DAY 43 BEAR BAGGED

Day 43. Today we visited the state-of-the-art Yukon Flats Medical Center. In the midst of a fairly laid back and rugged village it is houses the most recent medical technology to provide distance care to ten villages in the Yukon Flats. The center is five years in the making and primarily funded with federal dollars. It houses a doctor, dentist, optometrist, remote conferencing with the villages, travel office (to transport patients), and a number of patient rooms. Truly impressive! It is the northern-most medical center in the United States. In our evening walk a couple of fellows passed us pulling a trailer with their ATV. On the bed of the trailer was a bear! There had been reports of a bear on the outskirts of town for several days. Apparently they finally caught up with it. Bear, along with moose and salmon, are a staple in the village diet. While we haven't had any bear (yet), I'm sure that bear will end up on someone's plate soon. It was a bit of a strange site seeing a dead bear on the back of a trailer being pulled through town. Life is a little different up here!

DAY 40, 41 AND 42 JUNE 26, 27 AND 28

June 26. We have settled into a routine here in Fort Yukon. In the morning I go to the Tribal Office for internet access. In the afternoon we go to the grocery, visit with villagers, and see sights. In the evening we go for a walk and enjoy the country. It is a different pace of life from St. Louis, but there is a rhythm and pace which has an appeal to many. Our highlight of the day was visiting with the Deacon of St. Stephens, Theresa Thomas. She helped fill in some of the blanks we have about the people and the area. We are learning more each day. We found out today that we did not miss the barge, that it had come in today. So after supper we went down to the Yukon River and saw the barge. Actually there were two: a fuel barge (jet fuel, unleaded, diesel) and a cargo barge. Barges arrive from Tanana about three times in the summer (while the Yukon is ice free) with all the heavier items that cannot be shipped via airplane.

June 27. I spend the morning preparing for worship tomorrow. I will preach on the Gospel reading, Mark 5:21-43, on the theme "Do not fear, only believe." Took some nice pictures in the afternoon before being driven inside by the mosquitoes. Spent a quiet evening making final preparations for worship.

June 28. There were 26 in worship this morning. We had an organist this morning which added much enthusiasm to the singing. During the announcement I invited everyone to take some of the children's books we had brought with us from CPH. To our delight most of the books were taken by the time we left the church. Thanks to CPH for donating these books to the good people at St. Stephens in Fort Yukon. In the afternoon the deacon and I visited an ailing member of the church. We spoke to our children during the afternoon and evening and reflected on our first full week in Fort Yukon. We have met many good people and enjoyed our time here. At the same time, we will enjoy our trip home (via another route) and appreciate all that we have at home.

DAY 38 AND 39 JUNE 24 AND 25

June 24. Today was my birthday. I got a great birthday present in active phone service today. We were able to call all our children. It was good to hear their voices. One of the ladies from St. Stephens invited us over to her home for birthday dinner: roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas, homemade bread, and rhubarb/strawberry pie. Delicious! Afterwards we hosted a Bible study at our house for the church and community. We had a small turnout but a large outpouring of the Spirit. All in all it was a blessed day.

June 25. This was a slow day. The weather has turned cool and wet. It rained hard yesterday and remains overcast with highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's. We missed the annual fuel barge which was only in town for a day. We continue to explore Fort Yukon on our walks. There are a surprising number of roads for not connection with the outside world. The roads always have cars and ATV's on them. We think people drive just for the fresh air. Later in the evening one of the gals from last night's Bible study came by with her niece and two children. The people here struggle with many issues. For the people of faith you sense a very real understanding of dependence upon God. We would all do well to embrace such dependence, which is the truth, rather than become comfortable in our independence.

Next update: Monday, June 29. The Tribal Office is closed for the weekend. Have a blessed weekend and uplifting worship!

