Julie and I took a long awaited trip to Utah this past month to participate in a family reunion which we hold every three years. This is backwards I know, but before writing about the reunion and such I'm first going to relate our trip back home to Anchorage. This might be a collaborative effort. If we're to have any detail what-so-ever, Julie will have to join in its writing.
Our son Kevin has been attending the Utah Valley University in Orem this past year since returning from his church mission in Minnesota. While there, a "situation" occurred with the red Ford Ranger he was driving. It was totaled, sold and a new old truck was purchased to replace it. A bigger truck. A Ford F150. Since this truck too was purchased used, while in good condition, it is not perfect. For one thing, the odometer didn't work consistently. This truck's odometer is a digital read, not mechanical. Little lights which make up the numbers have to turn on in order to read the mileage. The read out was off more than on and while it kept a good mileage count it couldn't be depended on at all to actually display what it was counting. It usually never came on when the truck was started and then would come on from time to time while driving only to be off the next time I'd look at the speedometer. That is quite frustrating to me, ask Julie. This was going to be particularly frustrating because we were going on a long road trip and I like to keep track of mileage.
Now, let me interject here that you may remember a blog last year where due to Ryan's manly exhibition of manhood, I was inspired to disassemble the dash of the Ranger and replaced the instrument cluster- because first the mechanical odometer and then eventually all the gauges...died. You can't imagine the joy I felt with basically the same prospect lying before me...again! I digress.
Julie and I left Bountiful Utah in two cars: the 2010 Malibu we rented in Boise, and the new truck. We picked up my mother from sister JaNel's house and headed north... first stop Burley Idaho where both gas tanks were filled. I was interested in what kind of gas mileage the truck was getting but didn't have an odometer reading to include in the equation. Nevertheless, I got a pretty good idea. The Malibu drank half as much gas as the F150 guzzled! THAT was impressive! Of the Malibu I mean. In Boise we returned the Malibu at the airport and drove to my brother Jason's house in Middleton. We visited a short while with Jason, Jenn and their family, picked up a few furniture items Mom gave us and went to dinner at Shari's. By the time we got to Mom's house it was late so it wasn't too long before we went to bed.
The next morning Julie and I left Boise in the truck, just the two of us. We drove to Puyallup Washington to visit and stay the night with Julie's Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Chuck. Her Uncle Fred and Aunt Sandy and cousin Chana and husband John also spent the evening with us. In our discussions the topic of the fickle odometer came up and Uncle Chuck said that we can see about fixing that odometer in the time before dinner. Earlier I had investigated online the problem and possible fixes. I was hesitant to dive into the dashboard again not knowing how long it would take or if I would just make things worse. After putting everything back together wouldn't it be sweet to have a non-working speedometer as well as a dufus odometer? The fix-it instructions was to pull the instrument cluster out and do some soldering on one of the circuit boards. Uncle Chuck had a pencil soldering tool, all I had to do was get the thing out and put it back. I decided that I really wanted a working odometer and this was really the best time to give it a shot. We took some pictures.
Our son Kevin has been attending the Utah Valley University in Orem this past year since returning from his church mission in Minnesota. While there, a "situation" occurred with the red Ford Ranger he was driving. It was totaled, sold and a new old truck was purchased to replace it. A bigger truck. A Ford F150. Since this truck too was purchased used, while in good condition, it is not perfect. For one thing, the odometer didn't work consistently. This truck's odometer is a digital read, not mechanical. Little lights which make up the numbers have to turn on in order to read the mileage. The read out was off more than on and while it kept a good mileage count it couldn't be depended on at all to actually display what it was counting. It usually never came on when the truck was started and then would come on from time to time while driving only to be off the next time I'd look at the speedometer. That is quite frustrating to me, ask Julie. This was going to be particularly frustrating because we were going on a long road trip and I like to keep track of mileage.
Now, let me interject here that you may remember a blog last year where due to Ryan's manly exhibition of manhood, I was inspired to disassemble the dash of the Ranger and replaced the instrument cluster- because first the mechanical odometer and then eventually all the gauges...died. You can't imagine the joy I felt with basically the same prospect lying before me...again! I digress.
