3 guys and a girl...floating down the Kisaralik River
Hey everyone! Long time no talk! So, I've just come back from a week on the Kisaralik River. Don't worry if you don't know where that is...I've got all the points on my GPS. WOO! Anyway, ohhh man, it was SUCH a fun trip!!! I really enjoyed myself. Being the only girl sucks, but it's fun to make fun of the guys...and they make fun of me, so it all equals out. Where do I begin...how 'bout the beginning! There's an idea!
We started off Monday July 10. Dan flew off first, then Jamison and I, and then Sam came last. We landed up in the Kisaralik Lake and set camp right there in the cove inlet. It was breathtaking! I couldn't stop looking around...we were surrounded on all sides by mountains...and the water was so clear that it was a deep blue/green. AMAZING! Windy as all hell...but simply AMAZING!!! We stayed there and fished until the next day, mid-afternoon. It kinda sucked because Dan didn't get me a fishing license like he SAID HE WOULD!!!!...but, it worked out because I read while they fished and when they would catch something, I would do a fin clip, weight, and length. The sucky part was always following them like a little lost dog wherever they went. What a pain!! Ugh...boys! He he hee...
Sometime near the beginning, we were coming down through the moutains and ran across some Class III rapids followed by some Class IV. Well, Dan and I took the Class III first, which I almost pissed myself with the excitement. We pulled over and had ready the throw bags for Sam and Jamison in their raft. OH...MY...GOSH! It was the funniest thing ever! They went vertical man...I swear, if any of them would have breathed wrong, they would have been going in the drink. HAHAHA! Sam's face was priceless!! HAHAHA! Anyway, we couldn't get through the Class IV rapids (we woulda went right into a wall), so we had to portage the rafts. This entailed unloading everything from the rafts, using roaps and strategically placed people over the rocks to direct the rafts over the rapids, and then we had to load the rafts again and go. That took about a good 2-3 hours. Ugh!
It rained on us for about 3 days straight, but I got to see the animals I wanted to. EEE! While floating the one day, Dan and I saw a mother moose and her two babies. Such a great animal. On Friday, Dan decided to stay another day...so, all day Saturday we fished specifically for Dolly Vartins (type of salmon, in case ya'll aren't fish experts). Yeah...I had to clip, weigh, and measure 50 Dolly's. You can tell my excitement...woo. He he hee...naa, it was actually interesting to collect samples and get involved in that kind of a science...but it was just uber repetitive. Such as science I suppose. That night, we ran out of propane, so we had to cook by fire for the last couple o' days which I didn't mind, because I love having a nice warm fire while camping. Made me smell good and smoky. :) Then it happened...we were all standing in our "kitchen" when a small cub was up a bit from camp crossing the river. I about pissed myself. I SAW A BEAR!! EEE! It came pretty close to camp and then went into the brush. No sooner, we see this HUGE sow coming down the adjacent hill ( I mean, no neck what so ever dudes!). It was looking right at us, so Dan had to fire a couple o' warning shots to scare it off. Oh man! That was amazing...I finally saw some Alaskan bears...grizzly bears at that!
Dan really surprised me that night too. We spent a good portion of the night talking about US history and present day government and issues. He knew a great deal of material that just blew me away. I swear, everytime I'm with that guy, I learn something knew and interesting. He might have a crappy sense of humor, but he's knowlegdable and trustworthy. He's done so many things in his life, experienced life, and lived to tell about it. If you ask me, he's kind of become a role-model to me. Someday, I hope to experience things like finding glass balls on the shore of a beach or getting run over by a bear...anything to gain experience in life. That's where it's at...it's not schooling (although it helps)...to truly learn about something, you have to experience it and do it for yourself. Living life, say, out on the river can't be taught in a book...in my opinion anyway.
We almost thought we would have to spend another night on the river because unfortunately, our boat driver that was supposed to come and pick us up got a DWI the night before. Luckily, the only other guy who knew the river and how to manuever a boat came and picked us up. We got back around 6ish. Not too shabby...but now I have to take care of three dogs, plants, and keep the house sort of clean until I leave on Friday. My first flight is at 7:49 am...and apparently the rest of the times didn't change from my originally scheduled flights...which means I might be at the Anchorage airport for a good 8-9 hours. AHH!! Thank GOD for laptop movies, "Thief of Time", and Soduko. HAHA!
Oh, when I got home, I think I was on the phone with Meliss for a good 2 hours. Gosh, it was soo good to hear her voice again and to just talk with her. Less than a week til I see her!!! EEEE!!! I can't wait! It's just going to be a splendid and exciting time with her. I love her so much!
