Holy Crappola, the move in progress. NIGHTMARE! (Kenai, Palmer: to rent, credit check)

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by SaucySophia

I don't know about Canada and the Alaskan Highway but I'll tell you driving through the rockies with my mom following in the box truck was stressful. So many turns and grades and turns with grades, Aggghh. We made it through though. We've stopped in Spokane, Wa. It's started snowing again, hope the roads are decent tomorrow.

Montana is beautiful. If I choose not to stay in Alaska (as if) I'd move to Montana in a second. Beautiful mountains and the most amazingly pretty towns hidden away here and there.


I'm to bed, more driving tomorrow and getting the dogs ready for their flight to our new home.

Saucy

P.S. Since the start of our plans to move I'd decided to do many things. I've come up against obstacle after obstacle and nearly every plan has changed. If I've learned anything from this move it's that if you go with the changes and rework those changes to fit your needs in the end you'll still cross that big finish line. I see it approaching, a different life for my kids, a different life for me. For better or worse this has been one heck of an adventure.

I am still sending you happy thoughts, when you make it, and you will....it will take a while to regroup....

[akvarmit]

Originally Posted by SaucySophia

If I've learned anything from this move it's that if you go with the changes and rework those changes to fit your needs in the end you'll still cross that big finish line. I see it approaching, a different life for my kids, a different life for me. For better or worse this has been one heck of an adventure.

Hi Saucy, hubby and I just asked each other the other day if there was a recent post from ya, and there ya are! ROADTRIP!

If you enjoyed winter drive there....when you get up here, we'll introduce you to a little concept here called "The Glenn Highway". You got a couple months of clear pavement to learn where the ruts are

But on the serious side, I just told hubby the other day how absolutely challenging, rewarding, terrifying, and freeing it has been so far. (Did I mention terrifying )

Welcome to the ride!
Dawn

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by SaucySophia

I don't know about Canada and the Alaskan Highway but I'll tell you driving through the rockies with my mom following in the box truck was stressful. So many turns and grades and turns with grades, Aggghh. We made it through though. We've stopped in Spokane, Wa. It's started snowing again, hope the roads are decent tomorrow.

Montana is beautiful. If I choose not to stay in Alaska (as if) I'd move to Montana in a second. Beautiful mountains and the most amazingly pretty towns hidden away here and there.

I'm to bed, more driving tomorrow and getting the dogs ready for their flight to our new home.

Saucy

P.S. Since the start of our plans to move I'd decided to do many things. I've come up against obstacle after obstacle and nearly every plan has changed. If I've learned anything from this move it's that if you go with the changes and rework those changes to fit your needs in the end you'll still cross that big finish line. I see it approaching, a different life for my kids, a different life for me. For better or worse this has been one heck of an adventure.

AWESOME SAUCY!!! sounds like your fairing the trip well!!! An adventure in progress!!! Very happy to hear your do'n fine and the North Road trip is go'n adventurous!!! hope your tak'n pictures along the way for us!!!???
Safe drive'n and may an travel angel be on your shoulder!!!

[SaucySophia]

