We made it.
After nearly two weeks, thousands of miles, countless fuel stops, a few mechanical hiccups, an unexpected highway closure, and enough memories to last a lifetime, we pulled into our driveway in Anchorage.
Home.
One of the highlights of the day was our first close-up look at Matanuska Glacier. Pictures simply don’t prepare you for its size. Towering ice spilling out of the mountains served as one final reminder that Alaska has a way of making everything feel bigger. Bigger mountains. Bigger rivers. Bigger wildlife. Bigger adventures.
As we continued toward Anchorage, it gave us time to reflect on everything that had happened over the previous fourteen days.
This wasn’t just a road trip.
It was an opportunity to revisit places that shaped our story, from Nauvoo and the Air Force Academy to grandparents’ homes and family ranches. We retraced pieces of our honeymoon, introduced our kids to our history, reconnected with family we don’t see often enough, and created new memories that we’ll talk about for years to come.
This day also marked the beginning of another chapter.
It was the first time Sam had ever seen the house in person. Until now, home had existed through FaceTime calls, photos, and Zed’s descriptions while house hunting from 3,000 miles away. Walking through the front door for the first time made everything feel real. The house was no longer just a pin on a map or an address in Anchorage. It was home.
The boxes waiting inside represented the next adventure: figuring out where everything goes, making the space our own, and preparing for the rest of the herd to arrive.
While we made it to our home in Anchorage today, the herd is still temporarily scattered. The kids are making memories on the ranch in Oregon before flying north for hockey tryouts and the start of school. We’ll spend the next several days unpacking and settling in before Zed heads to Oklahoma for E-3 requalification training. A few more weeks, a few more flights, and the Davies Herd will finally all be together again.
As we shut off the trucks for the last time, it was hard not to feel grateful.
Grateful for safe travels.
Grateful for family spread across the country who welcomed us into their homes.
Grateful for old friends who became part of the journey again.
Grateful for the opportunity to see so much of North America through a windshield.
And grateful for everyone who followed along with us. Your comments, messages, recommendations, and encouragement made the miles feel a little shorter.
While this marks the end of our 14-day journey to Alaska, it isn’t the end of the blog.
In many ways, it’s just the beginning.
The Davies Herd is trading daily road trip updates for weekly stories as we settle into life in the Last Frontier. There will be plenty to share as we unpack a new home, reunite the herd, navigate new jobs, watch the kids tackle new schools and hockey seasons, and explore everything Alaska has to offer.
Thanks for riding along with us.
The road trip may be over, but the adventure is just beginning. Join us each Sunday as we share life in Alaska, one week at a time.
Herd Stats
Miles Driven: ~6,700
States Traveled: 18
Canadian Provinces: 4
Countries Visited: 2
National Parks Driven Through: 3
Road Closures: 1
Check Engine Lights: Several…none won.
Final Running Stats
Hotel/Campgrounds Count: 21
Herd Morale: Home at last.
Sanity Level: Excited for the next chapter.

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