Mishawaka, IN (USA)

[church]

South Bend, IN (USA)

[date uncertain - dinner with Bonnie and Kevin ?]

Mishawaka, IN (USA)

[church]

Louisville, KY (USA)

[went back to S/B ?]

Louisville, KY (USA)

[drove Cathy home...]

Alaska Trip - Epilogue

Some common quotes from the trip:

"Hey, cut that out!" - Eileen, Cathy & Jim
"I knew this would happen!" - Jim
"Where's my brush?" - Cathy
"I am so hot. Are you hot? I am!" - Eileen
"Shhhh! He/She can hear you!" - Eileen, Cathy, Jim
"Oh, sorry..." - Jim

Alaska Trip - Day 21

Stayed in hotel until noon (good sleep!). Eileen wanted to drive again, so I stayed in the back for the rest of the trip. Through Minneapolis in afternoon, Madison before dark. Chicago after all traffic was gone (yeah!). Back on I-90 all the way to South Bend. I dropped Cathy and Eileen off at the dorm and headed back to South Phillipa - home at last!

Alaska Trip - Day 20

Sleeping in rest area at 0700. Cathy didn't like the car and moved out on the grass around 0800 (with a sleeping bag). I missed the whole thing, but Eileen told me that a Trooper stopped in the rest area at 0900 and started to ask her about her intentions. "Miss, are you OK? Are you sure you are OK? It's not a good idea to sleep in a rest area - especially on the ground. There are lots of things that could happen to you! Are you sure you're OK?" I was really tired (still), so Eileen drove us over to Grand Forks after that. Visited her friend Sarah again for about an hour. She let me sleep until 1600 (that helped a lot). We went out to dinner with Sarah and her husband Tom. Left Grand Forks, ND, at 1930. Drove out on I-29 until we hit I-90 again. Drove until St. Cloud, MN (2300). Eileen called her mom while Cathy roamed around the hotel. She came back with stories about how she made friends with a drunk guy in the lobby.

Alaska Trip - Day 19

Had pancakes for breakfast in hotel. A strange man was hanging around the only phone booth we saw, so Eileen and Cathy passed on calling home. I tried to get some cash with a personal check at the Bank of Montreal - we are running out! The lady teller was not nice (that's an understatement! Isn't this Canada?) - but I got some anyway. This process, along with some shopping for supplies in Safeway, took nearly two hours. Cathy was so bored that she stood up on the hood of our car and then walked across the roof to the back! Drove towards USA on Highway 16. Took Highway 11 to Regina. In the evening, the damage that the GLC has sustained (tires, headlights, windshield) finally caught up with us. A trooper in Saskatchewan pulled me over and gave me a citation for a burned out headlight. That's a bummer. We took the wrong (I maintain it was just a "different") road and hit the US-Canada border on Highway 6 (Montana vice North Dakota). Easy crossing - I can't believe there was even anyone waiting at the little border checkpoint (it was pretty remote)! They only talked to me about what I was doing out at 2300 on the road. We caught Highway 5 in Montana, then US 52 and US 2. Finally stopped at rest stop to catch some zzz's.

Alaska Trip - Day 18

Got up and packed up tent (etc.). Eileen and Cathy wrote Glenn a thank you note. Left 1/2 hour later without showers (none available) - this was a very unpopular decision... Later stopped for bathroom - out of order. Another traveller gave us some water to pour over us - the sulfer smell of the hot springs was beginning to wear on everyone. Finally found another campsite with running water and we had a chance to finally wash hands, face and hair of the smell. Even the bug juice smells like sulfer (why?). Cathy and Eileen were much happier and started to sing Country songs. Eileen mentioned that she needed a theme for her Resident Advisor room decorations so we all started to brainstorm. Finally came up with putting ice cream cones with names on the scoops. She wants to stop somewhere (good luck!) to pick up colored paper and scissors... Took ALCAN to Dawson's Creek. Saw "Mill O" sign. Ate at McDonalds and picked up supplies for RA project. Cathy and Eileen worked on decorations in the back. Went out Route 2 to Grand Prairie and later found a dead end (oops...). Turned around and got directions at a gas station. Saw waterfall mural on side of a phone company building. Took Route 34 to Route 43 in Valley View. Later on Trans-Canada 16. Found a $50 hotel room in Edmonton. Cathy took a half hour shower - she told us this would help us get out of here early in the morning (I'll bet she wants another one anyway...).

