Departure

It's been a terrible day.  It is almost 1800 and we are finally about to leave Healy.  Will post more when I can.  Had about 3 inches (at least) of snow today.

If At First You Don't Succeed TRY, TRY AGAIN!

Dave and dad unloaded the trailer today because they needed to redistribute the weight and make the tongue lighter.  That part went surprisingly quickly and then spent the rest of the day reloading it.  It isn't done yet but tomorrow is another day.  Hopefully, it will be as nice as today (temperature reached 50) but we will even accept a day colder, as long as it doesn't rain (or snow). 

Unloading.  Only the cap stayed in.

Dad getting boxes down to unload.

Notice that the dresser, which was the first thing loaded 9 days ago, was unloaded and put in the back.

Notice--SNOW IS GONE!!

Mom packing boxes... still.

A Pleasant Autumn Day

Today was more like the September we love.  The rain (and snow) finally stopped and the sun actually shone for a little bit.  Temperature was in the mid 40's and it was pleasant to be outside today.  However, packing is not going well.  The trailer tongue weight exceeded the truck's capacity.  So the front of the trailer is basically useless.  Even with light boxes up front there is still too much tongue weight.  Dave thinks the axles are placed too far back for the trailer especially since it has an extra long tongue on it.  So tomorrow we unpack the trailer and start all over.  But fortunately, the flat tire on the trailer was easy to fix-it was a loose valve.  Only added about an hour to the load of work that Dave had to do today.  The washing machine took about another hour because something is wrong with it.  He and dad worked on it and decided it was not fixable without a great deal of disassembling which would probably mean about 5 hours of work.  We are looking forward to a brighter and trouble free tomorrow. 

Top of the World & 64 Years

Today, Dave took his folks to the Wind Farm in Ferry.  It was like being on top of the world.  It was a perfectly clear day.  I think God sent the blue skies specially for Mom & Dad as an anniversary present.  Today, they celebrated 64 years of marriage.  

Mt. McKinley in background

Eva Creek Wind Farm

First Day of Autumnal Equinox

Packing is coming along slowly.  I keep waiting for the weather to clear so I can clean the windows on the caravan and truck.  But so far this month, we have had about 3 days of nice weather. (maybe a slight exaggeration but not much)  And never, in the 16 years living here, have we seen September like this.

My rock garden

You can see that many leaves are still on the bushes and trees.

The backyard

The motorcycles are anxious to get going.

WARM POCKET??

I am glad we live in the warm pocket of Healy.  (REALLY?  A warm pocket?) 15 degrees this morning at our place.   While 1/2 mile away it is 5 degrees.  So, I guess you would call it a warm pocket. 

Playing with the BIG Toys

Dave loves to play with the big toys.  So, of course, we all had to participate.  But Dave had all the fun.  Dad, Mom, and I played the helpers.  Not fair.

Dave driving the fork lift.  He is removing the cap from our old Chevy.

Dave driving the fork lift again and putting the cap in the trailer.  It sure was cold.  And snowing too.

Road Trip Essentials

It is always important to take time to properly prepare for a road trip. So...let's not forget the most essential tool:  cookies!

Mom making chocolate chip cookies.

Putting another batch in the oven.  You can never have too many cookies.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like.....

 Our day in pictures:

First we awakened to this:

About 1/2" of snow fell overnight

Getting trailer ready to move.

We watched as thousands of Sandhill Cranes flew over.

Dave and Mom watching the cranes.  The small white stripes in the picture are snowflakes falling.

The empty trailer.  Hasn't been this empty since the day we bought it-over 4 years ago.

Loading the first item.

Making progress.

 So, it's beginning to look a lot like...no, not Christmas-well almost-it was a white day...a lot like... we really are going to move.

Panic Time!

We were in Fairbanks today and on our way home this evening we had snow flurries!!!!  This just cannot be.  We aren't ready.

DENALI

  

Blessing

The day did not start out well.  We left home,almost on time, and started driving.  Dave noticed the GPS wasn't working; then he noticed the speedometer wasn't working.  So we turned around, he fiddled with some things under the hood, and then said we better take the caravan.  So we transferred everything to the caravan (after unloading the boxes for the Salvation Army), and started out again-but an hour later. It started raining on the way (of course-it has been raining 9 out of 10 days since Mom & Dad got here).  But, by the time we got to Denali National Park it had stopped raining, although still overcast and in the mid 40's. 
     However, the colors of the countryside were spectacular.  Autumn was at its finest.  And before we reached Eielson Mt. Mckinley was partially visible.  It remained that way the rest of our day there.   It was a great day!   We arrived home around 10 PM after 12+ hours in the park

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.(Psalm 104:24 )

Caribou

WOW!

More caribou.

Mt. McKinley

Short hike east of Wonder Lake.  Temperatures reached the upper 50's.  How perfect!

I could have been happy picking blueberries while everyone else went hiking.

After seeing these bear tracks on the trail, I changed my mind about staying in the blueberry patch by myself.

Brilliant yellows!

Truly awesome!

Dall sheep near Eielson.

Magnificent!

More McKinley

Ptarmigan changing into its winter white.

I was riding with the door open to take pictures and tried not to look down.

View of winding road.

Cradled moon.

Perfect design!

Moose

How beautiful.

IT MUST BE OFFICIAL!!

No changing his mind now.  GVEA gave a retirement party for Dave so I guess it is official now.  (I certainly won't argue that)

Dave and his folks (to his left) at his retirement luncheon at GVEA.

Dave proudly (a well deserved pride)  showing off his plant to Mom & I.

Working hard

Dave and his dad worked all day on building a box for the motorcycle trailer.  Of course, they needed a uncluttered garage.  So, guess where a lot of the garage stuff went!! 

Cutting the old trailer box, which has served as a work bench for 15 years, to fit with the motorcycles mounted on the trailer

.

I didn't think the chaos in the living room could get any worse......but, apparently, I was wrong.

The trailer is ready to pack.

Occasionally, we reward our hired help for a job well done.  By 11 o'clock at night, everyone is ready for R&R---and some ice cream.