A Southern Belle in Seville, Spain

                                                          A Southern Belle in Seville Spain

I would like for this blog to not be boring as most travel blogs are. They tell you the history and fill you full of details about where they have been and what they have seen and I will do that too but I hope to make it "fun" as well. My first days in Spain were spent in Madrid then I moved to Seville and finally settling in at Utera. Today I'm going to talk about Seville.

Seville is actually the capital of the province of Andalusia. It has a population of over seven hundred thousand. It is the only river port of Spain. It was founded by the Romans and fell to the Arabs in the year 712 A.D. under whose rule, it flourished and became the capital of the Almoravid dynasty.

Now your thinking Blah, Blah, Blah OK, an off-peak visit during winter visit can be exciting and entertaining. First the weather is wonderful this time of year as it can get very hot in the summer months. Also no crowds anywhere you go, which equals no waiting in line. So now back to boring. I feel like my readers need a mini history lesson.

 Seville was ruled by the Arabs until the middle of the 13th century and you can still see their influence everywhere in the city in the decorations on the walls of homes, in the courtyards where flowers and small fountains abound. 

The Cathedral of Seville is breath-taking, it is a gorgeous and massive structure. I loved this place and the really funny thing to me was in all of my time planning my move to Spain I never thought about Christopher Columbus and the significant role he played in the discovery of our country. However once I got there I was like I can't believe I never thought about this especially since I was born on Columbus day!

Back to the facts ! It is said that it was built primarily to show off the wealth and influence of Seville as a major trading center in the fifteenth century.  It is filled with history and shows a magnificent display of the artistic craftsmanship. In 1898, the Cathedral would add to its celebrity and fame when it became the final resting place of the remains of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506).

After the "discovery" of the Americas in 1492, Seville would assume unprecedented prominence. It would become a flourishing economic center because its port literally held the monopoly of trade and commerce with the outside world. Also, in the year 1519, it would be from the port of Seville that Ferdinand Magellan would set sail on his historic voyage around the world. Today Seville is famous for three prized World Heritage Sites: the Alcazar Fortress, the Cathedral de Seville and the General Archives of the Indies.

However, I found this very interesting.... The Cathedral of Seville, was not the original resting place of the famous explorer. Christopher Columbus, who died in 1506 at Valladolid, Spain, was actually buried in that small city. When it was learned that Christopher Columbus during his life-time, expressed the wish to be buried in the 'New World'  ( in Santo Domingo) his remains were shipped to the New World. But when war broke out between France and Spain and Santo Domingo was ceded to the French, the remains of Columbus were moved to the island of Cuba where they remained until 1898. They remained there until the U.S. went to war with Cuba, the Spaniards felt that Columbus was too important a figure in their history (don't you think that is funny?) to let his remains fall into American hands. So, in 1898, Columbus who, in his life time, had made four voyages to the Americas, made a fifth and final trip back to Spain, where his remains would be put to rest permanently in the Cathedral of Seville. His remains are housed in a magnificent sarcophagus borne by four figures each representing one of the four provinces that made Spain then Castillo, Aragon, Navarro and Leon. Christopher Columbus is one of the reasons why thousands of tourists flock to the Cathedral of Seville every year. It is a must see in Seville!

 Now the Giralda was built by the Arabs in the image of the minaret of the Mosque of Marrakesh, Morocco,(Which is on my bucket list) and was the work of the famous Arab architect, Ben Ahmad Baso. His work on the minaret was begun in 1184 and completed fourteen years later. It is one of the two remarkable landmarks of the Arabs still standing in Seville. The other one is the Alcazar Fortress and Palace, which was actually built by the Almohades and was known as the Al-Muwarak. You must not miss this if you ever get to Seville!

The Palace is well preserved and is still used as an official residence by the royal family of Spain. It has been the residence of Spanish royalty since the Middle Ages. It is also recognized as the oldest palace in Europe. The outer walls and portions of the interior are part of the original Moorish fortress. The stunning Hall of the Ambassadors, one of the main rooms used for public events and affairs of state, is also one of the areas remaining from the original palace, so the walls date from the 11th century. This is the room where Ferdinand and Isabella welcomed Columbus upon his return from his first voyage to the New World. When I walked through the gates it hit me that this was were the discovery of  the Americas really began.

