazing how much the earth turns in 30 seconds. The stars are not pinpoints, but slightly dashed because I did not track the stars. Never the less, the belt (three perpendicular stars in the middle of the picture), the sword (2 brighter and 1 dim stars going at a diagonal to the right and below the belt), and Betelgeuse (the yellowish star on the far left) can easily be seen. <br />
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That is all for today. Time to get to bed.</div>
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Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-64673740259133558492015-01-21T22:32:00.000-08:002015-01-24T20:09:54.287-08:00Quartzfest 2015 Part 4<span style="font-size: large;">Off Road Trip and Burning SandHAM</span><br />
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It is a beautiful day for a ride through the desert of southwestern Arizona. I was up earlier than usual and captured the sun rising over our circle of friends camped at Road Runner BLM Campground.<br />
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Today I rode along with our friends, Rich and Cathy, on the 4X4 Off Road Trip that was planned by one of the Amateur Radio operators who attended Quartzfest. Earl stayed back at camp. It was so much fun!! There was a group of 40 vehicles on the trip, a lot of 4X4s traveling along the trails of the desert north of Quartzsite. Here we are all lined up checking to be sure everyone has their tires deflated to the proper pressure and that all of their equipment is ready to go. I'm not sure where we might need kayaks, but this guy is prepared, as well as one about three cars ahead of him.<br />
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Our first stop was at an area that had five abandoned mines. Most of them were not very deep as you see in the first photo. <br />
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However, there was one that was quite deep with old rotted wooden supports and crumbling sides. It was fenced off so that you couldn't get close enough to see very far into it. I don't think we would have wanted to get any closer than we did, because the top edge sort of funneled into the hole from about 5 - 6 feet out from the opening where you can see the wood.</div>
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This was a good spot to see how the group looked as we snaked around on the trail through the desert.<br />
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The next stop was at the ruins of a large rock wall. There were theories about its reason for being - maybe a lookout made by the Indians or maybe the side walls of a house or other building or maybe someone being very neat about clearing his land. <br />
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It looks too structured for just clearing the land. It must have had a more important purpose. Perhaps the person memorialized on the hill to the upper left in the picture above did it or used it.<br />
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The ruins of a stagecoach stop was the location of the next point of interest. There were rock walls and a square in the center of the floor that looked as if it could have been a socket for a roof supporting beam.<br />
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From here, we could see where we would be having our lunch break. It was the site of a mine that had been quite a big operation at one time. There were the tell tail signs of the tailing pile running off the edge of the hill and concrete foundations of the buildings in the cleared area at the bottom of the hill that were the headquarters of the business. You need to enlarge the picture to see it better.<br />
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And we're off, over the windy, rocky road, hills and dry wash river beds on our way to lunch.</div>
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We were at the lunch stop for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours. From our lunch spot, we could see a natural bridge. It is difficult to see because the color of the rock blends in, but there is a couple small slits of sunlight shining through under the arch. At this angle and time of day, the amount of light isn't very much, but you can see it. They look like two whitish dots under the arch. There is a steep trail leading to an area where one can climb on top of the arch and some in the group were brave enough to drive up that steep trail and climb to the top of the arch.<br />
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After we had lunch, we went as small groups to do some exploring of the area. We headed out on one of the trails that went back to some old mines. You can see that all of us, who are well into our adult lives, have lived so long because we have learned how to follow directions.<br />
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Here we go.</div>
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Now we are heading through the tunnel of the old mine. It is quite tall and roomy.</div>
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We made it to the dead end of the tunnel, about 250 - 300 feet in length.</div>
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Heading toward the light (at the end of the tunnel going out). The light in front of the person is the light coming in through the entrance.</div>
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Once we got back to the jeep, we continued down the road to another site. It seems that this structure was used to load the ore, that was mined, into carts, wagons, or trucks.<br />
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These are the shoots.</div>
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Back at our lunch spot, someone is testing their four wheeling skills by coming down the side of the tailing pile. He was not the first to take this course. </div>
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This was the last stop on our route. Now we had to make our way back to civilization. It sure is interesting what you find back in the hills. It makes you wonder how and why they decided to come back into these remote areas to set up a homestead or business.<br />
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While we were on our off road trip, some folks were back at the Quartzfest site taking examinations to obtain or upgrade their licenses. There were many new Hams and several who upgraded to the next level of expertise.<br />
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The wind had become quite strong while we were gone, but that didn't stop the Burning SandHAM Celebration this evening. Here is the SandHAM about to be sacrificed, complete with several hand held radios, call sign tattoos, and a Quartzfest T-shirt.<br />
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The Burning SandHAM Celebration will be seen on the internet Ham Nation Show tonight and again next Wed., Jan. 28,2015. Just Google <a href="http://twit.tv/show/ham-nation" target="_blank">Ham Nation</a> and it should take you there every Wed. evening at 9 PM Eastern and 6 PM Pacific, if you are interested. When I Googled to get the link above, I saw that tonight's episode is under #180, if you care to check it out. Here, they can be seen trying to make contact with the producers.</div>
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The torch is ready.</div>
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We have a connection aaaand ACTION. </div>
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It is very windy. Hair and the flames are blowing We are on the air. We all were on the broadcast in a sweeping panorama of the audience gathered for the event.</div>
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He is fully engulfed in flames. SandHAM is burning.</div>
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Well, it is cold and the wind is blowing pretty hard, so we are going back to the trailer. We will see the aftermath tomorrow morning.<br />
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Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-90077564944134840932015-01-20T22:52:00.000-08:002015-01-23T23:20:44.932-08:00Quartzfest 2015 Part 3<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: medium;">Monday, 1/19/15 & Tuesday, 1/20/15.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">Of course there were the usual educational talks and demonstrations at Quartzfest on these days, but it is not all business and classes. There are other fun things that go on as well. This man is testing some new updated equipment and is telling us about it and requesting that people come to his rig to try it out. When he goes home, the equipment will be installed on a mountain top for all in the area to use. There is Tai Chi every morning and craft projects several times throughout the week.</span><br />
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<a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-Mdf1Rz21pXA/VMHBya5kcxI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/Bif0F8exX-s/DSC_0016_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Demonstration of new equipment at Quartzfest Happy Hour and Announcements" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Mdf1Rz21pXA/VMHBya5kcxI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/Bif0F8exX-s/DSC_0016_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="212" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Demonstration of new equipment at Quartzfest Happy Hour and Announcements" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">We put up a hummingbird feeder on the back ladder on our trailer. It was amazingly already attracting hummers within 20 minutes after it went up. At home, it sometimes takes many days, even a couple weeks, before the birds find a newly installed feeder. We were really surprised at how quickly they came to our feeder out here in the middle of the desert.</span><br />
<a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-bRRDujU1Z9U/VMHB2-_2hYI/AAAAAAAAD6w/MiGh5yJ-ys4/P1090999_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Humming bird at feeder on ladder of our trailer" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bRRDujU1Z9U/VMHB2-_2hYI/AAAAAAAAD6w/MiGh5yJ-ys4/P1090999_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Humming bird at feeder on ladder of our trailer" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zMHrwUZ-5NA/VMHBz0BZ9WI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/6n5iJRWX1hg/s1600-h/P10909933.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><img alt="Humming bird at feeder on ladder of our trailer" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3GrLnWgMwhE/VMHB0j3TrdI/AAAAAAAAD6g/UobT30iP9fY/P1090993_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Humming bird at feeder on ladder of our trailer" width="244" /></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vlSyKwN8qUU/VMHB2WBJVcI/AAAAAAAAD6o/Gv29xp7rZtk/s1600-h/P10909993.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">I like the photo on the left, below. Earl was able to get the hummer eating “on the fly”. I think it looks like a giant dragon fly. Look closely at the wings against the white RV in the background. They are moving so fast that the camera had several flaps of his wings in one shot.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PPGVPlz6JAM/VMHB6DbnieI/AAAAAAAAD7I/wyfdbPvDTAo/s1600-h/P10909963.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Humming bird at feeder on ladder of our trailer" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aX8n8u-GdtU/VMHB7INRVkI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/iZvdBho6YtU/P1090996_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Humming bird at feeder on ladder of our trailer" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="color: #fff9f2;">I<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FCACXIYnJnA/VMHB4HNk9EI/AAAAAAAAD64/DSpdOoMZWXc/s1600-h/DSC_00103.jpg"><img alt="Eating on the fly" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dW85VXHbUGo/VMHB4nygkjI/AAAAAAAAD7A/hZFOlyACLCY/DSC_0010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="165" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Eating on the fly" width="244" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">Tuesday was a shopping day. It was a morning that was left free from planned activities so that attendees could go to the RV show in the Big Tent in town or do whatever they wanted. In the afternoon, there was a cast iron Dutch oven cooking class. Items they made were eaten at the potluck that night. We don’t do cast iron cooking, so we went into town in the afternoon on Tuesday.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">You can find almost anything in Quartzsite. Here are some photos that we took in the sales area of Tyson Wells. It is just a small sample of what is available. If you are a rock hound, this is the place for you. Tons and tons of geodes, gems, minerals, fossils, and probably whatever you are looking for are here. Large and small booths have all sorts of items for sale from jewelry and jewelry making supplies to tools,</span><br />
<a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-M6Rvlny49KQ/VMHCAYe-LZI/AAAAAAAAD7w/7nD4AcOb-Vw/P1100005_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Some of the many booths that sell almost everything." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-M6Rvlny49KQ/VMHCAYe-LZI/AAAAAAAAD7w/7nD4AcOb-Vw/P1100005_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Some of the many booths that sell almost everything." width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Oz90GjF-ylM/VMHB8wtzQ7I/AAAAAAAAD7Y/oN_zoi6QSu8/s1600-h/P11000043.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><img alt="The rock hound area of Tyson Wells, Quartzsite, AZ" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5pTdRmwm-88/VMHB9uQE5VI/AAAAAAAAD7g/vyg91h9Mnck/P1100004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The rock hound area of Tyson Wells, Quartzsite, AZ" width="244" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNN7tcXyrRaiXBSSFl7tT1pWkUomaQiSuQzwPFbN1sPM1nYVWYxSZVW_XHdkI6hL85kMARU7KteU7n3YlLRCX9COf3n12UdZkmkFE_MlPMwsFQn8GjURjHeDrk68NVLx7QYOV5Uamu2cJ/s1600-h/P11000053.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"></span></a></span><span style="color: #fff9f2;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">decorative items like wall hangings of animal trophies to iron work and pots,</span></div>
<a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-GHbYpC8BDP0/VMHCFvRGZJI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/KlWyy3f3i5w/P1100007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="You can buy just about anything in Quartzsite" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GHbYpC8BDP0/VMHCFvRGZJI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/KlWyy3f3i5w/P1100007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="You can buy just about anything in Quartzsite" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_hd4JGzpziI/VMHCCDD5AII/AAAAAAAAD74/FpjNRjaLXzo/s1600-h/P11000063.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><img alt="You can buy just about anything in Quartzsite" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P-Y81RVY_8k/VMHCC1z36nI/AAAAAAAAD8A/IVnns5e1GJ8/P1100006_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="You can buy just about anything in Quartzsite" width="244" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">clothing, hardware, carvings, artwork and food for lunch or snacking.</span></div>
<a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-YpblA2NahSo/VMHCKXlmUWI/AAAAAAAAD8w/mDKWbsRFJOA/P1100009_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="All kinds of food are availablew" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YpblA2NahSo/VMHCKXlmUWI/AAAAAAAAD8w/mDKWbsRFJOA/P1100009_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="All kinds of food are availablew" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V2_7aEePyL4/VMHCHO57EHI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/GPCQE36sn7k/s1600-h/P11000083.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><img alt="You can buy just about anything in Quartzsite" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-__kvpeDMC_8/VMHCH-5IKII/AAAAAAAAD8g/kzbSLGIYs8Q/P1100008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="You can buy just about anything in Quartzsite" width="244" /></span></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-89vt4y29o4c/VMHCJiJXOoI/AAAAAAAAD8o/r7xlqEKu4C4/s1600-h/P11000097.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"></span></a><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #fff9f2;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you can’t find it in Quartzsite, it probably doesn’t exist.</span> <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cqJVZlSICc4/VMHCK0CdLTI/AAAAAAAAD84/mo0zfFJ0-8k/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800" /><img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DC7hVUGun1Q/VMHCLpGQleI/AAAAAAAAD9A/tC6HxclvZA8/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile2.png?imgmax=800" /><img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cqJVZlSICc4/VMHCK0CdLTI/AAAAAAAAD84/mo0zfFJ0-8k/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #fff9f2;">After shopping, we met our friends Sharon and Scott and Scott’s brother and his wife, who all happened to be in Quartzsite too, for dinner at a new restaurant in town called the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stagecoach-Motel-Restaurant/315661808567794" target="_blank">Stagecoach Restaurant</a></span><span style="color: #fff9f2;">. It had very good food and we enjoyed visiting with our friends during our dinner.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">Tomorrow will be an early day. There is an off road trip back into the hills of the desert north of Quartzsite that has been planned for any of the Quartzfest attendees who want to go four wheeling.</span>
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">This is the official beginning of Quartzfest. This is a panorama of the main fire ring area. People are getting ready for the opening ceremony. We bring our chairs and set up so we can see the speakers. Several seminars take place in this location, as well as other areas in this location in the Arizona desert, during Quartzfest. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lR6dgJrUdqw/VMFKVeAAwYI/AAAAAAAAD4A/trDxwB6bVO4/s1600-h/P10909698.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><img alt="Panorama of the main fire ring area at Quartzfest" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F8Rs3qMW10c/VMFKWYFoWCI/AAAAAAAAD4I/YEW6FxHg-2M/P1090969_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="301" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Panorama of the main fire ring area at Quartzfest" width="730" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are a couple more views. As you can see, </span><span style="font-size: small;">there are a lot of RVs out here in the desert and all of the activities are outdoors. There are many talks about different aspects of Amateur Radio, talks about the desert area and ‘”how to” do different things to adapt ham radio to RVing. Kris, the organizer of Quartzfest, is giving announcements. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-a4VoEA91-ag/VMFKa9p1dhI/AAAAAAAAD4o/b6UyNt0PzTA/P1090977_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Kris, organizer for Quartzfest" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a4VoEA91-ag/VMFKa9p1dhI/AAAAAAAAD4o/b6UyNt0PzTA/P1090977_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kris, organizer for Quartzfest" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CGmD5dNZcVg/VMFKX9kBceI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/J8ejYgrALvQ/s1600-h/P10909707.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><img alt="Getting ready for Quartzfest opening ceremony." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8FCSXsMcEy0/VMFKY9owG7I/AAAAAAAAD4Y/SKTjKFYvyzo/P1090970_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Getting ready for Quartzfest opening ceremony." width="244" /></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U8fy9V5j5AU/VMFKZwpr7GI/AAAAAAAAD4g/QS_rSVsTIDU/s1600-h/P10909773.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">We had speakers telling of the events and talks that they had scheduled for the coming week. The BLM Ranger talked about camping on BLM land and some of the rules and regulations.</span><br />
