The McCloud Tour - May 30 to June 5
Vancouver to Alaska
Vancouver, BC.: Meeting with my nephew Ian who's going to U.B.C. and our niece Alice, who's joining us on our journey to Alaska and back. Alice is a total nerd like us, so everybody is excited about the journey north. We curse Ian for being too tall, despite being Alice's baby brother.
It's the Inkstuds!: Colin Upton and Robin McConnell. Check out their radio interview with me.
Talk about self-explanatory.
Downtown Vancouver.
Our missing window, after the glass was cleaned up. Vancouver is a beautiful city, so it's a shame that Sky will always associate it with the place her DVD's got stolen. Thanks to everyone who's pitched in to begin replacing several years of birthday presents for our girl. You guys are the best.
Sophia Books! The line forms following our packed-to-overflowing Q and A.
Our hosts at Sophia were fantastic, as were local comics geniuses Jason Turner, Pia Guerra and even the legendary David Boswell who came out to say Hi (and someone I'm forgetting who was really cool also, but I'm drawing a blank).
Our extended clan plus three: Ian's friends from school, Carmen and Amy (hope I have that name right) and Alice's friend (and Vancouver host) Alex. Alex and Lisa (not pictured) were a great help and good local guides, especially on our less than happy missing-window night.
Winter finds DS friends in Carmen and Amy.
Dude, Carmen is holding Carmen!
This was our last night before heading north through British Columbia and the Yukon to Alaska.
The Sirius radio, our less-celebrated other constant electronic companion that lives in the car.
And as long as we're anthropomorphizing, here's a faucet from a Denny's in William's Lake, British Columbia, that I found staring at me.
Heading north through B.C.
I forgot to shave for a day or two and decided to just let it go until we reached "civilization." Being scruffy in the Yukon just felt right.
Note that if I were to really grow a beard, Ivy would disown me.
Tiny Watson Lake's claim to fame: The Sign Forest!
North and west across the Yukon toward Alaska.
The days grow longer.
One of the most stunning surprises of the tour so far was what greeted us after crossing those snow-capped mountains toward the coast on the way to Haines, Alaska, our first official stop. Southeast Alaska is probably the most beautiful area we've ever seen -- a rainforest as green as a jealous Kermit, surrounded by snowy peaks. Alice said what we were all thinking: "Are we in Hawaii??"
The Haines library, the "Best Small Library in America" (2005) had me in for an informal Q and A that night. It was a modern little cathedral of books in a town of less than 2,000 people. After hanging out there a bit, I suspect it could go toe-to-toe with many large libraries; it's a fantastic place.
And here's the reason: Our Haines hosts, librarians Dan and Linda on the porch of their gorgeous home --
-- which they let us sleep in that night -- while they camped out in a tent out back.
Just let that sink in for a minute.
"Above and beyond" does not even begin to describe the gesture.
At a local pizza place, watching one of Sky's fan videos.
Haines, Alaska. That night.
I join Alice and Sky for a late night walk on the beach. The sun sets very, very, very slowly.
