Fairbanks, Alaska 9/4/05

Fairbanks, AK 9/4/05

It’s Sunday morning and so far this weekend has been pretty much the same as if I was sitting in West Palm. Friday was a quiet night in preparation for a long run on Saturday morning. Of course this time of year the weather is much better for running in Fairbanks so I didn’t have to get up at 5 a.m to beat the heat. Instead I started my 14 mile run at about 1:30 p.m. when the outside air temp was a perfect 58 degrees.

I spent the morning basically preparing for the run. I hopped a shuttle from the hotel to a placed called “Fred Meyers”.
“It’s an Alaskan version of Wal-Mart.” the girl at the front desk explained and probably my best, and easiest, chance to buy a new running watch. She was right.

On the way back, armed with tourist maps of the area, I got running recommendations from my bus driver. As usual my local tipster’s sense of distance was way off and what he thought would be about 7 miles out from the hotel turned out to be more like 4. I wonder why this always happens. I used to do the same thing in West Palm Beach. What I thought was pretty far in town when you actually measure the distance is often half of what you thought it was.

The miscalculation was no worries yesterday and I just kept running past my estimated stopping point until I had reached a more realistic turn around spot. Well it was no worries except for not finding a place to buy a drink until mile 9. It was a good run and wow was I thirsty!

Fairbanks is a pretty non-descript city. No great scenery to speak of and those mountains in every direction that I talked about in other Alaskan entries are now gone. The leaves here are in full change though so pretty fall colors will have to make up for what the rolling hills leave out.

In typical weekend style I had planned to hit the town on Saturday night in celebration of my Sunday “free day” from marathon training. However after a couple Fairbanks’s Lagers with my salmon dinner at the hotel bar I lost my motivation. The staff had not made any good suggestions on where to go and the thought of getting up early the next day to explore the town before my afternoon flight sounded appealing. So off to bed I went at 9 p.m. with lights out by 10:30 p.m. after watching Forrest Gump on TNT. I finally had to turn the TV off because I kept getting choked up. What can I say? When he sees little Forrest or when Lt. Dan shows up at his wedding….I’m a sap I know.

I had a quick workout this morning, mostly just stretching and then I hopped on the shuttle again. I was the only passenger this morning; not many folks left at the hotel. It’s the last day of the tour and most of the seniors that I have been traveling with for the last 2 weeks have flown out already. My shuttle bus driver, Todd, dropped me off in sleepy downtown Fairbanks which is even sleepier on a Sunday morning.

I felt like Lt. John Dunbar when I got off and bus driver Todd said, “I’ll tell the next driver you’re down here so he’ll look for you around 2:30 p.m.”

I sure hope Todd isn’t attacked and killed by Eskimos on the way back or I’ll be stranded in downtown Fairbanks!

I walked around for about an hour. Nothing was open but I didn’t mind. It was kind of fun just wandering the streets with no one around. I thought, well now when I see “The Coldest Place in the US Today” on the Weather Channel or Today Show and that place is Fairbanks Alaska, like it always seems to be, I’ll be able to picture the exact place.

It’s Sunday morning though which according to my usual weekend routine means a huge mocha and a journal entry. So here I sit at “McCafferty’s A Coffee House” opening at 10 a.m. on Sundays. It’s a good coffee shop. I would have liked comfy couches and chairs instead of the rigid tables and chairs that I found but the menu and the advertisements for live music at night made up for it. I ordered “the mondo”; the largest mocha they make and as it was being prepared I read the menu closer and realized that the mondo drinks contain 4 shots of espresso. 4 shots! Wow! So much for sleeping on my upcoming all night flight from Anchorage to Atlanta!


The Mondo is fantastic too by the way; in a huge mug, another point I like in good coffee shops. Save a cup and save a tree.

Let’s see, my last day in Alaska (on this trip) and enough caffeine in my system to write War & Peace, what should I write about? After a quick glance through some past entries from this trip I note that I have not documented the rest of my time at Cooper Landing; another great day and a high light of my trip. I definitely need to document that day.

I ended my Cooper Landing entry by saying I was going inside to have some beers and make some friends. Hard to imagine but I did just that. I went to the front desk first and there I met Cathy. I asked her about hiking trails in the area and she said tours were handled over at the Outfitters Desk.
“Actually Cathy I’m not looking for a tour. I just need you to point me in the direction of a good trail.”
She looked me over quickly, glanced around to see if anyone else was around, like she was going to break a rule, and said “You do look more competent than most of our guests. Let me see if I can find that trail map we used to have around here.”

She recommended a trail to Juneau Falls but when I asked about elevation she directed me to a trail called Slaughter Ridge. “Now that is definitely bear territory with lots of berries. Are you going alone?” she asked.
“Yep, but trust me I’ll stay away from them if they stay away from me.”
“OK, just remember to keep talking out loud and check in here at the front desk before you go so someone knows you’re out there.”


With the tone of a happy but worried mother that knows there is no stopping me (yes I’m very familiar with that tone) Cathy wished me luck on my next day adventure. Armed with my hand drawn, photo copied map, and excited for my morning trek I bellied up to the bar located one room over from the lobby.

I had just completed a great run though rolling hills that I had never set foot on. The sun was getting lower on the horizon. I had just had a great conversation with a local and now had plans for a great hike in the morning. Next door I found Summer Ale on tap served in a frosty pint glass. Sitting at the bar I was very content, very comfortable. If living generates energy it would be safe to say that I was glowing.

It was just me, a bartender, and a couple waitresses at first. I sipped my beer and put off ordering dinner. There was no need to rush. I watched more coverage on TV of the devastation that Hurricane Katrina has reaped on Louisiana. I hope Troy, my college roommate who now lives in New Orleans, is OK. Somehow I know he is but that could just be the ignorance of a charmed man that always seems to have things work out for him. I’ll get more into Katrina later on because it has definitely been part of this trip even though its thousands of miles away.

Slowly a couple more people joined me at the bar; guys by themselves grabbing a beer and a bite after work. The bartender greeted both by name. Like I said I was feeling very comfortable, a condition that I’m sure was communicated all around me through a collection of non-verbal cues. Why else would I soon be in a conversation with two fishing guides and a bartender about how busy Cooper Landing was getting “these days”.

Gary the fishing guide/biker said he was about done with it. “I gotta move North.” He said as he tugged on his Budweiser and looked at me like I could relate to what he was saying.

Part of my mind chuckled. “Dude, you live in ALASKA! You are about as North as you can go. You’re running out of options.” I didn’t say this though. I just sighed and smiled.

