TravelStream™ news feed for member travelingval on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/travelingval en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:10:01 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/7/1247964971/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/7/1247964971/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/7/1247964971/tpod.html Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:10:01 -0400 Leaving the Country for the Weekend - who does that?

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Arrived close to midnight, picked-up car, started to head to the hostel. While waiting for 'Tom' (my GPS) to locate a satellite and nice lady pulled up next to me - she asked if I was lost and gave me her name and cell number and told me to follow her - how NICE! Random Acts of Kindness... Finally go there, found the under ground parking and the hostel. Hosteling International @ 76 Church St, Toronto, Canada. It really is nice and has a lot of great 'stuff'. It is very centrally located, walking distance to Union Station, the lake, the baseball stadium, the Market, all sorts of cool stuff. They had a bunch of coool stuff scheduled and the staff was FANTASTIC. I would definately recommend this stay for an economical choice - check 'em out on-line.

Stayed in a women's dorm room - 6 beds, got a top bunk (just like when we were kids), sink, private bath/shower. They have tons of dorm rooms, some mixed rooms, and some private rooms.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246841534/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246841534/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246841534/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:20:13 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Lowell Point, Alaska, United States

We checked into the B&B today - it is great and wow! what a view. Then we walked along the beach (right outside our door) to Miller's Landing where you can book tours n trips and was all hyped up - not sure why??? They do have a pot luck dinner on Saturday nights and today for the holiday - they supply the fish and you bring enough for the amount of people in your party or you can pay $7....
We went back into town to check it out and get dinner. When we came back our hosts and their daughter-in-law were cooking dogs over a fire pit and invited us to join them. WE sat with them for a couple hours chatting, sipping wine/beer, and cooking up some gourmet dogs, wrapped in tortillas then toasted over the fire again - yummy, they called them dogittos (no stealing the name!). We got to watch some fireworks and then I had to go in and pack (fireworks didn't start until midnight and I had to leave by 3am for Anchorage to catch my flight)
So, what do to on the 4th of July in Seward - the Mount Marathon - Alaska's Great Footrace, this year was the 82nd running of the race which takes runners up 3, 022 feet into the Mountain and back down - I think it is like a 5k but with serious elevation. Michelle? Rachel? Any takers? I was told there is a lottery to get in the first time but once you are in it guarantees your spot for the next year :-) I had to leave before the race but Don said there was a lot going on and looked like fun. I guess there is probably more info on-line about the race.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246840387/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246840387/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246840387/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:51:55 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Seward, Alaska, United States

So, after we got back to the spit, we hopped in the car and drove to Seward. Along the way we stopped and watched people fishing for salmon and met a couple of locals who suggested we go up the road a little to Russian River Camp site to be able to walk along the board walk and get a closer view - also said it was a beautiful place to see -warned us to be loud though to scare away the bears. They had some great bear stories - very funny.
The camp site was full, too bad, it really was a beautiful spot - I would go back again. Got to see a lot of fishing, no bears (I think the bear bell works too well). They really had bear gear set up there though - food had to be keep in their steel bear resistant cabinet things, you had to go to their designated areas for food prep and also to eat - which is safe anyway, but wow they had stuff posted everywhere - I think it was because of the fish - it attracts the bears all on it's own.
When we got into Seward we went to dinner and asked the waitress for campsite recommendations - with showers. She said that most of them didn't have showers but that you could use the Marina showers with quarters. When we asked about laundry (and showers) she recommended Bear Creek RV Park, she thought they had tent sites too - which they did - free and unlimited nice showers and laundry that you could use with quarters (they have free WiFi too if you have your lap top with) and a free small breakfast in the morning. It is a wooded site - I missed the water but we weren't there for long - slept, showered, did laundry and headed out.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246839928/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246839928/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246839928/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:32:43 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States

Last day of kayaking : - ) Don did most of the paddling yesterday to save my back and said he'd do it again. We paddled past Kayak Beach and crossed to Yukon Island to base camp without problems. After we unloaded I started lunch and Don was starting to build a fire pit when some more paddlers pulled up - 1 guide and then 3 in a triple kayak - pretty cool. The guide worked for True North and called and we could hop a ride with them back to the spit so no need for fire ;-)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246836835/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246836835/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246836835/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:25:13 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States

