A couple of days of not much..

I've been managing to post something exciting almost every day , but I finally had to take a couple of days off and see to maintenance issues! Stuff like doing the laundry, including the sheets (not an easy task), getting an oil change, getting headlights and brake lights fixed (even though I had all that stuff checked before I left), cleaning out the van (very important in such a small space) and getting groceries.  I also needed new shoes. 

I've been trying out shoes for a couple of months, looking for a pair that would be just right for the trip.  Not an easy task. I didn't want hiking boots -- I'm not doing that kind of stuff, but I did need good, comfortable sneakers. I had a pair, but they got too tight as the day went on. I bought one size larger, and they were perfect. I had found my Alaska shoes. But did they get in the van?  no..... For some reason I packed the smaller ones, and they just aren't good enough. They are fine for the gym and errands, but for all day, no way. So off to the shoe store, and I now have a new, very comfortable, and sufficiently roomy, pair of tennis shoes!! Foot comfort is essential on a trip like this!

I did manage to get to several museums in Fairbanks, and caught up with my friend Sue Phillips (who made the quilt above us for Scrap Frenzy a lot of years ago!!) It was fun to spend a couple of hours with her at her shop (Blue Ribbon Sew and Vac) and at one of the museums.

The drive on Sunday to Denali was really pretty -- mountains all around and the sun was shining. There was a lot more traffic, though; at one time I looked in the rear view mirror and it was Corvettes as far as I could see. There must have been 30 of them!  I figure it was a Corvette club on a rally, but boy was it amazing to see all those fast cars. They couldn't wait to pass me (and a couple of campers in front of me) when we got to a passing lane section.  (Too dangerous to try to take pictures while driving with all that traffic, but it would have been a fun one to have.)

The skeeters at Denali are absolutely everywhere. I have bug spray on (renew it every few hours) but sitting at the table in the visitor center was just too buggy -- had to come out to the car finally. Eating at a table is almost impossible, unless I want mosquito with my meal....

It's really been hot in Fairbanks and Denali -- yesterday was 86, and when you can't find shade, that's really hot!  Spent a lot of time in the visitor center, just to keep cool!  And last night I slept with just a sheet on -- no quilts, until about 4 AM when I woke up and it was in the 60's. 

One more picture -- I told you at the beginning that I had to make a few adjustment to loading the back of the van. The cooler was going to be a problem the way I had planned it, so had to be moved, which meant that other pieces wouldn't fit. Here is the final arrangement, which has been working very well.

The cooler goes in front of those blue plastic bags, which hold all my non-perishable food.  I don't even have to pull the cooler out very much, except to empty the melted ice every couple of days. I can reach everything easily!

It's Monday morning, time to start the adventures. There will be many, I guarantee, so stay tuned!!