Note 1: This is the home of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) where I attended and graduated from my highest level of NCO education.

Note 1: Debbie's sister Denise McKeever & niece Jessica Gray spent the weekend, and her aunt Barbara Mills spent the weekdays with us at the timeshare as our guests.

Note 1: Our friends Stuart Young & Angela Young spent the weekend with us at the timeshare as our guests.

Note 1: On Sat., 01/28/12 and Tues., 01/31/12 we had a high quality 1100 watt RV solar system installed on our motor coach at Solar Bill Solar River RV & Marine, LLC. You can read our article all about this solar system install at RV Solar System.

Note 1: During our stay at this RV park, we made several day trips in our SUV to the following places: Fri., 02/03/12 - Tuzigoot National Monument, The Historic Tuzigoot Museum, Jerome State Historic Park, Jerome, AZ (National Historic Landmark District), & Audrey Shaft Headframe Park; Weds., 02/08/12 - Montezuma Castle National Monument, & Montezuma Well National Monument; Thurs., 02/16/12 - Red Rock State Park & Verde River Greenway State Natural Area; Fri., 02/17/12 - Dead Horse Ranch State Park; and Sat., 02/18/12 - Fort Verde State Historic Park (including Buffalo Soldier presentations) & 12th Annual Pecan, Wine & Antique Festival, Camp Verde, AZ.

Note 1: During our stay at this RV park, we made several day trips in our SUV to the following places: Thurs., 03/01/12 - Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area & Spring Mountain Ranch State Park; and Sun., 03/11/12 - Hoover Dam (including Dam Tour, Powerplant Tour, & Visitor Center), Lake Mead National Recreation Area, & Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (opened 2010).

Note 2: On Fri., 03/09/12 & Mon., 03/12/12, we had to have the main computer board in our microwave/convection oven replaced by a GE Appliances Technician.

Note 3: On the morning of Thurs., 03/15/12, we found out that during our last night at this RV park, someone stole one of our Spartan axle covers which are fairly expensive to replace.

Note 1: At 11:30 AM, on Weds., 03/14/12, we attended the Escapees RV Club# 14 (Lucky Rollers) monthly lunch SKP Get-Together at the Claim Jumper restaurant in Las Vegas; about 20 people attended and it was fun meeting all of the other RVers.

Note 1: The motor coach was parked in short term storage at Desert Eagle RV FamCamp on Nellis AFB from 03/16/12 until 03/23/12 for a total of seven nights since this Marriott resort only has multi-level garage parking which will not accommodate any kind of RV parking.

Note 2: Our friends Bruce Edwards & Bridgette Edwards spent the weekend with us at the timeshare as our guests.

Note 3: At 8:00 AM on Fri., 03/23/12 we had our 50,000 mile transmission service completed on the RV at W.W. Williams in Las Vegas, NV. This is a highly recommended Allison Transmission Service Center!

Note 1: On Fri., 03/30/12, after checking out of this RV park, we drove down to Blue Sky Energy, Inc. in Vista, CA to have one of our new solar controllers changed out because it appeared to be overcharging our batteries. The Blue Sky Energy Solar Boost 3024iL controller replacement was personally done by the owner Rick Cullen.

Note 1: On our drive from Vista, CA to Santa Barbara, CA the new (just replaced) controller literally overheated and melted. After much discussion with Blue Sky owner Rick Cullen, we determined the controller in question was getting too many watts of power which is the fault of the installer Solar Bill since he should have installed a third solar controller for an 1100 watt system. Solar Bill's owner Bill Killman also knew we have plans to add two more solar panels in the near future. Even though not the fault of the Blue Sky Energy products, and even though he  already changed out the controller earlier the same day, Rick Cullen drove round-trip from Vista, CA to Santa Barbara, CA on Weds., 04/04/12, to help us out at no cost to me. He changed out the Blue Sky Energy Solar Boost 3024iL controller with another new solar controller, he then went up on the roof of my coach and disconnected the two 130 watt panels that were overcharging that controller, and then he even gave me a new Blue Sky Energy IPN-ProRemote display for free. No other company Owner/CEO would have ever done what Rick Cullen did, even after finding out that the solar problem/product failure was caused by the solar installer and not his Blue Sky Energy products. Rick Cullen and Blue Sky Energy, Inc. are the the best in the solar business and I recommend his products to anyone.

Note 1: I have performed military duties at this depot when I was still on active duty!

Note 2: During our stay at this RV park, we made a day trip in our SUV to the following place: Sat., 04/07/12 - Camp Roberts Historical Museum & Museum Annex.

Note 1: On Sat., 04/28/12, while traveling US Hwy 101 North near Gold Beach, OR, we stopped at Pistol River State Park to take photos of the coastline at Meyers Creek Beach.

Note 1: During our stay at this RV park, we made several day trips in our SUV to the following places: Mon., 05/07/12 - South Beach State Park; and Weds., 05/09/12 - Lost Creek State Park.

Note 2: On Weds., 05/09/12, we went out to dinner at the South Beach Fish Market located on US Hwy 101 in South Beach, OR; Deb had the Ling cod and I had a Dungeness crab burger & New England clam chowder. It is a nice little restaurant with good, fresh food and reasonable prices.

Note 1: During our stay at this RV park, we walked from our RV to the Pacific Ocean on Mon., 05/16/12 - Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area and McPhillips Beach.

