HAVING FUN IN WASHINGTON

Dear FFF:

One thing nice about being a gypsy is that you can change your mind as often as you like....and I have done just that!!  I am no longer going up to work in Alaska.....however....I am still going.  I have three lady friends who want to join me for a road trip (three widows and a gypsy) We are packing up my van and driving up to Bellingham, WA about an hour north of here and driving onto the Kennicott Ferry that will take us 5 days to get to Whittier, Alaska.  Believe me, this is not a cruise ship!  Mostly backpackers will walk on board and set up their tents and sleeping bags on deck.  We, however, have a 4 person berth with 2 bunk beds, and full bath.  The ride takes us through the inside passage and will be making stops at Ketchikan, Juneau, and Yakutat.  When we disembark in Whittier, we will drive to Anchorage, spend a few days, then down to the Kenai Penninsula with layovers in Kenai, Homer and Seward.  Then up to Denali Natl. Park to view Mt McKinley and then north to Fairbanks.  We will spend about two weeks checking all this out (salmon fishing, raft riding, panning for gold, cruise out to the glaciers, maybe even zip line, and anything else that looks interesting.  THEN an 8 day drive home through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia.  The Alcan highway is now paved all the way so we should be fine.  We all have cell phones, but apparently there isn't much of a signal, so pray for our safe journey,  All in all, we will be gone about a month. I will post some awesome pictures all along the way!!

UNTIL THEN.....Jacque and I are having a ball!  I have gotten quite involved with our church and volunteer for the food bank, attend Sunday school and service every Sunday and breakfast club with other seniors twice a month  .....oh, and two days a week with the exercise group. This weekend Jacque and I are going out of town for a quilting retreat then when I get back, I am cooking corned beef and cabbage for 30 and organizing the St. Patrick's day party for the over 50 singles group at church.

I am picking up some part time work.  I have requests to help a neighbor clean out, pack for a move, and organize a garage sale.  Also I am going to cook for a memorial service that is coming up soon.  Did I mention? I'm not bored!!!

Hope all is well with everyone out there!  I know my Michigan friends are going to hate hearing that I was outside the last two days working in the garden, planting primrose and cleaning out winter debree.  The sun was shining and temperture was in the high 50's.  And you should see my view from our back deck...beautiful sunsets!

My love to everyone and hope to see a few of you this July when I head to Michigan for a few weeks.

Love, Gypsy Joyce