WE MADE IT TO ALASKA ! ! !

This morning we passed the last few miles through the Yukon and made it to Alaska. I really wanted to arrive yesterday,but Helen was concerned about Jodie and the long ride, so we stopped for the night in a roadside rest area with three or four other campers. The following picture was taken at 10:15 PM local time, so you can see how easy it is to drive long into the day.



We saw a LOT of wildlife along this leg of the trip. Just about an hour before we settled down for the night I saw a real Grizzly bear off the side of the road. I didn't mention it to Helen right a way as it looked like a rusted 55 gallon drum. By the time I got close enough to properly identify him, I was too late to allow Helen to see. If there were some way to turn around and go back, I would have, but in the motorhome towing a Jeep u-turns are not easily accomplished.



These are stone sheep and there were a lot of them along the road. These allowed us to take pictures as there were three or four RVs stopped along the road. I was the last in line and had one eye glued to the rear view mirror in case another vehicle should come around the curve.







This is a common view we had during today. Helen was a bit miffed that the camper was always in the picture, but it really wasn't so.


See what I mean?



Another friendly sheep.





Wish I could remember what lake or mile marker, but.......



We saw several bears along this stretch. They were apparently grazing in the lush grass along the side of the road. Our presence didn't even make them pause. They appear so tame that you could walk right up to one, but we know better. That's especially true in a couple of cases where we could see a pair of young black bear cubs out in the open. You can be sure that Momma is near.



There were a number of bison along the road. We passed a herd earlier of females and young. Later we could see these large males off by themselves. They were laying in a sandy area and were flicking the sand over themselves with their tail. Again, they were not at all impressed or disturbed by us.



A nice view that caught Helen's eye.





As we drove the Alaska Highway, we would see signs to be careful of deer, moose, rock sheep, bison, and bears. We also saw signs warning of horses in the wild that can run in front of a vehicle. These are the first ones we saw close enough to catch with the camera. I am no horse person, but a few of them looked like fine horses.



Another lumbering bruin. Walking along and having an occasional hank of grass. We didn't slow him down or speed him up. We were just part of his normal routine.




Helen at the Continental Divide....again. In Montana, we crossed the Marias Pass a number of times during our stay, going from one side of the Divide to the other. We have a picture of Helen in Montana as we crossed fro west to east, so it's only fitting to get a picture as we pass east to west.



One of the many narrow bridges that one has to cross on the Alaska Highway. I am so very pleased to state that I never met anyone coming the other way on any of the bridges.



More of the majestic Rockies.



And this is the end of the Alaska Highway in Delta Junction, Alaska. On the whole, the trip was very easy. The roads were much better than I was led to believe. The last hundred miles in the Yukon and the first 50 or so in Alaska were a bit rough. In Alaska, there were signs warning of heavy dust for miles, but it was not a problem. The rain kept the dust down and made the road very muddy instead.

Sorry for so many pics.