Alaska

I found this album and it was not in good shape. The pictures were glued in and I imagine the back had a description of each photo, but I couldn’t get them up. The pictures are faded and in no particular order. Text was written by Betty Lue – Veryle’s remarks in bold

Friday, 12-August-1983 After packing the van very carefully the night before, Juanita and I had a very dull day waiting for Veryle to finish working so we could start on our trip Finally, she called and said to pick her up at work. We left home at 1:15 and picked her up at work, thirty minutes later. Sandi cheered us off from 17th and Calif. We drove to Cheyenne, Wy where we stopped at a rest stop and ate fried chicken, potato chips etc. The wind was blowing really hard. Went on to Wheatland, Wyo. where Veryle mixed the attendant up but good•••• Put part unleaded and part regular gas in the van. Then borrowed the oil spout to put our oil in. We had many a ugly stare for doing this on the trip. We had beautiful roads. Drove to Buffalo, Wyo. to stay all night. Saw so many antelope on the side of the highway. evidently, they came closer to the highway at night. I was afraid we would hit one. Had a good first day. Juanita was putting our clock on the side of the van and got it upside down. The clock was never the same after that.

Saturday, 1-August-1983 We left Buffalo, Wyo. at 7:30 and went over the Montana border at 8:45 – Good roads – wheatland altho most of it was cut. We went by Custer Battlefield which was very interesting looking. I wish we’d had time to go thru it. Beginning to see several Indians at stops and on the side of the road. We arrived in Canada around six-o’clock with seat belts on••• A cute attendant came to talk to us – bells were going off and he told us we weren’t doing anything wrong. We were sorta nervous because we had heard that we would have lots of problems with Insurance, seat belts etc. when we went into Canada. The reason the bells were going off was because a Canadian car had went too far over the line. The good-looking dude asked us where we were going – If we were looking for work – If we had jobs, If we had any money. I had ten dollars; Juanita was going to tell him that Veryle was our sole support. We left, felling real good about the border and took off the darn seat belts because they were not comfortable. We drove on really good four lane roads ••• Wheat pretty well cut but looked like it was good wheat. We drove to Leekbridge and stayed at a KOA campground. Took a crazy road in but it was a beautiful drive, We are beginning to see such beautiful and well planned bridges. We drove into town and got a sandwich at a Burger King.  I covered the windows and made myself a bed in the van on the bed that Bill and Dan built. A seat by day and a bed by night. Veryle and Juanita slept in the tent. I believe Juanita’s air mattress went down during the night. This was my first camping, and I was a sight walking to the showers at 6:00 in the morning. My hair sticking straight out, my long house coat, my oId shoes not tied, a bag over my arm and it was at least a block to the showers. Everyone was asleep but I thought, it was time to get everyone up. The flowers are really pretty in this town.

Sunday 14-August-1983 We have driven 996 miles from home. We left Lethbridge at 7:45 -driving thru wheat country, most towns have 4 to 5 wheat elevators. but most of the wheat is cut. Calgary and Edmonton are beautiful cities, Rocky Mtns to the west and the. plains to the East. A lot like Colorado and the roads were perfect. Marked perfect. We haven’t seen many cops. They drive pickups besides cars. Speed limit is 60 but between Calgary and Edmonson it was 70 so we made the best of it. It was very very windy, could hardly keep the van on the road. I might add that we got lost in both of the proceeding towns. We stopped at Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. Ate a nice dinner, called Bill, Debe and Cindi. It was still light at 10:00 so we covered the windows and went to bed. Juanita and Veryle in the tent and me in the van. fun day

15-August-1983 We are 1601 miles from home. Starting to get to the main road “The Alaska Highway” There are so many campers, trailers etc. going both ways. We got to Dawson City, the gate way to the Alaska Highway. We filled up with gas and started out. Veryle said “Well, here we go on the Alaska Highway” and Juanita said “you’re going the wrong way” and we were! So we finally got started and it was a great feeling!!! Roads were good for a long time and then we had some bad spots. The highway dept was wetting them down so the van was black. When we hit those spots there was nothing you could do but go right thru. The scenery was beautiful! We finally went over the Rocky Mtns, and they were so pretty just like ours here in Colo. The gas was very high, anywhere from $1.25 to $2.50 but when you’re up that far there is nothing else to do but pay it. They did not have any self-service and they didn’t like you messing with their pumps.  We stopped at the Toad River lodge tonight, It was raining so we didn’t want to sleep out. I think Juanita was doing a secret rain dance. The bed was horrible, but we were so tired that we didn’t care. We ate homemade chili and toast at the cafe that was owned by the same people. Our waiter was the mechanic, gas attendant, motel clerk and whatever was needed at the place. Juanita got US money in change and asked the man if he was supposed to give her real money instead of Canadians. It’s quite understandable why the people from Canada aren’t too nice to us. Our car was heating some so I asked the Mechanic if he knew why and he said we had just been in some high mountains and was probably doing a lot of pulling on the motor. The mountains, where we saw two mountain sheep on the highway, were 4,000 feet high so I guess, we didn’t think we had been too high.

Tuesday 16-August-1983 We are 2,096 miles from home. We left Toad River at 7:30. Veryle took a picture from behind the cabins and it was beautiful. The ‘Toad River. We drove by beautiful lakes, over rough roads, waited by the side road for a pilot car to take us thru – large pit holes, many many campers and motor homes. There were every kind of cars, Cadillac’s, jeeps you name it and all loaded with supplies and all fllthy dirty from the dust and the mud, At one milepost the man was the gas attendant; the mechanic; and the postmaster. We mailed Dawns Birthday present there. Everyone was baking breads, cakes etc. They advertised homebaking but as most places, some people are good cooks and some aren’t ~ Veryle was trying to find out who her reading glasses belonged to •••• we all were getting a little tired. We saw a moose run across the road for the first time. The American flag was with the Canadian flags in front of the milepost which was very impressive. The bridges are really special. everywhere on the Alaskan Highway. We finally saw porcupine alive on the roads, saw a lot that had been run over. Veryle turned on the wipers and couldn’t see but said she wouldn’t let that slow her down because we were in a hurry. We didn’t stop too many places along the way because we wanted to get to Anchorage and then take our time coming home. We stayed at Haines Junction, Yukon tonight. Had a very small room but was. clean. They didn’t want to turn on the heat but Juanita insisted because we were cold. The Kluane Mtns were to the west and SO beautiful and at 10:30 it was bright as day.

Wednesday17-August-1983 We left Haines Junction at 7:30. I made a honest mistake and though it was seven when Veryle liked to sleep that late and it was only six. So, we got to moving a little sooner than we really would have. Veryle and Juanita weren’t too mad. The Kluane National Park is really beautiful. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to spend some time· in the Yukon. The Kluane Lake covers 154 sq miles and we traveled by it for, I don’t know how many but a bunch. We took several pictures. Another interesting thing was the White River named for the color of its water, whitened by volcanic ash and glacier silt. Also it was one of the most treacherous rivers in the Yukon Territory so needless to say we drove over it very quickly. As usual, it had a great bridge. We stopped at the Canada-Alaska International border; There is a narrow clearing cut by surveyors from 1904 to 1920 along the 141st meridian – from Demarcation point to Mount St Elias in the Wrangell Mtns. to mark the Alaska-Canada Border. We officially came into Alaska, USA at 12:JO. We are in Alaska Time zone now, three hours later than Denver. Every stop enroute had dogs and since we like dogs we had fun petting them. We had 18 miles of construction when we got into Alaska but otherwise the roads were good. Lots of curves and high places but we drove right along. We went thru’ Tok and on to Delta Junction where we turned off and went to Anchorage. It was further to Anchorage than Fairbanks. The Matanuska River valley was so beautiful with the glaciers and rivers and foliage. We ate dinner there before going into Anchorage eighty miles away. We arrived at Debes in Anchorage at nine o’clock. We were very tired. Had driven 3000 miles in six days. Had no problems with the van. Saw so many beautiful mountains, lakes, glaciers and met some really nice people.

Tursday 18-August-1983 Debe went to work at 7:30 and the girls all slept in 50 1 had time to myself and. had a heck of a time keeping quiet. The van wouldn’t start so Tom, Debe’s renter worked on it all morning and found a wire from the battery cable loose – Said it would have cost a lot in Canada if it would have stopped there. We took the van to Montgomery Wards and had it greased, oil changed, a new battery and all filters changed. W ewent to lunch at “Tee hogg” with Debe, This was a very interesting place. Then Veryle, Juanita and I went to “Earthquake Park” and walked down into it. Saw Mtn McKinley (elevation 20,320 feet, North Am highest Peak) 135 miles from Anchorage and Mt. Fbrker 17400 feet and twelve miles south west of Mt McKinley. We also could see the Sleeping Lady. We got some groceries and cooked dinner. Veryle went after Debe, rented a movie I slept thru most of it. I talked to Allen, he sent me fifty dollars to spend on my trip. Also talked to Henry. Their house in Houstons LaPorte was hit by Hurricane Alicia so I was worried about them. I guess they were moved but very tired. I will be glad when they get settled in Austin and their home in LaPorte sold.  We were sitting watching television when there was a earthquake tremor. Debe said that wasn’t too bad but felt pretty bad to me.

Friday 19-August-1983 Debe to work at 7:00 – VeryIe and Juanita finally got up••washed the van and worked on door hinges so they would shut better. We went down to the beautiful Federal Building and saw how the United States spends the money. We met Debes friends that she works with. We went to the “Monkey Warf Bar” and watched the monkeys while we ate. Went shopping and to the museum, then we came home, watched a movie and took a nap.  Tom left for Seward to put his boat up for the winter. When Debe got home we went to Eklutna an Indian Village -twenty six miles south of Anchorage but got into a traffic jam and it took us two hours. This Indian Village is the site of St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church and a hand-built Siberians prayer Chapel. The bright little graves houses or spirit houses in the cemetery are painted in the family traditional. colors. Visitors are asked to respect the graves, We saw many of these cemeteries thru out Alaska and Canada later. We were going to a restaurant called “Mat-Su” but found we had to have reservations. We went thru the Matanuska Farm country, didn’t take time to ‘buy any produce which we were sorry later. They have the best produce because they have such long days The best cucumbers I’ve ever eaten. We were in Wasilla and went ten miles west to a beautiful cafe and we did enjoy one heck of a meal. Veryle ordered a piece of “Las Vegas Cake” and we all got one bite of it. We went back to Anchorage on the Old Glenn Highway, because Debe thought we’d enjoy the scenery more, but it was dark and we couldn’t see anything but the road in front of us. We saw a moose on the road that had been hit by a car. Debes car was smoking SO she stopped to have it filled with gas and put oil in and see why it was smoking. It was smoking because it didn’t have any oil in it. So, she put four quarts of oil in and said she’d changed her oil for the year.

Saturday 20-August-1983 It was raining when we got up but it cleared off of which we were glad. We went to the airport to take care of Debes ticket. Juanita and I watched three cops haul a car away that no one was in. Someone was going to be surprised! Debe had made a mistake with her ticket and the fellow that she had went halves with was supposed to leave at midnight instead of noon but they made arrangements so it took longer than we expected. We left Anchorage at 11:05 and drove down the Kenai Peninsula-Seward Highway. Drove by the Turnagain Arms for many miles. The water on one side and the mountains on the other. The Bird Sanctuary, The famous Bird house bar in sinking log cabin We could see many glaciers on the mountains – Just a beautiful drive. We came to the Alaska Railroad loading area for ferry but more on this later. The town of Portage, no facilities as the town was destroyed in the 1964 earthquake. We drove to the Portage glacier and stopped to see salmon spawning. Such beautiful Salmon trying to go against the water to lay their eggs! This is where the tail pipe fell off of Debes car and ” we drove along clanging to the glacier where Debe and Veryle fixed it with a clothes hanger. We left the beautiful Portage Glacier and drove down the way and had a flat tire You’d have to see Debes car to appreciate the fact she couldn’t get the jack on because it kept getting caught in the rust and they couldn’t get the nuts off. Finally, flagged down a couple – Juanita said we wanted a big strong man to stop and here you are and his wife tried to get it off because he’d had a heart attack. He finally stood on it and got it loose. We were on our way! after we decided that Veryle was trying to put the tire on backwards.  We drove down this highway which is beautiful. We wanted to get to the “Earthquake Movie” and Seward but didn’t make it in time. ~ The girls bought two pounds of shrimp and we ate by the waterfall but couldn’t get the water too hot but we ate the shrimp anyway. Had bread, salad and cookies We bought tickets to the tourist train and saw where Tom had his boat docked for the winter. Visited with Tom for awhile. We drove back thru the beautiful mountains and Veryle and Debe went grocery sbopping Juanita and I cooked dinner, more shrimp, washed clothes. (Juanita was the official clothes washer and I was the dish washer. Really a great day and lots of fun!