Welp, that's it for now peeps. Until next time...Cheers!...not that there's any alcohol here in Bethel at all! Grrr...yeah, that's right...they don't sell alcohol here. GASP! You have to import it if you want any. *sigh* I need to get drunk when I get back home...or at least buzzed.
Kess ;)
We started off Monday July 10. Dan flew off first, then Jamison and I, and then Sam came last. We landed up in the Kisaralik Lake and set camp right there in the cove inlet. It was breathtaking! I couldn't stop looking around...we were surrounded on all sides by mountains...and the water was so clear that it was a deep blue/green. AMAZING! Windy as all hell...but simply AMAZING!!! We stayed there and fished until the next day, mid-afternoon. It kinda sucked because Dan didn't get me a fishing license like he SAID HE WOULD!!!!...but, it worked out because I read while they fished and when they would catch something, I would do a fin clip, weight, and length. The sucky part was always following them like a little lost dog wherever they went. What a pain!! Ugh...boys! He he hee...
Sometime near the beginning, we were coming down through the moutains and ran across some Class III rapids followed by some Class IV. Well, Dan and I took the Class III first, which I almost pissed myself with the excitement. We pulled over and had ready the throw bags for Sam and Jamison in their raft. OH...MY...GOSH! It was the funniest thing ever! They went vertical man...I swear, if any of them would have breathed wrong, they would have been going in the drink. HAHAHA! Sam's face was priceless!! HAHAHA! Anyway, we couldn't get through the Class IV rapids (we woulda went right into a wall), so we had to portage the rafts. This entailed unloading everything from the rafts, using roaps and strategically placed people over the rocks to direct the rafts over the rapids, and then we had to load the rafts again and go. That took about a good 2-3 hours. Ugh!
It rained on us for about 3 days straight, but I got to see the animals I wanted to. EEE! While floating the one day, Dan and I saw a mother moose and her two babies. Such a great animal. On Friday, Dan decided to stay another day...so, all day Saturday we fished specifically for Dolly Vartins (type of salmon, in case ya'll aren't fish experts). Yeah...I had to clip, weigh, and measure 50 Dolly's. You can tell my excitement...woo. He he hee...naa, it was actually interesting to collect samples and get involved in that kind of a science...but it was just uber repetitive. Such as science I suppose. That night, we ran out of propane, so we had to cook by fire for the last couple o' days which I didn't mind, because I love having a nice warm fire while camping. Made me smell good and smoky. :) Then it happened...we were all standing in our "kitchen" when a small cub was up a bit from camp crossing the river. I about pissed myself. I SAW A BEAR!! EEE! It came pretty close to camp and then went into the brush. No sooner, we see this HUGE sow coming down the adjacent hill ( I mean, no neck what so ever dudes!). It was looking right at us, so Dan had to fire a couple o' warning shots to scare it off. Oh man! That was amazing...I finally saw some Alaskan bears...grizzly bears at that!
Dan really surprised me that night too. We spent a good portion of the night talking about US history and present day government and issues. He knew a great deal of material that just blew me away. I swear, everytime I'm with that guy, I learn something knew and interesting. He might have a crappy sense of humor, but he's knowlegdable and trustworthy. He's done so many things in his life, experienced life, and lived to tell about it. If you ask me, he's kind of become a role-model to me. Someday, I hope to experience things like finding glass balls on the shore of a beach or getting run over by a bear...anything to gain experience in life. That's where it's at...it's not schooling (although it helps)...to truly learn about something, you have to experience it and do it for yourself. Living life, say, out on the river can't be taught in a book...in my opinion anyway.
We almost thought we would have to spend another night on the river because unfortunately, our boat driver that was supposed to come and pick us up got a DWI the night before. Luckily, the only other guy who knew the river and how to manuever a boat came and picked us up. We got back around 6ish. Not too shabby...but now I have to take care of three dogs, plants, and keep the house sort of clean until I leave on Friday. My first flight is at 7:49 am...and apparently the rest of the times didn't change from my originally scheduled flights...which means I might be at the Anchorage airport for a good 8-9 hours. AHH!! Thank GOD for laptop movies, "Thief of Time", and Soduko. HAHA!
Oh, when I got home, I think I was on the phone with Meliss for a good 2 hours. Gosh, it was soo good to hear her voice again and to just talk with her. Less than a week til I see her!!! EEEE!!! I can't wait! It's just going to be a splendid and exciting time with her. I love her so much!
Welp, that's it for now peeps. Until next time...Cheers!...not that there's any alcohol here in Bethel at all! Grrr...yeah, that's right...they don't sell alcohol here. GASP! You have to import it if you want any. *sigh* I need to get drunk when I get back home...or at least buzzed.
Kess ;)