Vinny was the amazing, dancing step great-grandpa from a friends wedding a couple weeks ago. What an absolute riot and adorable spirited 97 year old man...
...channeling some serious Frank Sinatra and even throwing in a little striptease action!
After his dance and the cake cutting, I stopped at his table to tell him I thought he was one fine dancer. I asked if I could have a picture taken with him. He was delighted at my request:
He was also very thankful for my compliments and said: "Well, thank you young lady, the name is Vinny. Vinny Vasta, from East 39th street in New York!" (And they he pulled out his drivers license to confirm his age. He was very proud.)
I have to tell you, it was one of the cutest things I have ever experienced. This man at 97, was more full of life than most 7 year olds. He had that perfect amount of sass and sweet that reminded me very much of my own grandpa who grew up in Brooklyn.
Thanks for the dance and making us all smile Vinny. I hope to be as full of life as you are in 65 years.
It's South of the Border fun! If you have ever driven I95 you know it's impossible to pass this place without stopping. Pedro welcomes you. How could you not stop at "America's favorite highway oasis"?
During my stop, I discovered once again that:
1.) I am the worlds worst videographer.
2.) I am the epitome of classy; I managed to use the words "crotch" and "pee" within 2 minutes of video. (Mom is so proud.)
3.) It takes very little to entertain me.
During my visit, I learned that Pedro could work on his bathrooms a bit:
...and poor Pedros Ice Cream Fiesta looked more like a no-show Pedro party than a well- attended shindig:
A few of the best parts of my South of the Border stop this go around:
1.) Posting real time photos on Twitter and Facebook and hearing responses and suggestions as to what to buy. (Man, people love this place!)
2.) Adding another crazy spot to the BLR-Mobile passport. In less than 6 months, my auto bff and I have driven through half of the country of Canada, all around Alaska, among the grapevines in Napa, 4 feet of snow in Vermont, South of the Border, just to name a few and there are more spots coming. Did I mention not one brake job, break down, or issue? Honda, I love you. If it weren't for you my life would not be nearly as fun. That is no lie.
3.) Finding out once again, that not much beats a road trip. People do really love cheesy roadside entertainment and the hope of meeting an interesting character.
I'm glad you have now met Pedro in case you have never been to S.O.B before. (Hee hee...S.O.B.) I told you I was going to start posting regular BLR "People." I never promised whether they'd be human or not :)
Off to search for more characters and the world largest jar of Nutella...
As you all know, I had promised a surprise Blue Lollipop Road announcement/next project about a month ago. It was bit delayed because of a few good unplanned opportunities, and now we are ready.
BLUE LOLLIPOP ROAD ADVENTURES IS BORN!
After 16 years of my own adventure travels (50 states, several countries, delectable foods, interesting people, and thousands of miles and stories), it's time to pass on the laundry list of resources and information I have, to all of you out there: I put together a plan that includes anything from a small local quick outing to a far off extensive journey, add a fantastic food and drink element, and there you have the perfect storm for fun, meeting like minded people, and getting out of your everyday grind.
Sounds pretty great right? I use my buckets of experience and do the "dirty" work. (Planning and figuring out all details.) You show up and have a blast. It's so easy!
The 1st ever BLR Adventure happened yesterday. A group of incredibly fun and diverse people dove in to be my "test" case. (Thanks again guys!) We had a most fantastic 9 hours of road tripping, exploring, food and drink. No one from the group knew each other. (You know I love to watch worlds collide!) I laughed so hard my stomach hurt, heard "I haven't had this much fun in forever!", "When is the next one?!" and ended the day with a big fat smile on my face. As I drove home last night, I had a euphoric feeling, just as I had hoped I would. Nothing makes me happier than exploring outside of the regularly scheduled program, and encouraging other people to hop on the train to share that time. Isn't that what it's all about?
I truly believe that an adventure a day keeps the doctor away. That simply means doing anything that makes you feel alive and excited.
