Friday, August 20, 2010

Check out the Blue Icebergs...more stories....
below is more of The Landvaters Caravan Trip to Alaska.

Blog Editor Note: I hope I got the pictures posted to the right stories, if not, you can figure it out. There will be no postings here for the next 2 weeks, as Carol and I are leaving for Maine on sunday for about 10-14 days...stay tuned... watch AirstreamHobo's Blog... See ya down the Road..ok Up the Road..Maine is Up>>>> Obie







Aug. 14: Beautiful day for a ferry ride, stopped at Kake, Alaska, at 9:15, Petersburg, Alaska at 12:45, got off, had half hour and back on. Stopped in Wrangell at 5:45, got off again to see if the kids were there selling garnets, which they were, didn't buy any though. The kids can get them for free and the grownups must pay to get them, I guess this is his collage fund. Just sat around and watched where we were going, went through the narrows during the daylight, they didn't have a naturalist on board this trip. Went to bed about 10, had a nice smooth ride, docked at Ketchikan about 1am.
Aug. 15: Got up early, dock was full with ferries and catamoran, farther to the right was two cruise ships, pulled out of terminal at 7:15am. We had got back to Prince Rupert, British Columbia at 2:15pm, carpooled back to trailer, did laundry, went to grocery store and downloaded over 500 pictures onto computer.
Aug. 16: Slept late, went into town, I had ordered a shirt at a shop before we left, they were out of my size, they told me they would hold one for me when I return, so we went and picked it up. Didn't really do much this day, worked on pictures in computer, later in the evening we had a fish fry, four guys went fishing while we where in Sitka and they caught plenty of fish, decided to have a fish fry for everyone, really good, everyone contributed a side dish, had plenty to eat. After it was all cleaned up we had a drivers meeting, getting ready to move again.






Aug 12: Had a tour in the afternoon, boarded buses again, Sitka Tribal Tour and Comprehensive Cultural tour, they took us to see Mt. Edgecumbe Volcano, from a distance. Sheet'ka Kwann Community House to watch the Native dancers, drove past St. Michael's Cathedral, Russian Bishop House and Museum, St. Peter's by the See Episcopal Church, Sheldon Jackson Museum and then to Sitka National Historical Park, where we saw totem poles, rainforest and thousands of salmon spawning in the Indian River. Then we were off to the Alaska Raptor Center, where they help wounded birds of prey and release they back into the wild if possible. We saw bald eagles, osprays, owls and others, one of the girls brought an eagle out and talked to us about them, they can't release this bird because of its broken wing that won't mend right.
Aug. 13: We had got on one of the town buses to take a ride through town, the month of August is free which we didn't realize til we got on the bus, we had rode for half hour and then got on another bus and rode for an hour, people are very friendly in this town. We had a great ride, the drivers told us all about the area. Got off the bus and visited the Bishops house, using National pass. Went back to hotel, got ready for dinner at other hotel, had a buffet meal, back to hotel and then off to get ferry, left terminal 1am, heading back to Prince Rupert, British Columbia.




Aug. 10: Caught another bus, and off to Mendenhall Glacier, was a little disappointed with this glacier after what we saw yesterday, although it had two waterfalls, one along side of the glacier and one farther to the right. It was raining and we didn't wear our raincoats so we didn't walk to the waterfalls or got too close to the glacier. We did walk to see the bear across the road, after it quite raining. There was like a boardwalk along a stream and the bears come out and catch fish and eat them, we did see one black bear. After returning to hotel, we had walked down through Juneau and watched people and looked at the cruise ships.
Aug. 11: We caught another ferry at 8:15am, heading to Sitka, Alaska, we had arrived at 12:45pm. We had buses pick us up at the ferry terminal and took us to our hotel, we are in two different hotels, they couldn't accommodate us all in one hotel. We have had some people sick with vomitting and diarrhea, two went to the hospital, they only kept one, the other they sent back to hotel, they say they came down with a cruise ship virus. The guy the kept, was released the next afternoon, after getting an IV, we also had a lady fall on the sidewalk and broke her arm and dislocated her wrist, they checked her out and told her they couldn't do much there, so she flew home to Texas, she is to be getting surgery on Thurs. Aug.19, her husband has decided to continue on the caravan. We had walked through town, which is nicer that Juneau, not as full with people from cruise ships









