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