THE THOMSON SCRAPBOOK

A YEAR ON THE ROAD IN OUR MOTORHOME
June, 1991 to June, 1992

NARRATIVE OF BOOK 1

USA Map Route
Canada/Alaska Map Route Here are two maps that will show you the route we took, more or less as the maps are not detailed enough to show the actual highways.

Page 1 The beginning of our year on the road in our 27' Travelmaster Motor Home with Sam, our kitty. We drive from Columbus, OH to Saginaw, MI where we stop over and see my brother, Jim, and his wife Jan. Then on to upper Michigan over the Mackinac Bridge, across to Wisconsin and then to Minnesota. Finally, we reach the Badlands of South Dakoda.

Page 2 From the Badlands we head for Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore. Then it is on to Yellowstone National Park, one of the great wonders of the world. There is so much to see that we are there for days and still miss some parts.
Page 3 This page concludes our visit to Yellowstone and, sadly, we must leave for Canada and Alaska. But first we stop off at Glacier National Park on the boder. There are just too many good photographs of Yellowstone that it was hard to choose these shown here.

Page 4 We arrive in Baniff, Alberta, Canada, perhaps one of the most beautiful sites in Canada and an excellent example of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. One of the most impressive sites was the "Weeping Wall" on the Iceland Parkway, a high rocky cliff that allows ground water to "weep" out and down the face of the cliff, which is right next to the roadway.

Page 5 We are on our way north to Edmonton where we will start up for the Alaskan Highway to Alaska which begins in Dawson Creek. On the way we pass through another of Alberta's gorgeous scenic wonders, Jasper and travel along the Iceland Parkway. In Dawson Creek we find the start of the Alaskan Highway and head north toward Whitehorse. When we reach Whitehorse we add "our sign" to the world famous Signpost Forrest. After many days on the road we reach Alaska and immediately detour down south to Skagway where we arrive just in time for their 4th of July Parade.

Page 6 Althought the Skagwag 4th of July parada is short it is great fun to see and since there is a cruise ship in the harbor most of the passengers watch too. On the 4th we book passage on a small plane flight to Glacier Bay National Park where we will stay overnight and then take an all day boat trip into the park to see the many glaciers.

Page 7 Reid Glacier is one of the glacier we visit but everyone is waiting for the big glacier, Margerie Glacier. It is huge, must be 7-10 stores high and generally is "calving" every day.

Page 8 We leave the glaciers and return to Gustavus where the resort is for our plane ride back to Skagway and poor Sam, alone in the camper overnight.

Page 9 The train ride to the top of the mountains took about 3 hours and was really a nice ride. Lots to see on the way up and down. When we got back down we saw a new cruise ship in the harbor and it was loading vehicles, motor homes and buses. Then we left Skagway and headed north for Fairbanks.

Page 10 We finally, after 1422 miles on the Alaskan Highway, reach the end at Delta Junction, Alaska. The first stop is Fairbanks with its beautiful monument to the Eskimos and the city bell tower that play the Star Spangle Banner on the hour. After looking at a NOAA satellite we head for Chenua Hots springs to the east and, by luck, happen upon a moose that is browsing near the road.

USA Map Route Canada/Alaska Map Route	Here are two maps that will show you the route we took, more or less as the maps are not detailed enough to show the actual highways.
Page 1	The beginning of our year on the road in our 27' Travelmaster Motor Home with Sam, our kitty. We drive from Columbus, OH to Saginaw, MI where we stop over and see my brother, Jim, and his wife Jan. Then on to upper Michigan over the Mackinac Bridge, across to Wisconsin and then to Minnesota. Finally, we reach the Badlands of South Dakoda.
Page 2	From the Badlands we head for Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore. Then it is on to Yellowstone National Park, one of the great wonders of the world. There is so much to see that we are there for days and still miss some parts.
Page 3	This page concludes our visit to Yellowstone and, sadly, we must leave for Canada and Alaska. But first we stop off at Glacier National Park on the boder. There are just too many good photographs of Yellowstone that it was hard to choose these shown here.
Page 4	We arrive in Baniff, Alberta, Canada, perhaps one of the most beautiful sites in Canada and an excellent example of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. One of the most impressive sites was the "Weeping Wall" on the Iceland Parkway, a high rocky cliff that allows ground water to "weep" out and down the face of the cliff, which is right next to the roadway.
Page 5	We are on our way north to Edmonton where we will start up for the Alaskan Highway to Alaska which begins in Dawson Creek. On the way we pass through another of Alberta's gorgeous scenic wonders, Jasper and travel along the Iceland Parkway. In Dawson Creek we find the start of the Alaskan Highway and head north toward Whitehorse. When we reach Whitehorse we add "our sign" to the world famous Signpost Forrest. After many days on the road we reach Alaska and immediately detour down south to Skagway where we arrive just in time for their 4th of July Parade.
Page 6	Althought the Skagwag 4th of July parada is short it is great fun to see and since there is a cruise ship in the harbor most of the passengers watch too. On the 4th we book passage on a small plane flight to Glacier Bay National Park where we will stay overnight and then take an all day boat trip into the park to see the many glaciers.
Page 7	Reid Glacier is one of the glacier we visit but everyone is waiting for the big glacier, Margerie Glacier. It is huge, must be 7-10 stores high and generally is "calving" every day.
Page 8	We leave the glaciers and return to Gustavus where the resort is for our plane ride back to Skagway and poor Sam, alone in the camper overnight.
Page 9	The train ride to the top of the mountains took about 3 hours and was really a nice ride. Lots to see on the way up and down. When we got back down we saw a new cruise ship in the harbor and it was loading vehicles, motor homes and buses. Then we left Skagway and headed north for Fairbanks.
Page 10	We finally, after 1422 miles on the Alaskan Highway, reach the end at Delta Junction, Alaska. The first stop is Fairbanks with its beautiful monument to the Eskimos and the city bell tower that play the Star Spangle Banner on the hour. After looking at a NOAA satellite we head for Chenua Hots springs to the east and, by luck, happen upon a moose that is browsing near the road.