Fwd: Dee's Alaska Adventure

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dee Duke <deefduke@hotmail.com>
Date: June 14, 2012 5:37:31 PM PDT
To: Dee Duke <duke@jeffersonbaptistchurch.org>
Subject: Dee's Alaska Adventure

Ran 19 miles today and about 80% of the time it was running and I walked up the major hills. Wasn't planning on quite that much but Patty got held up in road construction for 30 minutes. When I got to the construction they had me ride in the pilot car so I did get a half mile of riding in my 19 so I guess it is really 18.5! The driver of the car was quite interested in our trip and thought I must be going through some mid -life crisis or something. I told him I was to old for that. About a dozen people coming from the direction I was going stopped and told me their was a bear up ahead and to be careful, but I think they (the bears not the people in the car) must smell my sweaty body because none of them stuck around for me to see. I even got some counsel from some of the drivers who stopped on how to keep from getting eaten. They seemed to be quite worried about me. Didn't see any bear until I got into the car with Patty and Mom, and then we saw 4 in about 30 minutes. Several were not very afraid and one walked right up to our stopped car and looked into the window for something to eat I presume.  Again the scenery today was stunning. Makes the running much more enjoyable when you have such scenery to look at as I stumble along. We are camped at "Mountain View" campground near Iksu or something like that. Very nice. Free firewood. Free wifi.. And super view of a beautiful snow covered mountain. We can't be much further than a couple of miles from the base and the snow. I feel good getting almost 19 miles today but I am super tired as well. When I got into the car I was sure I was minutes from dying, but a handful of Ritz crackers with cheese and a cup of coffee did a healing miracle in me! I am going to bicycle tomorrow and will push for 45 miles and several bear sightings as well. Patty and Mom are having a good time. Both being socially outgoing have lots of conversations with just about everybody we bump into. She found out the life history of the girl holding the "stop" sign for the construction as they waited. We are only doing about 150 miles each day and both Patty and Mom are enjoying the leisure time in camp doing lots of reading. Love ya all. Dee