DAY 37 FISH WHEELS

Day 37. Fort Yukon is readying itself for the annual run of king salmon. The people build fish wheels which rotate in the Yukon river and systematically pull great catches of fish from the river. Reminds of Jesus instructing the disciples to cast their nets one more time, at which they caught so many fish their nets were tearing. The people here catch a year's worth of fish in a few days in this way. Salmon and moose are the main staple in their diet, along with the vegetables they raise in their gardens. Food in the grocery store here is extremely expensive (e.g. a 12-pack of Pepsi is $10.99). The average household income is less than $40,000, so many here take advantage of the subsistence provision for native Alaskans. This allows them to hunt and fish for personal use, a provision not afforded to non-natives and visitors. It is a good arrangement, since unemployment in Fort Yukon is 50% in the summer and 80% in the winter. The main summer work, other than governmental, is fire fighting. Late in the day we take the bus tour of Fort Yukon that Warbelow Airlines arranges for tourists wanting to fly above the Arctic circle.

DAY 36 KFUO

Day 36. We got up early for the KFUO call in. 11 a.m. cst is 8 a.m. in Fort Yukon. The phone connection was good and the program went well. It was good to hear Chuck Rathert's voice, and a bonus to have Pastor Greg call in with his whip-cracking comments! What good news that Pastor Jeff will remain with us at Christ Memorial. You might tell him that his high regard for the chancel schedule is appreciated (unlike the attitude of our senior pastor), but he has to work on his attitude regarding the dress code! Later in the day we had a nice visit with the lay minister who has been our unofficial host. After supper we received a phone and tv. Unfortunately, neither work because there is no active phone or satellite service. Hopefull they will be operational tomorrow.

DAY 34 JUNE 20 FORT YUKON

Day 34. We're finally back online! We do not have internet connectivity in our home, and the only public site is a very slow computer in the Tribal Office. But slow is better than none... We broke camp early on Saturday morning, met Anna Frank at Zion Lutheran Church (where we're storing our car), and were taken to the airport. We flew into Fort Yukon on a 12 passenger Warbelow 2-prop plane. Half the seats were taken out for cargo and we were the only passengers. The flight was uneventful, although in such a small plane you feel every air current. A bit uncomfortable. We were met at the airport by a representative from St. Stephens and taken to our home. It is modest but comfortable. When I asked her who was conducting worship tomorrow, she replied, "why you, of course." Back in the saddle on the fast track!

DAY 33 JUNE 19 FAIRBANKS

Day 33. We got up early and headed back for Fairbanks today. We hoped to yet see Denali on our trip past the park on the Parks Highways. No such luck. Once again the mountain was shrouded in clouds. We have a couple more opportunities before we leave Alaska. We remain hopeful. We arrived in Fairbanks around 3:30 p.m. We stopped at the Episcopal District Office to confirm arrangements for tomorrow. We fly out at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. It will be a one hour flight to Fort Yukon. We really won't know any details about accomodations or expectations until we arrive, which is a bit unsettling. However, God has not brought us this far to drop the ball now. While 3 1/2 weeks sounds like an eternity now, I suspect the time will fly by and we will leave Fort Yukon with many cherished memories. We don't know if we will have comupter connectivity, so INTOAFARCOUNTRY.BLOGSPOT.COM may not be able to be updated. We will do our best, including seeking out alternatives (library, internet cafe, etc.), to keep you posted on our experience. Thanks for your prayers and good wishes through the duration of the sabbatical. We have learned through this experience how little control one has over their circumstances. For instance, after setting up our tent late this afternoon, it proceeded to rain--perhaps the hardest we have experienced since leaving St. Louis. God has a funny sense of humor! All's well that ends well. It is 8:30 p.m. and it now appears the rain is over and the sun is coming out. Walking by faith is a bit stressful. We'll have plenty to talk about when we get home. In the mean time, God's blessings.

Mileage for the day: 388 miles. Mileage for the trip: 6,737 miles.

