Tom's trip from Sault Saint Marie, MI to Toke, Ak #1

To All:

Tonight (Valentine's day - 14 Feb), I am ready packed in
Santa Monicafor an early flight to St St Marie in
Michigan tomorrow.Then we complete all final preperations
and get ready for a 6:30am departure on the "snowmobile"
route. I am excited and just know
that this will be the adventure
of a lifetime.

We will start in roughly warm weather (5 degrees
above zero). This will be quite a departure from
the extremely wonderful vacation with the "bro's,
sister and niece/nephews.

What a way to get a great "send off"

Tom

Tom's trip from Sault Saint Marie, MI to Toke, Ak

This is the first email from one of the snowmobilers:

As some of you already know, in February I will be joining about 75 other snowmobilers in a snowmobile ride from Sault St. Marie, MI to Tok, Alaska, a distance of 4000 miles that we hope to cover in 20 days, The 75 will be divided into three groups and my team of 4 (plus our truck/trailer driver, Brother Tom Myerchin) will be in the second group leaving the Soo on Feb. 17.



This is a charitable run to raise money for diabetes research. If you would like to support our effort and contribute to this research, go to “www.michcanska.com/about/”. Click on the link to the right that says “2010 donation”. Fill out the resulting form and, if you like, put my name in the box at the end. If you have already donated, as many of you have, thank you.



If you would like to follow me on this ride, you can go to: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0Q0Ifl4SfsmGVNtj2xYjxF5UVyJZoXrl4 to track me (retains the last 7 days). As tests, this currently has my recent car trip to Cadillac and a recent snowmobile run to Hart, MI



You can also go to the “www.michcanska.com/about/” site and click on the “Group 2” link on the right. This will have pictures taken along the way and other items concerning our group that will hopefully be updated each evening and there is a tracking link on that page that will be a real time track of our journey.



Please pray that all of us will return safe and sound.



Dick Emery

testing tom's account

Papa Phil Memorial Kona Hawaii

Today the Thomas', Miller's and Marie Myerchin spread Phil's ashes near one of his favorite hangout.


Marie spreading Phil's ashes


MC's coral tribute to Papa Phil


You'll always be remembered Papa Phil! We miss you.
For those wanting the challnge of visiting the memorial, we'll post the lat/long upon our return to AK.

Arlan Bargmann (Mr. B) Passed Away

Our friend, Arlan Bargmann died last night at about 11:00 pm. His son, Buddy, says that he died quietly... he just stopped breathing. We'll miss him. He was one of the good guys.

Jack

Happy Halloween

Hello folks I hope you all had a great Halloween. It was cold up here in Anchorage, but there is no snow. We will probably start ice skating soon at Potter's Marsh.

Fishing was great this summer we worked like dogs but had fun doing it. The weather was beautiful so we went swimming in order to cool off. The girls sold home sqeezed lemonade to drifters that anchored in our cove this summer to raise money for college. They did a pretty good job and got some perks along the way, like a one pound bag a almond m&m's. That treat suprised mom and dad especially when they had eaten most of them before coming ashore.

Sarana sez,"I'm a pretty good winker" the day after getting a spider bite.

We also went on a road trip in the interior of Alaska to see the Wrangell St. Elias range and visit Tangle lakes. The Arctic Greyling fishing was fantastic for two little girls. It was endless bites the fish were so happy to see us.

We are celebrating all souls day today and will be toasting to Papa Phil this evening. We will set out salmon, scotch and diet coke for dad's spirit. I believe it is easier for me to remember my dad on this day than on Sept. 11th. This summer we spread Dad's ashes on a large glacial erratic bolder we call "Papa's rock". It is in a field of wildflowers: asters, valarian, marsh marigolds, bog orchids and more, overlooking Prince William Sound and the Chugach and Wrangell St. Elias Ranges. Some day I will put a plack on the rock with my dad's name and the words,"farmer, fishermen, friend and father".

Hope all is well. Germaine

Finished the marathon...

Hello to all!

A while back I posted here that I had entered myself into the Chicago Marathon. I am very pleased to say that I finished running the 26.2 miles this past Sunday, Oct. 11th!!!! I finished better than I had hoped with a time of 4 hours, 28 minutes, and 35 seconds (my goal was 4:30 even). I started training back in April, so there was great relief along with the pride and sense of achievement.

Over 33,000 racers finished the race in times ranging from 2hr 5min to 6hr 30min. The hardest part, though, was the weather. When I crossed the starting line it was 33 degrees!!!! By the end, it had risen to around 45 and I had the heat from running, but it was tough getting started.

Laura even made a special trip out to see her little brother run and was very supportive before and after the race - she was right there at the finish line when I crossed!


I think next I would like to tackle 2,600 mile Pacific Crest Trail hike from Mexico to Canada - any takers?

Love all around,

Alex