Anchorage here we are - no bust this time in "Anchorage or Bust".

Dr. King Weaver working at the hospital, with his baby sister,
Renae - both Alaskans!

Many large frozen lakes and rivers along the way.

Wednesday May 17, 2017, by Roger:  We left early and “enjoyed” the cold, getting down to 34 degrees again, but we didn’t break the record!  We stopped along the way to cook up a big breakfast at a rest area with incredible views.  We rolled into Anchorage before noon and tried to catch up on some things.  Roger spent the afternoon trying to find a place to put new tires on the bike – they are shot and need to be replaced.  He also wants to service the bike before we leave, and it needs a good clean out and wash.  It is pretty crusty.  We went through some dirt and mud, and one place we followed a pilot car through construction, after talking for 15 minutes to the flag lady.  There was a few soft spots, and loose gravel area, and this bike does terrible on loose gravel and mud – TERRIBLE!  I used to ride dirt bikes in a former life, and this is no dirt bike, I can tell you that.  It was about 6 k’s and we were glad to get through that.  I found a place that had tires, and bought two and made an appointment to get them mounted tomorrow morning, and also found a place for the oil I want to service it – most places were sold out.  The tires cost twice as much as the last time I changed them - I guess we're in Alaska!  It get dark near midnight and is light before 4:00 AM.  We met with Renae for a while and walked with her and Travis was working at the hospital, but it was a slow night so we went over to Dr. King Weaver’s lounge and hung out with him, Alana, Renae and a third year resident – which was fun.  We came back in the rain again and hit the sack at Renae’s place.  We drove 313 miles today, and ended up with EXACTLY 6000 miles on the bike since we left our house in Sarasota, FL!  Okay I drove an extra 2.8 miles around the block when I got back – just to hit the 6000 mile mark J.  It was 6000 miles in 11 days.  We got here much faster than we expected – partly because when it’s cold and wet we don’t stop as much and keep going.  We didn’t know when we would get here and what we were going to do when we got here, leave the bike, go part of the way back.  We decided to spend 5 days here and then head back, taking our time more and seeing where we end up – maybe Iowa.  We thought earlier maybe Edmonton and then store the bike and come back later in the summer, but Iowa or even PA or FL look like a possibility at this point.  

Typical Alaska Greeting by the mosquitos

A mountain goat with a newborn kid - hard to see, but I promise it is there.

Who has the right-of-way here anyway?

Alaska - WE MADE IT!

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Dinner time - looks like spring hasn't arrived here yet!

Lunch Break

Motorcycle Mama.

Coming down into Teslin

Plenty of water - Plenty of trees

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, by Jolene:  It’s a SUNNY morning!  YEAH!!  We could make it to Anchorage today if we really pushed it, but decided to take two days to it.  So we are letting the camper dry out real good this morning since it was quite damp and wet last night when we crawled in, after the rainy night the night before.  We did some computer work at the McDonald’s right here before we packed up and took off again.  By Roger:  We had a hard time packing up because people kept stopping by to admire our camper and ask about it.  One man who lives there said he was on the Steward – Cassair highway just a few weeks ago, and the highway is 480 miles long and he only passed 11 cars the entire time.  There are not many vehicles there (a number of trucks), but we saw more than 11.  We continued on to Alaska, stopping in Tok to set up and make dinner.  We saw a few mosquitos in BC at one park we stopped to fill up with some water, but that was the ONLY time the entire trip.  I guess it is too cold – but that was a nice surprise.  In Tok we did have mosquitos, the large Alaska size ones!  We drove until later than night and stopped before Glennallen at a pull-off next to a river.  The mosquitos were quite abundant.  The last several days we saw a good bit of wildlife, more bears, caribou, moose, badgers, foxes, mule deer, mountain goats (one with small kid), and an elk or two.  We drove 491 miles today.

Fun day talking to many people, stopped at a housing development in a Walmart parking lot.

The Yukon finally

Connected to the Alaska Highway just west of Watson Lake.

A permanent resident at Walmart in Whitehorse, Yukon

Cow Moose along the road

One of the many bears we saw on this road - maybe 15 or more?

