ZJ Speaks

7-24-11

IT IS HOTTTTT!!

Ugh the heat wave is hottt.

This isn’t fun any more but the trip is. We stopped early to find a hotel and there was a baseball tornament going on so there was only 1 room in the hotel out of 5 hotels and we got it.

The next day we went to the goose county park and that night people where shooting off fire works and I couldn’t sleep.

Today we are in a park and we just got out of the pool it was nice and refreshing.          ZJ

 Badlands (WIKI)

A badlands (also badland) is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often difficult to navigate by foot. Badlands often have a spectacular color display that alternates from dark black/blue coal stria to bright clays to red scoria.

The term badlands represents a consensus in North America. The Lakota called the topography "Makhóšiča", literally bad land, while French trappers called it "les mauvaises terres à traverser" – "the bad lands to cross". The Spanish called it tierra baldía ("waste land") and cárcava. The term badlands is also apt: badlands contain steep slopes, loose dry soil, slick clay, and deep sand, all of which impede travel and other uses. Badlands form in semi-arid or arid regions with infrequent but intense rain-showers, sparse vegetation, and soft sediments: a recipe for massive erosion.

Some of the most famous fossil beds are found in badlands, where erosion rapidly exposes the sedimentary layers and the scant cover of vegetation makes surveying and fossil hunting relatively easy.

Some of the best-known badland formations can be found in the United States and Canada. In the U.S., Makoshika State Park in Montana, Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and Badlands National Park in South Dakota together form a series of extensive badland formations. Another popular area of badland formations is Toadstool Geologic Park in the Oglala National Grassland of northwestern Nebraska. Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah are also badlands settings. A small badland called Hell's Half-Acre is present in Natrona County, Wyoming. Additional badlands also exist in various places throughout southwest Wyoming, such as near Pinedale and in the Bridger Valley near the towns of Lyman and Mountain View, near the high Uintah Mountains.

No help today from Road Warriors!

 

7-23-11

Our next visit was to Ghost Canyon and Little Big Horn. Our next overnight camp at Hell Canyon National Forest in the Black Hills and visit to Mt Rushmore early the next morning to avoid the heat and crowds (Which we all enjoyed for a lot of reasons, the previous blog KC expressed her enthusiasm about the site. Realizing the warriors were overloaded with culture we headed into the Badlands territory. The view is more than can be imagined. Again like Alaska it is something worth seeing. It was so very hot we drove out of the park to a KOA campground because it advertised shaded sites and swimming pool. This all came in handy and we witnessed a wind storm which took out a tent and caused the family to pack up and leave.

Heading east, stopped overnite to avoid another HOT night in SD where they were having little league playoffs so the town was crowded with hyperactive kids and “waterslide” hotel was unavailable, but we did have a pool and AC.

Traveling across SD is corny, and more corny. Since we visited the Corn Palace in SD it is fitting that the pix were left out. Flowers along the way added a bit of interest, but the corn is not as high as an elephants eye!

Saturday evening we stayed in Goose Island County Campgrounds on the bank of the swollen Mississippi River.

Got a little fishing in, crowded park, with fireworks supplied by other campers. Big park, loaded for the weekend!

Not much going on for rest of eastern adventure and road warriors are getting weary, and sleeping thru day traveling.

Hope all are well, and looking to get back!

South Dakota with "Road Warriors"

 

KC      7/21/2011

          HELLO MALE AND FEMALE SPECeMINEs, I apologize for not blogging in a while but I was having  a writers block. But lets get to more important things, today I saw mount rushmore for the first time! It was awesome!!! Id give it a full five thumbs up, if I had five thumbs. It was beautiful, I found out some background information about rushmore. If you would like to know more then read the next paragraph, but if you don’t want to skip it. (but id recommend that you read it because its pretty interesting)

