ASTOUNDINGLY, all three of these items stayed there the whole way:

      :)

      I wanted to take a picture of the camera up there, too--but. . . .  :) Note that one call also see the odd melange of both Pennslyvania and Alaska inspection stickers.  :) Also, I suppose in the background there is "a bit of history": Thompson drive is not open yet out of the new roundabout. . . .

      7/2/05 John the blacksmith II:

      7/2/05 Not only did we produce a prize-winning craft, but we also promoted the promulgation of high culture.  Here is Heather, proudly displaying "The Doonesbury Chronicles."

      :)

      7/4/05 Robert, surveying the "main wheel. . . ."

      7/5/05 Moose-dude, on the way to the dump.

      7/5/05 We arrived at the dump.  The "transfer stations" (as they are more properly called) are a major part of Alaskan life.  They are not infrequently referred to as "the free store." It boggles the mind what people leave at these things.  One time Robert and I found "enough food to provide for a third world family for a year." People have also found: fully functional computers, complete sets of encyclopedias, functioning bikes, nice furniture. . . .  The largesse of American society almost defies description.  (And we're not complainin'.  :) )

      John P., my former boss, had dumped his car here.  (This is where cars end up in Alaska---when even a state without vehicle inspection or salt on the roads can no longer sustain them.  ;) ) Robert thought that this was the one (and was not playing a joke on us---which we suspected :) )--but it turns out that it was one that looked just like it.  To this day, I am almost surrealistically proud of the fact--that our craft had functioning bucket seats.  :) :) Here is where they came from:

      :)

      7/5/05 I found this beyond disturbing.  -And ya' know--if they put up these signs--somebody has done it.  (Truth be told, there are a fair number of pets found/born in dumpsters at these transfer sites, to be found in the local pound.  This is, sadly, another reality of life up here.  :( :( :( :( )