Monday May 15, by Jolene:  It rained a lot of the night, so of course everything was very wet.  We waited inside until it sort of stopped (still drizzled some), and made a quick breakfast and packed up our wet stuff and took off.  Made a longer day of it today, through some rain showers, some sun, some just cloudy.  Around every bend is something else weather-wise.  The clouds are kind of amazing, and you can see up ahead where there is rain, and you wonder if you are going to go through that, or if the road will go another direction by the time you get closer.  We stopped at a pull out and had a bit of lunch about 1:30 or 2, and kept going.  We made it to the Alaskan highway, and on to Whitehorse where we spent the night in a Walmart parking lot that also had a McDonald’s in it.  We needed wifi to get caught up on some things.  Only thing was, the Walmart closed at 10 pm (about when we arrived), and didn’t open until 8 am.  Other Walmart’s we’ve been at didn’t close at night.  The parking lot was FULL of campers, and quite a few cars and trucks with people sleeping in them. There also was a camper that looked like it is here permanently.  We never saw so many campers at a Walmart before, and we’ve slept at quite a few.  J  It is light until very late – not sure what time since we are sleeping by that time, and light very early also. 

At one gas stop, we met a guy and his wife that deliver campers from IN, MI area up to Anchorage.  He was on his way back from Anchorage in his car after delivering the camper.  We also met a truck driver when we drove into the Walmart that had seen us earlier on the road.  We hadn’t talked to him then, he only saw us pass, but he chatted quite a while when he saw us, asking questions and telling us about his truck driving job, he even ran the Ice Roads in the winter.  It is fun and interesting talking to various folks.  We talked to many local people – Roger loves that.  We drove 585 miles today.

Beautiful Steward - Cassair Highway., the alternate route to Alaska.

A few small patches of road work we had to deal with.

More rain ahead, but nothing new there.

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Beautiful Driving

Time to set up camp

Sunday, May 14, by Jolene.  We woke up to 34 degrees this morning and rainy.  We had planned to cook breakfast, but decided it was too cold, so went to a Subway (only thing open with wifi and an outlet to plug in computers, phones, etc.  We got caught up on a few things there, then went to a Mennonite church (First Mennonite Church) – used to be with Mennonite Church Canada.  We thought they were with them, but just this past year they left them.  It’s a dying church – used to be 300 people in the late 80’s, and this morning maybe 30 were there.  Roger talked with several people about the history of the Mennonites in the area, and the conservative churches that were started here in the 70’s.  He thought they had folded up for the most part, but they are alive and well it appeared.  We saw several Mennonites in downtown, and Roger was upset that he didn’t stop and talk to them.  There are two churches here that are connected to the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church.  After church we left and stopped at Smithers at a McDonald’s to catch up on our blog.  We then drove through rain showers again all day, and slept at a Rest Area near Bell II.  We saw some wildlife today – the first 110 miles on the Steward – Cassair highway we saw 10 bears along the road, 9 black bears and one grizzly.  It was a good drive on the Steward – Cassair Highway that goes up to the Alaska Highway just west of Watston Lake, YT.  It’s only been paved for 8 or 9 years.  We met two Australian women that also slept at the rest area – in their car.  It was rainy again – just in and out of showers all day again.  We talked to several people in the past days about how unseasonably cold and rainy it has been this year.  It is colder and wetter than usual.  There has been flooding and some roads were closed.  There was 6 inches of snow on the Alaska Highway last week, and the road was all snow covered a few days ago where we crossed on route 16, but it was all fine when we went through – rain but fortunately no snow!  Today we drove 330 miles. 

Lunch and a break.

Shower day at a truck stop - feels great.

Lunch Time

Camping at Burns Lake, BC - COLD!

First road on trip I've not been on before

The beginning of the Stewart - Cassair Highway

Saturday, May 13, by Jolene:  Slept in (or rather stayed in bed) a bit later since it was pretty cold in the morning.  We only drove about 4 hours today.  We stopped and did­ some grocery shopping at Prince George and took some showers at a Flying J truck stop and ­­­then went on to Burns Lake.  Roger had been here in 1975 on a trip with two friends.  His uncle and aunt Clarence & Ruth Martin were here at that time, so they stopped to see them.   He wanted to check out the area again and the churches.  His uncle & aunt were with a conservative Mennonite group and were starting a mission church there.  It was a very slow day and didn’t go very far.  We slept at a park right in Burns Lake that is operated by the Rotary Club. Only amenity was a pit toilet.  We only drove 218 miles today.