Sunday 21-August-1983 It is raining – a heck of a day for a barbecue but that didn’t stop us! I baked two batches of brownies and we fixed hamburgers and hot dogs. We had seven of Debes friends and a good time. It was interesting to hear of some of Debes capers thru’ the years she had known these girl. Sometimes, I think she should be closer so the family can take care of her. I talked to Cathy on the telephone. We packed the van tonight and getting things ready to make the trip home. Tom didn’t come home tonight so everyone had a bed to sleep in.

Monday 22-August-1983 We went downtown to get tickets on the ferry and mail Henry and girls gifts and Dona Harveys Wedding gift from Debe, We were happy because we were sure to get on the ferry so we left Anchorage around 11: 00 and made our trip back to milepost #80, 46 miles from Anchorage to the Alaska Railroad landing for ferry traffic where we took the shuttle train to Whittier. We drove our van onto the train and stayed in the van. It was quite a trip, went thru a couple tunnels – one was three miles long. The trip takes 30 minutes. There is no way to get there by road just the train. Whittier was created by the US Government during WW2 as a part and petroleum delivery center tied to bases farther north by the Alaska railroad and later by a pipeline. Most of the town’s residents live in a tall gray tower – a former military building converted into condominium units. This is really an interesting place, lots of activity. We then drove our van into the ferry which is a large ship. people upstairs and cars, vans, campers. buses etc down. You couldn’t go down to the cars only one time during the trip and that was a certain fifteen minutes about six o’clock ——- We were in the Prince William Sound, which lies at the north extent of the Gulf of Alaska. The peaks of the Chugach Mtns on the east and north and the Kenai Mtns on the west form rock curtains on three sides. We rode ten hours on the ferry – seeing a bird sanctuary, a Golden Eagle, sea otters; dolphins; seals. It was raining but cleared up to see the Columbia Glacier. We ate dinner on board, arriving at Valdez at ten at night. It was dark, it was raining, we were tired, We should have went to a motel! Instead, we drove over a country road, I could hear a river, we got lost, finally found a camp site and it had a warning “Watch out for the bears” and my girls were going to sleep out in a tent. Juanita and I slept in the van. Veryle lost a contact and decided if she couldn’t find it she’d just fly back to Colo. Debe found it even if it was pitch dark, raining. We had three flashlights and the ground was very wet. Debe never forgot this. We finally went to the bathroom which were a block away and smelled to high heaven. In the morning we found that the camp was about full. I worried all night that a bear would attack us. This is a small summary of Valdez pronounced Valdeez. A very interesting town. Milepost book, page 329: Located in Southcentral Alaska, on the north side near the east end of Port Valdez on Valdez Arm in Prince William Sound. Valdez is 11. 5 air miles east of Anchorage 368 highway miles from Fairbanks, Valdez is the southern terminus of the Richardson Highway and the trans Alaska pipeline. Population: 3,279. The 1964 Good Friday earthquake virtually destroyed Valdez. A tidal wave swept over Valdez wharf and engulfed the downtown area. Afterward, it was decided that Valdez would be rebuilt at a new townsite. Construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline was begun in 1974 and completed in 1977. The 1000 acre site at Port Valdez was chosen. as the pipeline terminus,

Tuesday 23-August-1983 We drove into Valdez and found the high school of which Debe pleaded with them so the girls could shower. Juanita and I washed our hands. We ate breakfast at a sight which said “Watch out for the Bears” We drove down the Richardson Highway and stopped at the Worthington Glacier and walked up to it. Such a beautiful sight! Our next stop was at Copper Center lodge which is a historical cafe and hotel and very quant place, we ate 1unch here. Having been here since 1897. Pearl Meier, Debe and myself stayed all night here four years ago. We saw the Alaska pipeline here so Juanita and Veryle got a picture by it. I had already had mine from the trip before. There was lots of road work being done getting things ready for winter. We drove to Tok today. Stayed at the “Sourdough campground” and shopped in “Tok” Saw a movie at the office about Alaska. We were the only ones at the movie. We had a good night sleep.

