I awake around 5am and revisit the fact I’m in my car because of the tow trucks working to get an RV on to the road. Guess it wasn’t a dream! There’s no doubt I woke because I’m cold. I reluctantly exit my car to use the facilities (the woods) hoping I don’t meet up with an early rising moose or other such creature. Returning I hate to wake anyone up but I just have to start my car to get some heat. While getting warmed up I don’t see much activity ahead so I try to doze off again once warmed enough to turn the car off but no matter how hard I try, appears I’m awake for good right now. So instead I take note of the light beginning to appear at the horizon ... read more

I have simple goals for today – Church, wash clothes, visit the Tok Visitor Center, maybe take a drive but more likely rest and relax a bit. For the most part, I will succeed. First, some info about Tok itself: · Tok (pronounced to rhyme with poke) had it’s beginning as a construction camp on the Alcan Highway (later named Alaska Highway) · Population 1,435 · Nobody is sure how Tok got its name. One theory is it was derived from Tokyo Camp, the name of an Alaska Highway road construction camp that was patriotically shortened to Tok in the 1940s. Another story is that Tok was named after a husky pup of that name, mascot to a US Army’s Corp battalion who were breaking trail north from Slana in 1942. Historical research on its name ... read more

I woke up this morning a bit groggy, a little achy, and to a cloudy (like actually in the clouds) morning. Not sure if it’s the weather or if I’m just truly over-taxing this body. It wasn’t raining though, so that was an improvement from yesterday. At breakfast, I met Alana and Russ from Flagstaff, AZ here celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary and also a newlywed couple from Germany on their honeymoon. All great people and it made for great breakfast conversation. Rose prepped a wonderful breakfast – blueberry muffin tops for which we were the taste testers, fruit salad with homemade yogurt, individual baked egg special recipe, coffee, juice, cereal – all excellent. We all chatted about what we’d already done and what was still to do on our trips. Then I found out earlier ... read more

Today is River Raft trip day! Cold cereal, milk, fruit and I am ready to go. I am sure to take an extra layer of clothing since the nice day starting out does not necessarily equate to a beautiful afternoon. I include rain gear just in case. We are late summer and heading into their fall. I decide to treat myself to parking down at the footbridge today. I have this great conversation with the gentleman attendant there. He gives me some of the local gossip and then I am disappointed to find out I will miss open mic night at the town Saloon tomorrow night which he tells me is an absolute hoot and also Friday night baseball which is a weekly town event, not just a game! These are exactly the types of events ... read more

Slept in just a little bit this morning and then made bacon and eggs. I opened my door to go out on the deck and there lay the most beautiful Malamute I have seen just laying there ever so relaxed. We had a Malamute years ago and had always been one of our favorites. So I thought it was maybe some carma that this particular dog was laying right on my deck right outside the door. I gave her some attention and then grew suspicious that the real reason she was there was because I had just fried bacon and the windows were open. I try to dismiss that theory in favor of the good carma theory but even I know it's likely the true reason she is there. I get a hold of the owner ... read more