steve writes

Far Trek

Alaska, the flannel frontier. These are the voyages of a well-packed Ford Focus. Her three-month mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new hikes and screw civilization. To coldly go where no man has gone before . . . without bug spray.

Captain's Log Star Date 0612.09
As you can observe, Eve has been working quite hard to keep all important people well-informed of our experiences , from romps with two-year-olds to explorations in new lands. In fact her diligence adn imagination have inspired me to put my fingers to the keyboard. While my professional and electronic writing ability pale in comparison to hers, I will humbly plod along with inspiration gained from our location and the books I read. Currently Anne of Green Gables occupies my free time, so be prepared for romantic musings and mischief while I try to hold my tongue.

Being a displaced Midwesterner, it is my duty to inform you of the weather. Coming most recently from Seattle though, it is also my duty to be accused of bringing the rain. Within our first week here the familiar accusation was thrust upon us, to which we responded with our well-practiced polite smile while secretly screaming in heart-wrenching agony. We have both been recipients of this accusation countless times in the arid lands of Eastern Washington, but we had not expected it in Alaska.

As I write the sun peeks through the clouds, hopefully beginning to burn them off for the weekend. Sunny skies are in my hopes to aid our friend Ben Schneider. His weekend he takes his entrepreneurial ambitions to market as a professional puzzler. Here he is working diligently as Leo naps upstairs, and here is one of his finished products.













Unlike Ben the puzzles are gorgeous. With a Sunday off, we plan to attract visitors to teh Anchorage market toward Ben's booth with some guitar and banjo music. If that fails, we will attempt to repel visitors away from other booths toward Ben's. In order to make the experience of greater authenticity, we have not practiced even once. All of this, however, necessitates a lovely day to bring the Alaskan's to market, but not so nice a day to take them to mountain trails.

Currently the day is fit for a decent hike, or a day at the info desk. The sun repeatedly breaks through the clouds and the air is cool with a slight breeze to blow the mosquitoes on by. Many of our days have been like this, but by no means the majority. A recent heat wave of near 80s and complete sun have melted most o f the remaining snow and Alaskans. As far as I can tell, no on e was moved to shave, but they sure complained a lick. Thus far there have been more sunny days than all of last summer. These days remain balanced by a steady set of clouds followed by cool evenings. We have not needed the camp stove for heat of late but keep a steady supply of wood on hand. What the coming days and weeks will hold is anyone's guess.