This is Joan's email to Helen and Bob
In spite of knowing you don't like long emails, I think you might get a kick out of the latest adventure we had. I wrote this up for Dave's blog,but considering the slant, it might end up onthe cutting room floor. This place was just north of Cache Creek and I wish we'd gone there rather than where we did in CC. There was a roadhouse to tour, a house, a stagecoach ride, and a dinner of ribs and chicken wit apple pie!
Here's the other part of the story:
Most things are my fault. Dave can figure out the connectivity to any thought process or activity with a bad ending to a mistake I have clearly made. The other day, I didn't have the end point programmed into the GPS and although I wanted to do it quickly, it was my fault and was not allowed to go near the GPS until we were good and lost, clearly because I wasn't quick enough to grab the GPS to make it right. Fault is important to Dave, and even as I write this, I know it will be the reason something is my fault. I remember learning about "if - then" clauses and logic in Gr 12 Math, thought I understood, but now forty five years later, I finally understand that I did not.
This is why I take great delight in telling what happened today. Let's start with, it was probably my fault, and get that out of the way. I can't tell you why yet, but Dave will. We pulled into our next night at Hat Creek Ranch. I blurted out something about registering as we passed the sign, but Dave said we'd do it later after we picked out our spot. Once in, we set up, had a drink, sat to enjoy the sudden sun and heat, and then went off to find out about the tour of the ranch, and, oh yes, to register. The Blarn and I stayed outside because it's his fault he's a dog and can't go in to most of these places even though Dave asks about him every time. I can't stand the rejection, so I stay outside with him. Dave came out sheepishly and said we had to move. Someone else had reserved our spot and the one beside it. He said the sign didn't make it clear and I didn't read it aloud to him again as we went by it.
You know what they say about moving short distances: they are more likely to take longer and are more trouble. Actually, I think we said that after moving a block from Westbury to Bellcrest. I don't actually think it was anyone famous who originally said it. So, we went into our routine of prepping the trailer, moving the blocks, putting up the jacks and hitching trailer to truck.
Blarn and I walked over to the new site and prepared to guide Dave in. He wheeled around rapidly and started to back up. Klunk. What? Dave hopped out of the truck, and said, "it's the microwave". I rolled my eyes. That microwave has used up three or four lives already. He looked into the trailer and declared, "it's face down this time". More eye rolling, and I mentally totted up how many more days we had to go. Simultaneously, we both shrieked: "the truck!" which had taken the opportunity to sneakily start rolling forward to try to escape to Whistler without us. Yup, Blarn and I were in the campsite, Dave was behind the trailer, and I don't think I was that bad at Grade 12 math not to be able to figure out that no other people were left, and that truck was on its own. Someone must have forgotten to set the parking brake. The image of the truck and trailer rolling forward on a bunny hill compared to any hill at Blackcomb had nothing to do with the terror in our own minds.
DAVE'S ADDITION
I ran like hell to catch the truck. Had to jump in while it was moving. Thank goodness I'd left the door open. There are some my age that might thrown up there hands and cried as the whole rig disappeared over the horizon. I felt like the Lone Ranger leaping onto Silver. Hi yo Barbie!
It's not important about what happened, but when I stuck my head into the trailer I thought the smell of gas might be. I told Dave. "I'll finish unhooking first," he muttered. I thought I'd better have a look, and saw the microwave had knocked one of the gas stove knobs to an on position. You're seeing the same pattern that I am, aren't you? As my grandmother used to say when something jumped in her way to stub her toe, "damn these inanimate objects." That microwave can and will be replaced. It has a lot of fault on its spindly uneven only-three-left little legs. IF it falls, THEN it is gone. Have I got that if-then stuff figured out yet? Or am I in trouble and at fault once again?
We decided to enjoy dinner at the ranch and to use the time saved to plan where we would put the new microwave and a better place for the television, too. These damn inanimate objects sure can take it out of you, and there are so many of them. That's probably why it could be my fault. I think I figured it out myself this time, or maybe I'm starting to think like Dave.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Whitehorse June 25
When Bob and Helen turned in their van they were hit with two unpleasant surprises. They received a ticket for going through a red light somewhere down on the lower mainland. We wouldn't have been surprised if the ticket had originated while they were following us since there were many times we'd gone through an amber and they'd followed close behind. The second shock was the Canadream refusal to pay for the tire they purchased. They claimed it was "damage incurred during the rental period". Bob and Helen had been told on the phone to "go ahead with any necessary repairs". After these disappointments we drove them into town to the Edgewater Hotel and a quick lunch in the sun at an outdoor cafe across the street. Joan and I bought a print featuring Robert Service's cabin.