          Mount rushmore started out as a dream , a dream dreamed by Gutzon Borglum. He needed permission from many of people, that was the congress, mr. rushmore, and state of south Dakota. After he got all his permissions in order he had to start raising money to pay for his dream, e even receved $1700 from school students. After he got to his grand total of $50000 he was able to start. WHEN HE HIRED MEN TO WORK ON THE JOB IT WOULD Take them 2 hours just to get up the mountain. Finally one day borglum realized that he needed some way to communicate with his men when they were working, so he hired A MAN TO STAND AT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN EVERY DAY AND YELL DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO TELL THE WORKERS THE MESSAGE THAT WAS SUPOST TO BE TOLD. SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY EASY JOB RIGHT, BUT THIS PERTICULAR MAN WAS very scared of heights and so borglum gave him a different job. And blah blAH BLAH useless info and here is the interesting part, one day he decided that while he was in town 2 get a major surgery that he needed  and during his surgery he sadly passed away. All the workers insisted that his son Lincoln borglum should take over his fathers work but Lincoln refused, he said that,

“this was my fathers dream and any other person that might do this job could ruin his dream”

and so he signed a paper saying that know one will ever work on it again. A few years later he changed his mind and decided to work on it again for his father, so when he tried to get it started up again the government said,

“nope sorry you cant work on it, you signed a paper saying that no one can work on it”

and so Gutzon borglum’s dream stays what it is today as uncomplete.

My quote of the day!!

“If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want.” 

~Oscar Wilde

( Anyway I hope you found me interesting, and not zack the guy who rides bears apparently. (uncle jim !))

 

ZJ         7-21-11

Now we are heading to South Dakota.

Today was Mount Rushmore day. at first I wasn’t to excited. I walked in and I was AMAZED!!! I just couldn’t explain how interesting it was. I suggest everyone should go. To bad nobody really reads this. They would all think it is interesting. I learned almost everything there is to know about it. Words don’t even begin to describe it. Then after that I went to Wall Drug Store. Supposed to be the largest drug store in the world. We where sweating so much it was crazy. We came to the best campground I ever stayed at. We where eating and then it started to drizzle and the wind started to blow slowly and then BOOM all of a sudden the wind got so fast I almost flew off the bench. It was awesome!!!! Man what a great day.

For more information visit the Mount Rushmore National Memorial website at www.nps.gov/moru/

Better Late than Never!!!

7/18/11  Missed a few days, no internet service
 And the Beat Goes On!!!!!

ZJ Blog              7-18-11

Lately we have been driving allot. We have been stopping and camping at national parks. One park we went to my cousin and I went fishing. I had my spot and she had hers. She kept getting caught in weeds so she came over to my spot and got our lines tangled. Then later we decided to move. We where fishing and all of a sudden I feel this thump and a sharp pain in my back SHE HOOKED ME IN THE BACK!!! She had no clue where her line went so she tugged it and ripped the lure out of my back. We moved again and I was standing in water the hole time. When we where packing up to get our bathing suits on to swim in the water I noticed a leech on my leg so m cousin was too scared to go in the water. That night I took a piece of drift wood and started to carve it. Hours and hours went by. It was starting to take shape. I made long sword with a grip because I cut finger holes in it. I was AMAZED at what I did. The day after we went to a camp where they had a huge pile of wood that you where allowed to take as much of as you want. I made a very nice fire.

Now we are heading to South Dakota.  ZJ Blog

A nice evening spent in Stewart at Ripley Creek Inn, Pizza nite, Saturday in town was busy, but for a quiet place not bad at all. . Hyder is just across river, and had lunch at blue bus, delicious Mermaid Chowder, named after cook, not ingredients.

The salmon have not arrived yet this year so not much to do. A short ried in Tongass National Forest, saw a couple of bear, none at salmon stream. Still amazed at wildflowers. Old mining spoils/machinery along road, must have been hopping town/s.

Z n K loved exploring around town, lots of interesting things to find. Bringing home drilling sample cores for gold propecting. The specs of gold have them enthralled. Gotta find a book for them to realize what an historic event gold prospecting was and how it effected the development of AK and the NW Canadian Territories. A lot of money made, but a lot more lost.

