Driving through the Yukon and BC

Every time I think Matt and I are "eye-full," we drive/hike/ferry through another section of extraordinary beauty.  This time, we were in Canada--specifically, the Yukon and a small section of B.C.  The Yukon is another over-the-top BIG land.  Maybe it is the lack of "human manipulation/presence" that allows the grandeur to be, well, MORE.  While driving down the road (the only "man-made" object in sight), Matt and I were assaulted by the beauty.  Yes, seriously!  I am surprised I was able to maintain a speed of 40 mph.  I don't think I ever understood the phrase--"beauty all around," until yesterday.  Much to Matt's chagrin, I pulled-over every 15 to 20 minutes just to get out of the car, stand in the middle of the road, and turn in circles.  It was 360 degrees of WOW!  (We only saw another vehicle, maybe, every 15 minutes.)
While ascending the mountain range, the mottled fall colors played across the landscape...

We saw 4 moose hanging out beside the road.

Once in the tundra, it started to rain.  The cloud cover just added to the beauty.  Descending, although we seldom saw the peaks of the mountains, we would occasionally glimpse the aqua color of glaciers and their black moraines...

Sorry, the colors are muted in this photo.

Just before the U.S. border, I almost hit a black bear and her two cubs running across the road.  Luckily, Matt had been on animal-spotting-duty.  (He earns $5.00 for a spotting a bear or sheep; $2.00 for a moose; $20.00 for a lynx or wolf...Meaning, he is a diligent scout!)  It was his screech that forced my attention back to the road.  (Yes, I was again gawking at the scenery.) It was my screech that forced Matt to roll-up his window when we pulled-over to spy into the brush where the family fled.  Even though the black bear was comparably small (to the grizzlies in Denali), I was not going to underestimate its strength!

We may have to spend more time in the Yukon the next trip north. I loved visiting Dawson City, with my Uncle Bill, in 1983... I think Matt would enjoy the rugged little town too.  That, and he would probably earn quite a bit of "spottin' money"!

Hope you are all well and happy!

Smiles and love,

Susan

My well-loved and infamous, Uncle Bill.  1983

Matthew's post

I find this book in mall it is cool

I color in one page I do very good

I love all you!!

Matt

Where in the world is Matthew?

Now you see him...

Now, you don't.

Silly me!! I thought the bright yellow coat would help me keep track of Matt..
SMILES!!

Fairbanks

It was great to visit friends—thank you, Elizabeth and Mark.  Matthew and I had a blast!  You both went above and beyond the definition of “good hosts”.

Elizabeth and Mark--good friends since 1985

Snow near a rest stop  

The last night there (Tuesday) we got snow--the first snow of the season!  Mind you, we decided to boogie.  The snow was beautiful, but it is getting cold.  Tonight, we are in Tok.  Tomorrow, we hope to be at Destruction Bay.  Friday, we should be in Haines.  Matt and I will settle there until October 7^th when we drive onto the ferry bound for Bellingham WA.  

Snow on our shower shoes outside the RV

Denali National Park

Elizabeth, Matt, and I all entered the Denali Road Lottery.  Elizabeth “hit it.”  So, on Monday Sept 16, 2013, the three of us entered the park for the ultimate adventure.  As a lottery winner, Elizabeth was allowed to drive her private vehicle to “the end of the road” in Denali.  (You can normally only ride in a tourist-packed bus beyond mile 14.)

Again, I will let the photos speak for themselves.  It was an extraordinary day!  Mt. Denali was “out” from the time we entered the park (7:00 a.m.) to about 3:00 p.m.  We drove, stopped to watch animals and take pictures, talked, laughed, and enjoyed the 27-40 degree weather for 13 hours.  It went by so quickly.  Denali…nature on steroids!

I only included two animal photos, but we saw so many—

(To the “Twelve Days of Christmas” tune…No, don't sing the information in parentheses.)

8 ptarmigans

7 Dall sheep

6 grizzly bears (2 too close; 2 still-easy-photo-distance; 2 identifiable)

5 large moose (3 bull and 2 cow)

4 berry pickers (tourist picking the bear-coveted blueberries...intelligent?)

3 ground squirrels (seriously cute!)

2 caribou

and a smiling Jr. Ranger  (Matthew earned his Denali Jr. Ranger badge)

Oh, and the sandhill cranes were migrating.  One of the rangers said it was the most he had ever seen in the park! Anytime we saw a formation, we stopped to listen.  They make the most beautiful song.

Denali on the right

Blueberries--foreground

Intense colors in the early morning

Our first bear...Do you think it is looking at me?

Mt. Denali

Bull moose "in gold"

Swearing-in of a new Jr. Ranger

There is gold in Alaska!

Matt and I were so lucky to have “hit it perfectly”.   The fall colors were “at peak” during our drive up to Fairbanks.  The typical 5-hour trip took us 7 hours; I was busy gawking and taking photos!  I got lost in the yellow, gold, and butterscotch colors.  Note the stubborn dark green of the spruce…

No need to write much; the foliage speaks for itself.

These amazing colors are on both sides of the road...

A new addiction!

Matt and I had a GREAT time in Talkeetna!  We decided to try zip-lining—AWESOME!

Okay, yes, it does take a little trust/faith.  You hope--

The equipment won’t fail.          
The guide will hook you up correctly.            

The tree will stay in the ground (it is so saturated here, the tree could up-root).

You won’t turn sideways and not be able to apply your hand-brake.

The leather will stay on your glove, so that you don’t burn your hand while braking.                       

You will be able to stop before you hit the tree.

