Whale Watching April 21, 2012

Whale Watching April 21, 2012

What a beautiful glorious day! The sun was shining. The temperature was just right and my friends and I were looking for adventure!

Bridget, Bonnie and I decided to head to Psagshack(puh sag shack) to Fossil Beach.  That's the end of the road in Kodiak.  Seems kinda funny but it's true!  You can get no further down the island than Fossil Beach!   The road winds around and follows the coast and with the sun shining and good friends in the car we were off!

We hiked up the bluff to Narrow Cape at fossil beach.  It's pretty interesting in that the drive to this particular beach takes you through the Rocket Launch facility and when you actually make the hike you end up seeing several WWII "pill boxes"(look outs - gunneries ...whatever) .  These make great places to park your backside while you watch for whales.  I guess I should say that this is Whale Fest season. 
http://www.whalefestkodiak.com/Home.html   It's the time of year when all Pacific Gray Whales pass on their migration.  Narrow Cape is a great spot to....welll...... to spot whales:)
I've gone every year and have seen spouts in the distance.  You can see hundreds at once if you get there at the right time.  This time we saw humpbacks frolicing in the waves and breeching!  It was a great sight!  Something I will always remember and treasure.

The trip for the car!-Seattle

So it's been about four months since the last post.  During that time I moved back to the lower 48 so I guess my Alaska Adventure is officially over and done with.  Now for the next chapter in life.

I flew up to Seattle to get my car which was supposed to come in on the barge and then drive down to San Francisco to see my sister and family.  Unfortunately Alaska seems to be getting pounded by some truly horrific weather and the barge is stuck in Valdez.  Hopefully they will be able to get out soon.  Lots of flooding, wind damage etc.. Kodiak also has had a few large earthquakes!
Hmmmm.... maybe I am glad to be out of Alaska for right now lol.

At any rate, in Seattle I was able to visit with some friends and do some sight seeing.  It's a great city and very near to wear I was born.

I was able to visit Pike's Peak Market and I have to say that every city should have one of these.  I spent hours just wandering and browsing.  The food that was for sale was of the freshest quality and quite delicious.  I also got to view a demonstration of the fish tossing!  It was so fun!

After the market I went to the Seattle Aquarium.  It was not much to get in and was a nice little museum and animal shelter.  In addition to touch tanks with guided feedings, they also had a variety of birds and water mammals.  All were in good shape and well cared for- the sign of a quality establishment.

I saw the space needle and took photos but of course didn't go up in it. I'll save that for another time.  It was simply too lovely a day to spend it indoors. 

I have got to get better at posting things as they happen!   I recently went to one of our villages with the name of Port Lions.  Port Lions is a beautiful village fairly close to Kodiak...About a 10 minute plane ride or an hour by ferry.  It's the only one of the villages that the ferry will stop at.  At any rate, it was a bright sunny beautiful day so I went for a walk.   Port Lions has a rather long causeway across one of its bays and when the tide is out it is all mud flats. As I was walking towards the causeway I noticed a resident Eagle just hanging out.  He didn't hang out long on the causeway- I'm guessing he doesn't like company.  At any rate he managed to land in the water a few feet away which was lucky for me and my camera as I was able to get quite a good shot if I do say so myself.. And I do:)

 

 

 

 

Admiring his fine self!

Darn picture takers!

At first he appeared to be admiring himself but I really like the one where he realizes it's time for his photo shoot.  I would say that I am a good shot with a camera but that would be a lie.  It's very easy here to come up with some amazing shots and when you do you still realize that it just does not do justice to the natural beauty that exists!

I walked on and to the end of the causeway and took a few more shots that I'll share on here.  Not quite sure why I like the life ring one but I think it's because it's typical for Kodiak.  It's a town and villages that use the sea for everything.  It comforts, enlivens and sustains the island all at the same time but it doesn't come without it's dangers.  The life ring is a reminder that this natural beauty does come with a price.  Sound a little melodramatic I know, but then I'm just in that kind of mood.

I was traveling with a fellow employee and friend of mine Mary Swanson.  She recently had surgery on her foot and was unable to stay at the school.  When traveling we usually blow up and air mattress and then just camp out at the school.  I stayed at the school and Mary had a secure place and Kathy and Ivan Lukin's bed and breakfast. 

