Fairbanks and Canada

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Well, we are now back in the lower 48 after a week or so of travel. Sam, Erin, Shannon, and I left Seward, AK on the 21st of September headed for Chena Hot Springs just north of Fairbanks. Two other Luckville compound friends, Jason and Matty left a day earlier. Twelve hours later we arrived at the hot springs in blow freezing temperatures and under a bright green tornado of the Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights shimmered green and white all night long, dancing and at least helping four tired freezing travelers not be bitter while setting up tents with frozen tent poles. We set up tents and eased into the hot springs where we met up with Jason and Matty. The warm water instantly cured us of our long drive and made our night of camping in 10 degree seem less formidable. Alas, we went to bed, sorry to sleep while the Northern Lights continued to light up the sky, but also too cold and tired to stay up. In the morning I got up to walk the dog (she actually had a purpose…tent warming!) way too early and we ran into a momma moose and triplets! They walked right next to our campsite. So cute…and big (I can’t imagine that poor momma moose with three of those long legged buggers in her belly).
Matty parted the next day and with five of us left, we went for a hike, another dip in the spring and back to Fairbanks. We sprung for a hotel room (split five ways wasn’t so bad) and enjoyed electricity and in-house bathroom facilities for the first time all summer. We, the remaining Luckville compound summer 2007 crew, parted ways after Fairbanks and continued on our separate journeys…Matty to Hawaii, Jason to Tucson, Shannon and Erin to Eugene Oregon, and Sam and I couch surfing until Africa.
Sam and I have had a beautiful trip through the rest of Alaska and the length of Canada. We stayed in a small cabin on our way out of Canada under a full moon and snow topped mountains. Moose crashed through a river nearby and I jumped back in the truck, too scared to walk the 10 feet into the cabin for several minutes. We lit a fire in the morning for breakfast and sat bundled in our sleeping bags on chairs on the porch, watching moose around the cabin eat shrubs while frost evaporated from their backs. We definitely left Alaska in style.
The entire drive has been adorned in fall colors or snow. The gold, orange and yellow of birch and aspen nearly glow against the blue of sky and dark greens of fur and pine. Rising above it all are enormous mountains both curved and jagged, vividly cutting white lines in the horizon. We drove through several mountain passes covered in snow and animals. I swear I almost reached out to pat a Buffalo on his huge, wooly, dopey head. There were also herds of Dahl Sheep and Caribou with very snuggly looking babies. We sprinted for another hotel room after winter camping in snow, and are listening to the wind howl outside while on a queen bed after a shower. More to come.
Love, Sam and Casey and of course, tent heater extraordinaire, Rubybaddog

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Photos

Leaving Seward in the Fall
It is bittersweet to leave such a beautiful country.

Erin and Shannon's car
This is for Shannon and his pretty car.

Sam's Shorts
Sam's shorts got caught trying to run away from his stinky butt...frozen solid in five minutes after leaving the hot spring.

Last of the Luckville Clan 2007
A last hike in Fairbanks with the crew minus Matty. We need some of that boy's photos to share on here...hint, hint Matty.

Sam and Santa
Notice where Sam's head is....teehee.

Prancer
I think Prancer is suffering from a hangover in the North Pole Jail. He's a pretty fella though.

Momma Moose
These are the moose Sam and watched from the porch bundled up in sleeping bags. It was so peaceful...and frosty.

Ruby likes the Critters too
Ruby got to sniff lots of critters along the way including sheep and buffalo.

This is our Life
On the Road can lack excitement sometimes, especially for Ruby as she gets tied to the bumper in various gas stations; no dad, I haven't forgotten she was on there yet.

Glacier and Bamff
National parks near the border of Montana

National Park Hike
Yes, sometimes I want to push him in.

Comments

[Oksana Skolnaja]

Amazing
hey guys, wow that is an amazing trip you had...beautiful shots of nature and animals...hope you all doing good!

[Angela]

Ohhhh Alaska!
What beautiful pics! I wish I made it out to Denali...nest summer? Jason and Chugi showed up safely in Tucson this morning. I can't believe the size of that dog in two months!! We miss you guys! Talk to you soon

[Brynne And Jim]

We Miss You!!!
We miss you but it is way too beautiful there for ya'll to miss us!!! But maybe you could pit stop back here for some pumpkin carving it wont be the same without you!! Casey I want you to know your plants are doing great they are growing like crazy!! Hope you guys are having fun. Call us if you get anywhere in "DAULTON" driving distance!! Love YA!!

[Brad and Stacy Wyatt]

Wow!
Sam and Casey, Love this blog and all the pictures. We'll live thru you:) We miss nature and all those park trips. So beautiful in the west. Hope to see both of you sometime in the not so distant future. We're doing good here. Baby Carter is running us ragged, but also bringing so much joy. He is almost 4 months old. Looks so much like Brad. He is a super long baby - very smiley and cooing a lot now. Brad is still at Toyota. Traveling and keeping busy. I am working for the American Cancer Society in Health Promotions. I like it a lot - learning what the big fuss about working moms is about:) Sending our love... so happy for you that you are living your dreams. Be safe! Stacy