Yesterday, we were all very much alive and excited. A road trip to Virginia's Wine Country with our first stop at Veritas Winery. We toasted to the launch of BLR Adventures:
...ordered a cheese plate snack:
... and had a glass of each of our favorite vino outside while enjoying the sunshine:
Here's some of the happy crew:
After Veritas, we drove to our next winery reservation, but we had lounged at Veritas in the sun for so long we were too late. That ended up being perfect because the next portion of the adventure I had planned was to go to Mas Tapas in the Belmont Neighborhood in Charlotesville. There is always a wait at Mas. This place is slam-packed jam-packed every second it's open and they don't take reservations. We managed to score a table in no time because of our early arrival. Before we sat we met and chatted with a sweet and interesting couple. (Transplants from New Jersey to Charlottesville.) They were on a "date" for their 21st wedding anniversary, so cute. Talking to strangers fit in with the theme of our day.
The food was so delicious, I didn't even have time to take any photos before our table was empty!
Clean plates = happy people.
Some of what we ordered:
*Pequeno Plato de Queso - sliced, aged raw-milk Manchego, local apples, on a slice of hearth-baked bread
*Queso cocido con alcachofa - warm artichoke and goat cheese spread w/ brick-oven bread
*CocaMAS - wood-fired flatbread w/ smoked tomatoes, Caromont Farm’s Chevre, Manchego, Basil on hand-crafted dough
*Carne asada - marinated hanging tenderloin -grilled rare w/ smoked tomato alioli
*Chuletillas de cordero - tender, young lamb chops w/ grilled flatbread and a mint-mojo sauce
Drooling yet? So, so delish.
Cafe' con leche to end an amazing meal:
We are big fans of Mas, especially these funny tees the chefs were wearing:
The first BLR Adventure was a wild success!
I will announce yet another surprise this coming week. The big kahuna is the complete overhaul of this site. We will launch in the next few weeks. Thrilled isn't a big enough word for how I'm feeling about a new full-on website to go with the next big phase of Blue Lollipop Road. The new site will have complete information on BLR Adventures and other projects we are working on so stay tuned.
To my test crew from yesterday~
Thank you for your support and participation! I can't wait for our next one.
Here's to exploring, eating, drinking and being merry!
It's nice having people in my life that are 6,000 times smarter than I am. My hodge podge of friends keep me on my toes. One friend I have, who's brain is on a different universe than mine (meaning on the brilliant universe)- works for Corning. He just sent me this video.
Possibilities with Corning Glass:
These are the kinds of things my friends work on during their days? Blows my mind.
With technology like this, soon enough I'll be able to buy a robot that senses when I have a craving for chocolate chip cookies, it will insta-bake and deliver them to me with some icy cold milk. Now I think that would be the perfect addition to all this glass amazingness.
If you know me, you know I love to run. Running to me, is one of the best forms of therapy, zoning time and of course that thing which allows me to continually participate in my Oreo and Nutella habit. (By the way did you know that Oreos are vegan? Score! Something else I just thought of for the first time too: Oreo blue is the same shade of blue as Blue Lollipop Road blue. Can we blame the color twin as the reason for my addiction?)
Anyway, back to running:
As you will hear in my below video, I acquired some serious injuries after way over training for a marathon In 2004. 55 miles a week in traditional running shoes will do that to you. I used to run races regularly and I've only been able to run 3 miles at a time since then, which for someone like me feels like losing an arm. I love running about as much as I love traveling and chocolate. My horribly painful IT band issues have left what feels like a forever bump on the outside of my right knee. Fittings at various stores, long chat's with "professionals", Gait training, stretching practically every way including hanging from a chandelier, yoga, different shoes, new shorter stride, blah, blah, blah, you name it- I have done it and spent on it, I still have major pain and swelling when I wear traditional running shoes. The shoes have been the culprit.
A year and a half ago, I had one of those days and took off running, completely zoned out on the beach. When my brain broke free from my stress zone, it registered that I'd run about 6/7 miles. I stopped dead in my tracks and remember exclaiming "Holy sh*t! I just ran way over 3 miles barefoot and I have no swelling or pain?!" It's as if a doctor had just told me I'd be able to walk again.
