Posted July 9, 2023 – Narrated by Carmen
If we were young, we’d probably sugar-sprinkle our Alaska exit saying, “We’ll be back.”
But as we pulled out of Chena Hot Springs we weren’t whipping up any comeback sauce.
We knew the score.
There would be no reprise of our Alaska overland tour.
We had a wonderful adventure, but the floods, fires, rain, and bad roads wore us out.
We were tired.
The time had come to find a dignified exit while dealing with the fact that Alaska won’t miss us at all.
Oh, it’s true. There’s no denying that feeling when you’ve given it your all. You’re standing there at the door, heart open, and the door slowly closes. The lock turns.
Click.
Alaska and us – it’s a one sided relationship …
with incompatible differences.
Don’t get me wrong. There is love and attraction but, it’s complicated.
For starters, there’s too much distance between us.
And, when we’re up, Alaska’s down.
When we’re down, she’s up.
There’s no level ground.
The stakes are too high …
the field too young and competitive.
We’d never make it as sourdoughs.
There was nothing left to do but grab as many unforgettable moments as possible and get out while we can still hold our axels high.
That’s why we keep this blog – so our King Salmon hearts can beat themselves up on our Living in Beauty river of memories.
Still, it’s not easy to turn your back on Alaska in Autumn.
Heading south, we felt North Country slipping too quickly from our grasp.
The scenery on our four-day, 686-mile journey toward Haines was agonizingly beautiful.
So we sank our eyes deep into every dog leg turn …
peek-a-boo glacier …
and graceful river valley.
The hillsides, graffitied with the colors of fresh kill seemed to read …
“There’s the door.”
We got the message loud and clear.
Yet, we dragged our wheels like a couple of stalkers.
Clearly, we were still love-struck. It could take years to clean the glacier dust out of the rig, and we were okay with that.
Fast Eddies
Pizza and beer is good breakup food.
At Fast Eddie’s in Tok Junction – our first stop after leaving Chena Hot Springs – it took no time at all to polish off a giant His & Her’s pie.
and then sleep it off in the parking lot beside the AlCan.
Next morning, we cranked up The Beast and turned the rig toward Yukon.
“Beauty hurts,” Mama would say while combing my hair back into a scalp-stretching pony tail for grade-school picture day, “It prepares you for love.”
Likewise, hundreds of traveler reviews rate this drive as shockingly painful but beautifully rewarding.
Proceeding slowly, to avoid impact from snow heaves and pot holes, we covered 126 miles in four hours.
That notorious wormhole, led us into a region which Jim and I christened The Delphic Expanse.
And why not? We felt like explorers. No human life-forms ranged within sight. Playing with the idea of entering a fantastical land of our imaginations seemed the natural thing to do.
Seasonal color accentuated the landscape’s contours.
The work of refracting light revealed what mountain scrub is made of, dipping into carotenoids like a master of wet-on-wet watercolor.
Saffron flowed into magenta, chartreuse merged with amber.
This is Earth on sunlight.
That night we settled near Beaver Creek, Yukon, population 73, on a gravel pullout beside the AlCan.
Beaver Creek
Coordinates 62.173000, -140.679000 (62°10’22.8″N 140°40’44.4″W)
We watched the sky bounce rainbows off the thin cloud cover until darkness put an end to that game.
The creek serenaded us to sleep.
Destruction Bay
The following day we covered 108 miles (3 ½ hours) to Kluane Lake near Destruction Bay, Yukon, population 43.
Coordinates 61.1582, -138.5628 (61°09’29.5″N 138°33’46.1″W)
We hadn’t seen a soul in two days.
The beach was ours …
These fog-crowned mountains …
this blooming rose sunset,
this exquisite tranquility, solo la nostra, ours alone.
The next day, we drove through the north-west fringes of British Columbia.
and re-entered Alaska one last time to say a proper three-day goodbye in Haines.
Haines holds all of our lasts.
Our last Alaska campground,
Our last next door neighbors in Alaska.
Our last charming historic Alaskan village.
Our last art walk …
and historic building tour.
We said goodbye to the last Alaska marina,
dined on the last fish and chips,
toasted with our last Alaska draft brews,
paddled our last glacier lake
and, bid farewell to the bears.
The tiny village of Haines pushed all of our stay-buttons, but from here it was water under the bridge.
In the end, Alaska told us her side of the story.