Before we left we chatted with our neighbors who showed us where Arch Beach was on the map and we discovered that it was the 'private beach' from the day before - he explained that certain people and kayak groups get permission to utilize it and he guessed that True North most likely did - they had permission too and were staying there tomorrow. So we were in the right place, we just got the wrong info. Our new plan was to pull the kayak over to our side - a little portage- and then go around the corner to fill up our water treat it and head to the big waterfall for lunch (it wasn't too far now that we were all the way down here and the water would be ready to drink by the time we got there) - this also brings us to the end of the bay which we hear is a good spot to see bears (so the hand written map says..) and then head back up to Arch Beach.
Success - no problems, well except in one water bottle we (Don - it was the bottle he filled) had a little swimmer caught, which I saw just before putting the treatment in - this totally grossed Don out, if he had the options I am sure he would never have drank out of that bottle again - it was just a little guy...anyway, I set him free back in the water and refilled again and off to lunch we went. The water fall was great and was the perfect rest stop. We set out for Arch Beach and on the way saw more sea life and a couple of Bald Eagles. The water did get quite exciting for a little while but it calmed back down and this time Don had his rain coat on to stay dry (I had started the trip in mine...I tried to mention the advantages of doing such then but....) so no birthday suit bottom needed by Don at the camp fire to dry off later this time.
Found Arch Beach checked it out - there were clothes left to dry on a log on the beach (nice, like ExOfficio gear), and back in the tall grass a tent, a covered fire pit with chairs, and tiki torches but no boats or people???? They never showed up - we had the deserted beach to ourselves - still we setup at the opposite end just in case they ever came back -which they didn't...Don is convinced they were eaten by a bear. While possible, there didn't seem to be anything disturbed by, say, a bear attack, or any deserted boat near by....so I think that they just didn't come back - who knows....


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246823393/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246823393/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246823393/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:33:26 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States

We made the crossing from Yukon Island to Tutka Bay where we were are going to spend the next 4 days exploring and did pretty good. I had a few problems with the rudder and steering (well, not problems but the alignment was off, so it was a bit more challenging) as I was pondering these problems I figured out the solution :-) but then really wanted to get to shore to fix it. The paddle wasn't too long and we made it to Kayak Beach in time to pull up and enjoy lunch. Afterwards we scoped out a camp site and Don made a fire pit. Oops, while doing that I left the trail mix out for like two minutes and a bird was making it's way through the ziplock baggie - caught it in time, whew - that was some yummy trail mix, I made it (at the new huge whole foods in Lincoln Park, Chicago, they have a 'trail mix bar' where you mix your own - very easy, fast. and only the stuff you want) and would have hated to see it go to the birds - plus your not supposed to feed wild life.
Afterwards we took the trail head in and hiked part of the Grace Ridge Trail - my back was hurting so we couldn't do the whole trail :-( It was beautiful and the trails were obvious but got pretty narrow (sometimes due to growth) and steep at some points but nothing crazy. Ran across a bigger ground bird walking her baby - it was funny, Don was in the lead he freezes, turns to me, with all seriousness, and says "we have a situation" and I am thinking bear or something - it's the momma bird, he is scared it is going to go after us to protect her chick - very cute...we pressed forward successfully and unscathed by the dangerous bird. I do need to find out what this bird it called (anyone knows from the pic please let me know...) as we ran into it a couple of times.
Later on some kayaks pull up and it is the people we met on the water taxi and their group - I chatted with them while Don napped. They were all very nice and personable - told me they were staying in a Yurt a little ways 'over there' over the rocks. Later on when they were walking around she offered to show me the Yurt and more importantly offer us their marshmallows they had left. She said they had eaten all the graham crackers and chocolate so they weren't going to eat the marshmallows they had left - it was one of those big ziplock bags - FUN.

PS - Yurts and water taxi seem to be a pretty cool way to check stuff out - not sure what a water taxi is but I think they said the Yurt was like $65 a night - it is pretty spacious, sleeps 6, has bedding, water, propane, small stove and wood burning oven inside, has a fire pit, clothes line, and I think an out house (they said as Yurts go this one was pretty basic - I think what we had was basic, this looked great to me :- ) but I guess there are other Yurts out there that are different)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246826848/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246826848/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246826848/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:27:30 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States