After that beach run, I started running barefoot whenever I could. When I was on rough surface and couldn't go totally barefoot worrying about foot protection, I wore some ridiculous non-sport fashion-y shoes which were essentially flip flops that tied up. It scared the crap out of me to put on a regular running shoe. I ran like that 6 days a week for about 4 months. Even though I felt healthier and less swollen then I had in years, at some point I started doubting my research. I also think it was hard to permanently break my habit of those traditional shoes. So what did I do? Glutton for punishment, I went out and bought another pair of traditional running shoes. That was a mistake and like all the rest I had bought before, a waste of my money. The Nike Free is what I got. They were Ok, but still made my leg swell. That pair is now retired for zumba class only, never again for a run.
After all these years I have learned my lesson.
The only time I have no pain or swelling when I run, is when I'm barefoot. Makes sense right? Any shoe with cushion, arch, etc. whether it's an everyday shoe, a heel, sneaker, whatever- throws off the alignment of your spine, forces your foot to do something it doesn't do naturally. In the end makes you injured. There are many arguments as to whether or not running barefoot or like barefoot will ruin your body. Well, running is always going to wreak havoc on your legs. We all know that. It is what it is. All I know is that less pain while wreaking havoc on my body is better than excruciating pain. Vibrams might not work for everyone, but they sure work for me.
I wore them on a treadmill yesterday. No pain, no swelling. (YIPPEE!) Here are my before and after run videos from this morning. (Excuse the sideways shots and long winded 2nd video. I was very excited, the run was a success, and who needs to edit? These things are a one shot deal.)
Sorry Nike, Adidas, Reebok and other; I'll reserve you for sports bras and soccer cleats only. Vibrams have given my feet protection from elements while allowing them to strike how nature intended. I have officially ditched your shoes and the pain and suffering that comes with them.
Anyone out there who has heartbreakingly given up a running hobby, career or race- try out some Vibrams. I'll see you back out on the road!
We dress in ridiculous clothes, do the robot and jump in snow piles that are almost up to the roof to entertain ourselves around these parts when the temperatures are frigid. There is no time to be cute, so I am looking super hot in Dad's big boots:
My sister likes jeans instead of snow pants:
I had to make some video:
It was pretty easy to convince her to jump back in the snow pile:
She was screeching that her legs were numb (it was her idea to jump in and take photos in the first place!) We laughed so hard we were crying. It's too bad we are so boring and don't know how to have fun.
No snow bank jumping this morning. It still says -15 on the thermometer outside at 9am. OUCH! I'm thinking Costa Rica or some other southern destination might be a good choice for next January...
So now for the reveal of a big surprise and our BLR Saturday Team Building excursion:
A tattoo.
Long about the end of July when I left Madison Wisconsin and started blazing a fast trail through Canada, somewhere in the silence of my many hours alone driving, popped in my head from out of nowhere: I'm going to get a tattoo, yep, a blue lollipop and it's going to be on my left arm on the inside of my wrist. I'll do it when I finish this trip. Perfect.
And I never questioned my thought on the subject again. I also didn't tell anyone for a couple months. Going into it, only 4 people total knew- including Intern Sarah who actually accompanied me to get branded for life and document it all. 5 months of me keeping a secret when I am excited about something is near monumental. Me getting a tattoo is really monumental. My response to the "Do you have any tattoos" in the past has been. "No way! They day I find something I want to have on my body for the rest of my life is the day I will get a tattoo. I doubt that's ever going to happen.
Funny how things change eh?
So, after months of waiting, drawings made by a very special and significant person to the Blue Lollipop Road, 2 previous visits to scope the tattoo spot and chat with the artist, feeling like a preppy adolescent geek among older cool talented kids, lots of nausea when thinking about it, and a sleepless Friday night last week being totally freaked out and nervous about the whole thing- Sarah and I had our little field trip on Saturday. Us driving to my appointment feeling scared shitless:
Here's my pure virgin wrist "before":
Here's me off in la la land because, um- yeah, it kinda hurts:
Here's Sarah having fun filming me again and teasing me laughing: "Yeah- that's blood Diane." (Did I mention my head was in the clouds? It was all a bit surreal. I clearly wasn't thinking straight, but yes- I was 110% sober!)
