FLOATPLANES IN TONGASS...

Big… That’s what Alaska is. It is fucking huge. It is impossible to capture in a photo. No matter how you line up your shot, it comes up short. There is just too much. The fish are big. The bears are big. The Moose are big. The water is deep, and the whole freakin state is half the size of the US. (I think) Really… I wished I ended that whole big thing,a whole lot bigger than that. Because, it is big. Today, our port of call was Ketchikan… The Salmon capital of the world. It was named by one of the early founders. You ketch ‘em, we’ll kan ‘em. Salmon, that is. According to local bus driver legend….


So… Today was pretty fun.. I was actually having my best day of the trip, till the time my dad made a comment about Bloodlines, Native Americans, and Europeons, and I got up, and walked way from dinner. I love my Mom and Dad, and I would probably be a homeless pyscho bum without them, but there is no way, no how... Oh well, whatever, never mind forget it! Anyway, before that, my Dad, Kalie, and I, took a great excursion aboard the Beaver... Floatplanes, second to only the Otter. Really, I don’t know which one we were on but, this was the small one. It is a great feeling being aboard one of these pricey yet, floaty toys. Being a water person, I don’t know why I would fly any other way. We flew an Ama (one pontoon off the water, banking, while taking off) on the take off out of this lake.. Unbeleivable!

The taxi out, and take off were smooth as butter. In what locals would call October weather. If you were a local you would know what I was talking about, if not, that means… Rainier and windier than usual. Which means… considering it rains 13 - 16 FEET a year, it wasn’t the best day for flying. Really, it wasn’t that bad compared to the year La Conchita slid as far as I am concerned. Either of those years.

Our destination is the Misty Fjords. Now if you have been paying attention, a fjord is a deep granite valley cut by glaciers and filled with water. Kind of like Yosemite, but filled with water. I don’t know what the deepest ones are, but I hear 1200 to 1500 feet deep all the time out here. The Misty’s are filled with both sea level ocean water and higher elevation lakes. This is what I mean by BIG! I was taking in up to three elevations of fresh water, waterfalls, and connecting streams, along with a big deep fjord of sea water all in one view. This all took place in the TongAss National Forest. Anyway… None of the pictures can really show what it is all about, and next time I come up here will be in the much slower, yet trusty, Westy. But have a look anyway.. Btw, click on the pictures for a full view…

I know My Mom and Dad read this from time to time so… I will take this time to publicly thank them for this trip. While we are completely different, I had a great time, I still love you, and wish you another 45 years of happy marriage. Jenny, I love you, wish you were here, or I can’t wait to get back! This is our last port of call before Vancouver and I hope to find you the appropriate gift. Shaq, Kobe, Fish, Fox… Wait that’s the book I’m reading. Ok… Charlie. I really think you really belong up here flying Beavers and Otters into the Misty Fjords of Ketchikan. When I think of Alaska, I always think of you ,and your family canoeing down the Yukon when we were kids….

CAPITAL CITY!

It was freakin hot! (Over 80) In the capital city of Alaska today.... Guess_______ I can't escape the heat! Hint... It starts with a J. Speaking of J, I would like to play a game of scrable with Jenny today, or play anything really. That's it. It is way to hot. Just like California. Except for a ton of Salomon jumping all over the freakin' place. J_____ is a small town with about a 100 jewelery shops. Reminds me of Big Bear Lake except with whales, and the float planes. Oh Okay... It's better than that. I just miss Jen... Ok. More tommorrow from aboard the Seven Seas Mariner. MATU UTU... Take me to the South Pacfic. Ok, I am whipped. But... since when was that a bad thing? Bye!

SITKA!!!

On the way to Whittier.... AK

Hey… First off, I really, really, really, miss my better half , Jenny I love you! Whaahha. It’s hard to explain what goes on in ones head when I am are here to have fun on the trip of " a life time" Yet, a huge chunk of me is missing. Oh well. I love my kids and... Today my parents were remarried by the Captain of the ship. Phillipe?? It should have been me. Haha.. Not really. Ok, Really Reckless... YES! I do! Just came back from the fanciest restaurant aboard the ship, so I might, be slurring my writing a bit here. Ahhhhhh… grgr. The wedding was pretty informal despite the informal attire, which in fact, if quite formal in my opinion. Finally got to break out the Volcom Blazer today though, because my Dad had an excellent pair of Callaway slacks that matched perfectly! Four!!! I have a Big Bertha so this fits in fine with my way of life.