Woke and Don learned we had Cream of Wheat for breakfast but no sugar, syrup, fruit, etc to put in it to make it sweet (I didn't know, I don't usually eat it) and was convinced it would be too gross to eat - aha! solution - stuck some of the newly acquired marshmallows in it - delicious. I mention our water supply and the need to replenish and we plan to paddle to Arch Beach (where we were told there was an actual spigot and that we could use that water without filtering/treating it) to have lunch (most of our meals required water to re-hydrate and cook) and then replenish our water fully and paddle to the South Grace campsite (per original email itinerary sent to us) where we can camp the night and then head to the next site which is near a water fall where we can again fill-up our water....sounds like a great plan huh???
Well...so this hand drawn map, yeah, well...we saw seals and jelly fish and a bald headed eagle, no spigot...we followed the map and pulled into what, on the map looked like it could maybe be the beach, nothing there, checked the map, maybe we pulled in too early and should go up a little further, found where we thought it may be, but this time before getting out of the kayak we asked this nice family who said that they used the waterfall we had passed but that it had to be boiled - when I asked if this was Arch Beach they said that they came here all the time but didn't know the name, they did know it was a private beach. hmmmm....on we go, no one else to be seen....a water taxi is seen off in the distance - we flag it down and ask if they know where Arch Beach is, nope, they don't know of it either, hmmm, he askes if we checked our map and we explain it's the map from True North - he walks around and hands us a loaner map (does this happen often??? it must if he is carrying loans maps onboard, what the heck!, she made it seem like everything was sooo obvious all we would need is the stupid hand drawn map) and tells where we are and to try to keep the map dry (I have a dry bag with easy access in front of me - no problem). Okay so, we are WAY past where where we were looking for - time to re-group. We pull-in onto San Juan Island in San Juan Cove (that is what it is called, I swear, that water taxi dude told us and it is on the new map) to make lunch and figure out a new plan. Don somehow is also very wet...so he took off most of his wet stuff and hung them on a line and made a fire.
Now we have made lunch and I am concerned about water - I am looking at options on the map and looking up at the mountains to see where water may be coming down. I have a new plan based on the National Geographic real map with water sources marked on it. I consult with Don - if we cross the bay and go further to Sea Star Cove we could camp and find water - great, new plan we agree on (hopefully this will be quick - my back is not happy with our unexpectedly extended paddle today). We set off and it gets choppy - yikes, Don was really good, followed instructions, minus one small panic where he wanted me to go right, closer to the rocks (he didn't argue when I told he why we couldn't) and we were fine - I was impressed, he did a good job.
We pull up and there is a group of people on the small beach, already set-up. When I ask about water they show me the stream, it is too small, they also inform me that they are staying at the Yurt up the trail. Then they inform us they have taken the beach - basically, they are not going to share and we need to push on, hmmm, this is a public beach I thought...okay, now I am quietly in a panic about our water, I think we only have 1 liter left. As we are getting ready to go a lady from the group comes down and askes where we are from and tells us 2 of them are from Alaska and the other 4 are from New York. She says that they were water taxied in and have 10 gallons of water and asks if we would fill one of our water bottles from it (she feels bad, she is on of the 2 from AK) sure I say and grab the 2 liter Platapus instead of a Nalgeane (more water) she also gets a map and has one of the guys show me where we are (and they lie!!!) and show me where we can go. (oh, my aching back! - it is now 6 or 7 at night, lucky we don't lose the light and it is still a beautiful paddle).
We set out again and see a couple small beaches, too small, I am worried the tide will go in too far and there is rock ledge, no trail to go up or in, we get to the next big beach and there are kayaks up there - Don is worried that we will be shoo'd away again, my back is throbbing and we need water, I can see a source coming down from the mountain, may have to hike in but now that we have the extra from rude beach people we can make dinner, drink, and go find it if need be, so, if they shoo us away, too bad, we are staying I declare! We pull in and Don goes and talks with the people while I stand and try it find a position my back won't hurt while scanning for water. He comes back and they are super nice - it is a guide, his assistant, and 4 early teens boys. The guide just graduated from Alaska University in outdoor some thing - basically being a guide etc. He can't beleive that the rude beach people did what they did, he welcomed us, showed us his great laminated map,told us where we could get water later, showed Don some spots where we could set up that they had found earlier while they were deciding where to set-up. They had used their tarp and made a sail with their paddles and used that to get to where we were - no paddling involved - huh, very cool, but I think that is cheating...still why not for fun.
We actually set up on the other side of the little spit that made two beaches and had our own private beach, it was beautiful and much better than the rude people beach site we were at before. Don made a fire pit and was trying to get it lit when he went to ask the other folks if they had paper, the guide gave him some dry moss and fire logs (someone had been working on the trail and left a bunch of cut logs behind for people to use). At one point I was a little concerned about the tide, it was coming up - but we checked the book and learned we only had 40 more minutes or so, so we decided we would be all good - water ended up about 20 feet from the fire pit - we couldn't have planned it any better - beautiful.
WHAT A DAY - we ended up where we were supposed to be night 3.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246673902/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246673902/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246673902/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:20:34 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States