Alaska Trip - Day 17

Woke up late (sunny/hot). Drove over to Kluane Park Visitors Center - open this time. Eileen called home. Picked up coffee and some sweet baked goods. Drove to Whitehorse, Teslin via ALCAN. Cathy got a bloody nose and started to throw a fit (she is definitely tired of the car). We stopped for ice cream and chips - that improved the mood. Met an Indian who helped us find our way in the right direction. Found a forest of road signs along the highway. Had mac and cheese for lunch at a Country/Western bar. Guys tried to pick Eileen up - grabbed Cathy by the leg - they came running back to the car. Later, they both fell asleep as I continued to drive the ALCAN. Stopped at hot springs. We took in the extremely hot water - it was not what I expected (definitely an acquired taste). Met a guy named Glenn who was going to hike up into the bush near the hot springs. He said we could borrow his campsite for the night and he left. Ranger woke us up later but when we told him about Glenn he left us alone.

Alaska Trip - Day 16

Woke up at 0500 to try to get on Denali tour. Eileen and I waited until 0730 on standby - but the place was packed and it was clear that it could take the entire day. Finally gave up and we drove up the paved road as far as it would take us. We could see some of Denali just as the clouds were lifting (0900) - lucky, I guess. Stopped at the park headquarters and explored the Denali hotel. Went back to KOA to retrieve Cathy. We took her over to the park and the weather was much better this time. You could really see the mountain. Saw caribou in the road - followed them. After we had our fill of the self-guided tour, we drove up to Fairbanks. Tried to find a bank (running low on cash) - all closed. Picked up late lunch and continued. I started to get really tired (I guess it was the 0500 wakeup), so I let Eileen drive. She took extra pains to point out that this was one of the first times that has happened. She got her fill of driving - all the way to the Alaska-Canada border (quick ride this time)... We took the Richardson Highway until it intersected with the ALCAN. Drove as far as Cottonwood on Kluane Lake. Saw half-moon over mountains in dim-lit night. Set up tent in "dark."

Alaska Trip - Day 15

Breakfast with Father Mike in Palmer. Cathy was sick - Eileen thought it was strep throat and set up a doctors appointment. It turned out to be tonsilitis! Luckily, they have a good medical plan and we got some medicine for her. We had just enough time left to drive to Denali National Park via George Parks Highway. It got really cloudy and looked like rain - stopped soon after. Eileen and I had enough daylight to hike around Byers Lake while Cathy slept (medicine). Found a KOA north of Denali - it was nice to set up the tent again. We all made phone calls. I tried Christa in Fairbanks but she wasn't home. Nice talk with her mother (again)... We had a good camp neighbor - let us borrow can opener and offered coffee (Eileen accepted). People from Massachusetts next campsite over.

Alaska Trip - Day 14

We had sourdough pancakes at the Nestrinds. Back to the cabin for cleanup and packing. Stopped off to drop off the boxes at Federal Express. Eileen and Cathy looked (in vain) for the lost purse. Picked up supplies for the drive - including a bag of "Cool Ranch Doritos." We finished the whole bag on the way up to Glenallen (via Richardson Highway). Stopped in Kenny Lake. Stopped for the evening to visit Eileen's childhood priest, Father Mike. He lives in Palmer and he took us out to dinner at a chinese restaurant. We had a scenic view of a beautiful valley from his house. He showed us slides of Mount McKinley and Denali National Park. We were going to leave for a hotel, but he insisted that we stay the night with him.

Alaska Trip - Day 13

Eileen woke up earlier than everyone today so she could clean out the family shed in the back yard. Along with the stuff we picked up at Kenny Lake, we have a huge number of boxes to ship back to Louisville! I filled up the car - I had to make more than one trip to get everything into town. We went over to some friends' house to make sure everything was ready for shipping. Eileen did some laundry and I changed the oil in the GLC (not too successfully: I spilled oil on Eileen's friends' driveway...). Cathy, Eileen and I then went back to the cabin to clean it up. You never know who will visit or stay in it someday... Eileen's friends, Brent and Brandon, brought us dinner. Other friends heard we are leaving and came by. We all walked along Mineral Creek in the dusk (2300!). Cathy went to one more party - and lost her purse.

Alaska Trip - Day 12

Eileen took me out in a boat we borrowed. It was a nice day and she told me this would definitely be a highlight of the trip - and she was right! We saw lots of sea otters, seals, kittiwakes, "Peggy's Jay" and the Shoup (sp?) Glacier. Eileen dropped me off on an iceberg nearby and got some good pictures of me standing on the ice in the middle of Prince William Sound. We took the boat back after it started to rain a little. At the pier, we saw lots of fish and other seafood that people had brought in today. We visited a few more friends in the evening and even got to watch some interesting movies of Valdez. Cathy stayed with her friends overnight again - I think this has turned out to be a fun summer vacation for her!

