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Sitting in the Airport.  Last electronics.  I told him that no electronics for the trip.  Dash spent the last two vacations complaining about electronic time use, so this time I said "No electronics.  You'll still complain, but you'll be looking out the window while you do."

all pictures on this page are linked to full-size pictures  

We landed in Anchorage at about midnight with a hotel reservation a hundred miles away in Talkeetna, gateway to Denali.  I had heard that a flight around Mt. McKinley was pretty cool and that landing on a glacier on McKinley was one of those Lifetime memories.  You betcha!

 
     
 
     
 
There was a cloud ceiling of at below 10,000 feet on the south side.  It was really cool.  The pass below to the right was called 747 Pass.  It was really cool.  Looking out the left side you could see a wall of rock and looking out to the right you see another wall, snow below and the clouds right above us.  The pilot is on the radio suggesting paths and passes for the other planes in the air. We were thankful that he had been flying Denali for 13 years.
 
     
     
Two shots of Denali from the north (I could be off a bit in direction).  We're below 10,000 ft, so we're less than halfway up.  This was as high as we could go in an unpressurized plane.  We turned back around to the east and back then to the south to head to our glacier for a jaunt.
     

Next we landed on Ruth Glacier, your typical big ole mountain valley, just covered in snow. Lots of snow.

No manmade stuff. Just nature. And on a scale so broad it was hard to really fathom.  That wall behind Dash looked like it was 500 yards away, it was actually 5 miles.

   
       
       
   
       
       
   
       
   
       
       
   
       
   
    Landing at Talkeetna Airport  

If you're in Anchorage, I recommend flying around Denali.  It is memorable for a lifetime.  If you have the time, land on a glacier. You'll be happy you did.

Next we drove down to Seward.


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Devin Townsend Cameo Request

Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are very uplifting.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you.

 


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Devin Townsend Cameo Request

Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are very uplifting.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you play in person (LA got cancelled). 

 

-jeff

 

BTW, don't feel weird about offering the Meet-and-Greets.  As I get older, I really appreciate being about to say thank you to people.  Being able to say thank you to you in person would have been a huge thrill for me (Damn, you, Coronavirus!.  As a fan, it's a wonderful opportunity for us.  Please keep offering them!

 


Back Up Next

Devin Townsend Cameo Request

Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are very uplifting.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you play in person (LA got cancelled). 

 

-jeff

 

BTW, don't feel weird about offering the Meet-and-Greets.  As I get older, I really appreciate being about to say thank you to people.  Being able to say thank you to you in person would have been a huge thrill for me (Damn, you, Coronavirus!).  As a fan, it's a wonderful opportunity for us.  Please keep offering them!

 


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Dashpotato.com home

Devin Townsend Cameo Request

 

Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are very uplifting.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you play in person (LA got cancelled). 

 

-jeff

 

BTW, don't feel weird about offering the Meet-and-Greets.  As I get older, I really appreciate being about to say thank you to people.  Being able to say thank you to you in person would have been a huge thrill for me (Damn, you, Coronavirus!).  As a fan, it's a wonderful opportunity for us.  Please keep offering them!

 


Back Up Next

Dashpotato.com home

Devin Townsend Cameo Request


Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are very uplifting.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you play in person (LA got cancelled). 

 

-jeff

 

BTW, don't feel weird about offering the Meet-and-Greets.  As I get older, I really appreciate being about to say thank you to people.  Being able to say thank you to you in person would have been a huge thrill for me (Damn, you, Coronavirus!).  As a fan, it's a wonderful opportunity for us.  Please keep offering them!

 


Back Up Next

Dashpotato.com home

Devin Townsend Cameo Request


Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want, while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are very uplifting.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you play in person (LA got cancelled). 

 

-jeff

 

BTW, don't feel weird about offering the Meet-and-Greets.  As I get older, I really appreciate being about to say thank you to people.  Being able to say thank you to you in person would have been a huge thrill for me (Damn, you, Coronavirus!).  As a fan, it's a wonderful opportunity for us.  Please keep offering them!

 


Back Up Next

Dashpotato.com home

Devin Townsend Cameo Request


Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want, while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are very uplifting.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you play in person (LA got cancelled). 

 

-jeff

 

BTW, don't feel weird about offering the Meet-and-Greets.  As I get older, I really appreciate being about to say thank you to people.  Being able to say thank you to you in person would have been a huge thrill for me (Damn, you, Coronavirus!).  As a fan, it's a wonderful opportunity for us.  Please keep offering them!

 


Back Up Next

Dashpotato.com home

Devin Townsend Cameo Request


Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want, while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are often inspiring.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you play in person (LA got cancelled). 

 

-jeff

 

BTW, don't feel weird about offering the Meet-and-Greets.  As I get older, I really appreciate being about to say thank you to people.  Being able to say thank you to you in person would have been a huge thrill for me (Damn, you, Coronavirus!).  As a fan, it's a wonderful opportunity for us.  Please keep offering them!

 


Back Up Next

Dashpotato.com home

Devin Townsend Cameo Request


Hi Devin,

My Cameo request is a Birthday Wish for my son, Dash, who is turning 15 on October 21.  I know you love your son a great deal, but I would posit that I love my son more.  After all, when you are gone, in addition to Reyner, you will leave behind an amazing legacy of musical and vocal brilliance (yes, Prog Metal will have only three followers, but you will be their God).  I leave only my son.

So, when he’s very old I hope he remembers me, if only as The Guy Who Paid Devin for a Cameo. 

Worth it!

Dash is smarter than me, funnier than me, more talented than me (http://dashpotato.com/index.html#smells), but 10th grade is hitting him hard.  Remote learning and a heavy workload is overwhelming him.  We’re caught in the dilemma of pushing to prepare himself for whatever he might want, while not stressing him out too much.  School seems much harder than it was in the 80s.

Why you?

It starts with your musical and vocal talent, of course.  I hold you up as a role model (sorry about that burden) for your humility and graciousness.  Metal may get a bad rap as dark, but your music and lyrics are uplifting.  Your conversations, be they audience interaction or interviews, are often inspiring.   I appreciate most your openness in sharing your journey through life and your ability to articulate it.  I’m not an artist or a rock star, but I feel I can somewhat relate to at least one, which is pretty cool.

Your humor?  Poor Reyner!  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it’s Full Groan! 

In any case, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, thank you for sharing who you are. 

If you could work in my favorite lyric “Through the storm, may you become a rainbow”, I’d like that.  You have done so; I hope that for myself and for our sons as well.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you play in person (LA got cancelled). 

 

-jeff

 

BTW, don't feel weird about offering the Meet-and-Greets.  As I get older, I really appreciate being about to say thank you to people.  Being able to say thank you to you in person would have been a huge thrill for me (Damn, you, Coronavirus!).  As a fan, it's a wonderful opportunity for us.  Please keep offering them!