Julie and I left Bountiful Utah in two cars: the 2010 Malibu we rented in Boise, and the new truck. We picked up my mother from sister JaNel's house and headed north... first stop Burley Idaho where both gas tanks were filled. I was interested in what kind of gas mileage the truck was getting but didn't have an odometer reading to include in the equation. Nevertheless, I got a pretty good idea. The Malibu drank half as much gas as the F150 guzzled! THAT was impressive! Of the Malibu I mean. In Boise we returned the Malibu at the airport and drove to my brother Jason's house in Middleton. We visited a short while with Jason, Jenn and their family, picked up a few furniture items Mom gave us and went to dinner at Shari's. By the time we got to Mom's house it was late so it wasn't too long before we went to bed.
The next morning Julie and I left Boise in the truck, just the two of us. We drove to Puyallup Washington to visit and stay the night with Julie's Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Chuck. Her Uncle Fred and Aunt Sandy and cousin Chana and husband John also spent the evening with us. In our discussions the topic of the fickle odometer came up and Uncle Chuck said that we can see about fixing that odometer in the time before dinner. Earlier I had investigated online the problem and possible fixes. I was hesitant to dive into the dashboard again not knowing how long it would take or if I would just make things worse. After putting everything back together wouldn't it be sweet to have a non-working speedometer as well as a dufus odometer? The fix-it instructions was to pull the instrument cluster out and do some soldering on one of the circuit boards. Uncle Chuck had a pencil soldering tool, all I had to do was get the thing out and put it back. I decided that I really wanted a working odometer and this was really the best time to give it a shot. We took some pictures.
The disassembling begins.
I don't like the look of that!
Good luck sonny!
John Nutt, Chuck Harmon and disassembler/re-assembler.
Uncle Chuck had tools I didn't have at home so this worked out great.
Ta-Da! See the green numbers below the speedometer? THAT is a good thing. Only one time since the repair has the display not turned on and that was the next day. Since then it has come on EVERY time. I like it when things work out to the good.
We left the Harmon's the next morning and drove to Kent Washington where my company has a branch office/warehouse. Mike pallet wrapped the furniture (two slate end tables and a floor lamp), a suitcase and all of Kevin's things moving home, to be shipped to Alaska on the next trailer headed to our Anchorage branch office/warehouse. This way we didn't have anything in the truck bed to worry about or protect from rain on our drive. Less weight too. Mike did a good job. I took a video... ah, why not? I'll show you the video. I find it interesting anyway. I couldn't believe he wasn't wearing gloves but when I asked about it, he said the cardboard tube didn't burn his fingers.
We were to stay the night with Julie's brother Steve but he wasn't ready to entertain until later in the afternoon. We decided to visit downtown Seattle and find lunch near the water. I'll have to have Julie comment on her thoughts about the area where we parked the truck. It took a long time to find a spot.
Pike's Place Market. A happening place downtown Seattle. Gorgeous weather.
At first I thought this bird was an avantgarde work of sculptured art. I was wrong.
I thought this waterfall was pretty neat.
We found a shore-side restaurant and watched Seattle ferries dock and other water activity while we enjoyed delicious lunch of fish and chips. It was so pleasant.
We met Steve at his house. It's the first time I had been there. The view is magnificent and the house is very nice and quite comfortable. Nancy had to work until real late so we would see her for only a few minutes at the end of the day.
This is the view from Steve and Nancy's Seattle home!
Steve suggested he fly us out to the San Juan island for dinner and evening. We jumped at the chance!
Julie and Steve look at the "Prowler", the plane her dad and brother built.
This is Steve's Cessna 310. Here's a video of him pulling it out of the hanger.
It was not only a beautiful day for flying, it was a beautiful flight.
Julie let me sit in the front with the pilot.
Julie's brother Steve at the controls.
Below is Friday Harbor where we will be enjoying dinner and the local ambiance.
Gorgeous Flight Attendant
Competent Pilot
A few state ferries carrying passengers and vehicles came and went while we were there.
Julie and I ate Dungeness Crab Louis salads for dinner. Quite yummy.
Back at Steve's house I took this picture of Seattle's night skyline. The next morning we set off for our adventure driving back to Anchorage through Canada. We decided we were going to "take it slow" and stretch it out to five days. That way we would stay each night in a motel after driving no more than 12 hours in any one day. The next few photos were taken at the US-Canada boarder near Blaine Washington.
We drove to Vancouver and visited Granville Island where there is a large market. We were amazed to realize that most of the skyscrapers downtown appeared to be residential.
We love the ivy growing on this building.
Downtown Vancouver was nuts. Julie didn't like it. I loved it.