Then, after you “send up” the above hope/prayer, the guide tells you to lift your legs, and you sail forth at 20-25 mph!!!  (The experience was repeated 9 times.  Oh, and there were 3 suspension bridges too. )

We are ready to do it again!

Hope you all have a chance to enjoy this exhilarating activity!

Matt going across the lake.  He corrects for the "side-slide" soon after this picture--smiles!

Me!  SOOOOOOO much fun!

The gang and guide with whom we zipped! 

The first suspension bridge.  Mom and son lovin' it!

Where is Matt?  He is in the Talkeetna Historical Museum.  Photo is of the southern peak of Mt. Denali

Home in Iowa and Nebraska

Wow!  It was a fast, furious and FUN 10 days!  Okay, well yes, there were doctor, dentist, and other appointments, but packed into free moments—FRIENDS!!!  (Heck, I consider our docs, nurses, Matt’s case manager, and financial advisor friends too!)

That being said, I want to thank all of you—THANK YOU!!!  I was reminded (not that I needed it) of how AWESOME all of you are…

Sue, Tom, Sarah, and Matt (in spirit)—THANK YOU for sharing your home and lives with us!  You went beyond the call-of-duty giving us space for 7 nights, feeding us, having a party for shared friends, etc. etc. SMILES.

Cindy—THANK YOU for sharing your home and cooking with Matt and me!  I totally understand why you love your acerage—beautiful!

One of the first days there, I was able to visit my beloved ISD (Iowa School for the Deaf) High School--students and staff.  I wish I were able to articulate how much you all mean to me…Please know that you all fill my days with warm and beautiful memories.

It was GREAT to see the high school teachers, interpreters, Rebecca, Sue, Donna, Cyndi, Kelly, and Dusty at lunch.

I was THRILLED to see some of the people who live in the admin bldg—Deb, Cindy, Cheryl, Jackie, and Marsha.

I was LUCKY (and happy!) to have the opportunity to see Dee, Joanne, Jen, Julie, Beth, Kristen, and Cindy outside of the high school.

My beloved ISD High School

I graduated from Ottumwa High School--1979 

As for the students at ISD, I am still amazed by how fortunate I am/was.  You all go beyond “wow”!  Thank you for being a part of my life.  I hope you continue to be a part of my “now” and future.  I can only imagine life “to the positive” for all of you!

To see some of these students in action—

Flash mob at HyVee

Freeze Flash Mob at HyVee

When the state appointed committee considered an option to close ISD, the students put together a heartfelt video.  (Teacher, Beth C., put it all together—thank you!)  

Thank You ISD--youtube

THANK YOU Teresa and everyone at the Dojo for sharing laughs and life events—Shawn, Christina, Kat, Tony, Missy…

Teresa, Lori, and Deb—Thank you for the way-cool shoulder bag!!!

Hmmm, if it won’t offend, I would like to name all of the people I was able to see, talk and laugh with outside of the above group experiences…I will send separate emails of appreciation—

Sheri, Val, Dr. Rensch, Miranda, Mary, Dr. Dickinson, Dr. Platt, Joleen, Mike, Jason, Teresa, Michael, Dr. Signh, Diane, Darlene, Lynn, Natasha, Alexander, Kim, Shawn, Devon, Patrick, Bob, Chelsea, Katie, Chris, Mike S., Jonathan, Mary, Jasmine, Craig, and Katie R.

Dang, and definitely NOT to omit my family who all “came in” from far and wide to celebrate life with me and Matthew—Mom, Dad, DeAnn, Alec, Emma, Eli, Joan, Bill, Sarah, Jonathan, John, Jennifer, Melody, and Noah.  THANK YOU!! 

I am humbled by the awesomeness of the people I can fortunately call friends and family…Thank you for being in my and Matthew’s life.  We are beyond blessed. 

The Clicker...

Funny story…Matt was generously gifted with a fish counter (henceforth referred to as “The Clicker”).  The Clicker is best used outside.  Inside a vehicle, the sharp metallic sound it makes when clicked is, well, LOUD.  Matt was very excited about using this new toy; naively, I was happy for him.  His first major clicking opportunity was on the drive from Seward to Anchorage.  “Sure, go ahead and count something,” I said. 

3,669 clicks later, I had a headache.

Matthew had counted not cars, as I erroneously assumed he would, but people IN the vehicles. (Sometimes, he even counted the dogs.)

“CLICK. CLICK” for each car. 

“CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK….you get my drift”, for each bus.  (Oh, and there are NUMEROUS buses on the road driving to and from Anchorage!) 

Okay, clearly I needed to set better parameters. 

Second clicking opportunity, and a better-prepared mom-- “Okay, this time, only count the cars.” 

4,106 clicks later, I had a migraine.

Matthew had not only counted the cars going by on the opposite side of the road—“CLICK”

but cars behind us—“CLICK. CLICK. CLICK...”

cars on side roads—“CLICK. CLICK. CLICK...”

cars in parking lots—“CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK…”

cars in used car lots---yeah, you know where this is going.  

Again, I had not been specific enough. 

Driving back to Omaha…much more palatable.  “You may only use your clicker to count cars on the opposite side of the road that are moving!”

514 clicks later, I had an eye twitch, but was pain free! 

Even though I am comfortable with the new rules (and the application of them), I think Matt is still concerned that The Clicker will get “lost”…SMILES (with a slightly twisted upper lip!) He now sleeps with it…

Honestly, he never lets it go...

Maybe, I will change the clicking rule to “only ‘click’ for cars that are pink.”  Hey, don’t feel sorry for him, at least he is still “healthy”!  SMILES.