Wednesday, October 07, 2009

The new family member - BEN

There are always good excuses ... Bella wanted really a buddy ... especially after all my house and dog sitting ... and my friends in Atlin, Manu and Sascha really wanted to give me one of the twelve from their litter of purebred white shepherds ... so, here HE IS ... BEN


8 weeks old and just cute!


He is working on his ears ... once in a while the right one is already standing up.


And here we go ... after he was a little shy with Bella the first days, now he is thinking ...


... she is a great chewing toy. I think it is time for Bella to learn to say STOP.

Another time on the Auriol Trail - Indian summer

The Indian Summer was incredible this year ... and that's why I won't write anything underneath each pic. I was on the trail with my friend Stefanie and Erika, Martin from Haines Junction.
Unfortunately the very nice hike ended when our dogs got into a porcupine ... Bella didn't look too bad. But she had to limp for some days.
Enjoy ... although my camera didn't get the colours as beautiful as they were in nature ... but it is always like that.













As you can see, I love the mountains and was really excited about the first snow layer.

Monday, October 05, 2009

First visitor from Germany, Ulli

My friend Ulli from Germany came over to visit me and explore a little bit the area here. So we spent 9 days on the road and did a trip from Whitehorse, Kluane Lake, Kathleen Lake, Haines - Alaska with the ferry over to Skagway - Alaska to Atlin and back to Whitehorse. Although the weather wasn't that great - lot of rain - we had a really good trip and survived!!!
It was pretty difficult to choose some pics to give you an impression ... well, I hope everyone will enjoy them.


Our first night in the tent at Kluane Lake ... beautiful big lake. While I put up the tent, Ulli took care about the dinner.


At the visitor center in Haines Junction we saw a DVD how to react if you are meeting a bear in the bush and how to read its behaviour ... so here you can see Ulli practising: " It's me ULLI from Germany " to impress the Yukon bears.


For sure we went on the Auriol Trail and even for me it was a wonderful hike again with an awesome landscape!


We stayed three nights at Marko's walltent which was really great. The most popular thing for " tourists" is chopping wood.


I was a little faster but Ulli was definitely better with starting the stove!!!


The million dollar falls ... we saw just water no gold or money.


Haines, Alaska. We saw some bears in the area from Chilkoot Lake. But me pics aren't great. But we had a good evening there with no rain.


Because Bella couldn't see the real bears we showed here this one in front of the Trading Post shop in Haines.


Here a view from Battery Point to Haines.


A friend of Marko, Melina let us stay in her cabin which is still in restauration. But we had a great + dry time there.


And here Melina at work ... she was such a great help ... thank you Melina!


This old train is still running from Skagway, Alaska to Carcross, Yukon ... and it is a big tourist attraction. I haven't done it yet but it must be fun! A wonderful landscape is for sure!


On our way back we visited my friends Manu and Sascha in Atlin. They just got 3 weeks ago 12 (!!!!) puppies from their white shepherd .... so sweet!


Here is puppy mummy Manu and some of the little guys.


Puppy daddy Sascha ... very proud!


And the weather was just awesome in Atlin ... Atlin Lake without words.


Ulli and Arnd washing dishes รก la cabin style .... with a lot of fun and rock music.


Our last morning after a frosty night ... Ulli got waken up by all dogs (the adults).

Early Summer activites

This year we were really lucky with the weather during summer. We had some really hot periods. But I was working a lot too so that I haven't had that much time to explore the area ... but here are some pics from some little adventures!


Visit at Marko´s walltent ... he is having fun early in the morning.


Bella relaxing inside after she got eaten by mosquitos outside.


Me, very brave, painting the outhouse although it was hot and the mosquitos really crazy!


Tika and Bella on the shore from Kathleen Lake after a little cool bath there.


First time in Haines, Alaska ... here Bella at Battery Point where you normally can see whales ... but we weren't lucky.


And I forgot to mention ... I got a new car. It is a Volvo V 70 XC, 2001 ... I really like that car!


Still in Haines, Alaska, I got a lession from Marko in Sea Kayaking ... first on the shore ...


... then in the sea!


And I survived without getting really wet ... was great!