Note 2: On Sun., 05/20/12, while traveling US Hwy 101 North going through Tillamook, OR, we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory and did the factory tour. We also ate lunch in the Creamory Cafe: I had a shrimp salad and Deb had a Southwestern chicken wrap. For dessert we each had 3 scoops of Tillamook Premium Ice Cream. We also bought 3 bricks of Tillamook cheese and 3 large chunks of Tillamook fudge.

Note 2: The Three Forks area of MT has a huge population of Richardson's Ground Squirrels. There was a large colony of these squirrels living in the fields next to our RV.

Note 1: On Thurs., 06/14/12 we had a buffet dinner at the Golden Corral Restaurant in Billings, MT, and on Fri., 06/15/12 we ate dinner at Fuddruckers in Billings, MT - I had a Buffalo Burger with fries, and Deb had a Swiss Melt with onion rings and then we ate dessert at Baskin Robbins.

Note 2: During our stay at this RV Rally area, we made a day trip in our SUV to the following places: Fri./, 06/15/12 - Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Custer National Cemetery, and a factory tour of Red Oxx Manufacturing, Inc. in Billings, MT; and Sat., 06/16/12 - Pictograph Cave State Park/Pictograph Cave (National Historic Landmark).

Note 1: We have purchased a complete extra set of filters (fuel, oil, air) for the motorcoach as well as all three (03) belts for the engine; in fact we purchased five (05) extra fuel filters. The motorcoach engine, transmission, generator and chassis have recently been fully serviced. All tires on both the motorcoach and SUV were purchased and mounted within the past 12 months. The SUV had all belts, hoses, filters replaced; the engine, transmission, radiator, and 4x4 transfer serviced; and the engine and transmission were changed over to synthetic fluids, all within the past 12 months. We are hopeful our preparations will make this long road trip as hassle free as possible.

Note 2: Our dinner meal on Sun., 06/17/12, was a potluck dinner amongst the SMART AK Caravan members and it was delicious.

Note 1: The Granum area of AB has a huge population of Richardson's Ground Squirrels. There was a large colony of these squirrels living in this RV park.

Note 1: During our stay at this RV park, we made a day trip in our SUV to the following places: Sun., 06/24/12 - Northern Alberta Railways Park (N.A.R. Park), Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Dawson Creek Mile "O" Alaska (Alcan) Highway, Dawson Creek Station Museum, Dawson Creek Natural History Museum, and "The Surveyor" statue; and Mon., 06/25/12 - Old Alaska Highway 64, Kiskatinaw Provincial Park, Historic Kiskatinaw Curved Bridge (opened 1942), and Kiskatinaw River Bridge (opened 1978).

Note 1: On our drive from Dawson Creek to Fort Nelson, BC, we saw a American Black Bear, a Moose, a Red-tailed Hawk, and a White-tailed Deer.

Note 1: On Weds., 06/27/12, we visited Stone Mountain Provincial Park, BC, traveling in route to Toad River, BC.

Note 2: On our drive from Fort Nelson to Toad River, BC, we saw several herds of Stone sheep with baby lambs, numerous Moose with a baby calf, an Elk with a baby calf, numerous different species of ducks, and a White-tailed Deer.

Note 1: On Thurs., 06/28/12, we visited Muncho Lake Provincial Park, Muncho Lake, Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, and Liard River Hot Springs, BC, traveling in route to Watson Lake, YT.

Note 2: On our drive from Toad River, BC to Watson Lake, YT, we saw several herds of Stone Sheep with baby lambs, several herds of Wood Bison with baby calves, several American Black Bears, one herd of Caribou, a Moose, and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1: On Sat., 06/30/12, we made a day trip in our SUV to the following places: George Johnston Museum, The Teslin Tlingit Heritage Center, Wildlife Gallery, and another part of Teslin Lake, all in Teslin, YT.

Note 2: On Sat., 06/30/12, I bought a couple of pieces of Rhubarb Cherry Pie for Deb and I; it was absolutely delicious.

Note 3: On Sun., 07/01/12, we drove the RV with SUV in tow over the Continental Divide.

Note 4: On our drive from Watson Lake, YT to Teslin, YT, we saw a few American Black Bears, a Moose, and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 2: On Sun., 07/01/12, we went out to dinner at the Skagway Fish Company where we had Halibut Fish & Chips; on Mon., 07/02/12, we ate dinner at Skagway Brewing Company where we had Beer Dipped BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with French Fries; and on Tues., 07/03/12 we ate dinner at the Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp & Salmon Bake where we enjoyed a Smoked Salmon buffet.

Note 3: On our drive from Teslin, YT to Skagway, AK we stopped at Carcross, YT and visited the S.S. Tutshi Memorial. Also, on our drive from Teslin, YT to Skagway, AK, we saw a few black Arctic Ground Squirrels and numerous different species of ducks. While riding the White Pass & Yukon Route train, we saw a herd of Rocky Mountain Goats.

Note 4: On Tues., 07/03/12 at 10:00 PM (Alaska Time Zone - AKDT), we had a front row seat from our RV to view the 4th of July fireworks show that was performed over the Skagway Harbor. The huge fireworks show lasted for well over an hour.

Note 1: Our dinner meal on Thurs., 07/05/12, was a potluck dinner amongst the SMART AK Caravan members and it was delicious.