With the ice now broken Laura the bartender started asking me questions. Much like in Skagway and many other times on this trip my presences was an anomaly to the weathered seasoned staff. She saw the map that Cathy had provided me sitting on the bar with the handwritten title Juneau Falls on the back.
“Are you going to hike out to Juneau Falls?’ She asked.
“Nope I’m going to do Slaughter Ridge in the morning.”
"Oh, I've wanted to do that one all summer.”
And our conversation was off and running.

The conversation with Laura was one of those that flowed so quickly into surprising realizations that in about 15 minutes we seemed like good friends. Her husband is a fishing guide and they have lived all over including the Florida Keys. This common ground helped but when she told me that they were going to New Zealand after the season ended the conversation seemed to change from just a local giving a nice tourist some advice to a conversation of mutual entertainment.

I said, “I just got back from New Zealand about 5 months ago.” Laura was blown away.
“What are you doing here?! Are you really staying here at this lodge?!”
I just laughed and said, “I like to wander.”

Laura now started asking me for advice on New Zealand. “Where did you go? How long were you there? Is it easy to get around?” Etc. and of course “What was the best thing you did while you were there?”; my favorite question. OK, you asked for it. Here I go again….

I told her about bungy jumps, hikes, rafting, the Mauri, and probably the best part, canyoning! She was not familiar with canyoning so I did my best to explain it. Laura said she was adventures but quickly put canyoning into the same category as bungy jumping, “No Way!”

“You know who you should meet is Annie.” she said, “She loves that kind of stuff.” And so bartender Annie, working a waitress shift that day, was called into the conversation.

My fun evening at the Keni Princess Lodge bar continued until about 10:30 p.m. I had some buffalo wings for dinner; not a very Alaskan meal I know but one of the guides next to me ordered some and much like a yawn mysteriously spreads across a room so does chicken wing orders. It always starts the same way. First I remark “Boy those smell good.” Then I look at the menu but I don’t actually read anything. All I’m thinking (in a drooling Homer Simpson voice) is “mmmm, chicken wings.” I wonder if Pavlov did any research on this.

I continued talking with Laura and Annie about traveling, working in Alaska, and good stories from the season, aka: who got fired along the way and why. Most importantly we talked about hiking in the area. Annie and Laura started talking about trails they knew about but had not taken that summer and with the end of the season quickly approaching time was running out.

Laura planted an idea in our heads and it quickly grew. The next day we should all go hiking. Annie was getting off at 3:30 p.m. We would meet at 4 p.m. and head out for either Juneau Falls or some other ridge whose name constantly escaped me.

That night when I finally went back to my HUGE room on the hill, above the lodge, I remember I was very excited about Alaska. God I love traveling! My day pack was already stocked for the next day; trail mix, granola bars, a couple oranges, camera, rain coat, bug spray, Swiss army knife, first aid kit, etc. I put my water bottles out on the deck to chill overnight and laid out my clothes for the next day.

There are nights in WPB When I don’t want to fall asleep. Busy days turn quickly into busy nights and I know the next day is just going to be the same thing. Sometimes I’ll be completely exhausted but will fight to keep my eyes open so I can watch just 30 minutes of TV or read a few more pages of a book. I’m not fighting to continue the moment I am having. I am fighting to keep the next day from starting already. I sleep so soundly, so deeply that when the alarm goes off the next morning, usually before sunrise, it feels like no time has passed since I went to bed.

When I ‘m traveling I rarely feel like this. Instead I go to bed and I can’t wait for the next day to get here. I hope that my time sleeping is instantaneous. When the alarm goes off I jump out of bed ready to start the day’s adventure. There is no laying there fighting for more sleep. That night at Cooper Landing is a perfect example and the next morning I instantly jumped out of bed as wide awake as a kid on Christmas morning.

I hit the little coffee stand in the lodge before I set out for Slaughter Ridge. It was a muffin, banana, and large OJ morning. I sat down in the lodge sitting room and was flipping though some coffee table books while I enjoyed my quick breakfast when my bus driver from the day before, Mike, sat down next to me.

He was also heading out for a hike; probably Juneau Falls but he wasn’t sure. He said he would love to do Slaughter Ridge but he told a couple of the “old guys” (his words not mine) that he would take them out today. However he was supposed to meet them at the lodge at 8 a.m. and it was now 8:05. If they didn’t show he asked if he could come along with me. “You really shouldn't go alone anyway you know. There are bears all over the place.” He rationalized.

Mike, I’m always up for company but not having it will never hold me back. I told him of course he could come along and 10 minutes later, after ducking out the backdoor in case his original hiking dates were walking up the front, we started out for Slaughter Ridge.

Mike is probably in his mid-40’s; about 5’8” and carrying a few extra pounds but carries himself like he used to be in shape and if it wasn’t for the hard living he thinks he could get there again. He has a smoker’s rasp, a light east coast accent, and scraggly reddish hair that hangs about shoulder level and matches a scraggly mustache of the same color. If Danny Bonaduce has a cousin and it isn't bus driver Mike I would be surprised.

He had never hiked this trail either and was breathing heavy before we even got to the trail head but it didn’t stop him from trying to come across as the hiking expert and guide on this little adventure. It didn’t bother me any. I actually found it entertaining.

We talked about his kids, ex-wife, hot young girls at the lodge, his days in the Air Force, and a lot about his days in the various Hasher Clubs. “Mat you have to do a Red Dress run! They are a blast! Do you know how they started?’ and then I got the history of how a local drinking run turned into the first Red Dress Run.

This story lasted right up to the point that we lost the trail. Well let me be clearer. It lasted up to the point that we realized/admitted we had lost the trail. One of those “I think it goes this way. This looks kind of like a trail over here.” And after about a dozen of those you are so far into the thick woods that the direction with the least amount of limbs becomes the obvious trail.

We are soon bush whacking our way up a steep incline in thick, wet, vegetation and layers of rotting limbs under our feet. Mike has given up his lead duties and is starting to fall back. He probably wanted to turn back but pride was pushing him. I kept saying ‘I think it gets better just ahead at that big pine.” Three pines later Mike calls it quits.

The “trail” we had just come up sucked. We were soaking wet from the waist down, scratched from the waist up and while the view was kind of pretty we were far from the top of the ridge. The thought of going back was disappointing to me and the thought of going back the way we came was ridiculous to me. I suggested it looked a little clearer to our right; maybe we could at least get a good picture before heading down and either way it couldn’t be any worse going down over there. Mike agreed and we started to move horizontally on the side of the ridge.

No more than 20 yards over we hit the little clearing in the trees I had noted for a picture spot and 5 feet beyond that we found a nice worn trail running vertical. I laughed out loud.

