Category: Wildlife

Day 35: Laid back in Haines, Alaska

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Day 35: Wednesday, June 19, 2013

We didn’t have to travel far to see the sights today. Back at the campground, people emerged from their RV’s with coffee cups in hand in search of birds, whales, and vessels passing by. Someone shouted “Whale” and started pointing. Binoculars and spotting scopes came out and we all watched to see where they are. Far across the water we watched three whales as they spouted and breached.

Later, we drove along Mud Bay to a cannery to get some smoked salmon. No work was being done so we decided to come back another day to watch them at work. The local IGA had just received it’s weekly shipment so after we stocked up there we spent the rest of the day enjoying the views from our campground.

We’re in site 13 at the Oceanside RV Park overlooking the ocean
Haines boat harbor
Haines Harbor
Welcome to Haines
A Blue Heron in Haines

Have I mentioned how hot it is here? After traveling through Canada wearing sweatshirts, jeans and wool socks for days, we arrived in Alaska and had to change into short sleeves and shorts. Many people in the campground sat in their chairs sunbathing.

Blondie finally got to go swimming when we took her down to the beach.

I could see Henry and Blondie on the beach from our campsite
Blondie swimming in Haines, Alaska
Kelp washed up on the beach
Shells were everywhere

Whale watching during cocktail hour and waiting for a storm to come in – it’s a tough job but someone has to do it.

This boat anchored right in front of us
Watching for whales in Haines, Alaska
View from our campground in Haines
A ship goes by in the distance as two ships are leaving the harbor in the rain

Day 34: Taking the Alaskan Ferry to Haines

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Day 34: June 18, 2013. Skagway, Alaska to Haines, Alaska on the ferry Walaspina. Oceanside RV Park, Site 13, Haines. About 335 miles by land, 15 miles and one hour by ferry.

Four new cruise ships arrived in the harbor while we were sleeping. The boardwalks were filled with shoppers from the ships early in the morning. We made a couple of last minute purchases before hitching up the fifth wheel to drive about two blocks to the ferry terminal. Our quiet little row of campers suddenly became busy as about 4 huge motor homes pulled in just as we were getting ready to leave. With cruise ship passengers walking through the parking lot and a train across the road stopping traffic it took us about 30 minutes to go two blocks to get in line for the ferry.

Our rig was measured – 46 feet from the front of the truck to the rear of the fifth wheel – we paid for the tickets, and had a couple of hours before boarding. We had hoped to grab a quick lunch in town but lines were out the doors everywhere so we just fixed lunch and ate at the ferry dock. Our rig was parked right next to Ted and Ruthy, a couple from Michigan and Arizona we met back in Prince George, BC. We saw their rig in Watson Lake and they saw ours in Liard Hotsprings.

When it was time to board the vehicles on the ferry a crew member directed traffic pointing to each vehicle when it was their turn to board. We sat and watched the motor homes and other trailers board until only cars were left. When they started moving quickly to the ferry we knew we would be the last ones on.

We rode the Walaspina ferry to Haines
We were the last ones to enter the ferry
Cars and RV’s are lined up inside the ferry
Henry on deck of the Walaspina
Several helicopters flew past the ship
Leaving the Skagway dock

Blondie had to stay in the truck while we went up to the passenger decks for our one hour journey through the inside passage to Haines. We stayed outside most of the trip to see the scenery and went inside to the nice comfortable lounge when we started getting cold.

Helicopter tours flew by
Amazing views from the ferry
Approaching Haines
Arriving at the Haines ferry dock
We traveled on the Alaska Ferry System from Skagway to Haines.

Our campground was just a few minutes drive from the ferry dock. Our friends Ted and Ruthy are just a few sites down from us. An eagle flew by to welcome us and perched on the rocks in the harbor. Our next door neighbors said they saw whales earlier. We knew we were going to like it here.

Driving into Haines, Alaska
We watched the ferry from our campground as it was leaving Haines
View from our campsite
A Bald Eagle on our first day in Haines

Every day just keeps getting better and better.

