O.K... it is actually a real word. I've just modified the definition a bit... but not much. It's a wonderful thing to have the freedom and energy to move around as much as I have this year. Here are a few of the highlights since I went back up on the Slope in January. I've since left, have been in and out of
Mom, Dad, and I out for a night at their local Irish pub.
Some of the gang at Hattie's Hat for my one night June appearance in Seattle.
My brother and I at a White Sox game on my birthday... thanks Mom and Pop!
Mom and I out on a tour of the town... via Segway!!! I have to put this in otherwise I know that my mother will be badgering me with comments until I do. Yes... I was the only one in the group to "wipe out" on their segway. I swear it was the gravel at Buckingham Fountain and the fact that I was trying to get the thing to skid :)
Not a bad view out of my office window eh? Here are a few more...
...I watched this brood grow over a period of six weeks. They were about 3x the size they are in this photo by the time I left in August...
...Endless sky and endless grass looking towards the North Pole...
...Mated pair of snow gease that nested near my office... never did see any goslings though.
Finally! The chance to surf in Alaska. A friend from the Slope invited me down to visit him and his wife on Kodiak Island. I spent three days surfing at 3-mile beech on the south side of the Chiniak Peninsula...
... days one and two were a little cold (air and water temps about 45F) and rainy but with clean waist high beach break...
... day three cleared to beautiful skies and I found a solid waste to chest high rock reef peeler...
... all three days I didn't see anybody in or out of the water on the beach except these shaggy beach bums.
My excellent host and I out for a drive around the old Army gun emplacements on the Chiniak Peninsula. David and Betty Odell are really quite wonderful. They homesteaded on Kodiak about 25 years ago (after traveling around the world for a year) and raised three kids. They hand built a beautiful log cabin style home and were kind enough to put me up for a few days and lend me a pick-up truck. Many thanks and my apologies to Betty for not getting a picture of all three of us... remind me next time :)
I had the chance to sea kayak in Prince William Sound again this year. It's a fundamentally meditative experience to spend even a few hours on flat water in a place as beautiful as the sound. It's deathly quite out there (when a power boat from Whittier isn't wizzing by) and has
a fog and rain induced ethereal quality to being on and so close to the water. Once you get out a ways you padlle for hours at a time only to have your solitude broken by a curious seal or otter, the screech of an eagle or the splash on a jumping salmon.
Luck prevailed with two full days of fantastic weather and I was able to make 20 miles each day. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) I had to make a decision based on the marine band weather forecast (impending 25-30 knot winds and 2-3 foot seas). It appeared that if I didn't turn around and head back on day two that day three would be spent paddling against the wind all day and would have increased the risk of having to scramble to catch my flight back to Seattle... not to mention that I was solo paddling in a fairly remote area, that I'm only an intermediate kayaker 2 summers out, and that I haven't yet learned to roll my kayak which is a very useful skill in stormy seas. I lamented the decision to come back early after the fact but was glad to be amongst friends back in Whittier. The next day I crewed for a friend that runs a kayak taxi/dive/fishing charter service and was able to see that the weather conditions did deteriorate but weren't as extreme as the weather report indicated e.g. I could have handled myself un that sea-state. Ah well... better safe than sorry!
I found myself fealing lonely out there and it wasn't because I was camping alone in bear country. Through my 20s I solo hiked and camped a great deal and was never want for company. On this trip though I really felt the lack of companionship (at times and particularly when I was ashore) and would really have relished good company to have shared the expreience with. Perhaps I'm getting soft in my "old age" :)
So... next year I'm planning a week long trip farther in to the sound for anyone that's experienced and interested :)
A couple of fun cubby holes to duck your kayak in to...
... it was a bit creepy paddling beneath that hanging rock...
... dig the color of that water... this must have been closer to a river dumping out "glacial flour".
Here's the "Look Mom... I can kayak!" shot. GEEK! I like the one with just the boat...
...much better.
Can you spot the eagle...
... here's a close-up.
More glassy conditions at the start of day two.
Alas, I headed back to Seattle... good to be back among friends though... have access to my favorite "commuter vehicle" and to pass by "The Mountain" an my way home from running errands. Not too shabby :)
Here's some video from kayaking...
Hope you are all well!
