THE NORTHERN JOURNEY

1. It all started with a Focus

Whose locks would not open?

Granny was sure that things had gone bogus

Alaskan vacation plans now broken

(Possible) Chorus:

So they sang this song

Gramps, Granny, Lori and Rick

As Truck pulled RV along

The kilometers passed so quick

2. In Vernon, Granny shouted out loud:

“Where is my medication and makeup now?”

This panic soon raised a cloud

“What options would this crisis allow?”

3. “Call Tam, it must be on my bed

Package the case, send it by bus”

No worry, let us keep our head

It will be picked up in Rupert by us

4. To Shoppers Drug Store, for a temporary fix

“We can call Tam in due time”

The good and the ugly will mix”

This sure adds to this rhyme.

5. Shoppers did the trick

In time all good chips fall

Then Granny yelled “I’m going to be sick!”

Below feet was the case and all.

6. Information was always a need

Nona was easiest to text

Always eager to do the deed

“This is it, what’s next?”

7. It was a toast in ‘George as Rick spoke

“It’s been a great trip to date”

Robot camera flashed as the table broke

This rhyme is too hilarious to relate.

8. The girls’ option was a Casino itch

The boys chose breakfast as a need

Lori had that feeling and struck it rich

Rick dragged her away from greed

9. We pensive  on the “Highway of Tears”

Soon we arrived at Smithers town

Billboards all warn of hitch-hiking fears

Our “crew” burned another table down

10. Twin Falls was a sight to see

Moricetown Fisherman had knowledge

Bulkley River rushing through to the sea

A First Nations and net on the ledge

11. Hazleton provided First Nations history

A wholesome story did unfold

To us “immigrants”, this irony

A true Canadian story was told

12. In Kitwanga weathering totems stand

Defiantly recording a way of life

A culture now guests in their land

Once proud people living in strife

13. “Collector of Rivers” this Skeena stream

Carrying Salmon to their mission

Replenish the food chain dream

And ensure ecological vision

14. Warned at Lakelse Hot Springs not to stay

Better a campground near Kitimat

Rio Tinto continues to this day

Fifteen hundred construction jobs their stat

15. Native drums keep up their beat

Endridge offerings are not their line

Ecological insurance they cannot meet

Short time wealth will not be fine

16. The road from Terrace to Rupert is now great

Mountain competing with river, railway and pavement

As they battle for location and alternate

Granny and Gramps recall all was betterment

17. The rain got Gramps to recall

Those times in ‘Sixty-three

Miller, Ross, Holloway and all

With their pulp mill history

18. “Oh I’ve been from Maine to Prince Rupert

And Rupert is the best now you hear

‘Cause that is where the annual rainfall

Is ninety-six inches a year”

19. An aging Port Edward Fish Cannery

First attracted our attention

Once operated with work station misery

Now all robotic invention

20. Gramps was nostalgic

As he entered ghostly pulp mill gates

A billion dollar decay was no logic

But Pulp was below economic rates

21. Ridley Island is all modernization

Conveyors, cranes loading coke and grain

Container traffic serving the nation

Four thousand jobs at Rupert the gain

22. The attraction was Chances Casino

Irresistible to the culpable four

Like hopes of another El Nino

Into their pockets winnings would pour

23. Gramps aching shoulder and back

Caused Lori a Masseur to call

She connected to a Thai attack

Dim lights, magic rubbing ointment and all

24. The ferry to Ketchican Town

Brought us to port from sea

Welcome was a tempest renown

We wish that you all could see

25. Pitching canopy was a challenge

We considered a downtown motel

Perseverance and we did manage

This deluge like music from hell

26. Ricky was correct in his plan

The sun did come out next day

Then a delightful tour of Ketchikan

World’s Salmon Capital they say

27. An overnight ferry to Juneau

With expectations galore

Exploration adds knowledge we knew

North American love will soar

28. Juneau welcome was cool and wet

Stalking Rick was the Owner’s daughter

In record time camp was set

In zoomed Elephant “Skeeters” for slaughter

29. Cruise ships by the double and more

Granny and Lori just could not wait

To jostle Tourists in every store

Find discounts on diamond aggregate

30. Bountiful trees but wood a high cost

Gramps and Rick concocted a scheme

Scouting everywhere, we thought we lost

Then we became a Woodcutter’s dream

31. “Tattoo” was introduced with “Mr. Biz” his dog

Along with silent helper named “Woodsy”

“Fifteen dollars a barrow”, he split the log

Dry wood promise was “hoodsy”