Heading south from Stewart,YK stopped at Fraser Lake CG to find it was 100^th Anniv Celebration for Canada Provincial Parks, and were entertained by a host of very talented local musicians. What’s not to like in a pristine park with music fillng the air. Fishing crew tried their hand down at lake while I just sat back and grooved. Onward east--- traveling thru the Jasper Prov. Forest. A rough drive, mostly because it was weekend lots of sightseers and winding roads, but worth the ride. Canadian Rockies have to be seen to believed. Overnight in quiet campground @ Jonas Creek, Z n K are whittlers now of the first order. Continuing on we stopped at rest stop to find a breathtaking waterfall and rapids. Kids hiked up and down 3 times and finally roped me into third climb (2.5 miles round trip). Happy to see they enjoyed the adventure, as they have been contained close to rv.

Further onward across the border and Glacier National Park in Montana, Grabbed first site we could find since entrance had notice that it was filling up. Another good nights rest under the stars and a hike out to get fire wood. Did stop to eat in town, nice break after a long drive.

Heading south east to South Dakots, Badlands ……………………….

STAY TUNED!

ZJ Blog

 

7-18-11

Lately we have been driving allot. We have been stopping and camping at national parks. One park we went to my cousin and I went fishing. I had my spot and she had hers. She kept getting caught in weeds so she came over to my spot and got our lines tangled. Then later we decided to move. We where fishing and all of a sudden I feel this thump and a sharp pain in my back SHE HOOKED ME IN THE BACK!!! She had no clue where her line went so she tugged it and ripped the lure out of my back. We moved again and I was standing in water the hole time. When we where packing up to get our bathing suits on to swim in the water I noticed a leech on my leg so m cousin was too scared to go in the water. That night I took a piece of drift wood and started to carve it. Hours and hours went by. It was starting to take shape. I made long sword with a grip because I cut finger holes in it. I was AMAZED at what I did. The day after we went to a camp where they had a huge pile of wood that you where allowed to take as much of as you want. I made a very nice fire.

Now we are heading to South Dakota.

Keeping on Keeping on!

7/15 KC

DONE!!! I finally finished my first book, but now im working on my next book (its not as good but I can deal with it) But lets get to important things, like I found a cylindar thingy that contains a little bit of…………………………GOLD!!!!! But not much. Anyway the quote of the day is

“If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want. 

~Oscar Wilde

that’s ironic isn’t it?!?!?!?! Well im sorry to say that I don’t have much to say, so if you have any ideas on what to talk bout then write a comment PLEASSSSSE!!!!

Au reviour ( if you read my last blog you would knaw what that means! ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha 

 

7/14/11

And the beat goes on-

So leaving Denali, we left with a lot of fun memories, things we saw and did. Denali is a spiritual and extraordinary experience. Traveling the road on the park bus is certainly wearing, but the reasons behind it are for the protection of the animals and keeping the serenity in tact. To limit the road travel is the main importance of the part employees, and will never be the same, if left to the masses.

Seeing sheep, a moose, bear, caribou and the small not so incidental animals are part of the experience. Our departure out of the park included a ‘ptarmigan’ family crossing the road.

Z n K completed their Jr. Ranger swearing in and we left feeling that some day we could return. I think they got the spirit and will find it in their life to return.

Heading out to Chicken to dig for gold. *Ranger Caitlin told us it was named so because since no-one could spell Ptarmigan (state bird-not the mosquito) they picked the closest thing they could spell. The gold prospecting in Chicken wasn’t all the easy, and lost interest in a few hours.

So onward to the Youkon and south to Whitehorse stopping for a nice warm evening in a Thermal bath. Camping was delightful as rained most of the night and the sound on the rv-roof was relaxing. Up and early to head down the Cassier Highway to our last stop in Hyder, AK/Stewart, BC hoping to catch up to the salmon. However the fish have not arrived yet and the bear are not so evident so our sightings were slim but well enjoyed. The area is probably the most close to AL/BC at the turn of the century. Lumber rafts in the bay, and left over object de arte’ from the mining ventures left behind. A delightful evening spent at Ripley Creek Inn.

We all need a clean up!!!!!!!

 

ZJ promised he would blog soon, gotta encourage with comments, please!

Denali or Denial which is it?

 

7/11/11

So DENALI it is!

Arrived at the infamous Daneli on Saturday, and got thru registration. Headed out to Teklinika campground and settled in. Had a lovely evening, after setting up camp and walking along the river, a nice chili dinner, headed to the evening entertainment. Attending an evening lecture on the Ptarmigan.