We converged on Freda's condo for a second but quieter visit and returned her album. We toured a special place on the river called Miles Canyon where the walls are vertical basalt columns and the water surges through with great force. The canyon is spanned by a pedestrian suspension bridge. Blarney was fine until we reached the middle and it began to sway, then he wanted off pronto, just like Joan.
More partying! We visited Gina's cabin on Marsh Lake about 40 minutes out of Whitehorse and were happy to find David, Dory and Jessie already there. Had a great tour of both cabins and many goodies and stories.
Blarney was a slug getting up after his wild partying on the river. I've never known him to be slow to the breakfast table! We literally kicked him out of bed!
We converged on Freda's condo for a second but quieter visit and returned her album. We toured a special place on the river called Miles Canyon where the walls are vertical basalt columns and the water surges through with great force. The canyon is spanned by a pedestrian suspension bridge. Blarney was fine until we reached the middle and it began to sway, then he wanted off pronto, just like Joan.
More partying! We visited Gina's cabin on Marsh Lake about 40 minutes out of Whitehorse and were happy to find David, Dory and Jessie already there. Had a great tour of both cabins and many goodies and stories.
Blarney was a slug getting up after his wild partying on the river. I've never known him to be slow to the breakfast table! We literally kicked him out of bed!
Skagway to Whitehorse June 24
The ride from Skagway to Whitehorse is winding and through high divides with winds and snow patches. The border point in on a mountain ridge marked by a huge Inukshuk erected by Kiwanis service clubs. There are many wonderful views.
We arrived at the Hi Country RV on the outskirts of Whitehorse in the early afternoon and were surprised to meet Helen almost immediately. We booked a site sharing a backyard with them in this very busy place. None of the spaces were wide enough for large vehicles. A few minutes after our arrival a huge fifth wheel with two very wide slideouts moved in next door. When their slideout was extended it was just 6 inches from our picnic table!
Gina and Freda came about 4 oclock to lead us out to David Storey's large property for a barbecue. David and Dory keep a busy hobby farm with chickens, goats, horses and dogs. The dogs were a pack of four that swirled around Blarney the moment he hit the ground running and barking. They were sniffing every part of him with noses as big as his head. I let him off the leash and after two or three minutes of swirling about they settled to an uneasy peace. By the time we reached the river's edge for a barbecue a few minutes later, Blarney was the little buddy for a couple of them and led some wild and hilarious chases through our chairs and under the tables.
We all had great visits reminiscing with Freda. It had been forty years since Bob and Helen had seen David and about thirty since Ken and Freda had visited New Zealand. Everyone enjoyed browsing a thirty year old album that Freda had along.
We arrived at the Hi Country RV on the outskirts of Whitehorse in the early afternoon and were surprised to meet Helen almost immediately. We booked a site sharing a backyard with them in this very busy place. None of the spaces were wide enough for large vehicles. A few minutes after our arrival a huge fifth wheel with two very wide slideouts moved in next door. When their slideout was extended it was just 6 inches from our picnic table!
Gina and Freda came about 4 oclock to lead us out to David Storey's large property for a barbecue. David and Dory keep a busy hobby farm with chickens, goats, horses and dogs. The dogs were a pack of four that swirled around Blarney the moment he hit the ground running and barking. They were sniffing every part of him with noses as big as his head. I let him off the leash and after two or three minutes of swirling about they settled to an uneasy peace. By the time we reached the river's edge for a barbecue a few minutes later, Blarney was the little buddy for a couple of them and led some wild and hilarious chases through our chairs and under the tables.
We all had great visits reminiscing with Freda. It had been forty years since Bob and Helen had seen David and about thirty since Ken and Freda had visited New Zealand. Everyone enjoyed browsing a thirty year old album that Freda had along.
Haines to Skagway June 23
We entered Skagway after a scenic, 30 minute, $160, ferry ride. Three cruise ships were in the harbour, meaning about 4000 extra souls were roaming the streets. Hail former patrons! We'd been there twice before with the wallowing hoards.
The downtown Gardencity RV park was a busy place with a community laundry, no registration, no locked WC and double back-in spaces. This was to be a crowded park. Our host on seeing Blarney said, in a rich, southern drawl, "Ya wore that darn dog's legs right off!" Joan and I thought it was the funniest quote of the day.
