Alaska? Alaska!

So Where was I? Oh yeah, I was getting on a ferry to Alaska. That was three weeks and a few thousand miles ago. Ah, the romance of the high seas... "Just give me a tall ship and a star to sail her by"... and all that. Things have changed a little. On a modern ferry to Alaska it's more like "Give me a massive engine and a even larger, resonant steel hull to bolt her onto." There is a huge amount of power in one of those engines, the entire ship is vibrating with it's exertions. White this is all very exciting at first, the thrill wears off after a few hours & you begin to wish for some place quieter. Yes, it's loud. And you have signed on for three days. Night time on the Ferry

While it is true that berths with beds are taken by smart people who plan way in advance. There are many other comforts available on board a ferry for smart people who plan a little in advance and like to save money too. On one of the upper decks there is the "Solarium" an area protected from wetness by a glass roof and from coldness by radiant heaters. In this area people sleep in comfort in their sleeping bags on the many deck chairs or on air matresses they thought to bring along. On the more exposed decks people set up tents... In the interior observation decks people were sleeping in their bags on pads & air mattresses. Oh these clever people. Lacking these amenities, I somehow managed to get a few hours rest per night. Abandoned Alaskan Homestead

Taking a boat up the "Inside Passage" through British Columbia & Alaska is pretty swell. Island mountains on all sides, hundreds of inlets and intriguing bays... In a smaller boat one could spend months and months exploring all of the possabilities. But even on a large boat there is much to see. From fishing lodges where they set off fireworks to entertain the passing ferries (and the captive guests drinking beer at the end of a long day of fishing) to abandoned homesteads slowly giving way to the seasons.

In Canada, the lighthouses are still manned and you will see their complexes of white buildings with red roofs scattered along the coast.

Lighthouse keeper

When I was cropping the previous picture of the lighthouse complex I zoomed in and discovered that the ferry was being watched by the lighthouse keeper.

Moss Bearded Trees

The cool damp climate allows for tremendous Moss beards to grow on some trees.

Alaskan Backroad

Contrary to my expectations, it seems there are not a whole lot of random backroad routes to go from one place to the next in Alaska. Most of the side tracks I found were up and back on the same road. I suppose it is different in the winter when you can sled over everywhere and the grizzly bears are hibernating.



Fortunately I didn't need to go down that section of road, the bridge is washed out. About a mile farther along, there were some songbirds singing in the woods, above is a snippet of the recording I made.

Mountain Avens Seeds

These seemed to grow everywhere at once and then are hard to find. These are the lacy seed clusters of the "White Dryad" (Dryas octopetala). They are a perennial plant that can be seen by the road sides... from a distance the seed heads appear as translucent mushrooms. closer inspection reveals a delicate structure. in spring they show small white flowers similar to a wild rose.

Alaskan Backroad

Another Alaskan backroad with a dramatic mountain backdrop. This is bear country... watch out! I made a recording at this location. It was really, really quiet... think wind through cottonwood trees.

Yellow Bug

Making a recording of bird songs, or wind through trees, involves sitting still and quite for extended periods... time enough to inspect, and be inspected by, yellow Alaskan critters.

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church

Located at the edge of Beaver Creak, Yukon, Canada, the "Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church" comes across as a piece of folk art. It's proportions, particularly with the tree just outside it's door, are perfect!

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church

Another view of the "Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church." Truly a wonderful piece of work!

Skeleton out in the Tundra

There was another skeleton like this nearby... No Legs, no skull... Hmmm... In the Ozarks this would be considered the work of a poacher, quickly grabbing the meatiest portions.

Scattered along the Alaskan highway you will find a number of "opportunities" like this... outposts that were profitable when roads were rougher and cars were slower. Nowadays, the in-between stops are less needed.

Idillic Alaskan Tundra

A quaint scene in the Alaskan Tundra. Just watch out for those Grizzly Bears.

Music
Photography
Travel
      Bits of VA
      Wiggling the Adirondacks
      Washington
      Hey, Let's hit Idaho
      A Drive About (series)
          And We're Off
          Alaska? Alaska!
          Alaska & Out
          Oh, Canada!
          Canadian Rockies
          Wyoming
          The Windmills of Colorado
          A Colorado Crawl
          Deeper Into the Rockies
          A Layover Day in Buena Vista
          Up a Winding Road and Crossing the Divide
          Out of Gunnerson, CO
          A Utah Loop
          Monticello, Utah
      West Highway 162
      A Jaunt to Nevada
      Coffee and Pie (series)
          Branson to Fayetteville
          more...
Misc

A Drive About
And We're Off
Jul 09, 2016
Redwood trees are socialists... Or at least very friendly. Their roots are on the surface and weave into a mat that allows them to support each other and stand against the high winds that blow through the Northwest.
  Alaska? Alaska!
Alaska & Out
Jul 30, 2016
OK, so you took a ferry to Alaska, spent a few days around Haines and drove up through the Yukon to the big part of the state. What now? Well... sha... drive around, find backroads, what else?
Oh, Canada!
Jul 31, 2016
Coming into Canada the second time I was asked a lot more questions. Was I headed home? Was I going to be staying down there for a while? Whatcha got in the back of the vehicle? I almost felt I was going to be given a limited hall pass: "This guy has five (5) days to get down to the States or else we will find him and ship him south ourselves." But, after all of the questions, I was allowed in with a cheerful, "enjoy your trip."
Canadian Rockies
Aug 02, 2016
I am driving through the stunning landscapes of the Canadian Rockies. They are huge! Not just in stature, but in the volume of the area, If you are looking for an "Endless Summer" experience try driving all of the roads up here. You will discover that there will be a lot of roads yet to cover by the time the Aspen & Birch trees begin to turn.
Wyoming
Aug 13, 2016
Wyoming?" You ask... "Weren't you just in Canada?" Well, um, yes... but you see... There was something I needed to get done in Wyoming,so.... "What about Montana?" You coninue, "What happened to Montana?" Montana? I love Montana, but I needed to get to Wyoming so I drove through it.
The Windmills of Colorado
Aug 17, 2016
"The Windmills of Colorado" sounds poetic doesn't it? There are a whole lot more windmills in the Midwest since the last time I wandered through the area, Two of these pictures were taken from the ground... the rest from the air.
A Colorado Crawl
Aug 27, 2016
From Limon, Colorado I headed west. Back across the plains, through the forests of Ponderosa Pine. There was a bit of business to conduct in Castle Rock and then onward to the West. A dirt road "short cut" surpriosed me with this formation... Upended strata , almiost free standing!
Deeper Into the Rockies
Sep 02, 2016
A dirt road is not the interstate. You can't pretend you are on the autobahn with the countryside flashing past at 150kph. You've left the fast lane, speed is an impossability. Relax, take your shoes off, roll down the windows and sniff the perfumes offered by the crisp, country air.
A Layover Day in Buena Vista
Sep 03, 2016
Sometimes it's good to stop. All of those places you've been driving through... Well. People live there... Yes, they spend weeks at a time in one place... Years even, I hear tell. So if you want to feel like a real local, you have to spend at least a day in one place. I decided to settle down in Buena Vista it seemed like a nice place to call home.
Up a Winding Road and Crossing the Divide
Sep 03, 2016
I crossed the Continental Divide just to the northwest of Fitzpatrick Peak on a little dirt track called forest road 267 that runs between St. Elmo & Tincup, Colorado.
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Yukon
Backroad
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