Last day! day 14

Day 14!

Well it has taken me a bit of time to get hooked up to a computer where I can do this blog and finish it up. Many of you have expressed how disappointed you were in that I left you hanging. It was not my intention but then I was suprised how many people were following us on this journey. I found this little button on the blog page called "stats" and since this is new to me and I am clueless what the button did I of course hit the button.  This blog had over 3100 hits as of today which blows my mind! You all have too much time on your hands! Actually I am honored I had so many hits on the blog. THANKS   :-)

I have to share with you my devastation as I sat down to write this last blog. I was crushed to find I made a horrible error on our last day of travel. We came through some of the most breath-taking beauty of the trip if you can believe that. We went through the Mat-Su valley area where three different glaciers can easily be viewed. There were vast mountain panoramas with deep, fall colored valleys between the road and the mountain ranges. We took many photos. One I recall was of Michelle standing with one of these color-filled valleys and ranges as a back drop. It was like a painting but only real. The chill in the air and the breeze on your face even more so brought home the reality this was no painting but real life.  It brought tears to Michelle's eyes as she looked out over the valley and I took her picture and she said: "this is like a dream, i cannot believe we are here". Another photo was of David with his blue eyes wide open looking at a glacier with its white and deep turquoise blue color of the ice in the background. The problem was that none of the photos we took were recorded on the disk of the camera. It was my fault for each night I removed the disk to download the photos for that day on my laptop. I simply forgot to replace the memory chip that morning. I am sad that the photos taken were not preserved. I know we will one day soon travel back up there since it is not far from Anchorage but it is a moment passed and not to be repeated. 

For the blog there are just a few photos snapped with Michelle's phone and a few I downloaded from the internet but it is not the same. You will have to use your imagination or better yet come and see for yourself.  Sometimes the view seemed to have the heavens touching the earth and it was hard to tell where the two separated. 

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We did arrive safely without further incident. We spent much of our time the last few days getting as much as possible unpacked and the kids ready for school on Tuesday. The photo is from Tuesday as they were getting ready to go through the doors of their new school. School here started about 2 weeks ago (Mid August) and they let out the beginning of May so the kids can enjoy the spring weather. They are going to Anchor Lutheran School which is a school supported by a few of the congregations in the area. We did the school shopping this last weekend  for supplies and gym shoes, and other necessities so they would be ready for their first day. They gave dad "the look" when I wanted to take their photo outside the school. David is growing up and beginning the eye role and quickly asked if when we dropped him off if he could just go right to his classroom instead of being walked in by mom or dad. He is at an awkward age of being a kid and a young man. Grace could hardly sleep the night before her first day of school. She is the planer and the worrier of the family. She packed David's and Faith's school bags for them with all their supplies. Faith, Well she comes off as she could care less and sometimes she does not but she is our shy one and the first day she was mobbed by the kids of her class and a little overwhelmed. 
The important this was the David came home with a smile on his face, Grace came home with a invitation to a birthday party, and Faith came home with a phone number of a new friend. 

I guess and I hope I do not loose the awe of what I see each day. We were traveling to school the first morning and we had some great God light that just lit up an area of the mountains that surround Anchorage. Our journey here was full of up's and down's and I do not mean just the mountain roads! Some have asked if

I would do it again and I have to say yes, I would in a minute! I would do some things differently like no kids (kidding!). We were of course moving things with us and if I did it again I would just like to travel it without loaded down vehicles. Through the Mat-Su valley that enters into Palmer AK, much of that road is the twistiest and narrowest road we traveled. Much if it is suggested at 35mph and for good reason as there are a lot of hairpin curves and steep descending hills. I am sure I either stuck a break caliper or burnt out a break pad on the driver's side front as I tried to keep the boat behind me and not in front of me. Yet with the sickness, the transmission, windshield, duct tapping needs (which I found out is called 100mph tape in Alaska because they use it to hold their planes together!), break issues and other things I would do it again. 

Life is a journey and you never know what you are going to get or what is going to happen and that is not limited to the Ritchie household. It is true of us all even if we have a inclination to stay put in one location and live out our life in one spot. As for the Ritchie's, well I don't think any of us would trade the life we have lived together as a family so far for an easier route. We have had some close calls and near death experiences. Life has had its bumps and rough spots but...well there is the other side of those bumps and rough spots and that is as much as a part of life as the hard times. So how does God want me to live out my life- a glass half empty or half full? Fasten my eyes on my savior and go for the full glass!