The state bird of Alaska, delightfully given by Ranger Kaitlin, who ironically is originally from New Jersey. (There is hope for all)  The ‘road warriors’ didn’t think they would enjoy this, but did have a good time. It is amazing they make the presentations so entertaining.

So our adventure on the infamous bus to Eilson was:

Dall Sheep, Moose, Grizzley 9 including the slow poke on the road on the side of the bus, and the Caribou grazing in the meadow. Leaving the park we encountered a family of ptarmigan with 4 chicks crossing the road.

On the way out of Denali the ‘road warriors’ took the time to become Jr Rangers, and were disappointed not to receive a hat.

Following the road out of Denali, we headed NoEast thru Fairbanks to TOK. Had to pick up part of rv left behind last year, not without the usual Tok experience-their way of looking busy, and not quite knowing what your talking about. I can’t believe anything changes in TOK!!!!!

Old Photo part of the Park Story.

DENALI Lesson: Archeological excavation at the Teklanika West site, Teklanika River, 1961 are quick to note that many visitors equate a successful trip along the park road with their ability to spot five major mammals: barren ground caribou, Dall sheep, moose, wolves, and grizzly bear. Those same bus drivers, however, are quick to point out that the area offers excellent habitat for many other large animals, such as coyotes, lynx, red foxes, and black bear. They might also note that other species of mammals inhabit the park (for a total of 25), along with one amphibian species, 15 species of fish, and 166 bird species. These animal species occupy a variety of habitats, and regarding most of the large mammal species, the areas that they inhabit may vary considerably from one year to the next. The Denali caribou herd, which inhabits the park and preserve, graze in many areas outside of the high country. Of other major mammal species, Dall sheep inhabit the Outer Range foothills and the lower slopes of the Alaska Range, and moose may be seen throughout the area below the 3,000-foot isopleths. Wolves, in several packs, inhabit many areas in the northern half of the “old park” as well as in certain areas in the so-called “northern additions” and in drainages south of the high peaks; and grizzlies are found both north and south of the Alaska Range, primarily in tundra and in adjacent riparian taiga vegetation. Only the higher, glaciated slopes are bereft of large mammals. Although most of the large mammalian species are found on both sides of the range, these animals (according to a recent management plan) “occur within the park in greater concentrations north of the Alaska Range than south of the range.” Furthermore, viewing opportunities are excellent on the northern slopes; by contrast, “most areas to the south of the range are not expansive and open and thus do not afford a comparable viewing experience.”

Ther is gold in them thar hills!

          GOLD RUSH!!! We went gold hunting today and I was the first one to find gold. GOAL! But anyways I don’t have much to say so lets just get to the quote of the day, but I’m going to change it up a little. (but first I wanna say keep those comments coming)

“Its so hard when you have to, and so easy when you want to”

~Annie Gottlier

What does this mean? Why do you think its harder to do something when you have to, but easy when you want to? How do you relate to this? And last but not least, Why do things seem harder then they appear? These are just questions to think about, but if you think that you have a really good answer to any of my questions then just comment and tell me the answers because it really makes me happy to read your comments J TTYL LULAS/LULAB (love you like a sister/brother <3

Au reviour=good bye (French)

And the JOURNEY proceeds!

 

7/8/11

Talkeetna and Beyond:

The visit to Northern Exposure was delightful as usual. The ‘road warriors’ surely enjoyed it and the sights to be seen.  Had a nice dinner out at a real restaurant and slept soundly in campground with showers!!

We all enjoyed the McKinley experience, given by a ranger who presented the possibilities and probabilities with facts and humor.

Didn’t get anyone to sign on, but ZJ looked with interest.

Leaving Talkeetna, headed to check out Trappers Creek and Petersville. Another trail the prospectors settled in the search for gold.

Traveled half the way down and it turned to gravel, which is not our choice for rv, so lo an behold there was Gate Creek Cabins, which we all agreed would be a nice sleepover. Delightful and cozy, the gang enjoyed a bit of boating, and fishing-along with warm showers. The evening stay was greatly enjoyed by all. (Gotta get out of the rv once and a while) The road warriors surely would have stayed there for a while.

