Alaska Move 2016 - Day 2

Day 2 

April 3, Sunday

I love our truck! It's roomy and comfy for us and the dogs.

When we got on the road in the morning, we posted on Facebook asking how many miles did people think we would travel this day. Guesses ranged from 500 miles up to 1130 miles. Melissa Miranda won with her guess of 810 being the closest. We actually drove 813. That was my entertainment for the day. LOL

Here's the St. Louis Arch!

Funky bridge.

Missouri!

Iowa!

Yeah, not a lot happening on that day. 

Day 2 Recap

Travel Time: 6:30am - 9pm
Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri
Started: Kimball, TN
Ended: Charles City, Iowa
810 Miles

2016 Move Quick Links
Day 1 - South Carolina
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

Day 7 - Alaska

Alaska Move 2016 - Day 1

Hi, everyone!

We are so happy to be back in Alaska. It's beautiful here. Love the mountains and our view from our new home.

I decided to break up the posts about our trip into days. It's just too much to try to squeeze into one post. So look for daily blog postings and photos from our trip over the next week or so.

Day 1 - Leaving our Home & Heading to Alaska

April 2, Saturday

After a crazy rollercoaster ride of trying to sell our house, we decided to go ahead and leave for Alaska before closing. Our first buyer fell through, but we were able to secure a backup buyer right away.

We decided on Friday that we were going to leave on Saturday (the next day). This is our 23rd move since we've been married. I have discovered with the last few moves, that it takes me longer and longer to pack and unpack each time. Maybe that's an age thing.

On Friday night we sat on the front porch excited and discussing what else needed to get done to leave by the next day. Most of the heavy furniture was already in the trailer. We still needed to load our beds, washer/dryer, and computer desks, TV, couch, etc. I was amazed on Saturday at how much we really had left ourselves to do on moving day. Where was all this stuff coming from? We had planned on hauling my car in the trailer too. Yeah. That wasn't happening. No way it was going to fit. I thought we had everything under control and ahead of schedule, but boy was I wrong. Thank goodness Tom's brothers, Mom, and other family members came to say goodbye and help. We didn't think we'd need any help, but we sure did, and was grateful for it.

Tom played Tetris with the big furniture
and how to best fit it in the trailer.

We didn't pull out of the yard with the trailer until 3 in the afternoon. WOW. I was expecting us to leave at noon.

About 3 miles down the road, we discovered we had a flat on the trailer. Hmmm, hope this isn't a sign of how the trip is going to go. The nail in the tire probably came from our own yard. 

Tom, being the smart cookie he is, had purchased 2 extra tires for the trailer for just this sort of thing. He got the tire changed, and we were off again. Spot Connect running the whole while so our family could follow us on our trip. 

Day 1 Recap

Travel Time: 3pm - 9pm
South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee
Started: North, SC
Ended: Kimball, TN
350 Miles

2016 Move Quick Links
Day 1 - South Carolina
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7 - Alaska

It's that Time Again!

Hi, everyone! Tom & I are super excited because we are moving back to Alaska in a few months. We've thought about doing this off and on since we left, and finally all the pieces have come together to make this possible.

I hope you'll click on the blue button to the right that says, "Follow this Site" so you can see all the gorgeous Alaskan pictures we take and read about our adventures.

You can also follow us on Facebook HERE.

Excited,
The Lewis Family

Blizzard and Packing Almost Done

We had a blizzard warning here in Anchorage last night. Tons of beautiful snow was dumped on us. It's quite beautiful! And it's still snowing.

You can click on any of these pictures and see a much larger version of it with more detail.
They even closed the schools today. Wow. Alaska closing school for a snow day. That's rare.

Yes, Bonnie is watching Harry Potter... again....

Thursday is our moving day. It won't be long now.

I've got all of our clothes packed in the suitcase.

Most of my craft items are packed. :( I left out my Cricut Expression and paper so I can play up until the last minute if I need a break from packing.

Most of the kitchen is packed except for the pots and pans (which I shall get to after posting this).

For the rest of the week it's paper plates and sandwiches.

Any food we have left in the pantry is going to charity. Tom's work is collecting food for those in need. I love being able to help out in this way. 

Our neighbor has agreed to take any foods we have in the frig and freezer. I'd much rather give it to someone who will use it than just throw it in the garbage and waste it.