Leave it to Roger to get a motorcycle stuck in the mud!

Get ready for more rain, shall we suit up now?

Our  resting place, AFTER Roger got out of being stuck in the mud.

Friday, May 12, by Jolene.  More driving today, and more rain showers.  Roger had researched where we were going to spend the night, which was in the Lake Chubb Recreation area near Hixon BC.  We tried to take a short cut on a gravel road, and hit a spot that was impassable with a muddy, nasty area, road turned into a dirt track.   So we backtracked and went another way, but ended up at the same place.  It was also on gravel roads, and since it had rained they were wet and slippery.  Needless to say, it was a mess and the bike got very crusty.  Where we ended up setting up the camper was right at a lake, and a sort of muddy mess. Roger actually got the motorcycle stuck, and he had to work a while to get us out of the muddy spot he tried to set up camp at first.  That was a first, actually got stuck with a motorcycle – leave it up to Roger!  We cooked our first meal here, sausage and chicken corn soup we had brought from home.  We drove 380 miles today.

Global Entry and Nexus Interview enroute.

Lunch Time

Rainy Night - Nice to be dry, however.

Starting to hit the mountains in BC

Thursday, May 11, by Jolene:  Nicole didn’t have class until afternoon, so we had a leisurely morning with her.  Elijah had to leave for work about 6:30.  We packed up the camper and Nicole got a ride on the cycle with Roger around the block before we left.  Of course, as we were finishing packing up, it started raining, and basically didn’t stop for a few hours, literally pouring at times.  Yuck!  Roger had arranged an interview close to the Canadian border at Blaine, WA, for Global Traveller and Nexus renewal – that took less than an hour for the actual appointment.  When we stopped numerous times we found a place to pull under – usually a store sidewalk!  We made it through the border without any problems or much of a wait.  We went through rain off and on the rest of the day, and ended up sleeping at a Flying J near Hope, BC.  We create a real fuss at some places with our motorcycle/camper combo.  We see them talking about it sometimes when they don’t know it’s ours.  Fun to see.  J  It’s been rather cold and rainy the past few days.  Not so much fun, but at least not going 80 mph anymore.  And a slower pace all around helps.  We only drove 204 miles today.

Coffee with cousin Cheryl, dinner with Nicole and Elijah - nice break from rain and 34 degrees of cold!

Mom and Daughter - if you look closely you can see Jolene's head
has been re-shaped a bit with all the hours of  wearing a helmet.  

Wednesday, May 10, by Jolene: It was 34 degrees driving this morning!  We had some rain showers again today.  We stopped in Missoula, MT and had breakfast with cousin Cheryl at about 9:30 am.  She took off about an hour from work to meet us.  And then we were on the way again, heading to Seattle and daughter Nicole & husband Elijah.  We walked a few blocks and ate sushi.  It felt pretty good to do some walking.  We spent the night there then, sleeping on their new IKEA couch.  J  We drove 706 miles today.

1008 Miles on a bike - more than enough for one day!

Jolene's Incredible View

Driving Into the Sunset

 Tuesday, May 9, hammer down all day, by Jolene:  We drove over 1000 miles today!  Way too many on a bike!  The speed limit went up to 80 in South Dakota, so of course we had to go over that most of the time.  The speed limits were 80 all the way today, SD, WY, and MT.  Stopped for two quick meals and kept moving.  Thankfully we can only go about 175 miles on a tank of gas, so that means stopping and getting off the bike every couple of hours at least.  This is NOT a fun way to travel on a motorcycle, and by this time Jolene is getting pretty sick of it.  But knowing it only will last a couple more days keeps us going so we will have more time for the main part of our trip.  We also went through some rain today and had to suit up for that.  We slept at a Flying J at Bozeman, MT.  We drove 1008 miles today.

