Homeward Bound, Day 10

It was a very long day. Steve and I decided we could never be truckers. We have a new appreciation for our brother-in-law, Lloyd. (Don't know how you do it.) I thought about taking pictures in North Dakota but will just steer you to Day 9 pictures since it looks the same. Steve did the endurance driving today (he hasn't let me drive once during this trip), the kids followed their school routine, and I stuck my nose in my knitting and finished a sock. The scenery began to change late in the day as we neared Minnesota. We all began to believe that there really will be an end to this trip. Don't get me wrong, it's been a beautiful trip, the kids and animals have traveled great (God's grace), and we consider it a priviledge to be able to travel all the way from Alaska, but the body and mind can only take so much and we're looking forward to the end of this journey.

Tonight we're staying in Virginia, just one hour away from Ely. We're looking forward to meeting our new landlord tomorrow and seeing the cabin. We'll get possession on Wednesday. A huge blessing tonight was hearing from a friend that lives in Ely whom I've only met once. Holly introduced Lynn to us a couple years ago. Lynn and her husband, Jim, asked us to stay with them tomorrow night, have offered to let us leave our trailer at their place, have also offered wood, and best of all have extended a hand of friendship. We are both Christian, homeschool families. They once lived in Alaska too. We are looking forward to getting to know them. Not sure what all God has in store for us while we live in the Ely area, but I know it will be for our good.


Since we've been to the furthest point east in Maine (many times) and the furthest point west you can drive to in Alaska and to the Arctic Circle, I had to take a picture of the geographic center of the United States as we passed by.


Now we're beginning to feel there could be an end to this journey.


The first red trees we've seen. Everything's been gold up to this point. Aren't they pretty!

Homeward Bound, Day 9

We were up early and ready to hit the road. We said our thanks and good-byes to Dave and Sheila. It wasn't so hard knowing we'd see them and Matt in just a couple weeks back in Iowa.

We took highway 2 all the way across Montana. The drive started out beautiful, skirting the southern border of Glacier Park, turned to golden wheat fields soon after and went on like that for the rest of the day. There was hardly a jack rabbit or antelope to be seen. There were lots of trains, cattle, sheep, and horses. The kids were impressed to see where the wheat comes from that we all grind to make our bread.....but after a while boredom really set in and we began to get road-weary. Steve was tired but still managed to make it into North Dakota before stopping for the night.


Early morning by Glacier Park.


Went through Blackfeet Indian teriory.


The road went on and on and on.....


A good place for wind towers. The wind blew so hard it made driving difficult for Steve until it became a tail wind.


Oh give me a home...where the buffalo roam...okay, these are cows, but you get the idea.


Looked a little like the Badlands.


The sun was shining on this prairie church.


Moriah modeled this hat for me. I designed and knit it days one through three of our journey and named it 'The Alcan Hat' for the Alcan highway and the colors along it. For you knitters--the hat has a self facing ear band with a picot edge to turn it, ending in an eight spiral decrease at the top. It's been a blessing to be able to knit during our trip since I usually get carsick.

Homeward Bound, Day 8

While we enjoyed a fire in the woodstove, Dave and Sheila cooked up a breakfast feast for everyone Saturday morning. Matt and Jessica joined us. We made plans for the day...hiking in the morning and hanging out at the North Fork of the Flathead River in the afternoon for us rock hounds.


Grace and Maggie hiking with Uncle Matt.






We hiked a long ways, the nieces and nephew getting to know their uncles along the way. Matt and Dave are great teachers and shared lots of their knowledge with the kids. What a super blessing! We hiked up to a beautiful view of the mountains, hung out a while, heard some fun stories (not sure if there's an Isbell who isn't a story-teller) and then returned to the cabins.


Jessica enjoying the view.




A story from Matt.


And then one from Dave.


"Bear hair" mustaches.


Moriah found a 'Montana' toad.

