Alaska #24 Juneau

After I arrived in Juneau yesterday (see #23), I boarded a bus to go downtown. On the bus, I learned some of the history of Juneau and learned to talk like a native. I now refer to "the road," "the bridge," and "the canal." 
After watching cousins Jim and Pat eat crab legs for lunch, I got to wander into some of the shops on Main Street. I looked at diamonds, emeralds, etc., and found everything to be out of my price range. I had hoped to buy a nice ring for Tedi (Tedi and I met in Jasper--See post #3) but just couldn't afford a nice one.
Later in the afternoon, I re-boarded the bus and visited Mendenhall Glacier (See photo). I saw a nice movie and another presentation about how the glacier is receding. It has receded about 2.5 miles since the mid-1700s.
From the glacier, it was back to the Fjordland Express, our 85' catamaran, for the return trip to Haines.
I have a feeling Captian Glen is going to be watching me very carefully on this trip.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 23 Fjordland Express

Yesterday I was on the Fjordland Express on the way from Haines, AK, to Juneau when Captain Glen Jacobson turned away and I took control of the boat. We got to Juneau safely and I had a great time. I will tell you more about the trip in the next posting.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 22 Tok to Kluane Lake

 Yesterday we drove from Tok, AK, to Destruction Day, Yukon (Kluane Lake). The top picture shows some of the construction on the Alaska Highway in Yukon Territory. This was one of the better parts of the construction area. It took seven hours to drive 224 miles.
The botton picture is one of the rewards of traveling the highway--a grizzly bear walked out onto the highway right in front of the motor home. He decided to go back to the side of the road and watch us pass by.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 21 Alyeska Pipeline

 After panning for gold yesterday, I visited The Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). I am sitting on one of the thousands of supports for the 800-mile pipeline which has carried over 16 billion barrels of oil since it was completed in 1977.
Currently, the pipeline carries about 500,000 barrels/day, which is about 1/4 of capacity.
The support I am sitting on is designed to move so that heat, cold and even earthquakes will not damage the sturcture.
Even though the actual pipe is 48" in diameter, in the lower picture I am inspecting a sample of the welding which was done on the pipeline. Since the pipeline was designed to last 30 years, I guess the welders did a good job.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 20 Panning or Gold

 Yesterday I went to Gold Dredge #8 near Fairbanks and panned for gold. My assistant (left) was very helpful and in the botton picture--if you look very carefully in the lower left area of the pan--you can see the $12.00 worth of gold I (we) successfully panned.
I sure am glad I don't have to do this for a living.
They had a $75,000.00 gold nugget for me to hold. I don't know why I was being watched so closely!!
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska #19 (North Pole)

Yesterday I went to North Pole, Alaska (about 10 miles from Fairbanks) and met Santa Claus and some of his helpers. I told him I have been good--I think he believed me-- and he promised to bring some presents to me on Christmas.
Cousins Jim and Pat visited the local Elks Lodge #1551 and had lunch while meeting some of the local people. The lodge is the "fartherest north" lodge.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 18 Fairbanks

 After a great time in Denali, I have traveled to Fairbanks. After a great dinner at Salmon Bake and a funny show depicting the history of Fairbanks, I took a short trip on the riverboat "Discovery" on the Chena River to Chena Village. Here I met some Chena Athabascan Indians who told me how their families lived 100 years ago.
I learned alot about life here before the prospectors came; I don't think I would care to have lived then. The winters here are harsh enough now at minus 40 degrees F with all the modern conveniences.

The parka being modeled (left) may have been very warm, but.....it is still cold and dark during the winter.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 17 Denali

The other day I got to tour Denali National Park and Cousin Jim managed to get a picture of Denali (McKinley Peak) from the bus. I think we were about 60 miles away at the time. In addition to getting to see the peak before the clouds rolled in, I also saw a Grizzly bear with two cubs, a caribou, Dall sheep and other wildlife.
Our our driver said we were lucky to see Denali this summer because of all the rain. There have been very few days when the peak has been visible.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 16

Today, I visited the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage and made a new friend: her name is Allison Castillo, and she is an Inca Native working as an intern this summer. She told me about the traditional and contemporary ways of the indigenous cultures of Alaska.
In other exhibits, I learned how the contact with the European/American cultures after 1750 wiped out over 90% of the natives of Alaska through disease, etc., and how many traditions were lost because of the influence of Christian missionaries. One of the goals of the Heritage Center is to retain the values and traditions of the Natives in a changing world.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 15 Homer

I just spent a few days in Homer. I watched lots of fishing boats come and go and took advantage of eating some of the fresh halibut and salmon the "fishers" were bringing back. I didn't go out on a boat, but those who did said it was lots of fun.
I spend more time meeting the people of Homer and learning about the past and present in this great little town on the Kenai Peninsula.
I have seen more bald eagles here than anywhere else on the trip. I sure is fun to watch them go fishing.
Warmest rregards, Gus

Alaska # 14 Seward

After spending the 4th of July in Palmer, I traveled to Seward for a couple of day. One of the places I visited was the Kenai Fjords National Park where I went to Exit Glacier (backgrund).
Also while in Seward, I visited the Alaska SeaLife Center, Mile Marker "0" of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race, and took a Dinner Cruise to Fox Island.
It was a busy two days and then it was on to Homer.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska #13 Palmer

On July 4th, I traveled from Valdez to Palmer, AK.  Before having a big 4th of July picnic, I went to an elk and reindeer farm and got up close and personal with the animals. I was able to feed them look them right in the eye.
After the picnic, cousins Jim and Pat went to the Palmer Elks Lodge and met some  nice people. The night before in Valdez, they went to the Elks Lodge and cousin Jim by chance ran into one of his former students from Los Alamos High (Lee Bauke) who had graduated in 1983.
After one night in Palmer, we moved on to Seward.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 12 Valdez

Yesterday I took a cruise on the Valez Spirit in the Prince William Sound to view the Columbia and Mears Glaciers and to see some wildlife. I saw many humpback whales, sea otters, stellar sea lions, harbor seals, horned puffins and bald eagles. It was a great 9-hour trip on a beautiful, sunny day.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska #11

Here I am with proof that I have traveled the Top of the World Highway! This is an experience I need only once!
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska #10 Dawson City, Yukon

I had a great day in Dawson City, Yukon. During the day I toured many of the local historical sites such as the old banks, a bar, the post office, etc. I also visited the Jack London Museum and Cabin and the Robert Service Cabin. I drove up to the Dome, where I could see the whole town along the Yukon River. At one time it was believed that you could stand at the Dome and see the sun set and rise at the same time on June 21st. Actually, the sun set at 11:30 P.M.and rose again at 2:00 A.M.
At night I met Diamond Tooth Gertie and her dancers and enjoyed the singing the dancing. Tomorrow it is on to The Top of the World Road, across the border and to Chicken, Alaska.
Warmest regards, Gus