This is the final product. Whoa:
Naturally we had to get a milkshake after. Sarah had told me a few weeks ago when I was having a chicken moment: "It'll be Ok, we can go get a milkshake after!" Who am I to argue that?
Chocolate milkshakes make me very, very happy. Of course Sarah had to get a treat too, but was grabbing the camera when I turned it back around on her:
As I stare at my wrist now, with my cool looking wound healing, I still can't wrap my brain around it. I have had some freak-out moments, thoughts that it would come off in the water and feelings that an alien is tied to my body. Weird and odd are the two words that come to mind from these past 4 days. Not bad, just WHOA: like as in- forever? This was as far planned as it could've ever been, and I wanted it. You just never know how you'll feel until it's actually yours. I am risking moms out there rolling their eyes here, but the only thing I can think to compare the simultaneous feelings of permanence, pride, joy and fear when you finally "see" something that is so close to you, is what I would imagine having a baby would be like. A complete flood of emotions, then when the moment calms you say to yourself: "Ok, so now what the heck am I supposed to do with this thing?" When the roller coaster stops, you ease into normalcy and routine and it suddenly fits perfectly leaving you wondering what your life ever was without it before.
I didn't need to get this tattoo to remind myself why I do what I do, or to remember anyone. Those things will always stick with me and be in my soul. I wanted to get this tattoo, because this particular blue lollipop has become part of my being, and now I'll always be able to take one with me wherever I go. My weird/odd initial feelings have fast turned into giddy excitement- to a certain extent that is: I'm not planning my "next" one that's for sure. Those already regular comments: "This is your first! Just wait, you will get addicted and want more!" - you must be kidding me. I'm laughing...
...or I could just punch myself in the face 100 times and call it a day right? That might hurt less. I think my one single tattoo and I are going to skip happily off into the sunset alone thankyouverymuch :)
In time for Christmas (I mean Santa is watching right?) I've been a good girl and gotten back into my regular running routine again:
So the irony of me mentioning my Napa wine diet this fall and getting back into good habits? After my run, FedEx Santa delivers this to me:
I guess I was such a good girl, Santa Swanson couldn't resist sending me a big ol' treat. YUM!
To my Swanson Sisters~
I love you! What a great surprise. Thank you, thank you. Miss you all tons and I will save this for a very special occasion. I have an idea what that occasion that will be, but you'll have to wait to find out...
As promised, here is my video of the crush some friends and I happened to walk into:
The guys that were managing the crush walked over and gave us some of the grapes to eat. Once you're fortunate enough to nosh on some of these incredible little fruits fresh off the vine, you'll never be satisfied with another grape again! This action was all happening last night at Merryvale in St. Helena, California. I snapped a photo of one of the many bins of grapes too. The photo didn't come out great, but I wanted to give everyone an idea of what goes into those delish bottles of wine we all love:
I felt like jumping in!
While I type this I am sipping on some 2006 Petite Sirah from Swanson Vineyards. Yum. After my stay in the Napa Valley during harvest season, I will forever have a higher appreciation for wines I drink. I take a bow to the brilliant winemakers of the world. The devotion and patience it takes for them to make their magic is beyond impressive. What a fantastic experience it has been for me to be here during harvest season 2010!
When people say things like " You can hike a/to a glacier" you take it with sort of a grain of salt, thinking oh sure- that sounds awesome. Then you get to the glacier, stand in front of it and your jaw hits the ground. You keep blinking your eyes because you don't think what you're looking at could possibly be real:
It's real! (Yes, that's ice in the water close, near my feet that had broken off and floated the way to the sand I was standing on!)
