Life on the Alaska Marine Scenic By-Way

Today we docked at our destination, Haines, AK. The trip on the ferry, Columbia, was wonderful. The crew was competent and friendly, and everything was neat and clean. We were surprised that the inside decks were carpeted. The showers and restrooms were kept in spotless condition. People of all ages were on the boat. We met many friendly and interesting people. There were 250 cabins, but because we had not reserved in time, we slept in our tent all three nights. We were warm and comfortable, but our mattress could have been a bit thicker. Steel decks are different from camping on the ground. Also the decks vibrate a bit. No extra charge for this benefit. There were 10 others who joined us on the rear of two decks with their tents; ours was the only one that was camouflaged. Other passengers slept on plastic deck chairs in the solarium, while some curled up in recliners in the TV lounge.

We were permitted to go to our cars at every port and at times in between. Pet owners had to leave their animals in their cars or RVs. They were constantly admonished to clean up after their pets. The dogs must have had a heyday with all of the tire choices.

The food was tasty and reasonably priced. The weather was mostly cloudy and misty. However, that did not stop us from enjoying the lovely waterway. We were able to tour Ketchikan for 2 1/2 hours, but the stop in Wrangell was cut short due to some maintence problems with the ferry that delayed us mid-way. We did get to check out the garnets that had been found by the Boy Scouts and they were the only people of Wrangell who could sell them. The cities of Juneau and Petersburg (Alaska's Norway) were too far from the ferry to allow us to leave the dock area.

Would we do it again? In a heartbeat! What would we do differently? Jerry would practice pitching a new tent before getting aboard a boat and doing it in the wind. The trip exceeded our expectations. We think it was a romantic adventure. One of the highpoints of the four-day voyage was the frequent short presentations by rangers from the U.S. Forestry Service.

ALASKA: Here We Come!

Tomorrow we store our Airstream here at the Washington Land Yacht Harbor Airstream Park and drive to Bellingham, WA, which is north of Seattle. There we will drive our GMC onto the Alaska Marine Ferry and sail the Inland Passage Waterway to Haines, AK. The fee for a big SUV and two passengers is $1600. By using the ferry, we will see the beautiful coastal area, which is inaccessible by auto. As well, we will get to briefly visit four costal cities, including Juneau, the Capital. The water route to Haines cuts off 1700 driving miles from Seattle, and the highway is the same one we will be taking when we return to Seattle in early September.

We do not mean to imply that we will be on a posh cruise vessel. We will not have a room, as none were available when we registered three weeks ago. Therefore we must rough it by pitching our small dome tent on deck or by spreading our sleeping bags in the Solarium. Oh well, that's part of the adventure! Gloria has made cookies and oat bran muffins, plus we have packed lots of healthy snacks. We'll let you know how it feels to travel low budget fare. Once we get to Haines, we will drive toward Valdez, Seward, Homer and Anchorage. After that we hope to catch the train to Denali (Mt. McKinley) National Park and Fairbanks.

One of the joys of RVing is meeting new friends along the way. That probably would not happen if we were of the motel set. We first met Michael and Heysuk back at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and learned that they had recently sold their home in Fairfax County. Michael has retired from the Army and Heysuk from DOD. Next, we both happened to park at the famcamp at McCord AFB. Today we had a good time visiting them at their latest campsite at Fort Lewis. We both love being on the road but agree that one can travel the entire nation and find it hard to beat Northern Virginia as far as owning a home is concerned. We will probably meet up again in New Mexico in October.

Washington Land Yacht Harbor Airstream Park

Our good news is that Gloria is cancer-free according to her VA surgeon, and she is now back in WA State reunited with Jerry and the Airstream. While she was home, she spent most of her time keeping doctor appointments and dealing with plumbing problems. She did manage to worship at Columbia and see a few special friends. One visit included lunch with one of her favorite students, Minh Chau (aka Serena). She also enjoyed eating out with old teacher friends, Linda and Judy.

We moved from McCord Air Force Base to the Airstream Park in Lacey, where we will store our trailer while we are in Alaska for the month of August.