Stop #11, Aug.7-16
Aug. 7: Checked in for the ferry at 7am, didn't leave until 8:15, we had 2 berth full facilities with window, which means 2 beds (bunkbed) with our own bath and a window. We had a naturalist on board, so we sat in the front of the ferry to listen to her talk about different sites and animals along the way. We had gotten off the ferry at two of the stops, Ketchikan and Wrangell, we only had about half an hour, so you didn't wonder too far. That night about 11pm the ferry was going through the narrows, which is a very narrow waterway that the cruise ships can't go through, there were green and red lights on the bouys, really neat to see. There was another stop later that night, but we went to bed, had a long day, I'm not sure if anyone got off at that stop.
Aug. 8: We had got off the ferry at 9:30 am, boarded a bus and got into the hotel at 10, our rooms weren't ready for us, so everyone put there luggage into an unused room and walked downtown Juneau, Alaska. We ate lunch at Red Dog Saloon, before returning to hotel to get our room. Juneau is a very quaint town that the cruise ships own, they own alot of the jewelry shops, 60 total, that's why they port here. That night we had dinner for all in the hotel dining area.
Aug. 9: We left the hotel the next day for a tour of Tracy Arm Cruise. This cruise was fabulous, it took us 2 hours to get to Sawyer Glacier, we had seen bald eagles, icebergs, waterfalls, seals, birds and more icebergs. While going to Sawyer Glacier, we had to go through icebergs, which was somewhat challenging, but boy when we got there it was beautiful. We sat there for quite sometime watching it calfing and listening to it cracking. We then left that area and went to South Sawyer Glacier, while on the way, we saw the most beautiful blue iceberg, here we saw harbor seals and saw this glacier calfing also, which means pieces falling off, and when that calfs the area is really blue looking. This cruise took all day and they furnished lunch.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Door Prizes for the All State Rally...cool basket
Centerpieces for the Rally...Made by John Bates and painted by Joan Bucher. See.. we have the Best Talented people in Central Penn Unit!

Yum..Yum..Apple products from Adams County,Pa.


Some one is going to have a feast!! Great Doorprizes will be here.



Eating...That's what we do Best!!
Marty & Steve Loden from the Keystone Unit joined our Rally as guests. Hope they had a good time, we sure did with them!!

Lou..The Great Fire Master " Scout Training does pay off "


Here is the Gang at Carlisle Rally..Just relaxing, eating, and planning the All State Rally in Biglerville. The plans are coming together!! Come One... Come All.. to Gettysburg!!! Sept 8 thru 12,2010 at South Mountain Fairgrounds.



Meetings...Meetings..Meetings!! But the fun will begin at the All State. The Committee is working Hard!




Monday, August 9, 2010

Dennis & Carol are Inviting You!! To the Installation Dinner...Sign-up Now!!!!!!

The Installation Rally will be held on Oct 8, 9, & 10 at the Penn Dutch Country "Outdoor World" Campground . Located 1 block north of the Rt 72 and Pa.Turnpike on the left. All are welcome to come with your Airstream on friday(or earlier if you want). If you are a Outdoor member you are camping free. All others, I got us a rate of $28.00/nite, come early and stay late (mon??) The Dates are Oct 8, 9, 10. The campground is also having a Fall Harvest Days, see their web site under Theme Weekend Schedule.

The Installation Dinner is Sat, Oct. 9, 2010 in their community hall, which is located right before the gated gate...NO ADMISSION CHARGE for Guests!!! We have the Dinner at 1PM and swearing in of new officers afterwards. The Theme is Hiwaian Dress for everyone ..No Suit and Dresses Please! Leis will be provided for everyone Too! I want to keep this informal and Fun!! The menu will be as follows:
Ham with pineapple
Penne Pasta in meat sauce
scalloped potatoes
sweet potatoes
green beans
salad
dessert
drink
roll/butter
coffee
This will be family/buffet style serving.

