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