DAY 32 JUNE 18 PANNING FOR GOLD

Day 32. Today marks one month since we left St. Louis. We spent the day panning for gold. We were given a sample pouch with a few gold flakes in it to get us started. We panned our hearts out at Crow Creek Gold Mine, but to no avail. It gave us an appreciation for how much work goes into panning. By the time we were done our legs were sore, our backs hurt, and our spirits were dampened. Regardless, the experience was fun. The girls did some last minute shopping. Then we went to an Anchorage well known diner for supper: The Lucy Wishbone. Great pan fried chicken! We then took the girls to the airport and relunctantly bid them goodbye. May the angels fly with you. Tomorrow we head back to Fairbanks to make final preparations for our flight to Fort Yukon on Saturday. We have to remember to put on our dramamine patches tomorrow night--the plane will be small that takes us to Fort Yukon. We are a bit anxious about this next chapter in the sabbatical but trust that God will use it for good according to his promise.

Miles for the day: 106 miles. Miles for the trip: 6,349 miles.

DAYS 29, 30, 31 DENALI NATIONAL PARK

Day 29 (June 15). We drove 239 miles north from Anchorage today to Denali National Park. The drive was filled with anticipation at seeing the park and hopefully a glimpse at the highest peak in North America and the tallest mountain in the world. The drive was uneventful. After checking in to our cabin we proceeded to the Denali Visitor Center for orientation, followed by a trip to the Wilderness Center to pick up our tickets for the shuttle bus ride to Wonder Lake tomorrow. We're praying for clear skies.
Mileage for the day: 239 miles. Mileage for the trip: 5,885 miles.

Day 30 (June 16). We got up early to take the 9:15 a.m. shuttle to Wonder Lake. The bus was full. We brought all provisions for an eleven hour trip which covered 86 miles into the heart of the park. The trip into the park did not reveal too much wildlife and the Mountain (Denali) was shrouded in clouds. We are disappointed but not surprised. Denali is visible only about 20% of the time. The locals say Denali makes its own weather. My take on it is that Denali is shy. Regardless, we see some spectacular scenary. On the way back from Wonder Lake we have some great (up close) animal sightings: several caribou, two malmots, dozen+ dall sheep, three moose, several golden eagles, and five grizzly bears. Two of the grizzlies crossed the road right in front of our bus. These are awesome animals and it was quite a thrill to be up close to them in their natural habitat. One stood up to its full height (8+ feet) as it was pursuing a snowshoe hare. Hopefully the pictures turn out alright. We got back to the cabin after 10 p.m., exhausted but exhillerated.
Mileage for the day: 84 miles. Mileage for the trip: 5,969 miles.

Day 31 (June 17). We get up early again today so that we can see the first demonstration of dog sledding at Denali. This is a program of long standing in the park and very popular. We got to see the huskies up close and got to pet a number of them. The ranger explained the history and rationale for maintain a husky kennel and sledding program (snow mobiles are not allowed in the park so sled dogs are used for transportation in the winter). The ranger then hitched a team and took the sled around a course for a demonstration. Very interesting. We saw the interpretive movie on Denali at the Visitor Center, bought some final souvenirs, and headed for Anchorage. We arrived around 4:30 p.m., checked into our hotel, and got some supper. After supper we went for a dip in the hotel pool and relaxed for the balance of the evening. The girls fly home tomorrow evening.
Mileage for the day: 274 miles. Mileage for the trip: 6,243 miles.

DAY 28 WHITTIER CRUISE JUNE 14

Day 28. We woke up early, got ready and were on our way to Whittier by 9:30 a.m. We went through the Whittier tunnel at 10:45 and browsed Whittier until we boarded the Emerald Queen at 12:45. The skies were mostly cloudy, but we were told that was good so that we would see more colors (especially blue) in the glaciers. They were right. The sights were remarkable, especially of calving glaciers and waterfalls. The seas were mostly calm, the US Forest Service Ranger was very knowledgeable, and the salmon and prime rib dinner was tasty. We traveled 22 miles into Prince William Sound before returning. All agreed it was a memorable day. We ended the day with pizza at Moose Tooth Pizza and Brewery. We are tired but elated by the day. Tomorrow we check out and head for Denali. The 10 p.m. weather report said high pressure and clearing skies. We're keeping our fingers crossed! By the way, it is 10:45 p.m. and the sun is still up a long way in the sky. It looks like 6:00 p.m. in full summer in St. Louis. Good thing we have light darkening drapes in the room.

