Our Rig

Our Rig
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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Musings #9

I was just checking over the blog and I see that I have my musings out of order.  #5 is followed by #7 and then #6.  Sorry.

May 12

Today is the official start of the Caravan Tour and we will be headed to Hyder, Alaska tomorrow.  But first, let me fill you in on all that has been going on.  We had an orientation and a pot luck supper and everyone introduced themselves.  There are 17 rigs involved (unfortunately, one rig had to drop out due to a lot of mechanical problems), our guide, Spike & his rig, our trouble-shooter, Roger and his rig, and our "tailgunners," Harry & Betty.  Harry & Betty had gone on this tour three years ago and are back as volunteers to help out.

Roger had a vehicle inspection and we were all fitted out with radiator protection and those that were towing cars had shields put on them.  Dan had Roger check a few things and change the fuel filter.  Handy having Roger around and he is a real sweetie.

On May 12 we had a historic native village tour, checked out their totem poles and ceremonial houses and received a talk about the history and background of these people and then we went through the Kispiox Totum Village. 



We had a special treat in the evening - the native people had agreed to give us a special traditional dance performance.  Spike said this was unusual as he has only seen it a few other times.  We were unable to take pictures during the performance, but could photograph the dancers in their costumes afterwards.  It was really neat and it was cute seeing the kids learning the traditional customs.




May 13

We travelled 170 miles to Hyder for 2 days in Camp Run-A-Muck.  Fantastic views on the way up and we learned how to travel in a group.  We all have VHF radios so Spike can give us lectures on what we are seeing on the way or a heads up if anything interesting was coming up and we can communicate if someone is stopping or if a car or truck is trying to pass.  Can you imagine having to pass 18 RVs? 


Travelled alongside rivers and mountains with a couple of glaciers.  Still lots of snow which makes the mountains beautiful and the bears easier to see. 



I imagine they must close this road sometimes in the winter.  Some of the signs said chains on tires were required certain months and some signs said avalanche areas.  Saw some damage caused by avalanches and i think we heard one while we were in the campground.  Did see what I think was a fox in the campground.

We are the first campers for the season at Camp run-a-muck - they opened just for us - and  had just finished plowing the campground.  Lots of snow still and where there isn't snow, there is mud.  What a mess. Glad we brought our yucky boots.

Saw nine black bears on our way from Hazleton to Hyder and saw some more in Hyder.  One was actually in someone's front yard.  One of the group saw a grizzly and her cubs ambling down to the river to see if the salmon had arrived, but we didn't see that one.



How to describe Hyder?  It is rather unique.  It kinda reminds me of the TV show "Northern Exposure" complete with the quirky characters.  There is one road and it is the way in and the way out.  It is the southernmost town in Alaska and has been officially deemed a ghost town.  There is a general store which is run by the mayor and is mostly tourist stuff, a fish market (absolutely the BEST seafood chowder ever - better than the one we had in Victoria), a gallery thaat sold yummy fudge and the proprietor played the dulcimer, a post office where the mail is flown in by pontoon plane on Mondays and Thursdays.  It is a desolate town, cut off from almost everything.  I think the only means of making a livelihood is fishing and mining.



There was a grocery store in Stewart, the next town which was in British Columbia, and we had to pass through Canadian customs each time we had to go to the store or a restaurant.

We were warned that the owners of small dogs should walk them under the trees because of the eagles - they had been known to swoop down and grab small animals.  Oh great!  We also got a lecture on what to do if you came across a bear.  Uh oh.  Looks like we're now part of the food chain.

Hyder is located at the mouth of a fijord (a body of water between two mountain ranges that was carved out by a glacier) and is the beginning of the inside passage of Alaska.  The fijord is called the Portland Canal which cuts through the mountains and empties into the Pacific.  The water here is delicious and pure as it is fed by a glacier.  We saw more totem villages and native grave sites.


Tomorrow on our way to Dease Lake, BC.  More later.

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