I Get By With A Lot Of Help From My Friends

This blog post is not of my bike trip. It is of a separate trip (break) back to the USA.

In November, 2012 a friend of mine was moving to Alaska and was going to be driving up there alone. I wanted to do the drive so I offered to take a break from my trip to go to the US and help drive up.
I¨bought¨ a ticket on mileage points but I had to actually pay for a return ticket separately because all the mileage flights were full (because of a glitch in the computer system) for the date I wanted to return. In the end I tried to change the date for the mileage flight to a date sometime way out in the future to postpone it in case I would be able to use it. I explained the situation to Alaska Airlines about the glitch that caused me to have to buy a return ticket and they ended up refunding half the ticket mileage because of it. Then they accidentally refunded the entire ticket amount! This was the second time they had done this and I had called them to tell them of the error but they said it was not an error, so I took it as a gift. That means that when I flew from Anchorage to Ushuaia, Argentina to start my bike trip it was for free! When I traveled home to help my friend, it was free! This confirms that “When you really want something to happen, the whole world conspires to help you achieve it”  and sometimes it even works out for free!!!

I had an unexpected 22 hour layover in Miami because of Sandy (the storm that hit the east coast) which meant I could visit my friend Mo in Jupiter, Florida. Mo and I used to be roommates in Florida in 1992 and she always threw the best parties. She will be horrified that I posted this photo of her in her night shirt and her house in the aftermath of a huge Halloween party she threw! But what are friends for? :)

I hadn't seen my Aunt Pat (my mother's sister) and Uncle Dave since my father died in 2004. My sister Laurie who lives near them arranged for a surprise visit to see them while I had a short stay in Connecticut.

My older (by 2 years) sister Laurie and her daughter Kendra. I hadn't seen Laurie in about 6 years, much too long!

I absolutely love the fall on the east coast and I love Halloween! I was so happy there were residual pumpkins when I was passing through.

Ah, beautiful maples in full color, doesn't get much prettier!

I was able to stop off in upstate NY to see my friend Dean and his family (wife Kathryn, daughter Madison, and son Erik) AND to eat Thai food! Double bonus! Dean and I were roommates in the ghetto of Anchorage in 1988 when he answered a want ad when I lived in Alaska the first time and then a roommate in several places in Alaska after that AND he still likes me after living with me!  Dean, you are not allowed to comment on that!

Heather, the most bad ass pilot chick in the world, worked with me at Alaska Air Taxi as a bush pilot in 2003/2004 (?). She has since given up that glamour for raising a couple of cuties (seen below-raising the kids not the husband). A stop in Minnesota reunited me with Heather after about 6 years of not seeing her!

 Big Sky Montana

We're not in Kansas anymore Dorothy.

Yup, must be Montana!

Woohoo, hot springs! These hot springs are just outside Kootenay National Park.

Traffic stopper Canadian style.

Banff National Park, Canada. I hadn't been here since my drive up to Alaska from New Hampshire in 1987! I love this national park but unfortunately Mother Nature wasn't behaving that day.

One advantage to driving the Alcan Highway in the winter is that all of the wildlife is often near the road.

I read in a road stop that there was a herd of bison in British Colombia and the herd was 265 strong.  I think in this spot was at least half of the herd! This is only a small part of the number seen.

Somebody please tell me what type of animal tracks are these (close up shown next photo).

I love the Alaskan and Yukon skies in winter.

Erin, Jack, me, and Tenecia after I arrived in Anchorage. Erin worked with me at Alaska Air Taxi a good ten years ago and she hasn't been able to shake me since, Jack owns Alaska Air Taxi where I worked for about 5 years and he still remains a very good friend, and Tenecia worked with me first in 1997 and I actually recruited her for various jobs with me since. 

Jack took me on a flight to Seldovia. I really miss being able to hop on any available flight like when I worked at Alaska Air Taxi.  I have been so fortunate to have flown to so many remote places in Alaska on all different types of ski, wheel, and float planes. There is nothing like seeing Alaska from the air. It gives you a true sense of its vastness and unspoiled beauty.
This is the take off from the frozen Lake Hood, Anchorage float plane base.