Steve, Sheila, and I laid out a cold lunch of salami, cheese, crackers, fruit, and veggies, then we were ready to load up and head to the river. Time was moving quickly and we wanted to squeeze as much as we could out of this short time together. We hung out at the river for quite a while, some of us finding just the right rocks, the younger girls making clay and 'painting' on rocks, the guys seeing who could skip rocks all the way across the river (John won...aahhh youth), and Char fetching rocks from the river bottom. We said our goodbyes to Matt and Jessica and headed back to Kalispell.


North Fork of the Flathead River.








The view across the river.

We spent a very nice evening with Dave and Sheila. Dave made us a pumpkin dessert outside in his cast iron dutch oven--yum! Steve got the sub ready for our early morning departure on Sunday.

Homeward Bound, Day 7

After deciding to stay in Montana with family another day, we scrambled to get things ready to take up to the cabins by Glacier Park so we could stay overnight--woohooo!! I hadn't even hoped we could do this. I thought it impossible with our schedule. (For those who don't know, two of Steve's brothers live in northwest Montana and both have fairly remote dry cabins near Glacier Park. One brother lives in his most of the year while the other also has a home in Kalispell.) Dave, Steve, and John rode up together and arrived at the cabin well before us and did a little cement work while us girls acted like tourists, me driving and Sheila taking pictures for me. We took so long Steve thought we had a flat tire. Both Matt and Jessica were home when we got there...a real treat for all of us to be together. We grilled burgers and the kids ran all over and explored while heeding safety rules because of bears. We stayed up late and enjoyed a fire, a glass of wine and the best company!


The brothers!


On the way up to the cabins.


You've got to visit here to understand.


Dave and Sheila's cabin.


Matt's cabin. Both cabins are handmade from trees on their property..awesome, amazing, artistic.


Sheila's creative touch makes this a great place to 'hang out'.


Pretty cool....


Their pretty view.


There's always fun, old fashioned things to do and play at the cabins.


John imitating Steve's 'Shake It Up Baby'.


Matt and Jessica while we were enjoying each other's company 'round the woodstove'.


Dave and Sheila.

Homeward Bound, Day 6

We arrived at Dave and Sheila's late in the afternoon and it's so good to see them!!
It was a short driving day. Getting through U.S. customs is always more difficult than Canada. Steve had to open up the trailer and had a little trouble getting it closed.

We had a fun evening with Dave and Sheila. They had to work this a.m. Matt arrived just a short while ago. Steve's decided we could stay another day so we're all getting ready to go up to Matt and Dave & Sheila's cabins by Glacier Park. We're all excited! Our Liberian kids have never been there. Auntie Sheila says hello. Hope to catch up this blog Sunday night. Should have some good pictures for you.

Homeward Bound, Day 5

Edmonton to Pincher Creek. We left the Edmonton area around noonish. Drove south forever...95 degrees all afternoon. This is a little hard on us considering it was just turning winter in Fairbanks. Matter of fact, "Fairbanks got it's first snow this week with a fresh dusting this morning," says Brei. Central Alberta is like driving through Kansas, lots and lots of golden wheat fields. Southern Alberta reminds me of eastern Montana or Colorado, hills, plains, horses, cows,and arid.

We are staying in the southwestern corner of Alberta in Pincher Creek tonight. Steve and the kids are enjoying a welcome swim after this hot day. Steve told me we need to buy two new trailer tires tomorrow, then we'll drive through the mountains west of here and drop down into Montana through Roosville (our declared entry point for Canadian Firearms). We'll be at Dave and Sheila's in the afternoon. Steve says 'THANKS' for all the birthday wishes via email and text!

This is a two-story winding slide. The kids unwound a little here.



Some unwound a little more than others.


Maggie's such a good big sister!


Our first corn field in a year!


Calgary, Alberta


South central Alberta...lots of wheat and hay.


We found a Dairy Queen...a welcome treat in the 95 degree weather (is this a joke?).


There are wind turbines everywhere in southern Alberta.


The terrain finally began to change as we got closer to the mountains.


And this is where we're at tonight. Feels like a real 'old western' town, cowboys, indians, and everything.