On Our Way to California July 21st Beaver Creek, Yukon After we said good-bye to Alaska, we traveled to Beaver Creek for the night. Beaver Creek is the western most town in Canada and just over the U.S. border. July 22nd Testlin, British Colombia Today is another beautiful day. The scenery is gorgeous and very much like Maine. It has lush pine trees which are not stunted by permafrost as in Alaska. We pulled alongside a stunning tranquil lake and ate lunch in our own RVs. We saw another black bear this morning….they are a sight to see. July 23rd Dease Lake, B.C. Another beautiful day!!!! And again the scenery was rich with pine trees, lakes, rivers and mountains. We have been very fortunate with the weather. The only time it rained was a few days when Ken and Chris were here and we only had showers. We stopped for lunch in Watson Lake. We then stopped at Jade City where they have been mining jade for over 30 years. Here they have almost anything you can imagine made out of jade. We found a campground for the night in Dease Lake, B.C. and settled in!!! July 24th to July 25th Stewart, B.C. – Hyder, Alaska (The Friendliest Little Ghost Town In Alaska!!) The last three days we have had bad roads. We were forewarned, but it nothing like the real thing. It was very difficult driving to say the least. Rudy did a great job, but it was exhausting (for me too!!) We had gravel, frost heaves, holes big and small, narrow roads, no shoulders and steep drops, winding roads and steep roads surrounded by gorgeous scenery. We saw waterfalls, fast moving streams and rivers, glaciers and mountains with beautiful trees and rock formations. We went as high as 4,000 plus feet. Sometimes we were above the clouds that were in the valley. Then we came upon glaciers. One was called the Bear Glacier and the air was extremely cold around the glacier. The Bear River was also very cold from the glacier and the warm air above it created a fog. After a delicious dinner at Rae and Larry’s, we went to see the bears a short distance away in Hydra. Hyder is the largest Temperate Rain Forest in North America and it is called the Tongrass. On our way, a Black Bear ran across the road. After waiting about 20 minutes on the observation deck above the ground, we saw a Grizzly slowly walking down Fish Creek looking for salmon. We saw him run and jump and kill a salmon and then bring it to shore and eat it. He left most of it on the shore and then went off into the woods. I guess he wasn’t very hungry. July 25th all six of us woke up at 6 a.m. to see the bears. As we drove to the bear observation deck, we saw another Black Bear run across the road. We waited for 30 minutes and saw a Black Bear walking down the creek. He looked around, then walked upstream, ate some berries and went out of sight. Just before we were going to breakfast, a Grizzly came and ran up and down the stream after the 10 to 30 lb. Salmon, but I guess he wasn’t a very good fisherman. He then decided to walk under the platform where we were standing, on his way back to the woods. After breakfast we stopped to see the bears again and did see another bear playing in the creek. We then decided to see the Salmon Glacier about 20 miles up the road. It was all fogged in on the ride up. We did see many beautiful waterfalls however. On the way down, the fog lifted and we saw the glacier in all its glory. Anitra and I decided to visit the bears again and the other four went back to the campground. As we entered the viewing area, there was a Grizzly running upstream towards us. He finally got a fish and slowly ate every bit of it. Then another Grizzly started upstream and the first bear chased the second bear out of the creek and into the woods. We went back to the campgrounds and I fixed Spinach and Sausage Lasagna. Rae brought the salad and Anitra brought the dessert. I quickly did the dishes and we went back to see the bears. Waiting for us was the blackest black bear I have ever seen. He explored the stream and left. Then around 9:10 p.m., a Mother Bear and her three cubs came down the stream. We had heard they were around and were hoping to see them; we weren’t disappointed!! When she ran up and down the stream to chase after a fish, her cubs ran parallel to her along the shore. When Mama got a fish, the cubs went to her to investigate the catch and then all went to shore to eat dinner. You could hear the cubs purring their approval loudly as they ate. When they fought over the fish, Mama gave them a slap and they obeyed!! Then Mama caught another salmon. They all went down stream and into the woods. We then heard one cub wailing very loudly. He was lost and finally Mama had to come back and show him the way!!! So for one hour, over 100 people were quietly watching, following the bears back and forth and taking pictures of the four bears. It was one of the most amazing hour long experiences I have ever had. I took many pictures and videos of the bears and will send them to you as soon as I am able. All totaled, we saw 12 bears that were sometimes no more than six feet away. What an experience!!!! July 26th Smithers, B.C. On our way to the next campground, Rudy and I saw three bear cubs near a pond and later a mother and her cub by the road. I guess they were saying good-bye. We now are experiencing great roads, that is, roads that do not shake, rattle and roll the RV. Also, it is finally getting dark at night. I even took the black garbage bags off the windows. July 17th Prince George, B.C. We all had breakfast at Tim Hutton’s, a Canadian Duncan Donuts, and went on our way. Along the road, we could see the largest infestation of Mountain Pine Beetles B.C. has ever experienced. The beetle cuts off the supply of water and nutrients. The needles turn rust/brown, which they call red, and fall off. The mountainsides are covered in “red”. Millions of acres are affected in B.C. and Alberta. The infestation isn’t pretty, but it is a normal cycle. The Canadians will help speed up the process by logging and replanting as much of the infected areas as possible. We stopped in a park and ate lunch in our rigs. Then in Houston, we saw the largest Rod and Reel in the world alongside the road. WE HAVE PHONE SERVICE!! This is the first time in at least 5 days and it feels good to be in civilization and to be able to call family and friends. More to follow…..