I think Mike still would have been happy heading back down but now with a clear and obvious trail leading up there was no way I was going back without reaching the top. Mike probably knew this without even asking so onward and upward we hiked.

I soon left Mike in the distance and would yell back down to him once and a while. Eventually I reached the top of the ridge and kicked back to enjoy the view of the Keni River running below. I was halfway through my orange when Mike reached the top. He rested awhile with me. We took some photos as the fog rolled in and as it started to sprinkle we headed back down.

We made it back to the lodge about 1:30 p.m. I grabbed some lunch and then went back to my room and built a fire in the wood burning stove in an attempt to dry out my hiking pants. I still had an afternoon of hiking to go! Woohew!

The four o’clock meeting time got there in a hurry. My pants were mostly dry and the berry stains were starting to bleed together. No worries to me. Stains on hiking pants are better than any souvenir you can buy.

When I got to the lodge Annie was just getting done with her shift. Mike was in there working on a crossword puzzle so I sat and waited with him. He was heading to Juneau Falls with another guest. I respected that. That morning was probably quite the work out for him. If he can stay off the cigs he my have a lot more climbs, hikes, and better yet, many more Red Dress Runs in him.

Annie joined us and grabbed a quick bite to eat. Unfortunately Laura was busy and couldn’t join us for lunch or the hike. “We'll meet up with her after the hike for some beers at this local bar if that’s OK with you." Annie asked.
“Sounds perfect to me!” I said. Oh how I love meeting new people on the road.

As Annie and I headed out to Resurrection Trail and eventually Juneau Falls I kind of realized this might be a little strange for her. I was literally a guy she had spoken to for about 20 minutes total in-between servicing her tables the night before. Heading out with one of her friends and me was one thing but now without Laura it was just us. Now she was letting a stranger into her car and then heading into the woods with him. Plus she had to be a little curious still as to what a guy like me was doing here alone anyway.

When we got into her car I thought it best to acknowledge these obvious facts. “So I know this might be a little weird for you I just want you to know that I’m really a nice guy, you have nothing to worry about, and I really appreciate you taking me out.” I assured her.

She laughed. “Ya a few people at work thought I was nuts and told me to be careful. I do think you are nice but trust me I can take care of myself if you are not.”
I said “Well in that case maybe I should tell someone where I’m going. Maybe I’m the one being naive here.” The ice was broken. Now it was just time to hike.

Annie is in her early 20’s. A recent college grad working up here for the season before heading back to Oregon and starting her job search. We talked about music, family, traveling, how we grew up , and what it’s like to live in Alaska for the Summer in a shack with no running water. You can cover a lot of topics when you have 2-3 hours of gradual up hill hiking to do and lets not forget our Alaskan bear rule; keep talking.

The Resurrection Trail was a nice hike. A well traveled path but we didn’t see anyone else. Where the trail ends I don’t know. I think it loops back around and would eventually come out close to the lodge. We stopped at our destination, Juneau Falls; an impressive water fall that I think has some title like the second highest fall in Alaska or something like that but I’m not sure. Jumping off of it was not an option so I had to be content with the view, which I was.

On the hike back the sun was setting fast as we got close to where we parked the car. The sky glowed orange and red through the trees. It was beautiful. It was trying to rain but I couldn't see a rain cloud anywhere. The result was just a beautiful rainbow on the side of a ridge with a backdrop of beautiful fall trees as the sun got lower and lower with every second.

I probably shot a dozen pictures trying to capture the scene. I have not looked at them yet but I already know they won't do it justice. Maybe it was my state of mind but it was one of the best sunsets I have ever seen. I hope I never forget it.
By the time Annie and I got to Gwin's to meet Laura, Laura’s husband, and a friend it was dark. It was not a crazy night at the bar. It didn’t have to be. A few Summer Ales, some fish, and best of all, new friends who I hope I cross paths with again.

Well, I think this long recap is fitting for such a big State. I could go probably go on more but I’m out of time. Not only is my Mondo Mocha all gone but I’m now at the Fairbanks Airport. I think Willard (small airport near my hometown in Illinois) is bigger. My hope of buying a new book here does not look like a possibility. There’s no book store. Hell there is no store period. Maybe my quick lay over in Anchorage will prove more fruitful.

As my time in Alaska runs out I need to wrap up this entry. I usually like to wrap up big trips with a deep, personally insightful entry with a great ending…..but this will not be the end of my Alaskan adventures so I’ll let myself off the hook this time.

MJF

Denali Alaska, 9/2/05

Denali, AK 9/2/05

I’m not sure what to write; not a block on ideas but rather an abundance of them. I have too many thoughts and events to write about I don’t know where to start and I only have about 30 minutes before my shuttle for the train station picks me up. After that it’s on to Fairbanks by rail.

The last 4 days have been the best of the trip and will leave me very excited about Alaska when I head back to WPB in 2 days. Hell the high I’m on right now will probably last me a month.

This morning I checked out of my room at about 8 a.m... I hit a great local coffee shop across the street from the large corporate lodge that I was staying. After a fantastic mocha and egg sandwich from the Black Bear coffee shop I walked next door to Denali’s Outfitters.

I had been in the store the night before but the sales person told me they started their end of the season sale today; if I waited 12 hours I could save 20% on everything. Well I love a good camping store, complete with a dog lying by the door, so coming back was not a problem. Plus my Grandma Lucille would be so proud of me for finding a sale even though I was only technically looking for a pair of long socks.

So this morning in the true sprit of my late Grandmother I also bought a new pair of hiking pants and a Patagonia fleece, oh and the socks I needed too. I don’t think of my extras as impulse buys though. I had wanted/needed both for awhile and I even went hunting for both items in WPB before leaving but we don’t have any good camping stores around me. Sadly all we have in my home area is the camping section at the Sports Authority and I’m sure dogs aren’t allowed in the store. Anyway, there is no need to justify these purchases to myself. I am on vacation and both items will be used for many years to come on many more adventures. And now I am done justifying.

Now any day that starts off at a unique local coffee shop and then is followed by shopping at a great camping store usually is enough of a base for a good day no matter what happens the rest of the day but that alone would not fill me with the high I have right now. It’s merely a good start. So 20 minutes after buying my new socks and fleece I had them both on and I was heading into the Denali National Park (I’m saving the clean pants for when I'm done with my great day)

The shuttle dropped me off at one of the parks visitor centers. I was pretty familiar with the area after I went for a run through this section of the park yesterday. That run included the Taiga Trail and Horse Shoe Lake Trail; great run by the way, part of that amazing 4 days I mentioned at the start of this entry. So from the trail guide that I picked up on that run I knew exactly which way I wanted to go today; The Mount Healy Overlook Trail. It’s described as a 4.5 mile roundtrip hike with an elevation increase of 1,700 feet to the overlook. Sold!

