mo: The Long Drive North

After the field season ended, I took a job at the school on the other side of the island and rode the bus to work most days. Alex and I were caretakers of the bunkhouse and special ed aides at the school throughout the winter. Eventually our island resources ran out and we found that we would imminently have nowhere to live or work that could support staying on the island. We decided to move north to Anchorage where we knew work and housing were plentiful. We moved over spring break.

First order of business: hmmm.....we seem to have no way to transport the sea kayaks we purchased on the island. Solution: home made rack on Alex's rig.

Next: finish canning the berries you picked all summer and had in the freezer because they will not travel well frozen. Stay up very late or don't sleep at all so you get all the packing and cleaning done before you load your vehicles on the ferry in the wee hours.

Commence to riding ferry. Get off at every stop and let Tatonka pee. This is Sitka's ferry terminal, the one town I really wanted to see because my grandpa lived here before I was born. We had a very short stop here and arrived at darkfall. Guess I will have to go back.

The first part of the drive is on the marine highway (ferry), which did not run all the way to Whittier this early in the year, so we got off in Haines and drove. It was overcast and nasty weather for the ferry ride, so this view was a welcome respit.

I know that some of you will not be at all surprised to hear that while we were peacefully watching Mr. Magorium's Magical Emporium in the theatre, they announced a rescue drill.

Eventually we landed on solid ground and the drive began. Though we technically never left Alaska, for some reason this welcome to Alaska sign greeted us.

Also, we sighted a rare black weiner dog. Or perhaps his human is playing with fun camera angels because she is rummy from several days on the ferry and waking up at all hours to run downstairs and run up wet cold docks to let him pee on a new island.

Not far down the road we are welcomed to Canada. I love the Yukon. Not a province, you know, but a territory.

We spent Easter in Canada. Any guesss where? You didn't know there was a geography quiz hidden in here, did you? We were very grateful that Tatonka was not in my truck as the lock was frozen on the canopy. Also, very bummed that most of the food was in my truck and no stores were open.

Then the driving got fun. Apparently road plow crews get Easter off. Alex is directly in front of me, but the snow is a little heavy. We drove several hundred miles at 25 m.p.h.

And then suddenly it cleared up. This was such an amazing view for us as SE has lots of trees and close peaks that you never really see anything like this.