Into The Wild! Alaska Adventures with Jim & Sue.

We just spent a couple of marvelous days with Don & Vanessa

at their wilderness cabin near North Pole.

We traveled down rivers and up the creek to the cabin

which gives 'in the boondocks' and entirely new meaning!

Don is a Master-boater!

You should see him zoom around dead falls and sandbars, going full speed...

doesn't ever break a sweat.

It's combination Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Disney's Jungle cruise!

The cabin is about 45 minute by boat...at 20+ miles an hour...and he's done this run, oh, maybe a thousand times! Every bit of his cabin...furniture, nails, roof, wood...everything...has been ferried by boat.It's isolated, quiet, surrounded by trees, blueberries and mushrooms...and moose.

During hunting season he just sits on his front porch, toddy in hand, gun at the ready, and waits for a prime bull to wander by. Those bulls have wandered too close every year and Don's freezer is stuffed with moose sausage, moose roasts, moose burgers...I snagged some sausage!
His river boat sits right at the foot of the cabin. How's this for a front yard view?

The decor is strictly wild Alaska...Moose skulls, complete with teeth! We spent a great first day with Don & Vanessa serving us a gourmet salmon dinner. They forced me to drink too much wine but that is a tale for another time!

The next day, on our way back to civilization,

we stopped to pick more wild blueberries and fish for grayling.Of course Don showed us how it was done.So I did it too.Then we had a moose sausage sandwich break...
And he caught another.

I stopped taking his picture after grayling number 5....
The show-off!
This is Jim's perplexed look...no fish for him!

Denali Adventure

Denali National Park is a treasure and a must-see on every one's "bucket list".

They are very protective of the animals and the environment and to that end private cars can not travel into the park past the visitor center and a few campgrounds.

To see the park scenery and wildlife you must purchase a bus pass...either the affordable shuttle which will stop for anyone, or the pricier tours which provide a box lunch and running commentary from their guide.

Well, being cheap, we went for the shuttle which does give you a lot of freedom to get off and on the buses.

Plus our driver was a 27 year veteran and was great at spotting animals, and she would stop and let us take pictures as long as we wanted.

We first spotted a lynx, but it was so far away that we had to call it the missing lynx.

Groan.

Next, a mountainside full of Dahl Sheep...also far away....but around the next corner....

We saw lots of bears but they were more camera shy than this wolf!He caught and ate a ground squirrel right by the bus. Two chews and down it went. As the guide said..."Just enough chewing so the toenails won't scratch on the way down."

Then he sauntered down the road...

The road seemed to be a favorite perch.

Here a cross fox patiently waits for lunch to pop out of a hole.
The best bear picture we got was this grizzly near the front entrance.
All traffic stops.

The only sound you hear is the clicking of cameras.

That bear stayed munching berries forever, until the traffic just had to move.

See how carefully the bus driver swerved around the bear to give him space?

If you ever get the chance DO DENALI!

More Clam Love from Janet & Les in Alaska...

I just got an email from Janet that I have to share to show you Peeps what a great time they are having in Alaska!

*************************

Hi Sue and Jim,

Thanks for stopping. We had a great time with you.

So sorry the halibuts were not cooperating. (Well, we DID get 8 or so but they were smallish)
Les and I are going out with a friend tomorrow who is going to dip net which only Alaskans can do. We will watch as he brings in red salmon. Fishing for reds has picked up.

Then we have a float trip scheduled with a friend and a couple of halibut trips with a park ranger before we head over to Seward for a few days.

Then, Les and I go ling cod fishing.

Now that you have clammed you know just how much fun that can be. After you guys left we have a wonderful minus tide and found big rocks out in the inlet with tons of blue shell mussels. Picked and cleaned them then steamed in beer and dipped in garlic butter. Fabulous.

I attached a pic for your enjoyment of my first clam back in May with his neck stuck out which of course reminded me of something else. They still crack me up when I dig a big one and he spits water at me and the neck extends.

Drive home safely and we will see you ???????? whenever.

Janet & Les

(these days he is looking more and more like his old
man so I think it is still him under that beard)

Ladies Who Lunch, from Patsy.

Several Sandpiper ladies carpooled to a surprise location for lunch--

Roosevelt at 7 restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised to see a menu full of delicious choices--

from appetizers, to salads and sandwiches, to dessert. We had a delightful lunch and great conversation. We noticed on the bulletin board that there is a "Beer Dinner" coming up on July 27--only $40.00 a person.
After lunch, we went across the street to the new Art Center.

Even though it is not fully occupied, we saw some outstanding and interesting art.
All in all, a great time was had by all! Heavy rain on the way home to Sandpipers!

Contest!

Do you know who this is?

Do you know what this is?

Leave a comment with your guess and first correct

answer wins a BBQ Rib dinner (for two)! at SPR during the season.

On the Road with Clint & Barbara

Clint & Barbara Summering in Colorado & Skinny Dip At Mountain Air Ranch

Clint & Barbara (212) are spending the summer in Gunnison, Colorado as they have for the last several years.
They visited Mountain Air Ranch at Indian Hills Colorado for the World Record Skinny Dip Event and participated
in the Club’s 75th Anniversary celebration the following day.

Both days of the celebration weekend were attended
by a large percentage of the MAR members

and a few visitors such as Clint, Barbara and Deacon.

Barbara was finally able to shed the neck brace she had to wear all winter and spring in mid-May.

Fishing has been good, albeit a bit windy and cool at 10,000 ft elevation.

Clams, A Love Story.

We stayed at a great campground just 10 miles north of Ninilchik called Scenic View.

Wonderful views, the very best people and clamming lessons! Can't beat it!They rented us equipment for a nominal fee and off we went...

Our first Razor Clam! Small, but tasty!We dug about 60 clams, then went to work!

Cleaning is the tedious part!

We got a lesson... then we were turned loose!2 1/2 hours later it was time to cook!
Fried clams! The freshest, clammiest, tenderest, most delicious in the universe!

Bloody Mary was good, too.Yum!

A Tale of Buts..Halibuts that is!

On our way to Don & Vanessa for a day of Halibut fishing we almost, literally, ran into 3 moose!This isn't their boat but it shows how boats are launched in this high tide/low tide area.

You are dragged into the sea and thrust backwards by the big tractor.

Kinda thrilling in a gut wrenching way!It was much rougher than we thought it would be. Never made it to the desirable 12 mile hole. Had to turn back to the 7 mile hole to try our luck.

Jim caught the first Halibut. His dismayed look is 'cause it is a baby and we threw it back. In hind site, not a good move, as just about all we caught were in this range.

I caught the first "Keeper"...a 10 pound Halibut.Melinda caught the first of the 3... THREE... Sand Sharks. Jim caught a really big one and I caught one too. Don and his fishing buddy Bob were surprised. They had never even caught one in this area after years of fishing here.All in all not a bad haul!
And the best part...Don, Vanessa and their friends cleaned and bagged them for us!

Halibut...Are you looking at me?
And Pacific, or Grey Cod. All head, but yummy!
And, of course, Don cooked all to perfection!

Fabulous Day!

And Jim, look, I didn't even publish the pictures of you "chumming" over the side of the boat, 'cause I'm sensitive that way.