With T’s new camera, we were all having a bit of fun and experimenting with some of the settings. The warriors are doing most of the photography, so be thankful that I deleted 250 shots from this day shooting------ stay tuned to some really interesting photo techniques.

Also of note is background of  fireweed which has been more obvious in this part of Aleyska.

IT'S ALL GOOD IN ALYESKA!

 

7/7/2011- Week #1 behind us!

We made it thru the first week, all things going well! Our guests, the road ‘warriors’ are doing well and basically putting away the iPod/Games. Scenery is getting interesting to them, and they have started paying more attention to what is outside the windows. Visited Exit Glacier/National Park, interesting, but no time for hiking, hit the road to head to Whittier, which is accessible only by tunnel. 

Whittier was and army installation in 2nd WW, During World War II the United States Army constructed a military facility, complete with port and railroad terminus near the glacier and named the facility Camp Sullivan. The spur of the Alaska Railroad to Camp Sullivan was completed in 1943 and the port became the entrance for United States soldiers into Alaska. The port remained an active army facility until 1960.

The two huge buildings that dominate Whittier were built after World War II. The Hodge Building (now Begich Towers) was built for housing soldiers and the Buckner Building, completed in 1953, was called the "city under one roof". Both buildings were at one time the largest buildings in Alaska. The Begich Building is now a condominium, and houses nearly all of Whittier's residents. The port remained an active Army facility until 1960. Whittier was incorporated in 1969.

The town was severely damaged by tsunamis triggered by the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake; thirteen people died due to waves that reached 13 m (43 ft).  No camping/or hotel – headed back out as Whittier is small community basically for commercial and cruise arrivals. Heading out had to wait an hour for tunnel, which is one lane and shared with train. So while on line we cooked up the remaining Halibut into a chowder and just made our slot to leave town. Drove to Anchorage and ate scrumptious chowder in hotel parking lot, slept well in beds, and all got to shower in AM to head north.

Spent the evening in City campground across the lake from (unbeknown to us) the Palin residence. Met a delightful lady on the trail, who was so knowledgeable about the plants and medicinal use of more than we ever were able to ID. Her Hungarian accent kept us enthralled in her Auervedic/Native herbology. Pointed out blueberry, raspberry, cranberry and new to us Salmonberry to name a few. When we arrived back to campsite and found ‘warriors’ huddled by campfire waiting for us. Do you think they thought a bear encounter would leave them stranded? They had run ahead of us, and expected us to keep up.

Now we are onward to Trappers Creek, Petersville and Talkeetna (Northern Exposure) Hope to share McKinley experience with ‘road warriors’.

 

7/7/11

          Hello fello bloggers!!! I haven’t found any recent comments so all I have to say is speak your mind, it’s a free country. And if u don’t then my demon dog is gonna get you! JUST KIDING!!!!! My dog is actually very sweet, he wouldn’t hurt a fly. (literally he would sniff it then walk away) But anyways today was a very simple day we drove then we went for a walk in town. (if you would like to now where we were then read my grandmothers blog thing-a-mer-bob. But anyway lets get to more important things like……………..umm…………….STUFF! Well umm anyways lets get to the quote of the day…

“Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.”

~Voltaire

That reminds me of one night when we stayed at a hotel I was taking a shower and I didn’t know that they could hear what was going on in there one so I started singing and when I got out and they were al making fun of me I remember that my grandpa said,

“I was starting to hum along with you.”

It was pretty funny. Anyway to end this paragraph I just wanna say that I hope you enjoyed my writing and comment before my dog comes after you. GOOD BYE!

~KC

 

Homer, for the 4th weekend.

July 4, 2011 HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!!!!

No new info to blog about, things in Homer are pretty much the same as last year. (If your interested look back on old blog) Homer is mainly fishermen/persons and focus is on halibut. A cruise ship was in Friday when we arrived, so things were quite busy. Just like Nassau/BAH when the tourists arrive. Buzzing with the cruisers! Homer has a beautiful view of the mountains, surrounded on the west of Kachemak Bay by snow covered mountains, volcanoes and eastward a ridge dotted with homes. Great fishin, with beautiful sights.