<a href="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-YZBMlBNFAvY/VMFKeEJuUvI/AAAAAAAAD5I/1GT5_OhY5yQ/P1090978_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The BLM Ranger speaking about rules and regulations for using BLM land." border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YZBMlBNFAvY/VMFKeEJuUvI/AAAAAAAAD5I/1GT5_OhY5yQ/P1090978_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The BLM Ranger speaking about rules and regulations for using BLM land." width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdbnk_rzsooGPymaYTvLKpjI9qcSpNmdyXQwmHt3LvRH65sxGUGlBr5yhk3Pw99GfQeINLYSEoRO1hC0mksYUpC7JmiWUON3qzoe0TrK9tLb6Yu8sdJw5A_LSk0X4OYQeJLkNbgdMfy3j/s1600-h/P10909753.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><img alt="One of the speakers and his friend announcing details of an upcoming activity or seminar at opening ceremony." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DPKmPSnEJso/VMFKcq_XMaI/AAAAAAAAD44/NrFwguyUY2s/P1090975_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="One of the speakers and his friend announcing details of an upcoming activity or seminar at opening ceremony." width="244" /></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wxPLP7CrT4A/VMFKdUJwshI/AAAAAAAAD5A/cQSurcsnV3w/s1600-h/P10909783.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">After all of the business was taken care of, there was a door prize drawing. The traditional prizes of Yaesu world maps, Yeasu Hats, cookies and jam as well as some other special Ham Radio items were given out. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">There is a special event station that people can use to contact other HAMs around the world. It is solar powered and has a hex beam antenna. The call sign for the station is W7Q. One of the things many Ham radio operators do is to try to contact as many of these special events as they can. </span><br />
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<a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-oy7RvkFQT6Y/VMFKf2SgnCI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/dtXK_cmCB70/P1090973_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quartzfest event statiion," border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oy7RvkFQT6Y/VMFKf2SgnCI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/dtXK_cmCB70/P1090973_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Quartzfest event statiion," width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #fff9f2; font-size: small;">There was another beautiful sunset tonight. </span></div>
<a href="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-9NNacrG_Xs8/VMFKjK-qczI/AAAAAAAAD54/WyZSOHuggEM/P1090985_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Sunset looking northwest from our trailer" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9NNacrG_Xs8/VMFKjK-qczI/AAAAAAAAD54/WyZSOHuggEM/P1090985_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset looking northwest from our trailer" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t8VvTcsqiK4/VMFKg43m6yI/AAAAAAAAD5g/te_HLG3PXJI/s1600-h/P10909833.jpg"><span style="color: #fff9f2;"><img alt="Sunset looking west from our trailer" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0rwA6mf2S3o/VMFKhgXokOI/AAAAAAAAD5o/xmUEEAH817U/P1090983_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset looking west from our trailer" width="244" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">We are headed to </span><a href="http://www.quartzfest.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Quartzfest</span></a><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> in Quartzsite, AZ. Quartzfest is an Amateur Radio Operators Convention in the desert of southwestern Arizona. Almost everyone attending is an RVer We drove to the site over two days and spent Thursday night at </span><a href="http://www.riverrunrvpark.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">River Run RV Park in Bakersfield , CA.</span></a><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> It is a very nice park. The sites are large and not crowded together. However, because California has been in a drought for the last three plus years, the river was not running. We arrived after dark, so the pictures that you see were taken on Friday morning before we left on the second leg of the trip. It is a little foggy. Here are photos of our campsite and the river as viewed from the back of our site. Note that the river is supposed to be in the sandy looking beige area just before you get to the grassy bank in front of the houses.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-FZaSdB6Z5P8/VL4GRg-hhGI/AAAAAAAAD2g/GvMgUcHVORQ/P1090961_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img alt="Our campsite at River Run RV Park, Bakersfield, CA" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FZaSdB6Z5P8/VL4GRg-hhGI/AAAAAAAAD2g/GvMgUcHVORQ/P1090961_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="211" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our campsite at River Run RV Park, Bakersfield, CA" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-B_KF5JjPyZk/VL4GS24sqVI/AAAAAAAAD2w/atAXLCDRDKo/P1090964_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img alt="View of the Kern River behind the RV Park" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B_KF5JjPyZk/VL4GS24sqVI/AAAAAAAAD2w/atAXLCDRDKo/P1090964_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="211" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="View of the Kern River behind the RV Park" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;">We arrived at Road Runner BLM short term camping area after dark on Friday and found our friends Rich and Cathy, thanks to cell phones as there are no landmarks in the desert. We set up temporarily until morning when we would be able to get the lay of the land and decide where we really wanted to end up for the next week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saturday morning was spent repositioning and settling</span><span style="font-size: small;"> in. This is dry camp meaning no hook-ups for water, electric, or sewer. We needed to get to a spot where our solar panels could collect sunlight for electricity. Here is where we ended up. There are some more folks coming to join us later in the week, so we will have a small circle, but for now there are only two RVs. The chairs that appear to be in the middle of nowhere are saving space for the others who will arrive.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Our camp in the Roadrunner BLM short term camping area at Quartzfest." border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wZGqtX56rpM/VL4GVu2r-jI/AAAAAAAAD3A/CqSx4W2zWi0/P1090979_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our camp in the Roadrunner BLM short term camping area at Quartzfest." width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;">The first day of the RV Show that happens here in Quartzsite every January was also on Saturday. We went to the Big Tent in the afternoon. During the RV Show, the tent is filled with everything the RVer needs and “can’t live without”, everything from clothing and accessories, cooking items, food items as well as parts and pieces to repair and/or upgrade your RV, no matter what type of vehicle you have. I forgot the camera, so there are no photos of that yet. Those will come later when we return to see the rest of the displays. We did find some “treasures” that we just had to have and seem to be able to find only at Quartzsite.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: small;">As you know by now, I like sunsets and we had a very nice one on Saturday night. This is the view looking approximately west from where we are parked</span>.<span style="font-size: small;"> We had a campfire that can be seen in the foreground and Venus is located just above and to the left of the Palo Verde (bushy) tree in the middle of the picture.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sunset and Campfire at our camp in Quartzsite. Venus visible above and to the left of the palo verde (bushy) tree." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e5q7UHGEFPQ/VL4ONn84f4I/AAAAAAAAD3U/TdFElZT9QVM/P1090968_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="214" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset and Campfire at our camp in Quartzsite. Venus visible above and to the left of the palo verde (bushy) tree." width="320" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;">Tomorrow is the official beginning of Quartzfest. I have been very busy for the last few months and have not done any blogging. While we are here, I am hoping to get some new posts up, in addition to the ones about Quartzfest, to fill in the blanks of our summer trip to Alaska, so you may get notifications of new posts that are dated between May and August of 2014. It is not a mistake, just me trying to catch up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Final leg of the four month adventure.</span><br />
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We had breakfast with my cousin, then we had to say good-bye and head for home. We are planning to make these next few days travel days so we can get home by the weekend. As we left Arlington, which is north of Seattle, the traffic became very heavy going through the Seattle area, even though we took the freeway that went around the main part of town. Things cleared up the farther we got south of the Seattle metropolitan area, then we went into Portland, OR. It had just as much traffic as Seattle with stop and go for miles. It was only Wed., but we think there were some folks trying to get a jump on the Labor Day Holiday weekend, as well as the usual work day traffic. We spent Wed. night in Albany, OR at the Blue Ox RV Park. It was a very nice camp with concrete pads and a cute little seating area with the blue ox mascot and a nice shady area to sit and enjoy the surroundings.<br />
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On Thursday morning, we continued traveling south toward California. Driving on I-5, we heard a strange sound. We looked around and, just next to us, a tent trailer blew a tire as he was passing us on the left. We slowed down so he could get to the right side of the highway shoulder, then we stopped to check if anything had hit us and to help, if they needed it. It turned out that this was a younger couple with three girls age about 6 - 11. They were heading to Crater Lake, OR, from their home in Seattle, for the Labor Day Holiday. We assisted some while the dad of the family changed the tire. We had had blow outs on other trailers, so we knew what they were going through and they were glad to have our company on the busy highway.<br />
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Once we got on the road again, we followed this RV from Oregon and were trying to figure out what they were carrying on the back of their CRV. When we enlarged the photo, we could see that there was a name on the items. It turns out that these are some very expensive recumbent tricycles that are hanging on the bike rack bottom to bottom. They are by a company called Catrike, if you care to look it up online.<br />
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Everything was going very smoothly until just after we got into CA. You may know that California is in the third year of a drought and the forests are primed to burn because they are so dry. Well, there are several very large fires burning in Northern CA and southern Oregon right now. Here is what the sun looked like. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdBxkpCxweu7aFfZDfN9ddDyLZBUclhFX3S4C5XDkX2BO-JQesKFADuMEoNYyXkDm9s3lXt_wfyV7z1ZUMKxKRvkJyJXIXQiD_TEsWfmQU4GJYCZ5JjdToNRMtAzmfo8f9IM4KYI1i2ij/s1600/P1090161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdBxkpCxweu7aFfZDfN9ddDyLZBUclhFX3S4C5XDkX2BO-JQesKFADuMEoNYyXkDm9s3lXt_wfyV7z1ZUMKxKRvkJyJXIXQiD_TEsWfmQU4GJYCZ5JjdToNRMtAzmfo8f9IM4KYI1i2ij/s1600/P1090161.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOPfN3G6TdwdX3e4iiQ0-3lTZ-uiz7ygHNXZFyuq16sCf7cVeOXPZU1A4k8lOahbqdBV27VVKW2wZBUM_mz3WqBHS5WvKa84k34NLn88HYIXoSscICVKPHsJLsJP2wfRReCeWXaMUksId/s1600/P1090163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOPfN3G6TdwdX3e4iiQ0-3lTZ-uiz7ygHNXZFyuq16sCf7cVeOXPZU1A4k8lOahbqdBV27VVKW2wZBUM_mz3WqBHS5WvKa84k34NLn88HYIXoSscICVKPHsJLsJP2wfRReCeWXaMUksId/s1600/P1090163.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I did not crop or enhance or color the above photos on purpose. This is the color that the sun looked through the smoke. You didn't need sunglasses to look at it because the smoke from the many wild fires in the northern part of the state was so thick. A couple times it completely blocked the sun. While I was sorting through my many photos, I noticed that I could see what looked like sunspots, which really surprised me, since I do not have a real fancy camera. It is a Panasonic Lumix DMC-2525. Basically I use it as a point and shoot camera and adjust the automatic scene setting once in awhile. Anyway, I did some enhancing of the following photo and if you enlarge it, but not too much, and look closely near the center of the sun, there are two sunspots that can be seen as darker dots to the left and right just below the center. Moving the screen on the laptop back and forth to change the angle that you see the picture may help you see the dots more easily, also.<br />
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Now that you know where to look, they can also be seen in the first sun picture, above, but you have to look closely. Below, you can see how thick the smoke was that the sun was trying to shine through. That is smoke, not clouds.<br />
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It was so dark from the smoke in the sky, that traffic had to turn on their headlights and the street lights came on, too.<br />
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Eventually, we got past the plumes of smoke, but we could not see Mt. Shasta or Mt. Lassen, the two higher mountains that are usually snow capped. Mt. Shasta is reasonably close to I-5 and is easily seen on clear days. Mt. Lassen is farther away and not as high, but is also easily seen on a clear day. I told you that we are in a drought in California and Lake Shasta, a huge reservoir, is the lowest that we have ever seen it. They do have to let water out to fill the Sacramento River to provide the fish with water to swim and spawn in, but soon they will not even be able to do that.<br />
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We spent Thursday night at the Redding RV Park in Redding, CA. This campsite is located on a terraced hillside. They claim to have views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen, but there was no viewing in the distance, while we were there. The atmosphere had way too much smoke. I took this photo just before we closed up to leave on Fri. morning. My guess is that, if we could see one or both mountains, it would show up in the distance at the right of the picture.<br />
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The rest of the drive home was uneventful, except for heavy traffic near Sacramento and in the Bay area. It is, after all, getaway day for the Labor Day weekend. <br />
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We have been home for a few weeks now and I am trying to catch up with my blog. If you have been following us, there is more to come as I try to add new photos and info by back dating the posts to when they actually happened. Stay tuned for updates.<br />
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Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-71075406712185200092014-08-10T23:00:00.000-07:002014-08-17T01:32:32.186-07:00Beaver Creek, YT to Haines Junction, YT 8/10/14<span style="font-size: small;">Day 100 of our summer trip. The Alaska Highway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Lately, we have been noticing a lot of these white flowers, that seem to sparkle in the sunlight, along the roadside, and wondered what they were. When we looked at them, it turned out that they were the white fluffy seeds of dandelions. When we thought about it, there were a LOT of yellow dandelions along the side of the roads earlier in our travels, so it only makes sense that they all would go to seed at the same time. The photo on the right is of some fireweed that has bloomed all the way to the top. Now the pink pods will mature and open up revealing seeds with whitish, feathery tails that will look like puffs of smoke. Then the leaves will turn red to make it look like “fire”. We have learned that fireweed is one of the first wildflowers to sprout following a forest fire. For that reason and its appearance, it got the name of fireweed.</span><br />
<a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-T1Q12SZAvOU/U-_0baJiAZI/AAAAAAAADhU/MN5CLi2RocQ/P1080218_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="These fireweed flowers have bloomed to the top. The next phase is for the long red spiky pods to develop and open with a feathery white seed that gives the appearance of smoke." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T1Q12SZAvOU/U-_0baJiAZI/AAAAAAAADhU/MN5CLi2RocQ/P1080218_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="These fireweed flowers have bloomed to the top. The next phase is for the long red spiky pods to develop and open with a feathery white seed that gives the appearance of smoke." width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HrDRW0422Jk/U-_0YwOgfaI/AAAAAAAADg8/Pz16Eaj5jh8/s1600-h/P10802027.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="White flowers are actually the white seeds of the dandelions, look like snow" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ES9W1_L5_No/U-_0ZqvfA_I/AAAAAAAADhE/SwLWZJWBR40/P1080202_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="White flowers are actually the white seeds of the dandelions, look like snow" width="244" /></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rXpoYLqGDuc/U-_0apxOUyI/AAAAAAAADhM/mCWeLu5b53s/s1600-h/P10802187.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Kluane National Park was off to our right as we continued southeast along the Alaska Highway. The mountains and glaciers began to appear more often, too. The glaciers are a part of the icefield range that is the largest non-polar icefield in North America.</span><br />
<a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-zasjL39Ug2Y/U-_0d-sEr4I/AAAAAAAADh0/PILQbRo8bWA/P1080216_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A view of some of the icefield ranges of the Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, the largest non-polar icefield in North America" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zasjL39Ug2Y/U-_0d-sEr4I/AAAAAAAADh0/PILQbRo8bWA/P1080216_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="A view of some of the icefield ranges of the Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, the largest non-polar icefield in North America" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TnLOVu-3iBUieJkLAqF2RcGLxcZIVdZhTabItfViDgCrv87GjXKkOioO3KcF6RJ1vi1f-_u4_5X-nhmsddwEYPWffWPvFKwcC_EozpuIkWAgyoHunRrfQU39ucBWosAajhPzhpvqLJ6j/s1600-h/P10802073.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="A view of some of the icefield ranges of the Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, the largest non-polar icefield in North America" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TDV8-uGvjx0/U-_0cvOFSsI/AAAAAAAADhk/6eGvq3AP8Is/P1080207_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="A view of some of the icefield ranges of the Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, the largest non-polar icefield in North America" width="244" /></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qrN2NM8a-Ow/U-_0dfIEF-I/AAAAAAAADhs/9GeAIdPzf-w/s1600-h/P10802163.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here are a couple views of the Kluane River. The first is hard to see, but it is a light line at the base of the mountains that is easier to see if you enlarge the picture. It winds around and into the area that is shown in the second photo.</span><br />