She’s cool with us, but she’s juggling a lot of important stuff right now, like that crazy salmon run while wrestling with health issues, putting out fires and trying to find balance when so much is completely out of her hands.
She just needs some breathing space.
We parted on good terms.
S’all chill.
Observing the bears bulking up for the coming winter filled us with new purpose. They reminded us of an empty place which yearned to be fed.
We missed our son and his girlfriend. We longed for our clan of friends. And we slavered for a big ol’ juicy grilled snapper fillet nestled into a bed of crispy greens on a handmade corn tortilla topped with fresh pico de gallo and guacamole.
From 4,500 miles south, the faintest whiff of our traditional feeding grounds had captured our attention, calling us home.
Goodby Alaska.
Chapters in the “Airstreaming to Alaska” series
- Chapter 1 – San Diego to Malibu
- Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay – Chula Vista, California
- Malibu Beach RV Resort – Malibu, California
- Chapter 2 – Malibu to Morro Bay
- Morro Bay State Park – Morro Bay, California
- Chapter 3 – Morro Bay to Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Harbor RV Park – Santa Cruz, California
- Chapter 4 – Santa Cruz to San Francisco
- San Francisco RV Park – Pacifica, California
- Chapter 5 – San Francisco to Eureka
- Vinnie’s Northbay Airstream Repair – Wilton, California
- High Water Brewery (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Harmony Wynelands (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Van Ruiten Family Vineyards (Harvest Host location) – Lodi, California
- Four Fools Winery (Harvest Host location) – Rodeo, California
- Lawson’s Landing – Dillon Beach, California
- Mia Bea Wines (Harvest Host location) – Redwood Vally, California
- Johnny’s at the Beach – Eureka, California
- Chapter 6 – The Oregon Coast
- Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Oregon
- Bay Point Landing Resort – Coos Bay, Oregon
- Blue Herron French Cheese (Harvest Host location) – Tillimook, Oregon
- Seaside RV Resort – Seaside, Oregon
- Chapter 7 – The Strait of Juan de Fuca
- Washington Land Yacht Harbor Airstream Park – Olympia, Washington
- Salt Creek Recreation Area – Port Angeles, Washington
- Chapter 8 – Victoria, British Columbia
- Weir’s Beach RV Resort – Victoria, British Columbia
- Chapter 9 – Victoria to Mackenzie
- Riverside RV Resort – Whistler, British Columbia
- Big Bar Rest Area – Clinton, British Columbia
- Walmart Parking Lot – Prince George, British Columbia
- Alexander MacKenzie Landing – Mackenzie, British Columbia
- Chapter 10 – The Alaska Highway
- Northern Lights RV Park – Dawson Creek, British Columbia
- Former Prophet River State Park – Peace River, British Columbia
- Hay Lake – Fort Liard, Northwest Territories
- Northern Rockies Lodge and RV Park – Muncho Lake, British Columbia
- Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park – Liard River, British Columbia
- Chapter 11 – Yukon
- Watson Lake Visitors Center Parking Lot – Watson Lake, Yukon
- Teslin Rest Area – Teslin, Yukon
- Norsemen RV Park – Atlin, British Columbia
- Hot Springs Campground – Whitehorse, Yukon
- Real Canadian Superstore Parking Lot, Whitehorse, Yukon
- Gold Rush Campground – Dawson City, Yukon
- Chapter 12 – Top of the World Highway to Chicken, Alaska
- Downtown Chicken Cafe and Saloon
- Chapter 13 – Tok to Valdez
- Tundra RV Park – Tok, Alaska
- Gulkana River Rest Stop – Gulkana, Alaska
- Bear Paw RV Park – Valdez, Alaska
- Chapter 14 – Glacier View to Anchorage
- Grand View Cafe and RV Park – Glacier View, Alaska
- Alaska Raceway Park (Harvest Host location) – Palmer, Alaska
- Ship Creek RV Park – Anchorage, Alaska
- Chapter 15 – Kenai Peninsula
- Heritage RV Park – Homer Spit, Alaska
- Marathon RV Campground – Seward, Alaska
- Chapter 16 – Whittier to Talkeetna
- Williwaw Campground – Whittier, Alaska
- Talkeenta Camper Park – Talkeetna, Alaska
- Chapter 17 – Denali
- Riley Creek Campground – Denali National Park, Alaska
- Chapter 18 – North Pole to Chena Hot Springs
- Riverview RV Park – North Pole, Alaska
- Chena Hot Springs Campground – Fairbanks, Alaska
- Chapter 19 – Tok to Haines
- Fast Eddy’s Restaurant Parking Lot – Tok, Alaska
- Gravel Turnout – Beaver Creek, Yukon
- Gravel Turnout – Destruction Bay, Yukon
- Haines Hitch-UP RV Park – Haines, Alaska
- Chapter 20 – South to the Lower 48
- Gravel Turnout – Haines Junction, Yukon
- Teslin Rest Area – Teslin, Yukon
- Jade City Parking Lot – Jade City, British Columbia