The first place we stayed was in Squamish BC, a Holiday Inn Express that was built in time for the Winter Olympics. It was VERY niiice. Accommodations went downhill from there.
The largest fly fishing rod iiiinnn thhhhheeee woooooorrrrrrllllldddd! I forget where that was. Do you remember Julie? We also passed a place that claimed the largest gold pan in the world. We saw it. We didn't take a picture.
We spent the second night in Prince George BC. Prince George is a large town with many hotel/motels. This night was the most expensive and the worst room. While checking in we talked a bit with the lady behind the desk. We made comment on all the taxes that were added to our bill. We asked her about her thoughts on the Canadian health care system. She said it stinks, well for the most part. At least it was free. We said free? Don't you have to pay taxes for it? She said no, it was free, the government pays for it.
This is a quaint little motel in Dease Lake, British Columbia, a dip in the road with a gas station, two motels and a few other buildings. We stayed there the third night. The owner built it 15 years ago and is now wanting to sell it. It is only a little out of the way. Interested?
We saw little wildlife on this trip. Three or four black bears at different times along the road and this pair of foxes. It was just after leaving Dease Lake this small animal walked out to the middle of the road and sat down. It was odd. Then another started to walk out but then dashed back into the woods. They had to be a mated pair.
On our way to Haines Junction we detoured a few miles to Watson Lake to see the Sign Post Forest and have lunch. We saw the forest, I forgot there's no place to have a normal lunch there. We purchased some chicken thighs and a couple of tornados to eat on the road.
We've got pictures of Kevin standing here and now we have one of Julie on her first drive up the highway to Alaska.
The signs are of every stripe. If you ever decide to make this drive, prepare beforehand to bring a bit of whatever to nail to a post. You'll be preserving history or something.
Provo Utah is well represented. What a friendly place.
I thought I'd take a picture of where we stayed that night.... just kidding. This derelict was once a welcome sight to weary travelers back in the day.
We stayed at the Alcan Motor Inn & Lounge in Haines Junction, Yukon Territory the fourth night (Julie is standing by our room). Over the past couple of days the weather and surroundings changed from Stateside to Alaskan-esque. Cloudy, rainy and chilly. There is nothing quite like home.
View from our Haines Junction room the morning we left for Anchorage, a 12 hour drive plus time for lunch. Yep, that's right. A brand new Camero with Alaska plates. AND there was a Corvette there with Connecticut plates.
The two of us at the Alaska-Canada international border. Below Julie is standing on the designating monolith. You see the line in the concrete? Julie is standing in Canada while I'm taking the picture standing in Alaska.
This is the Matanuska Glacier. We are getting closer to home. Only a couple more hours.
I took this picture through the windshield as we drove up to our house. It was so good to be home. We found all to be well. Our flowers were even flourishing with the help of two neighbor girls. You know you are always welcome to come up to visit us. There is room for a tent or two in the back yard.... =o)
I don't like the look of that!
Good luck sonny!
John Nutt, Chuck Harmon and disassembler/re-assembler.
Uncle Chuck had tools I didn't have at home so this worked out great.
Ta-Da! See the green numbers below the speedometer? THAT is a good thing. Only one time since the repair has the display not turned on and that was the next day. Since then it has come on EVERY time. I like it when things work out to the good.
We left the Harmon's the next morning and drove to Kent Washington where my company has a branch office/warehouse. Mike pallet wrapped the furniture (two slate end tables and a floor lamp), a suitcase and all of Kevin's things moving home, to be shipped to Alaska on the next trailer headed to our Anchorage branch office/warehouse. This way we didn't have anything in the truck bed to worry about or protect from rain on our drive. Less weight too. Mike did a good job. I took a video... ah, why not? I'll show you the video. I find it interesting anyway. I couldn't believe he wasn't wearing gloves but when I asked about it, he said the cardboard tube didn't burn his fingers.
We were to stay the night with Julie's brother Steve but he wasn't ready to entertain until later in the afternoon. We decided to visit downtown Seattle and find lunch near the water. I'll have to have Julie comment on her thoughts about the area where we parked the truck. It took a long time to find a spot.
Pike's Place Market. A happening place downtown Seattle. Gorgeous weather.
At first I thought this bird was an avantgarde work of sculptured art. I was wrong.
I thought this waterfall was pretty neat.
We found a shore-side restaurant and watched Seattle ferries dock and other water activity while we enjoyed delicious lunch of fish and chips. It was so pleasant.
