North of Fairbanks, three weeks on the Yukon River


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX3T6dwbcsQ 

Marilyn, we haven't left yet and it's 4 pm; we will leave about 4:20.  Both girls have a fever and Tom let me opt to not go, but I said I am not worried so I will go. 

I think I forgot to mention the other day that Ellie has been saying "mamma".  I am not sure she connects "mamma" and Alicia, but it's a start.  Tom was able to get a video of her saying it.  I remember when Annie was small and learning to talk - one day we were at the ice skating rink and all of a sudden I realized she was saying "gommie" and she was talking to me.  Made me feel good.

I doubt I'll take any pictures, however, I do have my camera in my purse.

Patricia, that Yukon trip looks interesting and inviting, but I don't have enough time to watch long videos. 

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I hope the girls will be feeling better by the time you and Tom get there. 

Patricia - I watched a few minutes of the video, but unfortunately, I could not hear or understand what the man was saying?  I had my sound turned up all the way, but it was still not loud enough for these old ears!  It seemed like he might have a slight accent, which made it even harder for me to understand?  I did watch for a while, just to see the river and the scenery, which is beautiful.

The narrator is from Belgium and speaks softly. He was filming a three-week solo tour up the Yukon River while camping or staying at Public Use Cabins installed and maintained by park services and village councils along the route.

What I primarily wanted folks to see was both the late summer midnight sun, (He began his trip in the afternoon of July 19th); and to see the Interior scenery further north from Fairbanks but similar.

Those who think of Alaska as what they've seen of the Southeast and from cruise lines will understand there is more. The North Slope and the Western Plains and the Island chains are yet more entirely different facets of the state.

I'm glad you enjoyed the scenery. I confess I watched it for the views myself.

Patricia, I looked at various scenes of your Yukon video.  I know we did not get as far from Fairbanks as the Yukon, but I did see much Alaska scenery that was similar to what was in the video.  I remember seeing a cabin for maintenance people who were out in the winter. 

Tom and I have been home about 45 minutes.  Alicia did not get any packing done, but she did have a break in her routine, which she needed.  We picked up a pizza and had that for supper.  Both girls had small pieces of pizza to eat.  They both are talking a blue streak and you can understand only a word or two.  They are feeling better and were very good but neither wanted to go to bed.  Actually they were too tired to go to sleep so Alicia brought them back downstairs.  Tom had Jo on his lap and Ellie stood in front of him while he showed them 'The Cat in the Hat" on his computer.  After a while, Alicia took both girls upstairs to bed and all was quiet when we left.  James and Alicia will move next week and I feel bad I can't help, but I don't think I should attempt to care for the girls while their parents and friends move the household.  Tom is upset things are so disorganized and I think he will be there to help (maybe), but I won't.  Anyway, we had a good time and I think Alicia welcomed the change.

Kind of an interesting sky tonight.  I am in a hollow so my horizon is "up".  At the horizon was a layer of pink, then a band of dark blue and the rest of the sky was grey-blue, more blue than grey.  It was the end of the sunset as ours has been about 9:25 pm for a few days.

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone.  It is a beautiful clear and sunny morning here and we are only to get to around 90 degrees by late afternoon.  Today is the day for the housekeeper and she is going to put on the treatments for the granite countertops.  While the granite is nice looking it sure isn't easy to maintain.  A couple of windows will have to be opened to get good ventilation so will be a good day as won't be quite as hot this morning as many other mornings have been.  The housekeepr is going to start on washing the windows while they are opened. 

I did not have an enjoyable day yesterday and spent most of the afternoon laying down with my eyes closed as my leg muscles were aching.  I am thinking it has to do with fluid accumulation perhaps around my heart preventing enough oxygen getting to my leg muscles.  I took a couple of Tylonal and it didn't help.  I seem to be feeling OK this morning. 

If the barber Pat likes is working today we plan on going out for our main meal and then getting haircuts.  I will get one regardless as I have a coupon for $4 that expires from Great Clips tomorrow and I do need a haircut.  The restaurant is just a few doors down from the Great Clips store.  That will be plenty of activity for us for one day. 

Mary Ann, I hope the move for James and Alicia goes well.  They will probably enjoy the larger living area as the twins grow and hope they will find the house them want in the area where Alicia works.  I hadn't seen the  child seats in the picture that Bubble posted for you.  Those look great.    I guess the children are less likely to pick up something than if they used the chairs available for infants in the restaurants and expect they don't always get cleaned properly between uses.  Too bad they weren't able to get any packing done but I am sure the move will be OK regardless as things do work out even if not organized.   

