It's been a while, but once again I've been bitten by the travel bug. I've decided to sell my Harley and take to the road. Target date is March or April 2015. Stay tuned!
                   
                                                         

                                                                                                                                                    

The Last Word

I suppose by now you are wondering if I am still in Tok, Alaska and have frozen to death in a snow drift. The answer, no, I am not in Tok nor have I been for about 7 weeks and here is the reason why.
I waited in Tok for the correct axle to be delivered as the other option of installing a different type of axle did not work out. In that time, three weeks in all, I came to the realization that I no longer wanted to camp my way home, even with the correct axle and the camper in a back to new state. I was just over it. Maybe it was the three weeks waiting in a nice motel room with shower, tv, comfy bed etc. or maybe it was the almost two years on the road, but at that point in Alaska, I knew I was indeed over it.
So I printed up a flyer trying to sell the camper, passed it all over town, which in Tok, doesn’t take very long, and lo and behold I sold it in a few days to a nice couple. I was passing out flyers and ventured into one of the few gift shops in town and met a woman who told me her husband buys everything, so he would probably be interested.
That evening they met me at Tok RV, and bought the camper on the spot.
They decided to pay for the repair themselves which I of course deducted from the price, and we all were happy. The next morning I was on the road, heading for the lower 48. It only took me three days to drive through Canada as with no camper attached I could make great time. I stopped in Texas to visit an old friend that I had met in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico back in 2003, and had a great time. It was nice catching up. From Texas on to North Carolina for a great stay with my daughter and family. A larger family as it is, as I am now the grandfather of not only my very beautiful granddaughter Sydney but her little brother Jacob (photo below) too. Jake was born when I was in Fairbanks in July. It was a great thrill to hold the little guy. Actually he was born pretty big at 9 pounds. I spent an enjoyable week in North Carolina then headed back to Florida where I am now.
I have experienced some beautiful places and many of them would have been a wonderful place to call home, but Florida kept calling me back. I suppose there is something here that still has a hold on my heart.
I am working on a part time basis as a Lead Coordinator for a realtor friend and doing some consultant work in the real estate industry too, which is what I did for many years.
I am also in the process of putting together a photo essay of my time traveling, which will be called “My Life On The Road…A picture portrait of America as seen through the eyes of wanderer". Whether I try to have it published or just make it available to friends, I have not decided. I also have a mystery-thriller that I am writing. So between the two books, my sax playing, the book club I joined, working with real estate and just enjoying, I am pretty busy. A very good friend has asked me many times, “are you going to be able to just sit still’? Right now I am enjoying the “normal” life. I like where I am living, I like my bed, my frig, my TV and all the things most people take for granted every day.
It’s kind of silly really, as I had all of that my entire life, but after you’ve been camping for as long as I had, and you don’t really know when that will end, you miss all the things I mentioned. Getting back to it all is still something I am finding fantastic.
So If I had to sum it all up, which is what I am doing for this last entry, I would have to say that I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. It was an amazing ride. The beauty and diversity of America with it’s unique cities, landscapes, wildlife and people came together for me as a most memorable journey that gives me pause to the thought of someday doing it all over again, but for now that is a far away thought.
I would like to thank all of you who have followed my journey and who have been supportive with your comments. It was rewarding knowing that you were in some way also traveling with me, seeing what I saw and maybe planning your own adventure.

Do it!

 Life is short.  An old friend and mentor told me years ago;

  “DON’T BE A MEMBER OF THE CUDDA, WUDDA, SHUDDA CLUB”!

 TC...out...                                                

                                                Jake at 3 months old.