Note 1: On our drive from Skagway, AK to Whitehorse, YT, we saw a Moose, a few black and brown Arctic Ground Squirrels, and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1: On our drive from Whitehorse to Destruction Bay, YT, we drove through the Kluane National Park and Reserve, and stopped in Haines Junction, YT to visit the Da Ku "Our House" Cultural Center (Champagne & Aishihik First Nations).

Note 2: On our drive from Whitehorse to Destruction Bay, YT, we saw a Moose, numerous brown Arctic Ground Squirrels (both alive and road kill), and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1:  On Sun., 07/08/12 we ate pizza, and Mon., 07/09/12, Deb had a Patty Melt with onion rings and I had a Grilled Chicken sandwich with curly fries at Fast Eddie's Restaurant. The food at this place is very good and reasonably priced for Alaska.

Note 2: On Thurs., 07/12/12, we went on the Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Tour (Columbia Glacier Cruise). During this 6.5 hour cruise on the Glacier Spirit we visited Prince William Sound and the Columbia Glacier. While on this cruise, we saw several Bald Eagles, Humpback Whales, Dall's Porpoises, Stellar Sea Lions, Harbor Seals,  Sea Otters, and Marbled Murrelets. We also visited Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery to watch the Pink (Humpback) Salmon spawning migration and take photos of the Solomon Gulch Hydroelectric Project. Deb and I also watched a female Grizzly Bear fishing for Pink Salmons to feed her four young cubs.

Note 3: On our drive from Tok to Valdez, AK, we drove to the Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site and took pictures of the Worthington Glacier. Also, on our drive from Tok to Valdez, AK, we saw several Trumpeter Swans, a Moose, and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1: On our drive from Valdez to Mendeltna, AK, we saw numerous Beaver lodges, brown Arctic Ground Squirrels, and Bald Eagles.

Note 1: On our drive from Mendeltna to Anchorage, AK, we drove past and photographed Nelchina Glacier & Matanuska Glacier.

Note 2: On Sat., 07/14/12, we ate dinner at the Ding How Mongolian BBQ and the food was very good. On Sun., 07/15/12, we ate lunch at the Portage Glacier Day Lodge Cafe, Deb and I both had Roast Beef sandwiches with seasoned fries. On Tues., 07/17/12, we had dinner and a music show (Dusty Sourdough) at the Sourdough Mining Company, Deb had the BBQ Baby Back Ribs and I had the BBQ Rotisserie Chicken. The food here is great, but high prices like all of the rest of AK restaurants.

Note 3: Our dinner meal on Mon., 07/16/12, was a potluck dinner amongst the SMART AK Caravan members and it was delicious.

Note 4: During our stay at this RV Park, we made a day trip in our SUV to the following places: Sun./, 07/15/12 - Chugach National Forest Visitor Center (aka Begich, Boggs Visitor Center), took a 1 hour cruise with Portage Glacier Cruises on the M/V Ptarmigan to visit Portage Glacier, Byron Glacier, & Portage Lake, and visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Note 1: Several of the SMART AK Caravan members went on a half day halibut fishing trip through Alaska Coastal Marine on the 65 ft boat named Spirit on Thurs., 07/19/12. Both Deb and I caught our two Halibut limit for the day plus several Pacific Cod (aka Grey Cod). (Pacific Cod is the type of fish McDonalds restaurant uses in all of their fish sandwiches). On Fri., 07/20/12, Carl Hopper and I went on a full day fishing trip through Arctic Fox Charters on a 28 ft boat named Fishy Business. Both of us also caught our two halibut limit for that day but no Cod. Both days at sea where on extremely rough waters (especially in the smaller boat on Fri) and on Thurs., many of our friends got so sick they were not able to fish. On Fri., our boat broke a fuel injector on the diesel engine and we were forced to be towed in by the Coast Guard from 20 miles out to sea. It took the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 1 hour to get to our location, after they were notified 2 hours after we broke down, and then it took them 3 hours to tow us back in. The company did make it right by giving us a 50% cash refund on the fishing trip, plus an open ended ticket for another free full-day fishing trip anytime in the future. On both days while out at sea, we saw lots of Puffins, Marbled Murrelets, and Sea Otters.

Note 2: On Thurs., 07/21/12, we ate a small potluck meal with our friends Walt Cloyd, Patsy Cloyd, Carl Hopper, & Gwen Hopper. We had Teriyaki Fried Halibut, Cajun Fried Halibut, Cheesy Broccoli Rice, freshly baked sourdough bread, garden salad, cheese cake, and our favorite wines. This was a great meal. On Fri., 07/20/12, the entire SMART AK Caravan had a cod fish fry with all of the cod we caught the day before on Thurs. Deb was able to attend this potluck, but I was out on a full day halibut fishing charter and didn't get back in until 11:30 PM. On Sun., 07/22/12, we went to dinner with our friends Walt Cloyd, Patsy Cloyd, Carl Hopper, & Gwen Hopper. This night we went to dinner at Captain Pattie's Fish House. Deb had Chicken Fettuccine and I had New England Clam Chowder. The food was great, but the prices were very expensive.

Note 1: On Mon., 07/23/12, Carl Hopper, Denise Yale, and I went Salmon Fishing in Kachemak Bay. Actually, since Salmon don't eat/bite during spawning season, we were technically Salmon Snagging. I snagged three, carl snagged three, and one gentlemen gave us a nice salmon since he didn't want to clean just one for a total of seven (07) fish. The salmon were Red (Sockeye) Salmon and Silver (Coho) Salmon. All of them were very large and lots of fun to catch.