Now last but not least one of my favorite places...The Plaza de España .... It is a massive semicircular structure located in the heart of Seville. There are several ornate footbridges that cross an artificial moat (you can even take a boat ride).The plaza is immediately southeast of the Universidad de Seville, between the Parque de Maria Luisa and the Guadalquivir River.  It was one of the main constructions and symbols of the Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair that took place in Seville in 1929. There is a series of 48 tiled alcoves or benches, each representing a Spanish province and four bridges, each one representing the four ancient kingdoms of Spain (Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarra).  It appeared a mere 48 seconds of Episode II's Star Wars as Naboo. It is one of the most beautiful man made places I've ever seen. Second only to the Parthenon  in Greece.

I will say that spending Christmas in Spain is enchanting and something I won't ever forget.

 

A Southern Belle in Madrid, Spain

The Capital of Spain is Madrid and I can tell you it's vibrant, noisy and chaotic! It is also full of old European charm and friendly people. So where do I begin to tell you about this amazing city?

As my usual style I hit the ground running, jet lag didn't stop me at all! My first good look at Spain from the airplane had me fascinated! It truly is the land of the old Western movies. I did do some research and many of the old west movies were made here. I thought of New Mexico and West Texas when I looked over the landscape but I'm getting off track so back to beautiful Madrid. After a quick stop at the hotel to drop off my luggage my friend and I jumped on the metro to head to the city center for sight seeing.The best, and most old-fashioned way to see the city is by foot and after sitting on the plane for 7 hours I needed the walk.

My first stop was The Royal Palace and to say it was impressive would be an understatement. The massive, bright-white Royal Palace (Palacio Real) on the Plaza de Oriente in Madrid dates from 1734, when the 3,000-roomed royal residence was commissioned by Philip V. It was last called 'home' by the royal family in 1931 - the present king, Juan Carlos, lives in the more subdued Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid. Most of the rooms are now open to the public, and others are used for state business. Tours are run regularly, lasting about two hours, taking visitors to the reception room, apartments, armoury and the royal pharmacy. The grandiose state apartments are filled with art treasures, antiques and opulent Rococo decor that could even rival Versailles. This is what they say as I have never been to Versailles I must take their word on subject and can only say it's "Stunning".

Plaza Mayor Madrid's famous central arcaded square dates from 1619 and was built by Philip III, whose statue still stands in the centre of the cobbled expanse. In medieval times the Plaza de Arrabal, as it was then known, was the venue for numerous public spectacles, ranging from knights' tournaments and festivals to the burning of heretics at the stake. Today it remains a public gathering place, but the majority of people who congregate in the sidewalk cafes to sip sangria on summer nights are tourists, enjoying impromptu music performances and watching the passing parade. At Christmas time this place is filled with street vendors hocking their wares and enjoying the smell of chestnuts roasting over an open flame. I purchased some from a street vendor and they were warm and delicious. While you are strolling through you can enjoy watching the entertainment as that is as varied as the city itself. Mimes, musicians,and comedic acts all line the plaza.

The Times Square of Spain, Puerta del Sol is the official centre of Madrid and a must see, where visitors can take in such famous landmarks as the El Oso y El Madroño, a 20-ton statue of a bear eating fruits off a Madrono tree and a large equestrian statue of King Carlos III. I will freely confess that I liked the lighted sign of "Metropolis" and joked as I looked around for the man of steel. OK bad joke but still if you enjoy Superman then maybe getting your picture under the sign would be fun for you.

My good friend Pipar wanted to make sure I visited the museums for her. OK truthfully I about got museum-ed (not sure if that's a word) out on our trip to Italy! I must say I "KNOW" I saw all the museums in that country! I did take a stroll down "The Paseo del Arte (Art Walk)" it links the three art museums that make up Madrid's famous "Golden Triangle", namely Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornomisza, where the works of such Spanish masters as Picasso can be viewed. I will freely confess I did not enter one single museum. I did however take pictures for her and felt obliged to include this in my blog even though I'm still a little "burned out" it is one of the cities top attractions.

