90 Degrees In The Shade

We  all believe that we've had our summer already. On Friday, June 22nd, the day was beautiful and the temperature climbed up to around 79 - 80 degrees. There was a light breeze, just enough to keep things pleasant. We all basked in the sunshine and warmth. We were giddy with the fantastic weather, all the while waiting for the other shoe to drop. The passengers off the ship looked at us strangely. But surely this couldn't last. Whenever we'd had a nice day one day, the next day wasn't even as nice.

But this particular morning, Saturday the 23rd of June, 2012, we woke to another beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky, with temperatures rising. Break out the short sleeves, capris and flip-flops! (well, two out of the three I didn't even pack)

Nobody even gave it a thought that this was the second day in a row of very nice weather! We were enjoying this way too much for that.

We all dusted off our sunglasses and headed to Dock 1 and the Disney ship. No one recognized the Shore Ex and the Shore Ex didn't recognize any of us. You see, nobody had on their rain gear and everyone was smiling and laughing! Summer was here at last.

We didn't even care that our tours were running 15 minutes late. It was summer (at last) in Ketchikan. There was no "other shoe" to drop.

See the happy faces on Charla and me? That's Emily (Coastal Expeditios) to my left in those short sleeves, Capris and flip-flops. Even the Shore Ex, Jennifer, (behind Charla's right shoulder) lost the rain coat and we finally saw her in her "whites."

That's LumberJill and her Dock Reps in front of our buses and the Seven Seas Navigator.

I had some time before I had to go over to the Coral Princess. And, as it was closing in on lunch time, I grabbed a salad from the salad bar at the Safeway grocery store and sat in the parking lot overlooking the Tongass Narrows (there are a lot of people who eat lunch there, watching the activity on the water).

Those are the three ships that are in today; the Coral Princess (left), the Seven Seas Navigator (middle) and the Disney Wonder (right).

I looked a little more to my left to see that there was still snow on Deer Mountain. A couple more days like this and that snow will be history.

Then I heard Alaska Airlines coming in for a landing at Ketchikan International Airport on Gravina Island. Okay, the picture isn't the best.....I can only say that the sun was so bright in my eyes that I couldn't see what was in the view finder. This will have to be good enough.

Looking again to my left, I zoomed in on my three ships and a fishing boat in the foreground. I know the picture doesn't show it, but the water was shimmering in the sunlight. With a big sigh, I took in the beautiful sights.

Beaver just taking off

Turning to the left, he's probably heading out to the Misty's

He's working and that reminds me that I have to finish my lunch and head back to the docks. I have tours to get out.

When I got back to the Coral Princess I noticed that all the Dock Reps plus Ian Harvey, the Shore Ex, were standing in the shade of the Coral. I had to laugh and grab my camera. We've been waiting so long for this day and everyone was hiding in the shade. Well, I don't blame them. The thermometer in my car registered the outside temperature at 90 degrees! (wish I'd packed those capris)

Behind me all the passengers for a tour were in line to board their bus. Everyone waited as long as they could outside because inside the bus was really hot.

I stood in the shade of the Coral and snapped this picture of the three ships.

When I turned around, there were two of my passengers who were going on my Crab/Fly tour. They were from Houston and were really surprised at this Alaskan weather.

But now it was time to get everyone on to the bus. I had told everyone which bus was going to be the one that would take them out to the Lodge. When I came around to the other side of the bus I had to laugh when I saw them all standing in the shade of the bus. They were a great group of people. They had wanted me to come out to the Lodge with them.........tempting.

AND THEN THE OTHER SHOE DROPPED........

A cold front went through. Within a matter of minutes (really) the winds went from nothing to 60 mph, the temperature dropped from 90 degrees to 59 degrees, the calm seas turned into three foot rollers with white caps!



SUMMER WAS OVER!

Finding An Old Friend and The Lumberjack Show

One day, a few weeks ago, I was standing at Dock 3 talking to another Tour Rep. I wasn't due to be there at that time. In fact, I never just "hang out." Usually I will head back to my car to wait, staying dry and warm. But it was a very nice day - no rain, some sunshine and a little bit of a breeze. So, there I was, where I normally shouldn't be, when an older gentleman tapped my shoulder to ask a question. Out of my peripheral vision I saw the woman whom I thought to be his wife. I didn't give her much consideration, keeping my attention on answering the gentleman's. As I turned back to my conversation with my friend, the woman spoke to the man. Her voice stopped me in my tracks. I recognized that voice. I turned to really look at her.......Elsie Taylor! Elsie was one of mother's best friends whom I'd lost track of after my mom passed away 3 years ago. I couldn't believe my eyes. Let's just say there was a lot of hugging going on.

About a year after my mom passed away, Elsie sold her house in Waukesha, WI and moved closer to her family in San Diego, where she met Tom Stantial. Elsie (91) told me that she's a "Cougar" because Tom is younger than she is! I thought that was funny (cute). They also told me that the tour they booked through a travel agent was not the tour they had originally wanted. They got the Totem Bite State Park tour, but not the combination with the Lumberjack Show. However, they were going to make the best of it because they heard that Totem Bite State Park was very nice. It was time for them to go on their tour and for me to get ready to receive my passengers for my tour. We hugged "good-bye."

After my tour, I was chatting with Jill Gates (LumberJill - manager of the Lumberjack Show). I was on such a "high" seeing mom's best friend, I just had to tell someone - and there was Jill. She said I should meet their bus and she would "comp" the three of us for the show! (Okay, more hugging - of Jill this time)

So I did just that. I met their bus and told them we were all going to the show. Before the show got started, Elsie and I did some catching up of the past three years.

I'll tell you, that was the best afternoon. It was terriffic seeing her. I miss my mom very much, and seeing Elsie again just brought my mom closer to my heart.

But now the show was beginning. We had a lot of fun. I hadn't seen the show in a few years, and it was just great. Here are some pictures for you all to enjoy.

Here's our lumberjack on the left, and his competitor on the right

There's a lot of muscle there

Cutting log demonstration

Ax throwing contest (see the ax in the air half way to the target?)

Sawing a log demonstration

The Brawny guy doesn't look this good!

This is how they cut down trees. They drive a plank into the tree to stand upon. Wow.

Race to the top

Who will make it to the top and back down first?

The winner!

Racing across the water on the logs

Just barely makes it across

Log rolling contest

Our lumberjack lost this contest; into the water he went!

Dan's Day Off: June 13, 2012

Today I had the day off and Jared and I went flying in his PA12. He wanted to practice step-turns and step-turns-to-takeoff.

Getting the plane ready

Jared

 We departed Ward Cove and flew a couple of miles to Harriet Hunt Lake. It is a small size lake that would make a good practice spot. There was a light mist falling and the lake was nearly glassy. It made for some good training.

Harriet Hunt Lake

Landing at Harriet Hunt Lake

Harriet Hunt Lake

After several takeoffs and landings with step turns, we departed Harriet Hunt for a small lake surrounded by mountains on three sides. We stayed high just outside the valley and practiced steep turns. I wanted Jared to be confident that he could turn within the valley walls.

We then went into the valley and surveyed the lake for landing areas. After a couple of turns we decided we could land safely and takeoff again.

Landing back at Ward Cove

Ward Cove

Today's lesson:  When you fly up here, there is little room for error and you always need a way out.