Note 2: On, Mon., 07/23/12, we went on a 4 hour Dinner Cruise Buffet & Kenai Fjords Evening Wildlife Cruise from 6 to 10 P.M.. This dinner cruise included an Alaska Salmon & Prime Rib Buffet and the food was absolutely the best. The tour company was Major Marine Tours and the boat was named Star of the Northwest. While on this cruise we visited a good portion of the Kenai Fjords National Park and got a distant view of Bear Glacier.

Note 3:  On our drive from Homer to Seward, AK, we saw a Moose, and several Bald Eagles. While on the dinner cruise with Major Marine Tours we saw Humpback Whales, Dall's Porpoises, Stellar Sea Lions, Sea Otters, Bald Eagles, Horned Puffins, Tufted Puffins, Cormorants, Arctic Terns, Skuas, Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Common Murres, Marbled Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemonts, Black Oystercatchers, and Surf Scoters. The neatest thing is that nearly all of the birds we saw on this dinner cruise were mated pairs with a nest and young chicks that they were raising.

Note 1: On our drive from Seward to Houston, AK, we drove through the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge.

Note 1: On our drive from Houston to Healy, AK, we drove through the Denali State Park and visited the Alaska Veterans Memorial.

Note 2:  On Thurs., 07/26/12, we made a day trip in our SUV to Denali National Park and Preserve. We took the 8 hour bus tour to Eielson Visitor Center and back to the Main Gate. During our wildlife viewing bus tour we saw numerous Grizzly Bears, Caribous, Dall Sheep, and Arctic Ground Squirrels. We also got several clear photos of Mt. McKinley which has the highest mountain peak in North America at 20,320 feet above sea level. The weather was beautiful with the highs in the mid to upper 70's, sunny skies, and the winds less than 15 mph - absolutely gorgeous day!!! On Fri., 07/27/12, we made another day trip in our SUV to Denali National Park and Preserve. On this visit we attended the Sled Dog Demonstrations, visited the Sled Dog Kennels, and the Denali National Park Visitor Center.

Note 1: On Sun., 07/29/12, we went on a 3 hour cruise on the Riverboat Discovery on the Chena River. This boat is a 4 deck, flat bottomed, stern-wheeler paddle boat powered by two diesel electric engines (one engine only used at a time). The cruise lasted from 2 PM to 5 PM and visited Chena Village which is a Northern Athabaskan Indian village remake. The river boat also stopped by the Trail Breaker Kennel to view their dog kennels from the river boat and watch a dog sled team pull an ATV at up to 20 mph. This kennel was the home of Susan Butcher who won the Iditarod (Alaskan Mushing/Sled Dog Race) four times. We also watched an Alaskan bush pilot do two (02) water take-offs and landings right next to the boat so we could see exactly how it was done, and also get some great close-up photos.

Note 2: On Mon., 07/30/12, we made a day trip in our SUV to Gold Dredge No. 8 for a tour of the gold dredge and many other pieces of gold mining equipment. Deb and I also got to try our hand at gold panning. Our total value of gold flakes acquired from one pan of gravel tailings each was $39.00 combined.  Gold Dredge No. 8 is one of 10 gold dredges that were owned and operated by Fairbanks Exploration Company between 1928 and 1962. Today this dredge is part of the Goldstream Dredge No. 8 National Historic District. This is the second time we have visited this site, took the tour, and did gold panning; the first visit was made in 2001 when Deb and I did a Holland America Alaskan cruise and land tour.

Note 3: On Tues., 07/31/12, we made a day trip in our SUV, along with Ray & Linda Fowler, to the downtown North Pole and Santa Claus House. We also made a trip to the Post Exchange (PX) and the Commissary at Fort Wainwright.

Note 4: My father passed away Weds., 08/01/12, at 8:45 AM (CST). He was 75 years old and was in much pain these past couple of years. My dad and I had a close relationship, we talked at least once per week by phone, and we loved to go hunting & fishing together. I will truly miss my dad and I know his soul is in a much better place. During our many talks, he often told me to keep to my travel plans which are to visit relatives, family & friends in Illinois during the Christmas Holiday season and for a few months after the New Year. Dad and I were able to tell each other we loved each other at the end of a phone conversation yesterday, so I will always remember our last and final words to each other.

Note 5: On Mon., 07/30/12 and Weds., 08/01/12, our caravan had potluck dinners in the RV park pavilion. On Tues., 07/31/12, Deb and I had a potluck dinner with Ray & Linda Fowler in their RV. All three of these meals were better than anything a person could eat in the local restaurants. Our potlucks on this trip are great food, good company, and fun conversation for all.

Note 1: On Thurs., 08/02/12, while traveling from North Pole to Delta Junction, AK, we stopped by The Knotty Shop in Salcha, AK. We got some great pictures of the many different things made out of knotty pine lumber.

Note 2: On Thurs., 08/02/12, we made a daytrip with our friends Ray & Linda Fowler to go see the Delta Junction Visitor Center, The Sullivan Roadhouse Historical Museum, and The Northern End of the Alaska Highway Mile Post 1422.

