Well, we have started our new year. Jesper's family was here for New Year and left us on January 2. It was so great to see everyone. I have miss them all, especially Anna. She is still a wonderful girl, but has changed some. She is more confident and outgoing. Not as shy. It is so wonderful to see. I hope that this was one of the good things she took home with her.
I will post future happenings with Jesper as the year progresses.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Multnomah Falls
Today is our last full day of vacation. We are visiting Teri's friend Kandi, who lives just outside Portland Oregon. We spent the day seeing a few sights. We drove up the Columbia River Highway which overlooks the Columbia River, on our way up to Mt. Hood. There were several really pretty waterfalls along the drive. This one at Multnomah Falls, is one of the most scenic and is most photographed. It is really pretty. Camilla, you would love this!
We drove up to Mt. Hood from there. It was really beautiful and sunny on our drive up, which was rather surprising, since it was so cloudy down in town. We saw the mountain the whole drive up, and as soon as we got there, the clouds moved it and I didn't get a picture! Trust me, it is wonderful.
Tomorrow, we head home in the afternoon, so this is my last entry on the travel blog. I hope you have been enjoying it and looking at the pictures.
If you decide to go to Alaska, and I would again in a minute, make sure you have a great camera. The wildlife calls for great patience and a better camera!
We drove up to Mt. Hood from there. It was really beautiful and sunny on our drive up, which was rather surprising, since it was so cloudy down in town. We saw the mountain the whole drive up, and as soon as we got there, the clouds moved it and I didn't get a picture! Trust me, it is wonderful.
Tomorrow, we head home in the afternoon, so this is my last entry on the travel blog. I hope you have been enjoying it and looking at the pictures.
If you decide to go to Alaska, and I would again in a minute, make sure you have a great camera. The wildlife calls for great patience and a better camera!
Parting View
Our last day in Alaska was spent in Denali. We went out to view the Dog Sled demo, which we thought was going to be kind of cheesy, but it turned out to be pretty interesting. We saw the dogs, so a demo of them pulling the sled (but no snow). It was pretty good. We drove in the park 1 last time, before our drive back to Anchorage. As we drove back, we kept seeing the rare peaks of the mountain, so we pulled over for a view in both the North and South view State Parks. It is pretty cool that Alaska has State Parks just to view the mountain. We got a great view from the south view park. We were pretty lucky to get so many views of the mountain on our trip. It is a rare site we have been told.
We got back to Anchorage about 10pm, with plenty of day light left, so we took a walk along the parkway onlong the shore. We then went to the airport to check in for our 1 am flight to Portland. Anchorage is the most inefficient airport I have ever been in. There was only 1 securty check point and 9 people working the 1 line. It took forever to get through security. I discovered though, that they checked both my bags!
We arrived in Portland to visit with Teri's friend, Kandi for a few days. We are headed up to Mt. Hood today, so look for more pictures later.
We got back to Anchorage about 10pm, with plenty of day light left, so we took a walk along the parkway onlong the shore. We then went to the airport to check in for our 1 am flight to Portland. Anchorage is the most inefficient airport I have ever been in. There was only 1 securty check point and 9 people working the 1 line. It took forever to get through security. I discovered though, that they checked both my bags!
We arrived in Portland to visit with Teri's friend, Kandi for a few days. We are headed up to Mt. Hood today, so look for more pictures later.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Fairbanks
Today we took a day tour to the North Pole and Fairbanks. It is about 2 hours north of Denali. We drove on up to the North Pole and had a nice visit with Santa and his elves. I think we both made it on the "nice" list for this year!
We cruised on into Fairbanks and stopped by the Alaska Pipeline for a quick visit. Then it was off to the Ice Museum. On our way, we came across the Johansen Expressway. I can't believe it. Our own highway! They spelled it correctly too. We also noticed about a week ago, so one named Johansen is running for the representative here in Alaska. No one has called me Johnson here either!
Fairbanks is a reallly small city, and not much going on here. We toured town and tried to go to the Large Animal Research Center at the University, but it was closed. We wanted to see the Musk Ox. Teri is still bumming about that!
Tomorrow, we will be spending the day in the park and then heading for Anchorage and the airport. We have a 1am flight to Portland. We will be spending the time there until Friday. Watch for updates on Wednesday or Thursday!
We cruised on into Fairbanks and stopped by the Alaska Pipeline for a quick visit. Then it was off to the Ice Museum. On our way, we came across the Johansen Expressway. I can't believe it. Our own highway! They spelled it correctly too. We also noticed about a week ago, so one named Johansen is running for the representative here in Alaska. No one has called me Johnson here either!
Fairbanks is a reallly small city, and not much going on here. We toured town and tried to go to the Large Animal Research Center at the University, but it was closed. We wanted to see the Musk Ox. Teri is still bumming about that!
Tomorrow, we will be spending the day in the park and then heading for Anchorage and the airport. We have a 1am flight to Portland. We will be spending the time there until Friday. Watch for updates on Wednesday or Thursday!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Denali
Today, we finally made it to Denali National Park. We arrived for our 6:15am shuttle bus to Wonder Lake. An 11 hour trip. Our morning started out pretty exciting. We left our B&B and within about 100 yards of the house, we came across a moose in the road. We enjoyed watching it, but we didn't have our cameras ready!
We took off on the tour and within just a few miles, we spotted more moose. They are everywhere in the park. We also happened across a black wolf, fox pups, playing just outside their den and so much more. I didn't get pictures of everything, since I need a much fancier camera, with a telephoto lens! I did get video of them though, since the video has a great zoom lens! We happened across grizzly bears and caribou, dall sheep and so much more. The best part for me though, we seeing the mountain. This is often not visalbe for visitors. We count ourselves lucky to have seen it. Just a few hours later, it was covered by clouds so we were not able to see it again, at Wonder Lake. For those who can't see my photo too well, it is the whitest part in the pictures. It is hard to see, but it is there. (I really need that great camera.
