Some people you meet while traveling become part of the journey. Others give you a place where, for a little while, you can stop traveling altogether and simply feel at home.

We first met Jerry and Rosemary from Fairbanks, Alaska, while we were still back in Pleasanton, California, visiting Rosemary’s sister.

Before we had even reached Alaska, Jerry sat down with us and helped map out our route, sharing his knowledge of the state and recommending roads, destinations and places we shouldn’t miss.

When YOLA finally reached Fairbanks, they opened their home to us with incredible warmth and generosity. We were fortunate enough to stay with them twice, for about five days each time, using their home as a base while we ventured out to explore different parts of Alaska.

Rosemary made sure we were very well fed, introducing us to moose steaks and moose sausage, and they took us to their cabin on the lake where we could slow down and relax.

Jerry also became one of YOLA’s unofficial mechanics, drilling two new holes and helping secure our troublesome skid plate. Rosemary supplied another invaluable lesson after a tiny vole decided YOLA looked like an excellent place to move into: keep those storage lids snapped shut.

Jerry and Rosemary, thank you for the meals, lake days, mechanical help, Alaska advice, laughter and, most importantly, for giving us a place where we could completely relax and feel at home.