Mary, with three little ones that would be a lot of high chairs so the special seats are a blessing I am sure. 

Joan, car rental companies are like restaurants as one can tell whether there is good management or not by the quality of the service. 

MarsGal, I know it wasn't funny dealing with your cats yesterday but your description sort of reminded me of a comic skit where one thing leads to another and don't work out as planned.  I hope Lucy's injury heals quickly.  Perhaps the cats got a little too rambunctious in their playing. 

Bubble, thanks for postings those pictures for Mary Ann.  I picture is worth a thousand words and those are really neat little seat.  Beautiful babies sitting in them and gleaming parents standing behind them.  What a beautiful young family. 

Marilyne, I am sure glad we don't have to have an appointment for getting a license renewal.  It sounds like you would be allowed to walk in without an appointment.  One sure doesn't want to be driving with an expired license. 

Patricia, I will view the video when I finish writing in the discussion this morning.  Alaska is certainly a State with many variations of terrain. 

I had a post started, then went to look for some info I needed and I lost my post.  It is my fault and not lost in space; I should have posted, then added what I wanted when I came back to it. 

Larry, I have gotten my DNA from both Ancestry and 23andMe.  Today I received an e-mail from 23andMe that I had 13 new relatives in their site.  One is a Patrick Hanna.  Some people do not post a family tree and he is one.  The projection is that we are fourth cousins, descendants of a third great-grandparent.  I think he is related on my mother's side.  As long as he has given no information, I can't tell if he's any relation to you.  I have seen the name Hanna in my books that mostly go back to England.

Larry, thank you for the complimentary mention of James and Alicia's family.  I am surprised still that the girls have turn out as well as they have, considering they were born two months early.  I was afraid there would be something wrong some where, but so far, things are going well.  Ellie says "mamma", both say "all done" and I think I heard one of them say something like "dada" but I couldn't get a repeat so I don't know.  I am happy I can see them often enough to see some development.  They are two happy girls and I think by there being the two of them, there is less discontent. 

Mary Ann

Larry - I didn't know that granite countertops had to have special treatment??  They are so very popular now, and seems like that's what everyone wants - no exceptions!  (I watch a lot of HGTV! LOL).  I've had nothing but tile in my bathrooms and kitchens throughout my lifetime, and I have always loved the different varieties and colors. People on the TV home shows are totally against tile, and say that it's filthy because of the grout?  The grout in my kitchen and bathrooms looks like it always has looked, and is not filthy. Funny how times and tastes change. 

Mary Ann - I also enjoy hearing about James and Alicia, and the twins. We don't have any babies in the family, and haven't for a long time, so I miss seeing them and watching them  develop in those early years.  Glad that Eleanor and Johanna, are doing so well.

Hi Everyone. It looks like we will have another pleasant day getting only up into the low 90's this afternoon.  We have a fairly busy morning planned.  I want to attend a meeting at 10:30 and then will come home and get Pat and we will go downtown to Great Clips for haircuts and then to the Sunshine Grill for our main meal of the day.  I will probably tune in and watch some of the golf later this afternoon.  The rest of the day should be nice and restful and peaceful.  Yesterday we just ended up staying in all day and had a nice salad dinner.  I always have tuna on my salad and Pat prefers the canned chicken.  It is a very easy meal to prepare. 

Mary Ann, I would be pleased to have you as a relative.  If memory serves me right I believe the relative who came to America and to Missouri in about 1856 was from England.  However, apparently the Hanna clan is from Scotland based on the little research I did years ago.  That was certainly a beaming couple of parents behind those two beautiful little twins.  That picture would certainly be a family keeper and I am glad you could share it with us. 

Marilyne, the housekeeper and Pat got our large island top granite treated yesterday.  In reading the sealer instructions it sounded like it would smell up the house but it really didn't although the windows were open for awhile as the housekeeper was washing them.  We left everything off of the counter until this morning.  I think Pat may try to treat the other counters now that she knows the process and what to expect.  I discouraged her from doing so and to ask the housekeeper to do it but who knows.  If I thought we were going to live here another 20 years we might replace the countertops with something more else as well as the wooden floor in the kitchen.  However, we will leave well enough alone and hope when the house is sold that granite will still be popular.  I was noticing yesterday as I looked through the Costco magazine that almost all of the appliances now are a dark charcoal.  Over the years it has been interesting to watch tastes change.  I still prefer white appliances.  I also noticed that almost all of the furniture featured was dark brown and appears to be leather.  I am with you in missing having the babies in the family somewhere that I could be around them.  I so enjoy watching the small children at Church and at our Wednesday night dinners. 

