This is Fun. Now Get Me Outta Here! Polar Dip 2019
For some deranged souls like me, it’s a tradition to swim, or at least dip, into the Pacific Ocean in the middle of winter. Saturday was the day. Many dippers dressed for the occasion. For instance someone dressed as a … Continue reading This is Fun. Now Get Me Outta Here! Polar Dip 2019
Jazz Fest ’19
The room throbbed with all the energy and exuberance of a high school pep dance, and perhaps that’s what the centerpiece of the 2019 Sitka Jazz Festival was. The Kyle Athayde Dance Party, an 18 piece big band from New … Continue reading Jazz Fest ’19
January Sunset Retrospective.
“Why does Sitka have so many great sunsets?” “I don’t remember that many beautiful sunsets when I lived in Sitka.” All during January I posted sunset pictures from Sitka on Facebook and I kept getting comments like the ones above. … Continue reading January Sunset Retrospective.
Welcome to the first beautiful day of 2019
The weather conspired against us. Kevin and Shannon arrived on Dec 22, on Dec 23 Brian, Liz and the kids Liam and Fiona came to Sitka. Just before they got here we had some nice weather. Once they were here, … Continue reading Welcome to the first beautiful day of 2019
Our Sitka Christmas Tradition — A Whale Watch.
Our first family whale watch was more than 35 years ago. Alice and Chuck Johnstone took us out on the Fairweather. Carolyn Servid was the deck hand and we went looking for humpback whales. Some folks considered this an odd … Continue reading Our Sitka Christmas Tradition — A Whale Watch.
2018 McClear Family Christmas Letter
Here Comes the Sun — Winter Solstice 2018
I love all the holidays around the turning of the year. But Solstice had particular meaning for me. It’s the root of Christmas, the reason the early Church Fathers chose this time to celebrate the birth of the Christ. But … Continue reading Here Comes the Sun — Winter Solstice 2018
It Rotates! – Tommy Joseph’s new Sculpture at the Sitka Sound Science Center
Tommy Joseph is an imaginative Tlingit carver. With my camera I documented his carving a house pole for the Interior Department two years ago. Since then he has done a canoe and a library pole for Petersburg with characters from … Continue reading It Rotates! – Tommy Joseph’s new Sculpture at the Sitka Sound Science Center
Winter Brings Frost and Whales
December 14 was the first real day of winter in Sitka. There was a light fall of snow and some hear frost on the branches. We had had stormy November type weather the day before but the 14th dawned with … Continue reading Winter Brings Frost and Whales
One Ocean, One World, One Health. Whale Fest 2018
There were two different worlds, the natural sciences and everyone else. At least that’s what it seemed like when I was in college more than half a century ago. The dean organized “Two Worlds” seminars to try to bring us … Continue reading One Ocean, One World, One Health. Whale Fest 2018
November’s Caprice
Yesterday I celebrated a gray (or grey) day on the water. Overnight the weather turned and today it was bright and the light the hour before the 4:06 sunset brought out all of Sitka’s autumnal glory that ended with a … Continue reading November’s Caprice
Celebration for a Grey Day
I have posted hundreds of pictures of Sitka in the sun, with vibrant blues and greens, but we live in a rain forest and in November the seas rise. Much of the music about the region have references to gray … Continue reading Celebration for a Grey Day
Whalefest Preview
Sometimes I wonder at the privilege I have living in Sitka. Two times of year are particularly wonderful. Spring brings great weather and the Music Festival as well as all the social activities that go along with that. As autumn … Continue reading Whalefest Preview
2X2L Calling CQ
84 years ago Radio came of age. In one terrible — beautiful hour the third rated program in a three network universe managed to entertain, terrify, and motivate millions of people by stimulating the imagination. If it happened today it … Continue reading 2X2L Calling CQ
2018 Alaska Day Parade — Tranche 3
Here is the third tranche of pictures from the Alaska Day Parade. There are three tranches of photos total In past years I have been more selective but many people asked “why isn’t my group, kid or spouse, in these … Continue reading 2018 Alaska Day Parade — Tranche 3
2018 Alaska Day Parade — Tranche 2
This is the second tranche of pictures from the Alaska Day Parade. There are three tranches of photos. In past years I have been more selective but many people asked “why isn’t my group, kid or spouse, in these pictures?” … Continue reading 2018 Alaska Day Parade — Tranche 2
Alaska Day Parade 2018
Today is our day. Alaska Day celebrates the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States 151 years ago on Castle Hill in Sitka. It’s a state holiday but for most of the state it is little more than … Continue reading Alaska Day Parade 2018
2018 Alaska Day Facebook Posts
I made several Facebook Posts on and around Alaska Day. I am collecting them on this blog page, with a few extra pics added. On the Sunday before Alaska Day I posted this: “Alaska day is well and truly launched. … Continue reading 2018 Alaska Day Facebook Posts
September Song
In an earlier post, September Turning, I posted pictures of September sunsets from my front deck. Here are some other pictures. The ones of the moon and the plane taking off were also taken from my deck, others were downtown … Continue reading September Song
September Turning.
On September 1 the sun sets at 286 degrees so can’t see sunset from my house but I can certainly see it’s affects from my deck. I can actually first see the sun set, that is go behind the north … Continue reading September Turning.
Silver Bay September
The last day of September was a great time to be out and about. In an earlier post I have pictures from Harbor Mountain. Earlier on Sunday I hiked a little along Silver Bay, the day before I also walked … Continue reading Silver Bay September
Harbor Mountain the Last Day of September
Sitka gets relatively little color at sea level. Some imported maples color out red, the mountain ash gets bright red berries and the alder give us some yellow but look up. The mountain sides that were green become gold, rust … Continue reading Harbor Mountain the Last Day of September
The City by the Bay and a 35 Foot Polar Bear Made From Smashed Car Hoods.
I’ve spent a lot of time in cities from Belgrade to London to New York, but last weekend in San Francisco I noticed things I’ve not seen in other cities. We were in San Francisco for a memorial service and … Continue reading The City by the Bay and a 35 Foot Polar Bear Made From Smashed Car Hoods.
Ding, Ding, Ding, a Ding, Ding, a Dinga Ding. Cable Cars and Other Delights.
We had a great time riding the cable cars in San Francisco. The California street cable car climbs Nob Hill, past China Town, the Mark Hopkins and Grace Cathedral. We rode it at night and the next day at dusk … Continue reading Ding, Ding, Ding, a Ding, Ding, a Dinga Ding. Cable Cars and Other Delights.