Winter Sunsets
From our perch, looking South southwest over Jamestown Bay toward the Gulf of Alaska, I have a crows’ nest view of incoming weather, and from September to March I have nightly views of winter sunsets, when I can see them … Continue reading Winter Sunsets
Floating Joy
Forty years ago, we were living in Sollar’s Trailer Court. We could see a small slice of the channel from the front window of our mobile home because we were a little forward of the trailer next to us. One … Continue reading Floating Joy
A History of “The Battery Exchange”
The link to Raven Radio is here. December 24 will not be a normal Saturday night. It’s Christmas Eve and the Battery Exchange is back. This year we start at 7:00 PM. Phone lines open for an hour at 7:30 … Continue reading A History of “The Battery Exchange”
European Christmas Markets (And some of their offspring)
For the second year in a row many of the European Christmas Markets are either closed or curtailed. But we hope in future years we will be able to enjoy the warmth of a cold evening sipping gluhwein, savoring the … Continue reading European Christmas Markets (And some of their offspring)
All Hallows Moss
Stringy stuff in my hair, that’s the memory of Halloween for me. As kids we approached and entered the “Haunted House” where someone had hung strings or threads from the ceiling that would get into our hair, adding something tactile … Continue reading All Hallows Moss
Brave Heart Buoys
August 28, 2020 Anyone who’s beachcombed in Southeast Alaska knows about hard plastic fishing buoys. Japanese fishermen use them, and sometimes they escape and wash up on our shores along with beach glass and flocks of rubber ducks that fell … Continue reading Brave Heart Buoys
Alaska Pirates (Radio in Sitka)
In August 1982 Raven Radio had been on the air for 6 months, broadcasting from the Historic Cable House, the old Army Communications Service (ACS) center built in 1906. I was manager of Raven Radio when two older men climbed … Continue reading Alaska Pirates (Radio in Sitka)
Tall Mountains and Long Shadows on the Ice.
August 18, 2020 Trains used to have names, evocative names, descriptive names, geographic names, names honoring heroes. There were (and, in some cases there still are) Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited, The Broadway Limited along with the competing 20th Century Limited, … Continue reading Tall Mountains and Long Shadows on the Ice.
Recovery Fishing
HAL CPP Platinum-33-State COI August 8, 2020 And just like that it’s fall. The skies are overcast and even though sunset is still late, a little before 9 PM, it feels dark. We’ve had a good deal of rain this … Continue reading Recovery Fishing
The Last Week of July
August 7, 2020 I’m sitting in my living room looking out at the rain this first week of August. Fall is coming and I’m dreaming of that last week of July. A week that confirms for me that Southeast Alaska … Continue reading The Last Week of July
A Fine Summer Day in Alaska.
Last week we were in Anchorage for a week of medical tests. The Anchorage Sleep clinic was full so they sent me up to Wasilla. Hitting the road was wonderful. We started at Eklutna to look at the Spirit Houses … Continue reading A Fine Summer Day in Alaska.
Spirit Houses
July 16, 2020 Eklutna is the only Native Alaskan village within the municipality of Anchorage. It sits between Thunderbird Falls and Cook Inlet’s Knik Arm north of Chugiak. One source says the village is 800 years old, another, dates it … Continue reading Spirit Houses
Northern Milk Run
July 11, 2020 Sitka to Anchorage, It was light when the alarm rang at 4:00 AM, although the sun would not, technically, be up for another 22 minutes. The days are getting shorter. We got dressed loaded the car and … Continue reading Northern Milk Run
A Duck Dump and Antique Cars
This was a dry Independence Day. Not only did it not rain but there was no water fight. The water fight has been my favorite July Fourth activity for years. The Coast Guard and Fire Department square off against each … Continue reading A Duck Dump and Antique Cars
July 4, 2020
Two hundred and forty four ago a resolution written by Thomas Jefferson and moved by John Adams passed the Continental Congress. It read, in part: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they … Continue reading July 4, 2020
30 Years Ago This Week — Berlin.
Thirty years ago, this week my family was in Berlin. We had been there 10 months earlier and saw a wall that looked permanent. Three months later we saw it come down on TV. We went back in June 1990 … Continue reading 30 Years Ago This Week — Berlin.
30 Years Ago This Week
June 6, 2020 Thirty years ago, this week we were in the Czechoslovakia. We were there because in 1989 we took our kids to Berlin to see the wall. Two and a half months later it came down. In 1990 … Continue reading 30 Years Ago This Week
A Shady Resting Place.
May 30, 2020, Sitka, Alaska I don’t like visiting cemeteries. Perhaps it’s a reminder of my own mortality. Or perhaps it was watching my elementary school being built in the summer of 1950. To make room for the school playground … Continue reading A Shady Resting Place.
Up Hill!
May 28, 2020, Sitka, Alaska. Sitka seem a little schizophrenic. Part of Sitka, along with the rest of Alaska, has started to “re-open responsibly” according to the Governor’s directive. And another part is reacting to Sitka’s second COVID case. While … Continue reading Up Hill!
Milkman’s Matinee
May 17, 2020 “When the world should all be sleeping And the melody comes creeping ‘till you want to sway, it’s the Milkman’s Matinee.” Pop loved that radio theme song. It came on WNEW every morning just after the midnight … Continue reading Milkman’s Matinee
Big Hair
May 17, 2020, Sitka Alaska I come from a family of big hair. I was reminded of this after my Aunt Janice died at age 96. In the statistics she was just another old person who died in a nursing … Continue reading Big Hair
Who Was That Masked Man?
May 3, 2020, Sitka, Alaska I would not make a good bank robber. On my walk yesterday almost everyone greeted me by name “Hi Rich” while I was wearing my mask. Only one person, someone I have known for decades, … Continue reading Who Was That Masked Man?
Michio Hoshino Totem Pole Redux..
May 1, 2020, Sitka, Alaska It’s been a while since I visited the Michio Hoshino memorial totem pole on the south side of the Halibut Point Rec. Today was a nice sunny day so I decided to hike down for … Continue reading Michio Hoshino Totem Pole Redux..
Social Distance vs Cabin Fever
April 19, 2020, Sitka, Alaska The instructions are confusing. We’re supposed to shelter at home but are encouraged to go outside for exercise. In spring, when the weather turns nice Alaskans NEED to get outside to crush cabin fever. Sheltering … Continue reading Social Distance vs Cabin Fever