We have some of the most captivating Photo Guides around, with natural skills in composition and an easy going manner in which they teach it. Joe Ordoñez, the owner of RGA, is a professional photographer himself, so that might be why he has an eye for hiring great talent. All photos on my blogs are from me (unless I'm in them or otherwise stated), and I have come along way with their help and guidance....but I know I need to learn so much more.
Want to see Haines Alaska through the lens of a professional photo guide? Check this link out....one of my favorite photo guides, Tom Ganner's Time & Space Facebook page of phenomenal photos he has taken around Haines.
Time & Space Facebook Page
We also have Artist tours, Kayaking tours, Tasting tours, Wildlife tours, Flight Seeing tours, Gold Panning tours, and Custom Made tours for those who have special requests. Some of my favorite Artists we visit on our "Off Beat Haines" tours are Dave Pahl of the Hammer Museum and The Svenson's of Extreme Dreams Art Gallery. Meeting these people gives tour guests a real feel of the kindhearted, creative yet quirky souls who live in Haines year round.
We also drive out Mud Bay road 8 miles, to visit John and Sharon Svenson at their art gallery, Extreme Dreams. The drive out there is as spectacular with flowers blooming in the sunshine as the local art they display.
I get to guide people Gold Panning at Porcupine Creek Gold Mine. We have a beautiful 34 mile drive out of downtown Haines, through the scenic American Bald Eagle Preserve. Getting to see wildlife is one of the perks on the long (but stunning) drive to the gold mine. Sometimes we see John Schnabel of the Gold Rush TV show too. If we see Grandpa John in town I will stop at the insistence of the guests so they can meet him and take photos. People really love that man, and he is happy to comply with our impromptu interruption to his daily life.
We have been visiting the Dakota Boy's Porcupine Creek Gold Mine this summer and it has been entertaining and intriguing as we see the the gold miners getting filmed for Discovery Channel's 4th Season of Gold Rush!
The Gold Rush Stars, Dakota Fred, Dustin Hurt, and Melody are inviting hosts who go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome. If they are busy working the dirt they will wave to us from their loaders. But more times than not we get to visit with them and they even take time to teach the guests how to pan for gold. Some people come on the tour think Dakota Fred is a mean guy because the TV show makes him look that way. They learn he has a fun sense of humor on this tour.
Guests say, "Wow, Dakota Fred, you are a lot nicer than I thought you would be."
He jokes with them not to ruin his "reputation" by telling people the truth.
Some people are such big fans of the Gold Rush TV show that they come bearing gifts to give to the
"Stars"...... like Big Jim from Toledo, Ohio, one of my favorite guests because his excitement at meeting Dakota Fred and seeing the place was contagious. We all became giddy with his enthusiasm - He was great!
Speaking of gifts....Dakota Fred celebrated his 70th birthday on July 10th. So I brought him donuts from Chilkat Bakery, I recited a piece of Robert Service's "Spell of the Yukon" poem for him, plus I gave him a kiss on the cheek (my trade mark pose ha ha). This time Melody helped me with the kiss - ooh la la!
It is not too late to book a cruise up in the Inside Passage of Alaska and stop into Haines where I will take you to gold pan at Dakota Fred's Porcupine Creek Gold Mine.
Contact the company I guide for (RGA) for booking tours,
Great Blog Holly - catches up on what is going on in Haines. The good stuff anyway. Makes me think there is no "bad" stuff. May that ever be the case.
ReplyDeleteNice job Holly. I miss Alaska and you!
ReplyDeletelooks like you had a great time!
ReplyDelete