Also five years ago today, two of my friends surprised me in Alaska, flying up to be there when I finished my national parks quest. Here we are that morning at Sitka NHP, which was park 418/419 for me.

My wife had actually organized a number of friends (plus my parents and even my ex-wife!) to fly up and join in the surprise (she started two years in advance). We had originally planned on completing the Alaskan parks over three summers, so that’s what everyone was counting on. But I managed to cut it down to just two years instead, which, unbeknownst to me, ruined everyone’s plans. Whoops!

Three people are standing and smiling next to a sign that reads Sitka National Historical Park with totem poles in the background.