HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are home after a wonderful Rally at Whistler, BC with great friends and one day of wonderful weather.  On to La Conner, WA to visit our friends Bert and Bobbie.  We had a great time with them  and watch the BUS/Oregon State game.  We Won!!!!!!  Woke up to rain and decided to head home.  We got home on Monday Sept. 27, 2010 @ 3:30pm after 8716 miles on the coach, 2 and 1/2 months on the road.  It was so nice to be home.  We were barefoot and just wandered around the house.  Our weather is great and it really reminds how great home is! 
I am very happy getting acquainted with my squirrels again and barking at the neighbors letting them know I am here.  I just love running and rolling in the grass of my own back yard. 
Take care and I will be in touch on my next blog.
Tess

9-15-10 Texas-Skagway

     Well, its’s been a while since I’ve been able to get Judie to type. You know she left us to go to Texas to meet their new grand daughter (Zoey Renee Tschacher). She was sure gaga when she got back. Not just about Zoey, but Abby &; Sam as well.

     We had a lot of fun in Anchorage before Judie left for Texas. We did some walking on the trails around the city. Took in the Sat. market, did sightseeing.  We also did some touring around Soldatna, Kenai and the small town of Hope.  They are all beautiful little towns on the Kenai Penninsula.
      After Judie left for Texas, Darell and I took off for Tok and Whitehorse to meet up with Joe again. Darell  & Joe did some sightseeing again in Whitehorse and then drove to Skagway to meet up with Judie. After all this traveling on the frost heaved roads, there was plenty of tightening to be done on the motorhome. Joe and Darell did the White Pass Train ride, visited the old town of Dyea, and saw Soapy Smith's grave while waiting for Judie and really enjoyed them all.  Judie flew into Juneau from Texas with plans to visit with our friends  Ron & Jean Bolton there and then take the ferry to Skagway. The ferry got canceled, so the visit was cut very short with them.  She did have a very nice ferry ride to Skagway.  She saw whales, eagles and beautiful lighthouses while cruising.  I was sure glad to see her.  She drops more treats than Darell. 

     We have done a lot of driving and riding since leaving Skagway.  We went to Hyder, AK to see the bears fish in Fish Creek.  Didn't happen!  We have seen them do that anyway.  Joe headed for Idaho when we left Hyder.  We are heading for Whistler, BC.  The fall colors are really making quite a showing along the Cassiar Highway. 
     We are in Prince George, BC and will start towards Whistler, BC to meet up with our PacNat friends on the 20th.  It will be fun to see them.  A lot of them have treats for me.  This will probably be the last writing until we get home.  So be sure to root for the Broncos this Sat (BSU/Wyoming) and next Sat (BSU/Oregon State).  Till later.

Tess

8-24-10 Fairbanks to Kenai, AK

It has been a very long time since anything has been written.  My people have all sorts of excuses, but the one that I will back up is trying to do anything while driving over the ruts and frost heaves in these roads.  WOW!! there is nothing in the lower 48 that compares with these.  I still have sea legs and we have been on sort of normal roads for a couple of days.

     We had a wonderful time in Fairbanks.  Our home there was on the river, so I could chase ducks and stuff.  MissT and I enjoyed being on grass.  Our people did a lot of exploring while there.  Did a riverboat trip on a paddle wheeler The Discovery III".  A visit to the Athabaskan village and a sled dog facility.  They did Pioneer Park, which included a Aviation museum, mining exhibit and several historical buildings.
     Then on to Denali.  We've become members of the 30% club in Alaska (seeing Mt. McKinley on a clear day).  What a site.  We have been fortunate enough to see it from Denali and Anchorage both.  It is an awesome sight.  The pictures I took do not do it justice. Bus tours through the parks were done. (8hrs).  Lots of wildlife was seen, eagles, wolves, dahl sheep, caribou, and moose.  No bears were seen in the park.  A very restricted and limited number of private vehicles are allowed in the park. 
My friend Joe left ahead of the rest of us to visit a friend. We did a side trip (in the rain) to Talkeetna, a charming little village where mountain climbers meet before and after climbing  Mnt. McKinley.  Then on to Wasilla (in the rain).  Sara wasn't there to have dinner with. Oh well, life goes on. 
      We traveled through Anchorage  on towards Seward with a side trip to Whittier through the tunnel that facilitates both trains and autos.  2 & 1/2 miles of black.  We stopped at the Portage Glacier, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. 
      While in Seward a tour of the Kenai Fjords National Park (in the rain) and through part of Resurrection Bay.  What a spectacular event.  Lots of sealife, whales, bald eagles, birds, seals, otters.  Seward is a typical port town. There is a wonderful sealife center in town as well. Very charming.
     On to Homer and met up with Joe (in the rain ). The people had wonderful clam chowder at a local restaurant "Patty's".  to die for, they said.  Of course they did not share.
On to Valdez where Joe says the fishing is great and they are coming in.  Well, the boys waited and waited and fished and waited (in the rain of course).  The bears were the only ones they were coming for.  Finally,  Darell and Roger chartered a boat and got their limits.  What fun! (It didn't rain that morning).  Valdez does remind of Switzerland.  It is beautiful.  Joe's still fishing.
     My friend MissT and Roger & Donna started heading south from Valdez, Joe is still there fishing and Darell & Judie are with me in Soldotna for a couple of days.  I had a hair appointment today while Darell and Judie did sight seeing around Kenai, fishing and a little hiking.  (Can you  believe they put a bow on my tail!!).   I think we're up to date.  Judie is going for a "Mimi" fix next week.  We will spend time in the Anchorage area before she leaves.  She is anxious to meet Zoey.  Maybe I can talk Darell into more treats while she is gone.  Wish me luck.  It sounds like there won't be pictures on here for a while.  Obviously, there is a problem because Judie "doesn't want to talk about it".  More later.