- Mehan Lake Rest Area – Bell II, British Columbia
- Fort Telkwa Riverfront RV Park – Telkwa, British Columbia
- Walmart Parking Lot – Prince George, British Columbia
- 100 Mile House Municipal Campground – 100 Mile House, British Columbia
- Mt. Paul Golf Course (Harvest Host location) – Kamloops, British Columbia
- Crowsnest Vineyards (Harvest Host location) – Cawston, British Columbia
- Final Chapter – Lessons Learned
- Philosophy
- Preparation
- Planning
- Mileposts (the book)
- Roads
- Weather
- Camping
- Cash and Currency
- Clothing
- Food
- Wildlife
- Bugs
- Fuel
- Dump Stations and Potable Water
- Pets
- Internet Connectivity
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Kayaking
- Damage
- Dangers
- Canada Border Crossing
- US Border Crossing
- General Observations
- Serendipity
- Final Thoughts
- Our Camp Sites
If you want to see our exact route, click here.
*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.
where are you this year?
Hey Linda!
Haha! That’s a loaded question! Since January we’ve been in at least 24 locations. The podcast (at the top of the blog-page) always opens with our current location, (hint: The Blue Ridge Mountains). Our Travel Maps & Facts: https://livinginbeauty.net/travelmap-and-facts/
shows our route and each location we have stopped. Jim updates the map weekly. If you ever think we are in your area – or heading toward your area – reach out through email if you’d like to meet up.
So great to hear from you!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Thank you for the vicarious adventure…you guys definitely rock!
🤣
Hey Pamela! These days we’re traveling smoother roads, but whenever I think of Alaska my back teeth still rock 😂
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Enjoying these updates immensely! You folks are awesome!
Hey Rosanne!
You are so kind. Thank you so much for being with us.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Too beautiful for words, but your words are beautiful.
Hey Alice,
We are so happy to have you with us. We cast a wide Beauty net. Sometimes we get lucky. Thank you for being with us.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
I follow you faithfully and live vicariously through you when we can’t be on the road.
Thank you for keeping a light out for us ✨🏮✨
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Would love to take that journey.
Hey Liane!
It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime – and we didn’t see any travel busses going through that part of Alcan. Shoot, we didn’t see anyone going through that part of Alcan. Someday, I expect, tourists will be viewing it from flying cars.
Thank you so much for being with us!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Stumbled upon your blog by accident last year and have throughly enjoyed following your great adventure through Alaska. Always looked forward to the next chapter. Travel on!
Hey Lori!
So happy to have you on board. Thank you for going through Alaska with us. Whew! That was a doozie. Fortunately, all is well, but we’re still recovering. Most of the glacier dust has been shaken out of the rig, but we are – all three of us, feeling our age. Travel is a bit slower these days but always adventurous. What else is there to do?
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Beautiful in so many ways. I could feel the sadness of leaving with the breathtaking awe of the beauty of it all. Great travels – thanks for sharing!
Nancy 💕 Thank you for being on this journey with us. Your encouragement and excellent energy was a priceless source of strength.
Jim says, “Be well and prosper!”
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Just passed through Destruction Bay and Tok a few days ago. It’s was just brutal. Headed to Haines the end of August. Love reading about your journey.
Hey Ann!
Sorry the road wasn’t smoother this year, but I hope it was as scenic. We had very little sun. In fact, it rained most of the way. Still wouldn’t have missed it.
Thank you for sharing this journey!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
We loaded our 24 foot trailer onto the ferry in Skagway, and went over to Haines. All part of our amazing 4 month journey from Phoenix az.
Hey Steve!
Yes, the ferry between Skagway and Haines was open. We decided not to go to Skagway because of the weather and time limitations.
Thank you for sharing your overland trip to Alaska!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Your photos are stunning!
Hey Debbie!