Just saying a quick "Good morning" on this beautiful sunny morning.

Supposed to be nice weather for a good long time.   Although it will be hot.  But, it is summer and I, for one, have been waiting a long time for some nice weather.  We have had several rainy week ends, so this nice week end is greatly welcomed.

No big plans for the 4th of July holiday.   Coming in the middle of the week makes it difficult to plan a big celebration.  For me, as for a lot of us, it is just another day.  Several family members have to work, and some have plans for tomorrow, so I think everyone will just do whatever they want to.  One of my son's has told me that he has worked outside all week in the heat, plus doing a side job after he gets home, and he will be happy to just stay home and rest.
And, that is ok with me.

I hope everyone will get to do just exactly what they want to do.   Just try to enjoy the time.

Joy

Larry, we bought another dishwasher last year.  It is a Frigidaire and was on sale with a stainless steel front.  I do not like stainless steel, but a white front would have cost $50 to $100 more (not sure of the amount).  So we went with stainless steel.  I can't say it is hard to maintain, but I find I just plain do not like the dishwasher because I can't load it as efficiently as I did the Kitchenaid.  The Kitchenaid was quite a bit more, maybe $300+ more.  The Frigidaire does wash the dishes clean, it is just the loading that bothers me.  I've gone along with some of the color favorites in appliances - I had a copper range and refrigerator, white oven and surface unit (at the cottage), almond refrigerator, range and dishwasher front until my last purchases were white range and refrigerator and the stainless steel front dishwasher.  I really hope these are my last appliance purchases, but we never know, do we?

Joy, I also don't have any plans for July 4.  Tom may, but the last time I asked, he did not.  It is hard having the day in the middle of the week.  James and Alicia are moving that day and Tom may go to Holland to help but, knowing James, he'll have a bunch of friends help him.  I think I have some hot dogs and if I do any celebrating, whether with someone or not, I can fix a couple. 

Mary Ann

Good morning!  We'll be leaving at around 9:30, for a long drive to visit some friends who live about 75 miles inland (East) from us. We'll get there around 11:30, and will be taking them out to lunch.  I don't know where yet, as I'm not familiar with their city.  The weather prediction today is for 90's here, and over 100, in the area where they live. The drive is mostly on a busy freeway, so I'm hoping that it won't be so bad on Saturday, as it is on a workday. 

I don't care for the stainless steel appliances, but that is all that's available now, unless you want to special order, and pay extra.  I always preferred the almond color, which is what I still have in my kitchen . . . fridge, dishwasher and double oven.  I know they're extremely dated and people dislike that color now, but I'm hoping they will last. 

Stainless would look extremely dreary in this kitchen, as it is already way too dark.  Although there is a glass slider, it faces North, so not much sun most of the year.  The window over the sink faces S/E, which was nice originally, but now is too dark . . . reason being that the people next door added a second story to their house, which blocks the sun most of the day.  We also have a very large Redwood tree, that has grown too tall, and also blocks the sun. One good thing . . . the kitchen stays cooler than the rest of the house, which is great this time of year.   

Marilyn, there are always benefits along with the pitfalls, aren't there?

I live in a condo, an inside unit, townhouse type with walkout, with slider on the north, slightly northwest, and get very little sunshine except for now an the longer days.  I feel I have my lights on earlier than many people because of that.  However, I have a low gas bill in the winter because I am very well insulated on both sides.  I think my gas bill next winter will be $50 a month (I'm on budget). 

Presently, I'm going to make me a sandwich (I don't know what kind) and my bread consists of the outside crusts.  One year I made a peanut butter sandwich with crusts and it surprised Tom's former wife.  She did not know anyone who would use crusts in a sandwich.  The next time they came down, she had a bag of crusts for me. 

I'm watching European golf right now and don't recognize the names of some of the players.  As the golfers play all over the world, many of them are familiar. 

