Another year already? Amazing!
Have a great day and a great year.
Have a great day and a great year.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
New road!
Those of you who follow us (that would be all of you, duh) know that we like to go on new roads. Not newly constructed roads per se, but roads on which we have never been. Around here, that is difficult, as there is only one road. Sort of. There is also the railroad.
We have been on the railroad as far as the White Pass summit. Today we got to ride all the way to Carcross, which is currently the end of the line. And it was free.
So once we crossed the summit, we were on new road. But it wasn't totally new road until we passed Log Cabin, because the highway parallels the railroad to there. The tracks go to Lake Bennett where a community existed during the gold rush for a brief time. Now there is a church, a private residence, and the train station, where they also serve a meal. We were allowed an hour and forty five minutes to eat and take a walking tour of the old town site. There are a lot of pieces of rusty metal and broken glass littering the area, dating from the gold rush. The church is standing, but not open. While we were there a float plane landed on the lake. That was fun to watch.
Then the rails follow the shore of the lake for 27 miles into Carcross. This is all country that you can't see by automobile.
Today was chilly and threatening rain in Skagway. Sunny and pleasant in Bennett. When we arrived in Carcross we were amazed to see two kite boarders on the lake (which is about forty degrees) but even more surprised to see 30 or so people on the beach and half a dozen in the water. The temp was about 80, so it was summer in Carcross. Brrrrr.
We then got a (free again) bus ride back to Skagway.
We have been on the railroad as far as the White Pass summit. Today we got to ride all the way to Carcross, which is currently the end of the line. And it was free.
So once we crossed the summit, we were on new road. But it wasn't totally new road until we passed Log Cabin, because the highway parallels the railroad to there. The tracks go to Lake Bennett where a community existed during the gold rush for a brief time. Now there is a church, a private residence, and the train station, where they also serve a meal. We were allowed an hour and forty five minutes to eat and take a walking tour of the old town site. There are a lot of pieces of rusty metal and broken glass littering the area, dating from the gold rush. The church is standing, but not open. While we were there a float plane landed on the lake. That was fun to watch.
Then the rails follow the shore of the lake for 27 miles into Carcross. This is all country that you can't see by automobile.
Today was chilly and threatening rain in Skagway. Sunny and pleasant in Bennett. When we arrived in Carcross we were amazed to see two kite boarders on the lake (which is about forty degrees) but even more surprised to see 30 or so people on the beach and half a dozen in the water. The temp was about 80, so it was summer in Carcross. Brrrrr.
We then got a (free again) bus ride back to Skagway.
Friday, June 24, 2011
New wildlife sighting
So, today I am taking a tour to Carcross, and a bus is stopped in the road ahead of me right after the customs at Fraser. Bear sighting. Cool. Actually two together, cooler still. Drive on. Around the next curve, two busses off the road, everybody out with binoculars. Something exciting, but at a safe distance. We stop. Moose swimming the lake! Are you kidding!? None of us (drivers) has ever seen that before. Super cool. I get one looooong distance picture before I start sharing my binoculars with passengers to ensure they are getting a good look. Time to go. The day goes on as normal, blah, blah.
I get back home and I'm sharing my photo with Peggie (who is doing laundry) at the gas station when in comes one of the other drivers who was there. She says it was a caribou. What?!
I check out the picture. (I will share it later, 'cause I can't do pictures from here....FRUSTRATING) It is a caribou.....SO WHAT? I've never seen a caribou swim the lake before either. So I am still stoked about it. According to the internet, caribou don't like to swim. Moose do. It was an honest mistake. Besides we (drivers) have never seen moose or caribou anywhere near there before.
THIS is why I still love doing this job.
Just a quick observation. Sunrise is about 3:30 am. Sunset is about 10:30 pm. Dark? Who knows? I am not awake for it.
I get back home and I'm sharing my photo with Peggie (who is doing laundry) at the gas station when in comes one of the other drivers who was there. She says it was a caribou. What?!
I check out the picture. (I will share it later, 'cause I can't do pictures from here....FRUSTRATING) It is a caribou.....SO WHAT? I've never seen a caribou swim the lake before either. So I am still stoked about it. According to the internet, caribou don't like to swim. Moose do. It was an honest mistake. Besides we (drivers) have never seen moose or caribou anywhere near there before.
THIS is why I still love doing this job.
Just a quick observation. Sunrise is about 3:30 am. Sunset is about 10:30 pm. Dark? Who knows? I am not awake for it.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Happy solstice.
I wish you all a very good day today, since it will be so long.
Next month is full of birthdays in my family. But I wanted to alert everybody to a really special birthday. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for you to celebrate in a cosmic style. On July twelfth Neptune will be one year old! Measured in Neptunian time, of course. It will complete its first revolution of the sun since its discovery by Earthlings. This is a different type of celebration. Neptune cannot be served cake. The sugar will make it gassy. And we mustn't blow out the candle, since we also depend on it for our own light and heat. But you can eat cake and sing Happy Birthday. Just be sure you have the tune right. It is Nep-tune, not car-toon.
