Off the beaten path...

Since veering off topic seems to be a trend around here, I figured this would be an easy way for Chris to share a little of his recent packrafting trip to Alaska.

There were seven guys total, including one guide. The group flew to Fairbanks, met up with Rick & the guide, and headed north. 

A chartered van dropped us about 60 miles or so north of Wiseman on the Dietrich River. We crossed the river into a valley where we followed Kuyuktuouk Creek up to its headwater and over a 4,400-foot pass. Picked up Alinement Creek on the other side and followed it to the north fork of the Koyukuk River, inflated the rafts and ran the river for 4 days down to Delay Pass. Crossed Delay Pass to Glacier River, went upstream for a day until we could cross overland to a mining camp called Nolan where the chartered van picked us up. The hike out took 2 1/2 days, portions of each day spent navigating tussocks, some thigh deep. (Google tussock mounds.) About 100 straight line miles over 10 days, more like 130 actually traveled.

Here's a video from the trip that Rick put together:



Or watch it on YouTube.

Deadlines

We've been on a bit of an unintended hiatus from The Second Floor Project.

Starting next Monday Dave will have two weeks vacation. Despite our one night spent in the Westy awaking all sorts of urges to hop in it and hit the road for a week, we plan to spend the entire vacation going great guns on The Project. Hopefully by the end of the two weeks we will be close to completion.

When we started said Project last summer the first highly ambitious deadline was Halloween. That was soon extended to Thanksgiving. Then Christmas. I laughed weakly when I was asked, "Which year?"

Yesterday I overheard Dave talking on the phone with his mother telling her he hopes to be moved back in upstairs by the end of the summer.

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. -Douglas Adams

Anniversaries

Some of us have a tendency to remember certain dates and events from our past. It might be a celebration of a happy and/or momentous occasion; or perhaps a day spent reflecting on a particular event or remembering a loved one no longer with us (either two- or four-legged).

 Yesterday was the 22nd anniversary of our first date. Maybe a silly thing to celebrate but we have fun with it, the weather is almost always perfect and most years we return to the same establishment that we first visited together all those years ago.

Today is another kind of anniversary. One year ago today we dove into the biggest project that we have ever tackled together...

Which also means that yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the last time that we slept in our own bed.

And I can't complain. It has been fun. Really. Truly. An adventure of sorts. Anything but dull.

Dip Stick

Before it burned into two pieces, the sock mentioned in yesterday's post was used when checking the oil level, not pressure. You know, on the dip stick.

Goofs like this are proof that I need a technical editor.

A little excitement in Westy's life...

Poor Westy has been parked in the garage collecting spiders for months. At some point over the winter it kind of turned into a storage closet - what with Christmas, the current limited space in the house and every-day clutter.

Then, suddenly, a flurry of activity!

We needed a spot for an overnight guest...

Westy had a Guesty

(I can't take credit for that one)

Dave & I attended a family gathering / camp out at his Mom's house.
We stopped in the town park for a short walk beforehand...

After which we hurried to get situated at the party, and Westy kissed a tree...

boo-boo

When we got back home, Dave spent a couple days fixing an intermittent electrical problem on the Westy. He left Westy idling in the driveway to make sure all was running smoothly. We chatted on the patio...ten minutes later, we went out front to discover smoke billowing out from underneath! An old sock that is used to check the oil pressure had fallen down onto the exhaust and had burned in two; it was smoldering and had little red embers glowing at each burnt end.

Dave commented on my brief indecision over which to run for first, the garden hose or my camera. The camera won.

The smell was horrendous. Westy spent a couple days outside airing out and Dave kept the engine cover in the sun for a few extra days to get the smell out.

The air has cleared, all is quiet with Westy again. A new bumper is on order and we are contemplating where to go in the Westy for a little summer vacation. Maybe Maine. Or the Thousand Islands. So many places to visit.

Columbus's Boats

Replicas of two out of three of Christopher Columbus's ships were docked here recently. We decided it would be interesting to go check them out.

The Niña

The Pinta

and The Margarita

(not a replica)

"In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." We all know he and his crew crossed the Atlantic on the Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria. The Santa Maria ran aground and sank, which apparently was fine by Columbus, he never liked the ship. The Pinta returned home and disappeared from history without a trace. The Niña went on to log at least 25,000 miles under Columbus's command.

The boats were surprisingly small. I can't imagine crossing Lake Ontario on a stormy day on one of these babies, let alone the Atlantic Ocean.

Wicked

Drove into a bit of weather this morning...