The Dinner Charge will be ......................$13.00 each person
Campground ..per nite ............................$28.00 full hookups.
Rally Fee is (if camping)...........................$5.00 per Rig
Please Call the Campground # 717- 665-2500..Do Not Call the 800 number for reservations. Tell them...you are coming with the Airstreams Rally (for the special rate). Otherwise it is $35/nite. Their web page is below,
http://www.1000trails.com/getaways/pennsylvania/padutchcountry.asp

Please send check for the Dinner & Rally To:
Dennis L. Ober, Treasurer,
173 N Charlotte St.
Manheim,Pa. 17545

Only Pay Dennis only for the Dinner and Rally Fee... The Campground is paid directly with your deposit. Deadline to register is September 25, 2010. Any Questions E-Mail Dennis obclown@ptd.net or Call 717-572-8335.

1st Vice President is waiting to be President (only took 20 years???) So come and make this a Funfilled Weekend ...then off to Florida you Go!!
More from the Landvaters!!! Scroll down for all the stories and hit "older posts" to get to the last page too....

Stop #11 Aug 5-6
On the road again, going to Prince Rupert, stopped in Terrace for lunch and then down to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The drive to Prince Rupert was very scenic, we drove along side the river with mountain passes, glaciers and very high waterfalls, with a very wide bed, saw an eagle perched on a rock. Stopped at an overlook and saw River of the Mists, islands with fog or mists floating above it, the temperature had dropped 10-12 degrees while coming through the mountain passes before getting to the harbor. Right before entering Prince Rupert, there was trees filled with shoes, very comical, next we saw two big cruise ships in port. Went back into town, with one cruise ship left, went through the shops, very nice tourist town.
Went to eat lunch at Mollie's, great seafood meal and then back to the North Pacific Cannery. Built in 1889, the North Pacific Historic Fishing Village is a National Historic Site. It is the most complete cannery that reamins of these remote villages that once dotted the West Coast. Most of the day was spent packing for our trip up the inside passage to Juneau and Sitka, which we leave tomorrow morning at 6 am. by ferry. We will be gone for 8 days, leaving our vehicles at the campground in Prince Rupert

We had driven over the Hagwilget Bridge, which is a majestic suspension bridge which hangs 300 feet over the Bulkey River.


Stop #10 Aug.2-4
Pulled out of Hyder, Alaska and started back down the road that we came up on four days earlier. Stopped at Bear Glacier again to ake a few more pictures, picked some dried flowers along side the road, they look like cotton. We had stopped in the Indian town of Kitwancool, took some pictures of totem poles, ate lunch and then continued down the road. We stopped for the next few days in Kitwanga, another Indian town, toward evening we went to Kitwanga Fort National Historic Site, totem poles and Saint Paul's Anglican Church to take more pictures.
We carpooled to 'Ksan Indian Village & Museum, we were all divided into two groups, a 'Ksan Indian guide took us into Froghouse of the Stone age building, which housed artifacts from the beginning of their heritage. Next we went into the Wolf House or Feast House, where they food was prepared, supplies stored and meals served. Then into Fireweed House, which is were they stored and made their costumes. Then into a building where they carve wooden masks and other items, watched some of indians working on masks. After leaving the museum, we drove into the town of Hazelton for lunch, the restaurant we were going to was closed, the other restaurant was full with other caravanners, so we ended up at a coffee shop, great sandwiches. Then off to the town of Kispiox to see more totem poles, they are all different and tell a story of generations, there are over 50 totem poles in the area

