Our First Trip on the Tanana

There's nothing like waking up, grabbing a nice cup of green tea, sitting down at the computer and getting an email from home. Usually they come from my mom. Warm, loving updates of what she has planned for today, what they did yesterday, and so on. Today my note said "It's been RAINY and GLOOMY for days wake up and update". Gee thanks Dad. Love you too! lol.

This weekend we took our very first trip on the Tanana River. What a treat! I am addicted, and I love it. I don't know how to explain it, other than the scenery is breathtaking, and the water looks like chocolate milk. It's murky, silt-filled water, rolling and bucking, but it's majestic as well. We had a great time. The temps were cool, and though we dressed warm, it wasn't quite warm enough.

We took off about 6 p.m. and floated out on the Clearwater Lake to the Tanana River. Once we were on the river we headed over to the Clearwater River. Photo #3 is where the Clearwater and Tanana rivers meet. Can you tell a difference? It's unbelievable. This distinct line that you can see as you come down the river.

Once we were finished there we headed upriver to fish for burbot. The waters were a little choppy and bucky, but we sat, talked and fished. We went with friends from Brent's work, and their little dog Willie. We left Ches at home because of her love of water. I really didn't want to have to chase her downstream. Better safe than sorry.

The sun at midnight on Saturday over the Tanana

Willie the boat dog.

Tanana/Clearwater rivers meet

Bluebells on an island in the Tanana River

Low bush cranberries

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View from the island where we were fishing.

The guys fished for quite a while and we had a great time just visiting. When we were sitting still the air was warm and lovely. After a while we stopped at an island and jumped out to explore. What a treat! We saw wildflowers all over the island. The guys continued to fish with no luck, Willie played, I played with the camera and took some shots, we watched some geese mating and playing on a sandbar across the way, lit a fire, roasted some hot dogs and just relaxed. What a blast! I really cannot wait to do it again.

On our way home we stopped off on a sandbar where co-workers of Brent's were camping. It's the float that we were invited on, what a great set up! Plunked down on a sandbar, complete with screen house for a mess tent, and a genious idea for a duck blind repurposed as a porta-potty. Awesome! I cannot wait to get settled so we can go...someday. The bummer of starting over is that we have NOTHING. But we will. In time.

We got off the water about 12:15 a.m. on Sunday morning. I really think I could have stayed out there all night. I have been searching and searching for boats all weekend, but Brent is telling me that I can't have one until I have a job. Well, darn him for being such a buzz kill! Ha! I know that a boat most likely won't come until next summer, but man, I wish it would be this year.

When we got home we were frozen like little popsicles and fell into bed. I slept in on Sunday morning, then packed my stuff up and headed to Fairbanks. I went in search of a freezer for our upcoming fishing trip. Since Brent hadn't slept well, he decided to stay home. It was a great day for a drive. I will say that the Richardson in spring/summer rivals the North Shore Drive in autumn. It is beautiful! The fresh, lush leaves pop in shades of lime, with the Sitka Spruce filling in with bluer shades of green. It's really beautiful, and everyone should see it!

Yesterday we laid low. I had been wanting to try out a new recipe for scallop pizza. So I whipped up some crusts, arugula/walnut pesto, red sauce and scallops. Grilled up the crusts, and tried them out. Pretty darn good. I think I vote for the pesto, but Brent likes the red sauce, with some tweeking. Since we had plenty we loaded up crusts and all the fixings and took over to Brad & Rose's as a thank you for taking us on our little excursion on the Tanana.

Brent cleaned up the trailer, and groaned over it's bruises from the trip across Canada in January. But in all good news, it held up so well, even the tires, and though we'll have to replace them before long, the tires are still good for now.

This week we hope to find out if we will indeed be moving. If not, we'll adjust, but a little more privacy would be nice. Really nice. I am still waiting for the phone to ring, and I fluctuate between all thoughts positive and thinking that it may be decades before that darn phone rings! So, I keep reciting words of patience, we'll see if it works.

Have a very happy day!

Things That Go BUMP In The Night

Last night was an interesting night. Ches usually sleeps harder than I do, but for some reason last night did not lend either of us much peace and comfort. She was plopped on her pillow in the living room, because that's where she chooses to sleep. I went to bed early, at 11:30 p.m., only to be jolted awake by her bark. This is highly unusual. I got up, checked out the windows, shushed her and made my place on the couch until she settled down. Soon I was jolted awake again. This continued for most of the night, and I ended up with about 1 hour of sleep. I have no idea what was out there, or what she thought was out there. At about 1 a.m. we both wandered outside to see what we could see, and nothing. Who knows?

It's been a pretty good week here so far. Brent (as you can see above) has been sneaking in a lot of fishing, but only having minimal luck. Last night he went out with a friend from work, and they caught just enough for a one man supper. So he sent them home with Joe.

Wednesday night I went out with him to his new favorite fishing hole, that you can see above. The view is pretty magnificent and I did a lot of hiking. I ventured up hills and down hills, took in the sights and sounds. Unfortunately we didn't see much wildlife, except for the hares. Hares are EVERYWHERE. Brent keeps promising (er, threatening) to bring one home for rabbit stew. We'll see. I make no promises. And yes, I'm sure it will be hugely mind over matter. But they're so darn cute! lol.

A hare in summer colors- see...they're cute.

Chessa and I wasted some time playing in the water. Ches LOVES the water, and loves to fish. She literally looks into the water, waiting for fish, like the ones that were in our pond last summer. She spent hours and hours out there, and I kind of miss it, for her. I won't miss that nasty skin infection that resulted in her hours in the water though. But we had a little fun and then I ran her on ground to dry her off before heading home. She kept searching for Brent, when she found him she would sit on his foot waiting for him to bring up a fish for her to lick, smell and in one instance, bite. I think we all had a great day!

These are some of the wildflowers that are everywhere up here right now. So I snapped some pics and thought Mom would get a thrill out of seeing them.

Today I'm busy cooking and cleaning, getting ready for the weekend ahead. I think we are doing a picnic by the lake tonight, a little fishing and a little playing with Ches and Willie. I am baking a lemon yogurt cake with fresh blueberry sauce. Marinating chicken as we speak, and I am also making a crunchy Asian noodle salad. Sounds like a good way to start the weekend. We'll throw in some beer, and perhaps a bottle of wine. Awww. Pure relaxation. Hopefully we'll catch some rainbows to throw on the grill too, but if not, chicken will suffice.

Have a happy, happy weekend!