Category Archives: The Log

We are now staying with my brother and his wife in their lovely house in Aix. The pool is at 28 degrees and perfect for cooling down in the afternoon. But we have busy mornings before it gets too hot. … Continue reading →

After a day of air travel, we land at Lyon airport and we are picked up by my sister who lives on a 20 hectare farm in the Isère valley. We are staying in a Gîte rural, a cute house … Continue reading →

It was a Museum morning, we bought a day pass on the transit and went to the Museum district. We got a combination ticket and went into three museums in succession. We rode the bus back to the center and … Continue reading →

We walked from 9:30 to Noon and saw many of the city landmarks in overcast skies. We explore downtown in the afternoon, pedestrian streets, patios, shops and electric scooters everywhere. In an old Norwegian poem from 1870 there is a … Continue reading →

We go to the Narvik War Museum at opening. In Oslo, we are very relieved to find the way to our hotel easily on the subway.

Going back to last night, MS Polarlys did not stop at our final destination, nor in Stamsund the next stop in the Lofoten Islands. In a serious gale with gusts to 50 knots the ferry made way to Bodo across … Continue reading →

It’s pouring rain and our first stop is Harstad again, but it’s Dunnery’s turn to walk Mini. From then on, the seas have gone rougher and rougher, and for our safety, the Captain has cancelled our landing in Svolvaer which … Continue reading →

Our first stop this morning is Hammerfest, the Northernmost town in Norway. By now, you have noticed that in Norway, it’s a big deal what is Northernmost. We have encountered, the town, the village, the fishing village, the chapel… Hammerfest … Continue reading →

At 9:00 we reach the easternmost town of our trip. Kirkenes is very close to the Russian border. We have not secured visas ahead so no going shopping for cheap Vodka, caviar and food like the Norwegians do regularly, while … Continue reading →

For the first time, we wake up in fog and rain which is too bad as we had plans to hike from the ship to the top of the mountain behind Honningsvag. We have about 2 1/2 hours on land … Continue reading →

Early morning stop in Harstad, an old Swedish town. Just time to take Mini around the bush and take one picture. At 2 pm we land in Tromso for an afternoon of hiking. We uber to the other side of … Continue reading →

We are still not getting the rain that has been forecast , so we head out facing the headwinds and big gusts to explore Svolvaer. Then we drive to Henningsvaer to visit the “Kaviar Factory” expecting to see the processing … Continue reading →

We stay at Hotel Scandic Svolvaer right on the water. Our plan is to drive to the village of Å, just under 130 km and the end of the paved road south in the Lofoten islands. Car rental is easy, … Continue reading →

At 7:48 am we crossed the Arctic circle and Neptune’s cousin of the North, Njord gave us his blessing. It has actually turned much colder. Next stop is the town of Bodo. We walk 300 m to the hotel in … Continue reading →

Trondheim is our only stop today, a gorgeous town of about 150.000 people. We have just over two hours to walk around. A bit later the ship’s chef is conducting a tasting of the blue mussel. It has come fresh … Continue reading →

We have 2 quick stops at 3 and 5 am in Floro and Maloy that we did not notice in our comfortable little cabin. We are in the dog house so to speak, on the lowest deck close to the … Continue reading →

We are in Norway, in Bergen for the day. We have a short day to walk around Bergen and the pretty streets of the downtown and harbour area. We walk through the fish market and the farmers market. The highlight … Continue reading →

Today is another walking day, we are exploring Nyhavn which means New Harbour although it dates back 400 years exactly this year. And then we jump on the subway next to our hotel and get to the airport 30 minutes … Continue reading →

Early start, we are ready at opening at 6:30 for a full breakfast buffet, with everything you can imagine except fish! We spend the whole day walking around the city. Unfortunately, we can’t go in the Danish Museum of Design … Continue reading →

A long journey over two days with three flights including a red eye! Stop in Calgary is perfect, stop in Paris a little more iffy. They still do not have pet relief areas at Charles de Gaulle airport so again … Continue reading →

The air is clean and the sun is shining, we are on the way home before 7 am, as the ferries are busy on Sundays. We are lucky the line is not too bad and we get on the 1 … Continue reading →

Soon after leaving Smithers and passing Telkwa, we get into the forest fires and the smoke. The smoke is sometimes very thick and does not leave us until we reach 100 Mile House on Highway 97. Over 600 kilometers of … Continue reading →

Another great day in the North sunny with showers but getting smoky as we arrive in Smithers. We are told to expect a lot of smoke tomorrow as we go East on the Yellow Head Highway. After a walk through … Continue reading →

BC fire map and Drive BC have a warning for the Dease lake area, with an evacuation order posted and traffic restricted to single lane with pilot. We are worried about being stuck North if it gets worse so we … Continue reading →

We are going to Skagway on the 12:45 ferry, the only daily ferry. Time to linger in town, so a downtown walk is on the schedule. However, the Museum, the Hammer Museum, the Salvation Army store, the fish store and … Continue reading →

