NORTH TO ALASKA..........AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

"North! to Alaska, Go North the Rush is On!" is one of favorite songs. The night we met in San Diego, California 46 years ago, this song came on the "jukebox" as we were already on the dance floor. We learned much later that Cathie's best girl friend selected that for us after learning that Jim hailed from the 49Th State.

Cathie and I left son Jim and Jen's home in Sanford, Florida on May 13, 2010 a Thursday. We had arrived there the evening prior from Naples, Florida in our tow able 04 Saturn wagon packed with supplies and items that would be needed by Joe and Gabe when they flew to Anchorage in June. The Infinity RV was ready for pick up at La Mesa RV the next morning, having been taken in by Jimmy a few days before for some repairs and servicing. Thank you Jim and Jen for your gift and hospitality. We enjoyed being with Evan and his beautiful sister Irelyn who is beginning to teeth and "talks" much in her own language.

The road to Alaska has unfolded before us now for eight days. We are using our IPOD to determine our route as we go. Thanks to son #2 Brian and Janice for their gifts! We are in touch with the world and feel safe and comfortable using the latest in technology which will have improved and changed even before we arrive in Palmer, Alaska for the 75Th Anniversary Colony Days celebration.

Cathie chose a route out of Florida and to the West to avoid going into storms and twisters in Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee. A bit of rain did greet us in Mississippi, and then a deluge got us while we slept in the parking lot of the IP Resort in Biloxi. The ride and brief stop in Pensacola brought up many fond memories of Jim's Naval Aviator flight training in the early 60's and Cathie chimed in with her own war stories as a Navy RN. Good memories all with many friends still in our lives. We have come to believe in: Our FAITH, Our FAMILY, and Our FRIENDS.

Infinity has taken us North following Old Man River from Vicksburg, MS where we crossed over to head sort of NW towards Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There was much rain and wind into Arkansas and Missouri but we had a nice dry stay in Branson MO where we toured in our Saturn and took in the show "The Twelve Irish Tenors". They were excellent, each taking turns at solo work. Three of them were of Opera class and thrilled the audience with classical selections. Our favorite was Keven, a very handsome young man who had broken is left arm above the wrist. My guess? Bending arms at the bar! His rendition of Sinatra's "I'll Do It My Way!" got people to their feet. Welcome to America, young man.

North from Branson took us soon into low river bottom farmlands and small towns to service the farmers. Thousands upon thousands of acres in cotton, corn, beans, beets, grains, and many vegetable crops as well. As we passed into Iowa, the crop corn was King. More flat acreage as far as one could see. South Dakota brought even larger spreads with ranch sized farms using huge tractors with giant double wheels and implements at least an acre wide. Now that is farming! North Dakota got even better. The roads improved greatly, and we entered the famous "Red River Valley" (It flows north to Canada.)

This area was once covered by ice. As the ice receded (Global Warming) a large lake was formed which covered much of the Dakotas, Minnesota, and up into Manitoba. The Lake of the Woods north of Warroad, Mn was part of this large lake, greater than the area of our "Great Lakes". The excess water flowed south to the Mississippi river, but as the lake receded with the ice, the water began to flow North. The soil is deep and rich. Many wet spots are in the fields which are farmed around until they dry up later in the spring, and then they are worked and planted to catch up to the previous planting.

We broke into several versus of "From this Valley they say you are leaving...Do not hasten to bid me adieu. But remember the Red River Valley... and the one that still loves you so true!" Thank God for teachers that taught us many folk songs as we learned the history of America. We sang others such as "Ruben, Ruben, I've been thinking..." and "Old man River", and the "Alaska Flag Song"! After we tired of our own voices, in went the CD of the "Irish Tenors" and we enjoyed Kevin's beautiful singing once more.

We would vote for the Governor of North Dakota as the roads there were the best. Iowa was the worst. It does not take long to know who can manage a budget and who can not.

The border crossing came upon us soon enough. The agents working there are a fine credit to
their wonderful Nation of Canada. They made us feel welcome, put us as ease, and sent us on our way without much interruption or delay.

The IPOD said go ziggy zag to the NW towards Regina, SK so we did. More farms! As far as you can see. "Oh Canada!" had begun. We turned off the Trans Canada Highway at a town named Austin to look for a quiet area to park. The road led to an agricultural history display on about 20 acres. It was closed for the day, but we able to view most of the items. Much of the items Tony and Alys had used on their farm in Alaska. Tony's old stationary threshing machine is a dime a dozen in Manitoba. One almost on every corner.

As we continued up the narrow farm road it became obvious that turning around had become a problem. There had been a sign noting a "campground" ahead so when Jim saw a white flag waving he thought it was a child waving us up to the camp area. As we got closer, there were two white flags flashing wildly up and down. Now you see it, now you don't.

Deer! A doe and her young fawn were racing along a fence near the road edge. We slowed so they could slow down too and we could see the beauty of these animals only trying to get into a thicket up ahead. As the Infinity and its deer team came over the crest of a small hill, a tractor pulling a manure spreader was approaching. The doe decided to turn away from the forest and bounded in large leaps across an open field to her right. The fawn turned the wrong way! She remained still at a good distance flashing her long white tail up and down. When the youngster realized he was trapped between the now stopped manure and the Infinity, it looked about, saw the white flag and was by the doe's side in an instant! What a treat that was. "Oh Canada!"

Cathie saved the day about turning around by suggesting we turn left at the next gravel farm road which are numbered, and follow it back out to the route we were on. How clever!
It worked, but on the side road we came upon a farmer and son filling a water tank on his pickup truck at the bottom of a dip in the road where a stream passed into a culvert. We waited for them to finish as the road was to narrow to pass, and he came over to inquire why we were "off the beaten trail" with such a big rig? He told us the road would soon turn back to our paved road, and that he was getting water for his family garden. The town charges $20 ca ($.95 ca to US $1) and his well does not produce enough water to use on the garden. Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. That is why man invented beer! Always drinkable!

We slept in a park rest area near a stream that had flooded recently as the tell tale signs were all about. Infinity was safe in a high spot. Gabriel loved the squirrels, and we saw a large gray-brown Heron in the stream on our morning walk. Never knew that Herons migrated, this one surely did. Doubt they could survive a Manitoba winter. Today is Saturday and it is time to move on towards our destination, Alaska!