Taking Mary to the bed and breakfast with the school van, I was invited to view Ivan's first attempt at sculpture.  What a sculpture it is!  I'll be surprised if it doesn't end up in a museum.  This man is talented!   He had carved and Aleut hunter complete with Baidarka(canoe). He paid close attention to detail.  He even carved the ears and fingernails!   Ivan showed us the canoe and proceeded to tell us the story line he had come up with to go along with the carving.  It was fascinating and such a honor to be able to listen and talk to him.  He even let us touch it! What a thrill! 

Even the teeth were carved

He explained that he had chosen a look of surprise on the hunters face as he figured that prey sometimes would come up a little closer than the Aleut would expect. 

Petroglyphs representing family

He then explained petroglyphs (which are found at ancient dig sites and on rocks, cliffs etc all over the island) on the prow of the boat were a way to remind the hunter of his family and how he needed to provide for them and come back safely to them.  They also might give the warrior a lifeline when the seas where rough and fear was high.

Ivan explaining his work

Every symbol had a meaning and every tattoo a reason.  I was very glad to have gotten the opportunity to meet Ivan and view his creation!

Beached Boat at Port Lions.

The other two days I was there were just as beautiful as the first.  I walked around the village and took some random pictures.  One of a boat that was beached and dried out in the sun.  I wonder what stories it had to tell.....

Long Time

Reindeer walking in Fur Rondy Parade

Wow it's been a long time since I have posted!  A lot has happened in that time.  I had back surgery to take the pain off my leg and haven't really been mobile until recently.  So I haven't been able to do as much.  I did manage to go to ASTE - Alaska Society for Technology in Education.  Lot of great information was gathered and I feel refreshed and ready to take on new projects!

While we were in Anchorage, Fur Rondy was going on!   Fur Rondy is the two week celebration before the Iditarod.  We didn't get to see much of it as we were in conferences for most of the day but we did glimpse part of the parade from our hotel window.

Ice "Tea Cups"

Climbable train for kids

We also were able to walk by where the ice sculptures are displayed.  They had an interactive ice "playground" for the kids.  So fun! 

Alaska Aces Game

After attending the technology conferences where I learned a TON we were able to catch an Aces game.  Really good seats - four back from the ice!  The game was great.  We lost but it went into overtime and eventually ended with a shoot out.  I'm not much one for hockey but I have to say that seating arrangements definitely make a difference!  I'm sure my friends were tired of me asking "why..." though.   One of the funniest moments was when the announcer stated that the opposing team was coming on strong and the ENTIRE audience chanted..."and they stilllll suck" .  It was too cute.  During halftime (or whatever it's called) they threw out Girl Scout cookies to the audience.  We managed to catch some lemon ones and share with the entire two rows.  One thing about Alaska. Noboby is ever a stranger very long! 
It was a great trip!  I learned lots and I was able to have some Alaskan experiences that I hadn't had before!

Christmas and beyond

It's been a while since I posted.  I lifted inappropriately this summer and managed to bulge a disk.  During Christmas break I had a discetomy which has improved my mobility and pain considerably!

I ended up taking an additional two weeks off but Kodiak was ready for me to come back.  My friend Mary picked me up from the airport and as we were driving back the moon hung so low and full, it appeared we could touch it.  Mary and I both like photos so needless to say a 15 minute drive ended up taking more than 45 minutes. 
 

Moon over Pillar mountain as seen from the road

Here are some pictures of the Moon welcoming me back:)

 

 

 

 

 

Kodiak by moonlight

Unfortunately for me the moon wasn't the only thing welcoming me back!  Lots and lots of snow had fallen which is unusual for Kodiak.  It was about 16 inches on the ground.  Came up to the knees!  Not crazy about snow when I have to drive in it but I do enjoy it's beauty:)

 

This is the view from the floor looking out my back sliding door.  I couldn't open my door!

You can see that I don't go out that back door often.  No snow disturbed.  I was glad of that snow when I had no running water.  I went out and filled pots and pans with the snow.  I can rough it but why bother when you have snow that you can melt to flush your toilet.  Water was only out for a day thank goodness! 

Proof of the 16 inches of snow.  The thing about Kodiak is that snow doesn't hang out long.  It generally rains after it snows and that leads to.....ICE.  Ugh.. Up here people drive with studded tires and ice cleats for your feet are a MUST!


At any rate, the snow isn't horribly inconvenient.  When it snows here you drive. You go to work.  There is no such thing as a snow day in Kodiak!