Stop for visit with Lisa and Jolene's family

Mom with Pre-Doctor Weaver

Monday, May 8, by Jolene. We arrived in Kalona at my parents place.  Mom had an eye appointment that morning so they weren’t home, but we showered and did a quick load of laundry before we headed to Iowa City to meet them, my sister June, Marc & Jonathan, and my brother Kim for lunch at IHOP (mom & dad’s choice).  Lisa had a short break at the hospital so we had a quick time with her, and then decided we would wait around until she was off work at 4:30.  We weren’t sure we would take the time, but of course wanted to!  We met her at a restaurant for an early dinner, and by 6:30 we were on our way again.  We drove till quite late and ended up at a Love’s Truck Stop Sioux City, IA, where we slept.  We drove 584 miles today.

Long Day of driving

Sunday, May 7, by Jolene:

Woke up pretty early Sunday morning and got up and on the road by 6:30 or so.  Pretty much it’s hammer down until we get to Canada, via Iowa and Seattle, so we’ve got a lot of miles to cover.  We drove several hours before stopping for breakfast, and then again late afternoon for dinner.  Not a lot to report – just a lot of miles driving!  We stopped at a Walmart in Lake St. Louis, MO, not too far north of St. Louis.  Drove 820 miles today.

Alaska or Bust!

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Alaska or Bust - temperatures are still warm here leaving our home in Sarasota.

We left home on Saturday, May 6 at 3 pm, by Jolene.  We had hoped to get off earlier, but of course there were a million things to do to finalize things and get on the road.  Basically we just kept moving until we arrived in Tifton, GA, where we stopped probably around 10 pm, and set up at a Pilot truck stop.  It wasn’t a very good night for me, of course Roger slept fine – lots of traffic noise!  There were several other people sleeping in their cars and vans beside us.  Drove 361 miles today.

ARE WE STILL MARRIED?

31 Years and Counting.

HOW IS YOUR MARRIAGE?

This is the questions a person asked me when he asked to look at my aircraft in Fairbanks, AK where I bought some oil.  After seeing Jolene crawl out and head for the restrooms, he peered in at the size and asked where we came from and where we were going.  When I told him is when he asked how our marriage was and if we were still married.  As Jolene said it was the best vacation I believe I ever had.  I forgot about emails, and doing anything connected to work – and was even completely out of keeping up on the news.  Did we invade any other country while I was gone???  I actually feel a bit “out of the loop”, but it was a really good vacation.  We didn’t know where we would be many nights and just “winged” it day by day.  We ended up places we hadn’t planned, but it was a lot of fun.  I sat forward of Jolene and we had headsets and an intercom to talk.  I had access to the intercom switch and she did not, so if she was saying something I didn’t want to hear I could turn it OFF.  I never turned it off and only thought about it briefly once or twice.  Really we had a great trip, and it was fun spending that time together – I’m sure glad Jolene came along!  Where next Jolene - Antarctica?  YES WE ARE STILL MARRIED.  - ROGER

N293AC: "Why Don't You Ever Listen To Me"

THE AIRPLANE FINALLY HAD ENOUGH                               

After being so surprised about how the airplane made no problems I thought I was all but home, and was looking forward to putting the airplane back into a hangar.  Since I’ve owned it I’ve never used it as hard as I did these past few weeks and it was outside the entire time, so I was ready to get it back inside and give it a good bath and some gentle loving care.  I dropped Renae at Goshen and was working my way around some weather in eastern Ohio when she finally told me she had enough.  It’s not that she was trying to tell me for some time, and I should have dug deeper before, but I wasn’t listening as I should have been.  I heard a slight tick (Jolene was even tuned in to the machine enough to recognize it).  I looked into the engine from underneath and from the oil door, but didn’t see anything amiss, and originally thought it was an electrical interference.  Everything was performing so well, but I should have removed the cowling and checked everything out more, because the old bird was trying to tell me something.  As we got closer to home I was convinced it was an exhaust leak but thought it was in the muffler heat shroud, since I was getting a little carbon monoxide indication.  I had a little over 2 hours to get home and thought I will monitor the air quality and opened the window and watched the CO2 detectors.  I stopped for weather and after it cleared out and I saw I could easily make it home I headed out and shortly after takeoff I heard a very loud noise and realized something happened to the exhaust.  I made an immediate return to the airport and after taking off the cowling discovered the exhaust pipes had cracked at the number 2 and 4 cylinders, and were now completely separated.  I knew I wasn’t going anywhere.  It was Saturday evening in Cambridge, OH, a small town, and I couldn’t get a rental car except in Columbus 100 miles the wrong direction.  I was disappointed I could not get it home, but also thankful it didn’t happen before at some of the remote places we were.  It could have happened at a much worse location.  I knew I couldn’t fix it until the following week, so I called Jolene and she came to get me – leaving at home around 8:00PM and getting to Cambridge at 2:00AM.  I had a lounge to hang out (most airports keep something available for pilots with the code of the radio frequency so a pilot would only know) and I had a great lazy-boy to sleep on.  When she got there it was my turn to drive so I drove most of the way back although she also drove for some of the time.  We got home about 8:15AM, took a quick shower and went to church.  We were pretty tired in church, but hey we were back.  We will take long naps this afternoon, you can be sure of that!  ROGER