When talking with other travelers who were reveling in the gorgeousness like me, someone said that these glaciers looked like giant frozen tidal waves. I think that's a pretty perfect description. It's one thing to see these glaciers in photo books or on a typical chilly overcast day in Alaska, but if you're lucky enough to have a sunny warm day with blue skies to experience something like this in person?! The brilliance is beyond explanation or that in which my poor little Nikon camera could ever capture. I hiked the east loop that day. Near the trail head got this photo. 200-plus years to travel 13.5 miles? Now that's some slow and steady moving:
I regularly comment what I have said here before about the trees, green and general lushness. It's like living in some fairy tale. I mean, Shrek almost popped his head out to say hi here:
Here's a funky fungi of some kind; I enjoy the randomness of shots like these:
Video from mid-way up:
Broken off floating parts and pieces:
A view from near the top looking away from the glacier:
And one more from my way down that gives sort of a close up look. See? Doesn't it look like a slightly dirty frozen tidal wave? Incredible:
I have a plethora of photos, I look forward to sitting with some of you to share more. Nature at it's finest to say the least. This was a once in a lifetime hike for me, or at least that first time you see something like this the wow factor is simply mind boggling. I'm not usually a quiet person, but I spent so much speechless in awe time while in Alaska it was fantastic. Sometimes it's a welcomed surprise to not be able to say a thing and just look. This day was one of those for me.
Right after recording this, I got in my car to watch it and it started to drizzle a little. (I had just barely commented on how gorgeous the weather was and 2 minutes later it's raining?!) At the end of the video, I looked to my left at beams of sunlight through the clouds and no exaggeration the most brilliant and full rainbow I have ever seen. As in I jumped back out of the car at warp speed to get a photo. This one doesn't do it near justice, it was so much better in person. Maybe I should've kept the moment all to myself, but I really felt like sharing it. Here's my best attempt:
All this sounds perfectly hokey right? Drive all the way to Alaska from the east coast, make a video on the anniversary of the death of my friends that my blog is dedicated to, and as soon as I'm done recording, out of the sky appears a big fat gorgeous rainbow like a sign from the heavens?
So it might sound odd that I'm laughing right now, but I am. I know exactly what that rainbow was. See, Maria and Brandy had huge hearts, but both had these rough and tumble outer shells. There was never much of any sniffling or being all gushy and girly for them. Of the three of us, that was my job. I know that they saw me making this video today all teary-eyed and nostalgic, so they sent that rainbow to jokingly punch me in the arm like they did years ago when I'd be gushy and girly. That sign today was their way of saying to me; "Sheesh Peacock!, you're such a freakin' softie! We are just fine! Stop cryin' over us ya fool and go have some fun for pete's sakes!"
That's exactly what that rainbow was.
As you wish ladies.
So, I left their lollipops for them, and drove down the road with a big fat smile on my face happily eating mine:
Thanks you two. How could I have expected anything less? :)
Last night was night two of feasting with the wonderfully welcoming Tongan family. As I mentioned in yesterday's post this was a going away celebration for non-family member Emily who's moving from Alaska to the east coast for work.
This was one of those meals that it is an absolute tragedy that I don't have a taste at all for anything from the sea. I mean tragic. All you seafood/fish loving foodies out there would've given an arm for the fresh crab that was there. As usual, I tried a bite but shamefully, a no-go. Just to give you an idea of how fresh and how much crab was there to feast on, here is the bin- yes giant Rubbermaid bin, of the clawers the men had caught yesterday morning themselves:
They could only fit half the enormous amount in the first boil. My action shot is a bit fuzzy, but I wanted to get one of him stuffing them in the pot:
Picture this scene; I am once again sitting on the couch at a home of perfect strangers. Our meeting was only as significant as me walking in the door to their home the night before. They have no idea who I am, who I came with, or what I'm doing there and they don't even ask or care anyway because I am welcome. They certainly don't let me help even though I ask, so I hang out and play with my new little cutie pie friends Kapua and Lavi. For the second night in a row this huge family is slicing and dicing, boiling crab, playing outside, running in and out the doors. It's the best kind of chaos. Kapua asks me for some gum as if we have already established that I am the visitor who always brings the gum for the kids. The same scene happened the first night too. Ater we ask Mom if it's Ok, I give her some. Just as she did the night before, she starts chomping away and tells me 2 minutes later that the minty gum is "too spicy." I have to laugh. These cuties belong in a catalog:
A short bit later I am dished and served this plate piled high.(I still have not been allowed to move a finger. It is their honor and custom to serve me):
Have I mentioned I am not so sure I am a vegetarian anymore? I have tried so hard but 1.) After NYC and The Spotted Pig and other de-lish eats 2.) The burger I had at Gibson's Steakhouse in Chicago (I am still drooling over that one.) and 3.) Being a guest at the homes of wonderful people like last night, I can't very well say; "No thanks, I don't eat meat." Or I could, I just don't really want to, so I ate away. I learned the spinach is an authentic and favorite Tongan side; It is always made with coconut milk. One of "The Uncles" told me the coconut milk always made things sweeter and more delicious so they cook with it a lot. It was delicious and I gobbled the whole plate. Here's a shot of some remnants of fruit, taro and crab. (If I could explain how much fresh boiled crab there was for the taking to you crab lovers out there, you would fall out of your chair.):
After eating and eating and eating some more, it was show time to honor Emily. Several family members got up to sing, dance, make speeches to show that they love and will miss her. (This is where my head is happily spinning and I'm taking in every ounce of this culture and generosity thinking; WHAT?! Am I here right now watching this? This is so, so fantastic.) The young boys got up to give a performance. Emily is at the end of this video wearing authentic Tongan gear made and gifted by grandma. (My videography skills leave a lot to be desired so pardon the sideways action. I at least made an attempt to get a shot of the guest of honor):
There was another performance by one of the drop-dead gorgeous teen girls who was there (hula.) She seemed so embarrassed about anyone taking photos, etc. I didn't feel comfortable taking any. The performance was beautiful. These women all have the longest most amazing hair and are absolutely gorgeous. They have no idea they are either which blows my mind. I felt like total white bread sitting next to them! After all the performances dessert was served:
This is "Tongan fruit cocktail." It's made of mango, cottage cheese and coconut jello (I didn't even know that existed.) It wasn't my favorite taste by any means, but you eat it when you're served it! Always good to try new things.
As I thanked and was leaving with my house host at around 11:30pm more; "Are you sure you're full?! Did you get enough?! questions came. Oh indeed I was stuffed and had enough and fell asleep with an over full belly and smile again.
Phew! All of this is so fun, enlightening, humbling, eye-opening, different, new, fantastic and overwhelming at the same time. I have collectively spent 12 hours in the same coffee shop the past 2 days in an attempt to bring all the stories here. I'm not even touching the surface of what I'm seeing, doing or thinking and I sill need to actually get out and tour AK. I could write, upload videos/photos and research the things I am seeing 25 hours a day in prep to share with you all if there were that many hours available. I'm still exhausted but I can't seem to sleep, my head still hurts with this ongoing painful yet good sensory overload headache and I still have yet to catch my breath during all this. I have never worked so hard or cared so much about something in my life as I do BLR, this trip and being able to share my experiences here. It's so worth every piece and part. I could sit here and type forever, but I'm going to force myself to unplug and get out into the beauty this afternoon...
After almost 32 years of life, 8 years of waiting (I hit 49 states 8 years ago), lots of daydreaming, 4,685 miles of driving, a bunch of nights of car sleeping in places like Ft. St. John, BC Canada and Teslin, Yukon Territory (map those places-whoa) and some serious heart, I have made it over the border of my 50th state.
OH HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because I am ready to jump out of my skin with excitement, I'll have to circle back around to more midwest and Canada later. (Lots to share on those spots too!) Onto to AK arrival for now...
I left Madison, WI at lunch time on Wednesday 8/4 and was at the "Welcome to Alaska" sign by Sunday morning 8/8. 2,906 miles I clocked alone in about 3 days and through some of the most desolate, unscathed land you could imagine. If you asked me to do that again right now today I'd look at you and ask you if you were freakin' nuts. I have to laugh. That's exactly what some locals and other tourists I have met so far have said to me when I've told them how I got here. Did I mention I didn't plan this drive at all? I don't have a GPS, had no idea what it entailed and I didn't even really look at a paper map until I stopped at a AAA office in Madison. The lady at the counter whipped out some maps, drew a line in green highlighter on the road they "recommended if you are driving to Alaska." I said thanks and just followed the green highlighted line without questioning it. Thanks lady at AAA. You contributed to me seeing some of the most indescribable sights I will ever see in my lifetime with your green line.