 

A Southern Belle on a KISS KRUISE II

You know I love to blog and never find a shortage of things to blog about. I thought this trip on the Norwegian pearl was one of the most daring, interesting, and ultimately the most outrages trip I have ever taken in my life. So... I'm going to share with you the adventure of my very first Kiss Kruise.

First let me say this if you have ever heard the Three Dog Night song "mama told me not to come”. Well I think I should have listened to her good advice! LOL I saw stuff I ain't never seen before! Starting with the blond in the hot tub on the first night! She starts coming out of her clothes and then another girl joins the show and before it is all said and done they are making out in the hot tub! One guy was trying to take pictures of this and he was so shook up all his pictures came out blurry. I'm sure the mere thought of what he was seeing still gets him exicted. Of course the cruise line photographer got some very good shots as she put all her asscets right in his face he just couldn't keep his hands from shaking to take snapshots! I know every man who witnessed this event just had their fantasies fulfilled! I mean really two women making out in a hot tub for your own viewing pleasure and not a video! Live! Yes, there were a lot of happy men that night!

I had purchased a T-shirt some time back (I thought it was cute) it said "What's a nice girl like me doing in a place like this"? I put that on my second day on the cruise! Some guy stopped me and wanted his picture taken with me and his egg...Yes you heard right an egg??? I told you it was a strange trip. I also talked to some other folks who liked to bring travel buddies...A stuffed monkey and a chicken?? I wonder now if that is where the egg came from or was it the other way around??? LOL

I did meet some very nice people as well. My German friends who are Kiss Kruisers! They were such a wonderful couple. I had been to Germany many times and to show you how really small our world is, when I told him where I had traveled to while I was there on my many trips it was the same area they were from Vilseck, Amberg, Grafenwohr. I also had the pleasure of meeting Peter from the land down under. Yes, Australia and he was from Melbourne and I had not had the privilege of traveling to that part of Australia yet but we had much to talk about as I had seen quite a bit of his country. Very nice bloke! I talked to many people on that ship and even spoke with someone who had escaped Hurricane Sandy to take this trip. She said there is nothing I could do had I stayed so why not come on this trip? Whatever was going to happen to my house she said would happen whether I'm there or not? I told her I felt like she made the right call. I'm sure she has had a mess when she got back home and she probably needed the break before heading back to the devastation.

 I did have some funny things happen to me… As most of you know from reading my past blogs I’m not a huge Rock and Roll fan but I do enjoy it. KISS is not really my group I’m more a Bon Jovi, AC/DC, VanHalen, Steppenwolf kind of gal. So when I was standing at the elevators getting ready to go up I saw these three guys come out of the crew passage way. One guy was wearing a blue bathrobe and one guy was named Doc. Now forgive me for my ignorance but I truly had no idea who they were? Considering that the infirmary was on that floor I just thought the guy got sick maybe had too much to drink and his friends were helping him after someone else said this guys name Paul. I started thinking and told my story to someone who was a KISS fan Darrel (LOL) and then he informed me after many questions of what they looked like that I had an encounter with Paul Stanley and his manager Doc (not the Doctor of the ship like I presumed). Oh well a girl can’t know everything???? I also had someone point out Gene Simmons wife when we were on Cozumel, Mexico at the Mayan Indian ruins. Ok I know I should know her name after all I did watch “Family Jewels”. Ahh… Shannon…Right?

Also I want to thank Adri for all her hard work at the Hard Rock Café. She put together a Bon Voyage party for the KISS Kruisers. Her hard work, devotion and attention to detail produced an amazing event! I must say it was a pleasure to meet you and I will not soon forget the nickname you gave me “The Saint” too funny!

I got to meet some great bands “LeoGun” they were very nice young men having the time of their lives. I got to attend an superb concert (by KISS of course), getting a photo opportunity with the band as well.  I had the pleasure of meeting many new and wonderful people. Chip it was a great getting to know you and sailing the high seas together, likewise to Mike and your beautiful wife Jenna.

