Final Alaska Trip Itinerary:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Auprin6pdbU6dDhUNzBlUmFLYzIzZnNwbGUwYmtrNXc&hl=en_US&authkey=CIqPuJsF#gid=0
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Our Final Post from the Alaska Trip
It is hard to believe that our trip is coming to an end; but since it will be a total of 8 weeks on the road, it is time to come home.
We made a decision to stay on I-94 coming back across the country. We did that for two reasons: 1) we came through customs in MT vs. ND because of flooding and campground closures and 2) we heard about the high, hot temperatures throughout the heartland, and that sounded miserable. We came across some interstate lanes down to one lane with cones and water close to the edge, but we did alright. We drove through MT, ND, MN, WIS, and MI using interstates, back roads, and Route 2.
We decided to stay for 2 nights at St. Ignace and visit Mackinaw Island. We toured the Grand Hotel, lunched in the dining room, and rocked on the front porch. We took a carriage ride around the island and bought fudge--the usual touristy things! We actually wore shorts, which was a first on this trip!
We then drove to Frankenmuth and stayed one night, eating chicken dinners at Zehnder's (where else?) We visited the Cheese Haus and Bronner's Christmas Store, of course!
We drove back into Ohio (where are the mountains?) and stopped in at Jane's parents to pick up our dog, Maggie, who barely recognized us! It was the first time in 8 weeks that we slept in a bedroom that wasn't on wheels!
All in all, this was a great trip and one that we will always remember. Brad calculated that we drove over 12,000 miles by the time we were home. Diesel fuel was definitely our largest expense. We already know the places we would like to return to and hope that is in the cards! Our 1500 pictures will remind us of the places we want to go.
Thanks to all of you who faithfully read the blog! I hope you enjoyed it!
Jane and Brad
We made a decision to stay on I-94 coming back across the country. We did that for two reasons: 1) we came through customs in MT vs. ND because of flooding and campground closures and 2) we heard about the high, hot temperatures throughout the heartland, and that sounded miserable. We came across some interstate lanes down to one lane with cones and water close to the edge, but we did alright. We drove through MT, ND, MN, WIS, and MI using interstates, back roads, and Route 2.
We decided to stay for 2 nights at St. Ignace and visit Mackinaw Island. We toured the Grand Hotel, lunched in the dining room, and rocked on the front porch. We took a carriage ride around the island and bought fudge--the usual touristy things! We actually wore shorts, which was a first on this trip!
We then drove to Frankenmuth and stayed one night, eating chicken dinners at Zehnder's (where else?) We visited the Cheese Haus and Bronner's Christmas Store, of course!
We drove back into Ohio (where are the mountains?) and stopped in at Jane's parents to pick up our dog, Maggie, who barely recognized us! It was the first time in 8 weeks that we slept in a bedroom that wasn't on wheels!
All in all, this was a great trip and one that we will always remember. Brad calculated that we drove over 12,000 miles by the time we were home. Diesel fuel was definitely our largest expense. We already know the places we would like to return to and hope that is in the cards! Our 1500 pictures will remind us of the places we want to go.
Thanks to all of you who faithfully read the blog! I hope you enjoyed it!
Jane and Brad
On the Lighter Side
Some of these are brought to you by The Alaska Joke Book for Kids! by Jeff Brown
An old miner comes up to a group of people sitting around the fire in Tok. He said to the group, "Did you know there isn't a single mosquito in Alaska?" The people replied, "Are you crazy?" He said, "No, didn't you know that they are all married with big, big families."
When is a salmon your best friend?
When it's a chum! (A chum salmon is also called a dog salmon.)
How do you get down from a reindeer?
How do you get down from a reindeer?
You don't get down from a reindeer; you get down from a duck. (Reindeer are domesticated caribou.)
How do they clean the Trans-Alaska Pipeline?
With pipeline cleaners. (The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is 800 miles long and 4 feet wide.)
How do you attach one ig to another?
With ig-glue. (Igloos were not built in Alaska so much as Canada.)
Why were early prospectors always in a hurry?
They were in a Gold Rush. (Gold was discovered in Anvil Creek [Nome] in 1902.
Why is Alaska a good place to save money?
It's the only place you'll find fair banks. (With just about 83,000 people, Fairbanks is the second biggest city in Alaska.)
What is the hottest plant in Alaska?
Fireweed. (Fireweed is the best known wildflower in Alaska.)
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