<a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-pXcoMEkH8ro/U-_0k8P_QfI/AAAAAAAADiQ/5WZThGp91kI/P1080227_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Kluane River. Spruce trees topped with massive numbers of pine cones (brown)." border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pXcoMEkH8ro/U-_0k8P_QfI/AAAAAAAADiQ/5WZThGp91kI/P1080227_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kluane River. Spruce trees topped with massive numbers of pine cones (brown)." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zjdY9B7-VcU/U-_0ivzW4PI/AAAAAAAADh8/u3-tRvk9tvY/s1600-h/P10802213.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="A view of some of the icefield ranges of the Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, the largest non-polar icefield in North America. River at the base of the mountains." border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C9Vsc14Qdik/U-_0jT33alI/AAAAAAAADiE/2KOINLfbrSw/P1080221_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="A view of some of the icefield ranges of the Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, the largest non-polar icefield in North America. River at the base of the mountains." width="244" /></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QNKhlGr_tnc/U-_0kPKovxI/AAAAAAAADiM/xLmUTUrHN7Y/s1600-h/P10802273.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We went through a town that had the world’s largest gold pan, Burwash Landing,YT. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-36_Macn11yU/U-_0lfgiyJI/AAAAAAAADic/baTkF56HHe4/s1600-h/P10802313.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="World's largest gold pan." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bB04VsyjKYA/U-_0mKWJOEI/AAAAAAAADik/mlvCA9EF3iU/P1080231_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="World's largest gold pan." width="244" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Kluane River flows into the Kluane Lake, the largest lake in the Yukon. Here are views from two different locations. The second area is called the Horseshoe Bay.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0z4Y8hjghUU/U-_0oZ_hFzI/AAAAAAAADi8/AxdJsilcSIM/s1600-h/P10802373.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Kluane Lake, Horseshoe Bay" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9gRg1131yEs/U-_0o1tXphI/AAAAAAAADjA/3KAat4QCE5w/P1080237_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kluane Lake, Horseshoe Bay" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UoGYhj4XBxA/U-_0m5C-G6I/AAAAAAAADis/RmMRmV6hEPc/s1600-h/P10802323.jpg"><img alt="Kluane Lake" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-O7zTposdZfU/U-_0ng207LI/AAAAAAAADi0/aSK9UnfXctc/P1080232_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kluane Lake" width="244" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We drove on and suddenly the terrain changed to this interesting landscape. It is at the southern end of the Kluane National Park.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JkrFpI9gJyk/U-_0rlhbI3I/AAAAAAAADjc/Tytvfx7R7Yo/s1600-h/P10802413.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="All of a sudden, different terrain and landscape" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1ZtdfZU2O8Q/U-_0sGY2pVI/AAAAAAAADjg/sTkNYx5ElKM/P1080241_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="All of a sudden, different terrain and landscape" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oUFrLfB9tEw/U-_0qDuTnqI/AAAAAAAADjM/6CErWVCNY54/s1600-h/P10802393.jpg"><img alt="All of a sudden, different terrain and landscape" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-b7Egu1zh6Sg/U-_0qjJaQiI/AAAAAAAADjU/4zO09PJqeTo/P1080239_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="All of a sudden, different terrain and landscape" width="244" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This area is where the Tachal Dhal Visitor Center is located. We stopped by and saw these Dall Sheep way up high on the mountain near where the green areas, in the middle of the photo, disappear. They could be seen with the naked eye as white dots that really stood out against the green and the brown dirt of the mountain. However, I had to zoom in all of the way to get these tiny images that look like some sort of a four legged animal standing and eating or lying down resting. We got out our spotting scope and could magnify them a little more to see better, but that didn’t help with the photography. It was very cool to see the Dall Sheep in the wild. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tqJ3CXhXhy0/U-_0uKbm7tI/AAAAAAAADj8/b07lWjLKoYA/s1600-h/P10802433.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Dall Sheep at Tachal Dhal Visitor Centre" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9KufAFcPWcM/U-_0utBJ-XI/AAAAAAAADkA/E3MIDt2xLyY/P1080243_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Dall Sheep at Tachal Dhal Visitor Centre" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqaoA-DD9Ak-DxyLUSwbfCvl_QloqupD4Xbnf11G49tt3_uaC-oQ7HICQtUIoBzrpcHlbiBnTdBD9QURnZmojfd63eW2SGwuNoYIDencCY5rMBwzJXQFyrUw8vPvXov8fVdoyAiTkHTQF/s1600-h/P10802423.jpg"><img alt="Dall Sheep at Tachal Dhal Visitor Centre" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TvcvHEFmURA/U-_0tefrLDI/AAAAAAAADjw/s8JUsDXbUv8/P1080242_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Dall Sheep at Tachal Dhal Visitor Centre" width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We arrived in Haines Junction and stayed at the Kluane RV Park. This certainly is Kluane country! We had another nice setting for our camp.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-1M5uv96uGpR5WAlGAVUfhR8jji4Mq8f1CzaYqx3Ipy3vLkaEC2fD_irx9faazwh59V9VOVCSlfPIqYjsG9Za_clREuS-CCqyUKQDv3JsmRgKnbxWD9h8tc6DoSYLm1Tfk45NVh2NmRl/s1600-h/P10802623.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="View of the mountains from the Kluane RV Park" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BLA73latrRc/U-_0xJnIbDI/AAAAAAAADkk/e89L7G4LUg8/P1080262_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="View of the mountains from the Kluane RV Park" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTjXjg9BlJg__nHryT0hfxhMOBSqMT-LxWmzx-0FN3xqJEq-f7rRYwmtypUOqxi5TrmHx6DL5-YaDbjosW4ooZFr4FC-9vKJ2bl5v6LLExHyjuSHsCjnEouStdWY-wY_5I0n5_gZdllM5/s1600-h/P10802603.jpg"><img alt="Our campsite at Kluane RV Park" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NOi9QUY9i1c/U-_0v7UACYI/AAAAAAAADkQ/AAFelvnNZac/P1080260_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our campsite at Kluane RV Park" width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">After we got settled, we took a drive through town and took some pictures of some of the unique points of interest in the town. The Village Monument is “the Muffin” or "the Animal Cupcake”. It depicts the relationship that the community has with the mountains and the wildlife.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VOPRCM8nvWU/U-_0y0y22PI/AAAAAAAADk8/6LEwww0bl-Y/s1600-h/P10802513.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Haines Jct. Village Monument aka "the Muffin"or the Animal Cupcake"" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HQn_7b1u6q0/U-_0zUCtzfI/AAAAAAAADlA/AtXbDjG2a9E/P1080251_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The Haines Jct. Village Monument aka "the Muffin"or the Animal Cupcake"" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yPHEfZTRnsU/U-_0xvuOvcI/AAAAAAAADks/EM-wccRHquQ/s1600-h/P10802493.jpg"><img alt="The Haines Jct. Village Monument aka "the Muffin"or the Animal Cupcake"" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UrqRPEyFkFM/U-_0yM89GjI/AAAAAAAADkw/JnfmfyW7C9E/P1080249_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The Haines Jct. Village Monument aka "the Muffin"or the Animal Cupcake"" width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">There are</span> <span style="font-size: small;">two unique, historic churches in town. This is Our Lady of the Way Catholic Mission. It was built in 1954 by a catholic priest. Though resources were scarce, he was able to convert an old Quonset hut that the military had used during the building of the Alaska Highway. It has the distinction of being the most photographed church in the Yukon.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lL_EtfYLra0/U-_00NVPpdI/AAAAAAAADlM/CPworwPxNxQ/s1600-h/P10802553.jpg"><img alt="Our Lady of the Way Catholic Mission" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-an5_tMfE7A4/U-_01fKtQ2I/AAAAAAAADlU/iFO-pO8N0mc/P1080255_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our Lady of the Way Catholic Mission" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hvtoZULEqlM/U-_02ZMmZtI/AAAAAAAADlY/B_cwVGQDpXs/s1600-h/P10802573.jpg"><img alt="Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8TNOJcvkDsg/U-_028IXStI/AAAAAAAADlk/SaEtOLUJWI4/P1080257_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="165" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church" width="244" /></a><br />
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The other historic church is St. Christopher’s Anglican Church The original church was built right after the Alaska Highway was built. The current church was built in 1990 by volunteers and is unique because it is an eight-sided log cabin structure. It is a little difficult to detect that it has eight sides, through the foliage. <br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6CeM5mspjeE/U-_03psQp0I/AAAAAAAADls/TfwAIPmdJOw/s1600-h/P10802543.jpg"><img alt="St. Christopher's Anglican Church, an octagonal log building" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hq5OoaAPLvk/U-_04UrpuJI/AAAAAAAADlw/MuGx0duKLxk/P1080254_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="St. Christopher's Anglican Church, an octagonal log building" width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was an interesting day. </span><br />
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We are continuing to head in the direction of home. Today we crossed into Canada and back into the Pacific time zone. Just a few miles down the Alaska Highway from Delta Junction, we crossed over a bridge that is dedicated to the Black Veterans of the Army Corps of Engineers who helped build the Alaska Highway in the early 1940s. It is the Gerstel River Bridge. It is one of four bridges, of the thirteen that were built along the Alaska Highway, that used the "steel through truss-style" of construction.<br />
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We saw some beautiful scenery in Alaska, along the way.</div>
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Then we entered Canada, the Yukon Territories. </div>
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We drove to Beaver Creek and found a very nice campground, the Discovery Yukon Lodging Campground.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VtqbXFNkxhVPkm9YF94lXXLnMVN_vmWPa31cxrNNfxITEe_QRcXvOmxeeqBEDxn3NqZCu4SaPqBZLekTxA4AwOgN137P28UVrI9gQFd6VOSmSVcEzN14DZkS9M-deRfFCGJJk_KfQzYW/s1600/P1080196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VtqbXFNkxhVPkm9YF94lXXLnMVN_vmWPa31cxrNNfxITEe_QRcXvOmxeeqBEDxn3NqZCu4SaPqBZLekTxA4AwOgN137P28UVrI9gQFd6VOSmSVcEzN14DZkS9M-deRfFCGJJk_KfQzYW/s1600/P1080196.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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They are building a new boardwalk over a cattail filled pond just across from our site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtJ-s_7ixVGESOBisNFYUqnp3l58UZ7hPOuHx2Bo3wmSTmU9fr7aBWYSLFM_GkDqE61YYUkWzEEcHoEBghmbRMukbOzXI-4GcQshp_nNCh0f1Q4-iUOnhJj527dEoLOf0UT7JArhslR_Y/s1600/P1080197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtJ-s_7ixVGESOBisNFYUqnp3l58UZ7hPOuHx2Bo3wmSTmU9fr7aBWYSLFM_GkDqE61YYUkWzEEcHoEBghmbRMukbOzXI-4GcQshp_nNCh0f1Q4-iUOnhJj527dEoLOf0UT7JArhslR_Y/s1600/P1080197.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a view of the mountains that are the other direction from the previous picture. you can also glimpse them in the photo of our campsite.<br />
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The next leg of our trip is to Haines Junction, tomorrow. </div>
Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-83399477770491543592014-08-08T23:00:00.000-07:002014-08-12T01:11:39.962-07:00Fairbanks, AK to Delta Junction, AK 8/8/14<span style="font-size: medium;">Day 98 of our summer trip. Richardson Highway</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Today, we officially began to head toward home. We left Fairbanks, heading southeast on the Richardson Highway. We stopped at an interesting store about 30 miles south of Fairbanks. They sell all sorts of Alaskan items and gifts. It is called the Knotty Shop and I think you will see </span><span style="font-size: small;">why. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nMbpR87EOuw/U-nBATglqtI/AAAAAAAADZM/uApefb91TPY/s1600-h/P1080122%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Entrance to the Knotty Shop" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I2V7GTPYGbI/U-nBBEOF6oI/AAAAAAAADZU/RLJDghy4VI0/P1080122_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Entrance to the Knotty Shop" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E0MReeVt4jA/U-nA9_s0pLI/AAAAAAAADY8/CAfqBpXvzOU/s1600-h/P1080121%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="The Knotty Shop" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-V5dSuUHra9o/U-nA_V7Rs9I/AAAAAAAADZE/2FB4eQXU8Uw/P1080121_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The Knotty Shop" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">They sell things made from burls. Burls are quite common on the trees here, in Alaska, and are used as decorative construction as you see here. They are also made into bowls and other items. They also sell things made from antlers, ivory, fur, gourmet foods, and other Alaskan crafts and souvenirs. Here are some of the things that have been made with the burls and are on display in front of the store. First there are the signs that warn you to behave.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GgVBjbffUOA/U-nBDw2waWI/AAAAAAAADZs/4WtW6bbMTrs/s1600-h/P1080123%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Sign at the Knotty Shop" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kILdbmq6_Ws/U-nBEaL_CBI/AAAAAAAADZ0/W7OAPPNPStk/P1080123_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sign at the Knotty Shop" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJi3kVCfYOk-nI29WWPNBd7FwJ93NygQvDAmebqrszLki0hAnGJNI7HelkeHPydzgeySN5Cji4r_dpZXeqE7l_mZcRMNiM8PTKgv9B8JIozOZ5vyDtBbvK5y1GVNkSX8CEVXZq5a4G-yGc/s1600-h/P1080110%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="No Dog Pooping Allowed" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xKe0dwFfy7o/U-nBCgoZQ_I/AAAAAAAADZk/Im3IMtsJP5E/P1080110_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="No Dog Pooping Allowed" width="164" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There are several “animals” made from burls of all sizes that you can see in the grassy area. Also, I took a close up of some of them. That is “Alasquito”, a replica of the infamous huge mosquitos that Alaska is known for. We have been lucky in that we have not been attacked by hoards of mosquitos. Either we have been in areas that are less populated by mosquitos or they have been sprayed or maybe we didn’t taste good to them. Yes, we have been annoyed by mosquitos, but the insect repellant has done the trick to keep them at bay. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kPS6ZwIC0Dw/U-nBH4WW_yI/AAAAAAAADaM/MZlMm1AqR7s/s1600-h/P1080115%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="This is "Alasquito"" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t-k_PU3wGA8/U-nBIoBnWsI/AAAAAAAADaU/3FesSiJVhPk/P1080115_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is "Alasquito"" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xJeqYkonnxc/U-nBFcAptiI/AAAAAAAADZ8/o8w-1Z3MEdk/s1600-h/P1080127%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Some of the burl animals at the Knotty Shop" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JCS8ulKcuQg/U-nBGNoExKI/AAAAAAAADaE/8FAPKd2-SCg/P1080127_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Some of the burl animals at the Knotty Shop" width="244" /></a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Bumble really liked getting to play with the animals, even though the sign had said “don’t climb on the animals". She is a bee, so she just flew up and landed on the elk and on “Burl von Bruin”</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz8_qCnd7UVnHgWRcnB6M8v6MRzTN137P-xeqp7ITbGHwycuA9pgvSdYLrCGTL5YZwnlkGjWHy1JcbE8DtZe-scAtUBISLe6TJaORMPeBT-SYkPjkM1IC1XH16cUUdPJHHQfKFdj4Pzin/s1600-h/P1080117%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bumble got to ride " border="0" bruin="" burl="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A3Y1v8vqx-A/U-nBMpA9-JI/AAAAAAAADa0/HAiaFje2wgg/P1080117_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bumble got to ride " von="" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nqC6j4XxYmk/U-nBJs0Zr-I/AAAAAAAADac/Np1iXHwd4jY/s1600-h/P1080118%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Bumble riding an "elk" at the Knotty shop"" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Aak1UWYStBw/U-nBKS5POkI/AAAAAAAADak/5wXkGDGUXgM/P1080118_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bumble riding an "elk" at the Knotty shop"" width="164" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Shortly before we got to Delta Junction, we saw a 1200 ft. section of the Alaska pipeline that is exposed as it passes over the Tanana River between two towers and continues above ground for awhile. This is second longest span of 13 bridges along the 800 mile long pipeline.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tiUZiY6tAWo/U-nBP-GjMeI/AAAAAAAADbM/295QNGkHnGM/s1600-h/P1080128%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Trans-Alaska Pipeline above ground" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S_KaTef_8fM/U-nBQYAXwrI/AAAAAAAADbU/pW3aJbtxGr8/P1080128_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Trans-Alaska Pipeline above ground" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_aylzvWQmts/U-nBNohO0lI/AAAAAAAADa8/RRZMFMREeyg/s1600-h/P1080139%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Trans-Alaska Pipeline over the Tanana River." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BfHcyYZuapk/U-nBOmVLStI/AAAAAAAADbE/ePDsujbRGq0/P1080139_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Trans-Alaska Pipeline over the Tanana River." width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We found a nice campground in Delta Junction. It is the Alaska RV Ranch and it is a work in progress. There were only two other RVs there at the time we stayed. The couple who own the campground have been working on it and have gotten many things done, but the utilities are not up and running at the sites, so we had an inexpensive but nice dry camp at this place. What they have done, so far, is very cute. Here are a couple of buildings – the office with a patio in front and the gardening shed.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-evI7cJcKkbY/U-nBT65C06I/AAAAAAAADbs/6hv4BLG-xlY/s1600-h/P1080163%25255B11%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Gardening shed at the Alaska RV Ranch" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M73S1JLJZp0/U-nBUpH8XhI/AAAAAAAADb0/3CkZy_WLCoU/P1080163_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Gardening shed at the Alaska RV Ranch" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO6-mjs6ZfbVhfxH3nXEPr98Eyo6bXqVh2V5TvyaHSDO206_Sz0QhW4yVPL25JHVRKEgIYQngP6199_RmajUjoKTU2bZWXS8c5AasxwW8DTroWEfGq0mojniZrdIT6CZIdZrg37WsL2Gw/s1600-h/P1080159%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Alaska RV Raanch in Delta Jct., AK" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QXQSluAHOZI/U-nBS2ZOIAI/AAAAAAAADbk/1KtGNlL6ZnY/P1080159_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alaska RV Raanch in Delta Jct., AK" width="244" /></a> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There is an outhouse like no other that you have seen. It is heated and has music playing. It also had posted rules for use.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jCmZ1MPK7kE/U-nBZYR3LRI/AAAAAAAADcM/92XnSkzszr4/s1600-h/P1080168%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Outhouse rules" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T4fHTT49dfY/U-nBZ3U9O7I/AAAAAAAADcU/pqiT6qv-9KI/P1080168_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Outhouse rules" width="164" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDLWcHdwK6KlBUIu5382qqo1dhJjhp42MsqcyrN6gSAYu4K9JGrUMgBVWr0h_WovI5SfUctsDlX30lA0Sdh7bH1oXkNSTJI4O9ngDtc-CuqNnmi7KZtTrTfSJ-Ff_SEDhbrrql-hqpS_S/s1600-h/P1080165%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Outhouse is heated and has music playing" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pBjTZVxu1dU/U-nBYZ7kF5I/AAAAAAAADcA/VKeO-pLor5o/P1080165_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Outhouse is heated and has music playing" width="184" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I never found out if it was a working model or just for show to go along with the rest of the theme, but it sure was cute.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We took a drive through town after we got settled in camp and had dinner. Delta Junction, AK is where the Alaska Highway ends. There is a visitor center and a monument to the end, at 1422 miles. It was a very windy night, so the Alaskan flag was almost straight out.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EhEHa7gzoIM/U-nBchLaxoI/AAAAAAAADcs/gUxw0UBoQwM/s1600-h/P1080147%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="This is the Alaska Flag" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xoELi9VU6RQ/U-nBeNEVHzI/AAAAAAAADc0/xTTKp2ZkYzg/P1080147_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is the Alaska Flag" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYoers3BVcrTtzWh-l1cMs9L54zzePPBA7k5Ty96FmiMkB7KBeRA_lk_fyMAYqaeWistvcGIwu2sHg1p_yVQ7xGXtvFKaCjB5w0441V5fEhtbIlB2AO30jLRpjSDN0eTCmATyTRsVVh6-/s1600-h/P1080145%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Monument to the end of the Alaska Highway. Mile 1422." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cYzpOH8bo9U/U-nBbi8vDAI/AAAAAAAADck/3bBnPOVLAPQ/P1080145_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Monument to the end of the Alaska Highway. Mile 1422." width="164" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Also, at the visitor Center, were replicas of the Alaskan Mosquito. They were almost as big as the one at the Knotty Shop, so it must be true that they are huge!!! There was a thermometer painted on the visitor center that showed the 10 coldest temperatures in Delta Junction. On January 6, 1972, it was –72 degrees! </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Zpc5hNXVBaM/U-nBjqt3gRI/AAAAAAAADdM/P0m7XrBX_7Y/s1600-h/P1080155%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A chart of the ten lowest temps in Delta Jct., AK. Jan. 6, 1972 the temp was -72" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-M2c__DwlUnQ/U-nBkBfP5QI/AAAAAAAADdU/i8gN2K2Gvnk/P1080155_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="A chart of the ten lowest temps in Delta Jct., AK. Jan. 6, 1972 the temp was -72" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vgljAXPLe8w/U-nBgHNsz1I/AAAAAAAADc8/0nuwv2BuWx8/s1600-h/P1080152%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Some of the infamous Alaskan mosquitos. Very windy day, today." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Vapg896u1qc/U-nBg0_WxvI/AAAAAAAADdE/AkE7WK9YCiU/P1080152_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Some of the infamous Alaskan mosquitos. Very windy day, today." width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I saw this sign at the Visitor Center (you can sort of see it behind me in the photo above). I think it means “watch out for bison because they can cause very bad things to happen to your vehicle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TAr37RYBvXE/U-nBlSsV8wI/AAAAAAAADdc/I2rbD1gqijM/s1600-h/P1080148%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Sign seen at the Delta Junction Visitor Center" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1aBur9WKi3w/U-nBmJANX8I/AAAAAAAADdk/tJKcBV9oO2Q/P1080148_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sign seen at the Delta Junction Visitor Center" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Back at camp, this is our campsite and some sunset photos.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tRBBK4Lq5LQ/U-nBpQ4v7zI/AAAAAAAADd8/x3NQ5CbOHA4/s1600-h/P1080171%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1080171" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v9HSgSP4JVU/U-nBpyxLMTI/AAAAAAAADeE/Pa3QHSoBuBE/P1080171_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1080171" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uQhTxOrde1c/U-nBmxQjGPI/AAAAAAAADds/lnSw3snmwyg/s1600-h/P1080170%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Our campsite at Alaska RV Ranch" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ggXr4kHAxfM/U-nBnqhQTII/AAAAAAAADd0/-H8EDhlbxpo/P1080170_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our campsite at Alaska RV Ranch" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The first picture, below, is taken away from the sun. The sun is shining on the tops of the trees as the clouds above are beginning to get their sunset colors. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vK42piJMBys/U-nBsFpzZAI/AAAAAAAADec/lVudB8057TY/s1600-h/P1080176%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A little later, this time in the direction of the sunset.." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TsEkm4Yp3wM/U-nBs96wyCI/AAAAAAAADek/j5fFOc9uUTo/P1080176_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="A little later, this time in the direction of the sunset.." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--P_n1NloN08/U-nBq83aOvI/AAAAAAAADeM/lf3cLexEbZU/s1600-h/P1080173%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="The sun was shining on the trees while the clouds were taking on color from the sunset." border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bkYMZiuf_tQ/U-nBrerZNiI/AAAAAAAADeQ/kTx_jBiB79g/P1080173_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The sun was shining on the trees while the clouds were taking on color from the sunset." width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow we will continue our drive on the Alaska Highway, heading east instead of west, like when we came.</span><br />