Next time I come, a really great camera is called for. Don't come without a zoom lens and lots of patience! Wildlife photographers must have the most patience! It is not easy to get that perfect shot!
Teri and I have decided that the best things of all, have been the cheapest to do. Our time in the last 2 National Parks.
We took off on the tour and within just a few miles, we spotted more moose. They are everywhere in the park. We also happened across a black wolf, fox pups, playing just outside their den and so much more. I didn't get pictures of everything, since I need a much fancier camera, with a telephoto lens! I did get video of them though, since the video has a great zoom lens! We happened across grizzly bears and caribou, dall sheep and so much more. The best part for me though, we seeing the mountain. This is often not visalbe for visitors. We count ourselves lucky to have seen it. Just a few hours later, it was covered by clouds so we were not able to see it again, at Wonder Lake. For those who can't see my photo too well, it is the whitest part in the pictures. It is hard to see, but it is there. (I really need that great camera.
Next time I come, a really great camera is called for. Don't come without a zoom lens and lots of patience! Wildlife photographers must have the most patience! It is not easy to get that perfect shot!
Teri and I have decided that the best things of all, have been the cheapest to do. Our time in the last 2 National Parks.
Traditional Park Photo
I thought I better update our Kenai Fjords adventure just a bit more. I am not real sure anyone is looking at this, but just in case, I thought I would explain more of our adventure.
We arrived at Seward and walked, what we thought to be just a few blocks, but actually turned out to be over a mile, pulling our REALLY heavy suitcases. We got to our hotel and dropped off the suitcases, just to run back into town. On our way into town, we scouted out the laundry facilities, luckily, just the next block from our hotel.
we stopped by the visitors center on our way to the harbor for our cruise in the Kenai Fjords. We reserved a boat tour (our last time on a boat this vacation!) where we went out into the fjords for 6 hours. It wasn't an overly crowded tour, which was a nice switch from everything on the cruise up. We saw whales on our way out and several birds. Puffins were the most exciting to see. We also saw what we thought were loons, but turned out to be something called Murres (I think). We worked our way past many glaciers that came right down to the water. Our goal, the Aliaka Glacier. We went right up close, about a 1/2 mile. The boat turned off the engines and we just floated for about a 1/2 hour. The glacier, creaked and growled and made noises like fireworks. It was so amazing. Then, chuncks fell off, called calving. It was spectacular.
From there, we were off to another area of the park, where we once again came across whales feeding. It is an amazing site. They are hump back whales. We saw the mother whale and her baby. We also came across dolphins. I think they are called Dall Dolphins. They look like the killer whales. We were to go our in the front of the boat to make as much noise as we could, so the dolphins would 'play' with us. It was pretty interesting.
Next stop, an island that is inhabited by nothing but birds. It used to be a military outpost, but the birds were so bad, it is no longer used. (The smell!)
Time flew by, the tour was over. Teri and I agree, it was the best thing we had done so far. An because of our Tour Saver coupon, the cheapest too!
Oh, we got our laundry done and visited with many of the other tourist while our wash was going. I think it is the only time I have actually enjoyed doing laundry.
This morning, bright and early, we caught a bus for Anchorage where we rented a car for our drive to Denali. We arrived safe and sound, ready for our next adventure.
We arrived at Seward and walked, what we thought to be just a few blocks, but actually turned out to be over a mile, pulling our REALLY heavy suitcases. We got to our hotel and dropped off the suitcases, just to run back into town. On our way into town, we scouted out the laundry facilities, luckily, just the next block from our hotel.
we stopped by the visitors center on our way to the harbor for our cruise in the Kenai Fjords. We reserved a boat tour (our last time on a boat this vacation!) where we went out into the fjords for 6 hours. It wasn't an overly crowded tour, which was a nice switch from everything on the cruise up. We saw whales on our way out and several birds. Puffins were the most exciting to see. We also saw what we thought were loons, but turned out to be something called Murres (I think). We worked our way past many glaciers that came right down to the water. Our goal, the Aliaka Glacier. We went right up close, about a 1/2 mile. The boat turned off the engines and we just floated for about a 1/2 hour. The glacier, creaked and growled and made noises like fireworks. It was so amazing. Then, chuncks fell off, called calving. It was spectacular.
From there, we were off to another area of the park, where we once again came across whales feeding. It is an amazing site. They are hump back whales. We saw the mother whale and her baby. We also came across dolphins. I think they are called Dall Dolphins. They look like the killer whales. We were to go our in the front of the boat to make as much noise as we could, so the dolphins would 'play' with us. It was pretty interesting.
Next stop, an island that is inhabited by nothing but birds. It used to be a military outpost, but the birds were so bad, it is no longer used. (The smell!)
Time flew by, the tour was over. Teri and I agree, it was the best thing we had done so far. An because of our Tour Saver coupon, the cheapest too!
Oh, we got our laundry done and visited with many of the other tourist while our wash was going. I think it is the only time I have actually enjoyed doing laundry.
This morning, bright and early, we caught a bus for Anchorage where we rented a car for our drive to Denali. We arrived safe and sound, ready for our next adventure.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Seward/Kenai Fjords
We have had the best time here. This is definately a great place to visit. We went on a Kenia Fjord boat tour yesterday, which was 6 hours long. We saw whales, birds, dolphins and the glaciers calving! They were so awsome!
I am currently trying to update and load pictures on, quick before we catch the bus to Anchorage. I have no time, so got to run! More later!
I am currently trying to update and load pictures on, quick before we catch the bus to Anchorage. I have no time, so got to run! More later!
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