Take a break, listen to this .An absolute joy.

This was sent to us from a girl friend in England, thanks Judy.

Listen to the rain falling down as it gets heavier and heavier. Then comes the thunder!
This amazing choir use their hands to create a thunderstorm!!!
Turn up your speakers. It begins very softly.

http://www.videosift.com/video/Africa-Acapella-cover

Second visit to Anchorage

To day we went to Thunderbird Falls which you will find in Chugach State Park. It was about a one mile walk to the Falls, a bit disappointed we could not get closer. But I like water falls...



Yesterday we went back into Anchorage, we had a look at Earthquake Park which was devastated in 1964 by you guessed it, an earthquake. Chris and I went to 2 bead shop's and we visited the Alaska Mint where Jim got me an anniversary gift. He won't let me have it though until the date, August 24th. The flowers were lovely in the park. As you can see there were cabbages and parsley mixed in with the flowers.

Just a quick up date with regard to canasta.....
Played another game last night after dinner, and
try as we might, to help the girls get some points,
the boys trounced the girls again. "Nuff said"

Dennis & Barb come to visit

We all had a 'cupper' and good chat in our RV before moving next door to Mark & Chris's for a great meal. You can read on Barb's blog, Johnson's bus stops how she caught the Salmon we all ate last night, and how she got loads of rhubarb. Chris & I supplied the trimmings. We were all so full afterwards. It was so nice to see them, and listen to what they have seen and where they had been. Then we could tell them all our stories too, and compare notes. We all enjoyed their visit, and looking forward to seeing them again later in the year, probably in Arizona in the fall.




This was left after the first visit to the table. There was none
left after the second.





Barb helping to dish up dinner.

Barb, Chris & me

Day 2 in Denali National Park

We drove into the park and went for a hike along the river, saw some of the smaller wild life.
Arctic Squirrel & Ptarmigan's.








We will be driving over this in the morning on the way to Anchorage,


I wounder if Jim will let me drive?????????

We got these pics on the way out of the park, this young Bull Moose

was so happy just eating away at the bushes as we drove by.

Canasta Up-Date.

For those who have seen on Marks blog, about the Girls v

Boys Canasta Games. The girls managed a minor victory the

last time we played. However, we played again last night,

and the boys regained their proper place in the hierarchy, with

a MIGHTY WIN......

Denali Sled Dogs.

Not sure what Chris and I did wrong, but these dog did not want to move.
The sled dog demonstration at Denali national park and Preserve is well worth a visit.

Fairbanks and Denali National Park

Fairbanks, Alaska. After Chicken, this was
a huge city....



Our campground whilst in Fairbanks, the parking lot of
Pioneer Park. $12 a night, for a level site and no hookups.


Our campground near Denali is at the base of some
pretty impressive mountains.
We decided to climb the nearest one to
the campground on the day of our arrival.
Not too steep, and a very pleasant hike.

(click on any of the pictures to see more detail)


Jane and Chris on our hike.



A lonely Caribou grazing, totally ignoring us.

Saturday we went into Denali National Park. It just happened to
be a "Free Entry to the Park Weekend", so it cost nothing to enter.
The National Parks hold "Free Weekends" several times a year.
Private cars are not allowed further than 15 miles into the park,
so if you wish to go further, you have to take one of the tours on offer,
and ride on a school type bus. Our driver, Alfred, gave us a great
narative, as he drove us in and out of the park on our 8 hour round
trip tour. The cost of the tour, just under$32, was well worth it.
Of course being a school bus, it was a little noisy
and a little uncomfortable, but.....you cant have everything.
The weather was glorious, and we had some great views of
Mt McKinley and the Alaskan Mountain range, and of course
some wild life, including Grizzly bears and caribou to name but two.



Mark and Chris at the end of the outward leg of the trip at
the Eielson Visitors Centre, 66 miles into the park.



Jim and Jane at the Eielson Centre .


Jim, looking towards Mt McKinley .









The white mountain, just left of centre, is Mt McKinley.
At just over 20,000ft, it is the highest mountain in North
America. We were very lucky to see it so clearly, as most
days it is covered in cloud.



This is a picture quilt, on display at the Eilson Centre.
It is in fact a quilt made up of 5 separate pieces.







This sign, has sharp nails protruding all around it, in an
attempt to stop the bears from eating it.






I know, you can hardly see it, but believe me, it is a
Grizzly Bear. This was taken, as were all the pictures
on our blog,with a Nikon Coolpix digital pocket camera.




Mark has a very expensive camera with some great lenses.
We will get a picture of a grizzly bear off him and put it on our blog
just so that we have a good picture on the blog.
Take a look at his blog Mark & Chris's Phaeton Place for some
really cool pictures.






