Early to bed, early to rise.  We awoke shortly after 6 AM, dressed, and was out the door at 6:40 AM.  Before hitting the interstate, we stopped for a gasoline fill-up, and some much needed coffee.  It was quite nice to open the vents with the AC off as the outside temperature was a pleasant 68 degrees.  After a half hour on the road, we stopped at the only Cracker Barrel in Minnesota for a good breakfast.  Typically , we will stop in Minneapolis to shop at REI, but we were much too early today, so we bypassed this twin city in favor of St. Paul.  There was hardly any traffic at all on this route.  The interstate north of St. Paul got progressively worse, and we were glad not to be traveling in the motorhome.  Alaska roads are absolutely no worse than many lower 48 roads.  We bounced all the way to Virginia, passing through Wyoming, both towns in Minnesota, arriving in Ely about 1:30 PM.  After walking around town for a bit, we drove to Canadian Borders Outfitters where we met Harry and Mary, and visited with them for a couple of hours.  Upon leaving they gave us a canoe pack for our week’s worth of belongings, and we spent the rest of the evening packing.  We’re excited and will leave civilization at 5:30 AM tomorrow.  Until then…