Our Alaska Trip 6

7/27/19 Cool weather today. Harlan is working on the RV and the

doors of the outside compartments. The roads here have taken a toll on
our RV. I vacuumed the RV this morning. Daisy fell out of the chair onto
the floor but quickly turned herself around. I don’t think she was hurt but it
did scare her. May have a bruise or 2 but not acting like she is hurt.

Went to play Mini Golf they had at the RV Park. I haven’t played in so long
that I wasn’t very good. Harlan got a hole in one several times, but I didn’t
even come close. But I need to go back and practice my shots so I will
play better next time. Harlan had to fix another leak and dry out the
compartment. He is fixing chicken outside now and I am baking another
apple pie.

7/28/fair 19 We are getting ready to leave about 10 today. We are

headed to Fairbanks. It is not that far. When we got here we stayed in a
Walmart parking lot. Harlan went shopping and got us some things. We
were able to watch TV. Haven’t seen TV in a long time. Left this am to go
to the ATT store to change over Stacy’s phone to an account for us. We
could not keep her same number so her phone has a new number
832-322-8442. I still have the phone and everything on it but not her old
number. They took out the sim card with her old number. I was afraid I
would loose all information on her phone, but that doesn’t happen. Thank
goodness.

We have pulled into Pioneer Park RV. It was only $12 a day to park.
No hookups but a nice wide spot on the Asphalt parking spaces. I saw a
gate to the park and went in. There were a lot of interesting things to see.
There was a Frontier Town, rides for kids, a train that went around the
park. Also exhibits, and buildings from the old days. There were also
street vendors selling food and crafts and books. I met an author who
wrote a book “Over Rainbows” It’s about 2 sisters who come to Alaska

and an evil force follows them while the try and solve a mystery.

7/30/19 Today Harlan and I both went into the Park. We saw the SS
Nenana Ship. I is located in the center of Pioneer Park. The SS Nenana is
the largest steam-powered wooden stern wheeler ever built west of the
Mississippi River. This was on the plaque infant of her. The Steamer SS
Nenana commissioned in 1933 has been designated a National Historic
Landmark. This vessel possesses National Significance in
commemorating the history of the United States of America. The SS
Nenana is the last steamer of her type remaining in the United States, and
the second largest wooden vessel in existence.

National Park Service United States Department of the Interior

1989

This steamer was built in 1933 for the Alaska Railroad for service on the
Yukon, Nenana and Tannana rivers. She could carry up to 300 tons of
freight and carried military cargos during World War II, including lend-lease
aircraft en route to Russia. The “Lost Lady of the River” was retired in
1955 and brought to Fairbanks to be preserved.

Also near the Pioneer Park from entrance you can see the Harding car.
This was the elegant railroad car President Warren G. Harding traveled in
while touring the territory just two weeks before he died in California from
a heart attack. Harding was the first chief executive officer to visit the
territory (Alaska) and came to Fairbanks to celebrate the completion of the
Alaska railroad. While in the park we also saw the Pioneer Air museum
and the Railroad museum. Both we very interesting and was from Alaska’s
early history.

7/31/19 Nice sunny morning. Harlan working outside on

compartment doors. We went into town to the Farmers Market. I bought
a bag of popcorn being made there called Sugar Corn. I really is like Kettle
Corn in Houston. Can you believe she put the corn in a bag that was 27’’
tall. This will last a long time. Also bought some homemade fudge. Yum!
From there we went into town and went to a Beer joint called Lavelles Tap
House. While there saw a sign that said How to make a Fuzz Duster. Step
1: Open a bottle of space dust. Step 2: Pour half a glass of Space Dust.
Step 3: Open a bottle of Super Fuzz. Step 4: Top off the glass with Super
Fuzz. Step 5: Take a sip! Elysian Brewing - Super Fuzz blood orange
pale ale - Space Dust IPA Elysian Brewing. Came home after that. Met 2
nice guys at the Brewery.

8/1/19 Raining this morning.May rain all day. We took a trip to the
Antique Auto Museum. They have over 95 rare automobiles in their
collection. They also had a vintage clothing display that was worn during
the times of the cars. The automobiles were amazing. They have been
restored to pristine condition and look new. The oldest was the 1898 Hay
motor Vehicle. This Hay Motor Vehicle is the oldest four - cylinder, internal
combustion American automobile known to exist. The 1899 Hertel
Runabout although cleverly engineered, the Hertel is basically an engine
and body mounted between two bicycle frames. The tires were like bicycle

wheels. It’s front wheels are mounted to bicycle forks and steered any a
tiller attached to the right front wheel. This was a transition from bicycles
to automobiles. The 1903 Columbia Mark XIX Electric Surrey. Many
consider the Columbia to be the first commercially viable electric motor
car produced for personal use in the United States. At the turn of the 20th
century electric cars far outnumbered gasoline (or more properly , internal
combustion) automobiles, although they were mostly limited to large cities
where battery-recharging stations were readily available. Guess they want
us to go back to the 20th century using nothing but electric cars and get
rid of gasoline forever.

