Wednesday, May 10, 2017

BEARS, BEARS, BEARS, ALASKA & CARIBOU

May 10, 2017 - Wednesday

Another beautiful day to travel.  We were up by 8:00 and went to a little diner in Hazelton, B.C. for breakfast.  Talked to another native person there-- it is very interesting to take with the locals and find out some information.

Down the road to Mitkwanda to top off the tank of gas.  We were advised to do this before turning North onto Highway 37.  Now we will head NORTH TO ALASKA!!!



We drove for a while and had talked of going to a little town in B.C. called Stewart.  That is about 30 miles off Highway 37 and right across from Hyder, Alaska.  It is only 30 miles -- let's do it!!  And it was probably so far the best 30 miles that we drove (round trip. 60) -- We thought we would have to take a boat across to Alaska -- NOPE .  Just stay on the road and drive into Alaska. 







 We talked to a fellow Washingtonian that lives there part of the year.  Interesting fellow!!  He told us about a gold mine that has just opened up in that area.  Normally, he said that the mining companies will open a mine if there is 2-3 ounces of gold per ton of ore but this vein is 100 ounces of gold per ton!!!!  He said the mine employs about 900 people!!!  Well, we should drive up that road too!!!!!  We turned around when the road got a bit to snowy and slushy to suit us. After all, if we got stuck --- who would get us out!!  And I'm not a big fan of walking that far!!!




On the way out of town we were going to just get back on the road but decided that we should stop at The Glacier Inn - just to see what it was!!!  Wow!!!  All of the walls, the posts in the middle of the room, and everywhere are covered with money - $1, $5, $10, $20, from all over the world. The people that gave the money have written their names and towns on the bills.  The owner told us that her parents started this Bar/Cafe back in 1956 and there is over $95,000 dollars stapled to the walls!!!!!  Well, of course we had a $1 in our pocket so it will be stapled to a wall in there as well.
We shared a hamburger and an order of fries!!!  It was very big and we were both filled!!!  And just for the record --- we drank water!!





Hyder is really a ghost town.  Most of the buildings are dilapidated and closed up.  The population in the summer is about 100 - in the winter there are a few brave souls that stay around. About 50.  With 35 feet of snow and subzero temperatures a person has to be stoic.



It was on this road to Stewart that we saw our first bear!!!  Right along the road -- Howard opened his window and probably could have touched him!! The grey bar that you see -- it is the top of the driver door!!!! That was the first of about 15 bear that we seen after that.  Some close by and some that were right along the road or in the ditches and took off when we came too close!!


Well - back on Highway 37 and heading to Dease Lake.  More beautiful scenery and very few travelers.  If you see someone stopped along the road it is very polite to ask if they are OK or having any trouble.  Travelers and towns are sparse out here so courtesy is a plus.

It was along this road that we seen the first moose and the first caribou.  We stopped to take pictures and were probably stopped for about 5 minutes.  The semi that had just passed us stopped about 1/2 mile up the road. He started backing his big rig down the road to see if we were OK.  And behold -- he was from Ferndale, Washington!!  One of our neighbors!!!!  You know, it really is a very small world out there.




And now we are in a nice motel in Dease Lake.  Not a very big town - but a very nice motel.

And I wish to report that Stocking Hat # 2 is complete!!!  Howard drives, I crochet!!!  Great teamwork there!!



And so ends another day of reveling in the beauty of God's creation - both in scenic nature and in the beautiful creatures that roam this land.

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