Dawson Creek to Wasilla

Her first bath in almost two weeks. She was such a trooper for the entire trip!
Pine trees covered in snow, thousands and thousands of miles of this...
Yes Mr Buffalo you are in our way.
I think there were probably 50-60 in this herd
Many miles of up and down and turns like this. So glad we didn't have much snow.

I am going to sum up the rest of the trip pretty quickly as there isn't a whole lot to say. We drove, stopped, ate slept and drove some more. We went from Lethbridge Alberta, to Dawson Creek, Ft. Nelson, to Watson Lake, to Beaver Creek, and then into Wasilla. All of the places we stayed were very tiny, some towns a population of 150. Tiny Tiny Tiny. I really didn't think that places so small existed. Places that to get to the next town it's a 6 hour drive and that's a town of 300 people. A strange existence. By the time we left Lethbridge I was so nervous that the car was going to break down again I couldn't eat, not good considering that I'm still nursing Lilly. I think I lost about 10 lbs on this trip. Mike was amazing, he drove every mile, I didn't sit in the drivers seat once, not ONCE! We had heard many horror stories about the roads and that it was going to be terrible and in places it was pretty bad but Mike says never as bad as he thought it was going to get. We got lucky and didn't have to deal with much weather. The roads were fairly clear, though slick in the early morning. We saw lots and lots of pine trees covered in snow, thousands of miles of pine trees covered in snow and I must say that I am glad the the pine trees here in Wasilla aren't covered in snow. We saw a couple moose, and several herds of buffalo/bison and a lynx (sorry no picture).

I feel like I should recount more of this story but I just don't feel like writing it all. The memories are not fond ones. I am saddened at how disappointing the trip was, though not lacking for excitement, it wasn't at all what we expected. So unfortunately our drive across the Alcan highway was more about getting to our destination than enjoying the drive.

It's never too late...

Ok so now that we have been in Alaska for a week, are settled into our house, have all of our appliances and internet. I feel I should write a little about our "adventure"

Well an adventure it was we were on the road for 8 days, 7 nights. 1 1/2 of those days were spent waiting on car repairs, 5 of those days required car repairs so only the last three days went as planned. We got lucky and had fantastic weather except for about 50 miles inside the Alaskan border. Considering all of the car problems (some major, some minor, and will be recounted for as I go) we made great time, and both swear we will NEVER do it again. We are disappointed and feel a little ripped off that we had to do it in the winter the first time. I'm positive that it would be incredible in the summer. Pictures are few as we started and stopped in the dark, most of what I do have are through the car windshield.

That said, we are thrilled to be here. We love the house, though the drive to Anchorage for Mike every day will take some getting used to. Hamilton is liking the cold and Lilly has become quite the little snow bunny. She spends a lot of time in her little snow suit and her new hat with ear flaps attached.

(I'm starting from the beginning)

The second first day of our trip went very well, we left Nellis on the 14th of January, 8 days after we had planned. Alan and Lauri followed and we made it to Idaho Falls Idaho just fine.

Mile 99 north of Vegas, we only made it to 97 the first go round !!!
Hamilton nice and cozy with Lilly

We stopped for the night, got up early the next morning and headed to Butte Montana, stopped there for breakfast, got the trailer lights fixed sent Alan and Lauri on their way and stopped to get some oil change stuff and both noticed a funny clanking sound when we parked. I had heard it a few times but I don't usually say much as I assume that he hears it all and if he's not worried why should I be. Well he's concerned and I guess hadn't noticed it before. He takes a look and notices that the nut the holds the ball for the hitch is about three threads from falliing off. Not good, disaster averted and I get a very nice lecture of "if you hear something, tell me" Point taken!

Sunrise on our way to Butte

Mike fixing the hitch
On the way to Lethbridge
The place we stopped to get the lights fixed, what a name huh?
another scenery shot (I have lots of these)

So supplies picked up, hitch fixed, gassed up on we go. Into Canada, all is well. An off the cuff remark of how glad we are that the excitement is over and all of the sudden the truck stops, no engine power, nothing happens when he pushes the pedal... (this story is recounted in a former blog post) That problem got fixed, it was major in that it cost us 2 nights in a hotel and a taxi ride and repair shop fees but the problem itself was minor. So the morning of the 17th we were on the road again. Nervous but on the road. Maybe I will write about that tomorrow.