It’s a sunny day, not a cloud in the sky; chilly now and down right cold this morning. There was heavy frost on everything when I ventured to the Black Bear coffee shop and Denali Outfitters. When I hit the general store to load up my day pack with water and snacks for the hike the owner pointed out his thermometer outside read 22 degrees.

“Oh good, I’m from Florida and I just thought I was being a baby.” I said.
“Oh no, it’s cold even for us locals.”

Of course the winters get much colder here as we both knew but the first day when Fall switches from being the end of Summer and starts being the beginning of Winter, well that hits you as a wake up call no mater where you live.

I started my accent like I start marathons. The mind saying "pace yourself" and also thinking I was when in reality the adrenalin is pumping and so are the legs. The Sun was bright on my back without much tree cover which helped heat things up too and soon I had a good sweat going.

About 20 minuets into the hike I passed a man and woman heading up too. Based on the looks on their faces I realized I was probably going a little fast. Here it was a beautiful quiet morning, out for a nice hike, and out of nowhere comes a guy sweating and huffing that blows by you and is up and out of site while the "excuse me" and "good morning" that he said was still floating in the air. I hope my excitement doesn’t make me a rude hiker.

At the first clearing I stripped off a layer of clothes, hit the water bottle, checked out the view, and smiled. You could clearly see the overlook above and I giggled to myself. I still had a long way to go and the trail must wrap around the side because soon it will be to steep to go straight up.

I passed the tree line and now wanted to stop for photos at every cutback of the steep winding trail. I know the photos are always better the longer you wait but I couldn't resist at some points. Thank God for digital cameras! Close to the top I passed a German couple doing the exact same things I was; stopping for photos too soon.

When I got to the overlook I was very excited for two reasons.
1) The view was great!
2) The overlook was only the end of the ridge that ran farther North. I had more tail to go and even better, higher points to reach!

After a few solo timer photos with my camera balanced on rocks the chilly wind and freezing sweat reminded me that I was in Alaska no matter how sunny it was. The fleece layer went back on and the gloves and ear band layer were added too. Oh and in case Jillian ever reads this I also put sun block on too! I’m always preaching to her to put on sun block…to not much success mind you.)

The German couple reached the overlook after I bundled up. We chatted for awhile, helped each other with some photos, and then I took off down the ridgeline. They were the last group of hikers I would see until I passed the over look on the way down a few hours later.

The ridge went to the North like a bumpy back with a slight but steady incline with larger humps every hundred yards or so. Each dip after a hump left you higher than the previous and soon the overlook that was my original destination was noticeably below me.

Time was going slow and I was moving fast but I didn’t know that. My watch had gone berserk that morning. In fact I was actually in Denali Outfitters when it died because I noticed it when I reached the register. If they would not have been sold out I would have added a new watch to my list of purchases but I digress….I was talking about time.

Hiking a long ridge, at about 3,000 feet above sea level, on a gorgeous day in the Denali National Park….time should not be a factor. Unfortunately for me it was. My bus was leaving at 3:15 p.m. and my train at 4 p.m.. This damn tour holds me back again!!

The Ridge was pretty wide when I left the overlook but as I went along it became more and more narrow and the angle of the sides became increasingly steep; nothing to make you nervous but it was noticeable. Eventually the ridge stopped at a rocky peak and then the line took a sharp turn West with a much steeper incline and much more narrow ridge to follow.

The trail that I had been following had gotten more and more subtle as I got higher for obvious reason; you don’t need a trail when you are at the top and there are only rocks around. From where the trail turned west there was only one more “hump”; a very steep rocky formation. Crossing it looked challenging. I could see that after that it was a clear shot to the snow dusted summit of what must be Mt. Healy.

I wanted to continue but I didn’t. Doing it alone was probably not a good idea. Doing it alone and in a rush was a very bad idea. In case my hiking buddy MJ ever reads this I was wishing you were with me. In case my other hiking buddy Dave ever reads this you wouldn’t have liked the height. So I stopped my hike there.

There was some slight remnants of snow on the shadowed side of the rocks. I climbed to the top of the rocky peak and stood in the chilly wind looking at the little line of shops in Denali below. The white and gray peak of the low mountain stood behind me. The overlook that went from my end point to my half way point was below me to the right. I smiled and took in several deep breaths. My camera was in my pocket but I left it there and instead just burned the memory into my brain.

Moments like that were why I had wanted to come to Alaska. I “sounded my barbaric yawp” and the sound of my voice and slight echo woke me up; back to reality, a reality that isn’t a bad thing when you are standing all alone on a rocky peak in Alaska.

On the North side of the peak is a weird grassy area. It’s out of the wind but still in the sun which might explain the vegetation since all other vegetation had stopped at least 100 yards back down the ridge.

I took a seat and dug into my snacks; Fig Newtons and some cold water. Yum! I had plans to drag this little book out and document the moment but as I sat there in a euphoric state snacking and staring at the scenery I knew it was to chilly to write for very long and again the unknown time factor crept into my mind. There was probably no time to write even if I could so this book and pen stayed in my backpack.

My descent went quickly and the sweat I had lost while sitting at the top came back quickly too. I shed a layer soon after passing the overlook and again when I reached the bottom. I made it down just in time to catch the shuttle back to the lodge. It was only about 2.5 miles to the lodge but my legs had been through their workout for the day. I could use the ride back and not feel lazy.

When I got back the time mystery was solved; It was 2 p.m. One hour until my departure and I was starving! Very hungry but still giddy because I new exactly where I wanted to go.

After leaving Denali Outfitters this morning I noticed something I didn’t see the night before, a colorfully painted trailer between the Outfitters and the general store. The trailer was called Mosey’s…”New Mexican Food” and on their handwritten menu board, about mid way down, nailed outside the trailer... “Burritos”!

A great coffee shop, a great camping store with a dog, a beautiful hike that included a view, and now a unique burrito shack! “That was a pretty good day! Why couldn’t I have that day to live over and over again?”

Mosey’s was run by a couple from Utah that normally were rafting guides; Grand Canyon, Utah, Alaska, Etc. This summer they told me they decided to haul their little kitchen on wheels up and sell tacos and burritos. Of course they still made time for some rafting. Like most things around here they were about to pack things up for the season but were planning to leave there trailer up there so they could open up next spring for another successful season. They have my vote. It was a damn good burrito! I would have liked for it to be a little bigger but I’m not complaining.