Jane, wearing a pair of antlers, on display at the rest
stop in Toklat River.
Picture taken in Black and White.

Song

YouTube - Moose Don't Moo

This song was playing in a shop and Chris and I can not get it out of our mind, now can you!!!!!!

Meet Elizabeth....

Grace & Elizabeth

We are now grandparents to a HAMSTER. Auntie Georgina bought Grace a hamster for her 6th birthday. We have been told she is a sweet heart, we can't wait to meet her next time we are home. So that makes, 5 grandchildren, 7 chickens, 1 cat, and a hamster.

Tok to Fairbanks.

We just had to stop and take in the view, the wild Fireweeds were all over the Mountains.




Hard at work, yet another Hobie for us girls.


Chris and I were not ready for this photo, we were too busy stripping the bark off our "Diamond Willow" sticks we had cut down the day before.



Delta Junction. The end of the Alaska Highway.



It must have been someones pride and joy at one time




We ate at "Fast Eddy's". Well, some ate and some "pigged out"
No room for desert though. Well recommend the "Alaska Burger"

Today is Sunday, and we are still here in Chicken Alaska. Those who have visited Chicken may wonder what the heck we are still doing in Chicken, here after 4 nights. Apart from "Gold Panning" what else is there to do? Well, that's it, there is not much else. But Jane Mark and Chris have spent many an hour panning for that elusive gold. Mark has finally got his laptop to log on to the Internet, after many fruitless attempts.
Chicken has a store, Post Office, small restaurant, and a "Bar". If any one is interested in having their underwear blasted out of a cannon, yes that's right "A Cannon", then visit the bar in Chicken and all will be revealed.
You may have noticed it was Jane Mark and Chris doing the gold panning. Well I (Jim) have had a go, but I'm afraid I don't have the patience. Even though I did find some gold. So Jane's collection is now Our Collection. I have spent the days relaxing, catching up on a book I was reading, surfing the web, and talking to the family back home by way of instant messages on line.
Tomorrow we leave, finally, and drive just 80 miles to Tok. There we hope to replenish our food stocks, and clean some of the muck from the motor homes and tow vehicles.
Before I leave this segment of the blog, what do I think of Chicken?
If I were to do it again, I would only stay a maximum of 3 days. The campground, while pleasing on the eye, is lacking in basic amenities. i.e water. There is electricity as advertised, 15amp, but only on line between about 7.30am., and 8.30pm. (Not advertised). The rates are $10 no hook-ups, $18 electric hook-up. $8 for 15amp electric, 13hrs a day is not good value for money.
I did enjoy the tour of the Pedro Dredge, though again, $8 for the privilege I thought was a little steep. Of course everything that is available in the store has to be brought from Fairbanks, a distance of about 280 miles, so the prices are quite high.
Yes, we enjoyed our stay in Chicken, were made to feel really welcome. Glad we came, but I don't think I will want to come back.

Chicken Gold Camp, Alaska

Chris & Jim
The back view was the best....


George you would love these....

Chicken Gold Camp

Our camp ground. 5 days rest, and time to do 'catch up' on cleaning. Chris and I take it in turns preparing super each night, so that gives each of us a day off every other day. As I always say, it's not just the cooking, it's the thinking of what to prepare. Before long Chris & Mark will know the extent of my recipes book , and as Jim and the girls know its not that big. As I sit here, with my feet up, typing this , I can hear Chris hard at work, doing supper..... Music to my ears.

Such nice grasses grow around here.

View from the top of the hill

If these bucket's could talk what a story they could tell.

The old "Pedro Dredge No4" is located at the Camp Ground. It operated on Chicken Creek between 1959 and 1967, after mining Pedro Creek, just outside Fairbanks, from 1938 until 1959. It was brought the last mile here to the campground on a specially built road, now grown over again, by the owner Mike Busby.

http://www.chickengold.com/

Me, Mark & Chris. Gold Panning.

MY GOLD (Our Gold darling !!)

Drive to Chicken Alaska.

Over on the "free" ferry from Dawson City.

Parked at the summit of "Top of the World" Highway .

Two "Wild" girl's on the "Top of the World".

WE GOT HERE AT LAST....

6 Hours to do just over 100 miles on this road surface.

We can not wash the vehicles here as they have to get the water tanked in.

We have never seen so much dust, in and out side the RV & car, I could be cleaning for a month but I won't........................

As I said, we are now in Chicken and will stay for 5 nights and get "GOLD". Watch this space....

We were met on arrival at the camp ground by an enthusiastic Greg & Marilyn, Gundyville On Wheels who are work camping here, and whom we met 2 years ago at Peace River FL. Greg has promised to take us fossilising and gold panning. He insisted we discuss plans for the next few days over a beer or two on the porch. Very civilised......