Thank you! There were way too many. Wish I could show them all ☺️
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
One of your absolute best posts! You took us along on your grand journey, and then shared all the feels with us saying goodbye to Alaska. Sadly, but realistically, your blog is as close to Alaska as many of us will ever get. I long to see it, but it’s highly unlikely I’ll get a chance to do it in an Airstream, though we’ve owned three. All the best as you begin the next chapter of your lives together. Thanks for taking us along.
Thank you, John!
As an Airstream owner you recognize how much work, time and expense was involved in this trip. We can totally understand why some would not want to take their Airstream to Alaska.
It was truly a dream to see the Alaska interior on our own terms, in our own home, on our own time – and, Beauty and The Beast, our Airstream and Ram truck made it possible. Airstream is one of few trailers that can withstand the punishing roads (and we suffered little if any damage) but only if it is properly equipped and prepared.
Preparing an Airstream – or any other rig – to go to Alaska is part of the journey – so, this trip actually took years to accomplish – and it’s probably the most expensive way there is to see Alaska. We had Beauty lifted 3 ½ inches in preparation and we know that improvement alone spared us damage and gave us an edge to accomplish the visually stunning but brutal drive from Tok to Destruction Bay.
We were delighted that you enjoyed the ride. And, yes, whew, now it’s time to rest! These days we are spending time with family. Pico de Gallo, enjoyed the trip but he’s 15 years-old now and he needs less excitement, more naps in the shade – and so do we. The next chapter is about taking it easy and finding grand views that are closer to home.
Safe & Happy Travels, John!
What amazing photos – absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. And your words were as well. What an adventure. Could taste it, smell it, see it, feel it! Thanks for sharing all of it!
So enjoyed reading this and all of the Alaska adventures. As always, travel is a gamble and in 2022, the odds were stacked with floods, wildfires, and some miserable weather, to top it off. Timing is everything and somehow, we left at the right time, on the right day, in the much better year of 2023.
We left our rig in Glennallen and took the truck on the McCarthy Road, where Ralph did the Glacier Walk and we both did the Kennecott Mill Tour (had I known about the hundreds of steep steps, with a few ladders thrown in, I might have reconsidered, but that new knee replacement really worked)!
Tomorrow, we head for Valdez, for some wildlife viewing and charter fishing (Ralph only on the fishing – I’d much rather stay at the campground doing laundry, than being bounced around in a small boat and having to deal with aggressive fish)!
Next week, we head back for Maryland, but like you – this will be our last RV journey to Alaska. It’s our fifth trip to Alaska, but not our last. Ralph is convinced we will RV back up in 5 years with the grandkids, but since he won’t be reading this, I can assure you, we will be coming back, just not with the RV. I’m thinking Delta airlines will get us here.
Somehow, we dodged the floods and fires, but not every pothole. The Top of the World and Taylor Highways made sure of that. Fortunately, we had lots of duct tape and plenty of chardonnay.
Melinda!
Yes, this journey was maybe more work than we bargained for, but unexpected challenges is a necessary qualification for adventure. This Alaska trip took a lot out of us, but it gave it all back and more in memories. Your interest and careful observation kept us on our toes, contributing to the journey’s success. Thank you!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Dear Frank and Theresa
As always a well described, informative and emotional missive. Want to plan on a zoom with you soon. Wedding plans and maybe a trip of our own ( El Cajon is a possibility) in our future.
Your photographic essay was downright Ansel Adams-esque
If you need entertainment in the evening hours I suggest The Bear on Hulu and for a book Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson.
Love ya more than my luggage
Jimmy Boy and She Who Must Be Obeyed
Hey Jimmy Boy!
Can’t wait to Zoom with you and Martha! Let’s do it! I’ll have wedding bells on!
xoxo,
Carmen
A fabulous post, as always. I can only imagine how bittersweet it was to say goodbye to Alaska. We thought many times about making the trip with our trailer, but ultimately decided against it because it just seemed too arduous and too long. Thanks for taking us along and sharing your journey, both the highs and the lows. Your photos of the fall colors are just spectacular!
Laurel!
Sorry it took so long to respond. We’ve been cruising The Blue Ridge with sporadic connectivity. I’ve heard many people say traveling the Blue Ridge is dangerous in an RV. But we think it’s a piece o’ cake, and we’re loving it. Maybe the AlCan was the experience we needed to raise the bar.