Joan found a unique and very fine quilting shop. It was unique because almost every other shop in Skagway is souvenirs, T-shirts, jewelry, tours or restaurant. Blarney and I weaved among the tourists and eventually settled on a sunny bench near the shop. "You waiting too?" was a phrase I heard often. Blarney stayed under the bench behind my legs to catch the shade.
As tourists we did a tourist thing, we went to the Klondike graveyard and Reid Falls. The Falls were named after Reid (first name lost) who shot Soapy Smith dead but was fatally wounded himself. Soapy Smith was a notorious thug and con man in the wild days of 1898, that needed to be stopped. They're buried in the same graveyard although Reid has the largest tombstone.
We were busy taking snaps of the White Pass locomotive as it thundered past us on the way into town. Somewhere, Joan found mention of a photo contest, not too many details, but about the train doing its daily work. The contest never reappeared but we have many pictures of this popular train.
Later in the afternoon a heavy wind came up and we were reminded that Skagway is a native word for "windy place". I cycled a few back roads and discovered four large parking lots bulging with tour buses of every size. No doubt this town couldn't survive without the cruise ships.
We ran out of Blarney food and Joan bought him a standard can of dog food. After finding her glasses and reading the label she shoveled out more than half the can based on "recommendations for a small dog" printed on the label. Blarney was turning cartwheels! Later we discovered the recommendation was for a "daily allowance" not a singe meal. Since Blarney had already had breakfast and sundry snacks, he was smiling wickedly behind all the burps.
The downtown Gardencity RV park was a busy place with a community laundry, no registration, no locked WC and double back-in spaces. This was to be a crowded park. Our host on seeing Blarney said, in a rich, southern drawl, "Ya wore that darn dog's legs right off!" Joan and I thought it was the funniest quote of the day.
Joan found a unique and very fine quilting shop. It was unique because almost every other shop in Skagway is souvenirs, T-shirts, jewelry, tours or restaurant. Blarney and I weaved among the tourists and eventually settled on a sunny bench near the shop. "You waiting too?" was a phrase I heard often. Blarney stayed under the bench behind my legs to catch the shade.
As tourists we did a tourist thing, we went to the Klondike graveyard and Reid Falls. The Falls were named after Reid (first name lost) who shot Soapy Smith dead but was fatally wounded himself. Soapy Smith was a notorious thug and con man in the wild days of 1898, that needed to be stopped. They're buried in the same graveyard although Reid has the largest tombstone.
We were busy taking snaps of the White Pass locomotive as it thundered past us on the way into town. Somewhere, Joan found mention of a photo contest, not too many details, but about the train doing its daily work. The contest never reappeared but we have many pictures of this popular train.
Later in the afternoon a heavy wind came up and we were reminded that Skagway is a native word for "windy place". I cycled a few back roads and discovered four large parking lots bulging with tour buses of every size. No doubt this town couldn't survive without the cruise ships.
We ran out of Blarney food and Joan bought him a standard can of dog food. After finding her glasses and reading the label she shoveled out more than half the can based on "recommendations for a small dog" printed on the label. Blarney was turning cartwheels! Later we discovered the recommendation was for a "daily allowance" not a singe meal. Since Blarney had already had breakfast and sundry snacks, he was smiling wickedly behind all the burps.
Kluane Lake to Haines Junction
Joan and I said our goodbyes early and hit the road before 8am. We hoped to reach Haines by 3pm to meet some friends. The road was excellent and the views spectacular. We left the flat muskeg of permafrost and rolling, rutted roads and climbed into mountains and alpine. Three black bears, and two moose showed themselves along the route. By noon we reached Haines and found a spot at the Oceanside RV Park. It was about a dozen spaces above the beach which afforded us excellent views of the harbour. One cruise ship, the Zaandam, was in port. "Yup, it's Wednesday, cruise ship day," our host said.
We'd been to Haines about ten years ago and toured only the "Fort". This visit we had time for a little shopping and a drive around looking at all the changes. The town was very busy with traffic and walking tourists.
At 3:30 we left Blarney in the trailer and drove up the hill to the Pioneer Bar where we would meet Ted and Judy, Joan's internet travel friends who were cruising on the Zaandam. The Pioneer was billed as a typical Alaskan bar, a bit gloomy, rustic and walls covered with memorabilia. Two very noisy patrons were drinking at the bar but the rest of the place was empty. Right on 3:30 Ted and Judy arrived and we began sampling the local beers. There were many laughs and many pictures, some from a tripod set on the bar with the timer.