Mileage for the day: 198 miles
Mileage for the trip: 5,646 miles

DAY 27 JUNE 13

Day 27. The girls arrived around 8:00 p.m., tired but happy to be in Anchorage. We took them out for a late supper and lights were out by 11:00 p.m. (although that was 2:00 a.m. midwest time). The morning started slowly but picked up steam as the day went on. Following brunch we went to the Anchorage Farmers Market and Craft Fair. There were many authentic Alaskan crafts and displays and it was a great place for souvenirs. We then went to the Chugach State Park and Thunderfalls for a hike back to the falls. The exercise was good and the scenery was very impressive. We ate supper at the same seafood restaurant that we ate at before leaving Anchorage last year after our family reunion. Hillery had halibut fish and chips which she was determined to have. All the selections were very good. Tomorrow we leave early for Whittier and the Major Marine Cruise of Prince William Sound. I am hopeful for a clear day but the forecast has rain in it. We will see.

DAY 26 ANCHORAGE JUNE 12

Day 26. We left Valdez under the same overcast skies we saw when we woke up Wednesday morning. We didn't appreciate how rare clear skies might be when we arrived there Tuesday night to clear skies. Regardless, the drive from Valdez to Glenallen was spectacular even with overcast skies--perhaps the best drive of our trip to date. We stopped at the Wrangle-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center outside of Glenallen and watched the interpretive movie of the park. Six times the size of Yellowstone! However, that will need to wait for another trip. The drive to Anchorage was uneventful with intermittent rain. We arrived around 4:30 p.m. and checked in to our hotel. No camping while our daughters are in town. Their flight is running about 1 1/2 hours late, so we're waiting awhile at the hotel. We will take them to dinner after their flight arrives around 8 p.m. Tomorrow is Anchorage sight seeing and preparations for a glacier cruise on Prince William Sound on Sunday. Our spirits our high even though the skies our overcast.

Mileage for the day: 342 miles
Mileage for the trip: 5,448 miles

DAYS 24 AND 25 JUNE 10 AND 11

Day 24. We woke up to overcast skies and a low cloud deck--just a few hundred feet. It was cool and a bit depressing after the gorgeous scenery we had seen just the night before. So we opted to do something we had been talking about for a number of days: we washed our sleeping bags. The drying took forever... But after sleeping in them for three weeks, it was time. We also saw a movie on the making of the Alaska pipeline. What a monumental undertaking. It was constructed from 1974 to 1977; do you remember what you were doing or listening to progress while it was going on? We drove around Valdez Bay to the entrance of the pipeline terminal, but that's as far as you can go. We were told that along the bay drive you can see lots of bear, but we didn't see any. We have plenty of time for more wildlife viewing.

Day 25. Today is equally overcast, but there are some glimpses of blue sky. We're hopeful that as the day goes on the skies will clear. We want to see another movie today on the 1964 Alaska earthquake. It was the largest on record in North America, somewhere between upper 8 and lower 9 on the Richter scale. It totally wiped out the town of Valdez. The current town was rebuilt after the earthquake and resulting tsunami about four miles further up the bay. We also have laundry to do and final arrangement to make for our daughters' arrival tomorrow. We drive to Anchorage tomorrow and they arrive around 6:30 p.m. It will feel different sleeping in a bed after sleeping in a tent the past three weeks. I hope we don't get spoiled!