Well now I’m on board the Midnight Sun Express. It’s a 4 hour train ride to Fairbanks and I’m looking forward to just staring out the window the whole time. I’m sure the view will be amazing but I’d be riding high even if it wasn’t.

MJF

Cooper Landing, Alaska 8/29/05

Cooper Landing, AK 8/29/05

I am off the boat!!! Ahhh, sweet release! I’m free! Well kinda, now I’m part of a damn bus tour but it just tells me where I’m going and where I’m staying. What I do there is up to me. Sure the boat was kind of like that too but somehow it feels different.

Right now I am staying at the Keni Princess Wilderness Lodge which sits towards the top of a giant hill. It’s not a large place and with the rooms spread out into 15 surrounding buildings it seems even quainter. The lodge has a beautiful deck that overlooks the Keni River a couple hundred feet below. Of course there are mountains in every direction I look. That should be understood from now on in all Alaska entries unless otherwise noted. The mountains are everywhere! I love it!

I know most people appreciate the natural beauty of a good mountain. I see that too but my first thought when I look at a mountain is “I wonder if you could climb it?!” Or to be more specific, “Could I climb it?”

No exaggeration, I think it every time. What would it be like to climb it? How long would it take? How steep is it really once you get up there? Would you need special gear; ropes, crampons, pitons, or just some good boots? I’ll also admit that I’m probably a bit naive too because with the exception of the really steep rocky, snowy, ones I think I could climb them all. Sure it would be hard, a good workout for sure, but I’m confident I could do it. I guess there is only one way to find out…Mental note: Make plans to climb a mountain!

The rest of the days on the boat were uneventful. The cruise through College Fjord was un-narrated, unlike Glacier Bay, so after awhile it was just another cool mountain after another. My running schedule, in preparation for the New York City Marathon in November, also called for a “long run” yesterday. The Runners World plan has 12 down but I have been consistently adding 2 to 4 miles to all the long runs that the plan calls for. If I was in WPB I would have been comfortable with at least a 16 miler but again the boat held me back. I did 12 miles around the deck of the ship and that was enough for me; 36 laps of constant “on your left”.

It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be when I started. Again the passing mountains surrounding the ship were a nice background. I spotted a pod of Killer Whales which provided a nice excuse to stop and stretch for a second also.

- A little pause to look at the scenery and take in some deep breaths of fresh air -

I’m torn between writing/sorting out some thoughts and getting a cold beer while making some friends…and the later is winning. Hey, I’m on vacation! Why can’t I put things off?!

First I will put to rest my grumblings about my first cruise ship experience. Basically it felt like a summer camp for retirees. On board I was pretty bored. The entertainment was horrible; live bands that I wouldn’t book for any reason, magicians doing tricks from the magic shop, comedians who’s only funny moments were when they were making fun of how much they were bombing and how dead the crowd was.

Even the food that everyone usually raves about on cruise ships was very standard. I’ve seen better buffets at school cafeterias. Plus they also nickel and dime you for everything. A can of Coke was $1.73. Good thing I don’t drink much soda.

I spent most nights sitting in the ship’s library. I’d read some; flip through the giant atlas and day dream about future trips, and write, which is probably very evident from the numerous and long entries I have to show for the last week.

I did hit karaoke night once. A night so pathetic it was funny then and probably will still be for years to come. I guess there was a karaoke competition that took place over 4 nights but once was enough for me. Now I’m all for bad, karaoke. I of course can’t sing but like to think I’m pretty good at karaoke or entertaining at least.

You pick a fun song that others can, and like to, sing along with. Then you get up there and cheese it up. For the record on my one night to “Jammers” for the nightly horror show I sang “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations.

It wasn’t one of my best showings but I blame it on the crowd. As I was saying, karaoke is supposed to be fun, crazy, screaming, yelling, fun booing. This ship was like a bad American Idol try out. One lady sang the National Anthem for crying out loud! Like an Opera singer! I was in a cruise ship disco bar with a 65 year old lady singing the National Anthem from a mirrored dance floor and everybody stood up and put their hand over their heart. I felt like I was in a Fletch movie.

The only compliment I will give them on karaoke night is that their song selection book was the best I have ever seen. They had options for some crazy shit. System of Down is the one that blew me away but there were several that made me chuckle. Of course this made selections like The Star Spangled Banner and anything by Celine Dion much worse because it ain’t like there wasn’t anything left to sing!

Formal night on the boat also cracked me up; literally a night for the kids to play dress up. Bad tuxedos and sequence dresses in every direction. That sounds pretty mean I know. So I’ll turn my criticism towards myself for a change. This is there environment not mine. I have been the intruder here. Who am I to come in and start passing judgment?

Well for all my whining in this journal my mind has not passed judgment. My complaint is that I spent a good chunk of change on an experience that I didn’t want just so I could get to a place that I wanted desperately to see. The cruise shippers are great people and I am no better than them; like line dancing, antique shopping, church, whatever…if that’s how you like to spend your time then have at it. It’s just not for me.

So will I go on another cruise? Probably yes. But it won’t be alone and adventure won’t be my goal, although I do hear good things about “barefoot cruises”. Sailing a boat and sleeping up on deck would be more my speed.

OK, time to go inside now and try to get the scoop on some good trails to hike that are not paved and the trees aren’t labeled, plus the bar inside looks inviting. Draft beer appears to be the standard in Alaska and I’ve found a “local” one I like; Alaska Summer Ale. It’s no Yuengling but it is close.

Now I’ll put my cruise ship complaints to rest and since I don’t see me filling up my Princess Cruise Passport ever I’ll put my official “stamp” right here in my journal!

MJF

“It is the fault of our rhetoric that we cannot strongly state one fact without seeming to belie some other.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Glacier Bay Alaska 8/27/05

Glacier Bay, AK 8/27/05

We are heading south out of the bay now, I think we just passed Blue Mouse Cove. The ship cruised up to the northern most point in the Bay, to the base of the Grand Pacific Glacier and, in my opinion the more impressive, Margerie Glacier.

I was one of the first out on the deck this morning to enjoy the view as we made our way up the bay; two layers of clothes on and a jacket, gloves, and my running headband covering my ears. I was still cold within 5 minutes but the view was so spectacular that the brain made the body stay out there for over 2 hours. After reaching the Margerie Glacier and seeing a huge sheet calve into the water I felt satisfied with the experience and got out of the way of the other spectators that had eventually packed in behind me on the front of the ship.

