Bumps On A Log.
I have walked by this log hundreds of times and photographed it dozens. It probably washed ashore when the pulp mill was in operation and giant log booms, pulled by tugs, passed this point on their way to Silver Bay. … Continue reading Bumps On A Log.
One Year Ago
A year ago, Suzi and I stood on a long line to check in for the MS Amsterdam 2020 Grand World Voyage — in a closeness that would horrify us today. The line was kind of a reunion. Many of … Continue reading One Year Ago
Welcome To 2021
I have never been one to celebrate the New Year. It always seemed like an artificial construct. I celebrated my own new year, the start of the school year, which coincided with introduction of the new models of cars when … Continue reading Welcome To 2021
What Are You Singing New Year’s Eve?
This year on Times Square, according to the press release (which doesn’t get around to telling you that no one is invited to be there until the 4th paragraph, talk about burying the lede), the program will include the traditional … Continue reading What Are You Singing New Year’s Eve?
Pictures on Boxing Day
I was walking along the Silver Bay path, a young family was coming the other way when a little girl pointed over my shoulder and behind me. “Mama, there!” “Good eye sweetie.” I spun around and saw two whale spouts. … Continue reading Pictures on Boxing Day
Thoughts on Boxing Day
Christmas Eve is usually a busy day for me. Tradition is that I do my Christmas Shopping on the 24th. I have finally learned that I should do most of it before then but some traditions I can’t let go … Continue reading Thoughts on Boxing Day
God’s Garlands
Tree moss fires my imagination. On Halloween it looked spooky enough to move me to write a blog post about it. As we approach Christmas it stops looking spooky and begins to look festive. I was walking along the Mosquito … Continue reading God’s Garlands
2020 McClear Family Christmas Letter
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.