Sunroom improvement

 This was after floor installed. Notice around windows. Well I finally got to putting on trim and painting it so the next pictures are the finished windows.

Next project is painting walls and ceiling. Where are you Brian??? Once Mom selects colors I guess I'll see how it goes. Will do it when there is nothing important coming up so if I have to spend a couple days in bed so be it... For those wondering what happens well when I look up a lot the little stones in my ears move into places they shouldn't and I get super dizzy.

Alaska trip - Facts and Funny pictures.

FACTS & FUN STUFF

GAS FACTS

           Filled up 13 times in US average price = $3.79  
                       Highest price = $4.35  Lowest price = $3.20

          Filled up 14 times in Canada average price = $5.09
                        Highest price = $6.02  Lowest = $4.32

          Total spent on gas for trip = $1894.95

 MILES TRAVELED

         Total miles traveled = 9128 miles

         Miles traveled to Dawson City, YT = 3700 miles
                 furthest North we traveled

         Miles traveled to Homer, AK = 4620 
                so we were 1/2 way through the trip
                at the furthest South we went in AK

VEHICLE PROBLEMS

         No problems except on 2nd day on Alaska highway
          a rock hit and cracked windshield. They  say you
          haven't driven the Alaska highway if you didn't
           come back with a cracked windshield.

 SLEEPING 

         Motels = slept in 7 nights for cost of about $875.00
        
          Guest room at Sister-In-Law = 3 nights= $60.00


         Honda Pilot Inn = 12 nights = about $360.00


         KOA log cabin = 1 night = $46.00






        

Should have stopped and asked for free dinner since I own it right?

This is what the Honda Pilot Inn looks like with all the stuff out and bed ready. The curtains are still up on back windows but we took rear and middle window curtains down so we could see the scenery.

Fran ready for lights out. In Alaska and the Yukon it never really got dark so the curtains were nice so we could sleep.

Looks very comfy Eh. I slept better on the trip when in the van then motels. Didn't have to worry about bedbugs just things like bears, raccoons and the like.

You can tell these are staged photos right? See the cars parked next to us. We actually took these at the motel in Great Falls, MT so trip almost over. In fact we never slept in van after these pictures were taken.

It is a nice way to travel because if it rains or snows you don't have a wet tent to pack up. just move the stuff from front seats to back and away you go.

We were watching for a Jimmy Johns but didn't see one until we were into Iowa.

It has been a great trip but I don't think Fran or I are about to make a U-turn and head back. Home sounds very nice.

My photographer was getting bored with lack of spectacular scenery so she started checking out license plates. Here are a few she took.

I thought we had a lot of stuff with us until we saw this next vehicle. The sign above kinda spells out what this guys problem is.

And the tarp was just a flapping away.

Hope they know they lost their bike riders!!

At many places on the trip this is kinda how we felt. Just put your money here.

I made Fran take this one. Actually had to slow down in Chicago traffic so this guy could pass us. Bet the drivers behind were ready to give me the horn.

For some reason Fran decided she wanted some pictures of truck exhaust pipes. Here are several she took.

Well this is the END my friend. Has been a great trip.

Happy traveling.

Alaska trip - Part VIII

Back into the U.S. of A Eh!! and heading South towards Great Falls, MT where we will spend the night.

Shelby, MT in the distance.

Mom and her baby. She thought maybe we would leave if she stamped her hoof. When we didn't she jumped the fence and the fawn went under it.

A hawk looking for breakfast. This was on highway 3 heading South towards Harlowton, MT

Lots of windmill farms along this stretch of Hwy 3

Big Sky Montana.

At Big Timber, MT we joined up with I-90 and headed East towards Billings, MT and our favorite Mexican restaurant.

Dos Machos

Nearing Billings on I-90

After lunch Fran wanted to do a little shopping in the Rimrock Mall so I went to the car wash and made the van lighter and more aerodynamic by washing all that AK, YT, BC, AB, MT mud off.

Into our favorite state.

There must have been forest fires in the Bighorns as it was too hazy to get good pictures.

Fran finally got to see a caboose.

Heading East towards our next stop at Spearfish, SD

Scenery just before Spearfish.

Fran wanted to spend at least one night in a log cabin so this was her last chance cause we only have one more night and that was to be in a hotel.

Enjoying an evening on the porch. The KOA had an "all you can eat ice cream bar" so we had to go sample their IC.

Next morning, Thursday, we headed up into the mountains to Mt. Rushmore and Keystone.

Town has changed a little since we were last here due to a flood that wiped out part of the town years ago. Fran did a little shop hopping but really didn't find much she wanted to buy. Made Al happy!!!

After the brief visit to Mt. Rushmore we were back on the road again. We decided to take the Badlands National park loop that starts at Wall, S.D.

These are some of the pictures fran took as we drove through.

Back on I-90 and not a lot to see. Did enjoy seeing the bales of hay alongside the road.

Headed South on I-29 and spent the night at a Hampton Inn at Sioux Falls as it was too humid for a KOA and either cabin or van sleeping.

Getting towards dark by the time we got to the Hampton Inn.

 Fran enjoying the airconditioned room.

That lap pad on the bed gave Fran the idea to get one so when we got home she used a gift card to Barnes and Noble that Daryl gave her to buy one. It is nice when using the laptop.

 Typical view as one drives South on I-29

 Joined up with I-80 at East of Omaha, NE

 Back in the traffic heading East

Home about 7:30 Friday, July 6th. Four days ahead of projected arrival but after 23 days it was good to be home.

Gas prices at Berrien were 3.859 when we left so this looks better.

These were our baby blue birds when we left.

This is one of the babies when we got back.

 Looks like 3 of the 4 babies have made it this far.

PaPa blue bird keeping an eye on the food stash.

Hey Dad how about another one of those meal worms eh.
Well that concludes our Alaska adventure. I will post some facts and funny pictures on another posting.