Tag: Nature

Day 35: Laid back in Haines, Alaska

Posted in Alaska, Birds, WildlifeTagged , , , 4 Comments

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 29: More Wildlife and Liard Hotsprings

Posted in British Columbia, Provincial Park, WildlifeTagged , , , 4 Comments

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 24: Bears in British Columbia

Posted in British Columbia, RV Parks, WildlifeTagged , , , ,

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!

Check out our updated map at Our Route

Day 21: Wildlife, Waterfalls, and Lakes

Posted in National Parks, Waterfalls, WildlifeTagged , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Day 21: June 5, 2013

Driving to Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway was one of the most beautiful drives we have ever taken. I’ll let the pictures tell the story.

We found wildlife.

This elk greeted us at the off ramp to the Bow Valley Parkway. What a great way to begin our scenic drive!
Elk by the side of the road in Banff National Park
This Elk was enjoying the day
Elk on the Bow Valley Parkway
Black bears going up the mountain

We hiked in Johnston Canyon to the Lower Falls.

The catwalk is attached to the canyon wall
We hiked along a catwalk on one side of the canyon.on the way to the falls
On the way to the lower falls
One of the little falls we saw on the hike
We passed this chipmunk on the way to the waterfall
The lower falls in Johnston Canyon
At the lower falls in Johnston Canyon
Wildflower on the trail

After lunch in a cafe in the shopping area of Lake Louise, we took a leisurely stroll beside the lake and then drove up the mountain to Moraine Lake.

We stopped to see Castle Mountain on the way to Lake Louise
Henry and Blondie at Lake Louise
Blondie got to wade in the lake and had her picture taken by tourists
Lake Louise
These paddlers were enjoying Lake Louise
Lake Louise
Lake Louise
Moraine Lake
Ice covered Moraine Lake
That’s ice on Moraine Lake

Day 20: Searching for wildlife in Banff

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Day 20 Tuesday, June 4, 2013

WOW! Everywhere we looked we had another WOW moment. Blondie and I didn’t have to go far before we had our first wildlife sighting of the day.  A group of five mule deer were grazing on the plants around some of the empty campsites.

The clear sky opened up the views to the mountains all around us.After breakfast Henry, Blondie and I hiked on the Hoodoos Trail. The trail winds atop the mountain with views of the Bow River Valley below and mountains above. The sounds of the Chickadees had us searching the tree tops. Ravens flew above and perched in the trees.

Mule Deer in the campground
Blondie and I spotted these mule deer in the campground
Our view as we walked along the Hoodoos Trail
Hoodoos beside the Bow River
Wildflowers along the trail
Bow River Valley

Two park employees worked on planting grass seed along the trail. They gave us a great recommendation on where to look for wildlife. We took their advice to drive along  the Lake Minnewanka Loop. Minnewanka rhymes with Willy Wonka.

I packed a picnic lunch and off we went in search of Big Horn Sheep. We stopped at the Cascades picnic area at the beginning of the drive where we were serenaded by the sounds of the ground squirrels as we ate and enjoyed the spectacular mountain views all around.

At one of the overlooks we saw what is left of an old coal mine. There was once a village where the workers lived. When the coal mine was shut down they moved the entire town! Some of the buildings are now in the town of Banff.

The beautiful turquoise Lake Minnewanka is a popular recreational area with a swimming area, boat docks, and a boat ramp.  Surrounded by the craggy Canadian Rockies it is a beautiful place and many people were out enjoying the nice day.

After a stop to enjoy the lake we continued our drive which took us across the dam. With the lake to our left and rocky cliffs to our right we stopped at a few more overlooks. In hopes of finding Big Horn Sheep I looked up the cliffs as we drove along. As I was looking up Henry spotted a herd of Mountain Goats in the road. They quickly disappeared down the embankment but not before Henry stuck the camera out the window and got a few photos.

Two Jack Lake was our last stopping place along the drive. It is a smaller lake with a hiking trail.

Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka boat docks
Mountain Goats on the Lake Minnewanka Loop
This mountain goat was in the road before he headed down the mountain
Downtown Banff

Our last stop was the town of Banff to visit the post office for post card stamps and a bank to convert some US currency to Canadian. Banff is a picturesque village with it’s main street lined with shops and restaurants and of course, magnificent views of the rocky mountains.