Note 1: On Fri., 08/03/12, while traveling from Delta Junction to Tok, AK, we stopped by the Delta Meat & Sausage Company, Delta Junction, AK. The company sells all sorts of Alaska grown Reindeer, Buffalo, Elk, Beef, Pork, and Lamb products. They used to sell Yak products, but said they haven't had any available for a few years now. To satisfy our taste buds and to support the local economy, Deb and I purchased two packs of Reindeer Polish Sausage, one pack of Buffalo Summer Sausage, and one pack of Reindeer Summer Sausage for a total cost of $37.00. Most of their meats sell for $6.00 to $9.00 per pound, so they are definitely not for the budget minded RVers.

Note 2: On Fri., 08/03/12, Deb and I attended a potluck dinner with four other couples that are part of the caravan. We ate dinner outside on picnic tables. As always, the food, drink, and company were great. We got hit with a summer shower right in the middle of our meal, but we quickly got under a RV awning and did not let the rain dampen our spirits.

Note 1: During this leg of the trip from Tok, AK, USA, to Dawson City, YT, Canada, we traveled over the legendary Top Of The World Highway. This 79 mile long highway opened in 1955. The highway begins at the junction with the Taylor Highway near Jack Wade, Alaska traveling east to its terminus at the ferry terminal in West Dawson, on the western banks of the Yukon River. IMPORTANT:  This is by far the worst road I have ever driven my RV on and I strongly discourage others from doing the same. This road is unimproved (mostly loose rock and compacted dirt), full of ruts/potholes/washboard, no guard rails, eroded roadsides, sheer cliffs, many places the road is only 16 to 18 ft. wide (RVs, commercial trucks, and tour buses are 8 ft. wide so meeting oncoming two-way traffic can be difficult if not impossible in many places), and unbelievably dusty to the point you must often stop to let dust clouds dissipate. The hazards on this road are ten times more dangerous if you happen to drive it on a rainy day. One RV rolled down a 1000 ft. cliff the day before we drove it (we saw the retrieved RV and we say the accident site where the Class A coach rolled down the mountain) and another vehicle rolled down the cliffs the day after we drove through the area. This road is OK to drive in a truck or off-road vehicle, but it is definitely not safe to drive Class A RVs on, and I will never drive an RV on it again. Many have driven this highway with RVs (including Deb and I with our RV and SUV in tow which is 65 ft. in total length), but each and every year there are one or more various size vehicles that do not make it safely down the full 79 mile length of this highway. My advice to others is DO NOT do it, especially in a Class A motorcoach.

Note 2: We took our RV across the Yukon River from The Top of the World Highway to Dawson City, YT,  utilizing the George Black Ferry. This is the first time we have ever taken our RV on a ferry ride. We were able to cross the river while keeping our RV and SUV hooked up together (65 ft. total length). The good thing is the ferry is free, the bad thing is the wait this day to cross the river was 6 hours total. I strongly recommend simply driving from Whitehorse to Dawson City on The Klondike Highway and returning by the same route to avoid the Top of the World Highway and the George Black Ferry.

Note 3: While traveling from Tok, AK, USA, to Dawson City, YT, Canada, we stopped in Chicken, AK, which is located on the Taylor Highway. While there we took photos of Gold Dredge No. 133 (aka Pedro Dredge) which is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.

Note 4: We made a day trip in our SUV to the following places on Mon., 08/06/12: we drove to the top of The Midnight Dome to take pictures of Dawson City, YT; we took the tour of Dredge No. 4 National Historic Site of Canada (Dredge No. 4 is the largest wooden hull dredge in North America); and drove to downtown Dawson City and attended the nightly dance show at Diamond Tooth Gerdie's Gambling Hall. On Tues., 08/07/12, we drove to downtown Dawson City to visit the Dänojŕ Zho "Long Time Ago House" Cultural Center (Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation); Dawson City Museum; Jack London Museum; and Dawson City Historical Complex/Klondike National Historic Sites (including exterior photos of the S.S. Keno National Historic Site, The Palace Grand Theatre, & The Commissioner's Residence). We also went to Downtown Hotel for lunch and both Deb and I had a plate of Poutine. This fast food dish originated in Quebec and consists of French Fries smothered with Brown Gravy and Cheese Curds. This was very delicious and highly recommended for others to try.

Note 5: While traveling from Tok, AK, to Dawson City, YT, we saw a Cross Fox in West Dawson, YT on the banks of the Yukon River. It stood about 25 feet away from us for several minutes and I was able to get several great photos of it.

Note 1: While traveling from Dawson City to Whitehorse, YT, we stopped at Heritage Center Big Johnson House (Selkirk First Nation) in Pelly Crossing, YT, and Tagé Cho Hudän Interpretive Center (Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation) in Carmacks, YT. We also stopped at Braeburn Lodge at Mile 55 on the Klondike Highway. This place is famous for its tasty, monster cinnamon buns. Each cinnamon bun is the size of a pie and we purchased 2 of them for a total cost of $18.00 CDN.

Note 2: We made a day trip in our SUV to the following places in Whitehorse, YT, on Thurs., 08/09/12: we went on a 1 hr. boat cruise on Schwatka Lake, on to the Yukon River, and through historic Miles Canyon aboard the MV Schwatka with Yukon River Cruises;  we then went on a factory tour of the Yukon Brewing Company; and then attended the Frantic Follies Vaudeville Revue at the Westmark Hotel.