On Sunday, Ken heard about the bear at the dump, so we went and visited, saw the bear digging in the dump, which was smoking from a fire. The bear had burnt his paws, and walked away for a few minutes, saw us and walked around the front of our truck and all of a sudden he put his front paws on the hood of the truck. Ken quickly started the engine and he got down, leaving behind his foot prints. We've gone back twice since then, but no bear. Had a cookout for everyone tonight and then a drivers meeting
On Friday, we took a drive with another couple to see Salmon Glacier, which is beautiful and the fifth largest glacier in Canada and is the world's largest glacier accessible by road. The road going to the glacier was dirt, dusty and bumpy, but very scenic. We had driven to another glacier, and an old mine with train tracks, which went into the mountain for 11 miles. We had driven to a bridge which was posted not to cross and then the road stopped, had to turn around and back again, which was about 60 miles round trip. After returning, we drove back across the border to the town of Stewart, BC, saw two bald eagles sitting on a tree trunk along the water, which is known as Canada's most northerly ice free port. When we originally drove through the town, there was a ship at the dock, but was gone the next day. Stewart holds the Canadian record for snowfall 27 feet in one season.
On Sat., we got our bikes out and rode through Hyder and visited the shops that were open, only about 5. In the afternoon, we just sat around and talked to different couples, and then we went to the bus for dinner, there were 8 of us. The bus serves, locally caught fish, coho salmon and halibut, had a great fish and chips.

Stop #9 July 29-Aug.1
While traveling to Hyder, Alaska, we had stopped in the town of Moricetown, British Columbia, watched the First Nation (Indians) fishing with nets and spears. The area where they were fishing was at a canyon, with rapids and some fish ladders toward the sides. While watching they had caught two fish, measured them and put them into a big tub, 4 foot square and high, only the indians could fish this way. We then stopped again and looked at Bear Glacier, with waterfalls along side, and the river that follows. Crossed into Hyder, Alaska, without border security check, and right onto dirt road, no paved roads in this town. The campground is just off the road, camped on stones and rocks, a few sites under pine trees. At night, everyone drives to the bear viewing area, where there is a stream with coho salmon spawning, we've been two black bears and two grizzly bear catch fish and eat them.

Stop #8 July 27-28
While traveling today, we stopped in Vanderhoof, British Columbia at the Community Museum. This is the first year and they are still working at the Museum, but it was pretty nice for just a donation for admission. They had a trading building (bank), jail, cafe, gift shop, train, different farm machinery from the past. Saw a couple signs along the roadway for Giver A Yank, towing service, which I thought was really cute. Got to campground, one of the other couples on the caravan, decided to cook 3 pork loin and invited 3 other couples, great food, sat and talked til 9:45, still daylight, until a storm came through the area.
The campground that we are staying in has beautifull flowers planted every where, walked around this morning and then off to town, Houston, British Columbia. In town at the Information Center they have the World's Largest Flyrod, measuring 60 feet high, 800 pounds, reel 36 inches and fly 21 inches and is constructed entirely of aluminum and is anodized bronze to simulate graphite. At the center they also had Houston's Grizzly Bear mount, age 18-22 years old, 975 pounds and 11 feet standing, across the street they had a sculpture commemorating the outstanding accomplishment of local bull rider Rob Bell. He won the Canadian Championship in bull riding in 1999, 2000, and 2004. We then took a tour of the local Houston Sawmill, only 8 people could go on the tour at one time, we saw then unloading the logs off trucks, sawing logs, shaving logs, and the control rooms for the machinery. On the way back to camp, there was a bus selling fish, so we stopped and bought some smoked peppered salmon and smoked salmon bits. Had another GAM and a drivers meeting.
Stop # 7 July 24-26
Got up this morning early, at 5:30, and drove 9 miles on a switch-back road to reach Mount Edith Cavell Lake and Angel Glacier, hiked about 30 min. more and reached the lake and glacier. The lake was full of ice chunks that fell from the glacier, originally the glacier looked like angel wings, but has melted quite a bit and doesn't look like that anymore. Great walk, got back to trailer and pulled out by 8:40. Traveled about 237 miles today, to Prince George, British Columbia, stopping at two waterfalls on the way, Overlander and Rearguard falls, both are wide and alot of water running over the rocks, but not very long. Had a buffet dinner planned for all, great food, under new management, the cook came out and talked to us, some even went back the next day.
Next two days, we didn't really do much. Drove downtown, checked out the town parks, which there was quite a few, just to see the town. There were mall strips, Wal-Mart, Costcos, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Princess Auto, which we visited most. Our last night in Prince George, we had an ice cream social, root beer floats, for all, and then a driver's meeting.