Friday Funny 07-28/23 (Just Bears, Oh My!)

 

Pack Creek 2021

 After we dropped the A team off to return home, we lollygagged around the west side of Behm Canal/Misty Fjords for a bit. 

Kayaking in Gedney Pass, Shrimp Bay.

We were having some issues with the batteries, so Bill decided, instead of paying a daily fee at some other marina, we'd put Denali Rose in her own slip in Wrangell. That's how we came to be in town for the 4th of July celebrations, and now, Bearfest, July 26-30.

We have been attending some of the activities, contests, and symposiums. 

While we always carry bear spray with us on hikes, I have never actually fired off a container. In one activity, we learned about bear behavior, and got to use the bear spray, I was surprised at how close you should be to use it.  

Bill using bear spray on those obnoxious, and dangerous weeds. 😀

I attended an art activity, where we made either a bear, or a fish picture. 

My fish

My good friend, Artha's fish

Super talented young lady, who sat next to me. I love it!

Each year the town gets a new bear, decorated by different individuals, some examples:

2023 new bear

My good friend Robin won last year's bear photo contest with this one.

Robin R, McNeil River 2021

Saturday, we'll be attending a lecture about human/polar bear interaction in Alaska. 

And, the existing batteries are fine, Bill is now adding to our house bank, Tim Taylor mode, More Power!)

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.

Friday Funny 12-11/2020 (Sun, What is That?)

 

This is what happens when we see that strange glow in the sky, we cower in fear, especially this year. I have this image in a postcard, I should put it up as artwork. 

PS, that's rain drops on the outside, not condensation on the inside.

The other morning as I was sitting in the pilothouse, I felt something strange on my back, and turned to see this! OH MY GOSH, what is that?! The actual sun, in blue sky? Don't worry it didn't last long, even though my barometer on my bedside clock looks like this, everyday.

See that up arrow, that means the barometer is rising, and supposedly sunshine is on the way. I think my clock is drunk, or is suffering from some kind of 2020 virus. 😐

We finally left Petersburg, and transited back to our home slip in Wrangell.

Our Petersburg friends took photos of Denali Rose as we passed by their house on the Wrangell Narrows, that orange blob on the back deck is me, flaking, (coiling), up the dock lines for stowage.

We had a nice day, as in it didn't rain buckets on us, but still had some wind/current/tide chop, and poor Gus was seasick again. I really need to get his medicine in him sooner, so that he doesn't suffer as often.

Sunset behind us, as we approach Wrangell.

Approaching Wrangell

Our slip finger

Our first chore was to hose off our dock finger, it looked like the birds had been holding daily parties, and no one was on the cleanup crew.

Pouring rain again, big surprise....

The next day, we went to the post office to get current mail, and gathered up all of the mail our generous friend had been collecting for us, and storing in our car.  It was like a pre-Christmas opening all of those packages, and the best part, not a single bill in any of it. 

Southeast Alaska has had some heavy winds, and torrential rains this December, breaking records, causing floods, and mud slides. Most of our islands have towns built on the sides of mountains, ringing the shoreline. You may, or may not have heard of the terrible landslide that happened in Haines Alaska, with two people still missing, tragic. Their newspaper's link Here

This is the Alaska Marine Hwy (ferry) map, Haines is at the top of SE Alaska.

Wrangell has had it's share of rain, and high winds have brought down power lines more than once. The electric company linemen have been very busy with repairs. They are also the ones who collect the community Christmas tree from the Tongass Natl Forest, bring it to town, and set it up. They were too busy to get done, and someone in town had some fun with a replacement. KSTK story, and followup. This photo showed up on the Wrangell Community Facebook page. 

I like that the Grinch wears Xtra-Tuff boots. 

Bill put up the usual red/green lights on Denali Rose, people see the spire as they drive by on Zimovia Highway. 

This is the view from inside Denali Rose.

This is my contribution to new Christmas decor, a towel in the head, (bathroom). If you've seen Christmas Vacation, one of my favorite movies, a must see every year, you'll understand.

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.

Friday Funny 12-06/19 (Tis The Season)

Falalala

Let the fun begin, of course that term is relative. We (we, as in I), did a bit of Christmas decorating, Gus took advantage of it in the morning.