Cold, bleak, and windy as all get it, shortly after this we broke down and life got a little more exciting and the reality of what we were doing really started to sink in.

Happier thoughts

Yesterdays post was a bit dismal I think. I am feeling better today. Mike got one leaking seal fixed yesterday and is at the shop right now getting another small leak fixed and maybe getting some new lights put on so we can extend our driving time.

I am feeling a bit less nervous today. This truly is an adventure. Yesterdays drive really was pretty and I am glad that I am taking pictures. I am sure when we are settled in Alaska I will look back and be amazed at the places we got to see. People out here are so nice and helpful. Such a change from Las Vegas. We asked a couple in Subway where they would get their car fixed and they were more than happy to offer their opinion. Mike went to an auto parts shop looking for a seal and they didn't have it. So the owner of the store call his competitor to check for it... not many people do that.

Like I said in the previous post todays drive will be the most dangerous, but also the most beautiful. I am going to try to enjoy it and maybe I'll see another moose.

Day 13...

So it has been 13 days since we moved out of our house in Vegas and started our trip. However 8 of those days were spent in temporary housing in Las Vegas. Tonight we are in Fort Nelson BC Canada, population 7,000. (I think) We only drove about 6 hours today. The drive is getting harder, we are definitely in the mountains. I think tomorrow will be the hardest of all, the maps look to show it with lots of turns and ups and downs. The blazer is leaking in a couple areas, Mike is out getting one of them fixed right now and then has an appointment for first thing tomorrow morning. So hopefully we will be on the road before noon and can make it to Watson Lake before dark.

I am nervous all the time. Not sure why exactly. Maybe it's the unknown mixed with the fear of the car breaking again. Mike tells me I shouldn't be worried. Maybe it's that nothing on this trip has gone as planned, guess that shows I shouldn't plan. I am trying to remember that God is in control and He will keep us safe. I pray a lot for safety and peace, and then I pray some more for strength for my husband, and then a little more for peace.

I had no idea that this would be so intimidating to me. It feels worse at night once the sun goes down. Like right now. I have also been sitting in a hotel room for several hours with nothing to do but think about what is going on. Maybe I should find something else to do :-)

Thanks for reading and thanks for prayers. I am only getting through this with Gods help!

Hannah

On the road again...and broke down again...

So we left Thursday the 14th from Vegas with Alan and Lauri following and made it easily to Idaho Falls Idaho. No problems except for trailer lights that didn't work, and about 2o miles in the dark in very dense falls. Lilly and Hamilton did well. Friday started out very well we left before 5 and made it to Butte Montana. We stopped and got the lights fixed and had breakfast at Starbucks with Alan and Lauri before we parted ways, us to the north into Canada and they to the North West to pick up airplane wings. We made it into Canada no problems everything was fine. And then it happened... about 30 miles south of our destination for the evening, Mike and I were talking about the "excitement" of our trip being over and now all we had to do was drive when he looked at me and I knew something was wrong, the engine had died. He had no power steering, nothing happened when he stepped on the gas. He pulled over... the truck wouldn't start we were done. Panic set in for a few moments and then, having some very recent experience with such matters, we called the insurance company got a tow truck and a taxi and then we sat, and sat and sat, fortunately the wind had died down though it was still cold. Mike jumped out and flagged a car down to make sure we had given the tow and taxi drivers a correct location. About 2 hours later the taxi showed up and then the tow truck. We got checked into a our hotel and the tow truck driver took the truck to a reliable shop and dropped off and locked up our trailer in their parking lot. The repair guy called us last night, they were still at work having a beer when the truck was dropped off, after a few minute of "what happened" talk with Mike he said he was thinking it was the fuel pump and would bump us to priority in the morning and let us know as soon as he knew what was going on.

We are safe and warm and staying here again tonight. Hopefully we can get on the road again tomorrow.

What an adventure we are having.