Mary Ann

I like the stainless steel appliances and enjoy the brightness.  But if I wanted color, it would be almond.  I have wipes for stainless steel and just give them an occasional swipe for any fingerprints.  I also have stainless steel cookware and have found it durable and easy to care for with a little Barkeeper’s Friend. 

Marilyne, my oldest daughter had tiles in her kitchen and bathroom counters when she lived in Calif. and she liked it.  I had never seen tiles used in counters before seeing hers.  That is something you just don’t see in the East.

Larry, I wonder if your granite was properly treated before it was installed?  My daughter has granite counters in kitchen and bathrooms and has found it easy to care for.  They just wipe them down with soap and water.  They have a big wooden cutting block on the island for cutting salads or putting down a hot pan.  They bought the house about 5 years ago but the granite is original to the house.

Good afternoon, all I can sayis HOt,Hot This AM I set outside and read the paper, and watched the birds, Had a young oriole  in the tree, and a house wren chasing a squirrel, even  landed on his head, while he was running.

Jean, I also like stainless steal, I have only had stainless steal sink. I use the stainless steal whips. I have always had white  refrigerators

Marilyne, Again I  Repeat I like stainless steal, We have to have the color that we like, as we are the ones that have to live with it

Larry My counter to is 40 years old,I think it is laminated not a blemish on it. 10 years ago I had my kitchen cabinets refaced. The contractor said he would leave the counter, he could not improve on it, I have a lot of counter space, both sides of my kitchen have a counter L shape  both sides

Mary Ann when we were looking to buy, I keep saying it was cheerful, the sun seems to come in in all directions. I have 4 windows in my living room, 2 are double size

the master bed room has 3, which is a lot for a mobile home

Hi Everyone.  Like about everyone else we are going to be hot here today but not as bad as other areas of the country.  I am hoping we get some rain this afternoon.  As is often the case, we did not accomplish what we had planned as Pat wasn't feeling like getting out to go to get her hair cut and so we just stayed in all afternoon and evening.  I will go to Sunday School and Church in a little while.  Today begins the casual July combined services at 11 am.  We also get will be introduced to our new Associate Minister this morning.  As usual I plan to pick up something for lunch and then have a quiet and restful afternoon watching the end of the golf tournament later this afternoon. 

Joy, glad that you will be seeing a nice non-rainy weekend for a change.  On the golf match yesterday they said they were expecting an even hotter day today and they are playing in Potomac, Maryland, which is not far from where we used to live in Gaithersburg. Have you ever attended anything at Wolftrap Amphitheater?  We went their one year for the fourth of July program and fireworks and a wonder we still aren't stuck in that traffic.    I feel for your son and anyone else who is having to work out in the heat. 

Mary Ann, we had some Kitchenaid appliances in our home in Missouri.  I remember we had the range top with the deep fat fryer and grill and we decided we didn't want one again as they could be quite a mess to clean up.  I don't recall we ever have had a Kitchenaid dishwasher.  The one we have now isn't hard to load.  I hope Tom doesn't try to help James as he probably shouldn't be lifting and carrying as that is a job for the younger generation.  Maybe he could help by just watching the twins.  Do Alicia's parents live near them? I had a sandwich yesterday with the two crusts from a loaf of bread.  I have always liked the crusts and we never waste them.  I didn't recognize the name of the young man who in a co-leader in the PGA tournament either.  There are so many good young players. 

Jean, we have a stainless steel sink but none of our appliances are stainless steal.  Don't they have stainless surfaces now that don't really show all of the fingerprints.  Pat uses the Barkeeper's cleaning powder and it really does a good job.  I have no way of knowing whether our counters were properly treated when installed but would hope so since they were professionally installed.  I think Pat will do ours about once a year now as has found that it really wasn't difficult.  The island took two applications of the sealer so guess the granite must have been thirsty.  It looks nice now. 

deAngel, I bet that squirrel wasn't impressed with that wren landing on its head.  That would have been a funny sight.  It sounds like you have a nice kitchen.  Do you have a double wide mobile home? 

Marilyne, hope you had a good drive yesterday and a nice visit with your friends.  I suppose you are used to driving in heavy traffic.  I didn't pay any attention but I bet those dark grey appliances that I spoke of yesterday as stainless steel.  I am hopeful we won't be needing to replace any appliances anytime soon. 

   

Good morning, Larry and all the other friends !