Yippee, this is fun!

He found the wreath I thought I had hung up securely, silly me.

Here are a few of his favorite seasonal songs.

Sing along

We ran our red lights up a halyard this year, and added a new string of green to go with it. They are wrapped like a candy cane as they go up. 

As seen from inside the pilothouse overhead hatch

We added icicle lights inside the dodger, and red/white lights along the front windows in the pilothouse

We turn on the masthead light at night as well. 

It's looking a lot like Christmas 🎶. We haven't had any snow in town yet, but it's around us, creeping down the mountainsides.

Looking north from our harbor.

East of Wrangell Island across Eastern Passage, that fence is keeping the airport runway safe.

Those white mountains are actually Canada.

I'm getting ready for my annual favorite movie, Christmas Vacation.

The beginning of the season for Wrangell:

Time to get shopping....  😁

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.

Friday Funny 04-27/18 (Spring Fling)

I agree!

It's that time of year, when we spruce up our surroundings. I participated last Saturday, in Wrangell Parks, and Rec program, HOP - Help Our Parks. I didn't actually pick up any trash, because... well, you know, I walk with a cane, and I'm leery of uneven surfaces. I manned (womanned, personned?) the sign up table, helped volunteers sign their liability waiver, and pick a place to work. 

The main focus for the day was City Park, which is right next to our marina. The park is on the waterfront, next to a historic cemetery, and community garden, has a playground, covered picnic areas, fire pits, restrooms, and limited camping. With communities doing more with less, it was heart-warming to see more than 40 people volunteering for clean-up jobs. 

My view from the sign-up table inside the main shelter.

Main shelter

I assisted these lovely ladies, who are part of the staff at Wrangell Parks and Rec.

Picnic shelter

Tables, and garbage cans were scrubbed, fire pits cleaned out, grounds raked, brush cleared, damaged areas replaced, and painted. Did you notice the roofs over all of the picnic tables? We are in a rainforest after all, and the cover ensures that your picnic won't be rained out!

Children's playground

Cemetery

The cemetery looks so nice now, volunteers mowed, weed-whacked, scrubbed head stones, replaced a worn bench, and pruned the trees. If I had a friend, or relative resting there, I would be so grateful for the kind attention.

Lunch! This photo was taken before they repainted the walls, they look pristine now.

Lunch was provided for all of the volunteers, grilled hotdogs, potato salad, chips, homemade brownies, and cookies. 

This carved log is on the beach at City Park, it never seems to be affected by the tides. It's a great place to get your tourist photo taken.

Of course.

Now if I could only set up a sign-up table on my dock finger, and have volunteers come and do my spring cleaning on Denali Rose. How cool would that be!?

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.

Friday Funny 04-20 (Small Town News)

Both good, and bad.

We have about 2200 people here on Wrangell Island, Alaska. It's the smallest community that I have ever lived in, and I've become known in town as, "that person who fell down the stairs last winter". Everyone  has seen me hobble around town on my crutches, and watched me graduate to using the cane. They have all been solicitous of my well being, and always ready to help. 

The gals at the community pool, where I have been doing my physical therapy, have kept a very close eye on me. They have always made sure I don't slip on the wet tile, to and from the pool, and made sure the shower chair is available when I need it. 

Sometimes I'm curious, and ask people how they knew about me, some reply that my friend Katherine at Zak's Cafe had kept them informed about my accident, and progress. (My local press agent?) She found out the ambulance callout that morning had been for me, and we kept in touch during my recovery. She messaged me on Facebook one day while I was in Anchorage, and said, "you know Donna, if you wanted more attention, all you had to do is ask!" 😁

I have encountered the terrific staff of the hospital, and ambulance crew in, and around town, and they always say how glad they are to see me up on my feet, and recuperating. It's kind of funny, I was in such a morphine haze after the accident, I don't recognize them now, but when they speak, I remember their voices. I make it a point to thank them for their excellent care, and attention. 

I know small towns get a bad reputation for poking into each other's business, but, I'm glad to be home, and you couldn't ask for better friends, and neighbors. 

As always, we enjoy hearing from you, either here in comments or on our Facebook Denali Rose Sailboat page.