I got to see the picturesque island of Cozumel Mexico, the  charming Mayan Ruins as well as the stunning beach and  gorgeous Carribean Sea. Warm weather, cool drinks, excellent music and great company! Who could ask for anything more?

This was a very interesting trip to say the least and I do enjoy things being just a little different. Thanks all my Krazy Kiss Kruisers...You are the best!

A Southern Belle Just Searching for love

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.


~Saint Augustine


A person comes to love not by finding the perfect person but in loving the imperfect person perfectly.






I have blogged about love before but this blog is different. It’s not just about finding love it’s about discovering the love inside of ourselves and not looking to another human being to satisfy that need. It’s about finding the love of God to begin with…Agape (unconditional) love...and Eros (passionate) love... Phileo (friendship) love... and Storge (affection) love.


Let’s go to the beginning...


As children our greatest teachers are our parents. We learn what we live. If our parents have a blessed marriage and work through the hard times together, then we learn to do that also. If they are combative and working at cross purposes, we learn that as well.


Our parents also teach us about our self worth and how to love others, if our parents are patience and kind, then we will learn those things. If they are always yelling and making us feel inadequate then we will pass that along as well. We are all a product of our environment to a certain extent. Our parents lay the foundation of how we love. We may overcome those obstacles and learn to love differently or not.


We need to understand how our childhood affects the choice we make in love. I know for me I chose someone a lot like my father. First I want everyone to understand that I loved my father dearly and that I do not seek to dishonor him in death. I will just state the truth simply and sincerely. He was one of the hardest working men I have ever known. He was loyal and honest. He was committed to his family and he loved us to the best of his ability.


My father was a flawed human just like all of us are. His flaws were his temper and violent nature. He was not a very affection man. He loved all his children but he never showed it physically. Hugs and kisses were foreign to him.


I grew up accepting that love was; someone making sure your physical needs were taken care of (at least from the male standpoint), also that violence against women was acceptable.


My mother on the other hand was quite the opposite she gave everything she was capable of to her children. My mother once told me that we were the only thing in her life that just belonged to her and that she could love us with all her heart. She said that when we were little we would just fill her heart up with innocent love with just a hug or kiss.


I find that true in my own life when I need a love “fix” now I just go get those sweet grandsons of mine and my heart will just burst with love after some time spent with them. I get enough hugs and kisses from them (sometimes sticky). One I love you from those little guys will have my heart melting.


I have learned diverse things about love from two totally different people. I would say that made me a little conflicted about what “real” love is. I grew up not really giving any thought to what kind of man I might marry or indeed how would we even work together to make a marriage work. I never thought about what I needed from him to feel loved and cherished or what I could give to him to make him feel that way.


There is a book called the 5 love languages by Gary Chapman. I did not run across this book until recently and found it very interesting. Our five love languages: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. I have discovered mine are Quality Time and Physical Touch. The reason I call attention to this book is because I think it’s important to know these things.


As a child my mother always displayed her love for me as well as telling me. I understand now why those things are important to me. It’s what I grew up with and how I knew I was loved by her. When I got married I never got those things from my husband and felt unloved and unwanted.


My grandchildren now fill that void in my life; physical touch and words of affirmation. That satisfies the temporal part of my life but what about the spiritual? To find deeper meaning we must look to God.


Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (NIV) ~1 John 4:8


This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (NIV) ~1 John 3:16


God is love, how simple is that? He loved us enough to give his only son for our salvation. That type of love eludes me; could I die for my children? Yes, without a doubt. I think most parents would say yes to that. That is love; the willingness to give your life for that person but to give my children’s life for anyone is beyond my scope of reasoning.


All of us want to love like Jesus. We want to be generous, forgiving, and compassionate enough to love people unconditionally. But no matter how hard we try, somehow we fall short. Our humanness gets in the way.


God loves us, we are his children. Like all parents he teaches us he gives us instruction on how to love each other and ourselves. Learning to love ourselves like God loves us is one of the hardest things for me. I understand loving my children, parents and spouse but self love was elusive to me.


