“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares,” Hebrews 13:2

FROM VICKI:

Breakfast the next morning was delicious! Fran and Vicki both had their famous sourdough pancakes (not the ones tossed the night before), and Fran had some kind of game sausage (reindeer), and Vicki tried not to think about it.

But one of the greatest parts of the stay in Tok was the people we got to meet. For example, a couple we met had flown in from Belgium. They were biking (yes, as in bicycles) from Alaska to Arizona. A lovely young couple, they were concerned about the tar on the highway we had just experienced. Maybe they would stay another day. They had enough time to pedal to Arizona.

Another couple, Helena and Mark, were riding their motorcycles from Tijuana, Mexico to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada” (the only place in Canada to the Arctic Ocean by road). They travelled on the “Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway” to the Indigenous Inuvialuit settlement commonly referred to as “Tuk”. They had go-pro’s to record their journey, and were posting their adventures on Instagram. She is originally from the Netherlands, he from LA and now both live in Medford, Oregon. They had a friend named Vicki who was the first female to land a jet on an aircraft carrier. (that’s how they remembered Vicki’s name). So, Helena (of Troy) and Mark (of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were packing up to go, and we shared our blog and email, and they shared their Instagram link. They were wonderful folks who picked up books along the way so that they would always have something new to read. THAT says a lot. (Smile)

Again, praying for the safety of all on this journey. It’s amazing the instant camaraderie one feels with those you meet up here. The travelers are either going someplace you have been or have been someplace you are going. Many who live here are transplants, and it is amazing how many of them are from someplace we know well. It is truly one big blue world and we are in some way, clasping the hands of all its inhabitants.

FROM FRAN:

While eating our pancakes, I was eavesdropping on the conversation between two lovely silver-haired senior ladies. We guessed one was in her 90s and the other in her late 80s. They both live in the greater Anchorage area; both had known each other for years and both had adventured around Alaska together in their younger days. They were reminiscing about fun times just the two of them had in the bush catching Copper River salmon and sleeping in their car. I told them I was enjoying their stories, then they told Vicki and I more colorful stories of their Alaskan exploits and shared how they met. It turns out one of them is Carolyn Vaughan, wife of Colonel Norman Vaughan, a dogsled driver and arctic explorer who was with Admiral Byrd’s first expedition to the South Pole. Carolyn is an accomplished dog sled driver herself and raced in 3 Iditarods. They were both incredibly vibrant and independent, full of life, joy and sourdough pancakes. What amazing women!

We also met Aaron the wine-maker and his fiancé Tammy from Lodi, California. They had their RV; Aaron’s brother and sister-in-law were travelling with them in a second RV.  Hmmm… sounds familiar. They were enjoying glasses of wine while doing their laundry. Tuns out Tammy and Vicki went to the same high school in Arizona. It’s a small world.

Two more hours of tar removal for Fran and John. Since the entire town was sold out of bug and tar remover, we started trying different things we had in the campers. Success! GooGone is the best for removing tar. Back to the store to buy GooGone – which they had in spray bottles.