So how about a vacation with the Ritchie's? That is how this kind of started was people laughing at our adventures and I hope you have had some laughs with us. We are in Alaska! We are Cheechako's! That is the term for people who have not had their first winter in Alaska. Other terms might be newcomer, tenderfoot, greenhorn, or babe in the woods (that is my wife! she is a babe in the woods- wolf whistle would be placed here now!!!!). After this winter ends which is quickly coming, we will be sourdough's although I will not stuff sourdough mix under my shirt to keep it from freezing as the gold rush miners did from the long ago era! This was a typical vacation for us. I hope if you ever had the desire to come to AK you will come and while here stay with us or at least stop by for a visit. You can only imagine the beauty here and it will blow your mind to see it for real. 

These photos were taken from the internet but do not nearly capture the grandeur of the glaciers. 

So what was our arrival like when we pulled into Anchorage?

It was a beautiful sunny day. We still have light until about 9:30 pm and the morning sky lights up at about 6:30 in the morning. That is quickly changing as we will move to about 4-5 hours of light a day in the middle of the winter. 

We are so grateful to the people of Anchorage Lutheran church at the welcome they have shown us. Someone made sure the kids had pets to replace the pets that they gave up for the move. Faith had a fish tank complete with a "mickey fish" (molly with a black mickey mouse head on its tail) in her room, a bird in Grace's room and David's room set up for a lizard of his choice. There was some food in the fridge, our kitchen was unpacked so we did not have to dig for the necessities, and some German tea (beer) in the beverage fridge in the garage. We had some fresh picked raspberries brought to us along with some salmon and a hot dish meal so we would not have to cook the one night while we were unpacking. 

I will be installed this weekend at 4:00pm Alaskan time. Did you know that the state of Alaska is so big it has its own time zone? Did you know that those Texans who brag about the size of Texas could easily become the third largest state in the United States if Alaska ever decided to cut itself in half and become two states? Now that is BIG!!! I also preach my first sermon this weekend at the 8:30 and 11:00 services here at ALC. 

I guess I don't have much else to say, except I am going salmon fishing on Monday.  

Keep an eye out on the blog. I will be using this to share thoughts from time to time. 

God bless and my His peace rein in your heart and life! 

Andy

 Child of God, husband, father, pastor of Anchorage Lutheran Church. 

Day 13: on the road again!

Today I (we) cross the border!

Always be yourself they say. Really? Yes we crossed the border last night into Alaska! We drove to Tok and stopped for the night which gives me a chance to catch up on my blog. Today we should be in Anchorage!

It is a good gift for my wife to arrive at our new home today since we are celebrating (kind of) our 21st wedding anniversary today! 21 years ago today on September 1st Michelle said "yes" and we began our life together. It has been a great journey. I guess that is what makes this journey so special in someways for it is a snapshot on 21 years together yet it is only day 13 on the road. It has had its trials and issues. It has had its great joys and celebrations. I am not an easy guy to live with but that is any relationship for we all have faults. Commitment when things are tough and remembering the big picture before us. Forgiveness when a person does something wrong, says something wrong. None of us measure up to the bar so when we look at ourselves in the light of God's perfection we are all left humbled and that can help us to see others as in the same boat, having the same struggles, needing the same love. Patience when a person may not be showing any. Teamwork as you let go of your stuff for the good of another and the family. 

I could go on but the main thing I thank God for today is my wife. Beautiful are the mountains, some covered with trees splashed in the fall colors or snow capped tops. 

Beautiful are the waters with the brilliant blue and the crystal clear rivers where you can see the color of a thousand different rocks covering the bottom. 

Beautiful are God's animals he created, be it the bear watching over her cubs, the Trumpeter swans we saw on the drive yesterday moving about on the glassy waters of these mountain lakes, the buffalo that lay beside the road soaking up the last rays of the summer sun, or the silhouette of a caribou or stone sheep standing on a hilltop. As beautiful as these things are they are nothing compared to the gift from God of Michelle who is my wife, friend, confidant, lover and so much more!

I know this is sappy but it is my blog!!! 

(and I didn't get her a card!)

Enjoy the photos!

Thank you God and thank you Michelle!  

day 12

Day 12!

8:00am I show up to the dealership with a loaded truck. We decided to leave all the vehicles packed as they were. Canoe, luggage carrier, pillows, jackets, dog food- you name it, if it was in there it stayed including the duct tape!


At 9:30 a new service writer came out and sat down beside me. She looks at me with a blank expressionless face and says "I am sorry to tell you that your truck has cancer". Sorry but that's what it felt like as she told me their was no sense fixing the truck transmission but best to just replace the trans box at the cost of $2700.00 and it would be in next Wednesday due to Labor day (do Canadian's celebrate labor day? I thought that was an American deal like Thanksgiving!)- three days before I'm to be installed and preach my 1st sermon and it would take me two days to get there so I would have one day to get ready. 


