Family Hunger Genealogy

© Copyright Todd Neel

9/15 Sunday and 9/16/2024 Monday – Day 15 and 16 on the road.

I spent two nights urban camping at the Ship Creek RV Park in Anchorage because I needed to repair my camper furnace, which seemed to be working only about half the time I needed it. And it has started to get colder more at night.

This campground was near downtown Anchorage and close to the waterfront and walking trails. It was also near some business and industrial sites. I passed a city block that seemed to be closed to traffic for tents and campers of homeless people. (Below is a photo of sunset over a bay in Anchorage)

On the day after my arrival, 9/16/2024 Wednesday, I called an RV repair business and was unable to get my camper in for an appointment for a long while “because it’s hunting season” and also the fall season that many other RV owners were bringing in their campers to get them winterized. They referred me to a mobile RV repair technician. I phoned him, and he asked me what symptoms the furnace was having. He suggested I could get and repair the part myself and save $250 to pay him to come to the camper. I went to an RV repair dealer and got the part for about $18. I also went to Lowes Hardware and got a cordless drill and screws for the bottom edge of the front metal skin of the trailer, which was coming loose. I repaired the flapping metal siding and successfully fixed the furnace, so I had heat from the propane heater every time I needed it (as long as I had propane). Yeehaw!

While in Anchorage, my good friend from Spokane, Mark Kreilkamp, and his wife, Carrie, were visiting Mark’s brother, John. Mark had been feeling ill and initially thought it was not a good idea to meet, but he rallied, and we finally met on my last day in Anchorage at a grocery store and coffee shop. I met his brother, John, a local who has lived in Alaska for many years. I shared my story about attempts to view Denali and showed them my photo of the mountain approaching the National Park from Fairbanks. John confirmed that it was, indeed, the north side of Denali and that many people left frustrated because of their inability to view the weathered-out mountain.  Again, yeehaw! I did see Denali, but only from a great distance. (Below is an enhanced photo of Denali from afar.)

I was disappointed in the $40 tab for fish and chips here in Anchorage. It was delicious, though!