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Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-48570271753865194242014-08-04T22:16:00.000-07:002014-08-23T23:04:07.811-07:00Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle 8/4/14<span style="font-size: medium;">Day 94 of our summer trip. Dalton Highway</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We got up early this morning to take a bus ride to the Artic circle. It was an all day adventure. A bus was scheduled to pick us up at the campground at <strong>5:45 AM!</strong> When it arrived at around 6:10, it took us to where we would board another bus for the trip. This was a great mid-sized tour bus with the driver as the guide who narrated the tour. In addition, the bus was equipped with many monitors on which our guide showed 5 movies that explained the history, geology, heritage, culture and wildlife of the area. Our trip started out on a very nice 4 lane divided highway. Soon, it was down to a 2 lane paved road with the undulations of the frost heaves as seen in the second photo. Notice that the white line at the edge of the road is wavy. This is caused by the freezing and thawing of the ground beneath the road. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DN5zssFameQ/U_lzbb1BQGI/AAAAAAAADqY/wquVIcGQ4Vc/s1600-h/P10706823.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Now we are on a two lane highway with frost heavews (rolling humps caused by the freezing and thawing." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kz74oycstSk/U_lzcUR2PNI/AAAAAAAADqg/jVAt9V6oYdg/P1070682_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Now we are on a two lane highway with frost heavews (rolling humps caused by the freezing and thawing." width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-p0Dx9Fe48yVd3puSAZHR5Gv0cXTM9M00IrJ9SREo5FN-0qChWwK9AgZYC9ou-j26FeKZFaz6cVhVhTIk5KJWIn8mdrjZF_EMKscEZP4V0rgakCYrk2-ZIw5z36DVeH8m_EkuXyTtDZs/s1600-h/P10706773.jpg"><img alt="We started out on a four lane highway" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O4f4Ww-0s2c/U_lzZum4z1I/AAAAAAAADqQ/Vw-DgGgpJMo/P1070677_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="We started out on a four lane highway" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Then the road became more curvy and hilly. Eventually, we were on dirt and gravel road. Frost Heaves and potholes were in all types of roads, but became more prominent the farther north we got away from the city. It actually wasn’t too bad in the bus, just bumps and shakes, but we were glad we weren’t doing the driving. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MM1LI5q6Rpk/U_lzf18Dx2I/AAAAAAAADq4/60QZQ-2CVi8/s1600-h/P10707303.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="We are now on dirt roads" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3cL93EuFaH8/U_lzheamnVI/AAAAAAAADrA/mnDnCbh707o/P1070730_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="We are now on dirt roads" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZsD_Qwu_-9s/U_lzdmpCwJI/AAAAAAAADqo/YS59RKWbhzg/s1600-h/P10706913.jpg"><img alt="The road is becoming more curvy and rough" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q2PW5ytUggI/U_lzeZ60PhI/AAAAAAAADqw/obn1ZYJCMiA/P1070691_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The road is becoming more curvy and rough" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Some scenery on the way to the Arctic Circle. The Sawtooth Mountains are in the background of the first picture and the silver line in the second photo is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline going up the hill.</span><br />
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<a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-_gLhAiWpRj0/U_lzl199YHI/AAAAAAAADrc/4IBi6ayw2Eo/P1070700_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The silver line is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_gLhAiWpRj0/U_lzl199YHI/AAAAAAAADrc/4IBi6ayw2Eo/P1070700_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The silver line is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline" width="244" /></a></div>
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IlHaEhv8G68/U_lzjNUKa_I/AAAAAAAADrI/oMLqGwvAlj0/s1600-h/P10706953.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="These are the sawtooth mountains in the distance" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IzTpuy3s_p4/U_lzj5qxLEI/AAAAAAAADrM/3eZs6FGksjo/P1070695_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="These are the sawtooth mountains in the distance" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><em></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><em>"There are some critters up ahead,” </em>said our driver. So we all got ready for some great wildlife photos. <em>“Oh, they are some dogs. They probably belong to one of the campers in the area.” </em>What a disappointment! They were cute dogs though. We never did see any large wild animals.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQVKYq5Kl6tt6k14jq8FOaBYHQNpIIqn81Cr-ogGaKbwjAe0vjJ9V0Rr-A7G2pkC-8Qg1gE-_BjhHUUeWMfZmjsgNL3ZXvdaNtM5QSPEbWGEvBTg400qINdOgDURE82rUcuzXjR-eoUmt/s1600-h/P10707023.jpg"><img alt=""There are some critters on the highway ahead," said the tour guide. "Oh, they are probably the pet s of thenearby campers." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NoCpUj7-Fe8/U_lzopB1vDI/AAAAAAAADrw/QEX3hwkZe2I/P1070702_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title=""There are some critters on the highway ahead," said the tour guide. "Oh, they are probably the pet s of thenearby campers." width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Our first stop was at a store called the Wildwood General Store in Joy, AK. There were hand made Willow branch chairs on the porch.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6AfouhSGGAg/U_lzs2P_7pI/AAAAAAAADsI/snTzB2Lfacg/s1600-h/P10707097.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Willow wood furnirure on porch of the Wildwood General store" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3ZPfLkukg_c/U_lzt78HFUI/AAAAAAAADsM/e6rscVmteJw/P1070709_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Willow wood furnirure on porch of the Wildwood General store" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VbuMEJ4OnV8/U_lzqZNl3rI/AAAAAAAADr4/0VAvIxB8faU/s1600-h/P10707037.jpg"><img alt="This is the Wildwood General Store along the Dalton Highway" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tO2XCwg8A6A/U_lzrJKdQ3I/AAAAAAAADsA/zL8U_VGfj9g/P1070703_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is the Wildwood General Store along the Dalton Highway" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As we went inside, there were some interesting signs. First is warning that there are mosquitoes big enough to carry a person away. You can see the rest of the signs on the door. The map drawing also refers to the local mosquitos.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SrlNoAlKMWw/U_lzxI_YoLI/AAAAAAAADso/d_rn6vg5bQg/s1600-h/P10707113.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="This map was inside the Wildwood General Store We liked the saying about the mosquito. Joy is the name of the community," border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZypvDrCd48A/U_lzyY-a96I/AAAAAAAADss/Dxf9LIt5ZvI/P1070711_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This map was inside the Wildwood General Store We liked the saying about the mosquito. Joy is the name of the community," width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOGl1vGblBGN5Igug8aKmt_y4h2bdvo6IYk8enx42hv-CIPKS7IrxIVfqe43UWy84KIkneMglIB9XNPxQeTcClFw6tJRQfE_mfGeEU7r02aGxukLZ86SL81Oaf9G5UUQxfpRl_Kp17Uzv/s1600-h/P10707087.jpg"><img alt="Interesting signs on the door of the Wildwood General Store" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1mCoLeqYsTo/U_lzvxIgxyI/AAAAAAAADsc/LMseSoNU8MA/P1070708_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Interesting signs on the door of the Wildwood General Store" width="244" /></a> <span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This was also our first potty break stop. Here are the beautiful restrooms that were available. Men’s on the left and women’s on the right I know, the men’s is much more decorative that the women’s. Both were glorified outhouses and very clean..</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-et_VDfShSHY/U_lz3jazorI/AAAAAAAADtI/GYJDjDPr4no/s1600-h/P10707073.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Women's outhouse at the Wildwood General Store" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GQXdgZ6vmLY/U_lz4s83A2I/AAAAAAAADtQ/DNKYeUQUV7I/P1070707_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Women's outhouse at the Wildwood General Store" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-S8FFFISgQ6U/U_lz0UftmKI/AAAAAAAADs4/SZPJKofcO0Q/s1600-h/P10707063.jpg"><img alt="Men's outhouse at the Wildwood General Store." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z1KgXNYweYU/U_lz1nDd3VI/AAAAAAAADtA/0JJ3fS1zRKc/P1070706_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Men's outhouse at the Wildwood General Store." width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Dalton Highway is called the “haul road” because it is the only road to the Arctic communities and Prudhoe Bay. It is the road that the Ice R</span><span style="font-size: small;">oad T</span><span style="font-size: small;">ruckers use to take all of the supplies to the outreaching areas in winter. Then there are the tours and private cars that use it Also, it is the highway that was used to build and is used to service the Trans-Alaska (Alyeska) Pipeline. Here is one of the trucks now. The gravel causes a lot of dust when traffic runs on it. It gets a lot of use, but it is still a rugged road. The winters cause a lot of the damage from the freezing, then when spring comes, the daytime thawing and refreezing at night causing frost heaves and pot holes to form. Road construction, repair and general fixing is going on all of the time up here in the far north.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J9xEzafQWVs/U_lz8Iodx4I/AAAAAAAADto/2KhBYFxk6kg/s1600-h/P10707413.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="One of the big rigs on the "Haul Road"" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RfMmSrernA0/U_lz8xzIVKI/AAAAAAAADts/BUYLhdSQgMQ/P1070741_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="One of the big rigs on the "Haul Road"" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VLe60AKNXw8/U_lz6FBtyjI/AAAAAAAADtY/Sb9eOZ4JfRs/s1600-h/P10707147.jpg"><img alt="Lots of truck traffic on the Dalton Hwy, AKA the Haul Road." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e3tzsBl2hJM/U_lz6yx8E-I/AAAAAAAADtg/olJcEOaUMT0/P1070714_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Lots of truck traffic on the Dalton Hwy, AKA the Haul Road." width="165" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We finally are on the Dalton Highway. The roads that we have been on so far were leading up to this one. I thought that this was a very pretty sign and did a close-up of the state that shows the Dalton Highway as a blue line. We are not going all of the way to the end of it, only to the Arctic Circle. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--ErbF37DsXs/U_l0ALhKMXI/AAAAAAAADuI/NVYfaQI4uR8/s1600-h/P10707177.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The blue line is the Dalton Hwy. We went only from Fairbanks to the Artic Circle." border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k7g1ArSrfcg/U_l0Awnd2_I/AAAAAAAADuQ/Mo9llFzyuVM/P1070717_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The blue line is the Dalton Hwy. We went only from Fairbanks to the Artic Circle." width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfPcgRj0L-fg6OfqHV81IayjcheUUifIMmxxEkzr-oiHBZQocA_hkvEOconfDfDXdaPWGv69up56IbDE54luFzRiEr-ZevUK64dgBjUKi3M7XDwSOVAkLDUnKajr4EhyG6zK7oYTEiaD2/s1600-h/P10707153.jpg"><img alt="P1070715" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cxSNbu0-Hn4/U_lz-zYac7I/AAAAAAAADt8/qpuh497ztBM/P1070715_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1070715" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Alaska pipeline and the road follow each other fairly closely. Here they go across the country, off into the distance, almost parallel to each other. The pipeline zig-zags to give it room to expand and contract as needed, without compromising its integrity.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qccKzSFl6a0/U_l0CRJlvRI/AAAAAAAADuY/1qOM0-i6sdo/s1600-h/P1070744%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="The road and the pipeline travel through the countryside" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aM5OkFLGGLI/U_l0DODXB6I/AAAAAAAADuc/bUFhDnjqbV8/P1070744_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The road and the pipeline travel through the countryside" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There was an above ground run of the pipeline where we stopped. We walked right up to it and our guide told us about what we were seeing. The actual oil carrying pipe is encased in a thick insulation and is wrapped in steel . You can sort of see the pipe (black) inside the hole in the first picture. That whole assembly is attached to runners that slide on the cross bar of the “H” shaped frame, so that it can slide a little, if needed, with weather changes and earthquakes.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iEa3EkTcPyg/U_l0HfEi3sI/AAAAAAAADu4/cesI291qcWI/s1600-h/P10707267.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Skids that the pipeline sits on" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-taSpWtGK-ME/U_l0IdKtvLI/AAAAAAAADu8/Ux5uusOQn0M/P1070726_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Skids that the pipeline sits on" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vYHDcM4cNT0/U_l0EelgQ0I/AAAAAAAADuo/ZPByuFcddYk/s1600-h/P10707287.jpg"><img alt="That black spot is the actual pipe inside the insulating fiberglass and aluminum wrap." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aGsJ3kz57vA/U_l0FraTriI/AAAAAAAADuw/h026AUu3NrI/P1070728_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="That black spot is the actual pipe inside the insulating fiberglass and aluminum wrap." width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">You can see in the following photo what it looks like for a distance. The “H” frame is very strong, to keep the pipe from falling off. We learned that the oil coming directly from the ground is very hot. I did not think about that before, but that is another reason for the insulation. You do not want the heat from the oil to cause the permafrost to melt, because it would cause instability and threaten to </span><span style="font-size: small;">collapse of the pipeline. Protecting the environment and the pipeline are of utmost importance to the whole system. The white pieces above the brown poles are radiators to cool the oil as it travels through the pipe. As we crossed the Yukon River, the pipeline went right along with us in the cage looking area at the side of the bridge.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zECKQmldGto/U_l0MVAlx1I/AAAAAAAADvY/7rFBggxvdss/s1600-h/P10707367.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The pipeline is in the cage at the side of the road while it crosses the Yukon River" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hzp-353ypqU/U_l0NNTe7YI/AAAAAAAADvg/OApXTQkdme4/P1070736_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The pipeline is in the cage at the side of the road while it crosses the Yukon River" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3NXslCbaw2g/U_l0Jp51KBI/AAAAAAAADvI/I9eufoTZAQs/s1600-h/P107072311.jpg"><img alt="Trans-Alaska Pipeline along the Dalton highway" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KH1Bgeal8sA/U_l0K9FTaTI/AAAAAAAADvM/C9GKC6dDfCg/P1070723_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Trans-Alaska Pipeline along the Dalton highway" width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Above, I mentioned that road construction is an ongoing project in Alaska in general, especially in the far north. Our tour bus couldn’t avoid it either. We got stopped and had to follow the pilot car through the construction area. There are areas where the pipeline goes underground, if the ground is stable enough and there is no problem with permafrost melting. You can see the pipeline emerging from underground and continuing up hill in the upper left of the first picture.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4fw99Eh-Z7C3mT8oc-CRH69nikPBIQbLlg2OmITDoSLNtRDL7m_sQuY_K4NBM027Zxaj0BN8Uk-uHSoVQrXoHedw_OQvolxwDFvXBThYN_agCIjNDwHUaO1VkLYZ0B9sa0-WDAAXDsXa/s1600-h/P1070771%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Tour bus following the pilot car." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rv_gt13runY/U_l0Sjm52UI/AAAAAAAADwA/EoRp5YhDUZc/P1070771_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Tour bus following the pilot car." width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--HprNvUj4ZU/U_l0O6HmajI/AAAAAAAADvo/0S2JLFcuI1o/s1600-h/P1070763%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Even the tour bus gets stopped by road construction. Pipeline zig zags up the hill and off to the left" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VWJ6rLtP8yQ/U_l0QFltNPI/AAAAAAAADvw/24Rzq2LL0Zs/P1070763_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Even the tour bus gets stopped by road construction. Pipeline zig zags up the hill and off to the left" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We finally made it to the Arctic Circle. Our guide brought the “official Arctic Circle” and carefully placed it in the “exact spot” where the Arctic Circle boundary was.</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Earl and I each crossed over the Arctic Circle, as you can see.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1kFRxOXDLtk/U_l0YssLkkI/AAAAAAAADwY/hSjZw6vwOcw/s1600-h/P1070781%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Fran crosses the Arctic Circle" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XMoV7tDg1bY/U_l0aNfnWII/AAAAAAAADwg/6ODip1pId_U/P1070781_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Fran crosses the Arctic Circle" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iaEk5iW1QD4/U_l0U8VNjfI/AAAAAAAADwI/AkeVllV9css/s1600-h/P1070780%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Earl crosses the Arctic Circle" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7ICAyOzY8RM/U_l0W0R5qfI/AAAAAAAADwQ/Wpg-mP7lU6Y/P1070780_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Earl crosses the Arctic Circle" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">And to prove it, here are our certificates.