PILOT HEAVEN!

Oshkosh 2012 (July 24 – 28)

What a great way to finish out a vacation.  I met Renae and we flew into Oshkosh, Wi Tuesday afternoon, and spent until Saturday enjoying the largest airshow in the world.  As usual flying into Oshkosh is interesting, but this time I was pretty uncomfortable when the established procedures were modified and I counted about 12 airplanes circling aimlessly over a town, twice getting too close for my comfort range – especially realizing there are many inexperienced pilots in the mix.  Next time if that happens I will pull out and come back in when things get a bit more settle down.  There are two lakes where aircraft usually hold, and the second one had about 12 aircraft circling it.  That point is very close to the airport and the place where the controllers are on the ground and when it is busy are constantly talking and giving directions to the airplanes coming overhead in a line ¼ to ½ mile apart.  They are separated there for two or three different runways and the only acknowledgement is rocking the wings.  Then one is handed off to the tower and again no communication except a wing rock if requested.  Each runway has 3 large dots painted a different color and aircraft are told which dot to land on and then are to immediately taxi clear of the runway on the grass.  When exiting the runway one places a sign in the windscreen to indicate camping or parking and about 6 other categories, and then people on the ground marshal.  We camped under our wing in the North 40 again.  The airplanes are packed in.  The process is incredibly organized, and if I didn’t experience it several times I would not believe it could work.  It is truly amazing to see how this entire process can work, especially in the air.  On takeoff they line up and take of several aircraft at the same time on the same runway.  There can be two or three staging takeoff points, and airplanes are lined up on both sides of the runway alternating sides so everybody is ready to go when released.  Again all this done with no acknowledgment from the pilots, only the controllers speaking – often non-stop.  If you are a pilot and have never flown into Oshkosh, it must go on your bucket list!  Over 1/2 million people, over 10,000 airplanes flying in, and over 36,000 people camping on the grounds - and EVERYBODY talking aviation!

Camping under the wing is always a highlight.  I spent 3 long days walking around and I probably saw less than 1/3 of what I wanted to.  One can spend a whole week there and still not see everything.  And the airshows are incredible.  What some of those pilots can do with an airplane defies logic, and again if I would not have seen it with my own eyes I would not think an aircraft could do some of those things.  We left before the night airshow Saturday night, but in the past that was very worthwhile seeing.  Every time I get to Oshkosh I say “I need to do this every year”, but I’ve only been there 4 or 5 times.  ROGER

After the Rains Came the Drying Out

The Neighbors Dryer

Travis and Alana's House Closing

July 24, 25 (Iowa City and Kalona)

Today was the big day of settlement for Travis and Alana’s house, which we needed to go to also.  (since he’s a student and Alana officially doesn’t have a job yet, they needed someone to co-sign).  So we met them up there for that and then went to their house and unloaded the truck with all their stuff they brought from AK.  It didn’t take long.  It’s a sweet little house, and a perfect size for them.  They were soon going to leave then to go to her parents in Danville, IL (about a four hour drive), and I dropped Roger off at the airport.  Travis and Alana were going to pick up all the wedding gifts they had left at her parents last summer, and get some furniture her parents had for them.  They wanted it all together before they decided what they needed yet for their house.

Roger was leaving to go pick up Renae at Joliet airport, and they were flying to Oshkosh, WI to the air show which is all this week.  He hadn’t planned to do that when we left on this trip, but someone reminded him of the dates, and it fit so perfectly, he couldn’t pass it up!  J  He asked and was granted some more vacation.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to get home then, but ended up leaving Wednesday morning with my cousin Marcus Miller and his wife Beth, who were going to Lancaster County anyway. 

