I have been keeping track out of curiosity, marking in my calendar on each occasion.
Monday, I had my 100th black bear sighting.
It averages out to about one per trip.
I purposely separated grizzlies into a different category because we seldom (once, this year) see them on tour. Thirteen, bty.
I saw THE BEAR six times, but only counted it once, because I knew for sure it was the same one every time.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
No Snotty Weather!
Someone came into the quilt shop today and asked Trish, the owner, about September weather. She replied that Skagway is known for SNOTTY weather in September. It may be cloudy, raining, sleeting, snowing. It's just SNOTTY! The wind howls and you try to walk down the street and you're not sure you're moving forward. It's just SNOTTY! I think that's a great description because last year we found September to be like that--SNOTTY!
Well, not this week. We are having BEAUTIFUL, DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS WEATHER. No wind,no clouds, no rain, no snow, no sleet. Just plenty of sunshine. BEAUTIFUL and NOT SNOTTY weather. Combine that with the end of the season nearing and seasonal people beginning to leave and it's barbeque and party-time.
Definitely NOT SNOTTY! But a wee bit tiring--the partying, not the weather.
Well, not this week. We are having BEAUTIFUL, DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS WEATHER. No wind,no clouds, no rain, no snow, no sleet. Just plenty of sunshine. BEAUTIFUL and NOT SNOTTY weather. Combine that with the end of the season nearing and seasonal people beginning to leave and it's barbeque and party-time.
Definitely NOT SNOTTY! But a wee bit tiring--the partying, not the weather.
Northern Lights
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
hmmm, whatsat?
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
jussaminit
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK BILL, NORTHERN LIGHTS ALERT
That's how our neighbor, Chris, woke us up at midnight last night to let us know the lights were on. So we went out to our back yard and watched the green curtains of lights drift down from the north, then dissipate as they got overhead. Sometimes intense, sometimes looking like the glow over Phoenix from up in the mountains. You can see them moving, like a big curtain blowing in a slow wind.
So forgive me if I sound a little tired. I lost an hour's worth of sleep. But it really is a beautiful show. We both tried to get pictures, but they didn't come out.
And now we add one more new experience to our otherwise mundane existence.
Priceless.
hmmm, whatsat?
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
jussaminit
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK BILL, NORTHERN LIGHTS ALERT
That's how our neighbor, Chris, woke us up at midnight last night to let us know the lights were on. So we went out to our back yard and watched the green curtains of lights drift down from the north, then dissipate as they got overhead. Sometimes intense, sometimes looking like the glow over Phoenix from up in the mountains. You can see them moving, like a big curtain blowing in a slow wind.
So forgive me if I sound a little tired. I lost an hour's worth of sleep. But it really is a beautiful show. We both tried to get pictures, but they didn't come out.
And now we add one more new experience to our otherwise mundane existence.
Priceless.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Odds and Endings
Even when you get to be as old as I am, you can have new experiences. Honest.
Today, for instance, was the first time in my whole life that I got rained on while having my haircut. My barber this summer, Peggie, has a very primitive shop. It is in our back yard. It was going fine, the beard trimmer working hard to get through all that hair on my head (stop snickering, parts of my head have hair) when it began to rain. Peggie continued bravely on and finished the job without either of us getting soaked.
In other news, Jane is back. Yay!
Also, yesterday (Friday) was the annual Klondike Road Relay. About 1500 (really) runners come to Skagway from all over southeast Alaska and Yukon to run a relay from here to Whitehorse.
Why? Nobody knows. Least of all the participants. They take off in groups every half hour from 6pm to 11pm. Team members are transported to various transfer points where fires and toilets and food and water are available. The legs are of varying lengths depending on the relative difficulty. ie more uphill=shorter leg
There are running teams and walking teams. A winner is declared sometime this afternoon in Whitehorse. By this afternoon, the toilets, fire barrels and litter are all removed and you could never guess the road had been full of people all night.
Another sign the season is ending. Ships are making their last port call. Neither of today's two ships will return this year.
Today, for instance, was the first time in my whole life that I got rained on while having my haircut. My barber this summer, Peggie, has a very primitive shop. It is in our back yard. It was going fine, the beard trimmer working hard to get through all that hair on my head (stop snickering, parts of my head have hair) when it began to rain. Peggie continued bravely on and finished the job without either of us getting soaked.