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK9EIn2M6qa5IDPKwy37JBcdCDmAwjKM_pa7bDG_yiOiB7bPkQ_Lx_8Gwo80ASRrF3ir7wLY5Ei31zWtwsCPHurcyY4S2sFJwqQ7d0Hw0X51iKzkeFUmwUomVMz9MjY03-DnMo6X_QCH1/s1600-h/P1070800%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="P1070800" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZLM4vtAN_E0/U_l0fhRHQCI/AAAAAAAADxA/0J6h2JkDip8/P1070800_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1070800" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X1BLnd41Myc/U_l0b6zUMEI/AAAAAAAADwo/wE9NpyL2NSg/s1600-h/P1070801%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1070801" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PcNLJT9b_FU/U_l0c3ECvII/AAAAAAAADww/CBrn1cO3O_M/P1070801_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1070801" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">On the way back to Fairbanks, we made a stop at Finger Rock. It is a tor, or a boulder of granite that formed 110 million years ago. Over time, water seeped through the ground and the freezing and thawing caused lighter rocks to be washed away, leaving these large granite tors exposed. Finger rock is about 40 feet high, one of the largest in this area. The rocks to the right are also in the park where Finger Rock is located. There is a geocache up a trail to the top. A faint rainbow, in the picture on the right, shows that there is rain in the distance. We had rain later on the way home. It was nice that it waited for us to be able to see all of the sights.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LdATNmQNKKY/U_l0j87wFsI/AAAAAAAADxY/G7d2-1dlioE/s1600-h/P1070753%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A small rainbow behind the hill. A trail leads to the top of the hill and an interpretive sign." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-v2e1zGwWpGs/U_l0kyWOKJI/AAAAAAAADxg/BG--WmjUgO8/P1070753_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="A small rainbow behind the hill. A trail leads to the top of the hill and an interpretive sign." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T6eN8blN4_U/U_l0hCejEwI/AAAAAAAADxI/yYsgqusVMe0/s1600-h/P1070747%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Finger Rock" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hmWvJV7zhK4/U_l0h6ydlvI/AAAAAAAADxQ/o9xub84Sgqc/P1070747_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Finger Rock" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We had dinner at the Yukon River Camp, on the way back to town. It is a work camp for the construction workers in this remote area. The food was really good. I even had homemade rhubarb pie for dessert. It was delicious. The Bridge is the same one that I showed earlier over the Yukon River, just the other side,</span> and it is not far from the building. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCB3w3MDtoR2p9AvBZESrL5eGx8KaSiCdFOrgqaD6YD1k8Vct1I7lr32q_dSHlHR8p0YRHjGQH9YeLka52c6xttcOLH9eSMgW3aUdfJjwe50J2o1uGvA7Ixezm5uV0kHDEywNZ6w9pjb0/s1600-h/P1070790%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Yukon River Bridge" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K2nNKO9uwV8/U_l0pT1Qr_I/AAAAAAAADyA/KeZudu1wVgI/P1070790_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yukon River Bridge" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SFSSCvqvl9g/U_l0mW_d0eI/AAAAAAAADxo/mxUPH9NQm9Y/s1600-h/P1070740%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="This is where we had dinner" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zrmFwNJq20k/U_l0nOrPYAI/AAAAAAAADxs/jdjuxWNUJeA/P1070740_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is where we had dinner" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We got back to our trailer about 10:30 PM. It was a very long day, but very educational. Plus, we have been to the Arctic Circle.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh6.ggpht.com%2F-_gLhAiWpRj0%2FU_lzl199YHI%2FAAAAAAAADrc%2F4IBi6ayw2Eo%2FP1070700_thumb.jpg%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh6.ggpht.com/-_gLhAiWpRj0/U_lzl199YHI/AAAAAAAADrc/4IBi6ayw2Eo/P1070700_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" -->Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-78805193761273151892014-08-01T23:00:00.001-07:002014-08-17T01:02:29.197-07:00Denali National Park 8/1/14<span style="font-size: medium;">Day 91 of our summer trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Today is Earl’s birthday. It is cloudy and rainy. There is fog and the clouds are hiding the tall mountains. We are going to Denali National Park to see if the weather is any different 30 miles away from where our camp is. No, it is still drizzling and there are clouds and fog, just like at camp, here at the entrance of the park.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50VEIFfXHbKc3u_PGGi1PY2CtLLev1QNC48vshKmH4ZHlPqwMfz9Qc2x39YDNiFT7zhztnApTBav0yQxeQdTghIokyUNtg5MQl_XLXYYf9ZWeHGgKjzmOUbZsP5iAy8u1rkJscF2rTv-U/s1600-h/P10705653.jpg"><img alt="P1070565" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QEQD5Gc8whg/U-_25xt4wWI/AAAAAAAADmI/nUVpZMxwwnY/P1070565_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1070565" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We went to the visitor center where we watched some movies about Denali and looked at the displays that were there. The first view of the topographical rendition of the Alaska Range and Mt. McKinley is the southern side that we had been taking photos of two and three days ago. The second view of the model shows a red line where the park road is. There is a spotlight on Mt. McKinley. We will be viewing it from the opposite side from which we saw it before, if we can see it at all. Private vehicles are allowed on the first 15 miles, only. If you want <span style="font-size: small;">to go further, you must take a park bus. </span></span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TbNkWF0F-Bw/U-_28NZNHyI/AAAAAAAADmg/JUZYZw_azc4/s1600-h/P10705703.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The view that we would have seen from the visitor center and along the park road (red line)" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-W5ZmeC18IPY/U-_28k65QwI/AAAAAAAADmk/h_B1iY3ch2c/P1070570_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The view that we would have seen from the visitor center and along the park road (red line)" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o_xNUAWKiCE/U-_26hbx4II/AAAAAAAADmQ/a9D_CYnvLXA/s1600-h/P10705673.jpg"><img alt="This is the direction that we saw Mt. McKinley, the south side, in this 3-D topographical rendition of the park" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--dnKkw-Wc5c/U-_27UZpYnI/AAAAAAAADmY/8P-S4NBc5YA/P1070567_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is the direction that we saw Mt. McKinley, the south side, in this 3-D topographical rendition of the park" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There were also dioramas of the forest animals with all sorts of interactive learning opportunities in the visitor center.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1ypxP-ClA0A2JW1hH0OvYWAorfYQPBL3GeFatMah54QAI-M5PSwBgjV5xN0mJHmbTSn64iRP-FSjA5dn8f8cUaIB-wS_HbTlmX7hzCWKIfd5mDAqLkLrr01qFAOIDr5_Yd_YRBsx_tLT/s1600-h/P10705727.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Some of the informational displays inside the visitor center" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_auZ4zmMgKE/U-_2-3YjImI/AAAAAAAADnI/l9Tj62THzGI/P1070572_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Some of the informational displays inside the visitor center" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4BWR67sA3Ks/U-_29O4B1HI/AAAAAAAADmw/aI-_t0o3X94/s1600-h/P10705717.jpg"><img alt="Some of the informational displays inside the visitor center" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tLgLnVpaiZE/U-_294Z9NQI/AAAAAAAADm4/zX1AbJvHEac/P1070571_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Some of the informational displays inside the visitor center" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We decided to drive the road as far as we could. Maybe we would see some wild animals, we thought. Well, we didn’t see any animals. I guess they all were home, out of the rain. There were some nice views though. I think it is so interesting that the fog develops in such a straight line at that certain altitude.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1nJnOuR1QBA/U-_3EUFd9uI/AAAAAAAADng/Y4pb4pSLAOU/s1600-h/P10705853.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Clouds form such a straight layer." border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zvkBdelOSgc/U-_3EwiVP3I/AAAAAAAADno/oJBgXxaDorU/P1070585_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Clouds form such a straight layer." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wOcqdGnhhoo/U-_2_vKPktI/AAAAAAAADnQ/ECRJReH1Khw/s1600-h/P10705777.jpg"><img alt="Maybe it is in that direction" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dNIr-SYruFk/U-_3AMfp7PI/AAAAAAAADnY/7BwOC989kk8/P1070577_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Maybe it is in that direction" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In our pursuit of Mt. McKinley, I think that I found out where it is supposed to be seen, if it was a clear day. There was a view point with a picture that pointed out and labeled the different mountain peaks. I could barely make it out with my zoomed in camera lens, but I think I matched the diagram pretty good, minus Mt. McKinley. I think that the peak in the center is Cathedral Mt. and the dark area to the left is the same as the dark area to the left in the labeled picture. Of course, Mt. McKinley is the bright white peak in the diagram. What do you think?</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Co73dpYe8L8/U-_3GoA2arI/AAAAAAAADoA/9gEhWmJAtlE/s1600-h/P10705813.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="No, I think this is the direction that we would have seen Mt. McKinley, if it was a clear day like we had before." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Zs1FYW6PXzU/U-_3HTkA4QI/AAAAAAAADoI/qvM-LLhtEnM/P1070581_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="No, I think this is the direction that we would have seen Mt. McKinley, if it was a clear day like we had before." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AScY0a9GRI0/U-_3Fly1m6I/AAAAAAAADnw/3KnQzKy3vzc/s1600-h/P10705803.jpg"><img alt="P1070580" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Y5wwBS8cba4/U-_3GNOh-HI/AAAAAAAADn0/ZX1Ucx7MLeU/P1070580_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1070580" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The railroad has a station located in the Denali Nat. Park. It is located near the visitor center. While we were returning from the 15 mile drive, we saw the railroad trestle over the Nenana River. We went to the station and the train was just about to leave.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XCm-GpQeyp4/U-_3JFsW0LI/AAAAAAAADoc/8x9l0KmY5Wc/s1600-h/P10705893.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Train leaving the Denali Park Station" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ht_QE52cPvE/U-_3JncrwPI/AAAAAAAADoo/RQ7aQtqfNNc/P1070589_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Train leaving the Denali Park Station" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s-fdcHTMnzM/U-_3H3d_DII/AAAAAAAADoQ/rsJHVp-CdTo/s1600-h/P10705873.jpg"><img alt="Railroad trestle over the Nenana River leading to the Denali Park RR Station" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_oCRYRkF8yo/U-_3IuEljcI/AAAAAAAADoY/8ubcXPWDoZ0/P1070587_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="165" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Railroad trestle over the Nenana River leading to the Denali Park RR Station" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There are several visitor centers in Denali. We went to the one where people sign up for adventure tours or back country trekking, etc. We watched another movie there. They had this amazing stained glass window.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FzaiKhRFJbE/U-_3KU4gNDI/AAAAAAAADow/YtH5ce0jLPQ/s1600-h/P10705923.jpg"><img alt="Stained Glass window in another visitor center in Denali National Park" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_xbyGEUcjQE/U-_3LFHEIBI/AAAAAAAADo4/5zjeXbDwWPA/P1070592_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Stained Glass window in another visitor center in Denali National Park" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I did a close up of each half so the details showed up better. Even the shadows on the mountain are in the shape of animals, or maybe my imagination is running wild.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pZnAXGpGKxs/U-_3NGW23BI/AAAAAAAADpQ/WEYBy8mgmLg/s1600-h/P10705943.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Right side of window" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Lk6oFJhAQWI/U-_3NqSqIXI/AAAAAAAADpY/xON7HrO6ijg/P1070594_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Right side of window" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-72fd8u9e5nA/U-_3L4QeBFI/AAAAAAAADpA/x88vCanNu30/s1600-h/P10705963.jpg"><img alt="Left side of window" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sAdLrOL34HA/U-_3MYeXWdI/AAAAAAAADpI/yEfHLL_NHkk/P1070596_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Left side of window" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We had a nice day at the park even though the weather wasn’t the best. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow we will be going to Fairbanks.</span><br />
<br />
Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-75331645624853781682014-08-01T23:00:00.000-07:002014-08-17T00:24:17.888-07:00Talkeetna, AK to Cantwell, AK 7/31/14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Day 90 of our summer trip.</span> </div>
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We did not travel far today. For the past two days, we have had beautiful clear skies and fantastic views of Mt. McKinley. It is said that only 30% of all visitors to Alaska get to see the mountain during their visit. We feel very privileged to have had two great days. Today is the more usual view of the mountain and similar to what we saw when we were in Alaska on our cruisetour with Princess Cruise Line several years ago. We are sure that we are looking in the right direction, because we took these photos from the same general area that we took yesterday's clear view photos. <br />
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Now, we have made many twists and turns and have made our way farther north. We don't even know if we are looking in the right direction to see Mt. McKinley. What we do know is that no matter which direction we look, there are low hanging clouds that obscure the views of any high mountains that are out there.<br />
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The fireweed is so beautiful and plentiful right now, so I just had to include it in today's post. We took these photos right before we left our campsite in Talkeetna. Notice the bee on the first photo.<br />
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We found a nice RV park, the Cantwell RV Park, in Cantwell, AK. Cantwell is located about 25 - 30 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park. Here is where we will stay for the next two nights. This is definitely a seasonal campground. It has electricity and water at the site and a dump station. Interestingly, the water is supplied to each site in PVC piping laid on the ground, so that it can be picked up at the end of the tourist season and there is no worry about frozen, broken pipes. That is what is inside the orange pipes on the ground. It works fine.</div>
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There are animals at the RV Park. They are the most wild animals that we have seen for quite awhile - a moose, a bear, and a wolf. The plants have sort of hidden the bear, but he was there.<br />
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After we got settled in our campsite, we went to get some milk. We wanted fat free milk, but all we could find at the store was 2%, so we decided to get 1/2 gallon to last until we got to a bigger store. It was different and cost $6.99/half gallon. The expiration date was 9/18/14!!! We thought maybe they had made a mistake at the dairy, but all of that brand had the same date. We looked and looked to see what was different about this milk but we couldn't figure it out. Since I am writing this post after the actual time that it happened then back dating it, I can tell you that we did finally figure out what the difference was. We went into a supermarket and saw that the same brand of milk had a regular milk dated to expire in a couple weeks and an "ultra-pasteurized" version that cost much more. Since the convenience store that we had gone to did not have any other options available when we were there, we didn't have much choice and couldn't compare. You always learn something. The milk tasted the same as usual and was gone well before the expiration date. <br />
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Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-20916632169783326322014-07-30T23:30:00.000-07:002014-08-01T13:34:50.256-07:00Houston, AK to Talkeetna, AK 7/30/14<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Day 89 of our summer trip. Parks Highway and Talkeetna Spur</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Today we moved to Talkeetna. We have been blessed with spectacular views of Mt. McKinley for two days. They say only 30% of those who visit Alaska get to see the mountain because it is generally shrouded in cloud cover. We can attest to that. When we were here several years ago on a Princes cruisetour, we did not see it or even have any idea of where to look because all we saw were clouds. As we drove today, we first saw the mountain at about 12:30 PM at a view point in Willow, AK (left), then again about an hour later as we were continuing along the Talkeetna Spur off the Parks Highway. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52UveXRKocDuv6AxUBkymFiw0nYLB_unw_4sNGUW5pLa4iq07JtV5nqWQRGdTi0atplVH4o85QgbNONJsxVzY7xlXorcGgS4b2MpAN4VBxEyM0hMd5LavVN9yYjfpPcu7kNfG1ngPYJwi/s1600-h/P10704913.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Mt. McKinley from the Parks Highway" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PB-rXKggM6k/U9oCrg7iu7I/AAAAAAAADNk/Da5oC3N26M0/P1070491_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mt. McKinley from the Parks Highway" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lTX-GC32n3Y/U9oCpIPQAZI/AAAAAAAADNM/3xg52R5QVWg/s1600-h/P10704883.jpg"><img alt="Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park from Willow, AK view point" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f7akbl6Iamo/U9oCqCkcqiI/AAAAAAAADNU/tCbjPwQxPAw/P1070488_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park from Willow, AK view point" width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We found a really nice camp ground, the Talkeetna Boat Launch and RV Park. It is an Alaska Fish and Game area. When we arrived, there was only one other RV here. We aren’t sure why, but when I made a reservation for the next two nights somewhere else, the person that I talked with hinted that things were beginning to slow down. Could the travel season be ending here already? It is hard to believe, with such nice weather. It was in the mid 70’s today. Here is where we are staying.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sshneTd-9GQ/U9oCuZqONnI/AAAAAAAADN8/IwPAe6E0YOg/s1600-h/P10704943.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Our campsite at Talkeetna RV Park and Boat Launch" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EQuxJPGpaAo/U9oCvC1DZNI/AAAAAAAADOE/7wqHflR7PkQ/P1070494_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our campsite at Talkeetna RV Park and Boat Launch" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-r8RLl2obuEw/U9oCsrBtYLI/AAAAAAAADNs/xWQKuR2eqew/s1600-h/P10704923.jpg"><img alt="Our campsite at Talkeetna RV Park and Boat Launch" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TS_XXMKeluA/U9oCtUuVdbI/AAAAAAAADN0/rLDoFS7U_38/P1070492_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our campsite at Talkeetna RV Park and Boat Launch" width="244" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We had another short drive today, only 56 miles, but it took almost 1 1/2 hours to drive. Well, I guess we stayed 20 or 25 minutes at the view point, taking pictures and admiring the clear view of the entire Alaska Range from Willow. After we got our camp set up and ate some lunch, we drove to the Talkeetna View point for more mountain photos. Here’s a better view of some of the mountains in the Alaska Range. Mt. McKinley is to the right of the first picture and would be left of what you can see in the second one.</span><br />