It is 10:36 PM tonight and still light, of course. I’m down her in the Library/Game Room/Internet café/Coffee machine deluxe center. Just push a button and you coffee dreams come true. For me it’s a Cappuccino and a shot of espresso… Despite cabin fever, excess food and excess drink, it has been pretty fun. Yesterday we closed in on the Hubbard Glacier. It made huge thundering sounds as it calved into itself and the see. An awesome site for sure but, many years ago it extended out another 35 miles down the fjord and stood about 2000 feet tall. Can you please go around and turn off your lights… Thanks you! That’s easy for me to say as I sit upon the grand mariner or grand opulence or… whatever this is… The ship of so much excess that they don’t even use 50% of the silverware, or dishes at your table. I guess, in a way it is self contained so maybe I could let that go…. Maybe…

The weather was freakin unbelievable today. It probably hit seventy, easy… The water is 57 degrees and tempting. Coming off my high jumping escapades I was thinking sixth floor easy.. But you can’t leave the boat without them swiping your card, sop…. Oh well. It’s beautiful… I wish I was getting married myself. Oooppppss. No, really, I do! Trees, islands, whales, salmon, puffins, and even the grandest, most regal of birds, the Bald Eagle! Really… America’s bird, just kicking it at the harbor entrance. Almost unreal looking that bird. But alas. This is the perfect day for salmon fishing and it was great… Four hours or fishing bliss with just Kalie, Mike, Captain Marcellus, and myself. ( he didn’t look like a Marcellus) Marc… took us to his killer hot spot, and we were hooking up in a matter of seconds. Both Mike and I losing fish simultaneously on cue. I lost the first Silver of the day. We only kept the Silvers, the Pinks are going back. Never saw a King all day. Everyone had a great time and we had the boat to ourselves. Cost of each of the fish we are sending home. Well at least $200 each. Yummy! Canoeing on the Mendahal glacier tomorrow. Bye… Love you Jen!!!! It’s dark.. As it gets. Blog Time 11:14



Sitka... Free Faliin'

PDX...

Hey folks.. Here I am in Portland again. Hi LaLa... It was a fairly uneventful flight from Santa Barbara. But always kinda cool to fly out SB, over Campus Point where I met by my "Sweet Sunrise", up towards Naples, El Cap, and part of the Ranch, before turning inland. Well, we only have three hours here to kill, but I plan to head up the Columbia River and do some salomon fishing with nets before I get out of here and head to Anchorage. With Kalie at the helm we made great time heading up river. She is sixteen now and quite capable of handling the big boats. Just about 20 clicks up the river and we will be at the chutes. I don't know really how far is a click? Really I don't know where the heck these chutes are. But, I remember fondly getting a keg of great beer at Deschutes Brewery.. Hi John... somewhere near Mount Bachlor many years ago on a K2 trip to the Mount Baily Cat Skiing Operation. I just flew over the area earlier and took note, as well as nearby Crater Lake which was stunningly blue today not to mention countless volcanos... No rain in Portland today.



Here's Mike and I at "the chutes" catching salomon with nets.
A great way to spend the day near Portland, Oregon.

Ok... thats that, from PDX.. Off to Anchorage and the cruise of a lifetime, without the love of my life. Whaahaa... Ok to be fair and not whiny, I do have my lovely daughters Kalie and Sara, not to mention my very handsome brother, Mike! We will be hooking up with Mom and Dad in AK shortly. So it should be nice. Especially getting out of that heat! Don't forget the new Spearhead Record is out today. I downloaded it this morning and it's great. Buy it! I heard most of the songs at the festival, so it sends me back to just a little over a week ago in Grass Valley. Hi Jen, and Julia.. Miss you... Unfortunately, due to a flaw in the family vacation plans. They weren't able to make this trip because it was planned too far in advance. Really though.. The day I met her, I felt I should advise my Mom we would need an extra berth or two... Really I was thinking about some more exotic plans in the South Pacific. Well, soon I think. Hopeless. Reckless....