Thank you for bearing with us through The Alaska Period. It was a blessing to be able to leave during the short color season. It was truly a miracle of nature.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Hey Carmen, we traveled the Blue Ridge in 2021 with our 27-foot trailer and found it easy! The slower pace and no big trucks makes it really nice. Enjoy your travels, and if you travel near Asheville/Hendersonville, let us know! This is where we’re building our tiny home. 🙂
Oh my gosh… So so beautiful
Hey Barbie!
Pico says, I wu woo!!!
xoxo,
Carmen
Well, Alaska beat you down and kicked you around, but you kept getting back up and that’s what matters! You did it! And when this is way in the rearview mirror, you’ll look back on it with the rose colored glasses most travelers use to talk about these ridiculous escapades and you’ll encourage other people to not miss out on achieving their own Alaska dream!
Ha! Just kidding.
Honestly, I appreciate your honesty. No sugar coating here… You’ve convinced me that Alaska is worth a visit – but not in an RV. Those roads are not to be messed with. But man, what a journey!
Laura From Portugal!
That’s what Jim calls you now, Laura From Portugal, sipping wine in piazzas and bistros, walking Thor along the plaza, shopping for produce at picturesque open-air markets … I admit, sometimes we’re jealous.
Alaska/B.C./Yukon is definitely worth the trouble and expense. Honestly 😉 other than what we did (roughing it on horrible roads) I don’t know of a better way to see Alaska – though (honestly) many RV enthusiasts go to Alaska year after year. We met some of them and they seem to be normal people – just tougher than me, I guess. Most go there to catch their limit of fish and haul it back to the Lower 48.
Back in the old days people cruised the Yukon in riverboats (which would be ideal) but something stopped that tradition – dams? I don’t know. Seeing Alaska by cruise line isn’t for me. I cruised from NYC to Europe on the U.S.S. Constitution when I was a child and loved it, but modern cruising isn’t the same.
Yep, we did it! Woo-hoo! The agony and the ecstasy is behind us – though we will miss The Delphic Expanse and will probably never see views like that again. These days, I spend my evenings researching luxury RV parks and hot springs hide-aways. It’s all about self-care now … slow down and breathe.
So great to hear from you!
Hugs to Thor!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
These are the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen of Alaska. I’ve been there twice. It was rather brave of you to travel those roads in such a big rig.
Hey Cathy! Thank you! Want to see about 50 more 🤣 Honestly, that’s a point & shoot drive – but it’s so untraveled that the images you get are not the usual. Autumn helped 🍂
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
I. LOVED. EVERY. EPISODE. Wore me down, lifted me up, taught me a lot,
opened my eyes, made me wonder. I felt relieved that Beauty and her occupants made it back in one piece. Gorgeous photography, enhancing videos. As my grandsons would say, “You two are dope!” Trust me that is really awesome. Hugs
Mickie 💕
You were on my mind through the whole trip. I kept saying, “This must have a good ending. No broken bones. No one get buried here.” For a person who lives on wheels I worry way too much. Thank you for being a light and an encouragement to finish our itinerary with no foul-ups. Honestly, the only horror was the pile of laundry 😷
xoxo,
Carmen@LIB
It’s a beautiful state but so far away! We’ve driven three times from Ohio.
Hey Carolyn!
I agree! However, Jim’s Travel Maps & Facts page shows that our Alaska mileage is nearly equivalent to previous years. This year we are also traveling about 8,000 miles – what most American households drive annually
https://livinginbeauty.net/travelmap-and-facts/
So maybe the distance is an illusion?
Something to consider.
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Love seeing your travels!!! Awesome pictures!! Keep having fun and safe travels!!!
Thank you, Holly – we will! 💃
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
So exciting!! I’m cruising to Alaska next year!
Cynthia!
Fabulous! I would love to know your itinerary.
Miss you, Gal! xoxo
Safe & Happy Travels!
Gobsmacked ! Breathtakingly beautiful.
Hey Brian!
Thank you for letting us share the wonders of North Country with you. I know you have ancestry in the region and we thought of you often while there.
Jim and I miss you. xoxo
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Thanks for sharing. Recently, we had dinner in the UP of Michigan with fellow Airstreamers. Like us, they thought they may want to trek to Alaska. After following along with you, hubby and I have taken it off the table. As for the others, I suggested they may want to do some homework. Thanks again for the education and adventure.
Kathy!
Hey? Where are our flying Airstreams … 🤗?!