The Chugach  Mountains bordering Anchorage and semi-frozen Turnagain Arm (body of water off of the Cook Inlet and Pacific Ocean). Turnagain Arm is home to the third highest tidal change in the world after Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia and Bay of Bristol in England. The difference between high and low tide can be as much as 39 feet.  It is pretty amazing to see.

Landing in Seldovia. Jack who has been flying since he was 13 has been featured in two episodes of National Geographic "Alaska Wing Men" (one of which I am in the background). Jack let me take off in one of his Cessna 206's in the past and it kind of made me want to learn to fly if it weren't so expensive and useless unless I want to make a career of it or come into a lot of money to have my own plane. Donations gladly accepted. :)
For a segment of Jack's episode see video on link http://natgeotv.com/ca/alaska-wing-men/videos/risky-landing

Seldovia, which is one of the many small towns in Alaska only accessible by boat or plane. In the summer months this place is booming with tourists. 

We flew home by moonlight.

While so many of my friends have played important parts in my life and have offered and helped me in many different ways, I couldn't do any of the traveling I have done had it not been for the Alaskan Brat Pack shown above who have managed my personal business for years now while I have been away from Alaska. They have each helped me out in so many ways, I don´t know what I would have done without them. And when I return from being away we all pick up right where we left off as if I have never been away and we share such good times. They are the best friends anyone could hope for!
Left to right: Vicki, Kim, Tenecia

Deana-hairstylist extraordinaire!  Deana is one of the reasons why I look so blonde now. Well, Deana and the sun. She suggested I go a little lighter so the grey wouldn´t show so much while I am traveling. I have so much grey now! Err, as Deana says, it is not grey it is Arctic Blonde!

Reginal and I met in high school in our freshman year!
Note: I cheated and used a photo of Reginal from 2008 because I didn't get one this time when I visited him :(. 

A layover in Seattle on the way to California meant I got to spend time with my friend Ashley who suffered the winter at South Pole with me. Ashley kept things fun at the South Pole Station and I never miss a chance to have a layover with her when I pass through Seattle.

As some of my blog followers and good friends already know, my visit to Alaska was cut short.  After being notified of an incredible turn of events in the health of my stepfather and mother I flew to California to be with my mom while my stepfather Joe recovered from his pacemaker surgery. The idea was that I would possibly stay with them long term to help them in their failing health situation(s). Joe's routine pacemaker surgery turned into a domino of events and the life of an exceptionally loving father and husband (of almost 30 years) ended on December 1st.  

My mom and Joe were extremely close and they lived almost like Siamese twins; barely ever being away from each other. After returning from the hospital where Joe had died my mom had a seizure in my arms on the stairs leading into her and Joe's house. She too was hospitalized and because of her already poor health, and subsequent catching of pneumonia in both unhealthy lungs (Mom was a heavy smoker), and most probably because of a broken heart and not much will to live; my Mom's life ended on December 5th.

I was extremely fortunate to be with both of them in their last hours and fortunate to be able to tell them how much I love them while they were each still lucid . This might not have been possible had I not already been in the USA when the turn of events started.  I know it would have been horrible to receive notice of their deaths while I was off pedaling somewhere. I was extremely close to my mom in spite of the distance that was usually between us. She was someone I could tell anything to just like a good friend. I could go on and on about how great she was but this is not the forum, suffice it to say, she and Joe will be greatly missed.

The rest of my time in California was spent with my sisters and step siblings, and friends. During this emotional period we had to deal with what to do with a house and all of its contents, vehicles, keepsakes and photos of two lives/families etc. We dealt with this right away since we were all together even though it was so soon after both of our parents' deaths. It kept our minds off of more emotional things and it was the first time all of us had been together in at least a decade so if nothing else, bringing us together was a good thing.

Mom and Joe in their younger years which is how I like to remember them.

