Weather and Stress

Timeline so far:

Arrived in Anchorage on the Thursday, July 17th.

- Ate chicken-fried steak at Peggy's Cafe in Anchorage.

- Picked up Lucy at "Bed and Biscuit" - a really great place where Gail has been boarding her when needed.

- Went to Aurora Beads in Wasilla. Lucy got into the leftover chicken fried steak while we were in the bead store. So much for dinner! :)

- Camped at Fox Run, in Wasilla. Nice place with friendly people.

Friday, July 18th

- Picked up new tires in Wasilla. Gail's had two flats since arriving.

- Went back to Aurora Beads in Wasilla

- Camped at Fox Run, in Wasilla.

Saturday, July 19th

- Ran errands, mostly, during the day.

- Made stuff for the Anchorage Market until the wee hours of the morning.

- Ate at Cadillac Cafe in Meadow Lake. AWESOME Burritos, great atmosphere, great service.

Sunday, July 20th

- Did the Anchorage Farmer's Market

- At awesome turkey dinner at Peggy's Cafe. This time we kept the leftovers out of Lucy's reach!

Monday, July 21st

- Did laundry and cleaned up mostly during the day. Gail picked up Lucy. Drove as far as Sterling. Ended up staying at paid campsite in order to wash very smelly dog.

Tuesday, July 22nd

- Stopped at Willow Picker Lumber (Roy Baldwin's Burl Wood Art); got great bowl and spoon and a wedding present for Althea.

-- In General ...

Sigh ... guess the fantasy couldn't last forever. This trip has definitely been different. First, the weather. Cold and wet. Even for Alaska, this is highly unusual. Temps are 10-20 degrees below summer and rainfall is at record highs in some parts. The seven-to-ten day forecasts don't, as yet, offer much hope of it getting any better.

Bear in mind, Alaska with a lot of clouds is a lot like ... well, like Illinois. You can't see the mountains most of the time, so it looks flat. And grey. My attitude, though I've really been trying hard to be positive, has not been good. I think it's really getting on Gail's nerves, as much as I just try to keep quiet about it. I'm having a hard time with the grey and dreary - just feeling depressed.

Money is another huge issue. Everything (gas included) is nearly twice as much as last trip (just two years ago). Just driving 130 miles (towing the camper) cost over $70.

The shows are doing very very badly. No one is spending money on things like jewelry - and who can blame them? So we're not making money either. We busted our tail at the Anchorage Market (usually a really good show for us), and took quite a loss.

OKAY, 'nuff griping. We have done a few fun things. We went to the Iditarod Trail headquarters in Wasilla, and took a sled dog ride! It was really fun! The guy that actually led the ride is the son of the person who officially founded the race itself.

On Sunday, after the Anchorage Market, we "took the long road" back to the campsite, and saw some very pretty views. Much more "back country", less civilization.

I've also kept up on exercise - walking Lucy is very helpful. Yesterday, we walked on a trail at the Turnagain Pass rest area. It was raining (of course), but it was still a stunningly beautiful walk. We let Lucy run. She apparently had a *really* good time. She found something quite nasty to roll in, and stunk to high heaven! We ended up paying for a campsite last night just so we could use a real shower and get her cleaned up!

My Turn!!! :)

It's almost time to leave - just four more days. :)

I have to say, this trip has been much tougher, both financially and emotionally. But the financial part is definitely causing the emotional part. Gas prices are obviously a direct concern, but show sales are way down due to the ecomony, and that's really hurting us.

As long as we have enough to drive on, and to take care of the three of us it'll all work out. It's pretty scary though, that's for sure. The wariness makes it hard to look forward to things or to imagine all the great things there are to do and see there. Add to that the array of health problems I've had this past year, and it adds up to lots of stress. I know it'll be better once I'm there. Alaska has that kind of effect. It's a tough, harsh place - but with the kind of beauty that you'll never find anywhere that can be easily populated or overrun by humans. It makes me feel stronger, and makes me remember that my problems are small in the context of everything.

Trip Update

Gail and her Mom have been in Alaska for about a week. Sounds like her Mom wished she had more time, but it's already almost time to go home.

They've been to Palmer, Homer, Anchorage, and Fairbanks (that's a LOT of driving for such a short time!), and will be stopping in Talkeetna on the way to the airport back in Anchorage.

Lucy (the dog) has been having a good time, though :) Gail says she's a bit of a chicken. And to think, from her Easter picture, I thought she was a rabbit!



While in Homer, Gail and Mary got to visit with one of favorite Alaskan's - Jimmy Wiles at Raven's Treasures. Jimmy's quite a character, and he's always good for a laugh or two, not to mention some great beads and fossilized ivory carvings!

I'm getting pretty excited - just three more weeks, and I'll be out there. I missed it a lot last year. I can't wait!

One More Day ...

They made it into Whitehorse. Gail sounds so tired! Just one more day, though, and they should make it into Alaska.

Gas has been really high. Highest price so far, $1.66/liter (over $6/gallon).

They've seen some beautiful places and critters so far. A few days ago, they saw five black bears in just a few miles. Lots of buffalo, and yesterday a black fox!

On the Road Again ...

After a one-day delay, Gail, her Mom, and Lucy are on the road to Alaska. :) I have my plane ticket and will be heading up there in July - though I truly wish I were with them now!

Getting started on this trip was more challenging than the last time. We didn't have enough money saved up, and it seemed like one thing after another went wrong. But it's all good now. We'll be working more up there, doing art shows, but it's worth it. The art shows are fun anyway - we get to meet a lot of people and all of the shows are outside, so we get plenty of fresh air. (Sunshine ... who knows? ;) )

I hope to start getting pictures soon! :)

June 3rd!

Gail, her Mom, and Lucy (the dog!) are set to leave on June 3rd. Next step is for me to buy my plane ticket for mid-July or so. :) I'm getting so excited. Alaska has left its mark on me - it's a place you never really "leave".

The Plans Thus Far

The plan so far is for Gail and her Mom to leave for Alaska on June 3rd. Right now, Mary is going for sure, and there's some possibility that Bob (Gail's Dad) is going too. That'd be good - a once-in-a-lifetime thing like this should not be passed up! :) If Bob does not end up going, Lucy (our dog) is going. We've been slowly but surely getting her used to riding with us on longer trips. She loves to ride, but it takes her a little while to calm down.

Gail's parent(s) would fly back to Illinois after a couple of weeks. As soon as I know for sure what date Gail is coming back, I'll set up my flight plans to meet her out there. I don't have as much time as last trip (3 weeks instead of 5), but I'm very much looking forward to it. I can't wait to see what's in store this time!