made it home

We arrived home on Tuesday, August 4th.  We had a great vacation, was such a joy visiting Kathy and Steve and their family. Felt we really got acquainted with their family more. On our trip home we were hoping to hit some of the places we visited when we got married and on our Honeymoon, we did visit some, but did not opt for the Black Hills, as it was Sturgis rally and celebrating 75 years. They were expecting 1 million riders there.  So we decided to take the northern route home, drove on 212 across South Dakota. Even 30-40 miles away from Sturgis, the towns were over taken by bike riders. Just crazy, so nosiy and all over.  Even heading east on 212, I bet we met over a 1000 bikers heading to Sturgis. So that trip will have to be another time. It was go to get home, we got right busy and cleaned out the camper, and got things put away. Jay got the camper off the pickup on Wed. it was a nice home for a month, seems like we have lots of space now in the house. But the pickup camper worked great.
Now back to the real world, sweet corn is about ready, so will be working on that this next week.
Thanks to Bryan, the yard looked pretty good, and the garden was doing great. Until another time, hope everyone has a good rest of the summer. It sure went fast.

heading home

We have been on the road for several days now, have seen so many things. What a different terrain there is in the United States of America. We are now in Sheridan, Wyoming.  Last night we stayed in Buffalo Bill State Park, nice quiet place to stay, dry camping, but that works okay. We have everything we need in the camper. We stopped at Buffalo Bill Dam this morning, what a marvelous
place that is. We were there 50 years ago, and boy has it changed.  So many of the places we were at 50 years ago have either grown immensely or have closed up.  What a change. We headed up in the Big Horn Mountains, it was 90 in Cody Wy., before we headed up, on top of the mountain it was 69
we had our lunch there. Coming down the mountain the temps went up to 96, it was that when we got into Sheridan, Wy.  so opted for a Motel and order supper in. Nothing like being lazy, but it is our vacation you know.
We went through The Yellowstone yesterday, my has that changed, it is so much bigger at the lodge area and the crowds of people were unbelievable. Did get to see Ole Faithful go off, that was cool.
There were only a few rows of benches when we were here 50 years ago, now there are rows and rows of benches. Almost over-whelming.
We plan to get to the Black Hills tomorrow. 
Kathy, just wanted to let you know we did see a Moose cow just north of Soldnota with twin calves when we left there that morning. let Mike know, he was trying his best to find one for me, even took that picture of the one near his tent.  
We hope to get home Tuesday, have had a great vacation, but getting ready for home. Love to all.

Trip to Alaska,2015

It's been quite a while since I blogged on our trip, haven't had the best connections, so finally getting back to it.  We have had quite a trip, have had weather as cold as 43 and as high as 92, but mostly it has been really nice, cools down at night with good sleeping weather.
We got to Kathy's and had a great visit, then Jay and I headed to Homer, we stayed there 2 days, then headed back to Soldnota to "The Property". Steve and Mike came the same day we did. Kathy and Lisa and her family and Jenny came on Monday, July 13th.  It was so much fun camping with them all. Jay went fishing every day and got his limit each day but 2.  He caught 13 salmon altogether.
He sure enjoyed that. We spent 9 days at the Property with Kathy's family.
Sat., July 25th, we took off towards home. We got to Tok that night, next stop was in Whitehorse, stayed there overnight, then we headed to Watson Lake, got to Muncho Bay, stayed at a Provincial
Campground there, next stop was Dawson Creek, spent the night, then got to Red Deer and since it was storming, we decided we were staying in a Motel in Red Deer. Hope to get across the boarder tomorrow, then will be back in the lower states, will seem nice. We have had good traveling, did get to take the Alcon Highway back to Dawson Creek this time, we did see where the forest fire had been, right along the highway. Really bad.
It's been sure a fun trip, still have some things we want to see in the lower states, such as Yellowstone, Badlands and Mount Rushmore. That was the trip we took on our Honeymoon 50 years ago.  I am sure it has changed, but will be nice to check it out.
Hope we have better internet in the coming days. If not, we hope to be home the first part of Aug.
 Just have to say, Kathy we had a great time with your family, thank you and Steve for sharing them with us. Love to all.

made it to Homerer

We left Kathy's this morning and headed to Homer, after our stop at Cabela's, Jay got his fishing supplies that he wanted. We drove through sun and showers. Got down to the Homer spit, was so
busy down that way, unbelievable. We ate at a restaurant called Happy Face, we had eaten there
6 years ago, it was still really good. We left the restaurant and went looking for a campground, ended up at Ocean's View Campground. Nice place, great view of the Cook Ocean. Saw eagles and people riding horses on the beach.  It was very pretty, talked to some folks from Indiana and Tennessee originally, then talk with a man from Wisconsin. Tomorrow we will head back to Soldonta and camp at Steve and Kathy's place"The Property". Looking forward to the rest of the family coming in the week-end and first of next week. Will not have internet for a while, we will be staying at the Property for about a week. Will get back on when I can.

made it to Alaska

We are at Kathy and Steve's place, got here Monday afternoon. We drove quite a bit out of the way to get here and had some interesting experiences. We got to Dawson Creek and spent the night, left the next morning, which this was Tuesday. We got as far as Fort St. John's and found out the road was closed north of us because of forest fires. So we decided to go a different route, took us out of the way quite a bit, but we decided not to go through the smoke with our breathing problems.
It took us a day longer to get to Kathy's, but we didn't see smoke but saw beautiful scenery.
We are staying at Kathy's till Wednesday then we will be heading down to Homer. We did not
go up to the Top of the World, because it was raining and was recommended that we not travel that
road when it rains, very mucky.
We thought we would enjoy Homer area more, will be going to the "Property, we will get there this week-end and spend the next week there.  Kathy's daughter, Lisa and family will be coming and also Jennifer and Mike. We have had some rain and nice weather, changes several times a day.
Don't know when we will have access to blog again, but will do the best I can. 
We are having a good time and seeing beautiful things. Actually saw a grizzly bear along the
road, we got a good picture of him, have seen a couple black bears and fox, but that's about all so far.
Will try to keep you all informed. 

First day on our trip to Alaska, 2015

We went to church this morning, Pastor gave us a blessing for our trip, we left the farm at 10:25 am.
Traveled to Nashua and got a sub sandwich for our lunch. Then we headed out, stopped at a Rest Area by Blue Earth, Mn. and had our lunch.  Got back on I-90 and headed west, the farther west we went the warmer the temps got. By the time we got to Sioux Falls, SD, it was 93', it was then we decided we were staying in a Motel this evening, don't camp when it's over 90 and very humid.
We drove to Champlain, SD, found a motel and got something for supper, then relaxed in our room.
We drove over 400 miles, not bad for just a part of a day. Hope to make more miles tomorrow.
Pretty tired tonight.  Hope you keep in touch with our blog, love to all.