Somewhere along the highway coming into Haines, Blarney found odours of ground squirrels that sent his mind controls into a tail spin. He went down a steep, gravel slope before he realized he might not get back up. He wandered off into the hinterland without heeding his master's calls. Stubborn Daschund! He was smirking when he returned to the trailer!
We'd been to Haines about ten years ago and toured only the "Fort". This visit we had time for a little shopping and a drive around looking at all the changes. The town was very busy with traffic and walking tourists.
At 3:30 we left Blarney in the trailer and drove up the hill to the Pioneer Bar where we would meet Ted and Judy, Joan's internet travel friends who were cruising on the Zaandam. The Pioneer was billed as a typical Alaskan bar, a bit gloomy, rustic and walls covered with memorabilia. Two very noisy patrons were drinking at the bar but the rest of the place was empty. Right on 3:30 Ted and Judy arrived and we began sampling the local beers. There were many laughs and many pictures, some from a tripod set on the bar with the timer.
Somewhere along the highway coming into Haines, Blarney found odours of ground squirrels that sent his mind controls into a tail spin. He went down a steep, gravel slope before he realized he might not get back up. He wandered off into the hinterland without heeding his master's calls. Stubborn Daschund! He was smirking when he returned to the trailer!
Beaver Creek on the worst road ever!
We gasped great sighs of relief when the road surface finally became smooth again. Driving a rolling, potholed, sometimes washboard gravel surface put us on edge for many miles after it had ended. We would tense at every rise and slow for suspicious colour changes. We were very happy to end our driving day in a park called Cottonwood RV on Kluane Lake. About two clicks before the park we stopped and watched a brown (grizzly) bear grazing along the highway shoulder. It was the first time any of us had ever seen a grizzly in the wild.
Our sites allowed peekaboo views over the lake and the far off mountains. There were trees and a beach. Signs were all around warning against bears. Closeup bear pictures were posted around the office. No garbage was collected. We were expected to protect and haul out our own. The camp used generator power so 15 amps was standard. We were forewarned against using heating appliances that might blow a circuit. The wonderful location easily overshadowed any downside including some persistent "fish flies" and a few mosquitoes. This was our first time to feel bothered by bugs.
I launched my kayak almost immediately and paddled back the way we'd come thinking I might spy the bear again. I hugged the shore for a full thirty minutes but saw nothing, but the paddle was fresh and envigorating. Delicious, Costco barbecued ribs made a great end to our agonies on the bad road. It was the third meal of ribs since the journey began. It was also the last day with Bob and Helen. We would be parting ways. They would head to Whitehorse while we went to Haines and Skagway. Their journey would include Skagway after bussing to Carmack and then boarding a train. Their final leg home would be by ferry to Port Hardy.
Blarney and I chased the ball and the bugs along the shore of the lake. A narrow margin of sand bordered the water's edge and Blarney consistently carried the ball there when he retrieved it, so we began playing in the shallows. The water was close to freezing but it didn't stop him from going in over his chest to snap a ball.
Our sites allowed peekaboo views over the lake and the far off mountains. There were trees and a beach. Signs were all around warning against bears. Closeup bear pictures were posted around the office. No garbage was collected. We were expected to protect and haul out our own. The camp used generator power so 15 amps was standard. We were forewarned against using heating appliances that might blow a circuit. The wonderful location easily overshadowed any downside including some persistent "fish flies" and a few mosquitoes. This was our first time to feel bothered by bugs.
I launched my kayak almost immediately and paddled back the way we'd come thinking I might spy the bear again. I hugged the shore for a full thirty minutes but saw nothing, but the paddle was fresh and envigorating. Delicious, Costco barbecued ribs made a great end to our agonies on the bad road. It was the third meal of ribs since the journey began. It was also the last day with Bob and Helen. We would be parting ways. They would head to Whitehorse while we went to Haines and Skagway. Their journey would include Skagway after bussing to Carmack and then boarding a train. Their final leg home would be by ferry to Port Hardy.
Blarney and I chased the ball and the bugs along the shore of the lake. A narrow margin of sand bordered the water's edge and Blarney consistently carried the ball there when he retrieved it, so we began playing in the shallows. The water was close to freezing but it didn't stop him from going in over his chest to snap a ball.
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