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The Hope Truck Trilogy – Part 1, The Departure

Here’s the report we’ve all been waiting for, and it was definitely worth the wait.  Mudflatter Hope is the one who volunteered to fill up a truck of donated supplies, tools, and clothing donations and drive them up the highway to Eagle to help the victims of the Yukon River flooding.  She did such a great and detailed job of chronicling her odyssey, that it will be posted as a trilogy!  You can check back throughout the day for the other two parts which are yet to come.

Once again thank you to all in this community who stepped up to help others in their time of need.  And thanks especially to Hope who shows us how one person with a big heart, and a pickup truck can inspire, motivate, and bring about real change.  Hope, her husband and “convoy guy,” have a special place in the hearts of Mudflatters.

So without further ado, here is part one of the Hope Trilogy:
By Mudflatter “Hope”

Hello, Fellow Mudpups! Hope here. I feel myself already getting long-winded, but I will try to do my best to stick to what’s interesting and to the point.

Our trip to Eagle began with pictures of the barn-sized ice chunks tangled and strewn along the river’s edge interspersed with the houses, trucks, boats and household goods scraped off and crushed along the banks of the Yukon River. They looked like a jumble of broken toys that comes out along the broom handle slid under a child’s bed, only these were covered with mud and fuel and contaminants, and the basic colors were shades of gray, punctuated by the bright, bent rooftops, the flash of twisted metal that had been somebody’s pickup, the straggle of clothing.

The worry over friends whose names we didn’t know, but who’s lively company we’d kept throughout the long campaign and the even longer winter caught our attention in particular, maybe. We hadn’t heard from YukonBushGrandma. Was she ok?  Then we got the pictures.  One was labeled “Our house” – a bright red-orange roof still attached to a two-story log home dwarfed by the ice masses. The house had danced crazily for hours in the grip of the ice, scraped from its foundation, pushed down, then upstream, twisted and pinched and now lay just off askew and almost whole among its impassive ice captors. But it wasn’t whole. And neither was Eagle – not just the Village, which is now completely gone, nor just the half of the town that had fronted the Yukon. All of Eagle was temporarily broken and trying to figure out where to begin to put it all together again.

Before long, they rallied, and we got a list of things they could use to start digging and washing and building their way back. The things they needed were big things — heavy things. “A truck,” I thought. “We need to find a truck.” Then I thought, “I have a truck!  And it’s a beautiful day for a drive!”

Turns out it was not quite that simple. Thank goodness for that! As most good things do, it took a village. People from all over the nation and world started researching the best ways and products, and even sending me advice and encouragement; mudpups from the Kenai Peninsula all the way up  offered to send what they could in the truck, and we started collecting. J. sent a whole summer supply of warm long-johns and socks that were to have been a considerable source of income for his household.  “Give these directly to YBG,” he requested. “I trust her to get them where they are needed most.”  L. gathered and gathered and gathered from personal possessions to real tools! Even a coveted sawzall!  L also collected from friends, J and T, who answered the call from a hospital bed, but found a way to get stuff to L to get it to me. L also had connections with some Yukon Quest mushers. (Eagle is part of the Yukon Quest dogsled race, and holds a warm spot in the hearts of those intrepid racers.) L also mentioned the truckload to a friend, whose politics don’t always connect, but whose heart always does. K went home and handmade ten cozy blankets in bright cheerful colors to comfort and warm the folks in Eagle.

The truck was almost full, and we were planning to rent a trailer when Convoy Guy (hereafter referred to as CG) heard about it, and emailed me. “I LOVE Eagle. Do you need another truck? I’d love to drive up with you.”  So we said, “Yes, we’d love to have a convoy!” 

The day before we left, I got an email from a guy who said, cryptically, “My wife is a devoted mudpuppy, and she has stuff to send to Eagle!”  So I made another foray, and met yet another wonderful friend, L2.  

The stuff was in three different vehicles by this time, because the  good truck was leaking. We hadn’t had any rain, but the day before we were to leave, HH (Hope’s Hubby) had calked it, and it did, immediately, rain on the new calk, and it didn’t hold. He had gotten everything out by then, so he calked it again, covered it with a blue tarp, and crossed his fingers.

It was overcast and dark on Friday morning. Well, no matter. Alaska cloud formations are beautiful, we don’t want to get too dry and have fire hazards, and in all likelihood, the calk had cured and our load would stay dry all the way. Bring it ON!

CG (convoy guy) was to meet us in Anchorage, and I had to work until noon, so HH was getting everything into the truck for the final time, including several containers of gasoline we thought might come in handy for us or for Eagle. He took a picture of our back yard for you.

Don’t ask me why, but we didn’t get out of Soldotna until 1:40 (though by that time we were an hour away from our home, had we come straight from there, and had left there some 6 hours earlier), so we were hyperventilating because we were to meet CG, a whole bunch of mudpups and the elusive AKM in Anchorage! Emails had been flying, and I anticipated a real party in the Lowe’s parking lot (which I fervently hoped to attend). I had the balloons! But at the last minute, several of the people had emergencies come up, so we weren’t sure who all would be there. We just knew we didn’t want to be late and miss anybody. The power sprayer and accouterments were there, and that was a major focus of the trip.

