Topic: travel
Well, Loyal Reader, here's my trip to Alaska as promised. We left from Falls Church, VA. Somewhere on the PA Turnpike on Day 1 we lost our car-top carrier (and our tents and sleeping bags too). After a day on the road we made it as far as Rockford, IL. I was traveling with my Uncle Bob, his friend, and her 3 kids. South Dakota was next. We saw the Badlands, Black Hills, including Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Then off to Custer National Battlefield (now Little Bighorn since Custer didn't win, why should he get to name it?) and a late night ride to Missoula, MT.
A day later and we were in Seattle. Next, my first flight, up to Anchorage. I slept through it. Arrival in Alaska was a shock as it was in the 70's and people were wearing shorts. I had on a winter coat. The highlights in Alaska included Earthquake Park (a neighborhood devestated and buried by the 1964 earthquake), Denali National Park (too a really great hike there), a glacier somewhere, and panning for gold.
After 6 or 7 days in Alaska we flew back to Seattle. I played mini golf at Seattle Center and hit a hole in one on the next hole. Headed back east, we first went south to Portland, passing through Pierce County, home to Heather and her family who I didn't know yet.
We cut east across Oregon and Idaho and made our way to Yellowstone. I can't wait to go back. Geysers, mudpots, hot springs, elk..... You have to go there yourself. Continuing east, we rode horses in Cheyenne. The pronghorns were everywhere. There's a pony Express station in Nebraska we visited. I had lunch with a chipmunk in Iowa.
Chicago the second time through was more fun than the first. Westbound we drove through in a thunderstorm. Eastbound, we spent the day. No signs of Ferris Beuller though. The Field Museum had a huge Egyptian exhibit. It was like being in ancient Egypt. I also saw the Buckingham (Al Bundy) Fountain in Lincoln (not Linkin) Park. Indiana brought us to Notre Dame's Touchdown Jesus and First Down Moses.
After another night of camping, I was home and the journey of a lifetime was over. Fret not, my Loyal Reader. For in just 2 short years I would be crossing the country with the same cast of characters. Read about 1992's Grand Canyon Expedition tomorrow!
