Friday, August 2, 2013

Day 47 - July 31 Leon WI to HOME (follow-up & statistics)


Day 47 - July 31 Leon WI to HOME (Statistics)

Today we felt the magnetic pull of HOME. Though we were 600+ miles away, the call was so strong that we opted to drive straight through and arrived at our domicile about 12:30 AM (Aug 1.)

FOLLOW-UP
Of all that trips we ever taken, this by far is the epitome of them all. Peaks of the experience are:
- God's creation, as ever, is awesome. There's no way to described creation's magnificence. It must be experienced from on the road first hand. 
- We learned there is nothing that is not beautiful.
- All the people we met were so welcoming, and all encouraged us in our endeavors and cheered us on our way. They made us feel as if we had friends throughout the world. We met people from almost every continent.
- The Alaskan Indian's art, traditions, and culture is awe inspiring. Should to be experienced first-hand to be fully appreciated.
- Einstein is a wonder. He performed flawlessly. Some of the mountains were challenging, with as much as 10%+ grades, but he never wavered. Wherever we wanted to go, he plowed ahead. We have nothing but praise for his abilities, the comfort, and the volume of stuff we could load on him. 
- Thanks, too, to all the people who prayed for us and were concerned for our safety throughout our journey. Our Guardian Angels obviously worked overtime, and your prayers were keeping them busy. 
- We are still married, still talking to and love one other, even enough to consider another trip - at a future time. 


The  following GENERAL STATISTICS are noted.
1. Total mileage: 11,547 miles.
2. Average miles/gallon, while pulling a motorcycle trailer: 40-45 mpg.
3. Average miles/day - 245.75
4. EVERY STOP we made was cause for people to talk to us about #1 Einstein, and then our trip and mileage.
5. Approx stops for gas:  45-50 
6. Number of books I read to Keith while he drove - three:  Jack London's "Call of the Wild, White Fang" (2 books & 2 short stories), "Rhett Butler's People" by Donald McCraig, and "My Life with the Saints" by James Martin SJ. 
7. Number of boxes of Mike & Ike's we nibbled: we're not telling.
8. Number of times we wiped the dead bugs off of Einstein's nose:  every time we gassed up. Number of bugs killed - MILLIONS.
9. Number of smiles Einstein received whether moving or standing still: from every person who saw him.
10. Most outstanding memory:  all the animals we saw, and, most importantly, how well Einstein behaved.

This is what we packed. (Believe it or not)


This is what we actually used.

ANIMAL STATISTICS by type and location:
        ++ Many
A=alive
MI
WY
MN
ND
MT
AB
BC
YK
AK
WA
OR
ID
WI



SD
IL
TOTALS
D=dead
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D

ANTELOPE




















10
2


12





24
BEAR - BLACK












4

















4
BEAR - GRIZZLY BROWN
















3







1





4
BEAR - GRIZZLY BLOND
















2













2
BEAVER











11


















11
BEAVER - DAM










1



















1
BUFFALO










12

38











322

200



572
CAMEL


























1



1
CARIBOU












1



7













8
COYOTE










1










1








2
DEER - BLACK TAIL












1

















1
DEER - WHITE TAIL
11
10
1
6
    

1
4
2
2


2
1





2
2


1
3
7
1



56
DEER - MULE










6
1


















7
DUCK

1


3
2
++























6
EAGLE












5



7


1





6




19
ELK 










40



















40
FOX
















2








1




3
GOAT - MOUNTAIN












14



7













21
GOPHER




1

























1
GOOSE - WHITE FRONTED
















1













1
HAWK



















1
2






6


9
JACKRABBIT























1






1
LLAMAS












5







9









14
MAGPIE
















++













0
MOOSE








6



5

3

17
1







1




33
MOOSE ANTLER











1


















1
MOUSE












1



1













2
OTTER
















1













1
PELICAN

























4




4
PHEASANTS






3























3
PORCUPINE

5



2







1











2




10
PRAIRIE DOGS










4



















4
PUFFIN
















++













0
RABBIT

2

1

1

1








1
1












7
RACCOON

10

5



7

7







1









13

6
49
REINDEER
















17













17
SANDHILL CRANES
6

2



























8
SKUNK

1



1

1

















2

1


6
SHEEP - BIG HORN

























1




1
SHEEP - DALL






























0
SHEEP - STONE












2

















2
SQUIRREL

1




























1
SQUIRREL - ARTIC GROUND












1

3

14
7












25
SQUIRREL - RED
















4













4
SWAN - TRUMPETER
















5













5
STELLAR SEAL LION
















40













40
TERN






2























2
TURKEY BUZZARD
2





























2
TURTLE

3
7
2

1





















2


15
UNKNOWN

17

7

8

14

10

2

3





4

12

17

10

27

17
148
WHALES - HUMPBACK
















4













4
WOODCHUCK

1




























1
YELLOW HEADED BLACK BIRD






++























0
TOTALS
19
51
10
21
4
15
6
27
8
19
64
15
79
5
6
0
133
10
0
8
23
15
0
19
338
34
202
49
0
23
1,203