I just came in from round two of glacier watching. It has warmed up some now and the crowds have thinned, of course I mean that by numbers only. It is a cruise ship after all and food is one of the rare free things so I have a feeling no individuals will be getting thinner on this trip.

The ship is cruising closer to the shore now and people are around the railings scouring the coast line with binoculars fused to their faces hoping to see some “wild life fun”. I don’t have any binoculars but I also enjoy leaning against the railing and daydreaming as the scenery passes.

A lady next to me spotted some kayaks on the shore and with no animals around to occupy the other voyeurs they all turned their attention to the small boats and started verbally investigating where there occupants might be. Soon the paddlers were found on land and with the mystery solved the discussion around me now turned to “What are they doing out there?!”
“I think they are going to go hike on the Glacier! My lord they must be crazy!” a lady next to me muttered.
“You wouldn’t catch me in a boat that size in these waters that’s for sure!” Another retorted.

I just stood in silence wondering how I was on this side of the water and not the subject on the other end of their binoculars. All I could think was the people on the shore were really experiencing “it”. My fellow cruise shippers and I were just observing “it”. Oh well, next time I’ll do it right. It’s still better than sitting in WPB watching the Discovery Channel.

Yesterday was a good day for experiencing rather than just observing. We were in Skagway a little town of about 600 people. I was due for a good run so after getting some trail suggestions from Robyn, a crew member that works in the Spa who I met on the Juneau glacier trek, I set out for an 8 mile run not knowing exactly where that would take me or where I would end up.

It was another chilly gray day but no rain. I found the trail that Robyn had told me about but it only lasted about a mile and I soon found myself on a road. I was hoping the dirt and gravel trail that I started on would continue or at least pick back up again but it didn’t. The road turned out to be just as good though and with its nice wide shoulders the occasional tour busses that passed were not an issue. The road also made the hills easier to climb and since a day later I can still feel the workout from that run in my calves & shins that was probably a good thing.

The major highlight on the run was when 3 black bears crossed the road about 50 yards in front of me. I saw them from about 100 yards away but I couldn’t tell what they were. I was thinking they were dogs, which can usually be an interesting encounter when running in rural areas. I was slowly pondering what to do if they were dogs when I remembered I am in Alaska. Just as one part of my brain was thinking there are more dangerous animals here than farm house dogs another part had finally processed what exactly I was looking at and I stopped running right away.

The larger bear was standing in one of the lanes and looking around when the smaller 2 walked out of the forest, probably a mother and 2 cubs. They trotted across the road and down into the forest on the other side never really stopping to look at me.

I had been cautioned about crossing paths with bears in Alaska several times, especially mothers with cubs. Despite the HUGE thrill and wanting to see them a little closer I didn’t want to be the focus of a “Tourist Jogger Mauled By Bear” story. There was no one else around and I had to continue on that road to get to town so I just stood there for a long time before proceeding…and thinking the whole time “What a great run this is!!!”

I was still running high on my bear sighting as I started to approach Skagway again. It felt great to be running into town from the opposite direction of the boat and coming up on all the cruise ship tourists in their organized groups and busses. They all had this look on their face of “Where did you come from?” I passed a whole row of people on a “mountain bike tour” and yes they were riding at the time and no I am not a fast runner.

My run ended up covering a little over 9 miles with quick stops at Reid Falls and the Prospectors Cemetery. The legs were tired but the stomach was empty so I took a quick shower and then headed back into town. The cruise ship food might be free but I’m not that impressed with it.

Robyn had also recommended a place called the Haven Café. “It’s at the far end of town but they have great sandwiches and the crew likes to go there.” She said.
That sounded good to me and it turned out to be even more perfect than I could have imagined. It was a great sandwich shop/coffee house; a very “local” feeling. After eating my lunch I found an open couch and nestled in to read my new book for awhile.

Several hours and a double espresso later I decided it was time to see more of town. The legs had rested enough. God I love little places like the Haven; locals playing chess, random couches and chairs, used books and games on the shelves for you to peruse, a variety of flyers hanging in the window advertising things that only people in the neighborhood would understand or care about, and of course great music playing.

The music is usually CD’s owned by the eclectic staff that work there and their choice of music speaks for them since they could not possibly tell every customer their story. At the Haven Café, Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Fairytales album came on soon after I moved to the couch. I just smiled. Ahhh, what a great day I was having. I wanted to strike up a conversation with someone and tell them that I was going to see Jack Johnson in about 2 weeks in South Florida but then I knew my cover would be blown. They would know I was a cruise ship tourist!

After my success at the Juneau Public Library when I passed the Skagway Public Library I thought I d try my luck again at some free internet. Unlike Juneau though my fear here was not that they wouldn’t let me use the computer but rather they would not even have internet access. I mean the library was smaller than Philo’s and I’m sure the nearest town of any size was probably several mountains away. Like I’ve said many times though, the World guests smaller every day, not just in the random people you meet but in places like Skagway Alaska where in a tiny library one ring on a desktop bell gets you access to the World Wide Web and then everything is just a click away.

For example from the little Skagway Library I learned that my home in South Florida had just dodged another hurricane. Hurricane Katrina made landfall just South of Ft. Lauderdale; not a major threat to WPB in landfall or size. Notes from my friends basically said it was no big deal. Unfortunately I don’t think that is going to be the case for the gulf coast States as Katrina is heading towards them and looks to be gaining strength.

The boat was scheduled to leave Skagway at 8 p.m. That left me several more hours to pass even after having the great day that I had already had. I’m a coydog though and solo wandering is fine for awhile but eventually I need some social interaction. After several days of clean living I was in the mood for some good beers and conversations that you can only have with strangers in a bar.

I bellied up to the bar at a place called Bonanza. The Red Onion also looked promising but it looked more crowded with tour folks than regulars so I opted for Bonanza. (More cruise ship whining! I know, I know, I need to get my feelings and bitterness towards this cruise sorted out but I think I’ll put that off ‘til later…again. I’m having a good day!)

At Bonanza’s I met Meredith, the solo bartender running a 4 sided bar. I sat alone on one corner and had day dreamed through half a beer before she found time in her busy shift to start up a conversation. She later said she was confused at first which is why she started talking to me. I was zoning out on a pre-season football game between the Steelers and Redskins when I heard her say, “So do you work around here?”

Ahhh, thank you Meredith. “Nope, I’m on the cruise ship.” I said with a smirk.
She looked almost as surprised as Ben was when I told him I grew up in a town 7 miles from his. She gave me a side look and said “Really?! Didn’t anyone tell you people like you don’t go on those?!” I just laughed.