Both Mom and Joe were always very supportive of my adventures although Mom worried a lot about me. She got much better as the years went on. Technology helped a lot over the years to let her know I was okay. With the internet and email I could correspond regularly. When I first started traveling I could sometimes find a fax machine that could send international faxes and I would touch base that way but usually Mom wouldn´t know where I was until she received a postcard or letter from me 2-3 weeks after I sent it!

Going through all of the old photos was really nice. This is one of yours truly in the middle and my twin Heather on my left and Laurie on my right. Geezum I was an ugly baby!

The whole group of siblings; left to right Heather, Joey, Laurie, Cheryl, me and Scott.

My twin Heather and I are starting to look more alike I guess. Heather with her full time glasses and me with my old lady eyes reading glasses. Yes, she has always been shorter, she accuses me of eating all the food in the womb. Our dad used to say we were wombmates! 

Mom and Joe's house in the mountains of northern California. There was a big storm while I was there.

Back in my ol' stompin' grounds of the San Francisco Bay Area and the start of a nice visit with lots of long term friends at a time when being around friends was absolutely priceless.

I have known Lori and her family since I was twelve years old. Her parents are my second parents.
Foreground  Lori and Mark's son Zachary then left to right; Lori, Mark, a family friend Mark, Mom and Dad and Lori's brother Scott. 

My friend Betty and her beau Fred.  Betty and I were roommates for a couple of years and together we did my first and only other bike trip across the USA in 1994.

Monterey, California

Monterey Bay Aquarium, a favorite of mine.

Gotta love the mini California surfers!

In the redwoods of Muir Woods north of San Francisco. Diane and I met during both of our first seasons working in Antarctica and then we traveled together quite a bit in the years to follow. 

The California coast-see I told you it looks like Chile!

Diane, Tara, and me on a hike in Marin County. Tara was my roommate in Antarctica for one season and now lives in the Bay Area. I love my Ice (Antarctic) friends. It seems like we all have an automatic bond with people we know from the Ice. 

Fungi that almost looks like coral.

I love these Madrona trees which I hadn't ever seen before.

These Madrona trees peel kind of like a Manzanita bush. 

My aunt Audrey (my Mom's younger sister) and uncle Dave (shown below) who live in Southern California. I was able to see them on another layover score (I always plan layovers real well)! 

My uncle Dave.

In southern California I was also able to see Marco whom I had also met during my winter at the South Pole. Marco skied or ran outside every day during that winter where the average temperature was -75 degrees Fahrenheit! Marco would put me to shame if he was on this bike trip! 

Seeing Mo was a perfect starter for my trip "home" and a perfect finish. But somehow we always seem to end up where I almost miss or do miss my plane for one reason or another. She is just such TROUBLE! We lost track of time chatting over Caipirinhas and the next thing you know I was late for catching the train that would take me back to Miami airport. I am not sure if it was fortunate or unfortunate that Mo used to be a motorcycle cop and can drive like Mario Andretti but she ended up having to take me all the way to the airport which wouldn't have been an issue if she didn't have to go to work her second job within the hour. For sure if I had seen someone like her fly by me at 120 mph in her BMW sports car I would have been using some sort of profanity. It felt like I was in a racing video but I trusted her abilities 150%! It was impressive. 
Do not try that at home!

I am an amazingly lucky person to have so many wonderful people who have been and continue to be in my life. Thank you to all of you for all of the loving support you have given me during this time and throughout my life. Those who I did not see on this trip to the US were still with me in thought and are also so important to me. I treasure all the emails, hugs, regards, and thoughts sent my way when Mom and Joe passed and am sorry if I did not respond to all of them individually. Please know that I feel so very fortunate to have you!!

Special shout out to Super Sherpa Services for all of the logistical support too!

This blog brings you up to date on my travels until January 12th, 2013. I am in Guatemala just inside the border from El Salvador as of this posting on July 12, 2013. 

Photos and blog posts to come:
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Being Robbed In Peru

Ecuador
Colombia
Panama
Costa Rica (aka Gringolandia)
Nicaragua
El Salvador