Spawning Day
“Tomorrow we are spawning salmon, do you want to come and take pictures.” I had never heard salmon be the object of the verb to spawn but I understood what August meant. So at 9 in the morning I was … Continue reading Spawning Day
Author: Rich McClear
Will this be the Ship…?
Today I paused during my walk to watch Holland America’s Westerdam weigh anchor and sail past the mouth of Indian River on its way to Seattle and asked “Will this be the ship that carries me away?” It’s a question … Continue reading Will this be the Ship…?
Surrounded by Acres of Whales
Saturday we took an Allen Marine Tour from Crescent Harbor. They are offered every Saturday for folks not on a cruise ship. We went to St. Lazaria with Captain Steve Campbell. On the way to and from St. Lazaria Steve found us … Continue reading Surrounded by Acres of Whales
St Lazaria and Other Delights.
On Saturday’s Allen Marine Tours Cruise we not only saw whales (Click here to see whales.) The reason for the trip was to go to St. Lazaria Island, a national wildlife refuge. It is a beautiful volcanic island sculpted by … Continue reading St Lazaria and Other Delights.
Small Town Festival
It was a small town festival and I was beginning to wonder if my recommendation to a friend that Sitka was a great place to live was going to blow up in my face. I mean, I’ve lived here for … Continue reading Small Town Festival
You Have Built It, But Will They Come? St. Paul Union Depot
When I was in college I became familiar with St. Paul’s Union Depot. I took Great Northern’s Western Star for spring break skiing in Whitefish, Montana. The Star was Great Northern’s ‘ “second train.” I couldn’t afford the flagship Empire … Continue reading You Have Built It, But Will They Come? St. Paul Union Depot
Reflections on the St. Croix River
Evening on the St. Croix River on the Minnesota – Wisconsin border. As the sun gets lower the wind shifts changing patterns on the river and changes the reflections. I love the way the reflections of the Soo Line high … Continue reading Reflections on the St. Croix River
Frosty Reef
On July 5 we took the Sitka Conservation Society cruise to Frosty Reef. A very low tide happened at a convenient time (10 AM) on a Sunday so the Society took us out to look at the reef to see … Continue reading Frosty Reef
July 4th Water Fight!
My favorite Fourth of July event in Sitka is the water fight between the Stika Fire Department and Coast Guard. A pony keg is set in the middle of the street and the teams use hoses to move the keg … Continue reading July 4th Water Fight!
Small town Fourth of July
Sitka, Alaska, July 4th 2015. The parade started with change bell ringing at St. Michael’s Cathedral, a Coast Guard fly over and then our friends and neighbors. Trish and Dirk White were this year’s parade marshals. Continue reading Small town Fourth of July
Fortress of the Bear
Sitka’s Fortress of the Bear is, perhaps, one of the most innovative recycling project I’m aware of. The Alaska Pulp Company mill closed in 1993 leaving behind two huge clarifier tanks that were part of its waste control system. They … Continue reading Fortress of the Bear
A Sitka Summer Day (June 23, 2015)
June 23, 2015 was a beautiful Sitka summer day. We walked the docks, went on the Sitka Conservation Society Salmon cruise watching different salmon hunters, including an eagle sitting on a branch that hardly looked like it could hold her. … Continue reading A Sitka Summer Day (June 23, 2015)
Harbor Mountain, June 2015
On Saturday I went up to Harbor Mountain. The road was re-opened just the day before. I could write 12,000 words but I would rather post 12 pictures. Continue reading Harbor Mountain, June 2015
A Tale of Two Watches
Twice now I have lost watches at airport security. This is the strange Tale of Two Watches. I arrived in Tbilisi grumpy. I have always worn cheap watches, Timex. And I’ve always wanted a good watch. On the cruise I splurged on a solar powered Citizen with a stopwatch built in. I agonized over buying it and finally, when they cut the price at the end of the cruise I plunked down more than 300 duty free dollars. The watch made me happy. It kept good time, didn’t need new batteries, had a big face and glowed in the dark. … Continue reading A Tale of Two Watches
Iron Butterfly, June in the Republic of Georgia
I’ve been home in Sitka two weeks now, writing reports, enjoying the Sitka Summer Music Festival and thinking of my recent trip to Tbilisi, Georgia. It was a shorter trip than usual, which was a good thing because if I … Continue reading Iron Butterfly, June in the Republic of Georgia
Updating Art to add a Bicycle.
My friends at Radio Atinati in Zugdidi, Georgia have their station across the street from an old Soviet mural made of iron. It shows the progress of transportation from winged Mercury to Space flight, with cars, trains, horse carriages, carrier … Continue reading Updating Art to add a Bicycle.
A Train Trip through Bavaria.
This trip I decided to spend two jet lag nights in Munich, or rather Freisling, a small town near the airport. This time I decided to take the train from Freisling to Fussen and the onward bus to Hohenschwangu and … Continue reading A Train Trip through Bavaria.
Neuschwanstein
This is the second part of a letter. For the first part see the post posted just after this one. The train pulled into Fussen and everyone ran for the 78 Bus to Hohenschwangu to visit Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss … Continue reading Neuschwanstein
Earth Day Sitka, 2015
Wednesday was Earth Day but much of the celebration is happening in Sitka this weekend. Today (after school) we had the 14th annual Parade of Species. Kids dress up as their favorite animal or plant to crawl, slither, run or … Continue reading Earth Day Sitka, 2015
The Dragon Ate the Moon
The first time ever I saw the aurora we were with our friends Dave and Carol Lam at Suzi’s dad’s cabin on the St. Croix River in Minnesota. We were far from the city lights. We were watching a … Continue reading The Dragon Ate the Moon
Eagle Release
When Bald Eagles encounter problems, often caused by interaction with humans, the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center patches them up, helps them regain strength in flight barns, and releases them The Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, in its first release of 2015, … Continue reading Eagle Release
Rain Forest to Rain Forest
Three weeks ago I was in the Amazon tropical rain forest. Now I am home in my own Tongass temperate rain forest.. Both are green, both have lots of water, both have abundant life, both are essential lungs for our … Continue reading Rain Forest to Rain Forest
The Great Spring Sitka Sound Bio-mass Festival.
March brings life to Sitka Sound. When the herring come in everyone follows, by air, in the sea and under the sea. The eagles, gulls, whales, sea lions and fishermen all congregate to celebrate the great spring biomass festival and … Continue reading The Great Spring Sitka Sound Bio-mass Festival.
Coda, Prinsendam Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage
March 16, 2015, Sitka, Alaska How could this be my 75th post for a 68 day cruise? OK, one post was anticipation and this one is a coda, written after we got home but still… I averaged more than one … Continue reading Coda, Prinsendam Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage