Dixie To Deadhorse!

[jdubeemer]

Vance I see we shamed you into taking your helmet off for the "arctic girlie" shot. Thanks for the pictures and keep them coming.

[Gail]

Great pics! Thanks for taking the time to send them. Y'all are a great looking bunch, for sure! Gail

[hotrod]

Great pictures Cabin Boy. Keep them coming. I tried to call Gary but it went to voice mail. You guys look like your having a great time. Ride safe.

Tim

[Vance]

It is great to be back in the connected world...if only for a short time!

We are in Haines junction tonight as planned. Today has been very windy and as such very dusty through all the construction. So instead of the third night tenting we all decided to get a room and out of the dust and the wind! Haines junction is not much more than a crossroads but we asked at the RV park and they directed us to the "locals" hotel in town. Another real cultural experience! A very old motel but clean and reasonably priced so we are settled in.

Tomorrow we take the short 150 mile ride down to the Haines where we will board the ferry and head for Bellingham, WA arriving on Friday morning. I am told the only connectivity is when the ferry stops at certain ports so there it will likely be a while until the next report.

We are all well, fat and happy but a little tired. We are all looking forward to the 3+ day ferry ride to relax and rest up. I understand the whales are running so maybe we will get to see some.

Here are a few pics from the last few days. After leaving Fairbanks we went to Denali and then road the "Denali Highway" which is dirt for about 125 miles...and in some places quite rough. But the adventurous bunch on this trip soldiered through with a atop at the only place in the first 100 miles of that trip to do so...the Gracious House. Let's just say this is a very unique place run by some very interesting folks!

Yesterday ended in TOK at the Thompson's Eagle Claw motorcycle campground run by Vanessa Thompson. She has done a fantastic job with this place and we would highly recommend a stop there if you are ever up this way...

More later....

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[jdubeemer]

Are they still in Haines or did Vance turn his spot off?

[BamaBiker]

Hasn't been updated since last night. That last location shown (about 5:30 on 7/8) is at the ferry terminal. May not get any updates for the next 2-3 days. At least they made it to the port!

[Gail]

[QUOTE=Vance;13536]




I understand the whales are running so maybe we will get to see some.


Now THAT I would like to see! Great pics, thanks for sending and keeping us up to date. Gail

[BamaBiker]

Looks like they're back on dry land, and making good time towards Salem! I'm looking forward to that next batch of pictures.

[Vance]

Made it to Russ's brother's house in Renton after a stop at the Touratech store in Seattle. Getting ready to go an eat and then I'll get into the photo files and post some "memories"....And yes we did see whales while on the ferry...for three long days! Pretty cool ride...literally...glad we were not riding in it!

[Vance]

So here are some photos from recent days. You will see two very different type of accommodations aboard the ferry. I will leave it up to you decide which might work better for you...for four nights! A few other assorted shots of the many we have taken....lol...

We got off the ferry this morning and had a great ride down Whidbey Island and into Seattle. We are off tomorrow for a great ride around the Mt. Ranier State Park and Mt. St. Helens....

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[jdubeemer]

Those bunks don't look much more comfy than the deck chairs but that looks like a bottle of Johnny Walker "Sleep Aid" sitting on the vanity.

[SteveHebert]

The bunks might not be but the sleeping attire is quite different!

[jdubeemer]

The bunks might not be but the sleeping attire is quite different!

You are right and I think I would have sprung for the cabin too.

[kruser]

That pic was our afternoon nap or "W O M A N" Warrant Officer Mandatory Afternoon Nap. Deck life was not bad but know Household 6 would never go for it. She would have to have a room.

[Vance]

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Another great ride yesterday from Seattle down to just north of Portland. We rode through Mt. Ranier National Park and Mt. St. Helens along the way. The weather was absolutely perfect with a temp of low 80's and plenty of sunshine. We rode through miles of old growth forests with huge stands of Douglas Fir trees that made me think of the redwoods. These trees are huge! I will have to pay more attention to the next episode of Axe Men to really understand just how they harvest and replant the forests on the sides of the mountains! It is obvious reforestation takes place. As you look across the mountains you see different ages of trees.

Mt. Ranier...well...it's BIG. We have what we call mountains at home...really they are bumps compared to these. Beautiful snow capped vistas are around most every turn. We were not able to navigate a section of unpaved road that we were told to ride by the guys at Touratech as it was blocked off and used for "Official Use Only". I asked the kid if he could unlock the gate and then turn his head...but he wouldn't do it. So we rode a little out of the way getting over to Mt. St Helens.

I vividly remember the eruption in 1980 and have always wanted to see the mountain. They have cut a 15 mile road along the east side that dead ends at what is called Windy Ridge Viewpoint. From here you can see the north side of the mountain and how it is blown away. The size and magnitude of that eruption is almost incomprehensible. Hopefully the photo will illustrate just how much of that mountain blew apart that day. In less than three minutes the slide covered 230 square miles. The forest is just beginning to regenerate but the trees are still laying there as evidence of just how big this event was. Truly amazing.

So we head to the rally site today in Salem which is about an hour south. Not sure how much updating I will be able to do over the next week but I will do what I can....rest assured...photos will be taken!

Looking forward to seeing everybody who is headed this way...ride safe and we'll see you here!