A chance to catch up!

I realize I am still a day behind in my narrative, but today I should be able to catch up. That's because today is D-Day (delivery day). My parts should be in at the H-D store and their mechanics can install them (and do a requested oil change and hand wash)! I should be ready to rock and roll by tomorrow morning. But because my travel options are now bipedular (the bike is sitting at the dealer so I have only my two feet to deliver me to where I want to venture) I am staying close to "home", which for the last couple days has been room 137 at the Golden North Mot l ( the "e" is burned out on the sign).

So this is my chance to bring you up to speed on what I've been doing for the last 24 hours.

Yesterday I decided to rent a car to take care of one of the items on my list while I was still unable to advance my playing piece about the Alaskan Board. The motel works closely with a local rental company so that they dropped me off yesterday to pick up the car, I left the key at the front desk today for Arctic Car Rental to pick it up, and it cost only half of what Enterprise was charging for a daily rate!

So with a fresh set of four tires under me, I wandered down the road about 12 miles to North Pole Alaska.

I'm sure it will come as a surprise to no one to learn that North Pole Alaska is the home town of a very famous big-guy, 2003-2005 Boise State offensive left tackle Daryn Colledge, who went on to play for the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers! Oh, and Santa Claus too.

The town of about 2100 people (and even more elves) plays heavily on their name. Their little Post Office handles a huge volume of letters, all of which are answered with a personal visit on one very long night. (The realist scoffs at the idea that every house can be visited in one night but they don't realize is that in late December the sun barely rises before it sets at the North Pole.)

The city was incorporated in 1953 as North Pole, Alaska. Prior to that it was called Howwillweevergetanyonetomovehere, Alaska. The name was problematic. It was so long that by the time it rolled off the tongue it was frozen there until spring. Once the name was changed people could talk freely, but that was the only thing in town that was free.

The town caters to tourists who visit each summer. It is a favorite stop of tourist busses traveling through the area. 

While at Santa's house, which by the way is under construction as he adds a hot tub and sauna,

 I partook of an ageless tradition and spent about three times more than I could afford!

If you love Christmas as much as my wife did, you need to see this store, where it is Christmas all year round. 

What Betty loved most about Christmas was the pure unfiltered joy that it imbued in the hearts and sparkling eyes of her children and Grandchildren. And I suspect it recharged her spirit, as her own eyes would light up brightly as ornaments were hung on the tree. She had ornaments from everyone, every situation, every occasion, and she could recite every story behind every one of those baubles.

The store is about a block southeast of the intersection of Santa Claus Lane and St. Nicholas Dr. Just look for the big guy (Santa, not Daryn) out front, near the candy-cane street lamp.

On my way back into town I stumbled upon this:

The northern most Denny's in the world!

... and yes Brian, they're open 24/7