So, we started the day off with a great start. We were headed to Seward where we were going to meet up with Christy, Leeman and the triplets. On the way, we planned several different locations to stop for photo ops. Then this happened! My favorite lens. The one I use the most! I apparently did not have it positioned safely no my seat as I was putting other items back in the camera bag. This has to to be the worst thing I could have ever expected. I wanted to cry but I knew that would not help. It’s not easy buying special lens for special cameras. It’s not easy buying any camera equipment because all the camera shops are closed. Anyway, I have to make do with what I have.

We stopped at so many places along the way for photo ops.

It was overcast and windy but at least the rain held out. The last picture is where we are camping for 2 nights. What a view.

There she is! She was 90 miles away from us here.

Melissa flew in and her flight was delayed so we didn’t get back from the airport until about 2:30am. We planned to get an early start to Denali for one day. And it was a beautiful day. We took a bus up to Savage River and on the way our guide stopped for us all to get a shot.

This was a great hike. A two mile loop trail which we were told was level–it was quite obvious someone doesn’t know what level means. Either way it was fun. After that we took the bus back to the visitor center and had lunch and then went to Triple Lake Trail. Triple Lake Trail is actually a 9 mile trail but, we were told most people walk to the second bridge and turn around. That sounded great to us so we did that to get one more mile in.

I honestly didn’t take a lot of pictures that day–I don’t know why. It was fun and we had a great time then headed back to camp to meet up with Mike and Judy.

I know my titles are so original everyone is going to want me to name things for them–don’t, it is really hard for me. I know it looks so easy but I actually get really stumped on that part of my blog.

We finally made it to Alaska!!! It was a long day but we made it. Talk about exciting! It was a bit more relaxing this leg. We found a campground in Tok, Alaska. It has to be my favorite campsite–that I paid for-so far.

Every night the owner has a pancake tossing contest to win $10 off breakfast. We all joined in and tried our luck to no avail. Tossing pancakes is not as easy as it looks and I must say, he made us go last because we bought the last of his favorite ice cream and we got all the limp pancakes. Click here to see John tossing pancakes. Even though we did not get a discount we did eat pancakes at the SourDough Pancake Porch the next morning.

On the way to Fairbanks we had to pass through the North Pole, Alaska. It may be July but we all had to visit Santa Claus.

After leaving the North Pole we only had 15-20 minutes to our campsite aka someone’s yard. We used Boondockers and this host is amazing. He had so many people here with issues: one lost all his power and was about to lose all the food in his fridge. A couple people had to stay longer because they lost their reservations at Denali due to the fires. And then there was Judy and Mike and me and John. John and I are actually in his front yard. Oh and he has a “guest” staying in his camper in his back yard.

John and I went to House of Fire Pizza for a NY style pizza–OMG! We also ran over to the REI–we can literally see it from our camper but we have to go around because there is a creek between us. After that we drove around a bit because John was here about 10 years ago and he wanted to show me around. He actually remembered where some things were. The next morning John took me and Judy to Northern Threads to go quilt shopping. He dropped us off while he went to pick up some things from Wal-mart. I bought some fabric and two patterns and called John. He wasn’t ready so I walked around the store and sure enough found something I forgot to buy. After my second purchase, I continued to walk around and would you believe I found something else that I forgot to buy. Whew, so glad John wasn’t ready or I would have missed some things. Only bad thing about this trip to the quilt store is I had to pay for everything because John wasn’t there to step up to the register. I am going to have to re think my trips to quilt stores. After the quilt store we went back to the camper and had some leftover pizza and then headed to the Ice Museum in Fairbanks. Very cool–literally. John was the only one brave enough to slide down the ice slide. John and I went over to the Pioneer Park and walked around, then went for a train ride and stopped at the museum which just happened to be having a quilt show. WHAT??? This could not have been planned better. OMG! Such beautiful quilts–I need to go back to the quilt store. Tonight Judy and Mike brought over a brisket and we had dinner together in our camper and we planned our next leg or should I say next night. We have a lot of plans but we left tomorrow open until the last minute because Mike really likes a little mystery when traveling. I like to accommodate.

Make sure you zoom in on that last picture–it is hilarious. I almost forgot. The first night we came here we had to do some laundry. John found this laundry mat that really was the bomb diggity of laundry mats. If you ever have to do laundry while in Fairbanks, Alaska this is where you need to go. It was way more than John wanted to spend–duh! But so worth it.

And then, before I go, I just can’t help myself in pointing this out. Just for the record this happens where ever we go. John pulls up to a parking space and says something like, “this will work.” He can never find something closer. In all honesty, I don’t mind walking but I just think it is so funny that he picks them like that.

Yup, nothing closer here or here.