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I Get By With a Little Help from….Sean

By
Judy
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This is Sean – he saved me.
I left Seward around 1 p.m. to hitch a ride back to Anchorage in order to take the train to Fairbanks.
I got as far as Moose Pass and, while climbing a hill, held out my “HELP RIDE” sign.
Sean pulled over.  He was very easy-going.  In the Navy 8 years, owned a bakery, and now worked as an assessor.
Sean thought it “different” that I had such a loose travel plan, and he was a little taken aback when I phoned someone I had never met before, asking to spend the night.  But, he agreed, if it worked for me…..

 

Gulp!

By
Judy
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This caught my eye in the Friday edition of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
The story is riveting and horrible.  The biker used his bear spray; the wolf would fade, but resume the chase.  Vehicles passed and nobody stopped. There was a hill ahead and the biker was losing steam.  He dismounted, used his bike as a shield, and a vehicle finally stopped.  
The biker climbed in to safety.  
Makes me sweat just thinking about it.

.

Sam’s Sourdough Cafe, Fairbanks, AK

By
Judy
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Nice breakfast this morning at the most popular place in Fairbanks – Sam’s Sourdough Cafe.
 
Swung into Dave’s booth.  He was sitting alone, looking like he was waiting on food.  “I tell you, the Parks Highway is the way you want to go,” he said.  Dave was a Harley guy and retired career Air Force.  He wore a classic Harley cap and talked about a close run-in when a moose crossed his path as he was riding in the rain down near the Klutina River in AK.
 
“I’m originally from Wisconsin,” said Dave.
 
What were the chances?
 
“Oak Creek,” he said.  “If you haven’t noticed yet, everybody up here is pretty friendly.”  
Dave was right – the hospitality especially stood out at every train stop. When we pulled into each depot, EVFERYBODY was waving and smiling.  Kind of a mix of Twilight Zone meets Smallville, with a Steven Spielberg twist.
 
Judy, Alaska

Billie’s, Bunk Beds, and I’m Bushed

By
Judy
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Spending Thursday night at Billie’s Backpacker Hostel in Fairbanks. 
Pulled in around 8 p.m.
Don’t ask me how I found it…. Billie is a white-haired woman in her 70s.  No shoes allowed beyond the front door and no talking upstairs.  My bed is a futon in a room with two bunk beds.  The windows are open so there’s a breeze…and I’m tired.  For $30, I’ll take it.
Once in Fairbanks, I tried to get my bearings.  Good thing it says light past midnight…but you could tell the streets were being rolled up because traffic was sparse.  It took a lot of networking before I stumbled upon Billie’s Backpacker’s Hotel.
Billie had been running her Hostel since the 1970’s.
It was homey and clean, and she ran a tight ship.
“Shoes off at the door, and no talking upstairs where people are sleeping – 
not even during the day,” she said.
Kitchen area.
Living Room
Flowers outside Billie’s Hostel

Train Ride to Fairbanks – Biking Back

By
Judy
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On the way to Fairbanks, AK.  Taking the train north.  
I have a week and a half to make it back to Anchorage.


Thursday train to Fairbanks.  
Got on at 8 a.m. and expected arrival is 8 p.m.


Train conductor, Ian, needed help with directions, 
so I got out my maps and got him back on track.


Sisters, Abby and Hannah, from Anchorage – heading to Fairbanks for a few days.

View of Mt. McKinley as I ride up to Fairbanks on the train.  Pretty nice day!
Biking back to Anchorage with six days to accomplish the ride.



Delbert and Elaine, Anchors in Anchorage

By
Judy
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My hosts in Anchorage on Wednesday night, Delbert and Elaine Cedarburg.
Friends of my parents from a long time ago.  Delbert says he dated my Mom – maybe twice. Then he asked if I was married. When I told him “no,” he told me I was an old maid.  I think my Mom made a good choice in my Dad.  😉

Seward, and Onward

By
Judy
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Wednesday’s view of the office from Seward….(Wifi has been limited, so I’m playing catch up!)

Mile 0 of the 1910 Seward-to-Nome Iditarod route.

Reindeer Omelet, Alaska Nellie’s Roadhouse, Seward, AK

The 1970s called – they want their sign back.
Classic yellow squares in downtown Seward across from the Brown and Hawkins Mercantile, which was also the first bank and telegraph outlet in 1918., now run by third-generation owners Iris and Hugh Darling.  “Just like sweetheart,” said Iris, making sure I had it spelled right.  (Iris Darling is also one of the local historians.)
Iris Darling showing me photos from the original Brown and Hawkins Bank and Mercantile.
“That man there always wore a three-piece suit,” she said. “They all were a sweaty mess, and he was still in that suit.”

Seward Home Away From Home

By
Judy
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Thanks to my hosts in Seward last night, Paul and Alice Stone, with the Church of Christ!
They welcomed me into their home, let me share in a hot bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup, and I got to witness the antics of their 14-month-old grandson.  A nice family atmosphere and solid sleep.  Ready to tackle Seward and make my way back to Anchorage and up to Fairbanks. 

In Memory of…

By
Judy
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I received another memorial to add to the Ride 2 Remember.  These memorials motivate and inspire me  as I’m biking across Alaska in honor of these loved ones.

I’ll be riding in honor of Stella Malcolm this week, in addition to the other family members I’ve had the privilege of representing during my road trip.

Memorials are placed at the top of this blog.  You may submit a memorial donation and picture using the information on the left sidebar.

Thanks for your support!  

Where’s Judy?

By
Judy
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Check out my travels on this map…click HERE!

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