Alaska Trip - Day 11

We drove into town early to get Cathy and then I dropped them both off at a friend's house. I hiked along Mineral Creek and found a beaver dam. I saw an interesting hill and climbed it - I could see the whole town. Lots of critters up there. Late in the day, Eileen asked if we could drive up to Kenny Lake, where her mom and dad had a storage building. One of her friends had a pickup truck, so we got as much stuff as we could. We had pizza for dinner with Helen and visited until late. They talked about the 1964 Earthquake (it leveled Valdez) and the huge snowstorms they have had recently. Lots of photos to show that winters here are not for the timid...

Alaska Trip - Day 10

Still in Valdez. Cathy and her friends slept in late, but I went with Eileen to her church this morning. She has always talked about it, so I'm glad that we did that. It was sort of a box shaped building with odd-shaped roof. Afterwards, Eileen called home. We watched the "Goldrush Days Parade" at noon. I explored the town and even went in their little visitors center. We had time to visit with even more of Eileen's friends - it took the rest of the day. We found some bus station information for Cathy - just in case she needs to go home before we do. Cathy slept over at her friend's house again and Eileen went out to the movies with some of her school friends. I enjoyed the quiet cabin: there is no TV, no electricity and little running water - it is just like I hoped Alaska would be!

Alaska Trip - Day 9

Slept late. Eileen and I drove up to Mineral Creek. Went to see Larsons in the afternoon - they had pizza. I called Dad to tell him about the trip. Late in the day, we went back to the cabin. Cathy stayed in town for a dance at the teen center. It was around 2200 again when some students from the University of Alaska came by to see if Eileen's dad was back in town. The wanted to get information about his research and see if there were any positions available. Just after that, Cathy brought her friends Mary and Janel back to the cabin for a sleep over. I have no idea what time we finally got to sleep - it was still light out, though...

Alaska Trip - Day 8

Hard to tell what time we woke up - it is nearly always light out! Cathy and Eileen were cleaning the house. The radio was on and we heard about Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait - sounds like war for US... After breakfast, we headed into town to do laundry and get some groceries. Eileen tried her parents again - they were asleep last night. Her mom seemed pretty happy to hear the stories of our trip - none of the family have been up here for close to 6 years. Eileen got notes from her friends Annette, Tamara and Stephanie. We drove around town and stopped in to say "hi" to a lifetime of acquaintances. We had dinner and watched Annette do a show at the Cafe Valdez. Cathy went to stay with some friends for the night.

Alaska Trip - Day 7

Left early. Continued on ALCAN until we were in Alaska (only seven days!). We saw some forest fires in the distance - hope they don't hit the highway... Turned on Glenn Highway around noon and then drove down Richardson. Saw a ground squirrel at a rest stop - we fed him graham crackers and he seemed happy. Saw flickers. We arrived in Valdez around 2000 (it was still just as light as 1500). Eileen and Cathy were really excited about seeing their old cabin until we got there and they couldn't get in. It is kind of far out of town, so Eileen broke in and climbed in the window. People around here figured out that Eileen was in town and we had visitors (Brent) at 2200. He convinced us to go into town and get the nickel tour. This gave Eileen a chance to leave notes for some of her friends and call her Dad. Even though it is light out, I need to remember that people do sleep with the midnight sun...

Alaska Trip - Day 6

Cathy woke us with cries about a spider bite. Frosted flakes for breakfast - yaah! Headed out on the gravel road (Cassiar Highway). Ran into some construction after a few hours of driving. Talked to the flag girl - she was from Prince George. Eileen called her mom near Dease Lake. We stopped again at Simmons Lake. Cathy and Eileen wanted pictures on the Teslin Bridge - even walked sock footed out to the middle! Cathy then dragged Eileen around the next gas station. I think it is a sister thing... Saw rainbow just before Haines Junction. Had to borrow can opener for some lunch. Hit Alaska-Canada (ALCAN) Highway near Watson Lake. Missed a speeding ticket near Whitehorse (whew...). Passed Kluane Park visitor center just after dark - closed (maybe on the way back?). We are staying in the Cottonwood Campground in Kluane, Yukon. Eileen is enjoying the frigid weather.