Why I thought I deserved less from myself and other people was why I decided to write this. I am a child of God and even if no one ever loves me again in this life I’m OK with that because I have His love. He loves me and that really is enough. We are never alone as long as we allow our Heavenly Father into our life.


That is once again agape (unconditional) love. What about Eros (passionate) love? I know my ex husband loved me that way. He used to tell me that no woman on this earth did to him what I did. We had a turbulent love life but it was passionate. I discovered you need more than just passion to sustain a relationship. You need friendship, honesty, respect, and commitment.


I don’t think anyone wants to lead a solitary life. I’m a passionate person, I want a husband and home of my own again. I want like everyone else to have that extraordinary bond with another human being. I want to love like Jesus; unconditional, to give my heart totally to someone who will cherish my love and protect my heart.


I want that man to feel the same way about me. I want to look at them and declare from the depths of my soul that you are the man I adore even with all your faults. How can anyone truly love another without accepting their faults?


The bible states: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails ... (NIV) ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4–8


What would it feel like to have that kind of love? How do we achieve that kind of love? How do we break the patterns of our past to achieve that kind of love?


I will confess I’m afraid; afraid of disappointing someone and not being good enough. I hate that I feel this way even after all this time. I understand the why’s and certainly will do my best but I’m human and will fail. I just do not want someone ever again to make me feel that I have to be perfect in order to be loved.


Will someone be able to love me enough to help me get past the feelings of inadequacy that I have? Only God knows the answer to that and with His help, he will send the perfect; imperfect person for me and I will love them perfectly.


What about Phileo (friendship)?


This is where I have been deeply blessed. God has given me so many amazing people in my life to call my friends. I’m truly humbled by his generous gift. These people are honest, caring, and truly love me just the way I am faults included. God has enriched my lives with these people.


There are truly many times that I ask myself what have I ever done to deserve to call these people my friends? I care about my friends at least in part because of the good qualities of their characters that I discovered them to have. I find joy in their successes, frustration and disappointment in their failures. They are an important part of my life; we have mutual acknowledgment of love for each other.


Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.~Anais Nin


What about Storge (Affection)?


I think to sum everything up here would be all love of any kind should be affection love. This should enhance the love we all feel for each other. Love for our children, love for our friends and love for our mate. Sometimes ever for a person in need… I think Mother Teresa says it best… This is what real love is all about. Love for the human race…


Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.~ Mother Teresa

The Alaska Highway or Alaskan-Canadian Highway Part 2

As most of you know if you read my last post about Alaska it was a little long but I wanted to put my journal in this blog. That way my children and myself have another record of that trip. Plus I thought my readers might want the rest of the story. So on North we go with that very long but amazing adventure...

August 5,1994 Day 6: We woke up about 9:00 this morning and I needed to finish the laundry. I didn’t get it finished the night before and we were all out of shorts. Who would have thought that it would have been 100 degrees in Alaska! I do think we all feel better this morning after a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast. We had eggs, bacon, hash browns and homemade sourdough toast! Yummy! All the bread we have eaten is homemade. I mean where is the sunbeam truck going to come from? We did stop in Whitehorse in the Yukon and buy some supplies. Everyday we pass numerous rivers and lakes. We drove about 10 hours today and got very tired. The roads are awful! Elizabeth and I tried to sit in the back of the camper but we kept bouncing up and down and both are backsides are sore! We didn’t stop for dinner we just fixed a sandwich and ate on the road. We were so glad when we crossed over into Alaska that Marty got out and kissed the sign. This has been a dream of his for so long and I’m glad we got to share it with him. We took lots of pictures. The man working the border station was raised in Lithia Springs, Georgia. What are the chances of that? I mean 3 miles from where we live! Well we finally made it to Tok, Alaska at 11:00 pm and got a room for the night. It was a very nice, comfortable room. We were ready for bed it had been a grueling pace we set and everyone was exhausted. We changed our watches again and were now on Alaska Time. With daylight coming at 4:00 am and sunset at 12:00 it seems like we never sleep!

 

 My sister Elizabeth and me...

  

I loved the rustic look of the remote town!