Hey all,

So my last post we were in Spokane, the next morning we woke and learned the Idaho pass we had gone through the night before was impassable. Lucky us, who knows how long that could have set us back. So the drive through Washington was uneventful, clear skies and dry roads, yay! Thursday afternoon we made it to Seattle without issue, found our hotel and settled in. We stayed at LaQuinta, they are inexpensive and do not have all the bells and whistles of a five star hotel but we had excellent service and they are truly a pet friendly hotel, no extra fees and no weight limits. Friday we had to drop the trucks off at TOTE shipping, if I'd had an easy button I would have pushed it. They were very nice and made the transaction painless. We took a cab back to the hotel, thank God for flat rate. lol Friday night we lazed around and did a little laundry, nothing exciting. Saturday, OH MY GOD, Saturday was hideous, heinous, horrid, etc, etc. 8 am LaQuinta provided us with our own private shuttle to the airport. Why would we need a private shuttle you may ask. Well, we had 3 adults, 4 children (one of which is a naughty but super cute toddler), 2 large dogs, 2 large crates for said large dogs, 3 suitcases, 3 large gun cases and all the backpacks and carry ons. Now some of you travelers can already see the nightmare coming. We get to the airport and the pain begins. First off we get two carts. The gun cases are on the first cart and don't really fit they keep falling off, my mom is pushing this cart. I've got the baby, 1 rolling bag and carrying two bags. The second cart only carries the dog crates and 1 bag, my eight year old is pushing it. My hubby has one bag and two large dogs who are finding every nose treat they can. My 10 year old is rolling 1 bag and carrying 3. My four year old was in charge of her own backpack and her comfort blanket. We looked like a bunch of human pack mules. My mom, who was in charge of the gun case cart was having a complete melt down because the cases kept falling off. We are all griping and yelling at each other and I'm sure we looked like a slightly insane group of people. By the time we made it to check in we were all frazzled. Thankfully the check in went smoothly we checked the guns and luggage but we found out we had to go to a different place all together to check the dogs in. We have never put our dogs on a plane and did not know this. So, while my mom and I left to take the dogs to cargo, my hubby stayed at the airport with 4 kids. I was not pleased. We get to the row of taxi's and the cabbies who were hateful and nasty said they wouldn't take the dogs unless they were in the large crates. Problem was the the large crates did not fit in the cabs. I was a raving lunatic at this point. Finally, the hateful, evil cabbies procured a large van, we get the dogs in the crates in the van and we're off to cargo. Once at the cargo site, the lady informs us that my dog's crate isn't big enough and she can not ship my dog in it!!! I started to melt down, the tears were coming and there was nothing I could do to stop them. The poor lady was nearly in tears with me. She tells me not to cry and tells the guy working with her to try to find a crate large enough for my Chloe Bear. At this point all I know is that I'm not leaving Seattle without my dog. Finally, after much searching they locate a large new crate and we're able to get the dogs labeled and ready for the flight. Thank God again because I'm absolutely certain that without His help we would never have made this trip. My mom and I get back to the airport with 45 minutes to spare before flight time. The kids start whining about being hungry and we pay for overpriced snacks and await our flight. We get on the plane early because the airlines realize that a group with four kids will take more than a minute or two extra to get settled in. We get to the seats and the arguments begin. "I want to sit by the window." "No, I'm sitting by the window" This goes on for a few minutes and the stewardess comes over and says that if the planes not full all the kids will get to sit next to the window. My daughter who has been griping about sitting next to the window says never mind she'll sit next to her brother. Arggggh! Flight was smooth and uneventful, clear skies the whole way to Anchorage. We get off the plane and the airport was deserted because Redoubt had let loose again that morning. It was creepy. We rented a minivan and went to pick up the dogs. Now in this Dodge minivan we have 7 people 2 large dogs, 2 large crates, 3 suitcases, 3 large gun cases and many backpacks and carry ons. Uh huh, you can see it in your mind, laugh your butts off and just be thankful it wasn't you. lol. Now time to find a hotel that allows dogs, we locate one after a few calls and we finally settle in at the Comfort Inn. Finally, we start looking for a house. Note for all who are moving to Alaska, the homes go super fast here. I'm pretty sure that whoever invented craigslist is assured a spot in heaven. We called many and most were already taken. On Monday, we still hadn't located a home and my funds are quickly dwindling. I'm thinking I'm gonna be taking my kids to a homeless shelter in about a week and a half if I can't find something. In all seriousness, it was extremely difficult to find a house or apt that would accept dogs. HUH? This is Alaska, I was expecting a more pet friendly atmosphere. Oh well, finally, and with much prayer we find a fabulous log home in Palmer. They understand about the relocation financial issue and we secured a home. It is so perfect for us. So, today we get the keys and are moving in. The best part is that the previous tenants left two large screen tv's and a load of furniture, they also left the biggest prettiest snowblower I've ever been fortunate enough to see up close and personal. I told the lady she had me at hello and I'm not certain she believed me but it was so true. It looks like the majority of the chaos and stress are over. The finish line will be crossed at noon today. What a crazy adventure.

As for Alaska, I'll probably never leave. The sunlight that lasts all day is magnificent, the mountains are amazing. Every time I drive somewhere I look ahead of me and there they are and I'm in awe. I definitely am glad we found something outside of Anchorage, too many people and buildings. I moved here to get away from all of that and I don't mind shopping in the city every now and then but I don't want to live in a large city again. I can tell you that cities are cities are cities. They may look a little different but essentially they are the same. The vibe will change in each city but the stores and restaurants are the same, it seems, everywhere. I know it's crazy but I can't wait for winter and Christmas with many feet of snow on the ground. I can't wait to take my Suburban "off-roading" again. I truly feel this life will suit me and mine very well. Only time will tell. Thank you to all who sent their well wishes and prayers, believe me when I say we needed them.

Much love,

Alaskan Saucy

[Grannysroost]

That sounded like time for a serious chaotic meltdown!!! Glad to hear you 'all' made it safe and sound, and are now settling in. Welcome to Alaska!!! and really glad you found someplace you can make home relatively easy, but no wishing for winter and snow just yet...

[Rance]

Congrats!

[mal_flisk]

And welcome home.

Love the airport story, and it should stand as a cautionary tale for anyone moving up here. Pets are near impossible to house in rentals. It sucks, to coin a phrase. LOL

Once you're all settled in, you might check out Dawn and Cori and grab a lunch somewheres out there in the valley. By the way, you are now entitled to the moniker of Valley Trash. Not my idea, it just was used by a politician and the people in the MatSu wear it proudly in most cases.

[arctichomesteader]

Sounds like a lot of "fun," glad things worked out for you!

[spleenificus]

Glad to have you up here with us; also glad I didn't have to be on the same plane with you.

Welcome home.

[akck]

They used to require that you only take pets down to baggage claim to check them in. Taking them to air cargo is new to me. Nice to know if we ever fly with our pets again.

Oh, and welcome to Alaska!