We met Steve at his house. It's the first time I had been there. The view is magnificent and the house is very nice and quite comfortable. Nancy had to work until real late so we would see her for only a few minutes at the end of the day.
This is the view from Steve and Nancy's Seattle home!
Steve suggested he fly us out to the San Juan island for dinner and evening. We jumped at the chance!
Julie and Steve look at the "Prowler", the plane her dad and brother built.
This is Steve's Cessna 310. Here's a video of him pulling it out of the hanger.
It was not only a beautiful day for flying, it was a beautiful flight.
Julie let me sit in the front with the pilot.
Julie's brother Steve at the controls.
Below is Friday Harbor where we will be enjoying dinner and the local ambiance.
Gorgeous Flight Attendant
Competent Pilot
A few state ferries carrying passengers and vehicles came and went while we were there.
Julie and I ate Dungeness Crab Louis salads for dinner. Quite yummy.
Back at Steve's house I took this picture of Seattle's night skyline. The next morning we set off for our adventure driving back to Anchorage through Canada. We decided we were going to "take it slow" and stretch it out to five days. That way we would stay each night in a motel after driving no more than 12 hours in any one day. The next few photos were taken at the US-Canada boarder near Blaine Washington.
We drove to Vancouver and visited Granville Island where there is a large market. We were amazed to realize that most of the skyscrapers downtown appeared to be residential.
We love the ivy growing on this building.
Downtown Vancouver was nuts. Julie didn't like it. I loved it.
The first place we stayed was in Squamish BC, a Holiday Inn Express that was built in time for the Winter Olympics. It was VERY niiice. Accommodations went downhill from there.
The largest fly fishing rod iiiinnn thhhhheeee woooooorrrrrrllllldddd! I forget where that was. Do you remember Julie? We also passed a place that claimed the largest gold pan in the world. We saw it. We didn't take a picture.
We spent the second night in Prince George BC. Prince George is a large town with many hotel/motels. This night was the most expensive and the worst room. While checking in we talked a bit with the lady behind the desk. We made comment on all the taxes that were added to our bill. We asked her about her thoughts on the Canadian health care system. She said it stinks, well for the most part. At least it was free. We said free? Don't you have to pay taxes for it? She said no, it was free, the government pays for it.
This is a quaint little motel in Dease Lake, British Columbia, a dip in the road with a gas station, two motels and a few other buildings. We stayed there the third night. The owner built it 15 years ago and is now wanting to sell it. It is only a little out of the way. Interested?
We saw little wildlife on this trip. Three or four black bears at different times along the road and this pair of foxes. It was just after leaving Dease Lake this small animal walked out to the middle of the road and sat down. It was odd. Then another started to walk out but then dashed back into the woods. They had to be a mated pair.
On our way to Haines Junction we detoured a few miles to Watson Lake to see the Sign Post Forest and have lunch. We saw the forest, I forgot there's no place to have a normal lunch there. We purchased some chicken thighs and a couple of tornados to eat on the road.
We've got pictures of Kevin standing here and now we have one of Julie on her first drive up the highway to Alaska.
The signs are of every stripe. If you ever decide to make this drive, prepare beforehand to bring a bit of whatever to nail to a post. You'll be preserving history or something.
Provo Utah is well represented. What a friendly place.
I thought I'd take a picture of where we stayed that night.... just kidding. This derelict was once a welcome sight to weary travelers back in the day.
We stayed at the Alcan Motor Inn & Lounge in Haines Junction, Yukon Territory the fourth night (Julie is standing by our room). Over the past couple of days the weather and surroundings changed from Stateside to Alaskan-esque. Cloudy, rainy and chilly. There is nothing quite like home.
View from our Haines Junction room the morning we left for Anchorage, a 12 hour drive plus time for lunch. Yep, that's right. A brand new Camero with Alaska plates. AND there was a Corvette there with Connecticut plates.
The two of us at the Alaska-Canada international border. Below Julie is standing on the designating monolith. You see the line in the concrete? Julie is standing in Canada while I'm taking the picture standing in Alaska.
This is the Matanuska Glacier. We are getting closer to home. Only a couple more hours.
I took this picture through the windshield as we drove up to our house. It was so good to be home. We found all to be well. Our flowers were even flourishing with the help of two neighbor girls. You know you are always welcome to come up to visit us. There is room for a tent or two in the back yard.... =o)
