traveling the ALCAN

My dad decided to spend the summer with us this year so we drove up the ALCAN together earlier this year in his new motor home.  It was a beautiful drive and full of wildlife.

There is a part of the trip that is covered with Bison.  They are everywhere. 

We traveled with Kimber, a little chocolate lab, that friends purchased in the lower 48 and we delivered.

Walking in the Desert with Dad

Katherine Landing

Feeding the ducks

Feeding the fish.

Dad and Gordon

Oatman, AZ

Oatman is this little town in the middle of the dessert that is overrun by donkeys.  They come right up to you for food.

 When they figure out you don't have any they do not want anything to do with you.

 The street is full of little shops.  We always stop here for something cold to drink.

traveling alaska -- anchorage

The moose ran off as soon as we stopped so I only captured pictures of their butts.  The roads are covered with moose all winter long so I promise to post better pictures later.

I'm not sure why I am so intrigued by taking pictures as we pass cars.  The sun haze and the trees all came together in an interesting scene.

Another beautiful sight on our trip was all the steam coming off the rivers and streams.  It always makes me swoon.  All the temperatures converge to make absolutely beautiful scenes.

This is what I have to deal with.  I take pictures and he decides he needs to clean our dirty windshield.  Ahhhhh the nerve.  Love that guy!

My husband had killed a caribou and we had the meat processed in Indian Valley.  It is my favorite drive in Alaska.  I love driving the Turnagain Arm.  When we were thinking of moving to Alaska from Wyoming.  We flew in for a job interview and the very next day we rented a car and drove this drive.  I remember looking at my husband and saying we had to move here.  I had just fell in love with Alaska and I knew it was not going to leave my system.  We took the job and have not looked back.  Now we are dreaming of where to go for our retirement.  I recently fell in love with Portland, OR and I did not even have to say a word he just looked at me and said "we are going to retire here aren't we?" Yes! we are.

old friends

Heidi and I have been friends since our children were young.  I was around when she had the two youngest. They are more like family.  It was wonderful to see them.

 These two love birds were married this year and they were absolutely adorable.

 Laughing and being goofy is what we do best.

 Just the boys.

One last one that I could not resist including.

the ranch

 My sister in law's home where we stayed.

There were a couple of these cute little bridges throughout the property.

I loved walking across them or I would just watch the water flow underneath them.  It was all so very serene.

The ranch cat....I can't remember her name.  We mostly just called her kitty.  She hated people...most of them anyway.  She would snuggle my legs when I was working on something but ignored me most other times.

 The horses were fun to watch in the evenings.  They came close in the morning and ran in the evenings. 

I'm obsessed with inspiration boards.  I love to see what inspires others.  It is always so different.  This one is Tricia's.  I loved it.

Tricia never does anything half way.  They had a little open house for me at an adorable little shop called Jane & Main.  Tricia made gourmet rice crispy treats for the occasion.  (Oreo, Neapolitan, and Oh Henry)  I tell her that she is Martha Stewart on steroids.

 

Oops I almost forgot about Larry.  He was a naughty bull on a Ranch that bordered the Eardley Ranch.  He was so entertaining.  He had such personality I could spot him a mile away.  I decided he deserved a name, a name like Larry.  Gotta love that Larry!