Traveling back to the Lower 48, August 18 - Sept. 1st, 2016

Our road trip for 15 days to get back to the lower 48 - 5,100 miles.  Uhaul gave us 15 days and a LONG 15 days it was.  On our way we stopped at a sister Victory Camp for future consideration for SOWERs.  The Andersons are following us of course while we drive a 15 ft. Uhaul with our small car in tow.

Leaving Alaska - bittersweet in many ways.

The new camp for consideration, one hour south of Anchorage.

Beautiful scenery and gorgeous RV sites.

A separate "western town" for campers.

Our trip back to the lower 48..................

Hard to say goodbye.

A herd of buffalo that we encountered.

And of course MORE road construction.

And just outside of Kamloops, BC the Uhaul
breaks down!

Transferring once again, to a new truck.

On the road again!

Connecting back up with our friends, the
Andersons in a campground in Washington.
The Lower 48, home (sort of) again!

Many, many, many miles and states to go
through to get home again in NC.

It sure is good to be home!  We arrived back in NC on September 1st, 2016 - on Papa's birthday, SAFE AND SOUND.  THANKS BE TO OUR WONDERFUL LORD.

Working at Solid Rock Bible Camp, Soldotna, AK, August 2016

August was working at Solid Rock Bible Camp in Soldotna, Alaska.  There were 2 other couples besides us, Kurt & Kay Kidwell and Roy & Sue Anderson.  So much was accomplished.  We stayed in the lodge over the kitchen because we were "homeless" due to the RV accident we had last month outside of Wasilla, Alaska.  The camp was very kind to let us stay in the lodge and most of our meals were provided by the camp as well.

The ladies reported to the kitchen  each morning to prepare relish trays and salads for the lunch and dinner meals.  We made lots of lifelong
friends from all over the United States including all ages!

The men stacked numerous piles of
firewood for the upcoming winter months,
repaired a plumbing issue in the craft shack,
and repaired and refinished the existing
sign for the camp at the entrance.  They also
built a roof over the sign to preserve it.

Another job the men encountered was
finishing several conestoga wagons that
were previously started by another volunteer
group before we had arrived.  These will be
used to house campers that choose to be out at
the wagon train.

Most of our 3 weeks in Soldotna was RAINY!
So it was fitting that we gave umbrellas with
posted Soldotna dates so that we would have
momentos of our trip.  It was a joke and sunshine
was rare.  When it did shine we made hay!

Our group: L to R:  us, Sue Anderson, Roy
Anderson, Kay Kidwell & Kurt Kidwell.



Now, our time in Alaska as workers is finished, time to make our way back down to the lower 48.  The fireweed is scarce on the top.  Time to get out of Dodge!