To update you on our trip, our intention was to spend one night in Kenai to catch up with close friends but we were having such a great time with them, we stayed three nights…we just couldn't tear ourselves away!
Riding alongside the Princess and Queen!
Hurry Gracie, save her!
Our friends took Mike halibut fishing and we had a huge fish fry!
Once we left Kenai, we made a quick trip to Seward.
Then we were off to Alyeska Ski Resort (sounds like Ally-s-ska) to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary!
We took the tram up to the 7 Glaciers Restaurant.
It feels like the top of the world. The view is...yes, I'm gonna say it again, indescribable!
Before final take off to Anchorage to drop the RV and fly home, two members of my family "pulled a David Johnson", while we still had snow available. Please note: That is not my toes!
As you know, we started in Honolulu, and have seen Oklahoma City, Ada Oklahoma, back to Oklahoma City, Wichita Kansas, Kansas City Missouri, Des Moines Iowa, Minneapolis Minnesota, Forrest City Iowa, Sioux City South Dakota, Cheyenne Wyoming, Billings Montana, crossed over the U.S./Canadian Border at Sweet Grass Montana, Hinton Canada in Alberta, Jasper National Park, Dawson Creek, Yellow Knife, Tok Alaska, North Pole, Fairbanks, Denali, Kenai, Homer, Seward, Anchorage and are now back home in Hawaii.
Our trip totals consist of:
- 9 States
- 3 Canadian Providences
- 2 Countries
- Approximately 10,000 miles
- Black bear
- Grizzlies
- Beaver
- Stone sheep
- Mountain goat
- Moose
- Swans
- Eagles
- Elk
- Buffalo
- Porcupine
- Wild horses
- Wolf
- Fox
- Coyote
We have eaten bear, moose, buffalo, halibut, caribou, red salmon…well, in other words, every Alaskan food known to mankind!
The coolest aspects of the trip beyond the indescribable scenery and wildlife was spending time with family and friends. Another great aspect was loosing all track of time. Instead of gauging things by time and date, instead of operating on a 24 hour time span, we operated on morning, noonish, and night.
Mike and I were so peaceful on this trip. There was a deep calmness about us that I don't ever remember having. At about the 8,000 mile mark (in less than 30 days), I wondered what is different in our relationship now than 17 years ago. Seventeen years ago he was the priority, prior to this trip, I was struggling with the pressures of life vying to be top priority. This trip gave me time to understand, there will always be life's pressures but perspective is key when prioritizing and family and friends are to always be top priority.
When we started this trip, many people made negative comments about how we were going to "be sick of each other", "be in each other's space too much", "Would be really glad to get out of the rv", etc. We found quite the opposite to be true. Covering up to 600 miles per day gives a couple plenty opportunities to talk…a lot! Mike and I are in agreement, trips like this remove us from the daily schedules and daily stresses of work. It was also helpful to be so far out in the middle of nowhere that we had no internet service! This trip has offered us quiet time to reconnect with one another, and with our girls. We slowed down and literally took in every sight, sound, even smell…we stopped and took in every moment.
We've planned this trip for over 16 years. Start planning your trip today. Start a "trip" fund and follow through, you will be so thankful you did!
I want to extend a special mahalo nui loa to Kristina Webb at Totally Totes. I could not have done this without her!