August 6,1994 Day7:Today was a wonderful day! We all slept late (except Marty) we didn’t get out of bed until 10:00. We got dressed when we got up and went to the Bear Paw to see the Alaskan husky puppies. They have real sled dogs and in the evenings they put on a show. So we decided right away to go back and see the show tonight. We bought a few souvenirs at their shop then went in search of lunch. We decided to stay in Tok one more night. We decided to take a side trip that afternoon to chicken; Alaska population is 37 people and 1 grumpy old man. We decided to pan for gold and see if we could find our fortunes. We didn’t find anything but gold flakes and a lot of mud. Jake of course had the most fun. He stripped off down to his underwear and t-shirt and sat right down in the middle of the creek and had the best time. Marty and I had to give him a bath with the water in our water can before we would let him back in the truck. There were other people there as well and we all laughed and joked about striking it rich. You have about as much chance of finding a large nugget as you do of winning the lottery but I will say it was way more fun than the lottery. On the way back from Chicken we spotted a gray Timberwolves just staring at us from the road. I got out and took a picture he seemed very curious about us.  After we got back from Chicken we went to watch the dog sled show. Joshua really loved this. We were all amazed that they could pull so much weight.  We have really enjoyed our visit here in Tok; tomorrow it’s off to Fairbanks. My back hurts, my head hurts, and I think I have a UTI. I’m sure at this point I will be dead in another week and the way my luck is going Marty will bury me here! J

 

 

 

 

Looking for gold...

 

 Bath time in Alaska J

 

August 7,1994 Day 8: We got up about 8:00 this morning and headed to the Famous North Star restaurant for breakfast. It was yummy but way too much food! We were stuffed! After breakfast we head off to Fairbanks! It’s only 200 miles! Woo Hoo!!! Now as Marty and I were driving down the road discussing world peace and saving the planet (LOL) J something caught my attention in the woods and I said "What the hell is" when Marty slammed on the brakes as a Gigantic (at least to me) moose stepped in front of our truck! She could look right over the cab of the truck she was so big! I was in shock! Then just as she decides to mosey on her way her baby stepped out behind her! This little fellow stood chest high with the truck. Marty and I both looked at each other and busted out laughing as we yelled for the kids to look! Yes I would say we had an up close and personal meeting with the wildlife of Alaska that day! A little farther down the road we come to the North Pole! Yes folks Santa does live in the North Pole and the kids got their pictures made and told him what they wanted for Christmas. Santa even asked me if I had been a good girl and of course I replied "always". Santa Claus land was a neat place to visit and we even took the kids to McDonalds for dinner. They were a happy bunch of kids. I did have a moment when I saw those golden arches myself as I realized we were finally back in civilization! Now back on the road to Fairbanks! Just a bit farther down the road I spot the elusive sign...It said...YOU HAVE FINALLY REACHED THE END OF THE ALASKAN HIGHWAY!!!!  I thought I heard angels singing at that moment as I saw a shinning light beam upon the sign! Yes praise the lawd we have finally arrived! Well my joy was fleeting as I heard Marty say this is a great adventure and now we get to do it all over again on the way back!!!!!!!!!



Yes HOLY SHIT! I had died and gone down the highway to hell! Oh well I guess I will just sit back and enjoy the ride... Life is like that you just have to enjoy every minute whether is roses or rain. Marty is right what a great adventure!

 

 

This is my favorite picture of these two guys...

 

Look at the guys...Ahhh... What wonderful memories we made on that trip...

 

"Without travel I would have wound up a little ignorant white Southern female, which was not my idea of a good life." ~ Lauren Hutton ~ Can I get an amen on this quote?

 

 

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." ~ Helen Keller

 

 

The Alaska Highway or Alaskan-Canadian Highway

The Alaskan – Canadian, ALCAN or Alaska Highway is a long route built during world war two to help get equipment and personal to Alaska. It was completed in 1942. It begins at the junction of the Canadian highway in Dawson Creek via Whitehorse, Yukon and is 1,387 miles long today in 1994 it was 1,500 miles long. They will tell you it is all paved road now… BUT in 1994 it was not… It is the only driving route into Alaska and in 1994 I had the pleasure of traveling along this route with my husband then (Marty), two sons (Jake & Josh) and my sister (Elizabeth). We had a camper shell on the back of the truck and an abundance of excitement for the adventure we were about to embark upon. I kept a journal of that trip and it was that journal that prompted me to write today about that astonishing expedition.