In other news, Jane is back. Yay!
Also, yesterday (Friday) was the annual Klondike Road Relay. About 1500 (really) runners come to Skagway from all over southeast Alaska and Yukon to run a relay from here to Whitehorse.
Why? Nobody knows. Least of all the participants. They take off in groups every half hour from 6pm to 11pm. Team members are transported to various transfer points where fires and toilets and food and water are available. The legs are of varying lengths depending on the relative difficulty. ie more uphill=shorter leg
There are running teams and walking teams. A winner is declared sometime this afternoon in Whitehorse. By this afternoon, the toilets, fire barrels and litter are all removed and you could never guess the road had been full of people all night.
Another sign the season is ending. Ships are making their last port call. Neither of today's two ships will return this year.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Let's go for a drive and see all the Fall colors, he said.
.
Oh yeah...
Hmm...
Yep, he knew what he was talking about...
I gave him a tip. I told him which restaurant to take me to for dinner.
I must admit I was a doubting Thomas at the beginning of this little scenic drive but heck, he's a professional tour driver so...
I'm beginning to see some Fall colors...
Oh yeah...
Hmm...
Yep, he knew what he was talking about...
I gave him a tip. I told him which restaurant to take me to for dinner.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
African Childrens' Choir
Tonight we went to the school to see the African Childrens' Choir perform.
The children are from war-torn and poverty stricken countries in Africa. They are given an education and other training and helped to establish meaningful careers. But first, they sing.
And they dance. Boy, do they dance!
If they come to perform near you, go see them.
Then we came out. And it was raining. And it was dark. And it was a cold rain.
It is September 5th, all you Arizonans, and it is cold and raining. The thermometer in the Jeep said 51. Just before we went, we were sitting outside with a friend, enjoying the break in the day-long rain, and we thought it was nice because we only had to wear light jackets.
We are both expecting very busy weeks. Peggie has several quilt clubs coming on cruises, and I have several double-run days. After Sunday it will start to taper off, with some no-ship days beginning on the 17th. We are still hoping the weather will allow us to go to Dawson City. We will not be able to make the loop drive around to Tok and back because a rock slide took out the road between Dawson City and Chicken and it won't be repaired any time soon.
The children are from war-torn and poverty stricken countries in Africa. They are given an education and other training and helped to establish meaningful careers. But first, they sing.
And they dance. Boy, do they dance!
If they come to perform near you, go see them.
Then we came out. And it was raining. And it was dark. And it was a cold rain.
It is September 5th, all you Arizonans, and it is cold and raining. The thermometer in the Jeep said 51. Just before we went, we were sitting outside with a friend, enjoying the break in the day-long rain, and we thought it was nice because we only had to wear light jackets.
We are both expecting very busy weeks. Peggie has several quilt clubs coming on cruises, and I have several double-run days. After Sunday it will start to taper off, with some no-ship days beginning on the 17th. We are still hoping the weather will allow us to go to Dawson City. We will not be able to make the loop drive around to Tok and back because a rock slide took out the road between Dawson City and Chicken and it won't be repaired any time soon.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Substitute photos
I know we are derelict in our duty to publish photos. But look at the ones Greg put on his blog. His whale photos are cool and the bear photos are amazing. And, of course, Ariana is cute.
We miss GaT already. It sure was great to have them here.
But now it is September. We await the return of Jane. Soon.
We waited too long to book the ferry, it is full. So we have no choice but to drive home. We didn't want to do it. But since we have to, we will spend a few days in British Columbia while trying to keep our jaws from dropping clear off at every turn and hill. The only real worry is winter weather. But, hey, we have a Jeep, we have chains. We are young and fearless.
We miss GaT already. It sure was great to have them here.
But now it is September. We await the return of Jane. Soon.
We waited too long to book the ferry, it is full. So we have no choice but to drive home. We didn't want to do it. But since we have to, we will spend a few days in British Columbia while trying to keep our jaws from dropping clear off at every turn and hill. The only real worry is winter weather. But, hey, we have a Jeep, we have chains. We are young and fearless.
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