Ending and Beginning Anew

Things get emotional, personal and teary at this point.  It could not be avoided.  On this trip, experience and emotion were bottled, fermented and then released like a cork from the neck of a fine champagne.  All the pictures are at the end of the text this time.  If you are following you'll understand that's the way this entry should be published.

One more almost sunset, one more early sunrise, another sparkling day and one more leg of the trip.  Tim n dad broke camp and drove the relatively few miles left to Wasilla.


The drive up Turnagain Arm did not lack for "Wow!" moments but each seemed more contemplative as the final miles passed beneath the wheels.

Passing through Anchorage one could not help but remark at how uncivilized it seemed.  Four lane highway, aggressive drivers, urban sprawl from the Pipeline days with only the lovely Cugach range to relieve the eyes.  Dad drove briefly by our old home, not much changed, and then on to daughter's house, just down the street from Sarah's in-laws home.

Mom had flown into Anchorage the night before and was waiting to celebrate our arrival.  Nephew-grandson had been impatiently waiting a Grandma-promised lunch out,so, after a couple rounds of hugs, we loaded them into our View and headed off to Red Robin for burgers and fries.  It was not nearly as much fun as we'd thought.

A few hours later, however, we'd agreed on a plan to extend the trip one more day.  We retraced our way south to Girdwood and dinner with our Alaska family and friends at the Double Musky, the Last Great American Roadhouse; classic New Orleans dishes made with Alaska seafood and the best pepper steak anywhere.

From there it was but 20 minutes further south to a state campground on Portage Creek.  Dad, Mom, Tim and grandson chopped wood, made fire, roasted marshmallows for s'mores and told stories about this trip, past trips, growing together in Alaska and the special place it will always hold in our hearts.

We all slept well, rose early and returned to Wasilla for a recovery day, cleaning up DaRV, doing laundry (there was lots), playing with nephew, a home-cooked dinner of steaks and fresh halibut, wine, music and dance.  It was a most fitting end to TimnDad's excellent Alaska Adventure and prelude to mom and dad's return.

The following morning we had time to loll around the house, play and laugh some more.  Then it was time to send Tim to the airport and get back on the road.

Tomorrow, Tim closes his part of this travel-blog.