ALCAN Highway 1994

July 31, 1994, Day One: It is 12:30 am… Creak, creak, rattle, rattle, that’s my memories of our first hours on the road as Elizabeth and I were riding in the camper as we head toward Alaska.  In truth the noise didn’t even bother us, the only time we woke up is when Marty hit a pothole and we became airborne as we were flying in the air we thought “What the hell”. With that wake up call we peered out the window and saw the stainless arch of St Louis reaching up to the beautiful midnight sky. The riverboats were all ablaze in light and my sister was awed by the sight. I have to tell you as many times as I had seen the arch of St Louis it was still a breathtaking sight to behold. We drove all night and at sunrise I was driving through Kansas City, Kansas. When we had stopped for gas earlier Marty wanted to take a nap and was in the back of the camper. We had a signal to let the driver know we were ready to get out of the camper. It was simple turn the flashlight on and off and the driver would stop (remember 1994 NO cell phones). Marty had just signaled for me to stop and I pulled over and he is coming out of the camper “I feel like a pioneer in a runaway stagecoach” he said laughing. Well after a few more hours of driving he decided he needed to sleep and was willing to give the old camper one more try. Here we go again I make it about 200 miles when I spot the flashlight out of the corner of my eye and the frantic waving of his arms. He was ready to get out again. At this point I’m thinking of hiding the flashlight the next time he gets back there so he has to stay put. We were never going to get there at this rate. When I stop and let him out this time he said” I felt like I was in a clothes drier and it was on fluff and high heat at that”. The trip was pretty uneventful after that. We had midnight in St Louis, dawn in Kansas City, a thunderstorm in Cheyenne, and sunset in Wheatland, Wyoming what a great adventure so far.

  
 August 1, 1994, Day Two: We start out today with 1,200 miles behind us and 3,000 in front of us! We leave Wheatland, Wyoming this morning headed north to Alaska. The landscape is changing as fast as the miles fall behind us. There are unbelievable rolling hills and plains as far as the eyes can see. The vastness of this land makes you feel insignificant. Joshua summed it up best when he said “This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen and the greatest adventure of my life”. I understood completely. We continued to drive passing through the Crow Indian reservation and Little Big Horn. We stopped and let the kids have a look around. Montana is a beautiful state. We stopped in Hardin Montana for gas and when I got back from the bathroom Marty asked “Do I have talk to me wrote on my forehead”? I laughed and replied “No, Why”? He said “ A man started talking to me at the gas pumps and I didn’t think he was ever going to shut up and I had the same problem this morning in Wyoming at the grocery store, I didn’t think he would stop talking either”. He said “My theory is people stayed snowed in all winter and when they do catch somebody still that they are making up for lost time”. A little farther down the road we spot the elusive Buffalo. The kids were so excited so we had to stop and let them see it was sunset and it was a brilliant sight to behold at the end of the day. We drive on and stop in Great Falls, Montana for the night. We get a room at the Comfort Inn and it has an indoor pool for the kids to enjoy. They needed it after two days in the truck… the natives were getting restless. We traveled 600 more miles today now only 2,400 to go!

August 2, 1994, Day Three: What a day! I’m ready to turn back; I have traveled far enough with 2 kids and a teenager! I glanced at the map today and from Montana to Alaska it is 2,400 miles and then depression set in! I tried to take a vote to see if I was the only one who wanted to go back and I was out voted 3 to 2, my 5 year old Jake voted with me he was ready to go back home too.  They would not let me drive today out of fear that I would turn around and head south (smart people) so onward North we went. Marty had a crazed look in his eyes he said “we will make it to the beginning of the ALCAN highway tonight” I have some serious doubts about his sanity and mine at this moment. I think this is cruel and unusual punishment (at least that is what I will tell the divorce lawyer). My mind is hard at work on ways to get even with Marty when we get back south, the way things are looking right now that may never happen. We traveled 720 miles today and watched the sun set at 10:45 pm while we fell asleep at a roadside park.  We are only 180 miles from the beginning of the ALCAN highway! Then the real adventure begins starting with the fact that it is 1,500 miles long! Jesus Christ I will be insane when I get there. I now understand why people stay when they get there. I mean who would really want to do this again!

