Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Day 69 - We’re Home!! - Trip “Summary”, although it’s a little LATE!

September 6th
Even if this doesn’t get read, I needed to complete it for my own peace-of-mind.

A Few Interesting “Alaska Facts”
Became the 49th State in 1959
Vastness – 586,000 Sq. miles (one-fifth the land mass of the entire continental U.S.)
Purchased from Russia in 1867 for less than 2-cents an acre
Mt. McKinley (20,320 ft.) - highest peak in the US
Has 100,000 Glaciers (more than half the world’s glaciers)
Has more that 3-million Lakes, larger than 25-acres
Is 55-miles from Russia
Has its own “Time Zone”

“Trip Facts”

Days Gone from Home: 69
Miles Driven: 11,932 (from our house and back to our house)
3 people left AND 3 came back!!
Flat Tires: None!
Number of Cloudy Days: Too many to count
Motto/Theme Song: Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Some Other Day
Mount McKinley: It really didn’t exist…..For us, anyway!
“Top of the List” Highlights of the Trip:
For Peter -
The Flight to see the Grizzly Bears in Katmai National Park AND the Seward Glacier Cruise in the Kenai Fjords
For William -
The Flight to see the Grizzly Bears AND the charter Fishing trips out of Homer and Valdez. William says, “It was all great!”
For Phyllis –
Seeing all the new Wildflowers AND learning about Alaska’s History AND learning how to Blog!!!

There are so many good Travel Books on Alaska;
but for me, I would list these 3 as the ones I found Most Helpful:
The Milepost - Alaska Travel Planner - (Also includes Alberta, British Columbia, NW Territories and the Yukon Territory.) – A MUST if doing any traveling by land!! Gives all types of touristy “mile-by-mile” information.

Alaskan Camping – by Mike and Terri Church (Covers Alaska and Yukon camping with RV or Tent) Gives specifics on RV site-size and maneuvering room for MOST of the campgrounds.

The Rough Guide to Alaska – by Whitfield and Burford (covers Alaska only) The authors give information and honest & humorous input on Tourist Sites, History, Restaurants and all types of Accommodations.

These books were also good to have along:

Guide to the Alaska Highway by Dalby
DK Eyewitness Travel Alaska
National Geographic Alaska Traveler
The Lonely Plant on Alaska
That's All Folks!!!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Almost Home!! - Day 66, Moorhead, MN to Cokato, MN – Days 67 and 68 – Peter’s Family Gathering

A Heads Up - This blog will probably only be of interest to Family!


Also, Stay Tuned: I hope to do one more blog to share a few thoughts and reflections of our Alaska Trip! It will not be posted until sometime next week as we are heading to IL for our second grandson’s Baptism –

Matthew Thomas Maercklein, born June 22, 2010.


Day 66

Friday, September 3rd

The three-hour drive from Moorhead to Cokato was uneventful UNTIL we arrived at the “Cokato Campground.” The reserved-site we were given was NOT going to work. It was like Anastasia and Drusilla trying to get their foot into the infamous Glass Slipper! (Remember Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters?)

We were given a second location – No Go – same thing!

Finally, we were given an overflow spot (Being Labor Day Weekend they were full.)

Alas, 2-hours after arriving, we were situated.


We were finally able to head to the family’s Lake Washington cabin (by the tiny town of Darwin, MN – “Noted for the largest ball of twine”) to meet up with Peter’s family.

The weekend focus was to celebrate the “cabin’s” being in the family for 50-years! The cabin was built in the 1920’s or 30’s as a hunting “retreat.”

Peter’s Grandfather, Frank Bernard, bought it for his three daughters’ (Mary, Betty & Barbara) and their families to use. The cabin was named "Hopsahi" - meaning Hopes are High!


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Saturday and Sunday, September 4th and 5th

The celebration!

A good time was had by ALL 50+ that came.


Since the cabin only has three bedrooms, so some came for the day but many camped out in tents.

Peter and his siblings (the event organizers) plus "Peaches the pooch".