Jasper to Fairbanks, AK

8-4-2010

Well, we finally got to civilization (Fairbanks, AK).  We sure went through a lot of dust, dirt, rock and rolls, heaves and hos to get here.  I thought my people knew what they were doing when they drove this house on wheels, but now I’m not to sure.  A dog can really get vertigoes going over roads like we’ve been over.  MissT says her people drive the same way, but we don’t know about Joe. 

           

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote.  Zoey Renee Tschacher made her appearance yesterday August 3, 2010, weighing in @ 8”5”, 20&1/2 “long.  Her parents say she has lots of dark hair and looks like her brother Sam.  Big sister Abby is ready to take care of her and Sam’s just not sure.  My people are sure happy with the pictures of her.  More competition for me, but more crumbs to clean up after she’s at my house.

            After leaving Jasper, we went on to Prince George, then to Dawson Creek, BC  to be photographed at the First Milepost marker “0”for the Alcan Highway.  Our people forgot to take us for the photo-op.  A very good video at the Visitors Center was available for people to watch on the constructions of the Alcan Highway. 

Then we were off to Fort St. John, but did a road trip through part of the Hudson Hope Loop.  We did a tour thru the W.A.C. Bennett Dam.  It is the largest earthen dam in North America.  There is a lot of weight felt on your shoulders when you are down under.  Sure glad I stayed on top.  We got 53 miles that day and stayed in a beautiful, mosquito infested, State Park that night.  We did see bear, eagles & deer that day.  We saw buffalo, bear, & stone sheep on the way to Watson Lake.  I really wanted to herd the buffalo, but couldn’t get out of the mh.  Also got our first major rock chip.  We put license plates and signs up in Sign Post Forrest.  Bill, we couldn’t find yours. 

            On to Whitehorse, YT.  What a charming town.  MissT and I did get out a bit, but our people were out more.  They went to the “Frantic Follies” and had a good time.  Darell & Judie did a walking tour of the town as well as a great trail down the river and back on the opposite side.  There was a Golden Eagle nest with 4 young in it. 

           

Then  to Dawson City (with a stop at Braeburn for Huuuuggggggeeee cinnamon rolls).  We had not planned to do the whole thing in one day, but Whispering Pines CG was closed  and the local state park had a lot of mosquito residents.  MissT has very sensitive skin ya’ know.   We did some gold panning and it didn’t take long for Judie to get over the fever.  Roger and Donna went to the Follies and he ended up with a garter.  MissT said there were no pictures, so I guess we will never know the real story.   I figured out I did not want to be a Frontier Dog.  It was a tough, dirty life back then.

           

Now the fun begins!!!  We load the ferry bright and early to cross the  Yukon river.  Well, we managed to throw the dinner dishes around coming off the ferry.  That was the start of a very dirty, dusty, rocky, rolly trip.  It was  many miles above the treeline, although, not as high as we in the West might have expected (4200 Ft).  the Canadian side of the road is by far in the best condition.  The scenery was interesting and beautiful.  The town of Chicken greeted us at a time when our people needed a ice cream break.  We did see a cow moose and 2 calves coming into town.  A store, bar, gas station and a dredge make up the town.  Population of 20 in the summer & 5 in the winter.  We finally rolled into the town of Tok, AK, a weary, dirty, tired group of people.  Had a good shower and then on to Fairbanks, AK yesterday.  Our weather has been great and the country has been wonderful.  The people that travel with MissT and I are wonderful, but, MissT gets more treats than I. I hope my people get the message when they read this.

By the way to all of the grandkids, you owe me big time!  I took this picture of Mimi and Papa talkin’ to Santa at the North Pole.  I

think they were sayin’ good things, but you owe me a lot of crumbs and then some for the heads up.

Till next time,

Tess

           

Lake Louise to Jasper

MissT, Donna, Roger, Joe, Darell, Tess & Judie

Honeymoon Lake in the evening

Hi there:

Well, it’s been a few days, but I will try to catch up.  We ended up in Lake Louise and met up with our friends Miss T and her people Roger and Donna Hodgson.  Miss T and I have about the same attitude in life, so we will see who wins out on this trip.  They have lockers in these Canadian Parks for food to keep it safe from bears and other wildlife.  Miss T & I are sure glad they haven’t figured  this our for us.  Our life would be miserable if we couldn’t find anything on the ground or floor. 

