On The Empire Builder #2

Woke up to this fine view.
Enjoyed the final climb up to Glacier National Park.
After Glacier, it is wheat fields.the summer crop is all harvested.
Another chance to get off in Harve. This time I checked out the end of the train.

The train is not too far behind schedule. The food is good and the people are interesting. 

The critter count: lots of cattle, some horses, a few sheep and five pronghorns. Maybe a deer will show up.  

On the Empire Builder #1

Leaving Seattle

So far so good. The bus ride was fine. I almost finished my origami project on the ride. The train left on time. I have dinner reservations at 6:30. Because breakfast was a long time ago.

I have good cell service at this instant so, I
Fine will stop now and post. Mountains coming soon.

Had a fine Amtrak dinner with interesting folks. And am now tucked up in bed.

One fine day in Vancouver

Out my hotel window this morning

I love Vancouver.
Vancouver is amazing. People actually follow the walk/don’t walk signs. So do bikes. And they don’t seem to allow electric scooters. Takes a lot of the drama out of being a pedestrian.

Vancouver has adorable passenger ferries.

And a great waterfront.

Dahlias that are as tall as I am.

And wall art
Wall art covered concrete silos.

What’s not to love about Vancouver? For no apparent reason, I’ll be on the bus heading towards home. Tomorrow 11:30am.

Travel Day Nome to Vancouver

Put off the boat on to a couple of school buses.

Way too early in the morning we were kicked off the boat and let loose in Nome.
Nome has a stop sign. That’s about all it has.

Well it’s also where the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ends. And, Wyatt Earp owned a saloon in Nome.
Waiting Room in Nome International Airport.

I am safely hoteled in Vancouver tonight and tomorrow. Got to the hotel about 7pm. Ate cheese and an apple for dinner and now am really looking forward to a shower and a good night’s sleep.

Hope you all enjoyed the great adventure in the far north. Hey don’t laugh. You can only be but so adventurous at my age!

Boat Day 25 Along side Russia

There’s almost no WiFi today. I blame the Russians.

The island on the right is in Russia. The one on the left is in the US. The Ship used to go between the two. Now it goes on the US side.

I don’t think he was a walrus. Believe he was a whale. The bare belly look isn’t working for him.

Get kicked off the boat at 8am tomorrow. Next stop Nome and Vancouver.
N65°02′ W167°33′

Boat Day 24 still alongside Alaska

Today we can see Alaska. I think the closer we get to Russia the closer our boat gets to the Alaska coast.

We be here.

Today’s big activity. How to get off the boat and onto the planes to Vancouver. It isn’t pretty. It involves being ready to go at 6:30am. I had to rewatch the directions in my cabin. Yeppers she really said 0630.


The walruses turned in their boots and badges this morning. We were supposed to clean our boots but the guy in the red shirt volunteered to do mine. He is also the one who rolled me into the zodiac like a dead seal a couple of days ago.


68.72N/ -166.79W

Boat Day 23 alongside Alaska

The start of a very lazy day.

It’s a beachy day.

One last walrus adventure. A trip to the bridge.

Driving the boat is like playing a video game!

Maybe tomorrow l will pack up. Or sign up for the next 16days of the voyage.

70.94956 N / -160.22325 W

Boat Day 22 Beaufort Sea

Beaufort Sea early this morning

Not enough WiFi today for photos. But there’s not much to see anyhow. The Beaufort Sea is rather rough. They drained the swimming pool. I think that might be because they expect a bumpy ride.

No more activities on tap. I get off the boat at 8am in Nome on September 7th. And at 11am get bused to Nome International Airport for a flight to Vancouver hopefully arriving at my hotel by 8 or 9pm.

Today I had breakfast with a boat friend. Walked 2 miles around the deck with another boat friend. And I have dinner plans with 3 other boat buddies. I also did origami, napped and read. It’s all good.

We have been about 5000 miles with maybe 800 more to go.

N71°03′ W149°04′

Boat Day 21 Herschel Island

One Last Zodiac excursion later today. Weather and Parks Canada permitting. As of 4PM the walruses are scheduled to go ashore from 6 to 7 PM. That’s not my best time of day and it’s wicked cold with howling wind. I may wimp out.

It’s a sad day losing Bill Richardson and Jimmy Buffett both in the same day. Not too mention that they were both younger than I am. Peace and comfort gentlemen.

Last night we had a small party.

More later? Maybe.
It’s later. The zodiac landing was cancelled due to excessive waves. So once again I am saved from wimping out.
Abandoned whaling village – Herschel Island

N69°31′ W148°41′

Boat Day 20 in the fog

A serious shortage of connectivity and just about everything else today.

Spent all day in the fog helping a sailing yacht with engine troubles.

But at about 3pm they broke out the hotdogs and beer. Things are looking up. Except for the WiFi.

Nothing to see here
The distressed sailing yacht.
There have been a lot of excellent hot dogs on this trip. On land and sea. And, that’s not your father’s Budweiser.

N70°46′ W128°14′ underway again at 10 knots.

Boat Day 19 Ulukhaktok

Coming ashore in Ulukhaktok,we are greeted by the elders.

We brought potatoes, onions and pears.

There’s a perfectly fine grocery/hardware store. I had a fine visit with the manager. He gets produce and dairy by plane. But everything else comes in once a year by barge. And he is expecting the barge next week.
That’s $60 Canadian for 12 cans of Pepsi. The government subsidizes the cost of essentials. Pepsi isn’t essential.

Ulukhaktok, population 500, not only has as stop sign. It also has a yield sign.

Today I made it to the top of the hill. 4km round trip.

Here is Ruth. Mother, Grandmother, Auntie. Born 1897. Died 2001. Think about it.

At least half the village came back to the boat with us.

It was another fine day in the artic.
N70°43′ W117°46′

Boat Day 18 Murray Island

Murray Island

I almost missed Murray Island. It didn’t look like much. And there’s all the gear to put on. I was feeling a little sore and tired. And the walruses were scheduled to leave at 0900. All good reasons to ditch the trip.

Spoke the spirit of Carlton: Shut up. Suit up. Show up.

It was a good trip.

Gotta be careful not to fall and become part of the scenery!

Murray Island. Population 0.

Got so WiFi so off this goes
N68°28′ W111°08′