There were also several Packard cars on display. One was a1936 Packard
that was a Seven Passenger 1408 Dual windshield touring car. Harlan’s
brother was fond of the Packard automobiles and had a Packard that he
was trying to fix.

After we had gone to the museum we went back to the tap room.

8/2/19 It is raining this morning and later in the day it began raining
harder. This is our 50th Anniversary and we are going out to eat tonight.
Was lazy during the day. Went to Lavelle’s Bistro downtown. The food
was great. We had champagne with the meal. We took an uber there and
back. Daisy was happy to see us when we got back.

8/3/19 It was raining this morning. Slept in a bit. Then got up

dressed and batten down the hatches. Made sure everything was secure.
Left the RV Park in Fairbanks about 10.00. I followed Harlan in the
TrailBlazer car. Harlan was going to the dump station and get fuel before
we took off. He got to the dump station in a State Park and was able to
get drinking water to fill up. While doing this it began to rain again. After
getting gas he hook up the car and we were on our way headed to Tok Ak.
Saw some pretty sights along the way. Going out of Fairbanks there was a
village called the North Pole. Santa and everything Christmas. Also
passed the Tanana River along the highway. Some of the road was really
smooth. Also passed Eilson Air Force Base.

Also on the road we saw a moose beside the road but it went into the
trees as we approached. This was before Tok then after Tok we saw
another moose crossing the road. Harlan didn’t slow blow the horn
because he thought it would scare him toward us. So he made a sudden
stop. Not always good. We’ve traveled about 400 miles today. Need to
get Propane. Pulled into an RV Park with water and electricity. Need
propane for refrigerator but electricity will help tonight. Get some
tomorrow. We are in the Destruction Bay RV Park. Spent the night here,
but found no propane.

I wondered why it was called Destruction Bay. It was originally built as a

construction camp in 1942 for the Alaskan Highway going thru the Yukon
Territory of Canada. It was on the Westside of Kluane Lake. The name is
derived from the severe wind storm blowing down the structures erected
by the Military during Highway construction in 1942-43. Also you can see
the highest peak in Canada Mt. Logan which towers up to 19,550 ft. In this
area.

8/4/19 We have left the RV Park and are headed to Haines.

Transmission acting up so we stopped at a turnout. Checked on it and it
seemed to be alright. We have seen some beautiful scenery. Down the
road we saw a moose crossing the road. Also on the way we saw a young
bear start toward the road. But when he saw us he went back into the
forest. Most of the roads were smooth here, but some had a lot of bumps.
Some of the spruce trees had what looked like a nest at the top. We
haven’t got propane yet. After Border Crossing the roads were better.
Saw mountains across the water at our right that still had glaciers on it.
We were at 2800 ft. Elevation and the mountains were like huge giants in
front of us. We. Have finally gotten into Haines Alaska. We parked in the
Oceanside RV Park. The have a beautiful view of the water and mountains
across the way. Just down from the park is where the cruise ships come
in. Then there is a Ferry that will take you to Juneno. It was a long trip so
we didn’t go. We have hooked up to cable here. Along the way we have
done without TV a lot. So we appreciate it when we do get it.

8/5/19 Slept well last night. Weather nice here, but when sit outside
it gets hot in the sun. We drove into town. Saw an area that had Fort
William H Seward Historic District. In July 1902, Haines was chosen as a
site for a permanent fort in Upper Lynn Canal. They would monitor traffic
bound inland. The Army hoped to impose order on the unruly mob of gold
seekers heading North while also providing a military presence Alaska
during a boundary dispute with Canada. Completed in 1904, Fort William
H Seward was the last of twelve Gold Rush era military posts built in
Alaska. Units of the U. S. Army were in Alaska while the double eagle of
Russia was flying over the territory. Alaska was purchased from Russia in
1867. In 1947 the fort was purchased and declared a Historic Landmark in
1972. Fully garrisoned, the post had 400 enlisted men and 15 officers.

