Well Renae and I started on our trip to Alaska by getting up early Sunday morning and finishing laundry, packing and cleaning the house. Taysha then picked us up at 1145 to take us to Applebees to meet with RJ, Cheryl, Roby, Katie and Kaleb for lunch. We got to the airport in Grand Junction around 130pm and got through check in. Of course I got asked whether I had bear spray, camp stove, or camp fuel. I told them I had a camp stove and it was last used about 3 weeks ago, apparently that satisfied their curiosity, that or they rummaged through the packs after we left. Anywho we sat around the airport in Grand Junction and Renae found some guy to change the TV channel to the Eurocup to watch Spain beat Germany. The flight to SLC was uneventful and only took about 45 min. We were happy to get off the plane because it was a little warm. The plane got in around 405pm and our flight for Fairbanks wasn't to take off until 9:05pm so we thought we'd sleep since we had gotten up so early.
Well when we checked the Departure board it said our flight wouldn't depart until 1000pm, unfortunate. We found out that it was because Newark was receiving lots of rain and a plane with 60 transferring passengers wouldn't be in until 941pm. So we walked around a bit and then found a place and Renae laid down on the floor and I read a book that I got in the airport. Well after about 45 min Renae shot up because a toddler had walked over and stepped on her head, lol. It wasn't really funny because she was really disoriented and didn't know where she was. After that we got up and walked around a bit and had supper. We found another little place to lay down and I laid down on the floor and napped off and on. It was like camping in an airport.
Finally we were able to board our plane. Renae had been able to sleep approx 3 hours while we were at the airport, she was really tired. The plane showed the movie Fool's Gold which I was able to fall asleep too. Luckily we snuck into the exit isle and had plenty of leg room. While every other retired person in the USA lower 48 seemed to be headed to Alaska for a cruise or bus tour.
Luckily Renae had been able to call her aunt Ethel Faye while we were at the airport, as she was to pick us up at midnight at the airport, but didn't want her too since we would be an hour late. She called the hotel near the airport (Alpine Lodge, 1-800-455-8851, 4920 Dale Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709) and booked us a room. When we got in it looked like the sun was setting, brilliant pinks, purples and blues with a big orange globe for the sun. There were rivers and waterways intertwined all along the outer edges of the airport. I didn't see any moose or bear yet, but I have an eye out. Renae called the shuttle from the hotel while I finished getting our luggage. Then off to the hotel we got there around 130am. Off to sleep with no problems then up at well the sun was up and so I was up, even though the sun is up nearly 24 hours a day now here. Renae and I went and had our continental breakfast with people taking the tour of Alaska on Kiss Alaska tours (don't ask). Renae's aunt will be picking us up this morning after a meeting and then we are off to the North Pole, AK. Can't wait to see what adventures await.
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