Just some observations of Canada

I've noticed in our travels of Canada a few things. The beauty is amazing. High green mountains and blue skies and waters, wildlife is abundant and BIG. Things are hard for people in remote places, which fall over into AK. There are many small towns with hundreds of miles in between with less conveniences that we in the lower states take so for granted. For example even my soda fountains...Canada people look at us like why would we even want such a thing? The Internet is a hit and miss thing, cell phone reception and tv are also hard. Our wants and needs differ so much from the way we get used to living. The way of life is so basic and "simple" in most of the remote places we've been wether in Canada or AK, yet not necessarily "easy" in fact I would say, most are quite hard. We stayed in the parking lot of the church in Whitehorse, a couple came to water the lawn and eventually mow it. It was a big job and so we offered to water it and keep it going thru the night as they live 20 miles out of town. They have been "taking care of the building, lawn" for the last 10 years! That's no pay and very little thanks. after awhile, I think after someone has just quietly been doing something, we just expect that it has been getting done...anyway, they told us alittle of their everyday lives in Whitehorse. In the winter they start getting snow in Oct. it will stay and start accumulating by the end of Oct. and they won't have any melting until May. It isn't anything for them to get -60 and -40 is normal for most of the jan-march months. How many ways can you say Brrrrr, C O L D!! So may thur oct they work as hard and as long as they can when the sun is shining! They said sometimes they get into bed at midnight and think they are hungry, then they think back to the last time they ate something?? Most times they have only had a granola bar as they walk by the kitchen! They have animals and live on a small farm so they might be alittle different but even the people in Fairbanks that live in the town talk about living in the "bush" and how you get things done in the summer when the sun is shining! 

Skagway is such a cute town, as is, Haines and Juneau. They have to be hardy people to stick it out year round. I used to think that living in Silverton would be hard, let me now voice that there are degrees of HARDY I never even dreamed of! but the biggest lesson I have learned is service must be done and gratitude must be shown! I am stepping up my gratitude and service as of yesterday! ;)

Another thing that I want to write about...on our way to Whitehorse, we stopped at alittle campground that is free. It was by a lake and they even had a big sign by the lake with life vests that said something about kids don't float, borrow one of these vests and put it back when you are done...what a great idea! Anyway, when we drove in to set up for the night there were 3 young men there on bikes. We talked to them alittle and learned they were from Sandpoint, ID. One is a teacher and had roped his 2 friends into riding to Prudhoe Bay, AK for a fund raiser for a food/backpack program for his students. Anyway, as we were cleaning up our dinner dishes, I thought of those young men out in their tents and what they had been eating along the way and went and asked them to come have breakfast with us in the morning. When we got over to their camp, there were 2 of them already in their tents and the other was sitting at the picnic table. They had been eating dehydrated food and peanut butter and were very excited to be invited to have sausage, hash browns, eggs, and toast in the morning. The 2 in the tent voiced loudly, thank you Ma'am that would be so great! So then I asked why 2 tents with 3 guys? They laughed and said that was a story they would tell us tomorrow... During breakfast, they shared this story, as best I can tell it...

Mac( the school teacher) was riding point, Jordan's bike had had some problems so he and Gabe were back out of sight of Mac as he kept riding. As Mac was riding, he "heard/felt" heavy breathing so he turned to see a BIG DOG riding beside/behind him...wait! Not a DOG but a WOLF! Then the wolf started biting at his back pack on his bike, so he pulled out his bear spray, sprayed him as best he could while he rode as FAST as he possible could! The wolf shook his head and slowed a bit but then kept coming and biting his pack. This went on for awhile, cars driving by him, taking photos! Mac said the only thing he could think of why the cars wouldn't stop to help him was they were also thinking,

DOG. Anyway, finally a RV pulled up and swerved in front of him trying to get the wolf away and so Mac threw down his bike and ran for the RV. He got to the door and it was locked...there was a couple inside, the man as driving and the wife was videoing this amazing scene...anyway, they got the door opened for him and the wolf had gotten the pack shredded open along with his tent and the RV had actually driven over his tent poles trying to help him! The wolf stayed there tearing open all he could get to. A few more cars then stopped to see and a woman with a water bottle threw it at the wolf's head and nailed him and then he left... Everyone gathered themselves up and still Jordan and Gabe haven't caught up with Mac and know nothing has happened. Some of the cars stopped by them and told them what had happened in a short version and Jordan was like, "cool did anyone get any pictures? " not realizing how it had really been...as the two of them kept  riding  they start seeing the remains of poles and scraps of back pack and then hope that Mac is okay...they said when they finally get there the RV drives off and the 3 of them gather themselves together to start back on the ride, Mac is still alittle nervous the wolf can return and wants to get the heck out of there! Jordan seemed to be less of an experienced rider and he said that Mac was  so full of adrenaline that he rode like a possessed man! He said he was hoping he slowed down soon...this was quite the adventure! They were so very blessed and we were so blessed to have met these fine young men. I guess the woman that video'd the whole thing has already posted it on you tube but Mac has a site that he is using for his kids and so he said we could look at it all there. ( you can also donate to his kids program as well) we haven't been able to see it yet but can't wait to do so. POINT TO BAY, full bellies, full minds is the title of his charity. "A charity bicycle tour from Sandpoint, ID to Prudhoe Bay, AK benefiting The Sandpoint Backpack Program." Mac Hollan.  

www.pointtobay.com

Yesterday we were on a ferry, "Fjordland Express" owned and operated by a family for the last 25 years. The captain, Glen was also the father of Anna, the deck hand, waitress, and tour guide assistant. Their boat was shiny and bright tho older. There wasn't a spot that needed paint or cleaned. The windows sparkled so you could see out. Captain Glen dropped us off at Juneau for 4 hours, and picked us back up, he welcomed us back on board and said well, what did you all do and see.? I know what I DIDN'T do, windows or cleaning, Anna does that very day, twice a day...WOW!!! She had just finished her first year at a university in CA. This is her 5th year of " getting paid" for working on the ferry with her Dad. What a team they were! Anna said that her 10 year brother works with them as will, but he wanted to sleep today. The mom orders and does the bookings and bookkeeping. I told Craig what a great way to raise your family and teach them how to work and responsibilities. Work is a joy and a blessing in our lives! Being raised by goodly parents and learning to serve others with the knowledge of good hard work, brings us JOY!

We are heading out of Whitehorse and on our final leg toward home. The JOY of having this experience and all the wonderful people that have touched us is awesome, life changing!