Month: August 2017

Arrived early and was able to switch my 2 pm tour to the 10 am tour where I and another couple are taken by van to the site, passing numerous mansions with outstanding mountain views. There was a strong Oriental influence with Feng Shui principles applied: blue ceilings, foo dogs at base of stairs, strong use of color, water treatments. The home was large and built after O’Neill was awarded the Nobel prize in literature for which he received $40,000. A display of his tiny handwriting prompted questions, which elicited the response that he may have had Parkinson’s disease, but his creative flow only worked well when writing. His wife and daughter used a magnifying glass to type up his scripts! Their dog is buried on the property and displayed is Oneill’s poignant ode to their dog. The pool is maintained, occasionally finding animals in it! Danville, CA is quite the town now, far different from what it was in O’Neill’s day. I tried to use my GPS to find the USPO to no avail-turns out it’s in a mall with no label.

 

Left OR after Eclipse, but traffic was so heavy that numerous drivers and I pulled off the road to rest when traffic wasn’t moving on 97South. Then was so tired, i spent 2nights at Klamath Natl Forest’s Juanita Lake campground. Juanita Lake is gorgeous, peaceful and cool to swim in. Back on the road, I stopped at Sacramento Natl Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to purchase yet another Passport book and view a video, pelicans and wildlife as I prepared for Friday’s tour of Eugene O’Neill Natl Historic site and walk of the property. I enjoy the NWR auto tour, driving and leisurely viewing wildlife.

Eclipse was awesome viewed at Madras OR! Cell phone pix don’t do it justice, but a few pix follow. Miracle in obtaining eclipse viewing glasses was just a gentle voice saying, “Try that Fred Meyer store” and there was a young man outside the store selling a pair for $5! Thanks, Universe! And, thanks for the heavenly show!

1. Rainy yet exciting day in Sitka today. Flew in this morning from Juneau and will go back to Anchorage by 10:10 tonight. What a unique history of Klinkit Indians, Russians, and America. The Natl Park Service had a video explaining the many voices of Sitka! So many totems on display and a native wood carver showing his skill, a native beader creating an altar cloth, and museum items and explanations. Did you know the native people created their paint from chewing on salmon eggs to mix their saliva to eggs, then tinting it and using it as paint? The totems were much like those in Glacier Bay. A Ranger presentation on the 5 types of salmon that are found in Sitka, their differences, and how salmon is the basis of much of their resources; not just the sale and eating of salmon for nourishment, but also after spawning the mother dies and becomes part of the nourishment for other living things and the forest and lake. It is not definite why the salmon jump in the water. The salmon may jump because they are entering fresh water after having been in salty sea water for a couple years, or it could be helpful in the spawning process, or they could just be playing! Took the transit bus to Crescent Harbor and checked out the area and St Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, the Bishop’s huge house with chapel, dining room, and modest bedrooms, witnessed a performance of native Klingit dances with narration and occasional audience participation, to Fish hatchery and museum, then by taxi to the Raptor Center to meet birds in captivity. I didn’t feel comfortable time wise, definitely wanting to be in time for my flight,  in going to Fortress of the bears but a kindly gentlemen showed me all his pictures like I was there. Oh, there are no farmed salmon allowed in Alaska and once a year for 7 days, with a proper license, individuals can hunt bear in Sitka! Stores in Sitka sell pelts that are beautiful and one picture shows an amusing and creative use for males. Even more than what is already written, but this is quite long already. King Salmon Burger for dinner was delicious!​
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Boat tour today, 8/10, awesome weather with beautiful surroundings! Only the 3rd sunshiny day this season! Lovely people and great staff on the ship. Humpback whales, sea otters, Steller Seals which are huge, bird-filled islands and sheep! Glaciers- one 12 miles long, and that beautiful Glacier blue! What a blessing-Including 3 pm cookie time! 

Sooooo excited! According to UNiv of AK at Fairbanks 4/9 chance of experiencing Northern Lights tonight! Did some research and Eagle River should be a good location. So headed North about 20 miles to take a nap so I can be awake all night for the hopeful event! Finally got flights to Juneau and Sitka with a ferry ride over to Glacier Bay Natl Park for 8/9-8/16. I’ll camp at Glacier Bay, so need to take tent and sleeping bag along on flight-new adventures! Yesterday did many municipal parks, nature boardwalk, gold pan, Girdwood, Olympic Mtn, Alyeska Hwy/tram, and turnagain experiences-amazing! Happy trails to y’all

Relaxing in rainy weather at Ship Creek campground in Anchorage with train next to it and birds “talking” pretty much all night. Wifi is part of the campground fee! Went to Anchorage Visitor Center and took in their video and museum. Visited the Earthquake Park by the airport, straightened out “issues”, and recharged my personal battery by resting, sudoku, watching video of Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights, bird and mountain watched. When I first checked into campground, there was a black bear by the dumpsters; but, I checked in anyway especially since the bear had a monitor on its neck. There are 130 active volcanoes in AK! If you’re ever traveling and need something mailed to you-you can have it mailed to a FedEx office close to you and will even hold it for 5 days for you to pick it up! Enjoy the day!