 Our ‘seasoned road warriors’ have enjoyed the shopping, and watching the tide move in and out. A treat was beach combing and even getting in the water for a bit. Water is cold, so they didn’t stay long, fired up warm water to rinse them off, rinse and dry clothes on rocks in sun. Funny how good a natural drying process works when necessary.

As usual I am enthralled by all flora in Alaska, as well as fauna. The Lupines line the road, colors brilliant, Rhubarb is huge (better than ours in NY was), Devils Club is chin high, Cow Parsnip is 5-6 feet, and any and all growth is luscious. Fireweed is not visible, hope we don’t miss blooming this year.

Sunset has been about 11:30 and Sunrise before 3AM. So anything in error has to be sleep deprivation related.

ZJ 7/4/11 5A.M. the alarm was ringing. My grandfather and I get up and get ready to go on the charter boat. We drive to a peer to figure out that it was the wrong one so we had to walk another 10 min. to get to the charter boat. 

Once we finally get on it was a 2 hour ride to get to the first fishing spot. We had a 2 pound weight and we dropped the line in and it was going fast and it took 5 minutes to hit the bottom of the ocean floor. The water was 190 feet deep. I felt little nibbles so I decided to check my bait. It felt like fore ever when I was reeling it in. When I reeled it in I had no bait. I got bait and dropped my line again caught nothing. 15 minutes went by the same thing. Everybody but me and my grandfather caught a fish. The next spot we went to the next spot. I dropped my line in o got a bite and so did the 4 people next to me. When we all reeled up my fish swam around 4 other peoples lines. Hmmm no wonder why it was so easy to reel in. after that we caught 7 more, but we where only allowed to keep 4. I caught the biggest fish on the boat!!!

KC-My Trip to Alaska

7/5/11

          LAUNDRY DAY! (a day early) Anyway lets get to more interesting conversations. And if you found my cousins blog entry interesting then you must be a fish finatic! But that’s not a bad thing………………………unless you find his stories better then mine! JUST KIDING!!!!!! But lets get to the point………this trip so far for me has been so much FUN!!! I’ve been reading a lot while my cousin goofs off and goes fishing…but I don’t care because I am loving this (oh and if u have any grand children or are a parent and has a child in 6^th grade I recommend this book to them……its called “The Red Pyramid”) But other then that if you haven’t been looking at the picture collages then you should because the mountains are beautiful. Well I didn’t have much to say today im sorry for that, but I at least hope you found me to be funny……umm i'll keep writing only if you keep reading this (i am going to start giving saying random quotes, see if you can relate to them) My quote of the day is

“I have found the Paradox; that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more LOVE”

-Mother Theresa (what does it mean to you?)

Homer-the Halibut Fishing Capital

1. 

KC Notes:7/2/11

          FISHING FAIL! CAMPING KRAZ! (camping was so crazy fun it deserves a k) We went fishing yesterday in the nice sunny weather and we caught no fish at all! It was so annoying! But that same day we decided to sleep at a hotel a day early. The only problem I had with the hotel was that there was no pool. But the next hotel we stay at will have a pool and then that’s when im going to get a picture of my cousin Zack in a bikini.(inside joke) 

 

Overnight in Morgan LandingStill trying to catch a fish, ZJ is determined to hookum and cookum!

Sleeping at Eagle River was quiet and pleasant. More busy than we like, but thought it a good spot just 15 miles north of Anchorage. Nice river, and usual clean state park environment.

A bit of traveling south thru Turngain Arm, along the river and on to Kenai Peninsula. Holiday weekend so we decided to get a jump on the weekenders.

Overnight in Morgan Landing- Sterling, AK:

ZJ is still working on catching dinner, not very much running now but we are sure his first hit gave him more inspiration to get the trophy dinner.

Quesadillas were the best we could do, but the fire was cozy at the pit.

 On to Homer, nice drive, saw caribou, Moose, eagles, and the spectacular scenery onward south on the Kenai Peninsula. 

Spring growth is very amazing, and the gardens are far beyond what I would expect. Guess sunlight from 4AM thru 11PM might have something to do with it????It surely has an affect mentally .

No big excitement besides relishing the scenery….Stay tuned!!!!!!!!