Larry, no, I have never been to Wolf Trap.  I don't think their place is advertised much around here.  I see ads for Meriwether Pavilion  , which is in Columbia.  Have been there several times over the years.   Yes, my son really doesn't work that much outside anymore, so I am not sure just where he was working right now.  He works for a very busy contractor and he is usually the one that is sent on all the jobs that somebody else has messed up.  Lol.  He said they have a lot of work.  I know he did tell me that he was helping out with a side job this week,  replacing a large deck.  And, the person who he was helping  him said he would take the wood that  they tore down,  but didn't have a way to haul it all.  So, my son volunteered to haul it for him.  He reminds me so much of my dad who was a real work-a-holic.  All 3 of my sons are all hard workers and learned a lot from their grandfather. 

They are calling for the heat index to be up near 105 today.  And, like you, they just keep repeating that over and over again. 

I think I am just going to stay in and not think anymore about even trying to go out for dinner someplace near by.  Right now, it looks so calm and peaceful.  I am trying to decide what I can do. 

My son had brought me some blueberries from his yard, and I cooked them yesterday  and made some blueberry syrup .I decided to fix some pancakes for my breakfast this morning  and the blueberriy syrup tasted so good.  I have several  extra pancakes that I will have another morning.  Have enough of the  syrup left over to make another serving.  Been a long time since I was that ambitious.   

Hope everyone who is this current heat wave will be able to remain cool and comfortable.  Have a wonderful Sunday.

Joy

We really enjoyed the day yesterday, with our friends.  They’ve lost two of their adult children this past year, under tragic circumstances, plus they both have serious health issues to contend with.  I’m in awe of how strong they are, and how they maintain a positive attitude in spite of everything that has happened. 

It was a long and grueling drive to where they live in the Central Valley, but we were prepared, and grateful for AC!  What we hadn’t thought of, was that millions of people would be leaving five days early, for the the Fourth of July holiday.  The interstate we were on, is a direct route to Lake Tahoe, so many cars, trailers with boats, RV’s, etc.

Joy - I've never had homemade syrup of any kind.  I would love to try some of your blueberry syrup, but will have to make due with what I can buy at the grocery store.  Come to think of it, I don't believe I've ever tasted blueberry syrup?  I'll look next time I'm at Safeway.

Mary Ann - I see that the Paul Tregurtha will be arriving this morning!  The schedule says 11:30, so that means that the time here in the West will be 9:30.  I'd like to take a good look at this ship, now that I know the "life story" of Paul, himself!  Also, knowing that it's the largest boat on the Great Lakes, makes it doubly interesting.

Good afternoon, we sat in our font yards last night and watch half hour fireworks display at the Nash car race track.  Which is a half mile from us. Some Sat. nights if the wind is right they sound like they are in the living room.   The law is they have to stop at 11.

Marilyne, glad you enjoyed your day, with friends Ialso understand your friends, you do not know how you will go on, but you do.  We lost our only  sons to sudden death one was 41 and the other 45. You worry when they go to war, which one son was a Vietnam and Gulf war vet

Joy, I would like to try that blue berry syrup. would you please write the directions.  Stop and shop has blue berries on sale right now, buy one basket and get the other one free

   Larry I Have a gas stove, which I  bought few years ago. I got it with a griddle, as I like to make pancakes or French toast also grill cheese.  My mobile is a double wide with a Florida room.  My husband said it felt like we were living on a postage stamp,  The house we left was and old farm house on 3 acres with a double barn and corn crib

Marilyne and  Lindancer ....   My son brought me a small container of some blueberries out of his yard and I just put them in a pan with some water and let them come to a boil and just simmered them for a short time.  Added sugar and just kept tasting until it was sweet enough and then mixed some cornstarch with some water and added  that and let it thicken it.  No specific recipe !   I think I  added a little bit more cornstarch until it thickened up a little bit more. I guess it was more of a sauce than a syrup.  I had to spoon it on.   This morning, it had chilled and I just added a little bit more water and heated it up in the microwave.  It was kind of thick as I wanted it to stick to the pancakes.   Sorry,  it was just by trial  and error, I guess.  I don't think you would have any trouble making it.   I made a couple extra pancakes and have enough of the blueberry syrup/sauce for tomorrow.

Joy

Good Afternoon from the very warm,
rocky coast of Maine.    Summer has arrived. 

Patricia,  I  watched and enjoyed the whole video
of the man's 3 week trip on the Yukon... 

