Denali, Bucket List # 54

I have wanted to see Denali since my friend Donny Carey first told me about it 25 years ago. Donny, the ultimate Green Tortoise traveling free spirit would spend summers in Denali working until the cold weather moved him back to San Francisco and bike messagering. He would stay in SF just long enough to get that much more money together and then travel. But his best stories were in Denali and Donny could talk a dream into me. My husband knew Donny in high school, that Catholic High School existence that bonded them together. The paths that the two of them took diverged but the friendship always meandered back together and Donny became my friend too.

I went to Alaska on business to

Anchorage which is two and a half hours south of Talkeetna--a Northern Exposure kind of town where Talkeetna Air flies little tiny planes up to Mt. McKinley. It is expensive and quick (two hours) and I had to do it. Donny told me those stories and I wanted to see it somehow.

Donny died of a heart attack at age 39 riding his bike in New Zealand. Another adventure he was off on to experience and see the world. He probably didn't have two nickles to rub together but I know he was doing what made him happiest.

Thanks Donny, for your friendship to us both. We miss you and your adventures and never talk about you without a smile.