<a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Qp-rkQRS-M/U9oCyBzEpeI/AAAAAAAADOk/oKDPTx2RviI/P1070501_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Alaska range to the right of Mt. McKinley" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Qp-rkQRS-M/U9oCyBzEpeI/AAAAAAAADOk/oKDPTx2RviI/P1070501_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alaska range to the right of Mt. McKinley" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0S4AKe6LCT8/U9oCv7RB22I/AAAAAAAADOM/kYSTNuqI9Pg/s1600-h/P10705023.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Mt. McKinley (right) from Talkeetna view point" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OHaU_AlatwI/U9oCwm5s_UI/AAAAAAAADOU/e7D02S_OTes/P1070502_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mt. McKinley (right) from Talkeetna view point" width="244" /></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WBOvwa2pqXw/U9oCxYufyEI/AAAAAAAADOc/Nj_L3DhV7YI/s1600-h/P10705013.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We took one of </span><a href="http://www.mahaysriverboat.com/denalialaska-mahay.com/mjs.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Mehay’s Jet Boat Tours</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> on the Susitna river. It was very interesting. Here are some highlights. Hover over the photo to get an explanation.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiEmiA-LBnQluwS-Xy_SS2FiBpYnU3WPviheQ0lNb4SH94jP3rPzcHP-1YTNRjyt85Cm-3ixdjZJlrmq41J0Zv1uL2sCH6niH_PObjXv4PXp7-dLRK_CqaoQt-BOUqRMr8-XHxcHyt8OU/s1600-h/P10705203.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Inside of tour boat" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MmHrkxlJLPE/U9oC1TABH8I/AAAAAAAADPE/T46Fif1WOxI/P1070520_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Inside of tour boat" width="244" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ybB-LqeM4mY/U9oCzErGl6I/AAAAAAAADOs/r3GyvC5RU3o/s1600-h/P10705293.jpg"><img alt="Our tour jetboat at the hiking spot" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_klbPhNA9gY/U9oCz6hLjpI/AAAAAAAADO0/Rzl5ZGIUuOU/P1070529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our tour jetboat at the hiking spot" width="244" /></a></span><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VMsssz8wKBo/U9oC4S7uQmI/AAAAAAAADPc/Ri2WtXuUBBQ/s1600-h/P10705273.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Beaver lodge" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i09a0ymZ5NI/U9oC5SuPO8I/AAAAAAAADPk/TGu7KHp3gko/P1070527_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Beaver lodge" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVL2Lm47RjMB2vSJx3b-L9mGxbslVX-a0Hau3e3DBpQT9xuiE_2OdJIx1bbpqAFOwn2uM7-DMrFOZcJO31Wt1tuZBjyXO2KNVhq40LaB-c_eUifI1xZok2Aq7axzxcXJIk6mteREYZDYP/s1600-h/P10705227.jpg"><img alt="Beavers have been here" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Iah2AS3ccPs/U9oC3qCOlOI/AAAAAAAADPU/pS5aWbUQE9g/P1070522_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Beavers have been here" width="244" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gl6g-uqEFVs/U9oC8GGPuaI/AAAAAAAADP8/9LCFcL2SxoA/s1600-h/P10705313.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Roof of the shelter built, from white spruce, by the native people for this tour company" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PaV6TTm32cM/U9oC8yfidbI/AAAAAAAADQE/tj-6-yN2mss/P1070531_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Roof of the shelter built, from white spruce, by the native people for this tour company" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sE8k0WjWe8U/U9oC6CAFLMI/AAAAAAAADPs/RtSkaNoqPnE/s1600-h/P10705323.jpg"><img alt="Shelter built by the native people for thid tour company, to show how it would have been in the old days" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QRbvF10PDF4/U9oC7OhlLrI/AAAAAAAADP0/xyYnaYdZSnI/P1070532_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Shelter built by the native people for thid tour company, to show how it would have been in the old days" width="244" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fMmFFLhqofQ/U9oC9wnoPxI/AAAAAAAADQM/9kJwNx1gC0E/s1600-h/P10705363.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Natine people's fishing camp refrigerator" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7d_oYRb9WIc/U9oC-nKCFaI/AAAAAAAADQU/61bBlq0CpP0/P1070536_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Natine people's fishing camp refrigerator" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O5ElubBm44Y/U9oDAWd4EoI/AAAAAAAADQc/j1zWyvklEk8/s1600-h/P10705373.jpg"><img alt="Drying rack in Native fishing camp" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oLTcqcngkDc/U9oDCzjeG-I/AAAAAAAADQk/n8sdSXJGRN4/P1070537_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Drying rack in Native fishing camp" width="244" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIPHc1zhWePFf8Ojx3c3MFdJufF5yHavEiAbKEV4jiR0ecVQZkAhBfaGCm62kFBOMemOUqH3H5S5kJl9vu-VU4qaKvh557eeJ0Kxd95ntuaQEuHpoIZb2yHr0Tg4o8v4Fyl-MEqNHonTu/s1600-h/P10705443.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Tour guide with bear rifle and in front of traditional cache" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rf71pNIumOQ/U9oDHOl5PHI/AAAAAAAADRE/bIOoVihNJto/P1070544_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Tour guide with bear rifle and in front of traditional cache" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N0YGEXqpQUY/U9oDEkWM0vI/AAAAAAAADQs/gdeuX5p4uik/s1600-h/P10705393.jpg"><img alt="Native fishing camp built in the style of the original with burned ends because the sisn't have knives or axes, etc." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-B-6PhgUs3io/U9oDFX6pSnI/AAAAAAAADQ0/SeQU-BTGarA/P1070539_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Native fishing camp built in the style of the original with burned ends because the sisn't have knives or axes, etc." width="244" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cXJk-D0MnmY/U9oDJTW1NuI/AAAAAAAADRc/EBvzYvcCuUs/s1600-h/P1070550-23.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Our guide with bear rifle and in front of trapper's cabin" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W9t96S6D8_k/U9oDKWvChDI/AAAAAAAADRk/wGZc_8OxjRI/P1070550-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our guide with bear rifle and in front of trapper's cabin" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CgqDNNDoQ_M/U9oDH6nwBvI/AAAAAAAADRM/mrweNJZWX6o/s1600-h/P10705453.jpg"><img alt="The trapper's cabin" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5LmRAXowGls/U9oDInlRuoI/AAAAAAAADRU/d6qfqVBLTPs/P1070545_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The trapper's cabin" width="244" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hq3Y2bu33BA/U9oDNMjy3cI/AAAAAAAADR8/jIbXI9MglBc/s1600-h/P10705483.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the trapper's cabin" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C3_HUmn2qrc/U9oDN5jAWEI/AAAAAAAADSE/JykK7jlKMcE/P1070548_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Inside the trapper's cabin" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7xqrIhye9Ng/U9oDLHIK99I/AAAAAAAADRs/irub-PnBWEw/s1600-h/P10705473.jpg"><img alt="Inside the trapper's cabin" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_E-L2D7urVs/U9oDMU8an5I/AAAAAAAADR0/-HTN9dnm2ok/P1070547_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Inside the trapper's cabin" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It was a very interesting tour. The jet boat driver really enjoyed driving the boat at full speed along the river when we were going between points of interest. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I will leave you with the changing faces of Denali/ Mt. McKinley. It is so rare to see the mountain for so long at a time, that I thought I would like to show it at the different points over the course of today. It is interesting to see how the light changes the appearance and what features that you can see as noon time progresses to evening. The times of day are on the photo. We were closer later in the day, as well.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OPkWll1sApM/U9oDQNi4YCI/AAAAAAAADSc/2Gv97_IX3cY/s1600-h/P10704963.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Mt. McKinley/Denali from view point at Talkeetna, AK" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fwycrDFV-LU/U9oDRL830aI/AAAAAAAADSk/gLFqnm1OLy4/P1070496_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mt. McKinley/Denali from view point at Talkeetna, AK" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xV4PHkBUXac/U9oDOj6CdrI/AAAAAAAADSM/qHxp4Yx0RN0/s1600-h/P10704857.jpg"><img alt="Mt. McKinley from Willow, AK view point" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NRzC9xhWuwA/U9oDPktYP_I/AAAAAAAADSU/fsNCrVlysQU/P1070485_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mt. McKinley from Willow, AK view point" width="244" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ppZMyXwY41g/U9oDUPcg87I/AAAAAAAADS8/HPMwHjU5IBI/s1600-h/P10705543.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Denali from the tour boat" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kTdYOePXUQw/U9oDVG8tofI/AAAAAAAADTE/JAptD2bxMs0/P1070554_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Denali from the tour boat" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CAo1tJEURDQ/U9oDSHSrmHI/AAAAAAAADSs/lLtl57Nqyhk/s1600-h/P10705087.jpg"><img alt="Mt. Mckinley from the tour jetboat befor we left the dock. Clouda are beginning to gather" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vWK-K85K0KQ/U9oDTHg4k9I/AAAAAAAADSw/rMYtwBPQWVQ/P1070508_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mt. Mckinley from the tour jetboat befor we left the dock. Clouda are beginning to gather" width="244" /></a>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F-1Qp-rkQRS-M%2FU9oCyBzEpeI%2FAAAAAAAADOk%2FoKDPTx2RviI%2FP1070501_thumb.jpg%3Fimgmax%3D800&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://lh3.ggpht.com/-1Qp-rkQRS-M/U9oCyBzEpeI/AAAAAAAADOk/oKDPTx2RviI/P1070501_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" -->Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-19463623835484845972014-07-27T23:30:00.000-07:002014-08-01T20:32:39.929-07:00Palmer, AK Area 7/27/14<span style="font-size: medium;">Day 86 of our summer trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We took a day trip from our camp at Eagle River to explore some of the sites around Palmer, AK. The highway passed through the Palmer Hay Flats on the way to Palmer. That is an area of flat grassy to marsh land with rivers running through it, that has abundant wildlife. Apparently, there is a large moose population there and they tend to run across the r</span><span style="font-size: small;">oad at inopportune times. We have seen these signs at various places, where there seem to be a higher number of moose in the area, that tell how many moose have been killed on that portion of highway. I finally got a photo of one of the signs. It says that 7 moose have been killed on this stretch of highway, since July 1st. It says nothing of the damage to the people nor to their vehicles, which must have been quite considerable as moose are huge animals, way bigger than horses. We, of course, saw neither hide nor hair nor antlers of any moose for as far as the eye could see. We have seen very few animals since we got to Alaska, unless they were in controlled situations or we were on a tour somewhere. There were more natural wildlife sightings, that we just happened to see, in Canada.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL0cMuzQnd0G-tNS2TJeF8wPb4aLkX0eIYkHV3erKZ464gfEl5RkuKvchEjzWHfI3ZrbJwi-QL_vY2iKMjScelA-YWe-e_QfrEV_hqr7QmG8r2gw8PAToIQzNs1l-VuVE0iwAN5r3HqQL/s1600-h/P10703133.jpg"><img alt="Moose frequently cross the road in this area." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4jrd42YqkS8/U9vqs1GO9-I/AAAAAAAADTc/WyMURvjMmvM/P1070313_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Moose frequently cross the road in this area." width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The first stop was the Palmer Visitor Information center. They have a demonstration garden. This area of Alaska is called the Mat-Su Valley and it is known for producing record sized vegetables and fruits. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hthwFuj3gZw/U9vqwEyfElI/AAAAAAAADT0/xrby9T3dHg0/s1600-h/P10703213.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Demonstration garden at the Palmer Visitors center" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HLBf8rUCWCs/U9vqw8o4D5I/AAAAAAAADT8/g1nBAcDHXDE/P1070321_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Demonstration garden at the Palmer Visitors center" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-quxBHdDwdLs/U9vquRlrHkI/AAAAAAAADTk/stWn7u9paMM/s1600-h/P10703143.jpg"><img alt="P1070314" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jVZs28z2Ysg/U9vquyh4cQI/AAAAAAAADTs/sUN5RUVIY-M/P1070314_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1070314" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A list of the size of the record holding fruits and veggies is here. Bumble is giving you a perspective of how big the cabbage, beet, zucchini, and carrot really were by sitting next to the life-sized replicas of those winners. Even the roots of the giant carrot look like they would be big enough to make an ordinary carrot.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PnGjhlnAw68/U9vq0dWQFGI/AAAAAAAADUU/4lI3N3k1-nc/s1600-h/P10703303.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bumble had to check out the models of the record sized veggies" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_ELAeKr5GbI/U9vq1HOkWoI/AAAAAAAADUc/Q25EQUhcp3Q/P1070330_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bumble had to check out the models of the record sized veggies" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ME_p692hrUM/U9vqyB8Sv8I/AAAAAAAADUE/V6zo9EC-cSs/s1600-h/P10703193.jpg"><img alt="P1070319" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FglqUor2h_8/U9vqymA5H8I/AAAAAAAADUM/ycemYW7uAAE/P1070319_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1070319" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Here are some veggies that are being grown to donate to the Senior Center Kitchen. The sign warns not to pick them for that very reason. The next photo is of some berry bushes in the garden.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBKY-wa3xZCvxNQgcVG-IgTrzUyZEfRwbXUnzerUqivQNKUYup5B8zqTg9cIs9RXyqkpI4Mpt-T7X9zqC5CJNDDLuOwmU7CbOR4SsgqWspnnoyNgdsgAIZkxxWR0w13DNvJ5S_NUUdE-Y/s1600-h/P10703243.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Red and black currents and raspberries" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jKfsyqMEtfg/U9vq5Bc5WsI/AAAAAAAADU8/JH3EKUsSbao/P1070324_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Red and black currents and raspberries" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d79qdcd9W7o/U9vq2K5AKMI/AAAAAAAADUk/HAAJrQti1e8/s1600-h/P10703223.jpg"><img alt="These veggies are being grown for donation to the Sr. Center kitchen." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zlcZcqdmCOY/U9vq2ykCJDI/AAAAAAAADUs/Jg3vWW8lmlg/P1070322_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="These veggies are being grown for donation to the Sr. Center kitchen." width="164" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There are also many flowers in the garden. The red flower is called a Maltese Cross flower because of the shape of its pedals. I think a Maltese Cross has only four branches, though. None the less, that is what it is called. As you know, Bumble loves flowers and wanted you to see how big they are, too. The big pink flowers are not dahlias, but they look about as big as dahlias are. They are really a type of poppy.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s_MVak4txhg/U9vq8nGfuVI/AAAAAAAADVU/NAyNBXjz01M/s1600-h/P10703333.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bumble really likes all of the pretty flowers. The big pink ones are poppies" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rWUplBWiOME/U9vq9WtLafI/AAAAAAAADVY/3Q4jVqaLUys/P1070333_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bumble really likes all of the pretty flowers. The big pink ones are poppies" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBlWav27M_KZA3rum_Z5qIzzOZdTVx_ZgRDHQytem3ZBDqMhod8g7cwBLLnJ6cmoRJ37i9Cs0jnr78ZyK0Y1KZHZZTFS6Ypssv2gjKnefi2LWW9sPC7NOBmg6VFXOz-P3CA1W7gBg1U3P/s1600-h/P10703293.jpg"><img alt="These are called Maltese Cross flowers" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yBYkjFhyXxQ/U9vq69iXSPI/AAAAAAAADVM/wa5DcpMwKGI/P1070329_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="These are called Maltese Cross flowers" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There is one thing that I saw in the museum part of the Palmer Visitor Information Center. They had a display showing how the women made dresses and other items from flour sacks. My Dad used to work in a flour mill and I remember those colorful flour sacks that he would bring home sometimes. They could be used for all sorts of things.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gAUATudzbac/U9vq-JUSa6I/AAAAAAAADVk/GVmqeBifAyA/s1600-h/P10703343.jpg"><img alt="The pioneers of the Mat-Su Valley used flour sacks to make clothes and other items." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lgR7vj2gXFU/U9vq-_do47I/AAAAAAAADVo/Z3lBB-J42bE/P1070334_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The pioneers of the Mat-Su Valley used flour sacks to make clothes and other items." width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We also went to the Mat-Su visitors Center. Here you see Sue and Matt watching the informational video at the visitors center. There are some animals on display here too, a moose and a musk ox.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KpdKuqWkwX8/U9vrBmposWI/AAAAAAAADWE/x5nKpwvCv-k/s1600-h/P10703673.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Moose and Musk Ox at the Mat-Su Visitors Center" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j_8qnZ-PzuA/U9vrCafjkpI/AAAAAAAADWI/vJGb6Kp7R9w/P1070367_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Moose and Musk Ox at the Mat-Su Visitors Center" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1U_8_SOdAMk/U9vrAGoOGTI/AAAAAAAADV0/ODwOsBE9oiA/s1600-h/P10703663.jpg"><img alt="Matt and Sue watching the movie at the Mat-Su Visitors Center" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NPXPU4LwRRI/U9vrApdZh9I/AAAAAAAADV8/0ubuCoNqQxM/P1070366_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Matt and Sue watching the movie at the Mat-Su Visitors Center" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There is a <a href="http://www.muskoxfarm.org/" target="_blank">Musk Ox Farm</a> in the Palmer area, where we took a tour this afternoon. During the depression, in the early 1930’s, many farmers and their families were relocated to this Mat-Su Valley region to homestead and build new lives for themselves. They are the ones who cleared the land and build farms and towns. They sold and traded with and learned from the native people. This barn is one of the barns that was built by a member of the original colony. It is now a museum and gift shop for the Musk Ox Farm.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TOWZOyewuGA/U9vrEwlofGI/AAAAAAAADWk/_6V04B2S4os/s1600-h/P10703383.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The rear of the barn." border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rM-2NtYwq0k/U9vrGMpiltI/AAAAAAAADWs/l4M5tfrjMrI/P1070338_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The rear of the barn." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NNM1FBwf6qI/U9vrDJNtQNI/AAAAAAAADWU/BTqDlkBzcqU/s1600-h/P10703363.jpg"><img alt="One of the original barns is now the museum and gift shop for the Musk Ox Farm" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yNTA6ELBr7U/U9vrD3yo60I/AAAAAAAADWc/TX1okY2BEcg/P1070336_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="One of the original barns is now the museum and gift shop for the Musk Ox Farm" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This is what a musk ox looks like. They are actually a pre-historic creature who was driven to extinction in Alaska, but are now being reintroduced. This farm is raising musk oxen to help study them and find out what needs they have, what keeps them healthy, etc. The farm is also an educational tool for educating the public about the animals, by having the tours of the farm and the museum. The musk oxen horns have been cut so that they do not hurt each other. This one is shedding his under coat of hair or qiviut. It is what keeps these animals warm in –80 degree weather. The undercoat is extremely soft and much warmer than any other animal fur. It is collected or combed out, spun into yarn and woven into garments. Bumble wanted to meet a musk ox, and, apparently, the musk ox was checking her out too.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IB3e5pDXguE/U9vrJai0hVI/AAAAAAAADXE/XKWRl1M62Qk/s1600-h/P10703463.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Bumble and the musk ox are checking each other out." border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dwn2Dq9nDLs/U9vrKJHECKI/AAAAAAAADXM/x3nOssOInkY/P1070346_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bumble and the musk ox are checking each other out." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3RjsRSS6ihI/U9vrHEYVj_I/AAAAAAAADW0/9qSHqBLBz4c/s1600-h/P10703433.jpg"><img alt="Musk ox loosing his fine undercoat that keeps him warm in winter" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9LDsigDTd_I/U9vrH3Cp8ZI/AAAAAAAADW8/ebjEpwiF8fQ/P1070343_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Musk ox loosing his fine undercoat that keeps him warm in winter" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">They have separated the musk oxen into groups according to their age. They put the babies in a pen together until they reach one year old. The visitors are allowed to feed them some of the grasses that are grown for them. It doesn’t take them long to learn that the people will feed them. The newborn to 1 yr. old musk oxen do not have that wavy horn on their head, but instead, have a white patch of hair and some longer brown hairs coming off next the the white patch, where the big horn will eventually grow. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2-8lQFaY1w-aV8NczJdH7PIYx2usgxR5vDFfvT3Mm74Y0g8fKYhpFT_OA5d9H-k9R4l27nAtyqV-PVaqRwYN4nlttyDscqLDoY9ka-5EnYj9mdU62QHlY_iuUAdZ7XNe1UTZ6qThfK8H/s1600/P1070365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2-8lQFaY1w-aV8NczJdH7PIYx2usgxR5vDFfvT3Mm74Y0g8fKYhpFT_OA5d9H-k9R4l27nAtyqV-PVaqRwYN4nlttyDscqLDoY9ka-5EnYj9mdU62QHlY_iuUAdZ7XNe1UTZ6qThfK8H/s1600/P1070365.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIE1DcXbDziUX7c84-Cy7xYvSJzRuYKu6xguhZGY0Tqn9P1sNL0UXX8j2QCh-TmH7gmk79x7tCkuC1P8rLcg5DsRRJezyTgf8DUcELj9Ss3j9zMhKt92rHtpqjRnOWsVHYUTtQJxkkqqh/s1600-h/P10703643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baby musk oxen" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yNdtfKVbTbo/U9vrMwP7ijI/AAAAAAAADXc/hQoWx-2RcsU/P1070364_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Baby musk oxen" width="244" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The 1-2 year olds are beginning to grow their horns. They start growing straight horns that continue to grow straight or slightly curved up, like a cow’s, and the white hair remains between the two small horns. Earl and I fed the musk oxen some fireweed. It is one of their favorite.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hEBGjjYoVwQ/U9vrShw_hoI/AAAAAAAADYE/EqsamrMdU0o/s1600-h/P10703577.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Fran feeding a 1-2 yr old musk ox" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_q5EdWIFPkM/U9vrT_i64GI/AAAAAAAADYM/sVEZvseadBU/P1070357_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Fran feeding a 1-2 yr old musk ox" width="244" /></a></div>