August 3, 1994 Day Four: We started back on the road again this morning at 6:00 am. We finally got to Dawson Creek British Columbia at 9:00 am. We have to set our watches back another hour. We are now on Pacific Time. We got to the world Famous Alaskan Highway and I must confess the fatigue fell away and was replaced with renewed excitement. We took lots of pictures and visited the museum. So we are officially on our way to Fairbanks Alaska via the ALCAN highway! The scenery is breathtaking… Marty is stopping often and letting us just enjoy the vastness of the wildness we are exploring. There was a cute poem I read at the Museum it went like this. Winding in and winding out, fills my mind with serious doubt, as to whether the lout who built this route, was going to hell or coming out! I can relate to that, we finally cross over the Rocky Mountains today as they have flanked us on our left the last 2 days. I have never seen anything in my life to compare with the incredible beauty of these mountains; it literally took my breath away. I’m at once awed and amazed at the vastness of this raw wildness. You cannot explain this in mere words. You have to experience it to fully comprend the magnificence. We traveled 540 miles today and have stopped at the Tetsa River to camp for the night. The sound of the river is soothing after days on the road. We walk down to the river and the water is so cold it numbed our feet. They do however have a pump in camp so we decided to use it to wash off the dirt of the road. It was cold but felt wonderful! Joshua decides he wants to wash his hair in the pump water, by the time he got the shampoo out of his hair his poor head was numb! Poor Baby! He had a terrible brain freeze! Well we all took a little nature walk and then had a dinner by campfire. We had a guest show up and filled us in on all of the land we would be traveling through. He was a little creepy; he had seem my sister in the camper about a hundred miles back and followed us to the campsite. Marty locked Elizabeth, boys and me in the truck that night. He was gone when we awoke the next morning. OK now we only have 1,280 miles until Fairbanks, Alaska! Whoo! Hoo!

 

 August 4, 1994 Day5: Marty woke me up at 6:00 to help him pack the tent and bedding up. The kids all slept in the back of the truck so we didn't have to wake them up. We had a note on the windshield from Doug telling us to enjoy our vacation and to be on the lookout for wildlife. We were on the lookout and we found  we found them! Caribou (lots of them) and Dall sheep, one very large moose and a huge black bear! The moose was in a small lake feeding. You see a thing like that on TV but it is pretty amazing to see it in real life. We drove to the Hot Springs in Liard and that was awesome! I have never been to a natural hot springs before but after many days on the road it was pure heaven to soak all the soreness out of my muscles. We ate at a place called Trapper Rays and the food was delicious. The people were so friendly. We really enjoyed that! After we left there we hadn't got down the road 10 miles when we came upon an accident. A group of guys were traveling on their motorcycles’ and this guy John got in some loose gravel and lost control of his bike and went off the shoulder. He was hurt. Marty and I both thought maybe he broke something. Marty of course stopped to help. We did what we could but he could not walk without help. So the guys put him in the back of our truck and we took him back to the hot springs. I mean who know where the nearest hospital is??? We took him to the hot springs and his friend followed us and then rode back to where his friend’s bike was and drove it back. You know the really sad thing was this guy was laying there hurt on the side of the road and people were just driving by! Oh well! We passed Muncho Lake today and it was really beautiful. We also crossed into the Yukon today. I think we are all getting a little road weary. We stopped at Rancheria Falls and took some pictures. We had to take a small hike to get there but we needed it! We decided to try and find a room for the night. We all needed a shower and bed. We stopped in Teslin. The room was small but very clean. It looked like heaven to me. Before this trip I might have thought it a dump but a few days without running water and a bed will change your mind. Well only 679 miles to Fairbanks! We should cross over into Alaska tomorrow! Thank God!