Sunday dinner

In Silver Spring, Nancy and I attended a worship service on Sunday morning and then, thanks to Marta's Dad, went out for brunch at the "Tastee Diner." - rw

Hearing Jimmy Carter teach Sunday School

On Saturday, October first, Nancy and I flew from Des Moines to Atlanta, rented a car at the airport, and then drove to a "Days Inn" motel in Americus, GA. Early on Sunday morning we got up and drove to Plains, and the Maranatha Baptist Church, so we could stand in line for a place in the sanctuary for the 10:00 a.m. Sunday School hour. There was a briefing session at 9:00, and then we heard Jimmy Carter teach from the passage in Genesis where tithing is first mentioned in the Bible.

During the briefing session the woman in charge asked if there were any current or retired pastors or missionaries present. Amazingly, I was the only one to raise my hand! As a result, I was asked to lead in prayer prior to President Carter's lesson. (Carter celebrated his 92nd birthday just the day before.)
- rw

Valdez to Whittier (not CA), and then Denali

In Valdez we saw icebergs in the water on our boat trip to see glaciers, and then in Whittier we were on another boat trip to see glaciers (where the pix was taken, along with the one below of a humpback whale spouting).

On our way to Denali N.P. we stopped at a view point where we could see the mountain fairly clearly, but in the park (where we saw caribou and moose), the mountain was obscured by clouds. - rw

Tasha in Alaska for the first time!

Tasha's first visit to Alaska included an impressive display of scenery on our first day's drive in a rented Toyota Camry to Valdez. Prior to reaching our destination we had to stop in North Pole (where Nancy lived for a year) to visit the "Santa Claus House" and have a picture taken with Santa.

We had good weather for most of the trip -- apart from some initial cloudiness. But, there were plenty of places to stop and take pictures prior to arriving in Valdez at a very nice B&B. - rw

The big win!

Nancy and Eielson H.S. were presented with a $60,000 check as the Grand Prize Winner in the Follett Challenge on Friday, May 6th when folks from Follett in the Chicago area flew to Fairbanks to visit Eielson, present the check and throw a party for the whole school (everyone received from Follett matching white T-shirts).

Not only was Nancy presented with the "grand prize award," but the Follett staff took Nancy and other leaders from the school, and the district, out to dinner that night. It was obviously a fine climax to Nancy's last year as a school librarian! At present she is closing-out the school year and awaiting the arrival of Tasha and myself on May 26th for a week-long tour of various tourist sites in Alaska. Nancy has succeeded in selling her car and most all of her furniture and household items. We will be riding in a rented Toyota Camry for our Alaska tour. (Student body below - w/ T-shirts) - rw

Colorado Columbine flowers

These Colorado Columbine flowers came up from seeds that former residents, Ed and Martha White, had planted last summer or spring. They came up in impressive fashion in the planting area in front of our place at #19, Springbrook Meadows. (Ed & Martha once lived in the high country above Pagosa Springs, CO.) - rw

Home from Alaska!

Nancy was home from Alaska for one week, April 16-23, a commitment made way last summer in order to host our good friend from Vermont, Heidi Webster, on her first-ever trip to Oregon! Heidi and Nancy are pictured on the beach at Manzanita on the day we arrived (Tues.). It was so foggy that one couldn't see the surf from the bluff above. Also, there were more of these driftwood structures than I'd ever seen.

On Wednesday we drove all the way to Astoria, via Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach and Fort Clatsop near Seaside. It was overcast when we left in the morning--and in Cannon Beach--but sunny in Astoria. On Thursday, en route home, we took a "circle-trip," driving to Multnomah Falls, Hood River and Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. (The picture right below of Heidi and Nancy was taken on Wednesday at Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach.) - rw

Dog team races in Fairbanks

After arriving back in Fairbanks on Friday afternoon, we drove to town on Saturday Noon to observe the start of a dog team competition--a 20 mile run today in a 3-day competition. The temperature was about 10 degrees or so, and with a light breeze, it was cold!

Our visit to Kotzebue and Noatak was a great experience--after 56 years! I preached at the Sunday afternoon service of Quarterly Meeting, and we flew out of Kotzebue on Wed. morning, rented a car and drove to Seward. We saw lots of gorgeous mountain scenery ...

... and stayed at a very nice motel that offered a nice breakfast! - rw

After many years -- the visit to Kotzebue!

We landed in Kotzebue on Saturday evening at about 6 p.m. and rather immediately flew on a private charter up to Noatak where I spoke at the Sunday afternoon svc. of "Quarterly Meeting." Pictured below are a sunrise shot of where we were staying--wonderful hospitality by the principal of the H.S., Stan, and his wife, Doris--and also a pix of the congregation at the Noatak Church.

We then flew to Kotzebue at about Noon on Monday. The picture below is of Nancy standing at the "waterfront" (the frozen Kotzebue Sound).

Also pictured are the new church building, and the old one (now used only for occasional meals). It was in the old church building that I preached each Sunday in 1959-60.

We will stay at the old mission house (now completely remodeled) with David and Sarah Miller. We will fly out of Kotzebue on Wed. a.m. on the Alaska Airlines flight to Anchorage. From there we will rent a car and drive to Seward, spending one night prior to a Friday flight back to Fairbanks from Anchorage. - rw

Some Impressive Ice Sculptures!

On Thursday, March 11th, Nancy, a Follett rep, and I visited quite a number of impressive ice sculptures at a location near Fairbanks. At the site we could observe a lot of "pieces" that were entered in competition for awards. It was a great visit! And, weather was great. - rw

Exciting News!

NANCY'S SCHOOL (Ben Eielson Jr./Sr. High School in Alaska) HAS WON $30,000 IN A FOLLETT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AS A RESULT OF THE "FOLLETT CHALLENGE" IN FEBRUARY ... which involved posting a 5-min. video about the school's innovative programs on the web and then encouraging a host of people, near and far, to "vote" for the video each day for a week. The $30,000 award was announced today, March 7th, by Follett, which means that Eielson H.S. is one of three finalists for a grand prize of $60,000 that will be announced on April 26th. Needless to say, Nancy and her staff are excited! And, many thanks to all who voted! - rw

Nancy with friend on Eielson Air Force Base

Yukon Quest

This morning I drove to Fairbanks to take-in the start of the Yukon Quest. The Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race covers 1,000 miles between Fairbanks, Alaska  and Whitehorse, Yukon during the depths of winter. The race start switches every-other-year so this year it started in Fairbanks.  This year there are 23 teams.  It was a balmy 18 degrees today after the start of the race. The dogs were eager to run and when hooked onto their pull lines they were straining to start.

Trailer to haul the dogs

Most of the dogs had booties on their paws

Barking loudly and ready to go

Race start

Teams draw for the starting order - team 1

Team one driver is a rookie.

Another team coming down the lane from the start.

All teams come down to the Chena River and then are off for 1000 miles.

Last team - only 1000 miles to go.

Frozen Chena River, Fairbanks after all teams had gone.

Warm weather - Last year it was -35 F when the race started in Whitehorse, Yukon

 Time for me to head home and get a bit warmer but it was a fun experience. - Nancy

A drive to the city of Ponce in Puerto Rico

On our last full day in Puerto Rico, we took the two rental cars and drove south about 1 1/2 hours to the city of Ponce (second to San Juan in size). First, we visited a museum that featured indigenous people who had lived on the island many year before the Spanish conquerors arrived. Then, we drove through downtown Ponce, spent some time at the central square, had some ice cream, and then finished-off the trip by driving to the boardwalk. - rw