Day 24- July 8th

I can't believe it's almost done. Today was our second day without Chuck and Barbara. That brings some thoughts I should share with our friends and blog followers.
Spending three weeks and a day with the same people, family or friends, could be a major challenge. Riding to Alaska can have many quirks and problems. What you don't need is personality conflicts.

Four people just getting started, good friends then...now closer friends

I can speak for Chuck and Barbara because we had this discussion while chatting in our room on our last day on the boat. Did I forget to tell you.....we requested rooms close to each other, even after 18 days?  The Purser obliged us with rooms next door to each other. The four of us are like peas in a pod. We get along so well. We understand each other, we appreciate each other, and we accept each other just how we are. I attribute it to we all know to put each other before ourselves, just like in our marriages.

We were truly blessed on this trip. We give that credit to all the people praying for our journey to be safe. No mechanical failure other than a worn out tire. We had not even a sniffle. We had no spills or tip overs, or close calls and most important we did not get any performance awards from the police. We did have one friendly warning from an Alaska State Trooper on our way to Whittier. He gave us a quick flash from his light bar to slow down a bit.

Chuck and Barbara were going to hit the northern California coast, maybe one of the reasons would be to beat the heat. Our day was nice for part of the way, down the 5 to 89 and then across to 44 and 36 to Susanville. It was a scorcher from there through Reno, Carson City, Minden and Topaz Lake. From there we started climbing to cooler temperatures like the 80's.

Two more days of wearing this cap and helmet!

 Our stop for the night was June Lake where we got to visit our in-laws, Ralph and Cathy. They own Cathy's Candy, the candy & ice cream store in town and peanut butter cup was our craving to satisfy.
Tomorrow we will leave early to try to beat the 100 plus heat of the Owens Valley.
Once we get home we are heading to see our grandchildren that we miss so much.

One more to stay safe and return to our busy but great lives. It will be great to sleep in our own bed and actually cook the food we eat.
Thanks for being with us on this awesome trip.