We have been so busy running around that I have not found a chance to post. We also had limited internet so I couldn't load pictures.
So to make up for my silence, here is a long and detailed post!
So to make up for my silence, here is a long and detailed post!
We reached Skagway, Alaska last Sunday evening. We camped in an RV park and had some much needed quite time that evening.
The next day, the real fun began.
First, us girls went shopping. Now, I normally am not a shopping kind of girl unless there are bargains to be had. Being that Skagway is a tourist town, I expected to find everything to be expensive. But I knew this would be our last stop in Alaska and I had gifts and souvenirs I wanted to purchase so I tagged along.
Much to my surprise, I found some really good deals! For a tourist town, they had very reasonable prices, so I actually enjoyed shopping. I was sooooo excited to get a pair of moccasins!! I have been looking for a pair for a long time, but couldn't find any I liked that had real leather soles, not the rubber ones. I found some in Skagway, so I have a pair of Alaskan moccasins! They are incredibly comfortable.
At one o'clock, we boarded a train for a three hour ride into the mountains. We saw a glacier, many, many waterfalls, went through two tunnels (so neat! I loved that part!) and lots of other neat stuff. I spent the entire three hours standing on the train car platform.
The next day, the real fun began.
First, us girls went shopping. Now, I normally am not a shopping kind of girl unless there are bargains to be had. Being that Skagway is a tourist town, I expected to find everything to be expensive. But I knew this would be our last stop in Alaska and I had gifts and souvenirs I wanted to purchase so I tagged along.
Much to my surprise, I found some really good deals! For a tourist town, they had very reasonable prices, so I actually enjoyed shopping. I was sooooo excited to get a pair of moccasins!! I have been looking for a pair for a long time, but couldn't find any I liked that had real leather soles, not the rubber ones. I found some in Skagway, so I have a pair of Alaskan moccasins! They are incredibly comfortable.
At one o'clock, we boarded a train for a three hour ride into the mountains. We saw a glacier, many, many waterfalls, went through two tunnels (so neat! I loved that part!) and lots of other neat stuff. I spent the entire three hours standing on the train car platform.
After the trail ride, we hiked a very steep, rocky, challenging trail up to Lower Dewey Lake. It was about a mile of incredibly steep paths. It was fun and even Mom made it all the way up! There was an upper lake that was quite a distance further up and according to a doctor we chatted with at the lower lake, it was a much more challenging hike. It was late in the day so we decided to head back down to the RV. Going down was fun because it was very little work, except for holding yourself back so you didn't topple head over heels. :)
Tuesday morning, we headed out of Skagway. There is only one road in and out of the town and the border is just a few miles out of town. We passed through customs with no issues (much to Lydia's relief). We headed to Whitehorse where we planned on turning off to Watson Lake to join up with the Cassiar Highway.
So when we were packing for this trip, even though we had ruled out spending time at a ranch out west this trip, I packed my riding skirt...just in case :)
Well, as we were traveling to Whitehorse, we found an ad for horseback riding...two different places in fact.
I can now say I rode a horse in Canada! We actually went about 40 km out of our way, but it was worth it. The ride we took was in thick, dense woods. We crossed three streams, waded half a mile through lake, climbed a ridge, road on the edge of steep hills, slogged through mud up to the horses bellies and jumped a crick. We had two lovely guides, Anna and Lena. They said they take people who have never ridden before on this same ride...wow! They certainly wouldn't ever forget it! I was riding a mare named Lisa, Lydia was on Clover and Mom was on Barney, who looked and acted very much like Bannie :)
The internet here is still really slow, so to see pictures of the ride, follow this link: https://plus.google.com/+LaurenKLotter/posts/6NsFtB7vFZQ
So when we were packing for this trip, even though we had ruled out spending time at a ranch out west this trip, I packed my riding skirt...just in case :)
Well, as we were traveling to Whitehorse, we found an ad for horseback riding...two different places in fact.
I can now say I rode a horse in Canada! We actually went about 40 km out of our way, but it was worth it. The ride we took was in thick, dense woods. We crossed three streams, waded half a mile through lake, climbed a ridge, road on the edge of steep hills, slogged through mud up to the horses bellies and jumped a crick. We had two lovely guides, Anna and Lena. They said they take people who have never ridden before on this same ride...wow! They certainly wouldn't ever forget it! I was riding a mare named Lisa, Lydia was on Clover and Mom was on Barney, who looked and acted very much like Bannie :)
The internet here is still really slow, so to see pictures of the ride, follow this link: https://plus.google.com/+LaurenKLotter/posts/6NsFtB7vFZQ
On Wednesday we went canoeing! We had been trying to find a good place to canoe but finally, as we were driving down the Cassier Highway, we found a place that was cheaper than anywhere else we had looked, not to mention the gorgeous view!
This was probably the most nerve wracking part of the whole trip for me, but I actually really enjoyed it once we got on the water. I do NOT like water, especially deep dark water that I can't see into, but the lake we found was beautifully clear. It was mostly shallow, about fifteen feet maybe, and you could see all the way to the bottom! There were very few fish in it. There were a few parts that were deep enough you couldn't see the bottom, but it didn't bother me and overall I really enjoyed it. Feeling the canoe skimming along the water was great! It was a huge lake with tons of islands and little channels. We explored a lot of it and the whole time we saw not one other person. A truly wonderful experience.
Follow this link to see pictures of the canoeing: https://plus.google.com/+LaurenKLotter/posts/KSRqk2KfpAf
This was probably the most nerve wracking part of the whole trip for me, but I actually really enjoyed it once we got on the water. I do NOT like water, especially deep dark water that I can't see into, but the lake we found was beautifully clear. It was mostly shallow, about fifteen feet maybe, and you could see all the way to the bottom! There were very few fish in it. There were a few parts that were deep enough you couldn't see the bottom, but it didn't bother me and overall I really enjoyed it. Feeling the canoe skimming along the water was great! It was a huge lake with tons of islands and little channels. We explored a lot of it and the whole time we saw not one other person. A truly wonderful experience.
Follow this link to see pictures of the canoeing: https://plus.google.com/+LaurenKLotter/posts/KSRqk2KfpAf
Yesterday evening we crossed the border for the last time. We made it to Spokan, Washington late last night and today we crossed the pan handle of Idaho and Montana. We are currently at the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. We plan on traveling through the park tomorrow, sight seeing along the way, hopefully seeing Old Faithful.
We also plan on seeing Mt. Rushmore as we continue our journey home.
So our Alaskan adventure has come to an end, though the journey is not over yet! I have really enjoyed the trip, though I am looking forward to living in a house that does not move!
Until the next post!
We also plan on seeing Mt. Rushmore as we continue our journey home.
So our Alaskan adventure has come to an end, though the journey is not over yet! I have really enjoyed the trip, though I am looking forward to living in a house that does not move!
Until the next post!
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