Through her busy servicing of the other people at the bar and a couple waitresses Meredith and I continued our conversation. She is working on her PHD in Anthropology and Fishery Management but bartends in the summer for the money. I told her how I had wound up on a cruise ship and my original goal of sea kayaking and camping. It turns out she is also a sea kayak guide. So now armed with the e-mail address of a bartending, sea kayak guide my brain is plotting my return to Alaska, this time not by cruise ship!

OK enough bashing of this boat. It does have some positive sides. The scenery is amazing! The ship also does provide for some moments of peacefulness as you sit on the deck and the mountains slowly pass. I’m going to go try and find one of those spots now. Bundle back up and hope this quiet spot is also in the sun. Our wonderful Naturalist, who has gotten much better on the p.a. system, has predicted more possible whale watching ahead; yesterday’s prediction yielded 2 orca sightings for me. Today I’m hoping for humpbacks. Hoping, hoping…always hoping for something. As my friend MJ wrote in a song, “Not content with what I have but wanting nothing more.”

MJF

Juneau, Alaska 8/25/05

Juneau, AK 8/25/05

A highlight of Alaska that I was looking forward to was a break from the hot and humid, day and night, weather of South Florida. Well today I got that completely out of my system. In fact today I was down right, teeth chattering cold. No complaints though because my cold blood was to be expected. After all, I was standing on a glacier.

The Mendenhall Glacier sits, or crawls rather, just outside Juneau. It is one of the most accessible ice fields in the world which I suppose is a trade off since Juneau is one of the least accessible cities. Some fun trivia I learned is that Juneau is the only State capital that you can’t drive to. Planes or boats are the only vehicles to get you in and out and if today’s weather is reflective of an average day in Juneau, well air travel would be far from reliable.

Today is cool, grey, and a steady rain has fallen all day. It wasn’t bad when I was walking around this morning in town. I left the boat at 7:30 a.m., again walking directly past the tourist shops that were not even open yet. As I wandered around I was able to stay dry by just hitting the occasional awning. Well the rain picked up a little by the afternoon and then when you remove the buildings, climb a few hundred feet in elevation, and stand in the middle of a mile wide river of ice, well that steady rain quickly soaks you and chills you. Oh well, just part of the experience and what an experience it was! I will never forget it!

The helicopter hauled me and 7 others to the camp on the glacier; another cool helicopter ride through mountain valleys but about twice as long as the rafting trek in New Zealand, my first helicopter experience. Through a lucky break in weight distribution I was placed in the front seat, window side, which just made the flight even better.

The glacier was amazing! It was like another planet with craters and crevasses spreading out for miles in every direction. I felt very much “out there”, to steal a feeling from Ebby "Nuke" LaLoosh. This was not a controlled environment. This was National Geographic esq. Well maybe not quite that level but it is as close as I have gotten….so far.

I took lots of pictures that I hope will do the scenery justice but I’m sure they won’t.
Also the truly great parts could not be captured by photographs. Like slamming your crampons into the ice toe first as you climb a steep wall while slamming your ax in above you, well obviously your hands are busy at that point and it’s raining so hard you don’t want to leave your camera out in the hands of a stranger that is also trying to keep warm and dry.

I also know the photos from my little digital camera won’t sum up the scenery well because I noticed just with the naked eye it’s hard to judge size or distance on the glacier. There are not many features to give you a scale or perspective. We would hike up, down, and around for an hour and then you would finally get a view of the camp and realize you still had a long way to go.

My camera is currently drying out and the battery is recharging. I’ll check the photos tomorrow. In the least they will help trigger the memories, which is really the goal of all my pictures.

After the flight back off the glacier, in the same seat I arrived in, I have a new appreciation for low visibility in regards to flying. I’ve flown in bad weather before and it has never bothered me; blind trust in the pilot to do their job I suppose. But that’s usually in a plane at 30,000 feet while I’m reading a book. In a helicopter, flying low with jagged mountains on both sides, I will admit I was a little nervous…especially since before boarding we found out that we were the last group off the glacier and they had stopped bringing groups up hours earlier because of the weather.

We were on the glacier for around 4 hours, a long time to be out in the rain on a 19 mile long chunk of ice….and worth every minute. Afterwards I went back to the boat to dry out. It was only 5:30 when I got there and we are not scheduled to leave port until 9 p.m. so back into town I marched. Did I mention it was raining?! Did I mention I don’t like to spend much time on the boat?!

Downtown Juneau is a curious mix of government offices and tourist shops; perfect for me because I could find some “local places” easier. After hitting Silverbows Bakery for a bagel sandwich I cruised back to the Juneau Public Library, literally located between two cruise ships…and here I sit; patiently waiting for one of the “30 minute work stations” to open up for what I hope will be free internet access. I have my WPB Library card ready to go just in case but I probably won’t need it, not that I think it would actually do me any good either. Then again I met a guy from Villa Grove in a tree yesterday. Maybe a former WPB Librarian now works here!

OK, now it is time for random thoughts to finish off this entry and page (I write these entries in a paper journal):
- I might need to seek professional help to discuss my paper conservation issues. Do I seriously need to fill every space of white on the paper in order to feel like I’m not being wasteful and destroying the planet?

- What should I do in Skagway tomorrow? My climbing trip was cancelled which is probably a good thing. I think I need to pack the day pack and set out on my own instead of a cruise ship coordinated activity.

- I finished another book off of my “Pulitzer List” yesterday. I think I’ll start my next one when I get back to the ship. It’s called Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer. It seemed appropriate for the trip.

MJF

Ketchikan, Alaska 8/24/05

Ketchikan, Alaska 8/24/05

Over two years ago I really started thinking about going to Alaska. For some reason it moved from the infinite list of places I wanted to go and cruised towards the top of places I needed to start planning for. Over a year ago I started checking out websites and thinking about dates. A month ago I booked the trip. Just over 2 days ago I left West Palm Beach. Today I finally set foot in Alaska!

So far it’s exactly like I imagined; mountains, hills, thick forest, dark waters. I was up early this morning while the morning mist still hung over everything. I could see my breath but I wasn’t cold. Ketchikan has a small town look to it but I don’t know if it is considered small by Alaskan standards. There are rows of little shops, all connected by common walls and awnings, running down small streets that make up the downtown. The whole scene was perfect except for the monstrosity sitting at the dock; a 14 story cruise ship that I think looks as out of place as a billboard on the side of the Great Pyramid. What’s worse is that God awful cruise ship is what brought me here!