She is my sweet sunrise...
When I look in her eyes..
No way No how..
I'd ever say good bye...

THE SWEET SIXTEEN TOUR...

Ok.. I have not written a thing since April??? That is ridiculous. I just don't have the words and thoughts flowing out of my brain at a constant rate these days. None of the turmoil, stress, depression, etc... that leads to great writing, or thinking. Well that's not exactly true. Oh well,whatever nevermind... Here we are in Mammoth today, July 20th, 2006. They just closed the lifts on July 4th, 16 days ago, and today is Kalie's 16th Birthday. SIXTEEN!!! No way... Sixteen!!! Man, I was already a complete nightmare screw up, for my parents by age 16.


Well anyway... 16 years ago I watched, as Theresa gave birth to Kalie Anne Jayne, pretty early in the morning I remember. After a long, long, long, labor. Kalie came out with a great big lump on the side of her head from the long journey. A bunch of blood settle in there during the hard push into this world, my first of many scares as a parent. Juandice set in and... I am sure all you parents know the feeling of... Oh my god, I have a little brand new baby here, now what. There really aren't any lessons in being a parent, but all of the sudden, you are, and eventually everything comes together quite naturally... Well obviously there is a hell of a lot more to it than that. Colds, Gymnastics, Dance, School, Open Houses, More Dance, More, School, More Colds, Joy, Sadness, Family Vacations, Birthdays, More Joy, Divorce.... Arrrrggrgg.. Probably the hardest thing for any kid, or parent for that matter to go through. But it really hard on the kids. Just ask them...

But today we are winding down our latest family vacation. Kalie’s sweet sixteen tour. It has been great trip, with Kalie, Julia, Jenny, the love of my life, Curtis the Dog, and myself. Unfortunately, Sara didn't join us on this trip due to being the tender age of THIRTEEN!!! We are all huge Michael Franti & Spearhead fans. So we planned this little trip around the World Music Festival in Grass Valley. (yes it was hot!) But, pretty nicely laid out, with lots of grass, tall pines, and shade. Plenty of good music flowing from 6 stages, but we all came for Spearhead, who were closing on Saturday night.

More than ten years have past since I first saw Spearhead at the Mangey Moose in Jackson Hole. They were great then, and I still have the original "Home" CD from my Ride Care Package. They are even better now. On the second song Kalie looks over at me and say's this is the coolest. It was... We had great seats but, no one sat the whole time anyway. Michael Franti, and Spearhead, probably make the most thoughtful, important music, that you can dance to period, and they definitely connected with the audience on this night! If you haven't heard of them.. You are not alone... They played a bunch of new songs off the new album, "Yell Fire!" the rest seemed to be off "Everyone deserves music" The album and his DVD, "I am not alone" - A musician's search for the cost of war, in war torn Iraq. Both will be released on the 25th. Check the permanent link on my sidebar... I haven’t seen the movie yet... Unfortunately we missed the LA screening, and a solo acoustic performance on the 18th while lurking somewhere near Yosemite... BTW, Michael Franti is one of the nicest performers I have met, staying way late to sign autographs, and take pictures for his fans. Incredible show!



The rest of the trip has been great. After an extremely hot, I mean, eye ball popping heat, drive through the gold country. My beloved Westy and crew arrived safely at Rainbow Pools. One on the top ten swimming holes in California. Number one on my list. I was here once before, and completely wimped out on the large jump. This year was my redemption. Hey, it even looks big in the picture! In fact, everyone pushed thier limits at the hole, with Jenny matching me on the big jump, and the Kids hitting the big water slide drop. Ahhoowooowooo! We camped nearby at the Sweetwater Camp, and would wake every morning, and run over for some eye opening 25' plus leaps into the crystal clear water of the Tuolumne River, before heading into Yosemite.



Yosemite was awesome as always... Water is still running strong this season and all the falls were firing. I forced everyone on the hike to Vernal Falls for a serious uphill work out, up many stairs and on through the mist. Next day we headed out through Yosemite's high country, through he great domes and meadows, and up an over Tioga Pass. This is a really beautiful part of Yosemite you don't want to miss. We didn't see our bear though, until we hit the town of Mammoth Lakes... Well that's it from Mammoth Lakes where we are just, plain relaxing. Happy Birthday Kalie!!!