There are two "Norths" to me. One is Alaska, the last frontier. The other is that wide swath of states that define the upper tier of the Lower 48. And while some may tell you there are similarities between Alaska and, say, Montana or parts of Michigan or Minnesota, well, they are wrong. But each "North" has beauty of its own, and is worth seeing - at least once.
We drove 260 miles in each direction on a desolate dirt road just to get this picture. Except for a no-frills pit stop at the Yukon River and the omnipresent Alaskan Pipeline, there were no signs of civilization: no gas stations, no rest areas or telephones, no McDonald's, no 7-11s, no toilets . . . nothing. Along the way, we encountered tundra fires buring out of control, and witnessed one jump the road right in front of us. Saw bears, too, and a lot of mud. Almost lost everything along a particular ten-mile stretch where the road turned to flat rock made slippery by rain. We found ourselves sliding sideways toward a precipice - while sitting at a dead stop. But (Amen) what a trip it was!
The scenery in western Iowa was so picturesque (to me at least) that I stopped off at a little convenience store and bought a disposable camera to record the countryside. Note the rich soil, the clear sky and the residue of Nature's bounty. This particular picture was shot somewhere northeast of Omaha. Months later, I stopped by the exact same place. The ground was covered by snow and ice, the skies were an angry gray, and the wind was howling. A harsh beauty all its own. I returned again in the Spring, and sat and watched farmers slowly till the land. After the next few months passed, the cycle had repeated itself.
We had not planned on seeing this sign in Montana. It just happened. Shortly after passing it, we turned around, and despite a slight drizzle, got out of the car and posed for pictures. We have yet to make it to the North Pole, but will provided we can find a pilot to take us. The trip slated for the Equator with a sidebar to the Galapagos Islands in October 2001 had to be canceled. But we shall eventually go there as well. And while at it, will trek over to Sao Paulo for the Tropic of Capricorn. The Antartic Circle will follow another year, as will the South Pole. It would be nice, too, to pick up the 45th Latitude in the Southern Hemisphere. Surely there is a sign somewhere that marks the line.
Remove bag tags from your luggage immediately after departing the airport. Should you leave them on, and assuming the agent involved on your next trip overlooks them, too, your bags might wind up at the last place you visited.
