Saturday, May 5, 2012

It all started in 1977

In Olathe, Kansas around a kitchen table in 1977 (or so), Claude Jinks spun a  tale of his adventures on the Alaskan Highway.  Mostly bad, gravel road, through an exotic land......"and you better take plenty of spare tires......" - I was hooked.    I took the fold out map from his Milespost magazine and hung it on the wall in my room, vowing to myself I'd do the highway very soon.

That was 35 years ago.

This January 1st I was making a list of things I'd like to do.  There is was again as it had been many times before - ALASKA.  But this time, it was different.  It stuck me that:
1. I'm single and don't have to coordinate the trip with someone
2. My youngest graduates high school in May (presumably) and wants to move out anyway.
3. I'm turning 50 and what a better way to celebrate.
4. I have the rest of my life to be practical, pragmatic and work.
5. I might get hit by a train tomorrow (or worse)

Thus, it was decided........ALASKA summer of 2012.


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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 6, 2012 at 7:57 PM

    I had no idea! How did I miss that story all these years?

    ReplyDelete
  2. nancyguthrieMay 12, 2012 at 9:34 AM

    Okay. Now I was on that trip. I bet Denise and I played a million hands of rummy in the back of the station wagon. Then we picked up my grandparents in Canada. I remember my grandmother dotting cologne underneath her underarms since we were camping most nights and didn't get to shower much. Didn't work. I remember my dad being furious when we didn't want to get out of the car and tromp around in the mud and rain in the Yukon. We were the "Kansas Cousins" on the CB. There were flat tires and lots of miles, and lots of beauty.

    Now I'm turning 50 this year too. A trip in an RV to Alaska hasn't exactly been at the top of my list but I am forming my own plans for some adventure. I'll look forward to keeping up with yours! I love you friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adventures by SteveMay 13, 2012 at 7:40 AM

      Good to hear from you Nancy. That reminds me......I went to Estes Park the day after I picked up the RV. I had always had this picture of a tall structure in Estes Park...but it's dark in the vision, so I could never figure out what it was....I think maybe there was a slight trama (such as a firm reprimand) there which etched it in my memory. Well, driving through there I found it! It's a pick multi-lane slide, the kind they gave you a gunny sack to ride on. There is no doubt in my mind. It took me back. I was so glad to get that cleared up.

      Remember the trip? We rode in the station wagon looking backwards.

      Thanks for the memories.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousNovember 12, 2023 at 4:59 AM

    I had no idea you did a blog!…11 years later…

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear from you..........Steve

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