Bonnie is ready to go! She wants to see her brother and sisters again, and her nephews.

We were going to surprise my parents, but I'm weak, I ended up telling them last week. Mama is glad I told them. Plus I was worried they would get worried if they couldn't reach me by phone for several days. (We usually turn our phones off while in Canada instead of paying for that extremely expensive service.)

Tom is going at lunch today to get tire chains even though we already have snow tires on the truck.

We are trying to take every precaution. It's rather dangerous to drive on the Alaska Highway in the winter if you aren't prepared. And absolutely no night driving for us since the animals use the roads more in the winter and because of the little to no visibility with snow blowing.

Please say a prayer of safety for us. I'll be so happy to re-enter into the United states and get on an Interstate again.

Here is our plan. This is just a plan - it may take a lot longer than we've put in this schedule.

Google Maps Anchorage, Alaska to Columbia, South Carolina

If anyone is interested, you can go the the link below and see where we are on our trip.

http://www.spotadventures.com/user/profile?user_id=79142

I'll check back in when we get home and get internet hooked back up.

Have a Merry Christmas and a very fun, creative day!

:) Janis

South Carolina In Our Forecast

We have so enjoyed being back here in Alaska and the beautiful snow that has been showering down so often. I just don't remember it snowing this often the last time we were here.  Next Thursday, December 15th, we will be moving back to South Carolina. Our 3 month vacation here has been simply awesome, but it's time to get back to the south and most of our family. We hope to make it back by Christmas. Driving in the winter on the Alaskan Highway is not ideal, but doable. It will take us a few days longer on this trip since Tom will not be driving at night on the Alaskan Highway - that's just too dangerous with "white outs" and all the animals using the roads during the winter instead of staying in the snow filled woods and byways.

We are excited that we will be spending Christmas Day at our daughter, Keri's, home with her family. Watching our grandson opening his Christmas presents is going to be a blast!

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Adventure

Last weekend we got 10 inches of snow! LOVING IT! This week it has continued to snow on and off almost every day. This morning it's very white outside because the snow falling is so thick and heavy. For me, this snowfall and scenery just doesn't get old.

This is the bridge beside our apartment that leads to the park, pond, and connects to one of the many walking trails around town.  Bonnie's favorite thing to do is drag her hand along the railing while walking so that the snow falls down. LOL

On Sunday we visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. They've started a new deal-e-o where if you have a Museum Membership (which we do) you can get in free the first Sunday every month. We really enjoyed it and are already planning on going again the first Sunday in December!

As you can see below... there are tons of animals to drive around and see. Of course there is also lots of pull off parking places to get out and get a closer look. But be sure and NOT touch the fence around the bears or you'll get a nice large SHOCK! (No, we didn't touch it.)

We took lots of pictures and videos.  Here are just a few of them we wanted to be sure and share with you.

WOW!  That's some DEEP Snow!!

Of course they have an awesome Gift Shop. I liked this carving!

Too much moola for me though.

 

Okay, so the below is a terrible picture, but these cats (Lynx) were large and beautiful. Probably shouldn't try to pet them though. Just sayin'. 

Bonnie's favorite part of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center was looking at the owls. They were beautiful! And so much bigger than I thought owls would be. We decided to take a couple of stuffed ones home with us. She's been watching the owl movie "Legend of The Guardians" and playing the Wii game. 

 Okay, before I go, here's a short video of the big, fluffly snowflakes blanketing us this morning. Notice how the driveway is clear? It's heated. How cool is that?

SNOW!

What a fun weekend!  Our football team, South Carolina Gamecocks, WON! We went shopping ... that's always FUN! And Sunday we woke up to a snow covered ground with the white stuff floating down. Beautiful!

We had a lot of fun playing in the snow and just watching it come down. It's been snowing all morning too. I love it!  Even though it's cold and snowing, Tom is still riding his bicycle to work. What a trooper! Of course, it's really not unusual here to see a lot of people commuting by walking, bicycling and even skiing to work. This is such a cool place to live. Unlike any other place we've lived before... and you know how often we move around to check out new places. :)

Enjoy the following video and pictures.  Thanks for stopping by!

A short video from Tom's work this morning:


Our weekend fun:

Have a fun Monday. Happy Halloween! BOO!

:) Janis