Day 29: More Wildlife and Liard Hotsprings

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Day 29: Thursday, June 13, 2013. Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park

The Liard River Hotsprings are a popular stopping place for travelers on the Alaska Highway. The springs are open 24 hours a day with a huge parking lot. When it fills up travelers can park across the highway in an overflow lot. Many travelers stop for a soak in the springs, get back in their vehicle and continue on their way.

While Henry took care of some maintenance on the truck and trailer, I grabbed my camera and went exploring about 10:00 am. The parking lot was filled with RV’s already. Just a short walk along a boardwalk and you are at the Beta pool. There is also an Alpha pool which has hotter water but it was closed when we were there. There is a viewing platform up some stairs above the Beta pool to see the Hanging Gardens.

I spotted a moose on my walk across the boardwalk to the hot springs
The springs are surrounded by lush green ferns
Liard River Hotsprings Beta Pool
The Hanging Gardens above the pool
The springs are open 24 hours a day
Can you see the moose through the trees? He was closer to the boardwalk when I walked by on my way back to the campsite

After a buffalo burger for lunch at the Liard Hotsprings Hotel across the highway from the park, we took a drive in search of some of the Wood Bison herd that lives in the area.

Liard River Bridge
This wood bison was very close to the truck and walking towards us. I stepped just outside the truck in case I had to get back in really fast!
He was headed my way
Bison herd with calves near Liard River Hotsprings
The mamas were checking me out
I didn’t want to get any closer to this one

Another soak in the hot springs was a perfect ending to the day.

Day 28: Wildlife Sightings on the way to Liard River Hotsprings

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Day 28: Wednesday, June 12, 2013. Ft. Nelson, BC to Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park, BC. Site 42. 190 miles traveled.

What better way to relax after 28 days on the road than to soak in hot springs? That hot water was just calling to me all day. To get there, we had to travel 190 miles of winding roads to cross the Rocky Mountains.

Spectacular mountain view
A small waterfall
The long and winding road
Muncho Lake

While driving along we were on the lookout for wildlife. And there was plenty to see.

Our first wildlife sighting of the day was a caribou
Stone Sheep on the Alaska Highway
A mountain goat by the road
Caribou on the Alaska Highway
Moose on the Alaska Highway
Another caribou
A herd of mountain goats
Mountain goats beside the Alaska Highway
Wood bison roam near the highway for the next 70 miles
We saw these bison with their calves just after we saw the sign
Bison near Liard Hotsprings

We had made reservations to stay in the Provincial Park – like a state park in the U.S. – and didn’t know what to expect. There were no hookups so we would be using our generator for the first time on this trip. When we saw our site, we were so glad we had decided to stay for 2 nights. With a long, very wide gravel pad and picnic table all surrounded by trees and wildflowers, it was the perfect place to take a break from traveling. A soak in the hot springs was a perfect ending to the day.

Our beautiful campsite at Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park
Wildflowers around our campsite
Mountain Bluebells grew all around
Liard River Hotsprings

Day 24: Bears in British Columbia

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Day 24 and 25: Saturday, June 8, 2013 and Sunday, June 9, 2013. Jasper, Alberta to Prince George, British Columbia. Northland RV Park, Site 15 1/2. 247 miles traveled.

Our trip to Prince George, BC started out with a bear sighting about 10 miles after entering BC. We were driving through a provincial park when we saw cars pulled over. The bear was grazing the grass along the highway. There was another bear a little farther down the highway.

The highway wound along the Fraser River for a while. The river is advertised as the World’s greatest Salmon river. Later in the day we saw another bear.

Leaving Alberta behind, we entered British Columbia early in the day
Soon after entering British Columbia we were in Mount Robson Park and saw this bear beside the road
Another bear in British Columbia
Our campsite at Northland RV Park in Prince George, BC
Mr PG in Prince George, BC
Enjoying the campfire
Henry is doing a good job with the campfire
The woods behind our site were carpeted with these ferns

Our supplies were getting low and the laundry was getting out of hand so we decided to stop for two nights. Next stop, Dawson Creek, BC and the start of the Alaska Highway!

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