DAY 11    LAST DAY ON THE ROAD:  TOK TO CHUGIAK  297 miles

We left Tok around 8:11 a.m. and started toward Anchorage/Chugiak.  I think we got here about 3:30 or 4:00 but I didn't look at the time so not sure.  I'm not a very good correspondent.   

This is Mark's house.  He is a long time friend of Brian's and has graciously asked them to stay with him until they buy something of their own or decide to rent for awhile.  Its a beautiful neighborhood with lots of trees and lots of retired military. 

Don and I got the "private suite" in Mark's motor home.  Its nice, we're comfortable and it is quiet out here.  With 3 dogs in the house it gets a little loud.  Mark has a shaggy dog called Whopper and he and Sioux are trying to figure out how to get along.  Tali pretty much sticks right at Nicki's side the whole time.  She's a good girl.

After we got a little settled we went to the local American Legion for what they call "steak night".  For $20 you pick out your own steak and cook it yourself.  They provided baked potatoes, green beans, salad and other fixins.  The steaks were huge and delicious.  Brian was given an application to join the Legion and they asked Nicki if she wanted to apply to be on the Women's Auxiliary.  She said "will I have to work".  I told her about all the time our mom spent helping out at the Sparta VFW in the kitchen. 

I got to meet some of the people they will be hanging out with.  All of them are our age or a little younger but they are all super nice.  I asked the ladies to please look out for my girl and they promised that they would.  They have already given her a recommendation for a bank so that's good.  She can ask some of the younger girls at work about hairdressers, a gynecologist and other doctors probably.

Oh, on our ride over yesterday we saw some more wildlife but I didn't take any pictures.  We saw 1 black bear, 3 moose, 1 wolf and 3 eagles.  The road at a certain point was super curvy and I was wishing for a Dramamine big time but survived. 

Brian had really wanted to take Don out on a fishing charter for halibut but the weather up in Valdez is calling for snow and rough seas so that has been cancelled.  Nicki and I were going to go along and hang out in town while they were gone.  To tell you the truth, Brian is probably the only one disappointed.  Its 6 hours to Valdez and we would have gotten a hotel room and then the guys would have been on the charter for 12 hours.  I'm not sure what the plan was for when they got back but probably driving all the way back.  I think it was an additional 6 hour drive we were not disappointed to miss. 

So, not real sure what we'll be doing the next 3 few days but I imagine it will involve some sightseeing.  I want to go into Anchorage with Nicki to see where she's going to work and I'd just like to look around the area so I can get a picture in my mind where she'll be.

We video chatted with Heather and Reese this morning.  That baby!!!  I miss her so much. 

Our private suite.  :)

Mark's living room

 Looking toward the stairs to his loft. 

I think that is all I know for now.   May update tomorrow if we do something today. Truth be told, I wouldn't mind just sitting around all day reading and lounging but I know Don would have a hard time doing that.