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Ramblers Blog traveling from Hudson, OH to Anchorage, AK. (May 17 to May 31, 2023)

Trip Preparations:

We have driven to Anchorage three times in the past traveling by RV, (1984, 2011, 2013), and in 2022 driving in our SUV and staying at hotels along the way,. This year we are both driving, staying at hotels along the way and taking the Alaska State Ferry. Before we get on the ferry, we are stopping in Astoria, Oregon and Kent, Washington to visit former Alaskan friends.

Why this destination and why now?
We used to live in Anchorage, and now our daughter Brenna, Son-in-law Zach and grandchildren, Dean and Quinn, live there.
We are both retired and in good health, so what better time to experience this new adventure.

A word about this blog. It has been our goal in recent years’ lengthier travels to record for posterity a diary of travel stats, pictures, and personal reflections. So, when we can no longer indulge in long distance trips we may relive fond memories. We invite you to ride along through these personal writings risking exposure to our bad puns, and spelling errors.

* We may not have daily access to Internet so updates may be delayed, but once they appear they will be in sequence.
*Blog will include a collage of travel pictures.
*Daily mileage map links found on Homepage left column.
* Use back arrow on maps and webcam links to return to Homepage.

Map link to Alaska Living

Google Map link: zoom in and out, click on yellow walking guy for street view. (see left column last map link)

Outlined and Zoom: Gramma and Papa Apartment #1 7911 Jewel Lake Rd, AA 99502 to Dean and Quinn 8200 Opal Drive, AA 99502
Zoom Jewel Lake Road:
South end Carrs Grocers
Zoom in between: Hardware, Bowling, Liquor Store, Coffee, Daycare
North end Tastee Freeze Ice Cream.
Zoom to see Local Favorites
Chinook Elementary School Sand Lake, Jewel Lake, Campbell Estuary, Kinkade Parks Zoo, Potter's Marsh
Zoom out of town North
Palmer (State Fair), Matanuska and Knik Glaciers, Hatcher Pass, Independence Mine, Talkeetna, Denali
Zoom out of town South Girdwood, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage, Whittier Tunnel, Seward (Sea Life Center), Homer Spit.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Star Date 05-17-23

Sunny, 70 degrees

Day 1 of our road trip to Alaska.  Left at 9AM.  Ohio and Indiana look almost alike in terms of flat farm land along the way.  We keep missing the Indiana Sand Dunes.  We will get there one day.  Lots of road work.   Reminder:  Anywhere within a 30-mile radius of Chicago is heavy traffic and then add road work.  If there is any doubt that Chicago is losing it as a commercial center it’s not true.  Literally hundreds of big rig trucks all carrying every imaginable cargo.  Due to Chicago area road conditions and traffic, we lost an hour of driving time.  We gained an hour over the Illinois line.    Didn’t even get to see the Chicago skyline this time.  Landed in Peru at 3:30 CST, 4:30 EST.  No wrong turns, it’s Peru, Illinois, we are officially traveling into prairie land home of Abraham Lincoln.

Fairfield Hotel

Jalapeno’s for dinner, walk next door; Cadillac and skinny (no sugar) margs, carnitas sopes (app), steak/shrimp fajita, enchilada mole.  All good, pico de gallo very good, okay on mole.

Mileage 430 miles, 7.5 hours drive time (with 1 hour stall time)

Pictures:  Little Leo traveling to visit Dean and Quinn. 


Blooming at home, azaleas and phlox, peonies and lilies not yet.






Chuck’s new bird houses on the fence.



 

 


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