            Lake Louise was just wonderful.  What a beautiful lake we observed.  We waited while our people went to visit.  Then came Moraine Lake.  It is incredible.  Darell, Judie, Roger and Donna did a hike  around the shoreline of this lake.  Each spot was a better color than before.  Turquoise and better turquoise colors were available.  We tried to outrun the rain on the way back, but didn’t make nit.  Joe was waiting in the lodge with a cup of hot chocolate in his hand.  He was smart and we were quick to follow with the same.  The lodge is still as beautiful as it has been in the past.  We spent the day in Banff.  On our way, the only ugly part of the trip was the cell tower.  It was there 4 years ago. 

            We then took off for the Columbia Icefields.  Darell & Judie did a hike up to the ice fields, Roger took a snow coach trip up to the fields and Joe & Donna just browsed and did their things.  We then took off for “Honeymoon Lake” at the recommendation of a ranger.  He did not lead us astray.  It was a beautiful little CG along the Icefields Highway.  It was dry camping, but well worth it.  A very nice shoreline with a few ducks on it and kayaks as well.  it was in Jasper National Park. 

            Then on to Jasper the next day.  We were in “Whistler CG” for a couple of day.  It rained very heavily the first day there.  We did our sightseeing in town that afternoon, home for happy hour and then back to town for Chinese Food.  (They owe Judie).   She said not bad.  Darell and Judie did a couple of hikes the following day.  They hiked at Pyramid Lake and then again after lunch @  Lake Annette.  There was a bald eagle sitting in an old tree watching to make sure they got around ok.  He was gorgeous. 

Calgary to Lake Louise

Kananaski Country

When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!

Well, we're on the road again.  I'm not sure where I left off, but we had a wonderful visit @ Waterton Lakes Park.  There were howling winds when we got there.  It felt like we were on a sailboat for a while.  Darell kept the slides in that night.  The next day was very nice and sunny.  We did a boat ride on the lake, not time for much hiking.  If you are planning to go to Waterton Lakes and have a larger RV, we would suggest you have reservations.  They have a limited number of sites for the larger rigs.  We stayed just outside the park.  It had a great place for me & my friend Raven to run and play, but there were sure a lot of mosquitoes!  My people & Joe took off on a scenic drive thru the Kananaski Country and ended up in Canmore for the night.  It was one of the most beautiful drives I have ever been on.  The rock formations in the mountains were incredible.  Raven and his people (Rick & Diann) took off and went to Calgary a different way.  We met up with them there.  We also met up with the Brookshires and the Yuma friends they are traveling with.  It was good to see them.  The rodeo, stagecoach races and night spectacular were just wonderful.  We really enjoy Calgary a lot.  The people are always so gracious and friendly to lost looking faces.  Time was too short in the city and it was sad to leave my friend Raven, Rick and Diann.  They are heading east to visit family, friends and sites, eventually ending up at the BSU/VA Tech game in DC.   GO BRONCOS!!!!!!  We are on our way to Lake Louise to meet up with my friend MissT and her people Roger and Donna Hogdson.  Well, it's starting to rain, so I better hide under Judie's chair in case it starts to thunder.

Travel safe,

Tess

Eagle, ID to Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada

Ready to go!

Happy Hour!

Well, we have traveled quite a distance and have had some wonderful scenery and seen good friends along the way so far. At this time we are a group of 5 that are traveling together.  Darell & Judie, Joe Schwilling and Rick and Diann Stone & Raven.  We hooked up in Payette, ID @ 10:45AM on July 7, 2010.  Our mileage was 64594 when we left home.  We followed the Weiser River Trail (the goats were still eating the "leafy spurge" along the trail) to New Meadow, ID and had lunch there @ the city park.  It was a beautiful day to travel as we climbed "White Bird Pass" very slowly.  As we headed for Kalispell, MT, we followed the Lochsa, Selway and Clearwater rivers to a wonderful National Forrest Service CG along the river (Wilderness Gateway CG, no services).  We had great sites and a good happy hour after a long slow day of driving. 
 We traveled the next day to the Viano CG in Kalispell, MT.  We were met with beer in hand to help us set up camp for a few days. There were deer to chase and all kind of new scents for me to follow. My freedom was short-lived because I got to big for my britches. The people had a wonderful time, as Nancy & Ron had a lot lined up to do.  Brother Larry Viano took them on a Flathead Lake cruise and dinner was had at a restaurant on the lake.  The evening was absolutely beautiful and a wonderful time was had by all.  A summer  outdoor concert at "Rebecca Farms".  It was a benefit for Glacier Park  100 year birthday, a day tour of Glacier Park with hiking, fishing, and oohing & ahhhing the beautiful mountain and lakes.  We departed Viano CG with sorrow but onward to new adventure into Waterton Lakes in Alberta. That was yesterday.  The winds were 40-50 mph and cold when we got here.  That went on all night as well as into this morning.  Judie was really glad she always carried  longjohns in the motorhome.  The day has ended up with a beautiful evening except for the VERY large mosquitoes.  We hope to do more in the park tomorrow.  Deer, moose, eagles and other little critters were seen today by everyone but me.  They knew I would chase them.