Note 3: We made a day trip in our SUV to the following places in Whitehorse, YT, on Fri., 08/10/12: we went to the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Center; the S.S. Klondike (National Historic Site of Canada); the Yukon Visitor Information Center; the MacBride Museum of Yukon History; and the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center.

Note 4: While traveling from Dawson City to Whitehorse, YT, we saw a Grizzly Bear with cub, a Beaver and several Beaver lodges and dams, a Trumpeter Swan, numerous brown Arctic Ground Squirrels (both alive and road kill), and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1: While traveling from Whitehorse to Watson Lake, YT, we saw two Coyotes, an American Red Squirrel, a Least Chipmunk, numerous brown Arctic Ground Squirrels (both alive and road kill), and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1: While traveling from Watson Lake, YT, to Iskut, BC, we saw an Osprey, a Beaver and several Beaver lodges and dams, an American Red Squirrel, a Least Chipmunk, numerous brown Arctic Ground Squirrels (both alive and road kill), several Canadian Geese, and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1: We made a day trip in our SUV to the following place just north of Hyder, AK, and Stewart, BC, on Tues., 08/14/12. We drove into the U.S. at Hyder, AK (Hyder is also recognized as the easternmost town in Alaska.), then drove a few miles back into BC and high up into the mountains to the top of Salmon Glacier to get a birds eye view from an elevated position. From the elevated position, we were able to take numerous great photos of the glacier.

Note 2: We made a day trip in our SUV to the following places on 08/15/12: drove to Hyder, AK with Roger Meyer and Kaye Meyer to eat dinner at the Seafood Express. The kitchen of this restaurant is a converted school bus with an outside dinning in front of the bus under an awning, along with an inside dinning in a building added on in the back behind the bus. Deb had the Halibut Fried Fish and French Fries and I had the Sauté Halibut and French Fries; both of us really enjoyed our meals. In 2001 the movie Insomnia was filmed in Hyder and there are pictures and signatures of Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, and Robbin Williams eating here. Then we all drove a few miles down the road to Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site (inside the Tongass National Forest) to watch the bears catching salmon. We personally didn't see any bears this trip, but many of our friends did because they kept driving out here at different times throughout the day. We did see lots of huge spawning Chum (aka Dog) Salmon and saw how they die after spawning. Lots of seagulls there having a feast on the dead salmon.

Note 3: We made a day trip in our SUV on 08/16/12 to drive all around Hyder, AK and Stewart, BC to get nice photos of both towns and the international border area between the U.S.A. and Canada.

Note 4: While traveling from Iskut to Stewart, BC, we saw several Beaver lodges and dams, an American Red Squirrel, an American Mink, a large flock of Canadian Geese, a Red-Breasted Merganser with four ducklings, and numerous other different species of ducks.

Note 1: On Sun., 08/19/12, we walked over and took a tour of the Ksan Historical Village & Museum which is located near the ancient village of Gitanmaax, at the confluence of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers in the community of Hazelton, British Columbia. Their people are known as the Gitxsan First Nation people.

Note 2: While traveling from Stewart to Hazelton, BC, we saw we saw several Beaver lodges and dams, a large flock of Canadian Geese, an American Red Squirrel, two American Black Bears, and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1: While traveling from Hazelton to Prince George, BC, we saw a Red-Tailed Hawk, several Beaver lodges and dams, an American Red Squirrel, a large flock of Canadian Geese, and numerous different species of ducks.

Note 1: While traveling from Prince George to Cache Creek, BC, we saw a Moose, several Beaver lodges and dams, an American Red Squirrel, Mallard Ducks, Canadian Geese, and numerous other different species of ducks.

Note 1: On Tues., 08/21/12, while traveling from Cache Creek, BC, to Lynden, WA, we stopped by the Hell's Gate Airtram in Fraser Canyon near Hope, BC. Deb rode the airtram down and back up as well as walked back and forth across the foot bridge over the Fraser River. I no longer do heights very well, so I avoid them whenever possible. We then stopped at Minter Gardens in Chilliwack, BC. There we had an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet (included Pork Chops with Mushrooms & Gravy, Teriyaki Chicken Breasts, Steamed Green Beans, and Miniature Baked Potatoes) in the Trillium Restaurant, and then toured the 32 acre show garden; the food was very good and the show garden was beautiful. We took lots of nice photos of all the beautiful plants and flowers.

Note 2: Weds., 08/22/12, was our 16th (Tungsten) Anniversary. We had a relaxing day with great weather to recuperate from our 67 day Alaskan Caravan with the Special Military Active Retired Travel Club (SMART). We celebrated our anniversary while going out for a farewell dinner with our other caravan members. We went to dinner at Rusty Wagon Old Tyme Food in Lynden, WA. Deb had the Chicken Fettuccini and I had the Chicken Cordon Bleu. The food was great, the entire group gave the Wagon Master Roger Meyer and his wife Kaye Meyer a personalized Thank You gift for a "Job Well Done!", and then everyone in the caravan was able to say their goodbyes to each other.

Note 3: While traveling from Cache Creek, BC, to Lynden, WA, we saw a Coyote, several Beaver lodges and dams, an American Red Squirrel, Mallard Ducks, Canadian Geese, and numerous other different species of ducks.

Note 1: On Thurs., 08/23/12, our friends Ray Fowler and Linda (aka Lin) Fowler visited us in the timeshare. Deb cooked up a nice dinner consisting of Caribbean Jerk Chicken, Fried Cabbage, and Cornbread. Lin baked a Chocolate Cake with White Icing for dessert. We washed everything down with a couple glasses of ArborMist White Zinfandel Exotic Fruits Wine. After dinner we all watched the comedy movie Bridesmaids. This was a great evening with good friends, food, wine, and entertainment.

