Thoughts from the Alaska Highway...(long post)

Hello to everyone from Kluane Lake in the Yukon...it is after 10:00 p.m. as I write this...the sun is still over the mountains and it will never grow dark during the night. We are set up on the shores of one of my very favorite camping areas. Except for the sound of the gentle wind coming in off the lake, it is so quiet. (Well - I say Mr. Outback & I both definitely heard grizzly bear sounds as we walked our 2 shelties - we immediatelt turned around and headed back to the more populated area) Everyone here has travelled far to reach this point...some returning from their Alaska adventure, others, like us, heading that way. Our conversations with each other always begin with "are you going or are you coming from?" The Alaska Highway in either direction requires a driver's focused attention so most all our camping neighbors are settled in for the night like us. Tomorrow we head to the border and Tok, Alaska. The next part of the drive is traditionally the slowest and most difficult as you encounter many frost heaves and sections of nothing but gravel. Towing a 34 foot 5th wheel calls for extra caution.

We have had a tough start to this long anticipated journey - by the time we reached North Dakota on the 17th, it was obvious little Molly - our senior sheltie, was not doing well - in the weeks leading up to our departure, her appetite had started to decrease, though she still was active and responsive. A clear-to-go Wellness exam from our home vet made things seem in order. An overworked & busy vet in North Dakota recommended a couple of things, none of which worked. Early in the morning of June 19, as we prepared to leave Havre, Montana and head to the Canadian border, Molly had grown worse & we found a kind and compassionate vet who examined her, looked us straight in the eye and said it was best to let her go due to rapidly declining. With many tears and gentle touches we stayed with our Molly as she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Our two remaining fur kids know something is very different but are travelling well, though needing extra attention which we give.

Post update - June 28 - we have arrived in Wasilla Alaska and have been reunited with our Dave & Jena - finally have a steady wifi (??) and trying to catch up on all the news. We will stay here for 10 days & then everyone heads down to Homer for halibut (yum!!!). Right now laundry, grocery shopping and rv cleaning are on the list...

Many photos have been added the last 12 days - the best has been taken by Mr. Outback (from the safety of our truck!) as this beautiful grizzly posed for us 75 feet away - he looks so huggable until you see the claws on those big paws...

Back later - wishing each of you good days and good times.

Pat in Wasilla, Alaska

 

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Let the journey begin...

...working off of multiple lists, we have planned, shopped and packed...the RV is ready - food supplies, clothes for warm weather to the chills of the mountains, passports, current papers for our 3 fur kids, Kindles, DVDs, camera gear and a few handwork only quilting projects for a rainy day at campgrounds.

For we off to The Last Frontier, The 49th State, Land of the Midnight Sun, Seward's Folly - Alaska. Years ago we dreamed that when we retired, we would take 1 memorable trip to that place, not knowing we would return again and now heading out on #6. But when your one and only son moves there and then takes his bride there...well, who could stay away??!!

This may well be our last visit there though, because our Dave and Jena will be following us back. A new direction in their lives and wanting to be nearer to family will make the decision to put the mountains behind them a little easier as they return to their midwest roots.

A friend of mine, who lived in Alaska for many years, once said that everytime you leave Alaska, you leave a part of your heart behind. Dave and Jena will leave a large part of theirs I am sure. But there will always be reasons for them to return for a visit.

For Mr. Outback & I, we hope to add new memories to previous trips...we have seen and experienced so much...salmon and halibut fishing, boat tours, orcas, whales, sea lions and sea birds; from The Arctic Circle, down to Valdez, Seward and the Homer Spit; a fabulous flight among the peaks of Denali, glaciers, bears and moose...and if truth be told, we have even thought what it would be like to move there were we 30 years younger and our lives were not so attached to Taylorsoutback by the pond...

And so we are off...the open road is calling...

I will try to post when wifi permits and hope to keep up with all of your doings.

Pat

 

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Going to build Panama Pyramids...

...while on the road...how many of you have caught the Pyramid fever? There are hundreds, if not thousands of little triangles popping up all over quilting blogland! I first saw these little gems over at Taryn's blog - Repro Quilt Lover. She has some really good tips to get you started..plus some nice background info about how this got started.

Linda Collins of Quilts In The Barn fame has inspired so many quilters to join in to make our own unique version of the antique quilt.

You will need to get your hands on Quiltmania #94 which has the pattern. Also run, do not walk, to order a set of the plastic templates and choose your fabrics!

Here is what my plan is - I just happened to have #94 on my shelf AND the fabrics in my stash except for the yardage needed to do the larger alternate triangles. Off to the LQS I went! I ordered my templates from The Quilt Merchant in Illinois. You can find them at Paper Pieces and Homestead Hearth too if you live in the US. Be sure to request being added to the fast growing Facebook group too!

Oh my gosh - another project...I must be nuts - but who could resist this?? And here I am packing for a long trip...more about that soon...

Pat

 

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