DAY 23 VALDEZ

Day 23. We met with Anna Frank this morning. She is the coordinator for native missions for the Diocese of Alaska. We received our orientation to Fort Yukon. We fly in Saturday afternoon, June 20. I will be assisting 80 year old Rev. Mardo Solomon. She was most interested in my teaching confirmation and doing shut-in visits. In general she is hoping that I will be able to inject some new life into the congregation which has been in decline. By the Spirit's leading I will do what I can. She thought we should be able to enjoy some cariboo which were migrating north of Fort Yukon earlier this spring. There might also be opportunity to enjoy some moose. I'm looking forward to it although Gail is more cautious. After our meeting we headed for Valdez on Prince William Sound on the Gulf of Alaska. It was a 7 1/2 hour drive through the most spectacular country we have seen to date. The road winds its way through the Wrangle and St. Elias Mountains and there will snow peaks and even glaciers on either side of the road. We had to drive slower than the speed limit to soak it all in. It was almost like walking through a cathedral. Our destination, Valdez, is the terminal for all the oil coming from Prudhoe Bay. Unfortunately since 9/11 they now longer allow tours of the facility. Through Valdez flows 1/10 of all the oil consumed daily in the United States. It is a massive operation. Valdez itself is primarily a fishing destination with many charters going out daily. We found a nice campground, ate a late supper, and retired around 11:00 p.m. (while it was still light).

Mileage for the day: 472 miles
Mileage for the trip: 5,106 miles

DAY 22 MUSEUM OF THE NORTH UA FAIRBANKS

Day 22. We started the day with a trip to the Fairbanks Visitor Center for a viewing of Fairbanks at -40 degrees. It was a most interesting presentation of life in the far north in the dead of winter. Interestingly, there is a lot of life up here eveb when the thermometer drops to -20, -40, even -60 on occasion. They know how to dress for the weather and they cultivate outdoor activities. Many of the sourdoughs tell us they wouldn't live anywhere else. Then we proceeded to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. This is an excellent museum of life and culture and history of this most interesting part of the country. We spent five hours there and they time flew by. We returned to our campsite to rest for a moment and then met Glen and Karen Eiler, son and daughter-in-law of Bud and Eunice Eiler. We went to the Red Fox Pizza Parlor for supper and had a great visit comparing notes on family, weather, and plans for the future. Glen and Karen were gracious hosts and treated us to some real Fairbanks hospitality. We promised to call them after we come out of the bush at Fort Yukon. Tomorrow we have our Fort Yukon orientation with Anna Frank and then head out for Valdez. On the raod again...

DAY 21 JUNE 7 SABBATH REST

Day 21. We were up late listening to boats on the Chena River (right beyond our campsite) while the sun was shining down on us at midnight. The night was chillier than we thought it wold be but warmed up nicely in the morning. We attended contemporary worship at Zion Lutheran Church. It was very similar in format to Christ Memorial's. Afterwards we went to the Pioneer Park in Fairbanks for an afternoon of relaxation and phone calls to family. This evening we discovered that our campground has phone line internet connectivity so we're able to update the blog before the public library opens tomorrow. Tomorrow we visit the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska and have dinner with Glen and Karen Eiler (Bud and Eunice Eiler's son and daughter-in-law). Tuesday we meet with Anna Frank for our Fort Yukon orientation and then head out for Valdez. Valdez is on the Gulf of Alaska and is the terminus of the Alaska pipeline. Through Valdez flows 1/10 of all the oil used in the United States--quite and operation. Friday we head of Anchorage to meet our daughters who will be flying in from Chicago and St. Louis. It should be another busy week! The sermon this morning (Trinity Sunday) was on the Holy Trinity. How thankful we are to know the God who made this remarkable world, the God who redeemed it and us at such great price, and the God who invites us into a relationship with Him , a relationship that will have no end and that anticipates the renewal of all creation in the age which is to come. Our God is an awesome God...