This is the first time I am getting enough internet signal to blog in 4 days and after all those miles. To say that since my last full post my mind and heart have gone to a different place than they've ever been before and I have seen things I that've blown me away is an understatement. Watch out world I am now video happy! Here's my first one ever after a good "Holy bleep!" I almost just ran into a bunch of buffalo. Not my hottest look ever, but I am convinced that Ben the lumberjack will love me anyway:
The day after the buffalo, I get to the border. It was FREEZING. Not that I thought it was going to be the tropics here, but in case you were wondering Alaska is NOT warm in the summer. Here I am at the border!:
I continue through U.S customs and similar to the officer entering Canada, this one looked at me alone in my Honda Civic like I was off my rocker. I opened my door to get my passport out of my trunk and didn't think about the fact that you are not supposed to do that so he practically pounced on me. OOPS!
I then have a dance party in my car singing out loud; "I'm in Alaaaska, I'm in Alaaaska!" I'm so exhausted I feel high at that point. I pull over in the tiny gold rush town of Skagway and take a moment. (Keep in mind I have done ZERO research about this town before coming.) I drove around for a few minutes and follow signs to the ferry. This is where I go from high as a kite with excitement to (pardon the expression) bitch-slapped in 5 minutes. Not only did I walk in thinking I could buy a ferry ticket and there would be departure times all day which was wrong, but I had missed the one ferry for the day and I also found out the $150 ticket I thought I needed was actually $600. I wanted to cry and puke in the same instant but was too tired to do either. As I put my head on the counter in shock I think the 2 guys working thought I was about to have a nervous breakdown. I just started laughing. That delirious, are you effin kidding me, I haven't slept in days, I'm going to have to sleep in my car again, that $600 will wipe out my bank account, what the hell have I done and what the hell am I going to do and oh this is just perfect laugh like I absolutely belonged in an insane asylum.
I manage to stumble back to my car. That's when I decided to do make yet another video to confess at how much of a doofus I am for not planning anything before just showing up to a place across the country like a puppy dog ready to play:
I thought after that point it'd be a good idea to go for a run. (I mean really? Oh the things we do when we are delirious.) So I did. The guys at the ferry sales counter had told me there was a shower at the marina for the public. After my drizzly cold run I was all about a skeevy marina shower. At .25 for a minute and a half, that was the best $2 and 12 minutes in a shower I have ever spent. Here was the fancy spot. Let me tell you it felt like the Ritz Carlton after driving almost 3k miles and being filthy for 4 days:
An early afternoon shower and nap in my car after a run was just what the doctor ordered. Blanket covered and clean, I was out. Set the alarm for when the ferry sales office opened and went in to gulp- buy the ticket. Making my best attempt to not freak and chanting my new favorite "trust the process" (this one will go down in history Astro.) I drive the whopping few blocks of Skagway looking for a burger and beer joint. This was the only thing I had really envisioned/planned on for the first day getting here; Pony up to a bar, grab a local beer, chow on some good grub and blog away hoping a random local would be up for a chat and to be my first road character. My first and envisioned beer and grub time turned out so much better than I hoped:
Meet Judy and Allen. Before I could even fully get out of my car to check out the Bonanza Bar and Grill and a few other spots, I hear behind me; "Blue Lollipop Road?! Well that sounds fun!" And the rest is history...
