Travels and lack of internet have kept me busy. Am now home and catching up on the travels up here.

Crossing Canada - my greatest fear

My anxieties about getting across the border seem so pointless now.  But they grew as I drove across the great expanses from Glacier National Park to the border.  First through rolling lands of an Indian reservation and then as I neared the mountainous plateau rimmed border that was either going to welcome me or turn me back.  Turning back was not a good option as the straight barren slicing through this landscape was not easy.  The winds again.  But this time more intense it seems than previous bouts of wind battering.  If turned back, I would plead so I wouldn’t have to drive that road again.  The Montana customs agent said this was a light breeze.  By comparison they often have winds of 120 mph.  Thank goodness I didn’t encounter those!!! 

Customs was very lonely.  No one was there.  At the US side, there were cones blocking passage through the check-in windows.  Hmmm…  no one in sight.  OK.  Decided to pull over and park in guest parking and go inside to see if I could find someone.  As I opened the door, I was greeted by an officer asking what I was doing.  I explained.  She was a bit put out and told me to get in my car and drive up to the cone which I did.  Passport.  Car registration.  Why did I want to enter Canada.  At last she moved the cone over and allowed me to pass.

Canada customs entry was just as lonely.  No one around.  Just the howling wind.  But no cones to stop me.  The Canadian customs officer was very nice.  Passport.   Did I have any alcohol or firearms aboard.  How long was I going to be transiting.  Edmonton was 6 hours away.  Enjoy my trip!  Whew!   As easy as that!  Didn’t give me any piece of paper saying what I could and couldn’t do.  I even had to ask if there were restrictions.  Said to fill gas at the pump and keep my distance if I had to buy groceries.  After all the stories I had heard about how unwelcome we were and I can even buy groceries?  Relief at last and I was ready to settle in for the long miles (2000) ahead. 

Glacier National Park & farewell to Brandon

 The day before had been the last day that Brandon was with me.  I’m going to miss my co-pilot.  Our last day was yet another of things not going quite right.  First, it was raining with menacing clouds over the park.  GNP had always been our end point and we looked forward to driving the famed 52-mile Going to the Sun Road.  But Covid has prevented a full force of personnel to open the road at Avalanche so only 16 miles were open.  However, we were stopped short at mile 11 because the parking lot ahead was full. 

Like others, we pulled over, parked, and decided to take a hike on one of the many trails around.  We chose the shortest to Fish Lake.  It would be 2.9 miles uphill and then of course the same down.  We were to regret having forgotten the mosquito spray as we slapped our way up the trail.  Memories of years past accompanied me.  The forest was similar to the trails I had backpacked for years in Georgia.  And I wondered at how I had easily decades ago been able to hike up such trails with a 50-pound pack.  (Oh…right…it’s because it was decades ago when I was in my hearty 30’s..)

It was good to get out and hike.  Too much riding.  When we got back, we found that the road to Avalanche was now open!  So we raced to the van to take advantage before they might close it again. We could at least drive the additional 5 miles where we found a nice spot to have our lunch before beginning our descent back.  All the scenic view pullout had been on the opposite side of the road as we drove up so as we came down we stopped.  Glacier green rushing river and waterfalls were stunning and reminding me of Alaska, home, that lay ahead.

In the end, the trip was good even though we were disappointed that we couldn’t drive the whole road.  That evening, we went back to the fairgrounds where we had stayed the night before to eat dinner, for a shower and to fill up my water tank from the spigots we had seen.  We were just buttoning up from dinner when……the good drawer broke!!!  The whole railing on one side had not endured all the bouncing on gravel roads and all the screws had fallen out.  Could not get it in or out!  No!!  It is too late to deal with it and Brandon is flying back in the morning.  We shoved it partially back in best we could.  I won’t be able to do anything about it till I get to Alaska.  We swapped the contents since it was the pantry storage to the other drawer. Tomorrow is another day..

Now about 9:30pm we hooked up to the water, but no water!!  We hadn’t checked it out the night before.   Now what?  We had to find water somewhere and it was approaching 10 pm.  Kelispell seems to have rolled up the sidewalks.  No one was out.  We finally found an open convenience store and inquired.  Luckily the guy inside had his secret place for water fill up.  Walmart!  He told us how to find the hidden spigot near the Garden Center.  Luck! 

We spent the night in the airport parking lot.  Hating saying goodbye to my good buddy and companion.  Will miss him not being along for this next leg.  He would have enjoyed it.

Canada

The journey through Canada has been drive, eat, sleep.  Repeat.  I’ve stayed at a couple of Walmarts and a campground on Muncho Lake’s edge.  No mosquitoes.  Greenish blue water.  Light breeze.  Heaven.  Slept 9 hours!  The previous short nights sleep finally caught up with me.

In Whitehorse managed to squeeze in a short hello with Leah, one of my MSF colleagues, who had just worked with me in Sierra Leone. Sorry couldn’t stay and visit due to Covid. The Yukon is very strict about you getting through in 24 hours. Interestingly though, at the checkpoint, no one is wearing a face mask. It was about this time that I also had a bit of a concern as my tire pressure gauge was on. Not good as I had vast expanses to travel through. In the morning, Leah directed me to a full-service gas station (wow) and indeed my tires were low. Got them inflated and ready to roll the final miles to AK.

Alaska is now only a day away!  Hoping that when I reach Tok that I can get the Covid test right away to minimize my quarantine wait time. 

Sightings: 14 black bear, 1 grizzly, 2 herds of stone sheep, 2 families of bison, 1 fleeting moose

ALASKA!!!

Stayed at a lonely campground in Tok where I could take a shower and wash clothes. But unfortunately could not get the Covid test due to short supplies. Had a smile on my face the whole 8-hour drive to Anchorage. Canada is vast and beautiful. But Alaska….oh, my…nothing compares and pictures from my little cell phone don’t begin to portray the grandness. Soooooo good to be home. Now to get the test and to wash the grime & bugs off the van!! In the meantime while waiting for the results, enjoying bluebird days and enjoying the view from my mobile van “office” of the mountains and inlet.