This Airstream park was developed 35 years ago by the Washington Unit, WBCCI, and has 193 home sites and 143 terraport sites for rallies and Airstream travelers. The founders were much younger than current residents, and the entire park, including a large, lovely clubhouse, was built by those early members. The residential lots, owned by the WA Unit, lease for $20,000, and the homes sell for whatever the market allows. Typically a home, including lot, can be obtained for around $100,000. It can be sold only to an Airstream owner. The residents are friendly and stay active. There is an exercise program in the mornings, but that is offset by frequent eating events like Saturday morning donuts and coffee and Sunday evening ice cream. There are carpool day trips to interesting places and table games nearly every evening. Bridge is held on Fridays and Mondays, and visitors are invited. Jerry won the quarter kitty the last two nights, which makes him about as popular as a mosquito in a nudist colony. Oh well! It's about time to move on; maybe they won't remember us when we return in September.

Any success we have had with Bridge belongs partly to our good friends, Lynn and Annette, who now reside in San Diego. They lived near us in Kentucky and later in Northern Virginia. It was through their patience and persistence that we learned the game. There are in Seattle visiting their daughter, Melissa, and we had a great visit and harbor view lunch with all three of them yesterday. Not many friends do we still have from 38 years ago, but these folks are special. We can still laugh about old times.

McCord Air Force Base, WA

The RV park at this base does not accept reservations. However, we rolled in a few days ago to learn from a gracious host that they had only one full hookup site available. We grabbed it. God is good!

The park is a throwback to the old campgrounds of the sixties. It is located in a virtual forest of tall (175 feet) pines with thick trunks. While it is not carefully manicured and lacks maintenance in several areas, it has many advantages. One is a weekly fee of only $70. The entire park is shady all day, and it is relatively bug free. Our fans suffice for cooling; air conditioners are not needed. Wild flowers abound, and the staff members are friendly and helpful. Just outside the park, one can gaze at amazing, snow-covered Mt. Rainier. We can ride our folding bikes on well maintained paths to nearly everything we need.

Gloria flew back home to Virginia today for several routine checkups following her bout with cancer in 2003. The long check-in lines at SeaTac Airport reminded us of how fortunate we are to be RVers. Jerry will spend the next 12 days cleaning, waxing and maintaining the rig while also enjoying the serenity of the park and the amenities of the base. One of his goals is to ride his bike at least every other day to the fitness center, which is located two miles from the famcamp. Exercise coupled with having to endure his own cooking should result in at least a six pound weight loss during Gloria's absence. Hey, don't knock hotdogs cooked in split pea soup until you've tried it. Remember the croutons!

A Blowout on Mount St. Helens

We celebrated Jerry’s birthday today by touring Mount St. Helens, the volcano which erupted on Sunday, May 18, 1980. At that time a 5.1 earthquake triggered the largest landslide in recorded world history. The north side lateral blast reached 18 miles. The ferocious force of rocks and gas killed most of the animals and plant life in its path plus 57 people. Huge trees 18 feet in diameter snapped at the base, and 240 acres of forest was completely changed in just four minutes. A column of ash rose 15 miles from the gaping crater. If you can imagine an NFL football stadium with sides 600 miles high, that is the size of a structure which would be required to store all of the debris that flowed for miles. Had the blast occurred on a work day, the death toll would have been more than 800--mostly lumberjacks. One victim was old Harry Truman, a Spirit Lake lodge proprietor, who refused to be evacuated when there were early warnings from the volcano. He was featured on national TV saying he was not worried. Regrettably, his beloved Spirit Lake was nearly filled with rushing hot debris as the water leaped 800 feet into the air. When it came back to rest, Spirit Lake was larger but much shallower. Harry should have listened—a lesson for all of us when Mother Nature decides to make a major impact on our earth with her awesome power.

Subsequent to 1980, minor eruptions continued at Mount St. Helens for the next six years. She is continuing to rebuild, and 100 years from now, our great grandchildren may be able to view a Mount St. Helens with no crater. On the other hand, she may decide to blow her top again at any time.

The day was overcast and not ideal for photography. We could only rarely see the very top of the crater. As we finished watching a dramatic video of the eruption at the last visitors center, the huge screen rose slowly to reveal a wall-sized window and the famous crater in all its glory. However, all anyone could see was the thick, white cloud that had completely engulfed the center. Everyone laughed and applauded.