I chatted with brother and sister Allen and Judy for about 30 minutes there on the street. They were super friendly and funny. Vacationers making their way wandering town like me. I told them about BLR and that I was going to check out a couple places to eat and try to get some work done and we went on our separate ways. I walked into Bonanza and it didn't strike my mood so I walked a couple blocks and into the Red Onion Saloon:
Wouldn't you know it, it was packed and there were Judy and Allen, they already had a chair pulled up for me and waving for me to join. Locals, Alaskan brewed beer and even free snacks. That night was a silent auction for a local daycare. The cruise ships had left port so the three of us got a good taste of what a summer Sunday night in Skagway town of 500 was like. Fantastic. We toasted to that:
The summer ale and food was delicious and company was even better. Judy is a nurse who lives in the Seattle area and Allen in construction in Billings, Montana where they both grew up. We spent hours and hours talking and laughing. They were sweet and generous and bought 2 rounds of beer before they'd let me pay for one and later Judy bought us all dinner. Turned out they were on the same ferry as I was so we planned to meet up in the morning. We spent the entire 8 hours on the ferry together chatting and laughing more. Judy has a daughter my age and is about to be a Grandma for the first time. Allen got in a motorcycle wreck about 20 years ago and broke is neck and back and never even had a surgery and is walking around totally healthy to this day. (He and I talked a lot about life and appreciating time and how fortunate we are to come out of rough stuff smiling on the other side. I think our meeting was meant to be:) It was like we knew each other for a lifetime. They were the most honest to goodness people I could have met and spent time with.
Judy wanted to get a photo of me in front of the map so she could take my story back to her office and I wanted them to jump in with me too so I could post it here:
Of course I wanted a photo of all three of us outside too. (Yes! That is a GLACIER behind us!!!)
We gave our hugs and said our good bye's after getting into port, but not before Judy made sure to remind me to call her when I get to Washington so we can meet up. She even offered a place to stay. I think we will all be friends and stay in touch for many years to come. Thank you for a wonderful time Judy and Allen! I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip here!
There's still more to the start of my Alaska stay; I head straight to the house I'm staying at my the port. Cousins of a friend of mine. Total strangers and just come on in and stay as long/as many days as you'd like. (It's amazing how willing strangers are to host a weary traveler.) 10 minutes into my arrival they are asking me if I'm hungry and what can they get for me. Just when I start thinking about a way to not be a rude house guest but ask if I can have a shower and go to bed at some atrociously early hour like 7pm to catch up on a weeks sleep, they say; "Oh you have to join for a Tongan experience tonight. A feast at Vinny's sisters house!" (One of the gents I'm staying with is Tongan, the first person to graduate college in his family and they have been celebrating his awesome accomplishment for the past few days.) Thinking I'll sleep when I'm dead because how in the world could I say no to that? An hour later I'm at the home of a huge family grandma and grandpa too, meeting his siblings, and a crew of the 34 total grandkids and being welcomed with open arms. (What?! is this happening? So cool I'm thinking.) I meet and chat for a long time with the only other non-family member Emily who seems she is part of the family after years of friendship. She is about my age and of all places about to move from here to Washington DC for a job. I joke with her that we could've coordinated our schedules had we know each other and traveled back and forth together. The littlest of grandkids cozy up to Emily and I while we chat on the couch and we snap some photos. (I hope to post them but haven't asked parent permission yet, so stay tuned.) A couple hours and all the "Aunties" working feverishly in the kitchen later, the feast and I am talking feast is done. I am told; Go go! Guests are always first! I eat and eat as grandma keeps telling me to get more. this is the culture, we eat! she says.
As I sat there will a full belly on the couch after dinner is done, watching some of the family members play cards while a crew of the males practice their Polynesian dance outside for their dinner and cultural event they are going to be putting on for the cruise ship guests, I just think to myself somebody pinch me. Now this is what life is all about, there is no mistake in where I am or what I am doing, and this is exactly why traveling is so incredible. What a perfect welcome to Alaska and way to celebrate my accomplished goal. Imagine this. I'm invited over again tonight for another feast This time celebrating Emily's new job and departure from the west. I must wrap up here now so I can stretch my belly in prep for plates of food.
I am still weary, behind on work and blogging, no idea where life goes after Alaska, but I will never replace this summer, these memories or regret the occasional discomfort during this process. I have never been so un-worried in my life. My heart is on top of the world. I've come to Alaska to honor my friends and I've found myself. If that's not some strong mojo I don't know what is.
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