June 7-19 North to Alaska

Leaving Floriday I drove two days through Georgia, Tenn. and Kentucky to DuQuoin, Ill for the National Campers on Mission Rally. the above picture is of a flag presentation on horseback. Riders carrying American flags, the Christian flag and colored flags greeted us.

Pat from the Texas chapter presented a quilt made from blocks by each of the member states to retiring national directors, Martha and Wintford Haynes.

This is only a small part of the over 300 Campers on Missions volunteers who attended from most of the continental United States. Texas reported a membership of 595 volunteers, completing 64 projects for a total of 44,953 volunteer hours for the past year. Nationally there were reported to be 5,052 members who completed 1,792 projects for a record of 327,236 volunteer hours given in the name of the Lord. Projects include Diaster Relief, building and repairs to churches, camps and seminaries, and many other smaller projects. 641 individuals gave thier lives to our Lord.

I am visiting with my friend, Lee, from Texas while holding a book signing at the rally

This is our small group of Texans who were able to attend the rally.

After the rally I drove to Fairfield, Ohio to visit with Fredi, my cousin, and her room mate. We had a wonderful dinner and a terrific afternoon and evening discussing family, friends and hobbies. Fredi is an artis and writer, as is her son. Seems like artists run in the family.

Leaving Ohio, I crept around Chicago to visit cousin Charlie in Wisconsin. Another great dinner and lots of catching up to do on distant relatives and politics.

He encouraged me to stop at Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio, Taliesin. which i did. Time was too short for a tour. Then on in the drizzle and cooler temperatures through Minnisota and North Dakota.

This huge iron sculpture attracted my attention to the Enchanted Highway.

The northern mid-west is vast and empty like west Texas, but cooler!

Crossing the highway where this rig was parked, I turned arround to photograph the two extreems of Rving! The couple driving the Class A were on their way to a black powder reinactment. The cuhuck wagon was a restored 1800's model.



Ooopps. Dawson Creek is milepost Zero of the Alaskan Highway. Just turn your computer to see it correctly.

Two days past Dawson Cree, For St John and Ft. Nelson, past miles of spruce forests and rolling hills backed by mountain ranges, through alberta and British Columbia, the Yukon at last.

Herds of buffalo roam across the roadway. Very little traffic to disturb them. I saw two stone sheep, but no bears this trip

One of my many favorite stops is the Liard hot springs provencial park. The water is bath-tub hot and oh so soothing on sore shoulder muscles. I met and spoke with many travelers from the "Lower 48" on their way to Alaska.

Another must stop is the signpost forest in Watson Lake.



Mountains. Mountains. The rain stopped and the weather is in the 50s. Blue skys. Beautiful.



Antelope scatter after causing a traffic jam.

And more mountains leading into Alaska.
June 19, 20 days after leaving Beaumont I arrived in Alaska. Four days of driving 12-14 hours because i'm up with the sun about 4:30 and finally stopping around 7 or 8 with another several hours of day light. With so much to see, I hate to stop and sleep.

From the border i traveled another two hours to Tok, and then two more hours to Delta Junction and Camp Baldwin where I was greated by Lynne and Dale, my camp volunteeer friends from North Carolina. Stay tuned for Camp fun.