Day 22 - Monkey See, Monkey Want

Well we pulled into Anaktuvuk Pass today at 2:30 pm. The first person we saw was across the airstrip - a hooded figure pushing a baby stroller.

"That's appropriate for this trip," said Jason, "since we've seen so many babies - caribou, birds, flowers, it only makes sense that the first person we see would be pushing a baby too."

Since Jason's flying out tomorrow, his first order of business was finding a place to stay, and eat, and it wasn't going to be in our pyramid tarp.

"What are you going to do?" he asked, "while I eat my bacon cheeseburger and sleep in a bed, Roman?"

"Monkey see, monkey want," I replied.

So I ate with Jason, trading in the olive oil and noodles I carried from Kivalina for a bacon cheeseburger at the Nunamut Camp restaurant.

Jason's boyish good looks had gone ruggedly hansome with his three-week beard, and soon, every high school girl in Anaktuvuk Pass (pop. 300) was in the place.

The biggest group crowded the table next to ours, giggling.

Jason left to call his girlfriend.

We each got a room, for $160 per person. We took showers and washed our clothes, and were asleep by 7:00 PM.

- Roman Dial

Comments

[Mule]

> bacon cheeseburger

That's my favorite thing to get first thing out of the backcountry. I can hardly begin to imagine those feelings after 20+ days. I'm enjoying these descriptions so much.

[Grandma Anderson]

Jason and Roman

I prayed for you each day and my prayers were answered. I'm happy that you finished your trip and I enjoyed being with you through your daily postings. I will see you, Jason, next month and get filled in on the details.

[Jen]

Wow! I want to thank you each so much for allowing us to be a part of your adventure. Ryan for having the idea, the passion and the plan. Jason for being a wonderful adventurer, as well as a lovable nephew of mine. Roman for bringing us along with his wondrously, descriptive dispatches. Just one thing, tho, Jason. When did the FDA make bacon and beef vegetables?