RAFTING THE KENAI RIVER

We enjoyed a 3 hour float down the turquoise waters of the Kenai River. This river is glacier fed and averages 32 degrees!! The Kenai boasts mayor runs of four Pacific salmon species- king, red, silver, and pink- in adddition to trophy sized rainbow trout & Dolly Varden.
Kenai River kings, or Chinook salmon are among the largest North Pacific salomon, often weighing from 50 to over 85 pounds.


                Alaska River Company waiting for our arrival!

View from the office

These are our new friends! They too are Ranch Hands!!

Ready for our boat ride!!

Where's our guide???

View leaving the dock

What a AWESOME ride!!

Our guide leaving us!! Couldn't take no more SENIOR moments!!!

We made it back AND we're still smiling:)

BUT WAIT............

Look who I found in the office.....

It's Obama!! He thinks I'm his guide!!

                        It's been a great day on the river!!

RANCH HANDS!!

That's right we're Ranch Hands!!!
 Until the park is in full swing we're working outside getting the ranch ready!!



Yes that's me with a MANUAL RACK!!!! Dan how do you use this????That's right... horses in the background!

My new pet! He likes to follow me around while I'm in the pasture!

Must be that Mexican Meat!! Not to many in Alaska!

Yes I have horses now! They too like hanging around me!

Michelle & Kay eat your heart out!! I don't just have two horses BUT.......

LOTS plus TWO baby horses!!!!!

I can't BELIEVE I'm walking in a pasture with lots of Horse POOP!!! If only my Postal employees could see me now!!!! BUT we're having a GREAT TIME!!!!

FINAL LEG OF OUR JOURNEY TO ALASKA

We're getting CLOSER to our summer home! Our journey has been long BUT our friends along the way has made it very EASY!!! Thank you to Mary/T, Ted/Elaine, Tim/Miriam, Linda/Val, Elaine/Bev, and BJ/Nikki/Claudia. They put us up for days, fed us, entertained us, and sent us off with a SMILE:). THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!


Well here we are on Seward Hwy heading towards Kenai to Diamond M Ranch. We'll be workampers there for the summer. What a beautiful drive!!


Seward Hwy leads to Sterling Hwy which takes you to the west side of the Pennisula

YES this is home for the Summer!!!

Our back yard view!!

Daily view outside our dining room window! WOW!!

Stay tune to see what our jobs will be here at the ranch!!

WILDLIFE ON OUR JOURNEY

Many have asked about the wildlife so this blog today is what we have seen so far!!!


                               CARIBOU

BISONS

                                      DALL SHEEP

                           BROWN BEAR

                           BLACK BEAR

WILD HORSES

MOOSE IN OUR RV PARK

MOUNTAIN GOAT

We have seen many Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles but haven't been able to get a shot of them yet!!

ROAD TO SKAGWAY AK

We decided to go south to Skagway for the night. We went through sunny skies, snow blizard, and then green grass with budding trees!!! Skagway what a jewel! Cruise ships make daily stops which is the main business. We camped for the night and walked downtown to party! The town reminds us of Mackinaw Island but with vehicles.


The road that leads us to Skagway

BEAUTIFUL!!

YES we're in Alaska!! Yes that's snowflakes in the air!!!!

Building in Skagway made from driftwood

Cruise ship was docked during our visit

Shops !!!!!

PARTY TIME NOW!! Our first taste to Alaskan Beer!!

(They didn't sell Busch Light! Never heard of it!!!)

WATSON LAKE YUKON

Watson Lake Signpost Forest is a major attraction! This was started by a homesick  U.S.Army soldier working on the construction of the Alaska Hwy.He erected a sign here pointing the way & starting the mileage to his hometown!

Dan is looking for Cadillac!!!

 WOW!!! A city named after me "Rosa" Italy!!!

My kids would like this "London OH". We used to live there!!!

In 1990 there was 10,000 signs!!!

Now there's over 70,000!!!!!

DAWSON CREEK BC

Our journey continues through Canada with a stop in Dawson Creek. This place is better known as Mile 0, Alaska Hwy! This is the beginning of Trail of "42' starting here in Dawson Creek and ending in Fairbanks 1523 miles long. The history starts with arrangements that had to be made with the Canadian gov't, as most of the road would be built through British Columbia & Yukon Territory, using American troops & equipment. The Canadians agreed to furnish the right of way & Americans agreed to pay for the construction AND to turn over the Canadian portion of the road to the Canadian gov't six months after the war ended.

One of the most photographed markers on the Alaska Hwy

                    Murels through out the city

Our journey continues........