Cacophony

Calgary, Alberta

The loudest Wendy's I've ever been in

So there I was. Thinking I was a day behind because of my front tire worries, tired as all get out, and upset with Calgary traffic. I pulled off into a mall where there was a Wendy's with the thought that a little food would calm me down and pick up my spirits.

Tired and hungry I levered the GS onto the center stand and moseyed on into the restaurant, ordered my lunch, and sat down.

Maybe it was because I was dehydrated. Maybe it was because this was my 4th day on the road with nothing but my thoughts and my poor singing to keep me company inside my helmet mile after mile. No matter what the reason I found myself in a melting pot of very loud people. People of all nationalities, religions, and degrees of passion. One group of older middle eastern men vigorously debated politics while behind me college students discussed religion, and to my right teenagers, being the way teenagers will be, acting very obnoxious. One thing all these different people had in common was that they were loud.

It was too overwhelming. I finished my meal and escaped to the parking lot where I discovered the motorcycles key had been misplaced. Back into the restaurant, looking around my table and in the bathroom, I finally found it sitting on the counter by the register.

I thought about Anchorage, by far the biggest city I have ever lived in. Was Anchorage loud and overwhelming like Calgary? I didn't think so but maybe its because I was used to it. Anchorage was overwhelming at first. I had a permanent "Surprise Face" the first two weeks in town terrified I would not be able to find my way to work in the morning.

Maybe its all the same. Maybe its all different. I just know I'll be driving AROUND Calgary in the future. The traffic was horrible.

Rest Area outside of Billings Montana

I had planned to take US-2 as far as I could on my way back to Alaska. However a fast wearing front tire required I dip down to the Super Slab (I-94) and make a B-line to Billings where a new tire awaited.

Believe it or not, I've stopped at this rest area before and admired the stalls made from 1/4" angle iron and diamond plate steel. They know how to make rest rooms in Montana!

No rattlesnakes were observed on this day. We don't have any snakes in Alaska, which is good. We do have bears, but you don't need as many of them to make a nice rug.

The Alaskan Connection

Bruce Crossing
on my way back to Alaska

Bruce Crossing has a bar called "The Alaskan Connection". I thought it was a nice coincidence given my destination.

I wonder if Alaskans get their first beer free.


(click on the pic for a larger version to see the sign more clearly)

Hooked on Fishing

It didn't hurt I swear!

In early June I learned that if you go to Providence Hospital in Seward to have a hook removed from your arm they give you a neat T-shirt. The person on the other end of the line shall remain nameless. Although in Tanya's defense it wasn't her fault the fish threw the hook and it ended up in my arm.

This is a picture of the shirt pinned to the wall in my office as a reminder not to try and net Tanya's fish even if you are on a rock in the middle of the river.

Angoon, Part 2

On day 2 our path took us to a lake about 100 feet above sea level. We hung a left and walked along a drainage past two more lakes where we found the angry goose.


The fisheries guys were finished with their work and decided to go fishing for the day. Before they drown any worms they dropped us off on the other side of the bay.


Our first full day in Angoon took us to a site near the road, although you wouldn't have guessed that if you were off the road. This is Panda. He followed us the whole day, through the woods and back to the lodge where he made himself at home, ran inside, and found the bowl of dog food. We later learned Panda had been a village dog and would probably be dead if the owners of the store hadn't taken him in, gotten him de-wormed, and given him a place to stay. He was very friendly and we were happy to have him along with us.

Angoon, AK

Angoon is a small village on Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska. Currently it is accessible by boat or float plane. There is no airport or gravel strip. Some people like it that way some people don't. I honestly think most people that live there don't care one way or another.

In early June one of our Geologists and I traveled to Angoon to scout possible locations for a future airport. There were 4 possibilities, three WAY off the road on the other side of the bay.

Our second full day was spent bushwhacking through the rain forest. It took us about 14hrs to go 7.5 miles on an island with the most dense population of Brown Bears in North America. Armed with only my .40, two cans of bear spray, and our voices the only angry animal we encountered was an upset Canadian Goose. While we didn't see a single bear I'm sure more than I would like to imagine saw us.

The owner of the lodge where we were staying told us he always figured that a mile hiked on Admiralty Island equaled between 4 to 7 miles of hiking in Wyoming, and that there were bets between him and the fisheries people that were there whether or not we'd cover all the ground we expected to. We did, they were impressed, and they never told us who won the bet.

Below are a couple pictures from our treks through the forest.


There was a lot of dead fall to crawl over. Some of the logs were easily larger than 4 feet in diameter.
There were times that the brush was so thick Callie (the geologist) couldn't push through. Lucky for us my mass is about twice hers and was able to clear a path. The picture below was taking standing on a log about 4 feet off the ground. You can get an idea of how thick it was.

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Jen,

I promise that I'm going to post pictures again soon but tonight SmugMug is down for maintenence or something.

Don't forget to check tomorrow!

Brian