Our 100 mile touring day ended with Gloria treating Jerry to a wonderful dinner at a quaint mountain restaurant overlooking a tranquil river. He even was able to enjoy one of his favorite desserts, strawberry-rhubarb cobbler alamode. Healthy eating and birthdays are usually not compatable.

Why We Love The WBCCI International Rally

Wally Byam Caravan Club International, (WBCCI) is an all Airstream Organization. Our annual rally is always held during June 27-July 4. Each year on June 1 the advance party consisting of the engineers, International Officers, and other support personnel move into whatever city is hosting our rally and lay out the areas needed for the rally. The property committee is responsible for issuing all properties, except the electric and water supplies, needed throughout the rally. Miles of wire, coils of hoses, and a host of other needed items to build a small city arrive with the advance party. We have 151 committees that are responsible for such areas as 3 amp and 30 amp power, connecting water lines, and contracting with the sanitation company that will keep our gray and black water tanks pumped. The carpenter shop, sign shop, and the post office engage in pre-rally and rally activities. There are pancake breakfasts for early workers along with many social activities to include bus tours, indoor games, golf, and outdoor games.

Airstreamers are generous. Not only does our club and its members spend over 3 million dollars at a typical international rally, but we give thousands of dollars to religious organizations and other charities. We collect massive numbers of pull tabs from drink cans and donate food, books, clothing, toys and teddy bears to the needy. We also participate in a blood drive at the rally location.

Our members love gadgets, so vendor booths are always a big hit during the rally. The newest Airstreams are available for drooling and for sale. Like any other community, there is a need for security, parking, traffic control, CB Club (information and network control). Contests are numerous as units compete for best newsletter, directory, history book, bulletin boards, etc. Individuals compete in games, art, photography, quilting, horseshoes, and crafts. WBCCI is a patriotic club, so there are several flag ceremonies, especially as the rally begins and ends. Every night there is a big entertainment show in the arena culminating in a parade on July 4. The grand finale last night proved that Elvis is alive and well. He and and "Buddy Holly" put on quite a show. It was fun dancing to their music.

It is with a bit of sadness that the international rally has ended for this year. Our people are heading in many different directions--some to other rallies and caravans. As for us, we are driving north to Mount St. Helens.

Happy Birthday Wally Byam!

Wally Byam was born in Baker, OR on July 4, 1896. He was meant to build travel trailers. He camped as a young boy while leading an Oregon mule train with his grandfather. He soon became a shepherd, living for months at a time in a mule cart with his camping gear. That connection with his later life is obvious. Even then he must have known there was a better and more interesting way to travel. He eventually completed law school but shunned the profession. He would become a magazine publisher, an experience which would help him later publicize his beloved Airstreams and international caravans. In about 1928 Wally published plans for building a $100 travel trailer in Popular Mechanics. Complete plans sold for $5.00. In 1931 he opened a manufacturing plant to build the Torpedo Car Cruiser. The Great Depression never stopped him. By the end of it every trailer company (300) in the U.S. went broke except Airstream. In 1935 Dr. Norman Holman purchased Wally’s plans and built a trailer out of scrap wood and metal. That Airstream is still on the road, and the late Dr. Holman’s son brought the famous little trailer to this year’s rally.

By the 1950s, Wally introduced a totally new concept in travel and recreation. He had become popular for his famous caravans, which he personally led. They included rigorous travel trailer trips to Canada, Central America, Africa and China. When the Airstreams got stuck on the primitive roads, Wally winched them out with his Jeep. When bridges were inadequate, Wally and his fellow caravanners rebuilt them.

Modern airstreams represent an American icon. They come in many varieties with all kinds of amenities. They are used by NASA and are seen in numerous movies and TV shows. President Kennedy used an Airstream as a mobile office. Truck companies wanting to tout the towing power of their vehicles like to show them pulling “silver bullets.” Many collectors pay thousands of dollars for old Airstreams. They have their own Vintage Club within WBCCI.

Wally Byam died in his sleep in 1962 of a brain tumor; however, his name is immortal.