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i36CWI7mvs0/U9vrQVicQkI/AAAAAAAADX0/6yNIgRTNLrY/s1600-h/P10703503.jpg"><img alt="Earl feeding a 1-2 yr. old musk ox" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_BZ683kY0ms/U9vrRNjUCoI/AAAAAAAADX8/H0u0lVnFkVA/P1070350_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Earl feeding a 1-2 yr. old musk ox" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This guy, in front, poking his head through the fence, is 15 yrs. old. We were told that some of the older musk oxen were picking on him, so they moved him in with the younger ones. the researchers have found that the Musk oxen have personalities quite similar to humans. We would call it bullying in this case. In the background are the 3-4 yrs. old group. Their horns are beginning to bend down,, but that middle area has not filled in with horn, yet. That will happen during the fifth year, or so.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AA9MVRCrdMY/U9vrVaguVeI/AAAAAAAADYU/ipfbu9aBYwU/s1600-h/P10703613.jpg"><img alt="This guy is 15 yrs. old the ones behind are 3-4 yrs. old" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ui91OKyiUbY/U9vrV8pi3YI/AAAAAAAADYY/BjQVM9XfK64/P1070361_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This guy is 15 yrs. old the ones behind are 3-4 yrs. old" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The other oxen were farther out in their pastures and we didn’t get to see them up close. It was a very interesting tour and they seem to be having success with expanding their herd. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow we will be taking a short drive to another campsite and some more adventures.</span><br />
<br />Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-90034016886146437582014-07-26T23:30:00.000-07:002014-08-01T13:13:09.339-07:00Soldotna, AK to Eagle River, AK 7/24-26/14<span style="font-size: medium;">Days 83, 84, and 85 of our summer trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Our travel from Soldotna to Eagle River took us through territory that we have already talked about, so we didn’t take many pictures. The Soldotna area, as well as the whole Kenai Peninsula and much of the rest of Alaska are in the midst of fishing season. You can imagine the aroma that would come from the garbage cans and dumpsters would be like, if everyone threw their fish parts and pieces from cleaning the fish, in them, thus, this sign.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwWA3d-NDQS5fr91Mo1OqZaWC3u6Ur_c-YdqBqN3zqgFD6NUlrpvvxxEMjo2S6UEbg0Bx-CvJLU76rYph6sQFOmHMGk-ftJ93RIspfkzMXWGcD1tOLTilMn1-GOD8FLk1tUhF9XZNi6zE/s1600-h/P10702953.jpg"><img alt="I guess that they are worried about stinky, fishy smells" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I3abDCR_WyI/U9na6k-WPMI/AAAAAAAADKs/SM8uQttRov4/P1070295_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I guess that they are worried about stinky, fishy smells" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We found this nice campsite at the Eagle River Campground in the Chugach State Park. The sites are paved, which makes it nice when it rains, which it did shortly after we arrived in the late afternoon of Thursday the 24th. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ykgXbzO9ZNE/U9na9JRHSwI/AAAAAAAADLE/2FBiuWtLk2c/s1600-h/P10703033.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Our site at the Eagle River Campground in Chugach State Park" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XJbhg-DORdM/U9na92Zs15I/AAAAAAAADLM/ZnepmuqEvi4/P1070303_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our site at the Eagle River Campground in Chugach State Park" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MD5saOXmU7I/U9na7k-jyFI/AAAAAAAADK0/KH-dFta_ilw/s1600-h/P10703023.jpg"><img alt="Our site at the Eagle River Campground in Chugach State Park" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WJDslk1X89U/U9na8XUQP-I/AAAAAAAADK8/E9NRI3lWZEU/P1070302_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our site at the Eagle River Campground in Chugach State Park" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We drove the short distance to the business area of town to check where the post office was, because Ken and Emilie had sent our mail, that had accumulated over the last few weeks, to the post office here in Eagle River. We discovered that it was right next to the Carr’s/Safeway and a pizza place. Well, we accomplished several tasks in that one area that was just one mile away from camp (as the crow flies). The Alaska Pizza Co. made some tasty pizza that we took back to the trailer for dinner and the Carr’s had a gas station with diesel. for the thirsty truck, plus, we now knew where to go to pick up the mail on Friday. The fences in this area of town were decorated with cutouts of four different animals. Here are two of them. They are a mountain goat and an eagle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BxkzTNgmdMY/U9na-j2Wp6I/AAAAAAAADLU/Wamddswvz3g/s1600-h/P10702993.jpg"><img alt="Eagle and Dall Sheep cutouts decorate the fences in this area of Eagle River" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NVHtiIylr98/U9na_kP93CI/AAAAAAAADLc/87PY9jjyQ7M/P1070299_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Eagle and Dall Sheep cutouts decorate the fences in this area of Eagle River" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We slept in on Friday morning and didn’t get the mail until afternoon, but it was sitting there waiting for us, as expected. It was raining most of the day today, so we just hung out around camp. I worked on some of my blog posts. We actually have 4G and a strong signal that is able to handle my hot spot. It is so nice to be in an area with good phone and internet connections. For the last couple weeks, even if I could get on a Wi-Fi connection, the band width did not allow me to do much other than pick up e-mail. It was just too slow or there were too many people trying to use the same connection, causing it to not work for me. Well, enough of my complaining. We did go out shopping after dinner. Other than that we took the day off.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Today, Saturday, the 26th, was spent trying to make a plan for the next part of our trip. We think that we have a general plan of what we want to see over the next couple weeks. It may need to be modified a day one way or another, but it should work. We did get to Skype with Ken and Kyra for a little while today. It was very nice seeing them. </span><span style="font-size: small;">We took a walk this evening. There is a river, the Eagle River of course, that runs beside the campground. We went down to the river at about 9 PM. Like I said earlier, it is fishing season. There are many rules regarding fishing. It depends on what kind of fish, and which river and what type of fishing you are doing. I liked how the water flowed over this huge boulder in the middle of the river.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mfUHv9m6SHlVmYaX-XgjEYhgQPG7PrdFZZJQu21wLpM-MAKJwqNRGFiixOahoz6b7btrhI1FXcRTSrqplntLguhzuk_u6mpCMTzJKxLJq-4APAoiL1cR4JhhvCvzzOiy9Ta1870Vuo7N/s1600-h/P10703083.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Eagle River at Eagle River CG" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uTJktDdoieg/U9nbC2EY5TI/AAAAAAAADL8/wlHiNK0tSAA/P1070308_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Eagle River at Eagle River CG" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l3QfYsX8jqg/U9nbAqnDE-I/AAAAAAAADLk/QKjlD9Vrcg8/s1600-h/P10703103.jpg"><img alt="Different fishing rules apply to a river depending upon what kind of fish and which river it is." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9StSSSJFMOk/U9nbBT9KCaI/AAAAAAAADLs/8ard4rAQgSg/P1070310_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Different fishing rules apply to a river depending upon what kind of fish and which river it is." width="244" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The river is flowing toward the bridge, you could see how the sunshine hit the ripples in the water.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4KG1gApauqzNbEQl96cc4AZ7TIlI8_PZB-_XrJw1NRobv0LwaOKJwNkiExDdTF7NNH6uqatuZ4wJEslo6QdGux6MZIibDHkDtUKpjs-4HyIBQcRFoQadEBRX4z-KqjavuTcdTtZ64Piv/s1600-h/P10703073.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Eagle River at Eagle River CG" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1QJMigfOgLM/U9nbGZYNfhI/AAAAAAAADMc/FXObCRIBiv4/P1070307_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Eagle River at Eagle River CG" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Li38q-W7qVs/U9nbDkIpEmI/AAAAAAAADME/ED5Qn_6mzro/s1600-h/P10703063.jpg"><img alt="Eagle River at Eagle River CG" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LJqAVl-PT0c/U9nbE1gHs9I/AAAAAAAADMM/QSxiZrd1ouY/P1070306_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Eagle River at Eagle River CG" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">When we got closer to the bridge, you could really see the rapids sparkle in the sun light.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NpqVtbwPXsA/U9nbIhvh8gI/AAAAAAAADM0/--OWqF4eqa4/s1600-h/P10703123.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Closer to the bridge there are more rapids" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G-gHqV37Mc4/U9nbJTb2OMI/AAAAAAAADM8/MAHlgO-kCjw/P1070312_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Closer to the bridge there are more rapids" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gvYrXlBgeJ0/U9nbHMOK71I/AAAAAAAADMk/W3gFZJntzzc/s1600-h/P10703113.jpg"><img alt="Closer to the bridge there are more rapids" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3Sum95JRXaA/U9nbHzwKYWI/AAAAAAAADMs/nQYgaG5Sbeo/P1070311_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Closer to the bridge there are more rapids" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Like I said, we just relaxed for the last few days. Nothing too exciting to speak of. Tomorrow, we are planning to do some sightseeing.</span>Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-357930902880949582014-07-19T22:39:00.000-07:002014-07-25T00:19:50.041-07:00Seward, AK to Homer, AK 7/19/14<span style="font-size: medium;">Day 78 of our summer trip. Seward Highway to Sterling Highway</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We left our great campsite in Seward and headed to the Kenai Peninsula and Homer, Alaska. We have been having good luck finding campgrounds by taking the information that we had seen in the <u>Traveler’s guide to Alaskan Camping</u> by Mike and Terri Church as well as various friends from our camping club and other research, so we are aiming to spend time at a camp on the Homer Spit. The drive , today, was similar to other days. The roads are lined with tall trees that obscure much of what is behind them. Sometimes you get a glimpse of a great view, but by the time the camera is ready to take the picture, the trees have hidden it. Occasionally, if you look straight to the side, you can see buildings or businesses, etc. When we got closer to the coastal area of the Kenai Peninsula, there was a view point where we could see across the Cook Inlet to some of the inactive volcanoes. <strike>The way that the clouds have gathered over the one at the right make it look like it is an active volcano</strike>. Update 7/23/14 We just found out that some of the volcanos that we have been looking at are active. This one on the right erupted in 2009 and that is really smoke and steam coming out of it.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBlNubiw1gZkuFIm4eeEMw0q8YRa4_a-ttuOGwgRlx3D_iymagfq5igsHM4MCQb9FH5gjnlXl94hb-hSZpznumLn_gu7faRFqRCWChgY28plDdIq9IwZxLh-MXqFjVpx6RigZJp20yVsG/s1600-h/P10700723.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Mountains West of the Kenai Peninsla viewed across Cook Inlet from a view point along the Sterling Hwy" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tHLzH2Ao3k4/U83y1CLVtaI/AAAAAAAACp0/6AOoML0ewus/P1070072_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="165" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mountains West of the Kenai Peninsla viewed across Cook Inlet from a view point along the Sterling Hwy" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vSODQVFuTbg/U82hlW1tFHI/AAAAAAAACpU/kaU2NvH77iI/s1600-h/P10700683.jpg"><img alt="One of the dormant volcanos across Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bou4CiLVn8k/U82hqQu7T_I/AAAAAAAACpc/jUoLORMN4hk/P1070068_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="One of the dormant volcanos across Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Here is a wide angle of the whole mountain chain that can be seen from that view point.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aLA7A3y-t5E/U83y5b9AZLI/AAAAAAAACp8/kdbo76LIkMs/s1600-h/P10700753.jpg"><img alt="Mountains West of the Kenai Peninsla viewed across Cook Inlet from a view point along the Sterling Hwy" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nDBG6MMB-e0/U83y6mODsiI/AAAAAAAACqE/HW18KwvTNnk/P1070075_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mountains West of the Kenai Peninsla viewed across Cook Inlet from a view point along the Sterling Hwy" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A little further on, we saw this very large glacier. It is probably part of the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Fjords National Park that is mostly on the other side of the Kenai Peninsula from Homer. Then I saw some more glaciers, also probably part of the Harding Icefield, across the Kachemak Bay from the camp where we are staying.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QlJ6imGHc4o/U83zBj_bgAI/AAAAAAAACqc/V3x3tiLa59k/s1600-h/P10700833.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Huge glacier across Kachemak Bay from the Mariner campground" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t-rSlwAUNfM/U83zCkqnLNI/AAAAAAAACqk/fVgh1cIFRjI/P1070083_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Huge glacier across Kachemak Bay from the Mariner campground" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WlXlMELUxA4/U83y9zPaHrI/AAAAAAAACqM/OaqgGxKKtPQ/s1600-h/P10700767.jpg"><img alt="Huge glacier opposite the Kenai Peninsula" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--69PyD_RggU/U83y-zesTSI/AAAAAAAACqU/-4_P6UWW4ak/P1070076_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Huge glacier opposite the Kenai Peninsula" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We are staying at the Mariner Park on the Homer Spit. It is not far from the town, which can be seen in the background. The tide is out in this picture, so all that there is are the mud flats. In this area, they are flat, unlike the ones that we saw at </span><span style="font-size: small;">Turnagain Arm near Girdwood. This is a no frills camp owned by the city, but the view is priceless. The picture on the right was taken from a view point on Skyline Dr. in Homer.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKqyWgdJOru7WN3beF8UQPjg9q2kfABRRHxekVX_6wCwBt-C36sDPbw7llnhRbpBILYtJZlYLigLXCLfXux6aWtKM0YetrHZHCTIIO2GY-KtTxS3nu_tVh9dUTo1f_6gIoTttip_Kinwr/s1600-h/P10700863.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Mariners Campground on Homer Spit, AK" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t-wGxxRSQo8/U83zPVgrc9I/AAAAAAAACrE/1bu7d_9XHyc/P1070086_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mariners Campground on Homer Spit, AK" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FNpg_tOuOPg/U83zIM6vT9I/AAAAAAAACqs/iHiMg_qHMHc/s1600-h/P10700827.jpg"><img alt="Looking back at Homer, AK at the base of the Homer Spit from our camp on Homer Spit." border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I4LDiNg2ESM/U83zJhfGKBI/AAAAAAAACq0/Eew6O-e62dc/P1070082_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Looking back at Homer, AK at the base of the Homer Spit from our camp on Homer Spit." width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We have an ocean view out our back window.</span> Our campsite from the Cook Inlet side. The second picture is looking out of the trailer window at the rest of our site. <span style="font-size: small;">The wind is blowing quite hard because a storm is going through. It makes for nice waves.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-thwwdqNtmKU/U83za0uBMlI/AAAAAAAACrc/hwVc-DGKgVQ/s1600-h/P10700783.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="View from our trailer toward the Cook Inlet." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GVSJI-GL7RA/U83zb3ZWvZI/AAAAAAAACrk/1JXRUrFFF1Q/P1070078_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="View from our trailer toward the Cook Inlet." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-44Sss0O16VM/U83zVYVQ9sI/AAAAAAAACrM/uV0Z-FOkBnM/s1600-h/P107008811.jpg"><img alt="Looking at the camp from the shore side." border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FIs-rU8F7L8/U83zWibAYUI/AAAAAAAACrU/RV4T7gA9V24/P1070088_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Looking at the camp from the shore side." width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Looking up and down the beach, first to the left then to the right.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3oha_zYLF7Q/U83zsa603uI/AAAAAAAACr8/6FUlBqQIieM/s1600-h/P10700897.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Looking up toware town along the beach" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-axZY00RY3RI/U83zuDoqRxI/AAAAAAAACsE/86CYrku5LGQ/P1070089_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Looking up toware town along the beach" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabut5uYHkDO6n7MVu_o8ORndsspowO4UXPmvj8hjoYx6onKpO5AAQ5oJ7Xu4R7BroDgbaRzU77ptpwCirUn87gbQPyInT2q-iasqPN4YYV9tU5SAmdi_cZeeSVlczOf0P5SarnBoRW346/s1600-h/P10700873.jpg"><img alt="Looking down the beach from behind our trailer" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_a0P8JPRwgI/U83zleGGFzI/AAAAAAAACr0/QRGoKg8Lyio/P1070087_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Looking down the beach from behind our trailer" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The storm has arrived and it is raining. The wind is so strong that it is rocking the trailer. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The waves are much higher now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7k65CjAoydg/U83zybxV6HI/AAAAAAAACsM/TSQeSilAu6A/s1600-h/P10700907.jpg"><img alt="Very windy and wavy" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fFE4mgwaEZ8/U83zzSQ5sCI/AAAAAAAACsU/YQB0eOgBNLQ/P1070090_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Very windy and wavy" width="244" /></a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The rain is gone away, but the wind is stronger than before. Earl just looked out the window and saw a rainbow. So, I ran out to see if I could get it to show up in a photo. Here is one close up and one back farther. It isn't a bright rainbow nor a very big one, but it can be seen just above the edge of the mountain about a third of the way from the right side. I wasn’t the only one taking pictures. Notice that it is 10:36 PM and still quite light outside.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kJNYVCkgqSg/U83z6RQ3MXI/AAAAAAAACss/-w7mzN544So/s1600-h/P10700933.