Speaking of next month's birthdays, July 4th is on a Monday. Peggie and I are both scheduled to work that day. I hope all the tourists want to stay in town to see the Skagway Parade, instead of taking a bus tour. We need a constitutional amendment making it illegal to work on July 4th.
Well, I also have to work today, so toodle-oo.
Next month is full of birthdays in my family. But I wanted to alert everybody to a really special birthday. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for you to celebrate in a cosmic style. On July twelfth Neptune will be one year old! Measured in Neptunian time, of course. It will complete its first revolution of the sun since its discovery by Earthlings. This is a different type of celebration. Neptune cannot be served cake. The sugar will make it gassy. And we mustn't blow out the candle, since we also depend on it for our own light and heat. But you can eat cake and sing Happy Birthday. Just be sure you have the tune right. It is Nep-tune, not car-toon.
Speaking of next month's birthdays, July 4th is on a Monday. Peggie and I are both scheduled to work that day. I hope all the tourists want to stay in town to see the Skagway Parade, instead of taking a bus tour. We need a constitutional amendment making it illegal to work on July 4th.
Well, I also have to work today, so toodle-oo.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
"Happy Fathers' Day"
That was my first phone message of the day. My son and granddaughter wished me a happy fathers/grandpa day. A good start to the day, I'd say.
Peggie and I were both off today so we took a busman's holiday: ie; we went for a drive up north. Our goal was to drive until we saw two bears. But we didn't see any, until we turned around to head back. Then we saw two bears. So the goal was met, anyway.
The wildflower season is just about to start. Lupine are all over, and fireweed greenery is setting up preparing for the buds and blooms.
Rumors of fish in the creek and grizzlies sniffing around are drifting in from Dyea. Not reliable as to time of day, so I will have to waste several evenings checking until they start to establish a schedule. Those bears just can't be counted on to punch a time clock until the salmon are plentiful.
Now since it isn't "raining" I will go to the back yard and grill some burgers for dinner. Maybe that will attract some bears.
Hope not.
Have a happy solstice on Tuesday. Don't get sunburned from the long exposure.
Peggie and I were both off today so we took a busman's holiday: ie; we went for a drive up north. Our goal was to drive until we saw two bears. But we didn't see any, until we turned around to head back. Then we saw two bears. So the goal was met, anyway.
The wildflower season is just about to start. Lupine are all over, and fireweed greenery is setting up preparing for the buds and blooms.
Rumors of fish in the creek and grizzlies sniffing around are drifting in from Dyea. Not reliable as to time of day, so I will have to waste several evenings checking until they start to establish a schedule. Those bears just can't be counted on to punch a time clock until the salmon are plentiful.
Now since it isn't "raining" I will go to the back yard and grill some burgers for dinner. Maybe that will attract some bears.
Hope not.
Have a happy solstice on Tuesday. Don't get sunburned from the long exposure.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Happy Birthday, Margot
The first of many.
It is fun at this age when you throw a birthday party that is really for the adults and any older children who may be in the circle. One year olds don't get it and won't remember, but it is important to establish the customary ceremonies.
While you could cook your pizza on the roof of a black car in Tempe, we could eat an ice cream cone leisurely without worrying that it will drip on our fine clothes. I wouldn't call it rain this morning, but I think the humidity is 101%, as you can feel the water droplets in the air.
It is fun at this age when you throw a birthday party that is really for the adults and any older children who may be in the circle. One year olds don't get it and won't remember, but it is important to establish the customary ceremonies.
While you could cook your pizza on the roof of a black car in Tempe, we could eat an ice cream cone leisurely without worrying that it will drip on our fine clothes. I wouldn't call it rain this morning, but I think the humidity is 101%, as you can feel the water droplets in the air.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Happy Birthday, Greg
June 17th, 1979 was Fathers' Day. When Greg was born, I got a double gift. This Sunday will be my 32nd chance to celebrate. And now Greg gets to celebrate, too.
In other news, the summer is going swiftly. The snow everywhere is about 90% melted. The fireweed is coming up, but won't flower for a couple of weeks. The bears are still eating dandelions by the road (six yesterday). We are in the 60's most days with partly cloudy and occasional sprinkles. There have been a few grizzly sightings in Dyea, but I haven't seen one yet. The husky puppies at Caribou Crossing are ready for adoption, so new ones should be there soon.
There is a new fast boat tour of the inlet between Skagway and Haines that we want to take. There is a new zip line in the hills above Dyea we want to go on.
In other news, the summer is going swiftly. The snow everywhere is about 90% melted. The fireweed is coming up, but won't flower for a couple of weeks. The bears are still eating dandelions by the road (six yesterday). We are in the 60's most days with partly cloudy and occasional sprinkles. There have been a few grizzly sightings in Dyea, but I haven't seen one yet. The husky puppies at Caribou Crossing are ready for adoption, so new ones should be there soon.
There is a new fast boat tour of the inlet between Skagway and Haines that we want to take. There is a new zip line in the hills above Dyea we want to go on.
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