Alaska – the first couple of days

The brief reports and a few texted photos are indicating that all is well with John in Alaska! The first day he flew to Juneau and stayed at a hotel there. Here’s the view out his window.

Not great, but better than sleeping in his car. This was just a brief stop on his way to Anchorage.

He wrote, “I booked an all day kayak trip to Kenai Fjords for tomorrow. The skies are clear right now in Juneau so I think we have a weather window. I might try to go fishing Sunday or drive up to Denali. It depends on whether I can find a fishing charter.”

The next morning he flew to Anchorage, got a rental car, groceries, a sleeping bag, a tent from Walmart, and a camp chair from Fred Meyers. He’s all set!

He has been happily texting me about the amazing sights and his upcoming plans for kayaking and sightseeing.

But I have been fixated on his dubious sleeping arrangements. He assured me, “My car camping went fine. I just slept in the car last night, since that was easiest, but I set up the tent to make sure that was fine.”

And I said, “At a campground?” He replied, “I just boondocked off of a pull out on the road. At the end of the road is the trail to exit glacier.”

He said, “This is my sleeping arrangement inside the car.”

I questioned, “You set up the tent but slept in the car? Was it cold or wet or something?”

He explained, “I just set up the tent to make sure it was going to work. I just set it up behind the car, but it wasn’t super level. It looked like I would have to better night sleep in the car. I will use the tent, however, if I’m at a campground where it’s not practical to sleep on the car.”

Still baffled, I continued, “When wouldn’t it be practical?”

He told me more about his upcoming kayaking trip, but also patiently answered my question, “I wouldn’t sleep in the car if the car is in a parking lot with the tent area removed. There is an official camping area at the end of the road with exit glacier, and that is how that one was set up.”

Still unable to wrap my brain around the sleeping-in-the-car option, I said, “Do you have enough length to sleep flat on your back in the car or only on your side?”

First he again texted more details about his trip itinerary, debating the merits of further kayaking vs. Kenai fjords or heading for Denali. But eventually did admit that, “I can sleep extended because I have the diagonal. For two people it would be harder.”

I ignored his sightseeing plans and continued to doggedly pursue the logistics of where he would be sleeping. “What kind of car?”

“It’s a Chevy Blazer midsize SUV. The rear seats fold to make a flat floor. My feet just extend over the edge on the diagonal if I stretch out fully, but that is still comfortable.”

O-kaay. I’m glad I’m not on this trip. He is a stoic man. And a patient husband with all my detailed questioning about the part of the trip that just doesn’t concern him. He does not care where he sleeps. He’s there to fish and kayak and hike and see the glaciers and wildlife.

If, like John, you are more interested in John’s amazing sights of Alaska than the details of his sleeping arrangements, don’t worry. I expect him to return with hundreds of high quality photos of outdoor adventuring, and I will try to get the best of them posted. Meanwhile, here’s a couple that he’s texted me so far.

Kayaking out of Seward on an all-day kayaking trip in Kenai Fjords: