Alaska Prep Time

As with any our our 7+ month trips, we always leave prepared.  This time we will be headed to Alaska, and this will bring a few more considerations than our other trips.  And I am sure that as we enter the famous Alaska Highway, we are going be thinking, “Gee, I think we should have brought this or that.”  One thing I hope we don’t have to face is snowy roads like this….if so, it will just be time to wait until it thaws out more.

Wednesday we went to Sam’s Club to stock up on paper goods.  A case of septic safe Scott Toilet Paper, case of paper towels, two sizes of paper plates, case of tissue paper…now one of our dinette booth storage area is completely full.  We have also started a mental list of things we are going to leave behind that we did not use last time…including our printer/scanner.  Our first year out we needed the printer/scanner because I was still technically working, and I also knew that I had some important retirement papers which were emailed to me that I had to print, sign in front of a notary, and send back via regular mail.  This past year we did not take it out of the box…so it will stay home along with a few other items.

We will also need some warmer clothing for the anticipated colder spring, and some cool Alaska nights.  That means that Marcia will need much more winter clothes…I will need two more pair of long pants and two long sleeve shirts.  Unless it is “real” cold, like down under 40, I am typically fine wearing short pants and a T-shirt.  It has been a bit colder in Florida this year…yesterday it was around 52 degrees as I pumped gas into the HHR.  I looked around me and people had heavy coats on, some with hoods, one with gloves…I was in shorts.  I stopped and thought, “Is it really cold out?  I feel a little cool, but it surely is not cold…what is it with these people?”  All of this while they looked at me thinking, “What is with this dude?  Shorts, sandals, T-shirt and he isn’t even shivering….what is with this guy?”  My mom said that I have always been this way…

Today we met Marcia’s cousin Mary at Rodie’s Restaurant in Tarpon Springs.  Normally we would meet her at “Nanna’s”, but unfortunately this favorite restaurant did not make it through the summer last year…after a dozen years or so the owners decided to close up shop.  Not sure what the full scoop is, but I know it was not due to a lack of business because when we left in June last year, they still had a very steady business.  Mary is in her early 80’s, and she is in remarkable health and shape.  About 18 months ago she went on the Paleo Diet and she not only lost weight, but finds it much easier to get around.  We spent two hours in the restaurant catching up.

 

Yesterday I took the dogs to a park, and today we picked them up after breakfast/lunch and let them spend some time with us in the car as we traveled around doing errands.  When I went up to the door to get them, I left the back door to the car open.  Skruffy jumps up on my leg a couple of times and shoot off for the car while I hook Bubba up to the leash.  By the time we got to the car, Skruffy was up in the front on Marcia’s lap just giving her lots of kisses.  Marcia said that she nearly flew from being outside the car to up on her lap…which is hard since she had to jump up into the backseat first with those short little legs.

I think they are just looking for life to get back to normal again….back to a 240 foot inside environment….

…..and a world of adventure just a few steps out the door.