Day: 104
Mile: 11,118
We are 104 days into our Alaska adventure. We spent the last two days in a KOA campground in Galesburg East/Knoxville, IL just west of Peoria, IL. We have traveled over 3,000 miles in 12 days, and we are tired. We decided to spend two nights here to rest and regroup before we head for Indianapolis, where we will see many friends and family. It seemed like a good time to reflect on what we have experienced.
First, driving over 11,000 miles has its challenges but it is so worth the rewards. We believe it is an immersive experience that you can’t get if you fly or take a cruise ship.
We saw the landscape change and experienced the changes in weather. The days got longer and the nights shorter, as we traveled further north,` influencing our circadian rhythms.
One thing that surprised us was how alone we felt traveling in British Columbia and Alaska. It was as if the entire place was there just for us to explore and enjoy. Of course there is a reason for this in Alaska. The population of Alaska is 733,536, which is less than the population of Indianapolis, with a surface area of 665,384 square miles. That’s 1.2 people per square mile. No wonder many times we were all alone on the roads.
We did meet many wonderful, interesting people who shared their travel stories, provided important travel information and gave us gifts of almonds, fresh caught salmon and halibut, and jars of smoked rock cod. We even got a book with the title, “When You Give a Bunny a Beer.” (Long story for another time.)
I loved discovering new plants and learning their names. I used a feature on my iPhone that identifies plant names from a photo.
Below are just a few specimens from left to right: Buffalo Gourd (growing along the road in New Mexico), Fireweed (growing along the road in Alaska), Great Horsetail (growing along the edge of the woods in Oregon) and Chinese Globeflower (growing in front of the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, AK.)
The Greyhawk did great; no broken windshields, flat tires, or broken axles. We did go through gallons of windshield cleaner, but we never ran out of gas. We had two “check engine” lights but Gary was able to take care of them with a new fuel filter and a quick stop at a Ford dealer. The refrigerator freezer kept our salmon and halibut frozen rock hard. We had room for guests and cooked some amazing meals in the camper or over an open fire. At the moment, I am having a hard time envisioning not living in this cozy space.
We didn’t read or play music as much as we hoped but one book we used every day was the the Mile Post. It is every Alaska travelers bible and a very important book to have when you don’t have cell service. The Mile Post logs every mile of the highways in Alaska and British Columbia with details on available gas and food, turnouts, brake checks, camping areas, and special cautions. You do, however, need a degree in acronyms to understand it completely.
One last observation; clean bathrooms and hot showers are a wonderful luxury. Although the Greyhawk has a shower, it’s small and we chose to use it as storage for dog food and the clothes hamper. Most campgrounds had shower and laundry facilities, however, not all were “user friendly”.
As I am reading over this post, I realize it may sound like a final farewell. It’s not. We are not home and have over 200 miles to Indianapolis. I will post one more time when we arrive back in Waynesville, NC. I would like to thank you all for following our amazing journey. You have all been so supportive and the blog has helped me feel close to everyone we left in the lower forty-eight.
CORRECTION: My dear friend Kurt pointed out that I miss used the word boarder in my last post. Even my human spell checker didn’t catch it. So please forgive my error. To prove I know the difference here are the two words used in a sentence: “At breakfast the bedraggled boarder told us she crossed the border at Willow Creek.” Whoo…sounds like the beginning of a mystery.
Comments
3 responses to “Rest and Reflection”
What an awesome trip you have had. We so appreciated the opportunity to share it with you through your creative blogs. Thank you!
Have a great time in Indy and slide into home plate with loving friends to greet you. ❤️❤️
What an awesome trip you have had. We so appreciated the opportunity to share it with you through your creative blogs. Thank you!
Have a great time in Indy and slide into home plate with loving friends to greet you. ❤️❤️
Many people long for experiences like you have had, but only a brave and free-spirited person can pull it off. You two have made it happen through careful planning and the excitement of exploring. I’m so looking forward to hugging you and hearing about how your journey has forever shaped your life henceforth. ❤️