Many of the buildings or shops or a residence now. There is even a hotel.

The bachelor officers quarters and Commanders house are the
Halsingland Hotel. There was the barracks that burned in 1981. The
remains there allow you to appreciate the stone foundations used to
construct the building. There is artwork put all around the burned out
stone foundation.

We went to the Tap Room and had a few beers and visited with some
really nice people. One guy was an avid hunter and he goes up the
mountain with a group of guys to their hunting camp. It is quite a trek to
get up there. We also walked up to some shops above the RV Park.

8/6/19 Nice cool morning. Harlan took car to get washed. Boy was
it dirty. He also located the propane place. He has also walked the dog.
She was on sitting on the couch with her head resting on the back of it
looking out the window. She saw something out the window and started
wagging her tail very fast. The tip of it was hitting the back of the sofa
making a noise. It was so funny to see that. We went into town and
visited the burned out barracks and saw some of the art work that is being
put up in the runes of the stone basement. Then we headed to the Port
Chilkoot Distillery. They had a tasting room. I had a lemon drop and
Harlan had a Moscow Mule. I also tried a Manhattan, but it wasn’t like the
one I had in Hood River made by one of Terry’s friends. His was so much
better. We bought one of their Vodka’s Icy Strait vodkas. They also had
50 Fathoms Gin - Boatwright Bourbon - Wrackl Line Rye - Green Siren
Absinthe. Crazy names. There was no tour but you could see into the
room that had the barrels. Then we went to the Fog Cutter Bar and saw
our RV Park host. We had a nice visit.

8/719 Weather really good. Beautiful mountains across the way.

One of the mountains top looked like Santa’s Face and body lying down
face up. Today they had a pot luck dinner with Crab. I fixed my German
Fried Potatoes as my dish to take. Guess they liked it because there was
none left. It was nice and enjoyed the company.

8/8/19 Cool weather again today. Drove down the highway to where
Bears were supposed to be. We didn’t see any but the mountains across
the way were beautiful. We went back to Fort Steward and walked thru
the burned out basement. It was much larger than I thought it was. They
are making a sculpture garden with art all around the stone ruins of the
basement.

Then we went thru the Haines Sheldon Museum. It was very

interesting. We learned about Totem Poles. The Tlingit Indians carved
them. 1) Totem Poles from Alaska are carved from Cedar, which is rot
resistant and grows in the rain forests (yes, rain forests) in Southeast
Alaska. 2) The Totem Pole originated in the Pacific Northwest and
Southeast Alaska. 3) Totem Poles are carved to display characters and
ancient stories, which is why totem carvings often include fish, eagles,
bears, ravens, human faces and even supernatural figures. 4) Historically,
totem poles were never fully painted. However, when something was to
be painted, a mixture of chewed cedar bark and salmon eggs was used,
along with certain powders for pigment, as a type of oil-based paint. 5)
Contrary to what the first European explorers thought, totem poles were
never objects of worship, but rather were illustrations of important family
or cultural stories. 6). Some of the greatest concentrations of currently
standing totem poles are in Sitka National Historical Park and Ketchikan’s
Totem Heritage Center. 7). One of the tallest totem poles in the world can
be found in Kake, Alaska standing 132ft. tall. 8). One of the most famous
living totem pole artists is Tlingit Nathan Jackson. Since 1975, he has
carved more than 47 titan likes ever 10 ft. long. The Totem Poles have
interesting art of animals, which have different meanings.

Beaver - Old wise, builder, creative, artistic, and determined, strong

sense of family, builder of dreams. Eagle - Ruler of the sky, great
strength, leadership, prestige, divine spirit, connection to creator.

Frog - Spring and new life, communicator, stability, survivalist, connection

to water element. Hawk - Strength quick to assist when in need of help,
messenger, stopper of time. Owl - Wisdom, watchful, perseverance,
respected, maybe associated with death. Raven - Credited for giving fire
to man, putting the sun and moon in the sky and trees and river on the
land, tricky, mischievous and at times greedy. Thunderbird - Caller of rain,
mystical, leadership, known to make lighting and thunder with a blink of an
eye or flap of his wings. Whale - hunter and commanding of the sea,
family centered, wisdom, power, cleanser. Wolf - Loyalty, success,
perseverance, powerful, heals humans that are sick, teacher, pathfinder
and survivalist. Bear - Teacher, often misunderstood, welcome, friendly,
strength, learned humility, motherhood. Salmon - Provider, instinct,
persistence, dependability and renewal, represents different clans.