Friends and Alaska Experiences

*The following pictures need no comments, they are just photos I have taken along my adventure here in Alaska:)

Mom and Dad come to McKinley!

I am so happy that mom and dad got to come to Alaska to celebrate my 22nd birthday with me. It was such a good feeling to have them meet my coworkers and have them hear how everyone respects me and how my hard work is paying off.

We didn't do too much but they got to see a part of the mountain, spend time visiting Talkeetna and riding my bus. It was a real good time and I appreciate their willingness to come and support me here in Alaska doing something I truely love.

Mom and Dad at my Birthday Dinner at the 20320 Alaskan Grill

Dad finishing my free birthday dessert.

The view mom and dad got to see. At least they got to see part!

Making a birthday wish:)

The 20320 was so kind!

We we able to have Brad take us to WalMikes in Trapper Creek, Ak. They have all sorts of collectables and intersting items there. Mom and dad really liked viewing the antiques and rustling through the junk. He has some very controversial and interesting artifacts. It was my first time at WalMikes, so I had a good time as well:) Here are some pictures of our visit there.

Pigs Feet

A real hand, in a jar. (Note: next to the candy bars?)

A night out with the Cowboys

Last week Carissa and I decided to take one of the tours that operates out of the lodge. D&S is a vendor Princess uses for trail rides and covered wagon rides. On Friday and Saturday nights they also host an entertaining campfire. Carissa and I were the youngest ones there by far. There was a couple crazy Canadians who had to be drunk or something, as well as some older folk. At the campfire we did the following activities.

Ate Smores

Attempted a moose "kiss" (Of course we didn't get too close, just had to not get tangled!)

Posed with props.

Pet the Reindeer

Kissed the Reindeer...

with graham crackers.

Posed with the Reindeer

And grabbed their antlers.


It was quite a good time! We discovered we probably wouldn't pay what the cost is originally but it was a good break away from property, we got to roast smores, and sit around a campfire. It was a very enjoyable and entertaining time. Plus, the guests kind of loved how young we were and made us jump right in on the fun:)

A few reasons I really like my job as a motorcoach driver here in Alaska

1. Great hours.

2. scenic views no matter which direction you travel

The beauty of Mt. McKinley (Denali, Elev. 20,320 ft.) shown in my rear view mirror.

4. The money helps too:)

The breakdown

A couple weeks ago Joy approached me and asked if I wanted to go to Fairbanks with a couple others to pick up 2 more coaches that were left behind when we originally came down to the lodge. Being that I'm here to work as much as possible, I wasn't going to pass up on the opportunity to have more hours. We drove up to Fairbanks, AK in a van. Last time I drove the Parks Highway it was snowy in parts, and real brown and ugly. This time it was so green and beautiful, not to mention gorgeous weather. It was fascinating what just a couple weeks of sun turned that drive into, it was beautiful. We arrived in Fairbanks and went to get the coaches. The one I would be driving was at the Lathrop st. shop. I went to start it up, and it wouldn't turn over. I attempted a couple more times, and it finally decided to cooperate, only the red "check trans." light was illuminated. I walked around the coach, and came back to shut it off. When I checked all my fluid levels and neccesary components of the engine, I tried to crank it again, only once again it wouldn't turn over. I called one of the trainers who traveled along to Fairbanks (Brad) and asked him to return to the shop to assist me. Once he came back, we got it started up again, and it was running real rough. I backed it out of the spot, and drove it around the lot, in which i died anytime I came down to idle speed. Nervous, we called the McKinley Lodge mechanic who said to run it around the bus yard a few times, and then come on southward. He wanted to get it to lodge so that he could continue to work on it. I was worried as the speedometer had trouble kicking in, and also the coach didn't like to idle. I changed my log book and hit the road with Brad following behind me in the van. We made it out of the parking lot, and it died at the first stop. I got it to turn over and realized I just need to hold back at lights so I don't come to an idle. We got on the road in decent time, and the coach was running great from what I could tell. Rich (mechanic) called Brad in the van a couple times and asked how the coach was running, to which he responded that it was going 55 mph up hill so it was doing just fine. We continued on our way and Brad had to make a quick stop in Denali and the Princess lodge to pick up a few boxes of luggage tags. I told him that I was going to press on and I would meet him at the gas station about 15 miles up the road. I went on alone and pulled up to the tracks just outside Denali. According to federal law, commercial passenger vehicles must stop at all train crossings and I knew right away I was going to have issues as my coach sputtered as it came down in gears. When I got down to about 15 mph, I lost all power and coasted to a stop. I probably could have coasted to the opposite side of the tracks but I didn't want to chance not making it completely to the opposite side and being stuck on the tracks. I immediately trying starting it back up, but the coach didn't agree. I went back and turned off the battery for a few minutes, and then switched it back on. Still nothing. I called Brad and he sped to reach the tracks as quick as he could. Rich called the Denali lodge mechanics to come and have us towed out of the road at least. It was quite the ordeal. Sadly, a bunch of Holland America coaches passed by with guests on board, it probably looked really bad. We were towed to the other side of the tracks and the Denali mechanics worked on it while Rich was on his way the hour and a half from McKinley. They found that I had lost oil pressure. They were getting 7 lbs when it runs around 50-60? I don't really know what that means but I did loose pressure. They couldn't resolve the issue though. Rich arrived and all three mechanics stood there scratching their heads. Still no resolution. The coach sat there in the National Park along side the train tracks and road for a couple days until it could be towed back to Fairbanks to be worked on. Brad mentioned princess should gave me a raise, I conveniently placed a moving billboard where i could be seen from all directions from the train and highway traffic! That's optimism if I've ever heard it. I was so nervous, and what was a 9 hour shift turned out to be more like 16.5. At least it was a learning experience with lots of overtime!

even put up the triangles

The van to the rescue

The breakdown.

Alaskan HEAT

It has been so warm here at the lodge. Crazy hot weather. We even got sunburns this past week, and it made for some very interesting long coach rides when the a/c wouldn't cool off lower then 84 degrees. Yuck! But regardless, we try to keep our coaches cooled off, that requires leaving our air on, which means this...on a dirt road.
Yeah that's bad. Haha, and the worst part, there is people standing behind the coach that got dusted. I have to wash my work pants everyday or else the are all nasty and dusty. This is one of my trainers leaving the Princess office in Talkeetna, Alaska. So crazy how hot and beautiful it's been up here:) Hope everyone back home is as fortunate as I feel right now with this great weather. My driver tan is sure shaping up quite nicely!

Denali

The mountain (McKinley aka Denali) has been out almost everyday since we've been here, it's so beautiful! I will never get over this view I have the opportunity to wake up too. Pictures don't even do it justice. The Alaska Range is Majestic.