Wednesday 24-August-1983 We left Tok at 9:00- We were having beautiful weather after rain yesterday. Men working on roads so we’d stop and visit with the people along the way. Got so we knew or recognized the different people. In fact, we met the German people we’d met on the ferry. They had rented a car and were touring the country. We are on the Alaska Highway again and the foliage had changed color in the week we were gone. If we hadn’t gotten thru the Canada border before nine o’clock they close the road and you can’t get thru until morning. We met people who had to camp at the border. We drove to Whitehorse back thru’  the Kluane National Park which has the beautiful lake that I mentioned on the way up. I wish we’d taken time to stop and explore the glaciers and scenery that can’t be seen from the road. We shopped in Whitehorse, ate dinner and stayed all night in a motel. Found out later that we should have checked out some of the night life as it was very interesting.

Tursday  We left Whitehorse at 8:00. Debe was a crazy driver and was using the middle white line as her guide •••• The middle of the van on the middle line. We got to the Wasson Lake turn off at 3:00 in the afternoon. We have been driving in the Yukon 1 day but when we turn off to the Cassiar Highway we go down into British Columbia. The law is that we keep our head lights on at all times. The cassiar highway is about ten years old, mostly gravel roads, very primitive country and facilities are few and far between. The bridges are one way with not much for sides. We have 500 miles to go on this road to get to the yellowhead highway and I don’t mind telling you that I had been worrying about this stretch of highway. Our first stop was Cassair Junction, where the next gas station north is 74.2 miles and South is 72 miles so we filled up with gas. We stayed all night at a State campground here two rivers came together. We cooked a can of Chile and had hot dogs. The girls slept in the tent and Juanita and myself in the van. It was beautiful even if there were no showers and we had a pit toilet (didn’t even smell too bad) We washed the dishes in the river.

Friday 26-August-1983 We left the campsite and drove to 40 mile cafe. We paid $5.50 for breakfast but it was really delicious, bacon, eggs, and homemade bread.  we were charged or coffee refills but it was delicious. Served out of a beat up aluminum coffee pot. We washed up in their bathrooms. The two geese bit Juanita and me on the leg. We drove on a mile and stopped at a lady’s shop who sold souvenirs from an old garage. Got my “engraved” Canada plate there. Went by several airstrips on the road. Had signs telling cars to watch for planes landing. A man said they had snow last week. The van speedometer reached 120,000 miles near Mazraden Junction, around 1200 miles from Seattle and 2500 miles from home. I saw two bears, one loping on the highway going into the forest and one laying on the side of the road eating from barrels. We oalled “Here Bear, Here, Bear” but it wouldn’t move. Debe said it was very dangerous. The other three saw another bear but I was too busy watching the road. We made a wrong turn and went toward Stewart but was a beautiful drive-We saw some glaciers that were right by the highway•••• We ran into a work crew and the man directing traffic told Veryle to go ahead slowly – she thought she was in the Datsun and we went backwards ••••• The man had the funniest look on his face. (The van was 3 speed and reverse was where first normally is – I can still see the mans face. We just went backwards a short distance and were laughing as we went by him again. I imagine he was thinking crazy American women.) We were the only ones following the pilot car and since he was due to get off work he took us very fast thru’ the mud•••••• We drove down out of the Cassiar highway into a town named “Kilwanga”, a Indian town. We looked at the totem poles which were supposed to be authentic and down two miles to the Yellowhead highway. came down from primitive country to a great highway – drove to Hazelton where we drove five miles out of the way to Halester campground. Paid one dollar for each shower •••• There was some big thing about Indian Culture and the B.C. television crew was there •••• The camp was between two rivers and it was beautiful.

10 Saturday 27-August-1983 We were up and out of our campground early. Veryle was mad at the Indians because they were making too much noise all night. We ate breakfast at Smithers, B.C. $4.25 for everything, by a lake and it was really pretty. Debe discovered she didn’t have her visa but she had lost it several times so she wasn’t too excited. We saw such beautiful scenery-glaciers were pretty – beginning to see wheat fields and a lot of wheat not cut yet. There was a Houston B.C. and a Seeley B.C towns that we passed thru. We began to feel that something was wrong with the van and stopped to find that a U-Joint was going out. We found a Gordon who fixed it for us•••• didn’t charge but forty dollars so we felt that wasn’t too bad. Prince George is a beautiful town••• bridges all over the place •••• we saw a Woolco and Sears store in a shopping center. We stayed all night at Quesnel B.C. where we did the washing. Juanita and I walked about four blocks. Had a visit with a drunk Indian or one that was trying to impress his girlfriend. Saw lots of fancy expensive cars. The lumber mill and by-products seem to be the main source of employment.

Sunday 28-August-1983 We left Quesnel and started our final way to Seattle. We saw Black Arabian horses at Quesnel. There are Lakes and Rivers everywhere and mountains in between We stopped at Williams Lake so we could wash the van. We wanted to put our “We traveled the Alaska Highway” on it. The road all the way to Seattle was four lane – About a hundred miles from Seattle our van began having choking problems and coughing pretty bad. As Juanita said when people begin looking when you drive by – you have problems. We drove thru’ the Fraser Canyon with winding roads beside the Fraser River thru’ many tunnels ••• Really a beautiful drive with very high roads. We stopped at Hell’s Gate. and the girl s went to the bottom. Juanita and I stayed up••• l am a chicken when it comes to high places, There are lots of Churches in Canada of many faiths. We called Bill from Cache Creek. B.C. It was very dry from here to the US Border, We struggled with the car •••lost our way finding the Canada, Washington line and crept into Bellingham, Wash where we ate at the Steak House and took a whirlpool and went to bed.

Monday 29-August-1983 In Bellingham Washington we got up early enough to take van over to be fixed. I forgot to say that when we got back to the United States we all felt just a Iittle relieved. We took the van three places before we found a Gordon Longerah that would fix it altho it wouldn’t be done until Tuesday afternoon. It was a. blown casket as the man down the way bad told us but we wanted a second opinion.  We rented an escort car and drove to Seattle. We went to the needle and mono rail ••• shopping at Farmers Market••• Really had a good time •••• was a beautiful day altho it threatened to rain earlier. We went back to Bellingham and ate Chinese Food. We took a Whirlpool and went to bed. The girls went swimming.

Tuesday 30-August-1983 We drove out of Bellingham around 2:00 and drove thru’ Seattle over some beautiful bridges ••• thru country of fruits and vegetables. Roads were four lane so we drove right along. We saw Mt St Helen at a distance. We drove up out of the valley and on top of mountains and into the wheat country, I can see why the US has so much wheat, it was everywhere. We were trying to get into Pendleton, Oregon to stay all night and pulled up at a stop about 30 miles from there. Just over the Columbia River and the Oregon, Washington line when the car stopped and the lights went out •••• This happened at 6:00. We got the car started and were going on when the lights went out •••• We were about a mile out of the town Umatilla so Veryle drove, Juanita held a lite out one side -I held one out the other and Debe held one out the front (As I recall Debbie sat on the hood with the flashlight) •••• We got back to the garage and the man said he’d have the alternator in by 9:30 next morning. We stayed all night at a nice motel $32.00 •••• ate a good dinner and went to bed.

Wednesday 31-August-1983 We left Umatilla at 10:00 after breakfast and the car was fixed. A lot of wheat had been cut. Went Over mountains and one side is wheat fields on the other side was a mountain of trees ••• The scenery is beautiful We were thinking of having Debe walk across the state line because everytime she drives across something happens to the car. Idaho was very dull, only interesting thing is the Snake River. We saw a brush fire close to Twin Falls. We drove until 10:30 went into Utah Stayed all night in Ogden, Utah. We are getting tired and looking forward to tomorrow.

Tursday 1-September-1983 Juanita and I woke up at 6:00 and went to the restaurant next door and ate breakfast. The girls were upset •••• said we woke them up. We left Ogden at 8:09 The car chocked on freeway but we got it going •••• That was something new••••••• We stopped at the devil slide and drove across Wyoming. very dull but pretty in its way. We were happy to come into Colorado. We helped a man and his family with some water. They were stranded on the road, so we took the man to a rest stop go get some water. We were telling him about being to Anchorage and when we drove into the rest stop I asked him where it (meaning the water pump) was and he thought we were still talking about Anchorage and said “it’s in Alaska” Needless to say Juanita and I cracked up. We got home about seven o’ clock. We had driven 7,000 miles. We were gone one day less than three weeks. The tires went the whole way. We had some problems but nothing we didn’t handle. After reading this, I realize, I used the work “beautiful” many many times but that’s the way the scenery was••••• Hard to explain and I wish everyone could make this trip.