32. We did get our fill of crab

But it came at quite an expense

Twenty-five dollars a leg, quite a grab

In Juneau to hell with pretence

33. Many attractions and glaciers abound

Such beauty was there for all to see

“Golden streets” and mountains around

All coming from “Gold Rush” history

34. We boarded ferry at a quarter to six

At Nine hours and a half we were still in port

The electrical they needed to fix

So the ferry became our resort

35. Skagway entry was wet and late

A stray guide humored us at crib

Pullen Camp was slow at the gate

German Tourists were very glib

36. Three cruise ships was their competition

Lori and Granny, determined to endure

That Skagway shops will hold no repetition

Special deals would theirs for sure

37. “Keep family dry”, as Gramps drove the truck

Up and down streets and everywhere

Returning to camp, down on his luck

And flattened Rick’s solar light there

38. Red Onion Saloon was party time

German Tourists aswim in their beer

Granny’s Margarita not enough lime

Wall decor showed saucy ladies here

39. Gold panning courses not to forget

“Swirl sand and find the gold”

A Sourdough taught the pan to set

“Shiny stuff in the pan valley will hold”

40. Skagway gave us another thrill

Water rose up to Granny’s cot

It was running in the toilet still

Having no shitter was stress a lot

41. Road to Canada Customs just amazing

A display of Earth’s early creation

Chilkoot Pass foiled men and their gold crazing

Yukon Gold was the early sensation

42. Lakes and rivers so crystal clear

At Carcross a surprising desert stands

Hard to believe that we were here

This marvel built with God’s hands

43. Alaska Highway to mile eighteen after nine

A modern city of Whitehorse appears

Northern Center, to service many mine

Urban designs beyond its hundred years

44. Dawson City under Northern Lights

A struggle to build on frozen ground

Cameras were ready for all the sights

Memories of boisterous miners abound

45. Home to Robert Service and all his odes

“Cremation of Sam McGee at Lac Labarge”

These will last longer than the “Mother Lodes”

Contribution to culture, very large.

46. Visiting with Leah and Allan

Enjoyment in their culinary delights

His creations are that of Artisan

There were many other sights

47. Alaska Highway winds its way

To Watson Lake where many a sign

People around the world have their say

And now White Man’s totems dot sky line

48. Laird Hot Springs are really hot

A setting in nature to behold

To the top end, Gramps gave it a shot

Celsius fifty plus two is not cold

49. We did see a Bear or two

Some Sheep we did also meet

There was a lonely Cariboo

Posted warnings: “Animals do not treat”

50. A Bison bull was of interest

He was following his calf and cow

Itchy places put him to the test

Testicle pictures we do have now

51. Lori pined to sight a moose

There on wooden sidewalk to the “Pools”

A young bull stood with his lip so loose

“What did you expect you fools?”

52. Gramp’s birthday was with candles and cake

Seventy years and two to celebrate

It is the little joys of life that we take

“Thanks to the family”, he did state

53. Expecting a “mountain that folded”

So we kept up our watch

Crust of the Earth was molded

This Work of Nature hard to match

54. Gramps said “I saw it before

Beside highway it stood

Populated by goats and more”

This mountain became his lore

55. Memory loss is hard to take

Gramps had his pride to suck

Admitting he made a mistake

Losing mountains is tough luck

56. Nelson and John are two Forts

We really cannot say much

Oil and Gas, and energy of all sorts

Muskeg, stunted trees and such

57. Dawson Creek located at Mile Zero

Alaska Highway here did start

Workers were many a hero

This construction idea was smart

58. Tumbler Ridge was quite a surprise

Company town it is design ahead

To use nature as a disguise

For beauty in urban spread

59. Quintette is getting ready to begin

And so Menno drove us a mile up

Where Mammoth machines will dig in

Ancient coal seams to disrupt

60. The Markins, Patricia and Jane came

To Chetwynd where we visited and ate

Friendship and love was all the same

They also have much on their “plate”

61. Mountain Sheep were there at Merritt

Very adept at climbing rock walls

Two rams picture posing, and knew it

Gramps hollered “Rick get his balls”

62. Princeton, is where Gramps had to sing

It became the last camp for us

Kootenay Men’s Choir voices did ring

The people joined us in the chorus

63. All stories will come to an end

Twenty and five days with no quarrel

All egos needed to bend

And there is the moral

Draughted and written during the itinery that started July 25 and ended August 18, 2012 with Granny and Gramps Verigin and Rick and Lori Woodhouse. Reviews received from Lori and Granny. Last edit February 06, 2013 by EWV