                                                             

Still More To Catch Up On

There is much to say, catch up on and share, but unfortunately my abilities to do that accurately are somewhat limited because most of my notes are in my camper.  My camper is in Tok RV in Tok, Alaska, where I am too, but at the moment I cannot access what I need for a proper entry.  Why is my camper in Tok RV you ask?  BROKEN AXLE. My wheel flew off 56 miles from Tok on the Tok Cutoff. Between the horrendous roads of the Top Of The World Highway in Alaska and so many roads inbetween like the ALCAN highway I have broken an axle and have since been a guest of the Tok Motel for the past seven days.  Hopefully I will be on the road tomorrow, Monday, or possibly Tuesday. 
My goal and final destination was to see Alaska and Denali National Park.  That goal was accomplished and I can proudly say that I have now experienced, enjoyed and marveled at all of out 50 States. Alaska is unique, as is all of the states, but even more so.  Until statehood in 1959 the territory was almost like another country due to it isolation, wildness, wheather and the constitution of the people who occupy "the last frontier".  Although I was and still am in the US of A, in many ways it feels like a foreign country.  That is not a condemnation, just an observation.  The Alaskans I have met are a hardy bunch.  They have to be to endure the conditions of nature and winter weather, but yet, talk to any Alaskan and they will tell you that winter is there favorite time of the season, and many of them have moved here after a visit, just for the winter.  If you like to hunt, fish, hike, snow mobile, bird watch, or just enjoy the solitude and beauty of nature, this is the place for you.  For me that romance and thoughts of a log cabin in the woods have passed through my thoughts more than once. 
I have taken literely thousands of picutes all throughout Candada and Alaska and I know it will take me some time to sort them out, put into folders and share with you.  Unfortunately I do not have the luxury to do that at present, but I will post a photo taken at Denali.  I am smiling in that photo and although my present situtation is not that pleasant, I am still smiling.  Enjoy.  TC...

                                                       

Lots to Catch Up On

Those of you who are following my blog might be wondering what has happened to TC.  I am well and still traveling, but due to poor or no service at all, I have not been able to update. So were have I been?  After leaving Yellowstone and the Tetons, my next stop was Seminole State Park in Wyoming, then on to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, then a hotel in Glenwood Springs in Colorado and onto Arches National Park in Utah along with Canyonlands National Park also in Utah and Horsethief Campground and Deadhorse State Park, also in Utah.  From Utah into Great Basin National Park in Nevada and then onto Glacier National Park in Montana and into Canada where I am now, in a Banff Hotel finally getting some recpetion.  NO PHOTOS NOW BUT I WILL UPDATE WHEN I CAN.  GETTING CLOSER TO ALASKA AS THE DAYS PROGRESS.  ONLY 2000 MILES TO GO FOR DENALI WHERE I HAVE RESERVATIONS FROM AUGUST 1ST TO THE 15TH.  THANKS...TC...

Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming

For the second time, as with  my visit to Yellowstone last year, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the Tetons, even with the snow, that seems to be following me.  Enjoy a few photos.  TC...

                         Rockefeller donated much of the land for the park.

                                                       MORE PHOTOS TO FOLLOW.                                       
NOTE:  I AM CURRENTLY CAMPED BETWEEN ARCHES AND CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARKS IN A BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT CAMPGROUND CALLED HORSE THIEF CAMPGROUND IN MOAB UTAH.  PICTURE UPLOAD IS CURRENTLY NOT POSSIBLE. GRAND TETON, SEMINOLE STATE PARK IN WYOMING, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK IN COLORADO AND UTAH ENTIES TO FOLLOW.
THANKS.  TC...
                                          

Yellowstone National Park

I love Yellowstone National Park and there is nothing else to say.  Enjoy some photographs of this wondrous place. TC...

                                   Approaching the park.

                                      The well known entrance.

                                       I finally saw my bear.

Elk.

                                                Bison

                              These guys are not having an good day, but the guy in the front can care less!

                                         

                                    Mother and children.

                                   Thanks Mom, I was thirsty...you're the best.

                 This Coyote was hunting. I did not see if it was able to get it's prey as it spooked and left the scene.  It was very cool to watch though.

Evidence of Wolves in the park. Elk carcass.

           Not all the wild life in Yellowstone is large.   

The natural beauty of the park.

                                                Mud pots.

                                                   Geysers.

I AM CURRENTLY IN THE GRAND TETONS NATIONAL PARK WATCHING THE SNOW FALL THROUGH MY CAMPER WINDOWS.  THE SNOW SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING ME.  GRAND TETONS ENTRY TO FOLLOW.  THANKS.  TC...