This was a little surreal and that would nearly top out my credit card.


Ok, work the problem!

Plane fare to anchorage would cost 1,800.00 for one ticket, I would have to return to pick up the truck later- no go!


Repack the vehicles as needed and send the Mrs. and the kiddos on ahead. Possible!


Some wonderful people from Anchorage were working that end of the problem and were willing to come and escort Michelle and the kids. That would be a two day drive for them to get here. Very kind and VERY tempting but Michelle is independent, loves to drive and I would send her with just the pickup and kids. I could then follow next week with the truck and canoe and boat and dog and luggage and and and...later.


I checked with the place we were staying and they had a place for 75. and a hot plate and microwave so I will not starve- you always have to know whee your next meal is coming from- those are wise words from my bride!! For Whitehorse that is a great price and the lady was trying to help us out knowing we were in a pickle!


Rental car/ truck. 200 km free each day. 20 cents a mile after that 200km is used up. Whitehorse to Anchorage- about a 1000 miles- about double that for a conversion to km, NO! not an option!


Ok, fix the truck I told her and I will go and begin unloading it. We parted ways and with all hands on deck we had everything we brought with us out on the ground and deciding what will go with Michelle and the kids and what would follow with me a week later. 


Phone rings. It is the dealership. "We found a transfer box in the shop" the voice on the other side of the phone says. "Get your truck back here and we will have it done today!"


ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR RELOAD!!! The Beverly Hillbillies do a complete reload and by 12:00 we are back at the dealership with both trucks, dog and three kids thanking God and all of you for your prayers. 


We take the kids out for lunch and down to a historic riverboat that use to take people up and down the river during the gold rush. A very cool piece of history and some of the photos are below. We got the call at about 4pm the truck was ready and so we returned to pick it up. It was too late to get started and hit the next town before dark as well as cross the border into America again so we opted for one more night in the maple leaf (Canada).


Tomorrow though we make a RUN for the border!!!!

Can run in 2 feet of water- I do not think my boat can do that!

My three ladies!

Miss Independence!

day 11 on the road to Alaska Monday

Day 11

We I started out the day at 8:00am and calling the dealership for a spot in their schedule. I was told they are a week out and could see me later in the day. "come to the shop at 2:00pm and we will get you in around then. We have to see it first and then can schedule you in for a repair late in the week maybe." 

OUCH! Monday morning and they are already booking a week out. I called around to other places and received worse news. Most could not see the truck until late next week and then parts would have to be ordered. At least two days to get parts and then a day to fix was the standard. 

We got the kids up and took them to breakfast. 

WE had some time to waste and since this looked like a couple day project just to get a direction we went to grocery store to buy food and cook in the kitchen in the place we were staying outside of town. The rest of the morning and early afternoon the kids played and walked and got their wiggles out from all the time on the road. 

Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon province. They people we met and talked with were kind and always willing to talk about the normal things I see people willing to talk about everywhere. The weather is the key topic of conversation. WE all seem to talk about it being too cold, wet, dry,warm... here in the Yukon it has been a very wet year. The river banks a swollen to over flow and the mountains have cloud cover like I have yet to see on this trip. 

I could not get a photo of it but there were times the clouds were like the old Charlton Heston movie where he played Moses in the 10 commandments. If you recall the movie when the 1st born of the Egyptian people died they showed th angel of death as like a fog going through the streets and up the sides of buildings. The clouds looked like that as they would edge over a mountain top or through a pass and snake there way around. 

The kids when the rain let up went down to a farm and had a nice walk and saw a friendly horse that trotter up and wanted a scratch. 

There are large swaths of this whitish looking plant on the road sides on places that when the sun hits it just right glimmers like silver along the road. 

The day ended rather badly. I sat from 3 until 5:20 in a waiting room of the dealership to have the shop service writer come and say for me to bring it back tomorrow. He asked me if I could be here at 8:00am and I told him I was here at 2:00pm when he asked me to be and I would be here at 8:00am if that is what he wanted. Honestly I was pretty mad and it likely came through in my demeanor. It was a wasted day but as I reflected on the 20 minute drive back to the family I has to remind myself that if I lost it, I would loose it, I need to be patient and nice as possible. I had already made my case to them and they knew I was stranded here with the family so there was no use pushing it further yet it is hard to keep my mouth shut. That is not something I am good at. The people are just working and doing their job. Tomorrow would be another day.

Have a good night, 

The Ritchie clan