Note 2: On Sat., 08/25/12, we ate lunch at Renate's German Restaurant and Deli. Both Deb and I had the Reuben Sandwiches, she had hers with German Potato Salad and I had mine with French Fries. The food was excellent. We then went to the Lynden Pioneer Museum. This is a very nice museum with well thought out displays. Finally, that evening we attended the 8th Annual Lynden PRCA Rodeo finals at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds. Professional Rodeos generally consist of all of the following events and this rodeo was no exception: the roughstock events included Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, and Bull Riding; the timed events included Steer Wrestling (aka Bulldogging), Team Roping, Tie-Down Roping (aka Calf Roping), Barrel Racing, and Steer Roping (aka Steer Tripping); and the kids event consisted of Mutton Busting which is bareback sheep riding. The restaurant, museum, and rodeo were all located in Lynden, WA; the weather was beautiful all day long; and we had a great time.

Note 1: On Weds., 08/29/12, I celebrated my 52nd birthday. Our good friends K.S. and his lovely wife Kamla S. took Deb and I out for a great night on the town. First we had a feast of the best Indian food we have ever eaten at India Gate Restaurant in downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada. K. also brought along a couple large bottles of Zinfandel wine which went great with the meal. We also enjoyed talking to the restaurant owner and his son; K. & Kamla S. have been enjoying eating here for about 31 years now and they are very good friends with the owners. The owner's son also made us a couple specialty drinks that were very good: one was called Martian Urine and the other was a King Kong. After dinner, our friends took us on a city tour of Vancouver. K. is a great tour guide and really knows this city and its history since he grew up in this area. Vancouver and the bay area are extremely beautiful at night with all of the city lights. WOW, what a wonderful birthday treat from such a good friend!!!!!

Note 2: On Thurs., 08/30/12, we ate dinner at Paso del Norte Family Mexican Restaurant in Blaine, WA. Our dinner guests were our Canuck friends K. & Kamla. This is one of their favorite eateries in the states and it is easy to see why. The Mexican cuisine at this place is top notch and the restaurant sits right across the road from the bay and marina in historic downtown Blaine, WA. This was another "eating experience" with great food, good company, and delicious drinks. I had the Blackberry Margarita, Deb had a Dirty Martini, and K. & Kamla had Blueberry Margaritas. This is a highly recommended restaurant for great Mexican food. After dinner K. took us all on a scenic drive around the Blaine/Birch Bay area to see some of the very nice waterfront homes and resorts.

Note 3: On Sat., 09/01/12, we ate dinner at Paso del Norte Family Mexican Restaurant in Blaine, WA again. Our dinner guests were our friends K. & Kamla S. Once again, the Mexican cuisine at this place was top notch and the sunset over the bay was extremely beautiful. This was another "eating experience" with great food, good company, and delicious drinks. Deb had a Mango & Kiwi Margarita while K. & Kamla and I had Blueberry Margaritas. This is a highly recommended restaurant for great Mexican food. Before dinner K. took us all on a scenic drive around Bellingham/Ferndale/Whidbey Island/Blaine. On our journey to and from Whidbey Island we walked out over Deception Pass on Deception Pass Bridge. Deb, K. & Kamla  enjoyed the walk, but I was terrified of the heights and had to hold on with two hands and not look out over the edge of the bridge. During our drive we also drove the Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway as well as drive through Birch Bay State Park and Deception Pass State Park. To top off the evening, Deb made homemade blended milkshakes out of fresh picked Blackberries and Vanilla Ice Cream. I picked the wild Blackberries earlier in the day. This time of the year, upstate WA is literally covered with wild Blackberries and I was able to pick about 2 1/2 gallons in an 1 hour. The milkshakes were delicious!

Note 1: On Sun., 09/02/12, we ate dinner at Asian 1 in Bellingham, WA. Our dinner guests were our good friends K. & Kamla. This is a great Thai food restaurant. All four of us had the Blue Hawaiian drinks. This is a highly recommended restaurant for great Thai food. I haven't been to a Thai food restaurant in about 10 years, so this was a real treat. Deb and I feel that retirement is about enjoying life and making up for all the time we lost wasting our lives away working for a paycheck. This was another "eating experience" with great food, good company, and delicious drinks. After dinner, Deb and I enjoyed a little over an hour in the Jacuzzi back at our timeshare; that hot tub was the perfect end to another great day!

Note 1: During our 3 night stay in Whistler Village, we ate dinner at the following restaurants with our good friends K & Kamla S.: Mongolie Grill, Tandoori Grill, and The Old Spaghetti Factory. All three of these restaurants served great food with a very nice atmosphere.

Note 2: On Thurs., 09/06/12, Deb and I, along with K. & Kamla, rode the Whistler Village Gondola to the top of Whistler Mountain. Then while Kamla & I sat it out at the Roundhouse Lodge, K. and Deb did a round trip on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola which links Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain. Boasting the longest unsupported lift span in the world (1.88 miles or 3.024 kilometers), it is also the highest lift of its kind with an elevation of 1,427 feet/435 meters.

Note 3: Since Deb loves to sleep in a bit later while on vacation, I ate breakfast with K. & Kamla each day.