DAY 20/ JUNE 6 REPAIR AND REGROUP

Day 20. We woke up this morning to discover we had a flat tire on the rear right. The Haul Road took its toll. We were told to bring a full size spare if you drove it (actually two if you drive all the way to Prudhoe Bay). The advise was good. I put the spare on the car, drove to the Sams Club in Fairbanks, and had the tire patched. Fortunately it was repairable. They told me there that many tires coming off the Dalton Highway are unrepairable because of the size of the puntures. Ours was small and repaired in short order. Following that and some shopping, we retired to the laundrymat to prepare for next week. Tomorrow we visit Zion Lutheran Church in Fairbanks, where we will be storing our car while in Fort Yukon. The weather is cool (lower 60's) and overcast, but it has not rained yet today. My shoes have developed a hole over the course of the trip. I believe we will be shoe shopping tonight. Until then I'm avoiding puddles! Best wishes to all.

DAY 19/JUNE 5 ARCTIC CIRCLE

Day 19. Today was quite the adventure. We got up early, ate a quick breakfast at the campsite (juice, breakfast bar, fruit, coffee), and headed out for the Dalton Highway (the "Haul Road") and the Arctic Circle. The Dalton Highway, which goes all the way to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean, bisects the Arctic Circle around mile 200. It was some of the roughest road we have ever driven. To be sure, some if it was paved (although broken up with frost boils). But the majority was packed dirt and gravel. It took us five hours to drive the 200 miles, and I felt we made pretty good time. At the Arctic Circle there is a pull-off with rest area and signficant display marking the spot. We set the camera on the tripod and got a couple of good shots of us there. On the way back we got certificates authenticating that we have been to the Arctic Circle. By the time we got back to Fairbanks (7 p.m.) the car was covered in dirt. So the first order was to get a car wash, followed quickly by food. Needless to say, we slept very soundly last night, even with light rain falling. I'm happy to report that our tent is water tight and nothing got wet inside the tent.

Mileage for the day: 511 miles
Mileage for the trip: 4,584 miles

DAY 18 DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR FAIRBANKS

Day 18. Today we had an eventful day. We contacted Anna Frank and set up our orientation to Fort Yukon for next Tuesday, June 9, at 10:00 a.m. We contacted Don Treakle, LAMP-US pilot. We visited Zion Lutheran Church and introduced ourselves to the staff. Then we went on a 3 1/2 steamboat and cultural tour of Fairbanks via the Chena River. The tour was simply excellent and a strong recommendation to anyone visiting Fairbanks. It included a dog sled demonstration by the family of a former iditerod champion and presentations by native Alaskans on the Athabascan culture both before and after the introduction of western culture. The river cruise was on the paddlewheeler Discovery, run by a three-generation family. This evening we rest up for our drive to the Artic Circle tomorrow. The temperatures have been warm--we regisetered 82 on our car thermometer after the river cruise. Our plan is to leave Fairbanks next Tuesday and work our way down to Anchorage, where we will meet up with our daughters on Friday. Thanks for all your comments, prayers, and good wishes.

DAY 17 NORTH POLE, AK

Day 17. Today we visited the North Pole! Not the magnetic north pole, but North Pole, Alaska, which is about 10 miles out of Fairbanks going south on the Richardson Highway. North Pole is repleat with Santa's house, candy cane light posts, and Christmas decorations throughout the small town. The attraction for us was to send postcards to our small nieces and nephews depicting Santa's house (in winter) and postmarked from "North Pole, AK". They should bring a smile when they arrive. We have concluded, upon further research, that it will be too difficult and costly to travel to the Artic Ocean. As a compromise, we plan to drive to the Artic Circle on the Dalton Highway, about 1/3 the distance to Prudhoe Bay. We are not equipped with the necesssary emergency equipment should we have a breakdown along the Dalton Highway. Perhaps we will do in on another trip in the future. Tomorrow we plan to take the Discovery Steamboat up the Chena River which flows through Fairbanks. It is a 3 1/2 hour tour revealing the history of the city and its earlier inhabitants. The weather today has been perfect with highs in the mid 70's. The low last night had to be in the low to mid 50's--perfect for camping. Even the mosquitoes have not been too bad, although we did break out the Deet last night. We are looking forward to seeing our daughters, who will be flying up on June 12 for a week. Plenty to see in the mean time...