It was a beautiful trip, and I decided to chronicle it all for you, so you all were right there with us the whole trip. Nearly all of my pictures were taken through the window of a swiftly-moving truck with one rock chip and a horizontal wavy crack all the way across, just to make you feel at home. A few turned out ok.

What I realized is how much I love sharing the place I live with friends, and I wish I could share more of those pix here, but I really kind of went overboard. You’ll just have to come up and we’ll take you around and tell you all about stuff. Here are a few pix that show what it looks like between the Central Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage.

hope2

Bridge near where the Kenai River – The turquoise color of the water in the Kenai shows pretty well here. It is caused by glacial silt so fine it does not fall out over the miles of river. It catches the light and tosses back turquoise!  The Russian River confluence is packed with fishers when the red salmon are running. It is here that people refer to this as “combat fishing,” as the people are so thick on the banks they often have to cast in unison to avoid getting their lines tangled.

hope3

Kenai Lake – the headwaters of the Kenai River are fed by many streams, but the chief contributer to this world-renoun salmon source is glacier melt. The light wasn’t right to get the usual bright turquoise color of the water filled with glacial silt.

hope4

Tern Lake is at the “Y” where the traveler from the Peninsula has the delicious choice of turning right to go to Seward, or left to go to Anchorage. This time we didn’t hesitate. But you’ve GOTTA see Seward if you come up here!

One early summer day HH and I were going somewhere, and when we came to Tern Lake there were HUNDREDS of cars there! Three is a lot, usually! We looked, and saw a HUGE (but obviously young) brown bear out on one of the many islands, jumping up and down. Turns out he had been there for some time systematically going from island to island feasting on the tern, duck and other eggs and young nestled on the grassy islands that dot the lake

hope5

Dead Spruce mummies – In the ’64 earthquake the land along the Turnagain Arm fell dramatically. The Spruce forests got their feet in the salt water of the Arm, and died where they stood. Around Girdwood you see these preserved forests along the road, and it’s interesting to visualize them standing there all these years, and wonder what it must have been like on that morning in 1974 in Alaska. I’ve collected many stories about that day, and no one who experienced it has forgotten it. These Spruce Mummies stand as a natural reminder. They haven’t forgotten, either.

Hmmmm.. low clouds! Hope the caulking holds!

Comments

comments

Comments
39 Responses to “The Hope Truck Trilogy – Part 1, The Departure”
  1. justafarmer says:

    I also remember when the quake hit (I was living in Buffalo, NY then. Wasn’t it on a Good Friday?
    BTW, Part 2 is up with lots more photos (and a great story about Hope’s wedding ring)!

  2. mhrt says:

    new post

  3. Lee323 says:

    Great report and great work, Hope!

    I’m looking forward to reading the other two parts of your trip.

  4. Baker's Dozen says:

    I was 8 when the quake struck. I lived in California then, and had an aunt, uncle, and their baby that had recently moved from Anchorage to Fairbanks. There was a picture on the front page of our newspaper with an Anchorage storefront with broken plate glass and children’s Easter things in the window. I still remember the stuffed bunny with glass all over it. If that could happen to stuffed bunnies, what had happened to my family? My parents couldn’t convince me that Fairbanks was a long ways away. I felt sorry for all the kids because I figured they were really scared. My parents didn’t let me know anyone had died, and considering my frame of mind, that was probably best. Saw the dead spruce for myself in 1969. Remember those, too.
    Hugs to all those helping out in Eagle.

  5. dowl says:

    Looking forward to next installments. Treating others the way you want to be treated reflects marvelous and humble spirits. Thank you ‘Flatters for your good work for others and not just for self-glorification. God bless you all…

  6. Martha Unalaska Yard Sign says:

    Hope – what a lovely story! Your pics made me so homesick for that drive and for the peninsula. I absolutely love that it was a blue tarp that went on the journey. That makes it an official Alaskan trip doesn’t it?

  7. Kimosabe says:

    I prefer to think of it as “party fishing”, not “combat fishing”.

  8. Karin in CT says:

    Dear Hope:

    Your parents named you Hope for a very good reason and you have lived up to their intentions!

    Blessings to you and HH and CG. You are good people.

    Hugs,
    Karin in CT

  9. jimmyva says:

    OT .. There was a Getty photo on c4pee pee .. yes they credited it .. but see, I used to work for Photographers and that is just a big fat no no
    You can’t find a pretty photo on the WWW and grab it and use it (especially for a site that has international followers) .. even with the little credit added

    These photographers depend on the revenue for their fotos.. they aren’t free for the taking. I sent a note to Getty.

    Just mention for any inclination to grab a photo from an agency.. don’t do it
    You have to be signed up with them, contract agreement ect..

    Even if it wasn’t C 4 pee pee pee.. I would of made mention of it

  10. wynsplc says:

    KJ in NC, you might be on to something there! I will order some copies too. I have some friends outside that can’t believe what it is like under the rule of Her Imperial Empress Sarah!