Note 1: On Weds., 09/19/12, Deb and I had our annual Life Line Screening medical examinations at Mount Vernon Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mount Vernon, WA. The screening tests we completed included: Stroke/Carotid Artery Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Osteoporosis, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Atrial Fibrillation, 6 for Life Health Assessment, Complete Lipid Panel, and Glucose (blood sugar). Since Deb and I do not have Tri-Care for Life Medical Benefits (Retired Military Benefit) until I turn age 60 in August 2020, it is very important that we get annual medical screenings.

Note 2: During this week we went out for dinner three times with our good friends K. & Kamla S.. On Sun., we went to Paso del Norte Family Mexican Restaurant in Blaine, WA; on Tues., we went to India Gate Restaurant in downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada; and on Weds., we went to Asian 1 in Bellingham, WA. Once again we had great dining experiences all three evenings. We were sad to say goodnight to K. & Kamla S., but we will see them on two more adventures before we say farewell to Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

Note 1: On Thurs., 09/20/12, we attended the Vacation International Annual Meeting of Owners at 6:30 P.M. at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, in the West Building Auditorium, Room W404 in Kirkland, WA.

Note 2: On Mon., 09/24/12, Deb and I went to the Skagit Valley Casino Resort which is only about 1˝ miles away from our motorcoach. Once at the casino, we joined the Rewards Club and we both got $5.00 cash each which we then used to buy a late lunch/early dinner in the Market Buffet: Senior Mondays (Rewards Club Members 50 & Over). Since we were both Rewards Club members, we got our All-You-Can-Eat Buffet meals at a discount price; Don's meal cost $5.95 (actually $0.95 with rewards cash) and Deb's meal cost $6.93 (actually $1.93 with rewards cash). The buffet was very good and included Smoked Salmon, Baked Chicken, Meatloaf, Liver & Onions, and Polish Sausage Links, as well as all kinds of other great side dishes, soups, salads, desserts, and tea/coffee/soda. The food was great and Deb and I enjoyed our frugal dinning experience.   

Note 1: On Tues., 10/02/12, Deb and I went to the Swinomish Casino & Lodge which is only about 4 miles away from our motorcoach. Once at the casino, we joined the Player's Club and we both got $5.00 cash each. Deb then used our $10.00 cash to win an additional $20.00 playing penny slots. We then ate dinner in the Two Salmons Café: Boomin Tuesday Buffet (Rewards Club Members 50 & Over). Since we were both Rewards Club members, we got our All-You-Can-Eat Buffet meals at a discount price; both of our meals cost $3.99 each which came to a grand total of $8.21 with tax. The buffet was very good and included Smoked Salmon, Baked Chicken, Corned Beef, and Baked Ham, as well as all kinds of other great side dishes, soups, salads, desserts, and tea/coffee/soda. The food was great and Deb and I enjoyed another frugal dinning experience. 

Note 1: Both going and coming we rode on BC Ferries from Tsawwassen, BC to Swartz Bay, BC. The cost of the ferry was $80.40 CAD going and $97.90 CAD coming. The scenery on the ferry ride is absolutely stunning.

Note 2: On Weds., 10/03/12, we ate dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory and Thurs., 10/04/12 we at dinner at Victoria Harbour House (Steak & Lobster); both restaurants are located in Victoria, BC. Our dinner guests were our friends K.S. & K.S.. Once again, this was another "eating experience" with great food, good company, and surrounded by beautiful scenery in Victoria. Also, on Thurs., 10/04/12, we visited The Fairmont Empress Hotel where we relaxed for a couple of hours and enjoyed the architectural beauty of this world famous hotel.

Note 1: On Thurs., 10/18/12, we attended the 2012 WorldMark Annual Owner Meeting at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA. From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, we mingled with other WM owners, attended an Owner Education Class, and learned about new resorts and existing resort renovations. Starting at 2:00 P.M., we attended the Annual Owner Meeting to hear the latest and greatest about our club, hear speeches from the Board of Director Candidates, and then cast all of our votes for Board of Director Candidate Matthew T. Shiner.

Note 2: On Fri., 10/19/12, at 6:00 P.M., we attended the Seattle Gathering of Owners (SEAGOO) and a potluck dinner held by the WorldMark Owners, Inc. (WMO) in the WorldMark Seattle at The Camlin.

Note 1: On Fri., 11/09/12, we ate dinner at Las Maracas Restaurant in Ocean Shores, WA. Deb and I order the Fajitas for two which consisted of chicken & beef grilled with peppers & onions, spanish rice, refried beans, and & flour tortillas. The food was very good, good service, & nice atmosphere.

Note 1: On Mon., 11/12/11, Deb and I walked over to Chance A La Mer State Park which is only a couple of blocks away. We had a nice stroll on the beach and enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather.

Note 1: On Mon., 11/19/12, we ate dinner at the Lucky Dragon Restaurant in Ocean Shores, WA. The food was delicious with good portions and decent prices. Then we went out to see the movie The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2. We enjoyed the entire 5 movie saga, but this final movie was our favorite of the bunch. Deb and I had a great date night!

Note 1: On Thurs., 11/22/12, Deb and I enjoyed a very nice Thanksgiving dinner consisting of Turkey and all the fixings at the club house of Thousand Trails Long Beach before we drove over to WorldMark Long Beach which is less than 3 miles away.