And now I am home!  And happy to be here.  It was an awesome trip, totally.  J  Roger keeps saying it’s the best trip he has ever taken, and I’d say I probably have to agree.  I wasn’t too sure about it at the beginning and had even said at one point that I don’t think I’ll go.  But I am very glad I did.  I was sometimes not very comfortable in that single engine plane, especially going through the mountains, but it got us where we needed to go and did a fantastic job.  And I knew I could trust my husband to take no chances and be as safe as possible.  And it was good for us as a couple to spend some quality time together!  Thank you God for a safe trip and a great time!  JOLENE

Their Fist House - Please Sign Here.

Hot and hotter - sweltering Iowa summer.

July 23 (Iowa City and Kalona)

Travis and Alana stayed in Iowa City and did some things that needed to be done up there – and did a walk through of their house this afternoon.  Everything seemed to be in order.  Roger and I spent the day with mom and dad.  Roger went to coffee club with dad, which he likes to do when he’s there.  We visited some of the aunts and uncles that also live at Pleasantview, and washed our meager amount of clothes.  I’m ready to wear more than the two shirts I brought!  In the evening mom invited Travis and Alana and Kim, Robin and girls for supper, but only the girls could come, and Travis and Alana.  Had a nice supper (first corn on the cob for us!) and played games afterward.  JOLENE

WE MADE IT!

July 22 (Iowa City and Kalona, IA!!!)

So, it ended up pouring last night, and in the morning we were in about 4 inches of water in our tent!  Thankfully our wonderful pads mostly kept us dry, and we didn’t even realize till morning what was going on.  Roger’s sleeping bag was soaked, but mine wasn’t too bad.  We were very thankful – it was the ONLY night it rained, and it was our last night, so packing up wet things wouldn’t be so bad.  But turned out that before long the sun came out, strong as ever, and most everything was dried out till we packed up and left.  Travis and Alana’s tent was a much better one for rain, and they didn’t get very wet at all.  Our little thing really is not meant for rain!  Roger and I had gotten awake early and went for breakfast till it stopped raining, and let those guys sleep in a bit. 

Then, as a last hurrah for Travis and Roger, they flew together for the last time.  Of course, meaning Alana and I drove.  It was very hot, and got hotter as the day went on.  Flying was warmer than usual too, but they still had 65 degrees in cruise and we had over 100!  Of course our trip lasted a lot longer!  J  We met in Iowa City about 3:30 – 4 or so, and went to Kim and Robin’s for supper.  Kim was out of town with Kate, so Robin fed us wonderful BLT’s and fresh fruit and veggies.  I have missed the fresh produce of summertime on this trip.  Mom and Dad were there too, and Kim and Kate came about 7:30.  Travis and Alana were staying there with them and Roger and I went to Kalona with mom and dad to spend the time with them.  We slept at Aunt Grace’s since she has an extra bedroom, and mom and dad don’t.  JOLENE

A Rainy Night

July 21 (Faribault, MN)

We took off in fairly decent time this morning with Roger and I flying, T & A driving, heading to  Minneapolis/St. Paul for the night.   Roger and I flew across the lake for fuel, and then were on our way.  We met up with Travis and Alana at Casselton, just outside of Fargo, ND for lunch.  They brought us subs from Subway and we ate together there at the airport.  The facilities at most of these small airports are really nice – especially this one. 

Then we traded vehicles – they flew, we drove.  Their assignment, as the ones who would arrive faster, was to find a place for us to sleep for the night.  So they did their research and made reservations at a campground in Faribault, south of the twin cities.  We decided it would be nice to have a shower before arriving in Iowa the next day!  It was very hot driving today and the air-conditioner in the truck isn’t working, so a shower was even more necessary!  We arrived at the campground, set up our tents, and then decided that for our last night we would go out to eat at a nice restaurant, and found a Mexican one that was very good.  Back to the campground, wonderful showers (paid 25 cents for nine minutes), and bed.  Just as we were getting to bed, it started to sprinkle.  It was a hot night, and with rain, we had to shut up the flap on the tent.  We were sweating inside, especially Roger, who was at the back of the tent.  JOLENE