From 27 to 9 degrees in a gale, the wind is so strong that the camper is shaking. Up early we go for a 2 hour hike in Kluane Park, to Lake St Elias.  We are prepared with bear spray … Continue reading →

It’s a great day again for driving, clear blue skies and dry heat. We are going back on the same road we went West on, and it looks different. The locoweed has finished blooming and those yellows are gone. The … Continue reading →

Tonight, we have the  cute log cabin to recuperate from a little burn out which caused an itinerary change. We are saving Whittier, the Portage Glacier hike  and Valdez for next year and taking advantage of a scenic drive and … Continue reading →

The sailing back to Homer was very smooth and we are off the Tustumena promptly by 7 am with the usual efficiency, the crew is truly very professional and pleasant. We are going North stopping in Kenai, small town with … Continue reading →

After a quick stop shopping , we go for a short hike on Near Island to stretch the legs before the long ferry ride back to Homer. Then we visit the Historical Museum housed in a Magazin, the Russian word … Continue reading →

In thick fog and fine rain we head out to Fossil Beach the most Southerly you can go on a paved road on Kodiak Island. We were going to camp at Pasagshak Park but it’s just 4 or 5 sites … Continue reading →

We arrive in Kodiak city right on time at 8:15 after a fairly nice crossing, not steady enough to use the shower but smooth enough to avoid seasickness. Unloading is the reverse procedure from last night and it goes quicker … Continue reading →

We were going to water taxi across the bay to hike in Kachemak State Park for a hike to see the Grewingk glacier but at 5:20 when Dunnery woke up, it was very cloudy and foggy, and we did not … Continue reading →

Morning showers are disappointing and we cut our beach stroll Short. There are people camping right on the beach just above the tide line. It’s low tide here and the water is very far away. Unfortunately, we cannot see the … Continue reading →

It is very windy and cloudy as we drive along the shore of Cook Inlet going South on Highway 1. We soon reach the Kenai peninsula and stop briefly to look at rapids on the Kenai River, a popular rafting … Continue reading →

First thing in the morning we visit the Iditarod race headquarters in Wasilla. Beautiful, big log construction along the Iditarod trail that goes from Seward to Nome in over 1000 kms. Moments later we arrive in Anchorage after a small … Continue reading →

It is fairly clear in the morning and we only drive West a few miles on the Park Rd to see Denali in the distance. Both North and South peaks are visible although from afar they look like a monumental … Continue reading →

This is the turn around point, we are now heading South to where the nights are longer. The 24 hour daylight is exhilarating but makes it hard to get a full night sleep. Can’t help thinking it’s already morning every … Continue reading →

We are cruising the Chena River on an old sternwheeler traveling to the historic Chena River village. We happen to go past the Kennels and home of Susan Butcher, the second woman to win the Itidarod race. Mini in awe … Continue reading →

After a big rain shower, the weather is back to perfect sun and dry heat as we head to Fairbanks on the Chena Hot Springs Rd lined with wild irises of varied blue and purple colours. We are en route … Continue reading →

No driving today except to the trailhead to the Angel Rock hike close by. It’s a loop from the Chena River North Fork to Angel Rock, 3.5 miles and 900 ft of elevation. The route provides access to alpine tundra … Continue reading →

The mailbox in Beaver Creek is temporarily out of service, so no postcards from the Yukon for you guys! We have no issue at the border crossing , but we are still on the section of Alaska highway built on … Continue reading →

We have been told by the park ranger that the Williscroft creek canyon would be a nice hike, so we head over to the trailhead off a short section of unpaved road off the Alaska highway. As we arrive at … Continue reading →

We continue on the Alaska Highway with sunny skies, dry heat, and we really enjoy it as we remember the pictures from last year featuring orange and yellow raincoats and toques. The first stop is by the suspension bridge in … Continue reading →

We start the day very early, it’s been light for a long time already. As our friend Sandy pointed out, although we are past the summer solstice, our days will keep getting longer until we reach Fairbanks Alaska. Jade City … Continue reading →

Today we are driving mostly on the Cassiar highway heading North towards the Yukon. It is sunny and warm, very scenic with the snow on the mountains. And everything is very green. The lupines are just starting to bloom adding … Continue reading →

This was planned as a long day of driving so rest areas are very important. In Northern BC, there are not enough, and although a few are wonderful, most are pathetic equipped with only a garbage box and no toilets. … Continue reading →

Started on the 9 am ferry and a quick drive to Surrey to get the Sprinter serviced. We had missed the 5 week lead time required in Victoria for an appointment by 2 days. Surrey was running late but we … Continue reading →

So this it, we have arrived in Port Angeles for the early ferry tomorrow. Trip is over sadly. Thank you for following our adventures.

After a brief visit to the Outlet mall in Anderson, which has only about half a dozen stores which were totally quiet at opening, we keep on the road North. No huge discounts for Black Friday, so no big crowds … Continue reading →