Chapter 14 - "The heavens declare..."

That’s right, the alarm went off this morning at 4:10 AM. Had to have the motorhome to the ferry by 5:00 AM. After packing up (no big deal!), and driving to the ferry, we had a couple of pastries while we sat and waited for loading time. When we arrived here in Juneau it was dark. As we leave this morning it is light and the scenery we missed on the way here is simply incredible. I know I keep using that word, but it describes clearly what we have been seeing day after day on this trip. As I type this we are heading off to Haines (AK), home of the world’s largest eagle population. It’s hard to describe how incredible this part of the ride is. I only wish you each could be here to enjoy this with us. I’m reminded of Psalm 19:1 as we relax with God’s work evident all around us. It says in that verse, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” How true that has been for Janet and I on this trip. Looking out the front window on the ferry from where I am sitting right now, are white-capped mountains on three sides of us. Some of these ranges stand tall, stretching for miles, surrounded

by crystal blue water. Here in the middle of the Tonga National Forest you feel a peace and calmness that is difficult to explain.

5 hours later. Remember I talked about visiting Haines, home of the world’s largest eagle population. Well, I am sorry to report that they must have all gone off to their national convention, wherever that may have been, as Jan and I saw ZERO of them at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve earlier this afternoon. The drive from Haines to where we are staying tonight at the Million Dollar Falls, some 90 miles north of Haines, AK, was quite different than anything we had experienced so far on the trip. Today we went through some rather rugged terrain in both British Columbia and the Yukon Territories while climbing once again up into the mountains. At times we saw no trees and little indication of any sort of habitation. Barren mountain sides, and bare fields dotted the terrain. Much of the time it seemed more black than green as we drove through this area. The only thing

that seems to have remained the same are the wonderful mountain rivers that we often follow as we climb or descend these mighty mountain passes.

Slowly things did seem to brighten up and eventually we came across this wonderful little campground with a roaring waterfall not terribly far behind our campsite. What’s unusual about the waterfall is that it seems the water is green as it flows over the edge. Tomorrow we head out further into the Yukon Territories.