Jamming!

Sisters-in-law

He's not as tough as he looks!

Critiquing/judging a water skier.

Friends

Family Twins, Jeremy (blue shirt) and Mary Jo (red shirt) with friends!

Family

Family with friend, John, on the right.

What are the rules again?

Good laughs!

A Grandma hug.

These plates are getting too heavy!

Brothers - getting along!!!

Food stampede!

Sunset on the lake


Cousins


Traditional evening bonfire

Frank Bernard's Daughters
Aunt Barb and Aunt Betty (Mary had passed away in 1995)


No shortage to conversations


Family Friends
Who'd ever guess they are brothers!

Cousins
Twins (set-2) Olivia-left, Zander-right, cousin Mathew-center!

Cars cars and more cars!

Three Cousins braved the cool weather and went for a swim - Sophie and Victor
(Natasha - not pictured)

So many Memories for everyone.
A scrapbook/log has been kept since the beginning!
Every-time family used the cabin, they journal-ed about their stay and pasted in pictures on their next visit.


Pontoon rides were and still are a favorite.

What would guys do without pockets?

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A Few Minnesota Wildflowers from the Weekend


Wild cucumber

Calica Aster

Jewelweed or Spotted Touch-me-not!

Canada Goldenrod

Woodland Sunflower


Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Day 64 Great Falls, MT to Medora, ND - Day 65 on to Moorhead, MN – 780 Total Miles

Wednesday, September 1st

Great Falls, MT to Medora, ND

We took the central-route across MT (Hwy-200) where the towns are few-and-far-between.

This “Wide Load” (top of picture) should have been called the “Whole Road” as no-one could meet OR pass it.

All oncoming traffic had to stop and make a “good-sized pullover.”
No accidents - fortunately!
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Medora, ND

We stopped for the night in this small Western Themed Tourist Town.
(population ~100 – 150).

The town of Medora was founded in 1883 by a 24-year old French nobleman,
the Marquis de Mores.
He named the town for his bride, the former Medora von Hoffman, daughter of a wealthy New York City banker. Unfortunately, all of the Marquis’ financial ventures failed by 1886 but the town survived.

We started our town-touring at 7PM and ended it at 8PM. Most of the shops were closed.

(We'd also stopped here a number of years ago.)

Peter's family has a connection to Medora.
The statue above is Great Uncle Harry Johnston, Peter's grandmother Elsie's brother.

The plaque reads “Harry V. Johnston - Badlands Bronc Buster - 1899 to 1915.

Peter’s Great Aunt Mabel (Elsie and Harry's sister) and her husband, Charlie Will, ran the Rough Rider Hotel at one time.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (established in 1947 to preserve the ND Badlands) is at the Medora exit or vice versa!
Oral family history tells that Peter's Great-Grandfather, (Harry, Mabel and Elsie’s Father), Samuel Johnston, owned the Peaceful Valley Ranch which is now part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Below - a few other views of Medora!


A Badland view from the town.

In 1962, Harold Schafer, a Bismarck, ND, businessman, began a restoration and modernization of the old western town developing many additional attractions. He helped put this small community on the map emphasizing its Western History and its connection to Teddy Roosevelt.

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About the Medora Musical

As part of the tourist draw to the town is the Medora Musical. Every night from June through Labor Day the Medora Musical is performed in the outdoor hillside amphitheater with professional performers based out of Minneapolis, MN. They even have escalators to ride down to the seating area!

A Must See if you are in the area.

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Thursday – September 2nd

Medora, ND to Moorhead, MN – 336 miles

Strong NW winds boosted our gas mileage from 10-mpg to 13-mpg.

Drive, Drive, Drive ………

Not a lot of pics!

This "scenic Cow" on the horizon welcomed us to Eastern, ND!

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These Wildflowers are from Alaska

Sitka Burnet
(a type of Sanguisorba - new word to me!)


Close-up view
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Below-another type of Sanguisorba


Close-up view
Aren't these intriguing flowers?