Moose Creek Lodge, Yukon Territory, Canada

In August 2007 I went on my first tour of Alaska. The land package covered a lot of territory in mid-Alaska and some of the Yukon Territory and British Columbia in Canada. One of the interesting stops we made was at the Moose Creek Lodge in the Yukon Territory. It is a welcome respite from the loneliness of the North Klondike Highway, which passes through a lot of pristine wilderness. Moose Creek Lodge is a well-known roadhouse, offering a rustic restaurant and cozy cabins. There is a small Trapper’s Cabin museum and a gift shop with local handicrafts. (Enough advertising, now for some pictures.)

DSC_0097 by David Casteel, on Flickr (main building and gift shop—the old truck is an artifact)

DSC_0096 by David Casteel, on Flickr (another view of the moose caricature)

DSC_0088 by David Casteel, on Flickr (a seat with moose antlers—here with me in it)

DSC_0086 by David Casteel, on Flickr (directional sign—note the live raven on top) Don't know why rotated.

DSC_0087 by David Casteel, on Flickr (log building)

DSC_0089 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Dining Room—we ate lunch there)

DSC_0090 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the cabins)

DSC_0091 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Trapper’s Cabin museum)

DSC_0092 by David Casteel, on Flickr (interior of Trapper’s Cabin)

DSC_0094 by David Casteel, on Flickr (interior of the Trapper’s Cabin—not a very good dummy)

DSC_0095 by David Casteel, on Flickr (bathtub in the Trapper’s Cabin—no running water!)

DSC_0098 by David Casteel, on Flickr (interior of the Gift Shop)

DSC_0100 by David Casteel, on Flickr (old wood stove in the main building)

DSC_0099 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Snack Bar)

A bit of history of the town of Essex, Montana

Essex is a small railroad town located 60 miles east of Kalispell Montana, and bordering Glacier National Park and the Great Bear Wilderness Area. But at one time, Glacier National Park was supposed to have a south entrance in Essex.

The Addison Miller Company banked on that when they contracted with the Great Northern Railroad to build and operate a hotel and lunchroom on railroad land. However, World War II threw a kink in plans and soon Essex went from future tourism hotspot to a trainyard in a spectacular location.

The Izaak Walton Inn was built in 1939. It took twelve carpenters three months to complete.

After being named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, the Inn underwent a major renovation that added bathrooms to every guestroom in 1995.

The Vielleux family owned the hotel until 2006, when the current owners, the Kelly family, purchased it and kept its reputation alive as a unique getaway for railroad buffs, families, and nature lovers.

The Inn maintains its railroad roots, supporting an ambiance of railroad relics and memorabilia. Including the historic cabooses and flagship diesel locomotive converted into beautiful, surprisingly modern cabins.

Here's a couple of the railroad cars and their current use as vacation rentals!

I posted this picture that got 0 comments a few days ago and only 39 views and I thought maybe the topic title was too misleading. And then again it may be of 0 interest. But I'm posting again in case it was the first reason. I was at my usual conservation area in an area where there were many birds hoping to get some in flight pictures when I got a glimpse of something swimming to the bank. I walked over quietly and saw this mink standing up behind some weeds. I wish it hadn't been behind the weeds but at least I got a clear shot of its head.

Prague, Czech Repuplic in 2015

In 2012 the secular chorus I sang with toured Europe, and in 2015, my church choir also made a concert tour of Europe -- one of the cities both groups visited was Prague in the Czech Republic. I have previously posted sets of the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, so will not repeat that venue in this set. This will be photos of other sights in Prague. First, a little background.

Known as Praha, Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, and the major economic and cultural center of the country. The historic city center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Among the many landmarks are the Ckarles Bridge (Karlův most), the Vltava River, the castle of Hradčany (Prague Castle), Wenceslas Square, and many churches. It has been called the “city of a hundred spires”.

It is also well known for its culture: composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, and Leoš Janáček were popular figures. Author Franz Kafka’s works are also linked to the city.

And now for some pictures.

DSC_0147.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (The Archbishop's Palace at Hradcanske square)

DSC_0122.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (Čechuv Most – Svatopluk Cech Bridge)

DSC_0284.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (Church Of Our Lady Before Tyn)

DSC_1586-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (Church Of Our Lady Before Tyn)

DSC_0222.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Old Town Hall)

DSC_1589-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (detail of the Old Town Hall)

DSC_1541-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (St. George Basilica)

DSC_1555-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (Clock tower of the Czech Geologic Survey building)

DSC_1558-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (blowing huge bubbles near the National Gallery)

DSC_1560-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (eagle image on side of a building)

DSC_1562-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (part of the Charles Bridge)

DSC_1563-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (about to climb the stairs to the Charles Bridge)

DSC_1575-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (statues of Saints Norbert of Xanten, Wenceslas and Sigismund on the Charles Bridge)

DSC_1573-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (The Franz Karka Museum, from the Charles Bridge)

DSC_1579-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (statue of Charles at the Charles Bridge)

DSC_1580-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (Hotel Aurus)

DSC_1587-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (St. Nicholas Church)

DSC_1584-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (flowers on the street)

DSC_1591-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the many mimes)

DSC_1565-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (an old Ford on the street)

DSC_1559-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (old touring car on the street)

Prague pano-2.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (panorama from the Prague Palace)