DAY 16 FAIRBANKS, AK

Day 16. The night in Delta Junction was cool--low 40's--but comfortable. We had a casual morning including repeat trip to the visitor center to purchase some memorabilia commemorating our completion of driving the Alaska Highway. By late morning it was off to Fairbanks. We had our first sighting of the Alaska pipeline--impressive. We arrived in Fairbanks mid-afternoon. The weather is warm--mid to upper 70's. We are camping at the River's Edge RV campground, which is very nice. We are now researching the best way to get to the Arctic Ocean at Prudhoe Bay. It is a public road but a bit rough. The literature cautions about flat tires and broken windshields. In addition, Prudhoe Bay itself is private property; it is owned by the oil companies. So we will need special authorization to reach the Arctic Ocean. In addition, after 9/11 security was tightened. We have been told we will need to fax our identification up at least 24 hours in advance to receive clearance. It all sounds pretty complicated. But I am determined to do it because of what I have read we will see along the way. We also want to collect a vial of sand from the Arctic Ocean to add to our collection. In addition to Prudhoe Bay, we want to take the Discovery Riverboat tour, visit North Pole, Alaska (about 10 miles outside Fairbanks), and possibly take the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Denali National Park. We have been blessed with very good weather for which we are very thankful. There are many things outside of our control. Thankfully, everything is under God's control. We are counting on that. Tomorrow we continue our preparations from Fairbanks.

Mileage for the day: 122 miles
Mileage for the trip: 4,073 miles

DAY 15 DELTA JUNCTION, AK

Day 15. The night in Tok was chilly but not nearly as cold as Haines Junction. We woke up refreshed and ready for the journey. While breaking camp I received a call from Anna Frank, the administrator for the Alaska diocese of the Episcopal Church. She is the one coordinating our time at St. Stephens Episcopal Mission Church in Fort Yukon. We confirmed flight in (June 20) and out (July 14) arrangements as well as an initial meeting on June 11. We will camp while in Fairbanks; the apartment she had offered was not in working order. If the highs in Fairbanks remain in the 60's and lows in the 40's, it should be very pleasant. We left Tok for Delta Junction, the end of the Alaska Highway. We arrived around 2 p.m., having completed 1,721 miles--the entire length of the Alaska/Alcan Highway. We will purchase a bumper sticker declaring the same and proudly display it for all to see! We are now attending to some much needed laundry. We will drive the concluding 100 miles to Fairbanks tomorrow and set up camp for the next several days. After seeing the sights in and around Fairbanks we will plan our next adventure: A trip to the Artic Ocean! More on that to come. Thanks to all for your comments, your concern, and your prayers. We have been blessed with dry weather if a bit cold, good health, and no car problems. And through it all we have seen some spectacular country.

Mileage for the day: 115 miles
Mileage for the trip: 3,951 miles

DAY 14 TOK, AK

Day 14. Saturday night was bitter cold in Haines Junction. Even with sleeping bags rated to 0 degrees we froze. You could see your breath in the morning, so I'm guessing the low was around 30 degrees. It took half the day to thaw out! We broke camp late and spent the day driving the worst part of the Alcan Highway. From Destruction Bay to Beaver Creek the road is in very poor shape because of the permafrost. East year the road bed heaves and produces all manner of pits, depressions and upheavals, and just bad driving conditions. We were able to drive 50 mph a good deal of the stretch although it was like driving an obstacle course. We ate supper at Buckshot Betty's in Beaver Creek (a recommendation from my brother, Bruce) and continued on to Tok in the good old US of A. A bonus upon arrival was that we once again had cell phone service. Canada has Northwestel, a system that does not cooperate with USA carriers. We found a nice campground with hot showers and retired early for the night. Forcast low was 40 degrees. It should be okay.

Mileage for the day: 300 miles
Mileage for the trip: 3,836 miles