Very interesting...  I would not like the isolation
but  I did like seeing it from his point of
view.   

Thankyou

Larry,  sorry you had a bad
day yesterday..  I hope today  is better  I am
getting ready to watch Golf this afternoon. 

Big holiday coming up.     
The Fourth,  ALREADY!!!   
Yikes ... 

Sandy

I think the heat is getting to me, although I feel I am perking up a bit.  The first time I got up, which was about 6 am, the temperature was already 80 degrees.  Dot and I went to church and we do not have air at church.  We do have fans and I sat near one but I was very uncomfortable.  I think my age contributed to my discomfort.  Nothing bad happened, but I was uncomfortable.  Afterward Dot and I went to the Cholesterol Pit where we had Coconut Cream Pie and a Tuna Melt.  Neither of us finished our half of the Tuna Melt and I even brought home half of my pie.  It was comfortable in the restaurant, but I just couldn't finish my food.  That is unusual because I usually finish both pie and melt there (going out at other times and days I usually bring home half of my sandwich, just not today). 

I've had a nap and I'm about to finish my pie and Tuna Melt while watching golf.  I have my choice of the European PGA in France and the American PGA  in Potomac MD.  I'm still waking up but good old a/c - I feel much better than I did earlier today.  I decided if the temperature was 80 degrees early on a Sunday, that I would not attend church that day. 

It is a beautiful day here, sun shining but the temp is in the low 90s.  Even the cat doesn't like the hot weather; he will go on the porch and turn around and come back in the house. 

I've cursed the weather enough, so I will say that all is well.

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone.  Same old weather pattern continues.  I did water my yard last night as I knew the ground had become really dry.  I am hopeful that we may get some rain today.  I have my six month eyes followup appointment early this afternoon.  On the way home I plan to stop at Costco as we need to stock up on a few item.  Scott plans to come over this morning to do some laundry as his washing machine needs repair.  Fortunately, it is still under warranty. I think that will be it for today.  We had a very nice combined service yesterday at Church.  I came home after Sunday School and got Pat as she was feeling up to attending yesterday.  Our new associate minister was introduced and participated in the service.  Since it was a combined service, it was very nice to see the Church pews almost totally filled. 

Joy, I just looked up the Wolf Trap schedule to see if they were still in operation and they are.  However, I see they are not having anything on the 4th so no fireworks.  I don't see many performers that I have ever heard of but see in a few days the National Symphony Orchestra will be performing Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.  I see that Wolf Trap is now a National Park.  We never made it to the planned community of Columbia or Reston either so never attended anything at the Meriweather Pavilion.  It sounds like you have outstanding sons and that they are very hard workers.  The blueberry syrup on the pancakes sound good. 

Marilyne, I hadn't thought about all that added holiday traffic but with school out and family holidays occurring the extra day off from work makes a good time to go somewhere.  I expect the traffic back home wasn't as bad unless a lot of people were headed to the ocean communities.  Glad you enjoyed your visit with your friends.  Losing two adult children in one year is almost overwhelming as the dealing with the loss of one is very difficult.  Glad your friends have maintained a positive attitude and expect that has contributed a lot to their coping. 

deAngel, that sounds like a nice way to watch fireworks as the noise would be lessened and you didn't have to deal with the smell of the fireworks.  The griddle we had on the stove was fine it was the deep fryer that created the problem.  I guess where we now live is like living on a postage stamp as both the front and back yards are very small (just the way I like them). 

Sandy, that video did look like the trip up the river in Alaska was very peaceful and enjoyable.  However, I wonder at the wisdom of taking such a trip alone.  Yesterday was a good day for me and a better day than usual for Pat so it was great.  I am planning for today to be the same.  The fellow from Italy was superb as he won the tournament running away from the others.  I had never seen cooling devices like they had set up on that course in Potomac. 

Mary Ann, I can't imagine not eating all of the Coconut Cream Pie.  At least you had an enjoyable second meal.  I was very thankful yesterday that our Sunday School room and the Church both were very comfortable.  When I went back to the Church after getting Pat I had to park in the far away parking lot.  Fortunately the man who goes around and picks up folks who would have trouble walking any distance was waiting right where I parked so he whisked me up to the Church entrance and then after the service I rode back out to the car.  It took a few minutes and Pat just sat in the foyer of the Church until I could drive up in front to pick her up. 

