NORTH POLE, AK

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We were at Chena Hot Springs on Saturday and it was a waste of time, then on to North Pole,AK staying at Santa Land Rv Park check out the guys in the sled. Saw the Northern Lights around 2am. From there we went down the Richardson Hwy to Valdez and spent Sunday night. Took a 6 hr glacier cruise Monday and it was truly a gorgeous day and the cruise was great. tomorrow Sara has booked a ice climb for Worthington Glacier so we will spend another night here. Chuck is trying to get out of it so Arlin may be the one going. the top pic is Columbia Glacier. take note t you can post a comment now on my blog.

Denali bus trip

Friday we spent 6 hours on a bus that took us up into Denali National Park. Of course it was raining and we didn't see Mt McKinley (Denali) but we did see moose and caribou. After that we were on our way to Fairbanks, which is where we are now. We are still getting along in our small quarters and Chuck now knows what we mean when say we are a close family.

I DID IT!

Believe it or not I took my first flight in Alaska. We took a flightseeing tour over Denali and enjoyed it very much. We landed and walked on a glacier. It was gorgeous. I was not intoxicated or on drugs to do this (but prayer did help). As you can see we are having a great time. We spent the night in Talkeetna last night and we are in Denali now. Today is Arlin's birthday and he thinks he is special getting so many birthday wishes here in Alaska. Henry is on the cell now and Arlin has spoke with all of the kids and most grandkids. Needless to say he is wearing a huge smile on his face. Life is good!

Sunny day

We had a beautiful day here in Alaska today. Finally left Anchorage with Sara, Chuck, and their "found" luggage we traveled to Homer Spit. Tomorrow the guys are going on a fishing expedition for salmon. Not sure what Sara and I will do, maybe shopping and resting.

no bags....

sara and chuck are here..... but no luggage. lost in chicago and they told them it was too full to send on the morning flight. so much for american airlines keeping their customers first.

chuck is wearing arlin's underwear as we speak. i guess we really are on our way to becoming a close family.

This is the Jasper icefields in Jasper National Park in Canada. That is a glacier in the middle. This is the kind of billboards that you see on the Alaska highway. Take note it is not "Adult Videos" signs that you see on Hwy 70 in MO. We have seen caribou, deer, elk, buffalo, stone sheep, but no bear yet. Been traveling long days to get here and now we are in Anchorage waiting for Sara and Chuck to fly in tonight about 10:00pm.

caddy shack?

We are in Tok, AK.
We stayed in Yukon Terrority somewhere at a campground last night. During the night around 2, I heard a noise, I laid wake for about an hour, hearing it time and again. Finally I woke him up and said listen. The sound came from the top of our stove. I turned the flashlight on and spotted it at the stove, about that time a little critter "poked" its head out of the burner. (reminded me of Caddy shack movie) I let out a yell and he said be quiet. We close the lid and duct taped it close. Then I heard it again and he said turn the gas on...while that didn't work. so I got out the ant and roach spray. That work and hopefully he is gone. That was enough excitement for awhile.

Rockies

It is Saturday morning and we are at Spruce Lake RV Park. Sara came in about 1:00 this morning from Colorado Springs. She and Debbie, Paige, and Eric, will be heading to Denver airport tonight. Sara's flight leaves at midnight. And..... we are on our way to Alaska. Here is a pic of the family and Debbie's family (well part of it).

Oh no....

Sara called this morning waking us with the news about the planned terrorist attack. She was sitting at JKF airport waiting for the flight to Denver. So please keep her in your prayers as she travels by air this weekend and also on the 19th when they fly to anchorage. We are getting ready to pull out again and here is a pic of the campsite. i know you are probably thinking is that all we will see on this site is pics of the campsite... well actually the scenery has not been anything to look at. Today that will change as we are heading into Rocky Mountain National Park.

Colorado

We stayed in Kansas just outside of Topeka last night . It was 107 degrees coming thru kansas. Tonight we are in a KOA in Strasburg, CO. I am sitting outside using the internet. NEAT! Tomorrow we are meeting Sara at the airport in Denver and then on to the rockies.

TOMORROW!

Planning on leaving tomorrow by noon. We will spend a few days in Colorado and then leave there on Sunday for ALASKA! As you have heard on the news higher prices for fuel. I guess we will have to give up our bad habits, like alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling so we can afford the fuel to come back home.
I am kinda sad about leaving the grandkids for that long, but....live and let live and we have only one life to live!

time is nearing

Planning on leaving Wednesday or Thursday for...............ALASKA! Things are coming together and I think for the most part we have everything but the clothes packed. Not taking much food to start out with. According to most people on www.rv.net, at the border you will be search and all products with meat will be pitched. Probably will take about a week to get there. Our 1st stop will be Colorado to meet Sara. I almost forgot, she has put a blog for our trip. We should have internet for the most part. So keep in touch and we will try to keep you informed where and what we are doing. the site is www.thenorthernexposure.blogspot.com be sure and check it out.
This pic is our bedroom/kitchen/dining room.

Back view

This is the view of the back of the truck. Don't you agree he was very creative in making this unit. I guess the purchase of a welder a couple of years ago was not a bad idea. I thought he had the truck good to go, but.... now he said it would look level and ride smoother with air lifts. If we don't pull out soon our budget for the trip will be depleted on accessories for the truck. Men and their toys! (And he said I like my tech toys!) Oh I forgot he is putting lights on the box. The steps are made from running boards off his old 87 p/u and they do fold up.

Ring..Ring.. went the phone tonight and guess where we were? In the POOL and it felt great. Sure is nice to have a neighbor (son) with a pool. Caleb and Ethan loved having their grandpa play with them.

OK!

I get the hint Sara.... She informed me that I don't have much to say about her on here. (Jealousy) Of course living in Boston is another world so to speak and I never know what they are up to. I do know they harvested tobacco this weekend at the family farm and she got a sunburn and it is very hot in Massachussetts as well. Sara will be in her friend Sarah's wedding August 11, in Colorado. A very good possibility we will meet her on Saturday .
As you see in the pic we have the truck camper on and ready to roll... well not packed yet it all takes a lot of time. He has reworked everything so it will fit this truck. Also rebuilt a box to fit in the hitch for more storage and to store the generator. He did a great job on this!
Just give me a little notice and I can be ready to roll.