What we didn’t consider (until we got up there) was that Alaska, B.C. and Canada, just like everywhere else, is still in post-pandemic mode but probably worse.
Many private campgrounds with precious full hook-ups are closed – some are up for sale, or flooded out, or both. We were among the first RV tourists up there since Canada opened the border. Think about it – those road crews who sleep in dormitories along the AlCan … they probably were two years behind on the work and had a late start due to the late melt and don’t have enough workers. I’m sure a few years ago in Alaska these essential services for RVers were much better but – though the tourism literature still boasts like it’s pre-pandemic conditions – that was then.
The incessant rain and colder weather was just our bad luck. Alaska is a long way to go to have bad luck. But to be fair, it’s hit or miss wherever you go these days. Two (non-consecutive) icy winters with frozen iguanas falling out of the trees ended our wintering in Florida.
I’m sad about your decision not to RV to Alaska, but I understand. To invest so much in going very, very far and to accept the risks of detouring due to fire and flood and washed out roads … juggling the pros and cons is necessary for all travelers nowadays. San Diego and Arizona had a horrible last winter. We’ll still go there because we have family, but I expect the wet and cold dreary weather was quite damaging for SoCal winter tourism.
Ah well, there are still many beautiful places to see. Right now we’re loving Appalachia! About time we had some ideal weather conditions! 🤞🏾🧂🪵✊🏻
Great to hear from you, Kathy!
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
All this hype about AI being able to write books and articles better than humans is boloney! How could anyone or thing capture the emotion that came through in your description of leaving Alaska? When you’re ninety and remembering these many places you’ve been, I’ll bet Alaska will always be what comes to the forefront because it wasn’t easy.
Hey Lori!
I agree, The New Frontier of AI isn’t capable of duplicating – or even helping us to produce Living in Beauty.
I’m not worried about AI consuming and digesting this blog because it will never understand what to do with it.
The Living in Beauty blog is interactive – it deeply depends on Reader Fluency – that is, our followers being able to interpret the content and put the pieces together. Before reading each post, the reader understands the content isn’t merely about travel, it’s also about living on the road; being houseless retirees; living a healthy and happy life because our simple and efficient lifestyle affords middle-class people the luxury of being able to access the most beautiful places in the world, in our own home while not losing a nights sleep in our own comfortable bed.
I can’t conceive how AI could duplicate the wholeness of our experience – the textures, tastes, the rumble of the road and the spontaneity and fluidity of this mobile life. And, maybe, the public anxiety about AI will bring more attention to Living in Beauty’s authentic content, causing more people to perceive the unique value of what we freely share.
Love you! xoxo
Safe & Happy Travels!
Carmen@LIB
Stunning photography and boondocking spots! Your Alaska memories will live on. It was a tough trip, but probably worth it. I was wondering if you’d see the bears catching salmon, as early fall is the best period for observing them. How cool you did. I find it one of our most profound wildlife viewings, a fish-catching bear.
So, you got homesick, huh? 🙂 Must have been so nice to reconnect with friends, family, and your favorite food. In Colombia, our average speed during those six months of traveling by truck camper was 20mph! 🙂 It’s better in Ecuador.
Liesbet!
Compared to you we are complete novices. You would have sailed through Alaska without even a complaint – and yes, the boondocking spots are the best camping in Alaska.
We were prepared for some bad roads, but were under the incorrect impression (from reading too much tourist literature) that sections of rough road were just blips along the otherwise perfect highway. But it’s exactly the opposite. Short stretches of good highway is the rare moment of relief on the otherwise axel-breaking AlCan.
We were lucky to see the bears feeding and wallow in the sweet town of Haines. I wouldn’t mind flying into Alaska just to stay in Haines. It was authentic and friendly and there’s plenty of fresh fish.
Over-landing through South America is a dream I will probably never realize, but I am enjoying your travels at Roaming About! (https://www.roamingabout.com) where I saw that you stayed in a Unesco World Heritage site! Holy Thirsty Bella! Moo0O0oooo!!! 🐄
Yes, I got homesick. It was the cold and wet. I needed a Mediterranean climate and, of course, familiar faces.
I bought a storage container for all of our Alaska clothes. I laundered them and put them in deep storage where, hopefully, they will remain untouched for years.
Great to hear from you!
Hugs to Maya🐾💕 and Safe & Happy Travels in Ecuador!
Carmen@LIB