Hello Hello.

Well we are back. So far Alaska has been sweet. We went to Anchorage for the first few days and that was pretty awesome. We spent the first day chillin and getting comfortable. Turns out our camp selection was a little ghetto. Seems it was a permenent residence for the less-than-desirables. We had people living in trailers with creative foundations (old trucks with flat tires), people paying mortages on camp sites, and a bum camp in the bushes with residents that you could time your watch against for when they (literally) stumbled past your site, in to the forest. But is was pretty quiet (except for this one little dog that sounded like a recording yapping EVERY 3 seconds)

On the second day we explored the city and had a pretty sweet time. We went to Anchorages climbing gym and had a session with some of the locals. The session was awesome. climbed to failure and afterwards went out for pizza and beer with Matt Lowber and his girlfriend, Taylor. Matt is a local and has a website for bouldering in Alaska. http://www.akbouldering.com/ Anyways we had a wicked time with them. Probably the beer was probably some of the best I've ever had and the pizza was likewise. Sam had an apple beer that tasted close to Hunters apple cider in South Africa. Those who've had Hunters, know.

Since then we've come to Denali national Park and it is stunning. We went for a hike yesterday, deciding to just start walking in to the bush and see where we end up. We ended up on top of a big ass mountain, called Fang Peak. It was high and perfect. On the hike up the ground was more lush than I've ever seen any hill side. Each step had an eight inch give due to the moss and made for exhausting hiking. I taught Sam a call my Dad used shout when hiking in the woods, it was "NO BEAR" meaning that you were saying to the bear "no thanks". Well that was a mistake as Sam is a little spooked (terrified) of running into bears and took up the mantra "no bear... please no bear" ... all... the... way... up. It was actually pretty cute. And after 8 hours, we arrived back at the truck and sat on the road and ate a bag of chips and guacamole (the hike was the first sun we've seen in over a week, so we were pretty ecstatic.

Here's Sammy

ha ha - I think Lukes favorite part was when I would bellow "Luke!!" because he would be slightly off beat with his response of "NO BEAR!" - that and when I basically STOMPED my way to the car for the last 150 feet because I was angry that Cobs insisted on hiking between Luke and I in our line making me take up the end ... "I could've been eaten by a Bear - it's very likely you know ..." - which is why I insisted on timely responses to our mantra of ...'no bear ...'

We made it!

So we finally made it to Anchorage, AK last night. Sweet Jeebus, it is a long drive. When we left, looking at a map I swear the thought went through my head "well that's not too far. We could do that in a couple days!" Well, 5 days and three thousand kilometres later we have arrived.

Not that I am complaining, I think the last few days of driving have been absolutely beautiful. The mountain ranges and lakes and glaciers and wildlife have been some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. I think the running wildlife total is: 7 black bears, 4 moose (one baby, and another that was literally 10 feet from us in camp last night, before we noticed it. It took cobalt choking on his dinner for us to notice the 7 foot tall, wobbly kneed, roman nosed beast beside us.) One bobcat (which I was pretty stoked about), and 4 bald eagles. Not too bad!

The bugs haven't been that bad! Believe it or not they haven't really bothered us too much. Ironically enough, a couple nights ago I was saying to Sam that she probably didn't have to put bug spray on the dog, because dog's don't really get bitten too much and even when they do, it's not that big of a deal. And, well of course, the next morning cobalt was running around in the forest and came out with a giant (GIANT) swollen eye lid. It looked like he was talkin when he shoulda been listenin. It was almost swollen shut! So I've decided to keep my mouth shut.

Here's Sam.

Hiya! I can't believe we're in Alaska!! doesn't feel too much different except when I look at a map and see how far off we are. It's cold here - way colder than I anticipated ... given the no pants thing ... hmpf - at least it made luke smile i think ...

Luke did most of the driving - the roads weren't as rough as i thought they would be which we were grateful for! Luke was amazing - putting in 10 hour days himself and then me being psyched on my 2.4 hour contributions- ha ha!

So we are all for nature preservation and saving the planet and all but I think Luke met his match a couple days ago when we pulled into beautiful Meziadin Lake, BC and thought we'd have a campfire. At Meziadin Lake we don't use logs for our campfires (we were told) ... we use Biofuel ... (sawdust pucks are the best way to describe them ...) and after lighting them, smoking them, chopping them, asking them, coaxing them and full on swearing at them ... the damn pucks refused to ignite - it was like trying to convince a brick to sustain a crackling fire ... less than inspiring -

I suppose we should go now - we are sitting at a starbucks where I think that Cobs has become a novelty to the locals as so far I think he as been fed 11 doggie biscuits and as of just two minutes ago a piece of reindeer sausage ... lucky dog! technically its good because Cobs has been on a hunger strike since Prince George - we can't decide if its because he misses Enz or because he is taking a stand against ghetto holiday-ing. Either way - he's been a gem - got his teeth cleaned this morning (ghetto style of course) on a crash pad with MY TOOTHBRUSH (note to self - hit a drugstore ...) while keeping one eye out for moose. Props to Cobs tho - almost 5 days in the the car and better tempered than Luke and I put together ... we love him!!

Love Love ...

Anchorage Bound

Day 1

We started the drive yesterday morning, bright and early. Left the house at 6 am and the dog seemed pretty reluctant to get up and needed a little coaxing. Finally got the dog in the car and realized Sam was still in bed!

We drove Calgary to Jasper and then on to Prince George(with some amazing views, crazy beautiful moutains and rivers and lakes.) Prince George, which seems full on unusually nice people, kind of smells like a fart (think it's the pulp mill east of town.) On the drive we saw 5 bears! FIVE!! and one moose and zero deer! Would have thought it would have been the other way around.

Anyways not much else to report, except that Cobalt seems to be on a hunger strike. We're thinking it's because he misses the Kitty.