Well, we checked in with True North Kayak Adventures and they gave
us rubber boots, a tide book, and a hand drawn map - sounds good...we
asked some questions and wrote some more information down on the map
and asked if we needed to know any more. She said that was about it and
showed us where to get the water taxi. As we were loading up our stuff
our driver commented "just you two...you must be experienced
kayakers"....hmmmm, well....

When we pull up to base camp - it is just a beach with kayaks, life
vests, skirts, paddles, a couple of rubbermaid tubs with some extra dry
bags and some storage for those going on day trips, a signal horn, and
a port-a-potty. Mike, the water taxi guy, helps Don get a Kayak down by
the water, gives us life vests, skirts, a sponge, a pump, and two
paddles. As he is about to leave leave I ask if there is anything else
we need or should know - nope, - hmmm, okay, how about where we should
be going - he takes me down to the end of the beach points at some
rocks and tells be that is where to start aiming at...

There were two other reaaly nice people on the water taxi with us
and they were leaving to catch-up with friends who had started the day
before so they loaded their kayaks on to the water taxi which was
bringing them to meet up with their buddies.

Away the water taxi went leaving us and our stuff alone on the beach
- okay, so using what I know about center of gravity etc - started
loading the kayak. After loading up explained, the Kayak skirt to Don
and how to use it, quick safety refresher, and we set off :-)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246673231/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246673231/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1246673231/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:42:11 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Homer, Alaska, United States

Camped overnight on the spit for early departure tomorrow. Stopped in to The Salty Dog for a beer and then to Happy's (only place still open) for dinner. Literally on the beach on The Spit! Great views - a little windy, but what a view, and unlimited hot showers for a dollar!

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1245918618/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1245918618/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/travelingval/6/1245918618/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:41:12 -0400 Alaska here we come!!!

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Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Arrived at in Anchorage, Don met me at the airport, grabbed my backpack and the rental car and got dinner. We got to the hostel and good luck/bad luck... good news - the other travelers in the room had checked out and we didn't have any new arrivals so we had he place to ourselves; bad news - the travelers that checked out took Don's backpack and rain cover, our camp kitchen, his sleeping pad, and our TENT!!!!
When Don checked in the manager offered to locked them in this shed in the back that he said he had "the ONLY key to" and swore it would be safe. When we got back from dinner Don went to go retrieve it so we could head out early in the morning and low and behold, there was another key that another staff had and they let other travelers use the shed as well...so when they took their stuff, they took ours too. So we filed a police report and the manager swore to make good if the stuff was not returned. Don was a great trooper and was determined not to let this ruin our trip. The next morning our trip to REI to pick up fuel also included a new tent (we didn't know the camp kitchen and Don's sleeping pad were missing yet) and then we set off for Denali.
On the way to Denali we got to see The Mountain - which depending who you talk to is either Denali Mountain or Mt. McKinley...or if your a local, just 'the mountain'. It turns out our great views were pretty lucky, ended up talking with a couple people who had been to Alaska a couple times and still hadn't gotten to see it due to clouds. Don also got to help a family break into their car - it was a group effort, nice to see strangers stopping and taking their time to help others in need - they used an axe, a claw hammer, wire, and a stick and got in (the keys were in the ignition). Half way through, in a brief weak moment - when they thought it wasn't going to work, the owner tried to break a back window with the axe - the thing bounced off, he hit it hard a couple times and nothing...which leaves me wondering how 'those guys' broke my window???
It was a beautiful drive.

oh, yeah - small world, on the plane over here I sat with a group of people and one of them had a son who was working at the bar on Catalina Island this summer and his girlfriend is working at the Banning House - I was like "that's where we stayed - I probably met her" and then she showed me a picture of her son, and I was like "wow-if I hadn't just changed out my picture card - I am pretty sure I would have a picture of your son on my camera"

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