Out of Canada

Date: 7/14/13                                    Time Zone: CDT

Location: Topeka KS

Travel Leg of journey: 37                        Day of journey: 72

Miles traveled today:            495                        Miles traveled since departure: 10,651

Percentage of travel completed: 96.8% [we are exceeding our estimated milage]

U.S. states visited today: CO, KS

Critters observed today: eagles, bison, 1 lot lizard [truck stop hooker]

Our Recent Travel

The beautiful scenery that we have observed on this journey exceeded our wildest imaginations. In Alaska we traveled the Seward Hwy from Glennallen to Palmer, said to be the most scenic in Alaska. It was gorgeous, following a glacier fed river at the base of snow-covered mountains that held several glaciers. And in British Columbia, we found, by accident, beautiful Stewart BC. We had targeted Stewart as a convenient stopover on our way south, and had never heard of it before. Stewart lies at the head of a 90 mile long fiord right across the river from southern Alaska. The area has very steep mountains and 20 glaciers, many feeding the river that empties into the fiord. Resident black and grizzly bears were said to await the annual salmon run to gorge themselves, though we saw none while there. The next day we traveled Rt. 37 south toward Vernon BC, which is considered by many the most scenic road in BC. In my opinion, BC wins this beauty contest hands down. We passed more snow covered mountains and dozens of lakes. Many of these outrageously blue lakes were over 20 miles long with no houses, cabins or piers on their shores, or boats plying their waters. Absolutely pristine in their unspoiled solitude. As we moved farther south we encountered high desert regions surrounded by more mountains, surprising to us this far north. Then more, longer lakes and quiet, upscale communities that blended into the landscape quite well. The road along the lake south of Vernon was built up on the mountainside, allowing travelers great views of the lake and surrounding areas. This design also permitted campgrounds and recreational facilities to be sited along the lake edges, away from the traffic noise of the road, a win-win situation for travelers and recreational enthusiasts alike. Nearer the US border we passed through beautiful wine and fruit growing areas. My favorite winery name: Dirty Laundry Vineyards. When we finally reached the US border, we were challenged by US Customs officials as to what articles we may be bringing back into the US. They boarded our motor home for inspection. Their own cupboards must have been bare, for the female agent went straight for the refrigerator. She confiscated our only lemon, and a lone plum. She had the audacity to tell Nancy that she needed to clean out her crisper! Another agent confiscated our firewood, no doubt for their campfire later that night. So off we went, back into the “lower 48” as Alaskans refer to it. It was a great feeling to be back. We rejoiced in the facts that we had cell phone service almost continuously as we rode on, and in the smooth roads of our first encounters with Interstate highways in weeks, which made our travel so much easier.

Glacier Hwy near Stewart AK

                                               

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