Good Morning from the warm,
cloudy and humid rocky coast of Maine. 

Humidity is the curse  (IMHO) .. so I do
still have my AC on..   (low)  which helps
a lot.   That and two Hepa  air purifiers.   
All make for easier breathing this time of the
year.    I also have to put more clothes on 
since the AC keeps things pretty cool. 

I would be very hesitant to travel so far up
the Yukon River...    The man did have
a gun and he stressed it to be very
important to  carry supplies to prevent
serious infections...     

I also had a feeling that he could get in
touch with someone to fly in
and get him, if things got out of
control ...   

I am not brave enough,  now or ever,
to do wilderness trekking.     Not for me.
I am too much of a sissy. 

Have a good day,  everyone. 
Sandy

Sandy, the Yukon trip sounded adventurous (I did not view the entire video), and in my younger years and if I were a male, I might have considered it.  I think my dad might have considered such a trip before he was married.  And when my dad was young and when I was young, conditions were much different.  That is not to say bad things did not happen, but conditions were different and better when we were young. 

Mary Ann

It seems to be a popular thing in today's world to do something dangerous or edgy, all by yourself!  Adventuresome people seem to want to prove something to themselves and to the world, that they can overcome all sorts of adversities and dangers, all alone!  I guess it gives the person a true sense of accomplishment.  Seems that someone is always taking off on a dangerous trek of some sort.  Around here, it's usually a single person attempting to cross the Pacific to Hawaii, in a small sailboat, or even worse, a kayak or rowboat. All it would take to upset any small boat, is a storm or a shark. 

Last night I watched two boats in a row on the Duluth cam.  The bridge was up for a long time . . .  must have been 25 minutes or a half hour?  It was already up when I started watching at 9:30 here, so was 11:30 in Duluth.  First came a boat that was arriving that was not on the schedule.  I couldn't read the name.  Then a long wait, and finally the Paul Tregurtha, departed.  By then it was almost 10:00.  I expected there would be a lot of cars crossing, when the bridge finally lowered, but there were just a few in both directions.  Near Midnight by then, so I guess that there aren't many drivers out in Duluth, on a Sunday night?

Marilyn, if you look on the map at the road over the bridge, you will see it really doesn't go anywhere; it's not a highway.  I'm surprised there is as much traffic as there is.  I think there is a park down the way and when you get to Minnesota Point, that's where the boats to and from Superior go and there's no bridge there for people to cross.  I also wonder is people live along the road and I don't know because the sites don't show that far down.

By the time the boats went through last night, I was asleep!

PS - I just looked and there are two parks on that peninsula so I think traffic would be light that late at night.

I'm about to watch a ship leave Duluth - Algowood - in about five minutes.


Mary Ann

Good morning from the Interior, nothing new here but as to adventurers in Alaska, it is very commonplace due to the mountain ranges, rivers, young population, median age 35, and proximity to Europe along the polar route. We have had in the past, members of the British army sent here to train and do mountaineering as well as a lot from Australia.  Last year, a regiment from Germany was here to try their hand in the bush.

There are public use cabins along the river that are maintained by the park service and different villages but you have to apply early and be approved sometime before use. There are also villages along the river, and I am sure he had a GPS and a type of cellphone or radio along.

This year, due to political restraints I understand some have canceled and we are being hurt ecomically as has been reported. The reason my building and the six others in town are being sold to the state is that the Canadain ownership is pulling out of Alaska and is rumored to be the same.

Angel, I sure hope and pray that everything works out good for you and the many other seniors who are living in the buildings being sold.

It's too bad when politics interferes with recreational pleasures.

I've been at the Two Harbors site boat launch for some time.  It has been very active there today.  This morning I watched four men launch two boats and I assume they were headed fishing.  Later I watched an ore boat leave and another waited for the first boat before it was brought in to port.  During this time, four men brought in a boat and got it out of the water, then unloaded their gear and finally left. 

Tom stepped on something and went to Urgent Care this morning.  Urgent Care did not want to do anything yet, but said if it wasn't out by Thursday, either they would take it out or he could go to his regular doctor.  In a way, I hope it isn't the earring I lost, but on the other hand, I wish it was because I am planning to replace the earring (of course I'd get the pair) because it is a good size and they were/are my "training" earrings (when I had my ears pierced).  Tom now is putting together the love seat and table for the deck. 

Mary Ann