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Sunset with rainbow, Homer Spit, AK" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-b8aLMF79gsI/U83z7p7H1gI/AAAAAAAACs0/GVjbS2Y1V1Q/P1070093_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset with rainbow, Homer Spit, AK" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ04OwU7KcAux-rj50KzoFqSr2EI3_yfqWkhTGZAUiN5-Za0YOPMxKqRbWzVLcyRNGEEr9ICfEylPeeo6Vl12QHEp1x_N-OwTz5NjqiJZYRLx4blgNqwmbf7CTEimFMfH7hyF1JPpUF0We/s1600-h/P10700923.jpg"><img alt="Sunset with rainbow, Homer Spit, AK" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S_UsN9FMNHc/U83z3R8TldI/AAAAAAAACsk/zyE4YAE3gc0/P1070092_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset with rainbow, Homer Spit, AK" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We haven’t had a sunset for quite awhile, so I went out to capture the event. Even though the weather forecasters say that there is around 18 hours between sunrise and sunset, the sky doesn’t seem to get dark. There always seems to be a glow in the sky like a twilight. Maybe now that we are a little farther south than we have been, it will be different. Here are a few sunset photos taken between about 10:37 and 10:55 PM. I like how the light blue shows through in a couple spots in the last picture. That one is closest to where the sun is setting.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zGzztBbu5Yk/U830DnPGs2I/AAAAAAAACtM/JH8xpFJX1fA/s1600-h/P10701133.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Sunset at Homer Spit, AK" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cxkh-dhcFt4/U830E4QLVnI/AAAAAAAACtU/p6MH5-WX0u4/P1070113_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset at Homer Spit, AK" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7CuaC4xfcXg/U83z--9nOZI/AAAAAAAACs8/tj9FsSvMmZM/s1600-h/P10701073.jpg"><img alt="Sunset at Homer Spit, AK" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UwQGfokmMPg/U830AHaGtzI/AAAAAAAACtE/w6d8xus_a-g/P1070107_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset at Homer Spit, AK" width="244" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EWFOb4GQfAE/U830OMs6FtI/AAAAAAAACts/TG3CbXOcQSY/s1600-h/P10701123.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Sunset at Homer Spit, AK" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ajZW5EbiiFI/U830PMRklnI/AAAAAAAACt0/RONuISh9rfI/P1070112_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset at Homer Spit, AK" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-guaq9SMd0F0/U830JIIkvrI/AAAAAAAACtc/EMOR0pbI40k/s1600-h/P10701033.jpg"><img alt="Sunset at Homer Spit, AK" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-79vzLBYscCk/U830Ko2FQCI/AAAAAAAACtk/Ji_ELqTy-pc/P1070103_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sunset at Homer Spit, AK" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Boy! it was cold outside while I was taking those pictures. The wind chill must have been in the 40s.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, I think I’ll curl up in bed and get rocked to sleep by the wind.</span>Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275828116193060111.post-56727212561128729872014-07-18T23:30:00.000-07:002014-07-27T01:49:24.007-07:00Seward, AK 7/18/14<span style="font-size: medium;">Day 77 of our summer trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">When we got up this morning, it was just about the maximum low tide for today. Looking out of our back window, first toward the left then toward the right, you can see how much of the shore is exposed. The water covers up a lot of things, like pipes and logs as well as rocks and gravel. The black spot just off shore is another log. A couple days ago, there was a lower tide that uncovered it enough to see that it was a log. Some of the boat traffic can be seen in the second picture.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ExP88rrfZts/U9Sz5PqsjaI/AAAAAAAADEM/uCSfJm7W3Fg/s1600-h/P1060957%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Some of the boat traffic we can see from ouur window. Low tide exposes all sorts of things" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XaYwLa-QG7U/U9Sz6EVBEWI/AAAAAAAADEU/zbjWYfvfV-k/P1060957_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Some of the boat traffic we can see from ouur window. Low tide exposes all sorts of things" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jgFx-nvkmBw/U9Sz3YTUR-I/AAAAAAAADD8/DbEdMKPLkRY/s1600-h/P1060947%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Looking out of our back window to see the low tide." border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FF3QPsk5EFM/U9Sz4ZQgngI/AAAAAAAADEE/lmxPeAwlasU/P1060947_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Looking out of our back window to see the low tide." width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We see that there is another cruise ship in port today. There has been a different one each day that we have been here. In the close up, you can see a long blue pipe running from the tower and along the dock. Yesterday, on our cruise, we were told that it is a conveyor for loading coal, that has been brought to port from the mines via train, onto ships to be taken elsewhere.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ITJwmN49H-4/U9Sz9Mzq2GI/AAAAAAAADEs/YdQNB5brzeo/s1600-h/P1060959%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Cruise ship in port. The blue pipe running the length of the dock is a coal delivery system." border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xDvSpGCqxWw/U9Sz91mhcrI/AAAAAAAADE0/_gnBnqYrZQk/P1060959_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Cruise ship in port. The blue pipe running the length of the dock is a coal delivery system." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tuSBHeWW7Io/U9Sz6w1UNOI/AAAAAAAADEc/vukNBUJGZmE/s1600-h/P1060949%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Amother ship is in port today, in Seward, AK" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FRv1E2kOdnI/U9Sz70267fI/AAAAAAAADEk/nSFiyb4iAXg/P1060949_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Amother ship is in port today, in Seward, AK" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We packed a lunch and took an excursion to Exit Glacier, not far from here. It can be seen to the left of the sign that marks the entrance to Kenai Fjords National Park as well as in a little closer view.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4kgaa_YGEHM/U9S0AbHSNjI/AAAAAAAADFM/AiDBUq7BzU0/s1600-h/P1060963%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Exit Glacier. Black lines are the moraines where glaciers hav joined" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jvPdkOMy8qE/U9S0Bd7DiGI/AAAAAAAADFU/lBodIEBzY7A/P1060963_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Exit Glacier. Black lines are the moraines where glaciers hav joined" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-whYjDck2P3M/U9Sz-tOeuzI/AAAAAAAADE8/MrZmzVVYMWw/s1600-h/P1060962%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Approach to Exit Glacier in the Kenai Fjords NP" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QK52u5XAl2c/U9Sz_T7zwnI/AAAAAAAADFE/NmHfcCn689k/P1060962_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Approach to Exit Glacier in the Kenai Fjords NP" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">There is a trail that leads to the glacier. At one time, you could get right up next to the glacier, but it has melted year after year and is now not so close to the view point. We decided to take the trail and here is what we saw. All along the trail there are posts with years marked on them, showing where the glacier would have terminated at the time. A sign shows where the glacier terminated at various years, starting with 1815 when it extended just about to the foot of the hills. By 1951, it had retreated to just about the edge of the lake that is circled with trees now. You can just see the place where the river leaves the lake, in the NOW picture at the right. This is not a deep lake, in fact it is mostly moraine, or the gravel sediment deposited by the glacial melt, as is the trail that we are walking on. There are water rivulets running through the moraine as the glacier is continually melting. Imagine this valley completely filled with ice many hundreds of feet thick. Also, notice that the snow is no longer heavy on top of the mountains in the background.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KhKgt0_dVTI/U9S0D6YOobI/AAAAAAAADFs/kafy8qWUcgI/s1600-h/P1070001%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="This is what that area on the sign looks like now. The river outlet is about in the middle. Most og the gray is Glacial Moraine or the sediment from the melting glacier" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TMYw4uQiCq0/U9S0EvavNCI/AAAAAAAADF0/9htfKnlUrGk/P1070001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is what that area on the sign looks like now. The river outlet is about in the middle. Most og the gray is Glacial Moraine or the sediment from the melting glacier" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8ppT4Xwcqk0/U9S0CMn5IFI/AAAAAAAADFc/KAqeAtmfvuU/s1600-h/P1060999%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="This shows where the edge of the glacier was during the Little Ice Age or 1815 until now" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YDPK_ZEw4B4/U9S0CzAUbbI/AAAAAAAADFk/eoUixfOP6tQ/P1060999_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This shows where the edge of the glacier was during the Little Ice Age or 1815 until now" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A photo of the glacier, below, and the Harding Icefield above, to the left. The icefield is melting and causing many waterfalls down the side of the mountain. The picture on the right shows some of the trail leading to the look out point by the side of the glacier. The sign at the bottom right says that , if you would have stood at this spot in 1998, you would have been able to touch the glacier. That is how much it has melted since then. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbisrLShODP4_YxqP1zRcJ9pfcmuds7nZyX4ichqTT71KxqQe5XO5F4OVzIYyZ1zTZ3mQyNwV2OYazUd1gQUi_zMTETzjYOelFprnfPM-RhsxQ8c8zvU8LwM2Qpuifwm12k_IpdlMMJZS/s1600-h/P1060974%25255B7%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Some of the trail to Exit Glacier. The sign sais that the glacier boundry was here in 1998." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Yj59Hiiii28/U9S0IF7OkSI/AAAAAAAADGU/uhXLWNtie34/P1060974_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Some of the trail to Exit Glacier. The sign sais that the glacier boundry was here in 1998." width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kjWiWMZCYt0/U9S0FfE34NI/AAAAAAAADF8/unHenvMjWRM/s1600-h/P1060970%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Exit Glacier from the trail. Harding Icefield, above, is melting and forming several waterfalls on the mountain side." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KKFeTB3FT80/U9S0GYlRzBI/AAAAAAAADGE/OEJTdKLkpC4/P1060970_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Exit Glacier from the trail. Harding Icefield, above, is melting and forming several waterfalls on the mountain side." width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We made it up the trail, as seen behind Earl. This is the closest that we can get to the glacier, today.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-miF-hSR3Q_g/U9S0LLNYWzI/AAAAAAAADGs/rP7t9KsRjto/s1600-h/P1060986%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="This is as close as we got to the glacier. There is quite a drop off between where we are standing and the glacier." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7ytJPuWauxs/U9S0MA82_BI/AAAAAAAADG0/8wK4ezez82U/P1060986_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is as close as we got to the glacier. There is quite a drop off between where we are standing and the glacier." width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-seTnQYf4KU4/U9S0JLnwEAI/AAAAAAAADGc/0sBsBRgtTnk/s1600-h/P1060985%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Earl taking a break, leaning on his monopod, before we head back down to the parking lot." border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OIbjxPjWPnU/U9S0KBvLU7I/AAAAAAAADGk/_WwbG5Af8hs/P1060985_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Earl taking a break, leaning on his monopod, before we head back down to the parking lot." width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">You can see the moraine (black) and melting running water that sometimes pools in the ice. Here is a closer look at the Harding Icefield and the waterfalls coming from it.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hEfocB2nMkM/U9S0PXBuP-I/AAAAAAAADHM/mJ1C4GhR7qA/s1600-h/P1060991%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="This is the glacier at the top where the Harding Icefield is. It is producing a lot of runoff in the formof waterfalls." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ElBOKErSVR0/U9S0Qa3VdWI/AAAAAAAADHU/z1qPGOIQxjc/P1060991_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="165" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is the glacier at the top where the Harding Icefield is. It is producing a lot of runoff in the formof waterfalls." width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti1KHk_aoi8BVPZr_vikyNHMWGj8wk1i4Zpybq52uN5T1RJCVU7kzzLrzlBkuvlUgr1sNh2zmK_su8eU7_g6hfUo_l6cX53FZG7tfDF1DadR_sO9mbMBicAFwjo3-T94VP_VD934GpJpx/s1600-h/P1060983%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="The black is ground up rock that the glacier has gathered from the mountain sides as it grinds its way down , forming a valley. Small pool of water right above the black area in the middle." border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-57AzVjsSq2s/U9S0N4jW30I/AAAAAAAADHE/9uyOqsOP68E/P1060983_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The black is ground up rock that the glacier has gathered from the mountain sides as it grinds its way down , forming a valley. Small pool of water right above the black area in the middle." width="244" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We saw people at the base of the glacier (zoomed way in), even though there a multitude of signs warning of the danger of doing that because it is unpredictable as to when a chunk of ice may calve off. The river running from the base of the glacier is pretty gray. That is because it contains a lot of "glacial flour" or finely ground rock suspended in the water.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-szzXRRSQxqU/U9S0RLYYIhI/AAAAAAAADHc/smbjhF9T3Ks/s1600-h/P1060980%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="People at the base of the glacier. Lots of warning signs about the danger of doing that." border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ukxFjQzPZ00/U9S0R4seTfI/AAAAAAAADHk/W8rIIjgb9kU/P1060980_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="People at the base of the glacier. Lots of warning signs about the danger of doing that." width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">On our way out of the park, we stopped for a photo op. You can see how the river sort of splits and winds its way through the moraine. They call it a braided river, when it does that.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K2YAiwpewmk/U9S0Udxdv0I/AAAAAAAADH8/I-UfZTMW-5g/s1600-h/P1070005%25255B7%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Earl and Fran in front of Exit glacier" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pEaAvqOKSgQ/U9S0VEDOJ3I/AAAAAAAADIE/UI-Gowep0fE/P1070005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Earl and Fran in front of Exit glacier" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-al-Xp8VHeBQ/U9S0S-ilH7I/AAAAAAAADHs/TBXJ2U1wyGs/s1600-h/P1070004%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Exit Glacier" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O3XxCwqGjvM/U9S0TQw-agI/AAAAAAAADH0/P6Fr0AV3BM4/P1070004_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Exit Glacier" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Here is the sign for the day. We were exploring the area near the docks and saw this one. I think it is trying to tell us that the railroad bed is elevated and long wheelbased vehicles should be careful that they don’t become high centered and get stuck on the tracks. By the time we got back to the trailer, the tide had come back in. Everything that was exposed along the shore was now covered back up and small waves were lapping the rocks near our parking place.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-px4LHZv4mJo/U9S0XhBbNeI/AAAAAAAADIc/ok_1K9B-xP4/s1600-h/P1070024%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The tide is just about in." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2EfXWNHhksA/U9S0YXZ9o7I/AAAAAAAADIk/szxsRMwvTNw/P1070024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The tide is just about in." width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8vQ99O_zEpR-jPcABcughrd7R2r7kHGoab4Dx63_XcT3KBJIiJXLrOjCBfEMpt8YNFRj-oQS5E3qQu6gYhyphenhyphenqJG0xZ4mnM92BE63u2xG3d66bLWFmXl78BK4EV0qRND0k5RSdMhlFoKDa/s1600-h/P1070012%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Another unusual sign warning that the railroad bed is elevated from the road and hitches or other parts of the trailer may drag" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZrcZjUgXXKI/U9S0W83xqkI/AAAAAAAADIU/Xq4PXYgir88/P1070012_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Another unusual sign warning that the railroad bed is elevated from the road and hitches or other parts of the trailer may drag" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, out in Resurrection Bay, the sea gulls were having a grand time feasting on something, probably fish pieces that had been washed off the fishing boats, after they came into the harbor, and were now traveling with the current out to the bay. The white line is all sea gulls with more flying above. And, our friendly resident otter was doing his otter thing just off shore. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O8nRRXJOq3Y/U9S0a_Kb2AI/AAAAAAAADI8/1-dVVAS1KFM/s1600-h/P1070023%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Our resident otter" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2JK_fqm6RtE/U9S0b1ivTGI/AAAAAAAADJE/z6y-chs7We8/P1070023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Our resident otter" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D-CRPvLZlqI/U9S0ZWg40ZI/AAAAAAAADIs/IZb24hR2g7Q/s1600-h/P1070017%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="The white line across the middle of the photo is made up of hundreds of seagulls. They were there eating something that must have been very good." border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-41RrEaTjRJU/U9S0aP4OMlI/AAAAAAAADI0/R-zZxFXiHd0/P1070017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The white line across the middle of the photo is made up of hundreds of seagulls. They were there eating something that must have been very good." width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Earl, ever observant, saw this eagle perched on the pilings not far from us. You can see the sea gulls (white dots) in the background. Suddenly, he/she started squawking. Was he calling a friend?</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-INwF-TNBknw/U9S0eYDBHBI/AAAAAAAADJc/vQ83vHhVV58/s1600-h/P1070058%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Calling a friend?" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZJJK3IHZ_N8/U9S0fpCm5aI/AAAAAAAADJk/tUku3TCiRKU/P1070058_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Calling a friend?" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y22hLoJBe9M/U9S0csl7vKI/AAAAAAAADJM/9qXFyY7rUXI/s1600-h/P1070042%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Eaagle at Seward, AK" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qniEL50uQN8/U9S0dcQeWNI/AAAAAAAADJU/x48RUOa3BR4/P1070042_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Eaagle at Seward, AK" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sure enough, another eagle came and landed on the next piling. Then they both began squawking. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e4cwz-IkIZI/U9S0iPM1upI/AAAAAAAADJ8/FPwcMO8Vdlo/s1600-h/P1070062%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Squak! Squak!" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W_eXPiyt3E8/U9S0jL4IJUI/AAAAAAAADKE/MnHhxpsElC4/P1070062_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Squak! Squak!" width="244" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bQx4u4eSmpk/U9S0gjRa8mI/AAAAAAAADJs/5YYDgiX7CMw/s1600-h/P1070060%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Next thing we knew, someone else came for a visit" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FUIvMCnPVRw/U9S0hQ2zn3I/AAAAAAAADJ0/INHU6UX-KCM/P1070060_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="164" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Next thing we knew, someone else came for a visit" width="244" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Finally, there was peace. All of the eagle pictures were taken between 9:55 PM and 10:05 PM. It is still quite light at that time here.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-naFDPlOp3GM/U9S0j_qNa_I/AAAAAAAADKM/88FrmauM61A/s1600-h/P1070067%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Eagles side by side" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jcKV1qAWVUc/U9S0k9xUwgI/AAAAAAAADKU/eFYL0jnOms4/P1070067_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; cursor: move; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Eagles side by side" unselectable="on" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We’re going to miss this place, when we move on tomorrow.</span><br />
<br />Earl and Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653019720924135432noreply@blogger.com0