Saturday, July 3

Thank you for your prayers. Today I need to start with that rather than end with that - so, thank you for your prayers. It was a little scary on the bike today. We left Anchorage at 7:30 this morning in spitting rain and drove through rain about 200 miles or so. Rain in itself is not so bad, but when you add the winding, curving, up mountains and down mountains, not so great shape roads with spots of gravel thrown in - it gets a little testy. At times it was raining to the point that it was a little difficult to see, not bad, but just enough to add to the whole adventure. We drove in temperatures anywhere from 42 to 50 degrees, but most of the time we were either in 43 degrees at the top of the mountain or 50 degrees in the valleys. It was interesting driving in rain while you were actually in the cloud producing the rain (we were). We arrived in Tok, Alaska about 2:15 p.m. - so we made good time despite the weather and road. I am very thankful for Duane and his experience with motorcycles - you could not pay me to do that drive with an inexperienced driver. So, again, thank you for your prayers.



Yesterday, after we finished packing up our stuff, we spent the day with Jesse helping him begin his moving process. We brightened the day of the postal clerk (LOL) when we brought him 14 flat rate boxes to mail (11 for Jesse and 3 for our stuff). Then, we went to UPS and shipped his shotgun and conga drums home to LeMars. After a bunch of other errands, Jesse hosted a barbecue with his closest friends and us and we ate a big bunch of our fresh fish we caught on Wednesday, some Alaskan King crab and a couple other less important items. I don't even want to know the pounds of fillets we ate (it was ridiculous), but it was delicious!!! Fresh salmon, halibut and rock fish just can't be beat. Then, it was time to say good-bye to his friends and then Jesse. Funny how it was still a little hard even though we know he'll be in the Midwest the middle of July. That fact helped a lot-otherwise it would have been really hard. It was a great opportunity for us to thank his friends who have been wonderful to him. He will miss them.



So, we are now in Tok, Alaska, and went straight back to the street vendor who makes the fabulous halibut. Yup, it's fabulous. I am not looking forward to tomorrow. That's the nasty stretch of road with the construction, bumps, craters, and all kinds of other road holes just waiting to "eat" a bike. Yuck! So, you all just keep praying.



Thanks for checking.



Gayle - BOTB



News from the FOTB. What an absolutey hunbling experience. Just being able to revel in the glory of God's creation on a trip like this. Then also being able to experience the joy of meeting with good friends, sharing good food and amazing fellowship. It is truly a humbling journey that we are all on, on this journey of life.



Today was interesting, but the good news was that the rain filled up the potholes and you knew instantly what to avoid, STANDING WATER! We'll see how tomorrow goes, slow and steady will prevail. Thanks again for checking on us and we'll be home in a week!



OK, bike notes, I filled with gas twice today, once at 51 mpg and once at 49.6. Not bad, but I guess the slower speed helps alot!