As I was saying earlier, and as I have written in other entries, I’ve been talking about going to Alaska for awhile….actually I need to stop speaking of this far off place like it is still far off….I’ve been talking about coming here for awhile. Several e-mails were sent to the gang looking for interested companions to join me on an adventure with details yet to be figured out; probably a good 10 day, deep woods trek with a guide service, maybe some sea kayaking.

The e-mails were responded to with the usual ‘I’d love to but…” so it was looking like I had a choice to make. Make Alaska 2005 a solo trek or put off the itch for another year. Of course I was leaning more towards the first option, once I get the itch for something it’s hard to get it out of my mind, but I’ll admit there was a little part of me saying “Save the money. You have already been traveling quite a bit.” Then I ran into Joanne.

Joanne is a friend of a friend and we had shared some travel ideas once so when she came up to me last month and said she was going on an Alaskan cruise and needed another person to go to make it cheaper…and needed to know right away. Well, the spontaneity of quickly booking a trip to Alaska with a person I barely knew overshadowed the thought of what a cruise ship experience would really be like. Even when I realized I wouldn’t be doing the multiple day treks I wanted to I figured the cruise ship might be fun. It would be a new experience, good or bad, to learn from. So now here I sit. Finally in Alaska!

I got off the boat here in Ketchikan this morning, our first port after leaving from Vancouver, and just kept walking until I didn’t see anymore jewelry shops. A few blocks later I found Brewed Awakenings, a little drive up coffee shack a few blocks off the tourist path and literally on the side of the road. I got a nice, hot, double mocha and sat down on some wood steps that lead up a large hill to various houses. The view is of the town in one direction and hills covered in thick forest in all the other directions; perfect place for an entry and soaking up a little atmosphere.

I’ll pause this entry now to go find some action I hope. My 9:30 a.m. reservation for the “Rain Forest Zip Line & Ropes Course” is fast approaching. I hope it isn’t as cheesy as the rest of the cruise ship stuff but I’ll keep rolling the dice no matter what. I’m in Alaska!

- Pause -

The early morning cloud cover has burned off and the sun is now shinning brightly. A rare thing I guess in Southern Alaska and especially Ketchikan. They even have a big sign here in town that keeps track of the “Liquid Sunshine” so I guess Salmon isn’t the only thing they have a lot of here. Today though there is a nice breeze that keeps the Sun from heating you up to much and it seems like another perfect time to just sit and watch the scenery go by.

I’m perched in a deck chair, back on board the Dawn Princess. The ships Naturalist just told me over the PA system that we are cruising through the Tongass Fjord. She then proceeded to list some of the wildlife we could hope to see in the next few hours as we head to Juneau. I’m now on the look out for whales!

Well I actually have about 2 hours before I’m really looking for whales. That was the time she predicted and I trust her too. Based on her lack of public speaking skills I’m guessing it is her talents as a naturalist that got her this job.

My afternoon at the rain forest zip line and ropes course was just OK on the fun scale. Compared to canyoning in New Zealand it would be like playing Putt Putt after 18 holes at Augusta National. Sure it’s fun and the premise is similar but it’s far from thrilling. Wow, would you listen to me whine. Cruise ships and now the ropes course. I’m staring to travel like Bill Bryson. Got to change that stat!

I am having a great time despite what my tone in this journal might reflect later and I need to stop letting the parts that are not ideal saturate my entries. OK, great story from the Rain Forest Challenge.

The facility is your standard adventure subcontractor outfit. It is located just outside of town and is staffed by various seasonal employees. The kind of workers that always seem very cool to me and, yes I’ll admit it, I envy them and usually seek their approval. More importantly I usually try to set myself apart from the other idiot tourists that the bus just dropped off. Probably because I see there career path as the option I didn’t take but deep down still wonder if I could; to enjoy a sport/activity so much that you do it full time like climbing or rafting…but in order to pay for your passion you have to dumb it down for novices. It would be like Billy Joel giving piano lessons.

I knew I was only in town for the day though. There was no sense getting buddy buddy with any of these guides for local tips. However a few asked me the standard traveler intro “Where are you from?” so even with a non-visible cruise ship tattoo on my forehead it still kind of felt like backpacking. Uh oh, there I go again. Get to the fun part Mat!

I zip into one of the platforms, the last person in the group. I’m hanging out waiting for the people in font of me to hook onto the next line. The platform I am waiting on is located about 20 feet up a tree and if you look through the branches there is a nice view; water, thick forest, very pretty.

On the small platform with me is one of the guides and after he sends the person in front of me on there way we have time to wait before I go. He asks me the standard traveling conversation opener and I say Florida, my standard response now despite the urge I always have to give some drawn out detail including where I was raised, and where I now live. I have lived in Florida since 1996, almost a decade. I wonder if I’ll ever not think Philo, Illinois when someone asks me where I’m from.

We are just standing around waiting for the guy on the other end to unhook the last badly balanced John off the line so I keep the conversation going by asking him the same question, “Where are you from?”

Of course we all know where this leads. It’s practically word for word the same storey I told about Scotty in New Zealand only this time I’m standing in a tree in Alaska and the guy running the adventure is from Villa Grove! (A small town, population 2,500 about 9 miles from the town of Philo, 1,000 people, where I grew up in Illinois)

I laughed at two things:
1) When he said he grew up in Villa Grove.
2) When I followed that up with “I grew up in Philo.” His response was “No shit!”

The World gets smaller everyday and 90% of the time I love that. The guides name is Ben Poynter. He grew up in Villa Grove, went to school in Rantoul and when he is not working in Alaska he now lives in Southern California.

After we got down from the tree we talked more about home in Central Illinois. We tried to think of people we both might know but with about 8 years difference in age we didn’t have any luck.

He mentioned that is was getting close to the end of their season so the staff were all getting a little burned out. I told him I totally understood. I used to work at summer camps each season. To which he replied. “You didn’t work at Camp Drake did you?”
I lit up. Ahhh, Camp! Small world!

Also as chance would have it I was wearing my San Diego marathon shirt. Ben said if you ever make it to San Diego again look me up.
“I’ll be there in November.” I said.
“Awesome, do you want to do some climbing while you’re there?”
Cards were exchanged and now in the back of my brain the foundation for another adventure is being laid.

I’ll wrap this entry up now. It’s time for a quick workout. There won’t be any running today but so far I have been able to stick to the schedule I set to get myself ready for the New York Marathon in November. It feels great! After the trip to ships gym it’s back out onto the deck for some whale watching. Well hopefully whale watching; either way the scenery is just as impressive by itself and despite my issues with this floating tourist trap it is very peaceful as the ship quietly cruises by the islands.

Bottom line; I am in Alaska and I am going to have a great experience!

MJF