  11. KJ in NC says:

    You know that with all the talent and the stories and history in the making on Mudflats, there has to be a book down the line: maybe— Alaska as Seen from the Mudflats—Post Palin. Not very catchy but you see what I mean. The scenic pictures and other pictures, the Eagle and village rescues by people from all over, the Hope convoy, and all of your Gino stories, etc. What an interesting collage of what humans are capable of.

    And on the cover, of course, the famous yellow boots.

    I would like to pre-order 50 copies, signed by AKM, please. 😉 No, make that 100.

  12. TiredMom says:

    Yay HOPE and crew!
    I am so proud to be a Mudpuppy!

  13. Irishgirl says:

    Amazing photographs…I am a photograph junkie…more, more, more!!!!

    Also too, so glad the trip went well. You are a very special person Hope.

  14. ericmiami says:

    If I look real close, can I really see Sarah and a plate of cookies in the background of some of those photos? Or is it my imagination?

  15. wynsplc says:

    My mistake, was corrected by time I posted. LOL

  16. wynsplc says:

    Mudflatter “Hope”, I know it was a typo, but for the folks who weren’t here, the year of the Quake was 1964. I and wife were on our way to Penny’s when it struck. Lost some good people that day.

  17. samper says:

    Even Palin can’t pollute the majesty of the landscape there! I hope to visit one day and see it in person!

  18. Lori in Los Angeles says:

    The pictures now appear! Beautiful!

  19. akmuckraker says:

    Apologies for the technical difficulties….

    I do NOT heart html.

    🙁

    Hopefully all is fixed now.

  20. Lainey says:

    I see this too, the problem child….huh?

  21. Snoskred says:

    AKM – Jump on skype real quick re this post..

  22. tigerwine says:

    Just adding my thanks to Hope and Mr. Hope, plus all those others who helped. I’m having a warm, fuzzy attack!

  23. Paula says:

    Pics not showing for me either.

  24. samper says:

    This is a fascinating read! I wish the photos were showing, though. 🙁

    The best part will be the description of driving into the heart of Eagle and dispensing what I’m sure were much sought after items. Can’t wait for more!

    Just goes to show what a little organization, a few bucks in gas money and a few good hearts can accomplish. You guys are AWESOME!

    PS: This page, also, too, is not the “usual” format. Sides are missing, the reply box runs off the grid, etc.

  25. Ripley in CT says:

    When I read anything like this that mentions this wonderful community of Mudpuppies, I get all teary. Like the guy who said his wife was a devotee. It just makes me feel like part of an incredible group. Thank you for that feeling, Hope. Well done.

    Also, too, can’t wait for the pics!!

  26. LiladyNY says:

    Nan Says: Lori in Los Angeles

    “HOPE wins, Fear loses”

    That oughta be on coffee mugs – what a lovely affirmation.

    I absolutely agree! That IS lovely. What do you say AKM/Snoskred? Can we get this up on CafePress?

  27. sjk from the belly of the plane says:

    its so nice to see your gov. and the first dud at the Yankees game today with Rooooodi G.

    I wonder if they’ll report this as income/gifts? The seats are EXPENSIVE. Perhaps Roooodi will donate the money the grifters surely paid him for the tickets to the good folks in AK who need some help

  28. GA Peach a/k/a Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble says:

    Thanks so much, Hope. Can’t wait for the next installments.

  29. Nan says:

    Lori in Los Angeles

    “HOPE wins, Fear loses”

    That oughta be on coffee mugs – what a lovely affirmation.

  30. Jean Schiffler says:

    We were stationed in Alaska from 1968 to 1973. It still holds a special place in our hearts. Love to read your blog and dream of being back even with the problems with GINO. Hadn’t thought of Tern Lake in years. Unfortunately the pictures didn’t show for me either but I conjured up memories.
    Jean

  31. austintx says:

    Yay Hope !!

  32. Lori in Los Angeles says:

    Well said LiladyNY – brava and bravo to the hope truck volunteers! Pics did not show up, but the writing is so
    vivid, I can “see” the scenery. The people of AK give me so much HOPE – I am sure you will get your beautiful State
    back. HOPE wins, Fear loses.

  33. LiladyNY says:

    I’m proud to offer a standing ovation to Hope, Mr. Hope and Convoy Guy and every single Mudpuppy in the world. It takes a global village and we did it! See how simple it is? Nobody asked what’s your political affiliation, your religion, your stance on abortion and gay rights and marriage before “getting in there” to do the necessary.! We just stepped up to help our neighbors in need. It’s really that simple.

  34. Nan says:

    Can’t wait to read the rest and see the pictures (missing or otherwise)

    I knew “Hope” would make it through 😀

  35. Marnie says:

    Two comment links above and below the sunset photo. Other photos and sidebar are not showing.

  36. fawnskin mudpuppy says:

    i just love taking a trip with friends !

  37. The Rubber Room Hotel says:

    Hope, thank you so much for sharing, I can’t wait to read more.
    It is just such a good feeling to see what Alaskans and Mudpuppies can do when they put there hearts into it.

    AKM thanks for keeping us up to date!