8/3/1991 - Saturday

John:  After breakfast in the truck, we headed for home.  In Evergreen we stopped at “our” Pizza Hut then drove home on “our” mountain, we saw “our” fox!  It’s good to be home... safe, sound & healthy!!  The total miles driven today was 155 miles.

ODOM: 32143

Summary:  After seven weeks (which wasn’t long enough!), we’ve spent a total of $4,090 cash, plus $691.00 on gas credit cards... for a grand total spent of $4,781.  The total miles driven was 8281 miles.

Karen & Kari arrive home

Susan arrives home & steps out of the truck.

John gets out of the truck after arriving at home.

7/16/1991 - Tuesday

John:  We woke up to a beautiful sunny day.  The birds were singing, the bees were buzzing etc, etc... we drove 238 miles today through some more great scenic vistas... We went through the Fort St. John area where they grow acres and acres of canola... it’s a pretty yellow flower that they make cooking oil out of.  What a pretty sight.  I also stopped at a Home Hardware and ordered the newest truck bank.  It will take 3-4 weeks to deliver it to our house.  (That’s the fourth bank I got on this trip).  We reached Dawson Creek and visited their museum.  It was mainly about the building of the Alaska Highway.  We saw a 40 minute movie of the army building the road.  Great flick.  We ate a pizza for lunch and dragged their main streets then blew town.  We are camped at the MacKenzie Municipal Campground.  They offer 32 level sites, fire pits, free wood, picnic tables, flush toilets, beautiful showers, dump station, and water... all for free... unbelievable!

ODOM:  29769

Canola field

Susan & Kari goofing off in Dawson Creek

Mile 0 of the Alaskan Highway

7/9/1991 - Tuesday

John:  We drove158 miles on the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City.  It rained and snowed on us along the way.  The rain eliminated any dust problem, but created muddy roads for 200 miles.  The truck was very muddy.  We ran out of propane and waited for almost an hour for the guy who does propane to wake up in Chicken, Alaska population = 25!  He never woke up, so we put our stuff into our ice chest and split.  We didn't get the full effect of the scenery due to the clouds, fog, rain & snow.  We had to take a free ferry to cross the Yukon River to get to Dawson City.  Dawson City is all dirt roads with old old buildings.  We arrived after the bank closed, so we had to find a place to stay, as we need to convert some money.  We had just enough Canadian money left over to get the camp spot (lovely parking lot), wash the main mud off the truck, and to have a pizza in town.  While at the pizza joint, Peter and Betty walked in!  We didn't have a chance to talk much as they couldn't get in the restaurant because it was so crowded... maybe we’ll catch up with them tomorrow.

ODOM:  28358

Kari:  I found a pair of moose antlers today, but I could not keep them.  That ferry boat ride we went on today was barely any fun because it was so short.

On board the Hwy 9 Ferry.

Hwy 9 Ferry.

6/20/1991 - Thursday

Karen:  We left camp about 7:30 A.M.  It had rained on us all night.  And has been raining all day.  We toured the Olympia Brewery.  There wasn’t much to that.  We are camped at a private campground tonight.  Did our laundry today for the first time.  Called mom & dad from there (just north of Everett, Washington).  We are camped in Mt. Vernon, Wash.  It’s still raining so the kids are playing  cards.  Ate dinner at a pizza place.

John:  We drove 223 miles today in the rain all day.  Saw a lot of big logging trucks around Randle, Wash... The back door on the camper leaked with all that rain.  I’m gonna try to make a little gutter out of duct tape to correct this.  The Olympia Brewery tour was short.  We had a brew afterwards and I bought a “Hamms Beer” bank (no Olympia banks).

ODOM:  25536